Spoonies vs Winter: A Love-Hate Relationship

I love winter. Fresh-baked gingerbread. Wearing slippers and sipping hot chocolate while I write, cats nestled by my side. Holiday dinners with family and friends. Christmas trees, menorahs, fluffy snow everywhere...

But I also hate winter. Daily panic attacks because of the weather. Scrubbing my hands until they're raw, because the person sitting next to me on the bus coughed. Fearing I can't pay the heating bill because I'm underemployed but still was turned down for disability. Icy fingers and toes (which is saying something, for an anemic). Being sad that I don't have the strength to toboggan or snowshoe like I used to.

Thus is life for a spoonie; things you once enjoyed, you can't as much (or at all); things you once paid no mind to, make life incredibly difficult. Winter also brings Seasonal Affective Disorder (or symptoms thereof), additional expenses, like heating, boots and warm clothes (difficult to afford if you're un- or under-employed thanks to a disability), and unfortunate run-ins with family members who don't 'get' the illness you're dealing with. And every day, you're forced to struggle with pain, fatigue and stigma on top of it all.

Do you have a love-hate relationship with winter? How do you cope?

End of Winter White & Green Soup with Cheddar Cheese Scones

March is a magical month: Winter slowly creeps away, letting spring flowers grow, temperatures rise and the sun stay out longer. Last weekend, I spent an afternoon with my dad, and we made a delicious end of winter lunch. We think you'll like it, so here's the recipe (and more mouth-watering pictures!).

Cheddar Cheese Scones

2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
2 tbsp granulated sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
1 1/4 cups cheddar, shredded
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg, lightly beaten (egg wash)

1 In a large bowl mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda,
cayenne pepper and salt.

2 Blend in butter using pastry cutter.

3 Add cheese and stir.

4 Add buttermilk and stir.

5 With floured hands, form a ball. Knead 10 times gently on a floured surface.

6 Pat out dough to 3/4" thickness and cut into rounds with a floured cutter.

7 Place rounds on an ungreased cookie sheet and lightly brush with egg wash.

8 Bake at 425• for 12-15 minutes until golden.

End of Winter Green and White Soup

8 cups water

2 bouillon cubes dissolved in boiling water or fresh vegetable stock
Potatoes, cubed
Onion, chopped
Celery, chopped
Olive oil
Spinach or rapini
Barley
1 bay leaf
Your choice of dried herbs, salt and pepper, to taste

1 Stir onions in hot olive oil until caramelized.

2  Add celery and stir.

3 Add stock, followed by hot water and bay leaf, and keep stirring.

4 Bring to a boil. Turn heat down to a simmer.

5 Add herbs, salt and pepper. Continue to let simmer for 30 minutes.

6 Add barley and let simmer until cooked.

7 Add spinach or rapini. Stir until slightly wilted.

8 Turn off heat. Serve with cheddar cheese biscuits and enjoy.

Bon appetit!

Why don't you... [end of winter 2013]

Winter's almost over! Here are some little ways you can make the most of the season's end:

-Build a snow fort
-Escape to someplace warm
-Bundle up and explore your city
-Have a hot chocolate party
-Make plans for Easter/Ostara/Passover
-Go for an early morning walk and watch the sunrise
-Start making an action plan for next winter, so you'll be ready to battle SAD
-Make an inspiration board starring your body love icons
-Shop for boots or a winter coat. They start to go on sale at the end of the season. Excellent!
-Make an Easter wreath or garland. Or maybe some Peeps s'mores?

I can't believe it's almost March! Can you?

Image Source

February Favourites

Here's a little list of the things I'm loving this month:

Tangle Jr. -- These make great fidget toys for people with anxiety or impulse control disorders.
Brita bottle -- Buy yours here! Free shipping on Canadian orders $25+. Practical, portable, and it makes tap water taste good.
Troll dolls -- How could you not smile when you see these?!
Old Navy polar fleece scarf -- The scarf pictured is similar. Cozy, practical and cute.
Striped sweaters -- See above! Cozy, practical and cute.
Blue glitter nail polish -- I like Nails Inc's "Royal Arcade".
Lap desk -- It helps keep my laptop from overheating, and is comfortable for hours.
Dairy Milk Cookie Crunch -- Yum. Just yum.
Sparkly hair clips -- Mine were a gift, but you can get some at the dollar store (!!), Ardene or Etsy.

