Preparing for the Next Snowstorm

Another snowstorm is headed to Seattle, a couple of days from now. The current temperature in my suburbs is 15 degrees – I’m afraid to leave the house and drive on dangerously icy roads, so I’m working at home today. If the weather warms tomorrow, I’ll head out to the store to stock up on dairy (I’m out of eggs! And how can I make lasagna without ricotta?), produce and bread.

For now, I’m baking my own bread at home, using my enforced downtime to catch up on reading and Netflix shows, visiting neighbors, making soup, and preparing for the next snowstorm.

QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY:

Any mid-week tidying to do? Decluttering of accumulated items on your stairs, coffee table, breakfast nook table, bathroom counters perhaps?
Keep up with laundry so you don’t spend the weekend doing it – toss a load in, or fold and put away some things during tonight’s Netflix session?
Make social plans for the weekend ahead
Need to purchase any Valentine’s Day cards, gifts or flowers and have them mailed so they get there in time?
Need to eat up any leftovers before the next weekend marathon cooking session arrives? I need to make room in my fridge!

TODAY’S PROJECT: Preparing for the Next Snowstorm

Bigfoot Snow Shovel, on Amazon

It infrequently snows in Seattle, so our city isn’t as prepared as say, Chicago, New York or big Midwest cities. The city doesn’t own enough snowplows or employ enough snowplow drivers to cover more than major roads. Those of us living in the suburban neighborhoods (many with steep hills) are often stuck at home for days at a time due to unsafe driving conditions and icy, slippery roads.

A storm dumped snow on us Monday, and another, larger storm is predicted for Friday evening. That storm is likely to come with strong winds that might knock out our power. I’m planning ahead, getting my house ready for the second storm, and preparing a grocery run tomorrow when the roads might be passable between storms.

Weeks ago I already took care to stock up my house and pantry for winter weather. I laid in good supplies of toilet paper, laundry detergent, pet food, medicines, batteries, liquor (if you can’t drive, might as well imbibe a bit by the fireplace!), fire logs and kindling to supplement my outdoor fire wood stash, and other things I’d miss if I couldn’t get out to the store. My pantry, fridge and freezer are always well stocked, but I admit I wish I’d loaded up a bit more on eggs, butter, sour cream, milk, and soup-making supplies like carrots and celery.

Take a look at my checklist of things I’m doing today:

Make grocery list (milk, eggs, butter, cheese, sour cream, bread, liquor, toilet paper)
Wash bedding, clothes and towels now while I still have power
Load car with snow boots, shovel and cat litter, test car flashlight batteries, extra blanket, snacks and water
Bring firewood from fire pile outside to back deck so it’s accessible
Bring Duraflames and kindling in from garage
Cook easy-to-reheat items (in case of cooking on outdoor fire pit or emergency Dutch oven over a tripod): bean soup, lentils, tomato soup, etc.
Examine candles and set them out in bathrooms, kitchen, dining room in case of power outage
Charge laptops, phones, cameras and anything else chargeable
Vacuum one last time in case this is my last chance for a few days! (My retriever dogs shed a LOT!)

What am I forgetting? Let me know in the comments section below.

LOVELY BLOGS: The Iron You

Mike is a triathlete health enthusiast who blogs about healthy eating and exercising. This would have been a great blog for me to feature right after the New Year, while we were all making resolutions. I haven’t given up on my resolutions yet (yay me) so I’ll explore this blog for some tips on healthy cooking.

Currently Mike is sharing recipes for Easy Rice and Mushroom Casserole, a Vegan Lemony Olive Oil Banana Bread, Broccoli and Potato patties I’m dying to try making, and 4 Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars.

Hope you enjoy getting some healthy living inspiration from this blog like I did!

https://www.theironyou.com/

LOVELY BATH & BODY: Verbena Shower Gel

It’s snowy out, and I’m tired of being cooped up in dark, stuffy rooms. Winter makes me reach for anything fresh, vibrant, citrusy and refreshing. This week I’m enjoying using L’Occitane’s “Verveine” lemon verbena scented shower gel. It really perks up my spirits on a dull winter’s day!

Verbena Shower Gel, at L’Occitane

LOVELY BOOKS: The Amateur Cook

This charming 1905 book is available to read online for free, courtesy of The Internet Archive. It’s not a cookbook, it’s an account (often painfully honest) of a woman’s struggles to learn to cook. Along the way she includes vintage recipes (such as for “plain white soup,” “simple Russian salad,” “pop-overs,” and something horrific sounding, “invalid meat jelly.”

I hope you’ll enjoy looking through this antique book and its darling illustrations!

The Amateur Cook, at The Internet Archive

LOVELY BOOKS: Home Sweet Maison

I currently have this book on hold at my local library. I’m really tempted to choose it for our March book club over at Lovely Living University!

The author encourages us to celebrate “la belle vie” and live like the French every day. She guides us towards transforming our houses into “accessible elegance.” Each room in our homes gets its own chapter, from the boudoir to the kitchen, the bathroom “la salle de bain” to
“le salon.”

I thought a few of you might enjoy this home decorating and lifestyle book – take a peek!

Home Sweet Maison, on Amazon

LOVELY SHOPS: Vendula London

This shop sells the most creative, adorable little handbags! They look like charming buildings and storefronts. The line includes a post office shaped handbag and tote, bags shaped like a sewing shop, a winter cottage, an old book shop, a tiki bar, a biscuit shop, an antiques shop, and so on.

But wait, there’s more! Besides the shopfronts, Vendula London designs delightful novelty bags, shaped like a crown, a Prosecco Bar truck, a love boat, and a fish and chips food truck!

Better yet, these bags are vegan, made from faux leather and cotton.

I love these so much! It’s taking everything I have not to whip out my credit card and order one. Perhaps for my upcoming fiftieth birthday celebration.. You can find several of their retired styles for sale on eBay, too.

https://www.vendulalondon.com/us/

LOVELY LINKS FOR TODAY:

Creamy Tuscan Tortellini Soup (The Country Cook)

DIY 3D Snowflakes (The Snow Day Blog)

Easy Crockpot Meatloaf Recipe (The Suburban Soapbox)

Easy DIY Harissa Paste (The Minimalist Baker)

Easy Homemade Croissant Recipe (Baking a Moment)

Easy Spanish Paella (Panning the Globe)

Easy Turkey Bolognese (Mantitlement)

Home Made Refrigerator Pickles (Recipes that Crock!)

How to Make Perfect Chocolate Covered Strawberries (Life Made Simple Bakes)

How to Style Shelves (The Hip Suburban)