Winter Is Coming....

I have now lived in the United States of America for 20 years of my (almost) 40 years of life.

That is HALF of my life (no kidding).

20 years is a long time to live in a place and not adjust.

Let me give you some reference: I am originally from Trinidad and Tobago.

I'll save you a google search (It's in the Caribbean).

After 20 yrs of residing in the United States, I can confidently say the winters do not get any easier for me.

Additionally, when I tell people I live in Atlanta and I hate the cold, I get judged, ridiculed and scoffed at by those who live in or have lived in colder states and/or climates (New Yorkers and Canadians are the usual culprits..ha!).

Apparently because I live in "HOTlanta", GA I am not allowed to have an opinion on winters.

Well, I'll give my opinion anyway, thank you very much. I think they can be quite brutal actually. There is no HOTlanta in the winter. The temperatures are on average some winters, in the 30s (by my calculation) and many other days can creep below that which is COLD.

Also, anyone living in Atlanta should also agree that the weather here can be quite crazy.

For instance, for the last week, I had to come to terms with the dreadful reality that winter was around the corner - there was a slight chill in the air.

Fast forward a few days later and I feel as though I need to get my heaviest coat out. It went from 0 to 100 in no time (or rather the other way around if you get what I mean).

So yes, winter is coming. Sigh.

It's time to get out the hoodies, the jackets, the boots, the warm and fuzzy socks, the layers and for me....THE HEATER. Admittedly I do also use a small heater on my feet in the summer but forget I said that.

It's early October and I can say goodbye to my sweet, sweet warm temps until we meet again next May. It proves the point that winter lasts much longer than summer does - a horrific thought.

It's here and it's not going anywhere. So here are some ways to cope (maybe):

1) Trendy Winter Clothing - Truth be told, I have no desire to buy new winter clothes but the fact remains, they are absolutely needed to keep you warm. Since this is the case, why not have some fun with it? Look for cute but practical jackets, scarves, sweaters, hats, boots and even socks.

2) It's Warm Drink Season - If you like hot tea, coffee or hot chocolate - this is your season! Nothing feels better to me than drinking a warm cup of tea at night or in the morning when it's freezing outside. It's time for me to go shopping for my favorite green tea flavors!

3) Soup Season - According to my friends, I can make a delicious soup. It's been months since I've even had the urge to. With the slight chill in the air turned winter the next day (I'm dramatic I know), I've already made a delicious pot of soup. Soup can be a great way to consume less calories and more veggies. If you're anything like me, you're probably going to be less motivated to make it to the gym anyway, so why not save up on those calories.

4) Save More, Spend Less - It is a known fact that I will be less enthusiastic about going out to eat or having drinks every weekend. It'll just be me, my pajamas and my computer on the couch. This should allow me to be more productive, save some money, cook more and spend less overall. Can we also talk about the reduction in my power bill?

5) Trip Motivation Season - So I know I just talked about saving more - which I will do! It's also a good time to look into some warmer climates. A cruise, an all inclusive resort weekend getaway, a beach road trip. It's something to look forward to and can alleviate the winter blues.

Otherwise, bundle up peeps, we have a long way to go!