Want your product or site featured in this new series of monthly favourites? Contact me for information.

Full disclosure: I purchased all of these items myself (unless otherwise specified). This post is not sponsored in any way, however an affiliate link is included in this post. Thanks for supporting Polish and Sparkle!

Valentine's Day Ideas [2013]

This Valentine's Day. why don't you...

♥ Be your own valentine-- buy yourself flowers, eat something delicious, romance yourself!
♥ Give your sweetheart an amazing massage, a night at the movies, or a home-cooked meal.
♥ Re-read your favourite romantic novel.
♥ Write a love letter to someone you adore.
♥ Have a fancy dinner party.
♥ Go out on the town, solo.
♥ Cook dinner for your parents.
♥ Read this.
♥ Exchange copies of your favourite books with your best friends.
♥ Pop a bottle of pink champagne.
♥ Eat chocolate-covered fruit in the bath.
♥ Make out. (Keepin' it simple, right?!).
♥ Paint your nails red and pink, perhaps with little hearts and tons of glitter?
♥ Splurge on some luxurious lingerie.
♥ Bake a cake for your neighbours.
♥ Have a midnight picnic with your lover (dress code: underthings only), then read some erotica over dessert. Ooh la la!
♥ Take this advice.
♥ Send some valentines! These, these or these, perhaps?
♥ Eat something yummy & heart-shaped, like pavlova with Chantilly cream, a chocolate raspberry tart, or a Sacher torte with handmade truffles dusted with cocoa powder in three different shades?
♥ Buy one of these, one of these, one of these or some of these for some *ahem* adult fun.
♥ Eat heart-shaped eggs for breakfast or lunch with your room mates.

Just remember that Valentine's Day is all about love-- whether it's self-love, romantic love, or love for friends or family. However you choose to celebrate, have a wonderful day!

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The Polish & Sparkle Christmas Playlist

For optimal Christmas spirit-inducing auditory pleasure, please eat Christmas cookies and drink a peppermint mocha while you listen!

Christmas Day - She & Him
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland
O Come All Ye Faithful - Jackie Evancho
You Would Have Loved This - Tarja  
Baby It's Cold Outside - Chris Colfer & Darren Criss
All I Want For Christmas Is You - My Chemical Romance
  

I'll Be Home For Christmas - Kristin Chenoweth
Santa Baby - Madonna
Sleigh Ride - She & Him
White Christmas - Bing Crosby
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee

 Image Sources: 1 2 3

75 Good Ideas for a Great Holiday

Here are some little things I recommend to make this winter holiday your best yet. Do them all or pick just a few, then tell me about them in the comments below!

1 Cupcakes! Make some, buy some... Whatever you do, cupcakes are always a fun, delicious addition to any day.

2 Stock up on magazines and novels. When it gets cold out, there's nothing like curling up at home with a good read.

3 Plan a get-together with your best friends.

4 Go snowshoeing or tobogganing. Great exercise, and a fantastic way to spend time with friends or family.

5 Stay inside and indulge in DIY spa treatments-- mani-pedis, facials, the whole thing!

6 Treat yourself to your childhood favourite sweets.

7 Have a movie marathon. All the Harry Potter films? A Fred and Ginger double feature? 

8 Taste a whole bunch of teas. Peppermint is always delicious. David's Tea's holiday blends look amazing, too! And Tazo's passionfruit is yummy and fruity.

9 One word: limoncello.

10 Plan a getaway. 

11 Take an online course. Coursera offers free online courses from top universities worldwide.

12 Have a Channukah party, complete with dreidel games and sufganyot.

13 Try glögg. 

14 Go winter camping and stay in a yurt. My family did this a few times when I was little, and it was a very memorable experience.

