Winter Antidote No. 1
Today is the reason people hate winter. The world has turned depressing shade of gray-brown and the finest tree branches are entirely encased in ice. Christmas trees splay abandoned, curbside, and the precipitation falling from a sky of doom and gloom is what weather forecasters benignly call a “wintery mix”: it’s too wet to be snow, too icy to be rain. Approaching a corner, one plots how to circumnavigate an icy puddle of indeterminate depth the way one strategized during a game of Oregon Trail how to cross a river. Should we ford it? Float? I helped a woman with a heavy stroller cross one such body of water and saved her from what looked like a near nervous breakdown. “You are a Good Samaritan,” she said. Nonsense––you see a lady juggling two kids, an umbrella, pending expletives, and there’s no choice but to help. In weather like this, the choices are stick together or turn against each other.
And so: I dedicate this weather-beaten Tuesday following a heavenly holiday weekend to our resistance of the bleak midwinter. First up, the bath product that is easy on the pocket and with which I am newly obsessed. I took two baths yesterday, not because I was unprecedentedly begrimed, but because this “bath elixir” is so divinely calming. Too often, inexpensive bath products smell like a gagingly artificial bouquets of cloyingly sweet fruits and flowers. Not so here. Something somewhat romantically called Iceland Moss soothes skin and relaxes tired muscles, and a restrained pour of the molasses-thick gel creates rich bubbles with better-than-average staying power. I especially like the amber glass bottle reminiscent of an old school apothecary. All this delight for $9.99 (or less) is a happy find, indeed, slush and snow or no. We need all the help we can get.
La Chapstick Fanatique: ooh i am going to have to try this!
stop by and enter the Goody giveaway: http://lachapstickfanatique.blogspot.com1 year ago
Betsy: Sounds very lovely and green. This is about the time of year I am still struggling to pack away Christmas ornaments and break out spring stuff. However, Spring is closer for me than most folks. Stay warm!1 year ago
Betsy, Oh, you are lucky! We are still deep in the thick of it, and without Christmas ornaments to ease the hurt.
1 year ago
BethP: I just stomped my way through several of those deep corner puddles full of freezing slush wearing these: http://www.zappos.com/hunter-original-gloss-violet
Highly recommended!1 year ago
Look how cute you are! Yes, appropriate attire makes all the difference! This is my first year with proper winter boots and my life has been greatly improved.1 year ago
Lynne: We are 70+ degrees where I am. Zipped right into Spring it feels like. We only had one winter month. I’m guessing more to come but you know what I mean. We get ours in the Summer – too much of a sunshine thing. I’m ready for some dark shady Icelandic Moss.1 year ago
Cadi: Having a nice hot bath with amazing bubbles is a great cure for anything that ails you, winter doldrums included. I’m home with a sore throat and sniffles today and that was the only thing that got me out of bed: the prospect of a nice hot bath with a peppermint bath fizzy. And while it only helped my actual symptoms a smidgen, it infinitely brightened my spirits.1 year ago
L: Ack! I wore inappropriate foot attire today. Nothing like that icy gray slush slopping over your socks before work. I am definitely taking a bath when I get home!
Please keep the antidotes coming, I sorely need them. Ice skating and hot chocolate only go so far…1 year ago
Lynne, It IS dark and shady. I love that description of the Icelandic Moss.
Cadi, I’m with you. I think baths are just about the cheapest full-body treatment + therapy on earth!
L, Yuck, that’s terrible. My legs got soaked in the rain, even with my umbrella, so when I sat down at yoga I realized I was sopping wet. Not very cozy. But I’ve got two more antidotes for today!1 year ago
Katie @ cakes, tea and dreams: Oh, this looks deliciously soothing. My antidote for today is twinkle lights – because heaven help us, the puddles in Boston (of slush/ice/rain) have reached ridiculous proportions.1 year ago
Sarah: Ugh, I needed your post. It has been so gray and dull around here in Northern Virginia it is enough to make a girl want to run away to warmer and sunnier climates! Maybe a bath is just the ticket for these winter blues.1 year ago
Becca: Hahaha, it’s so funny to see Boots products featured on a blog – it’s very ordinary in the UK. Glad you’re enjoying it!1 year ago
vanessa marie: Do you know of any BK shops that carry said elixir? A bath is sounding pretty good right now!1 year ago
Tami -- Teacher Goes Back to School: a hot bath is my one super not green indulgences. there just isn’t another way to get really warm before bed or soothe the soul.
i’ve been dropping lavender essential oils in mine before bed for sweet dreams.
lovely post!1 year ago
Heidi: Your reference to the Oregon Trail brought back some old, wonderful memories! Millions of kids have played that electronic game over the years. Over 20 years ago, one of my first real jobs as a young adult was selling the Oregon Trail to retail stores. That game paid my rent for a couple of years!
BTW – I made the Fennel and Apple meatloaf with ground chicken for my family. Outstanding! They loved it and I loved it. It’s a keeper1 year ago