Snow Tires
Hey guys welcome back to another episode of Couch Cushions Podcast! We’re your hosts Mia and My and were so happy you guys could tie in to this episode. As you can probably tell by the title, we will be discussing winter and all that comes with this season.
Around this time of the year there are many changes with the climate of course and a lot of preparation to get ready to brace the cold, but not only that, there are many physical and emotional changes we go through as well that should be taken seriously and discussed. There are also more fun things that come with winter time too! We will cover it all!
Winter (and the pains that come with it)
Now don’t get us wrong, we love all seasons of the year and we definitely view them all as being very beautiful. But especially where we live, winters are tough and the majority of us are counting down until we can become snowbirds.
Slow drivers vs fast drivers
My: Why do people always forget to drive when it's the first snowfall? It’s like come on folks we do this every year. But you know what words are the people that have the big trucks that think that they can do 80 mph on the highway.
Mia: I’d rather go slow than fast. I don’t go overly slow but I rather be cautious than speed and drive like crazy. But I feel like for the first snowfall people do one or the other, no one drives normally.
Brushing off car & Shoveling
My: So every year I give myself a goal! Get a 4X4 truck with a plow or get married. I know it sounds super extreme but it's so true. I hate shoveling and I rather deal with the pains of a husband then to go out in the cold.
The BIG question, are car starters a necessity?
My: Yes, yes, triple yes! The worst thing in the world is going outside to a cold behind a car. Then the car doesn’t even get warm until you made it to your destination.
Mia: I struggle with a way to answer this, because technically our necessities are food, clothing, and housing. So by definition no. I know that others in Rochester feel that it is and I get that. Would I like one, yes! Do I think it's a necessity, no. You can go out and start your car early, its a convenience.
Another struggle that comes with the season is the lack of moisture and the dryness of your hands, face, and legs (aka ashiness)
Hand Cream (Ashiness)
Vaseline vs cocoa butter vs lotion
My: Ugh this is hard if its my lip Vaseline hands down. I use all three for my body. My favorite is Vaseline. But you know what's my favorite lotion is the 87 cent cocoa butter random lotion at Walmart. I need to find the name. I couldn’t find it but it was simply amazing. Ima go to walmart right now lol.
Mia: I have to go with cocoa butter, but I have this thing where I will mix my cocoa butter and lotion.
I have to admit, in winter time I basically give up on moisturizing. I will use some for my hands, and I will moisturize my face and use chapstick, but other than that, I don’t even care at that point because I’m in pants and sweaters all the time.
But on a serious note we know that winter affects our physical appearance but let's talk about how it affects us emotionally
Vitamin D (Please discuss this with your doctor first, we are not recommending any medications, this is just what helps us)
Cloudy and cold days
How does winter affect you?
Mia: I obviously do not enjoy the cold.. at all. But despite that I think winter is a lovely time of the year and very beautiful. And as much as I hate the cold, what is worse to me is the gloominess. Oddly enough I don’t get SAD, but I do notice my mood changes a lot more. Naturally I’m a happier person in warm weather.
My: Yeah Mia I think I feel the same. It’s like I definitely feel like my mood is affected by the gloom. It's like I don't want to get out of bed. What else kills me is that I got to work in the dark and I leave it in the dark and I just like man will I ever see daylight.
Any tips?
My: Mia I know you will be happy with this but I think having a lot of plants and the sun light lights, vitamin D, getting active also usually this would be the time where most sickness gets spread so wash your filthy hand and take vitamin C. I actually started to do this everyday. I take the airborne tabs that you add to the water and it has made me feel really good.
Mia: Vitamin D does help me a lot and buying plants. Little artistic projects like painting or writing letters. A slightly unhealthier activity is baking and cooking delicious foods. More recently I’ve been trying to get outdoors and snowboard or even go sledding and that helps the most. I think at the end of the day having something to do is what is important, some type of hobby whether it's indoors or outdoors.
Are you active in the winter or a stay indoors person?
Mia: I’m a little bit of both. I love my weekends in my house just being cozy but I’m slowly trying to be more active and become an outdoors person in the winter. I tried snowboarding for the first time last year and really enjoyed it and I’m hoping to be able to go this season again. I can definitely appreciate both. But all my life I was an indoors person because I do not like the snow. I remember as a child my brothers and I would play outside and build snowmen or try to make igloos and I after like 20 minutes I’d come indoors and drink hot cocoa with my mom and watch them through the window because I could never stand the cold.