15 Turn up the heat, mix some piña coladas and pretend you're in the Tropics.

16 Learn to make a classic holiday recipe from scratch.

17 Knit a scarf or sew embellishments to an old sweater.

18 Go thrifting.

19 Go for a drive in the countryside.

20 Call your friends or family back home. 

21 Send handwritten thank you cards to everyone who sent you a card or gift this season.

22 Decorate gingerbread men.

23 Dive into that book you've been meaning to read.

24 Avoid the cold and stay in to organize your closet.

25 Invest in warm, high-quality winter boots.

26 Go skating with your lover (and hold hands!).

27 Catch up on schoolwork (or paperwork, or bills) so there's less on your plate after the holidays.

28 Spend a day doing absolutely nothing.

29 Volunteer (or donate money) to an organization you care about.

30 Send care packages to friends far from home.

31 Make paper snowflakes.

32 Drink hot chocolate with marshmallows.

33 Build a snowman.

34 Go to the beach and marvel at the frozen lake. 

35 Catch up on a TV series you enjoy. I recommend Big Bang Theory or Mad Men.

36 Go to shul or church (or whatever your  place of worship may be).

37 Make holiday cards and send them out to loved ones.

38 Learn a new skill, like calligraphy, skiing or photo editing.

39 Start a journal, diary or blog.

40 Find a new favourite indoor sport. Bowling? Roller skating? Swimming?

41 Go to a burlesque show.

42 Go for a walk at sunrise.

43 Read about Seasonal Affective Disorder, just in case

44 Email someone you haven't spoken to in ages, just to say hi.

45 Create a LinkedIn profile and a twitter account so you'll be ready to network in the new year.

46 Make New Year's resolutions.

47 Knock a few items off your bucket list.

48 Make sugar cookies or decorate ornaments for your relatives or neighbours.

49 Eat peppermint everything!

50 Host a dinner party.

51 Redesign your website.

52 Get reacquainted with your old favourite holiday movies and music.

53 Get a massage

54 Wear something velvet or sequined

55 Stop dieting.

56 Explore Toronto's PATH for some indoor shopping and exercise.

57 Light a menorah

58 Decorate a Christmas tree

59 Learn about a holiday you don't celebrate, but others do, at this time of year. Kwanzaa? Yule?

60 Go to the theatre

61 If you're daring, try a polar bear dip. I want to, but I don't think I'm brave enough (yet!).

62 Learn to crochet, felt or sew, and make something cozy.

63 Discover what style of hat looks best on you, and wear it all winter long.

64 Look at pictures of dogs in sweaters, because they're soooo cute!

65 Buy some cozy pyjamas and fuzzy socks.

66 Make soup. 

67 Peruse a craft show.

68 Spend an afternoon people watching at a local cafe.

69 Bring some unworn mittens to a women's shelter.

70 Have a hot bubble bath.

71 Read the classics.

72 Snuggle with a kitten.

73 Treat a friend to coffee.

74 Look at pictures of palm trees and beaches.

75 Chill vodka in a snow bank and make martinis.

What are you going to do this holiday?

Image Sources: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Won't You Be a Doll? Matryoshkas in Fashion and Decor

Matryoshkas are the height of playful and kitsch. To warm up your winter, add some Russian dolls to your fashion or decor.

Product information at Polyvore

Winter Nail Polish Picks

Cold weather doesn't mean giving pretty manicures the cold shoulder! Here are some of my favourite colours and styles:

Cobalt - If you like bright but not quite neon, this is the perfect shade for you. Essie makes a gorgeous cobalt polish. A shocking colour like this looks best on short, square or rounded nails.

Berry - Berry lips were en vogue this fall, and the trend continues with nails. Bonus: berry shades are flattering on most skin tones.

Nude - Subtle and pretty, no matter your colouring, nude nails are many women's go-to, and it's easy to see why. This shade looks great on long or short nails.