My: I’m staying in the house! I don't like the cold. The only way that I will do anything outdoors is if you and the other force me lol, if it's up to me I just like being cozy on the couch and watching a movie.
Actually what's your favorite winter time movie?
Mia: Dead Poet Society, it’s one of my top 5 favorite movies and is especially good in fall/ winter
My: Snow Day
Cozy Indoors (Snow Days)
What does your perfect snow day look like ?
My: I'm the type of person that gets ready the night before for a big storm. So if I know we are about to go down I do my usual Wegmans run along with the rest of the city and pick up all my snacks. This includes hot cheetos fries and oreos, it's just a must! Then when I'm home I start the night before and I stay up as long as possible because I know I can sleep during the day. Then I get up and start snacking and then feel bad that I'm not doing anything and get up just to go sit on the couch. And I stay out there until Mema makes me do something. But again if it is a snow day I just try to make it to the Hudson's house to then watch movies AKA sleep the whole time.
Mia: Sleep in til 8:30/9:00, get breakfast at a diner, go sledding, come back home to eat, bake, and watch movies all night.
Cozy Winter Things
Hot cocoa
Mia: Unpopular opinion, hot chocolate should only be made with some type of milk, NOT WITH WATER. I’ve heard the excuse before while out that there’s no milk or no place to heat up the milk, but at that point I feel like you shouldn’t be drinking it at all then. It’s with milk or none at all.
Fuzzy socks
My: I can't start this convo off without stating how sad I am that Wegmans did not bring back their 99 cent socks!!!! It made me want to write a letter to Danny. I would like to say they are my favorite socks but they had some new company this year and I Haven't tried them but I think they lowkey might be better but i can't break my loyalty.
Winter fit/ aesthetics
Do you wear stockings or leggings during winter?
My: none because we not out in the cold sooooo…… next question lol leggings if it dumb cold but I don’t like being in the cold.
Mia: For years I didn’t but now I double up! I have thick velvet ones I wear at home and sometimes even under my scrubs at work.
Would you rather be cold and cute or warm and unattractive?
My: It really depends on who is in attendance lol I know it sounds super shallow. But I'm not about to be cute and cold for just anyone. You're going to have to be worth me suffering.
Mia: Warm and unattractive. I have no time to play around with the cold.
Closing Comments:
We love you guys, we’re here for you as you are here for us. We as always appreciate your love and support with our making of this podcast. Please be safe, check up on your friends, write them letters, buy a dog, buy more plants, start new hobbies, do whatever you need to do to keep yourself happy and stable. Be safe, connect with others safely and virtually. Again, we love you. Take care.
As promised, here are our favorite baking recipes!
Mia’s Favorite Dessert
Berry Puff Pastries
These pastries are one of my favorite desserts to make! They’re a lot of work if you make the dough from scratch but are super yummy and cute! My inspiration was the character Lara Jean from “To All The Boys I Loved” pastries she made. You can easily get puff pastry dough from your local grocery store or if you want to make it from scratch I used the recipe here, Quick Puff Pastry Dough Recipe (+Video) - Momsdish.
For the filling, blend one packet of cream cheese, a cup of powdered sugar, and lemon zest together.
Cut your strawberries into mini hearts and top with powdered sugar once they’re cooled and enjoy!
My’s Favorite Dessert
Cream Cheese Cookies
Here are some of the most delicious cookies that I have ever made! The lemon cookie is one of the most refreshingly light cookies and the cream cheese is easy and customizable, for a little razzle dazzle just add sprinkles!
TIPS: 1) For uniformed cookies use an ice cream scooper. 2) Make sure that you refrigerate both cookie doughs before baking. The cream cheese cookies are extremely soft even with refrigeration, so try to place the cookies on the tray as quickly as possible. 3) If the cookies come out of the oven and they look like little balls take the back of a big of a big (1 cup) measuring cup and lightly, I MEAN LIGHTY push it into the cookie to give it more of a shape.
HAPPY BAKING :)
https://preppykitchen.com/lemon-cookies/
https://preppykitchen.com/cream-cheese-cookies/