Jewel Tones - Match your tips to your Baroque-inspired jewel toned accessories. Jewel tones are not only a great way to be on-trend, but you'll look luxe without spending lots of cash. Elle Canada's list of polishes is great.

Crimson - Fiery red is classic, sexy and screams vixen. What's not to love?

Fun, quirky, colourful nail art - Add a little whimsy to your winter with glitter, designs, or even candy cane stripes. Lots more ideas are at my Pinterest Nail Art board.

What's your go-to winter mani?

Image from APolishAddict.com

Go for 'Baroque'!

This winter, fashion is all about indulging in rich fabrics, like brocade and velvet, that make you look and feel expensive. Wear luxe jewel tones and your most opulent accessories.

Baroque is incredibly en vogue. It was all over the runaways at Alexander McQueen and Dolce and Gabbana, and now it's in magazines like Elle Canada and Marie Claire.

The history: "Baroque is a period in the history of Western arts roughly coinciding with the 17th century. It's also a style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur....an abundant amount of details....and an overall sense of awe." [source]

So how can you incorporate this style into your own look?

How to wear Baroque this season:

Choose a show-stopping dress in your favourite Baroque print and colour and pair it with modern, sky-high heels and pared-down accessories. OR Wear a glamorous 17th century accessory with neutral pants or skirt and a blouse.

Some visual inspiration:

Are you going to rock the Baroque trend this winter?

Under the Weather? Get Better ASAP!

Hey, lovely readers! My online presence has been somewhat sparse the past few days, because I'm sick! Fever, congestion, migraine, coughing, runny nose... The whole bit. I'm sure that some of you are a little under the weather too, so here are my top tips for getting well ASAP:

-Take it easy when you have a cold! This should be common sense, but it's imperative to rest (mind and body) if you're sick. I know the world is fast-paced, especially if you live in the city or have a high-power career. Being productive and "on" all the time is important. But you should come first. Always.

-If you *have* to be at the office, drink lots of hot tea, suck on cough lozenges and try to sneak in a power nap.

-Go to bed early. You need your beauty sleep, especially when you don't feel well.

-Cheer yourself up. I tend to feel blue when I've got a cold, but sweets, Netflix and snuggling my cats makes it all better. Find a little way to pamper yourself. It could make all the difference.

-Have some soup (matzah balls optional). Jewish grandmothers know best, in this scenario. I don't have any in the house, so my mom made me tomato soup, which was perfect!

-Lastly: if you don't start to get better within the week, see the doctor. Obvious, but so important. Going to the doctor isn't fun, but suck it up, just to be sure your cold is nothing serious.

How do you take care of yourself when you're sick?

Plum for Fall/Winter 2012

Here are 3 ways to wear plum (the colour everyone is talking about this season!):

Fashion:

I'm especially enamoured of that Vivienne Westwood dress (centre)!

Accessories:

Make-up

What's your favourite plum piece? Tell me in the comments below!

Comfy, Cozy, Stylish Sweaters

A great sweater can take you from day to night and from Autumn to Winter. Here are some of my top choices:

Lace trim cardigan. Lace detailing adds to the elegance of a cardigan. This one would look amazing with jeans and a top, or over a dress.

Striped sweater: Three words: classic, casual & fashionable.

Open front. I have a striped open front like this in black and blue. I bought it last year (at Zellers, not Torrid) and still adore it.

Feminine: Sweet, girly details like ribbon and lace in pastel shades make this style to die for!

Boyfriend button down: A comfy top to borrow from your bf! Wear it with skinny pants or a short skirt for a really cute look.

Colour blocking: The colour blocking trend lives on! I like this option from Old Navy.

All-over print cardigan. This star print cardi is cute and casual. I like the v-neck, and would pair it with some ballet flats, leggings and a lace trim camisole.

For more sweaters, click through to my Polyvore by clicking the picture at the top of this post. My picks range from $11 to $169 and are made in a variety of colours, sizes and fabrics to suit every budget, body shape and taste.

Which sweater is your favourite?