A simple weather change can have a major impact on your health, wellbeing and your mood.
1. Togetherness
Feeling all warm and fuzzy? Think of things to do with your loved ones… Make a collage of your family using pictures old and new. Frame your artwork or print it on canvas to mount on the wall. Let your inner capitalist loose with board games like Monopoly, or let Scrabble or 30 Seconds get your grey matter going.
Teach your kids to play chess or backgammon. Or curl up together on the sofa and re-read your all-time favourite books; or grab a set of needles, chunky, colourful wool and knit a fun scarf or cute beanie. Create a cozy nest and settle in front of the DVD player for a “Sex in the City” or “Grey’s Anatomy” marathon box collection sets are out now for rental. In danger of getting cabin fevera Try out the new Nintendo Wii Fit, it’s perfect for hours of indoor fun. In fact, it’s so much fun you won’t even notice you’re getting a workout!
2. Fresh air
Put some colour in your cheeks with a winter walk; choose from a bounty of beautiful trails in one of South Africa’s outstanding National Parks. Researchers from the National Association for Mental Health (UK) recently found that 71 percent of people felt their mood improve after a rural walk. The opposite was true for people who had walked around an indoor shopping centre. Wrap up warmly and head out for some eco-therapy…
3. Dressing up
Boots, layers and elegant coats are a few of my favourite things. Dressing up in winter is so much more fun, and this season there’s lots to get excited about: Bright colours, opaque tights, and chunky, huggable jumpers… “Winter is a fun fashion season, it’s all about playing dress-up,” says Shape fashion editor Retha Jurgens.
“Right now there’s subtle 70s revival, where layering is key; current hot colours are purple and grey,” she says. “Winter’s great for beauty too; you can keep dry hair snug under a beret, and you hands from getting cold in cashmere gloves,” says beauty editor Elsa Kruger. “Dramatic make-up makes the most of pale winter skin deep crimson, ruby red or wild wine-stained lips and nails vamp up your look,” says Elsa.
4. Roaring fires
There’s nothing quite like a real wood fire to make you fall in love with winter. Follow these tips to make a fire like a pro:
a) Make a base of dry kindling and newspaper. Stand about three or four pieces of dry wood over it; with one end at the base, and the other ends meeting at the top to form a tepee. If air can reach all surfaces, you should have a good flame fairly quickly.
b) Light safely and add more logs once the first ones have burnt down and the flames start to recede.
c) Make sure there is nothing flammable nearby, and don’t leave the fire unattended. Once your fire has died, make sure it is out completely before you head off to la-la land. You may also want to consider a fire-look gas alternative to keep you warm, even during load-shedding. They’re less mess and hassle than the real thing, won’t require any log-chopping, and won’t make you smell like you’ve been holed up on “Survivor” island for 40 days.
5. Breakfast treats
Bulk up on a healthy breakfast to help your body fight the cold:
a) Make a spicy tomato and fresh herb relish full of flavour and nutrients and spoon onto warm wholewheat toast.
b) Slice up a fragrant fig loaf for a fibre-filled and energetic start to the day. Serve hot from the oven or lightly toasted.
c) Get a head start on your five-a-day with baked apples filled with pecans, cinnamon and raisins, and sprinkled with brown sugar.
d) Put your waffle iron to good use and cook up a steaming wholewheat waffle topped with fresh raspberries and low-fat vanilla yoghurt.
6. Weekends away
Escape to some of the country’s most beautiful hideaways this winter:
a) The Natal Midlands, with its mild climate and open space, makes for a great escape. Take your time along the meander and stop off at the quaint art and craft shops along the way.
b) The magnificent Drakensberg mountains offer a wide range of accommodation and activity options, when they are transformed in winter. The views are unbeatable.
c) In the Cape winelands, Franschhoek valley rests under snow-capped mountains. Wander the oak-lined streets, perusing galleries and shops, and indulge in some world-famous cuisine.
d) For a peaceful wintry escape, you can’t beat Hogsback in the Eastern Cape. This quaint little village offers fantastic scenery, views, and a rather whimsical vibe.
e) Mount Grace hotel, Magaliesburg: This elegant 5-star country house and spa, with immaculate gardens is a firm favourite, just an hour from both Jo’burg and Pretoria. You’ll love the roof-top breakfast.
f) For luxurious mountain magic, nest away in an exclusive cottage at Cybele Forest Lodge in Hazyview, Mpumalanga.
7. Pampering
Winter-parched skin gives you the ideal excuse to indulge in some extreme pampering. Indulgent baths Fill the tub, light some scented candles, and then add any number of pleasures to fix any ill — you can cure anything with a bath! Simply add:
a) Milk powder, colloidal oatmeal or a few drops of Bio-oil for soothing and resuscitating dry skin.
b) Ylang-ylang to induce a restful night’s sleep.
c) Epsom salts to up your magnesium absorption, especially useful if you suffer from muscle cramps.
d) Bubbles and your partner for fun! We love Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash, Dove Beauty Care Shower Cream Oil, Palmolive Shower Milk and Dior J’Adore Creamy Shower Gel. Sensational skin Winter is the perfect time to have serious skin treatments like micro-dermabrasion and peels to get rid of pigmentation and blemishes. These treatments demand minimum to zero sun exposure to be effective, as skin is hypersensitive to sun damage afterwards. Foot note… Plus you can get away with applying gallons of foot cream under woolly bed socks for baby soft feet!
8. Hot chocolate
For the best cake and hot chocolate, take up residence at one of these recommended spots.
In Jo’burg:
Moemas in Parktown, voted (unofficially) the best chocolate cake in Jozi.
Life, at Sandton City, boasts the most deliciously thick hot chocolate.
Also in central Sandton, experience the Michelangelo Hotel’s cosy couches, delicious coffees and high tea on a wintry afternoon.
Grab a latte and muffin at Tribeca in Rosebank Mall.
Try Contessa’s in Rivonia.
In Cape Town:
Melissa’s must have the most decadent hot chocolate, with their speciality: a rich, nutty chocolate layer lining the glass.
The Mount Nelson offers legendary afternoon teas and cake selection.
Origin for coffee on Hudson St is a hidden gem the decadent triple Lindt muffin is a must.
In Durban:
Zara’s in Durban North.
Chocolate in Gateway shopping centre.
Yossi’s in Glenwood.
Vanilla in Kloof
Nourish in Musgrave and Westville.
9. Baking
There’s no better time to get handy in the kitchen, and make delicious comforting goodies. Try these:
Oatmeal crunchies: 180g soft-tub margarine (without trans fatty acids), 30ml golden syrup 5ml bicarbonate of soda, 125g flour, 180g oatmeal, 250g sugar, 80g coconut, 250ml chopped nuts (optional).
Pre-heat oven to 160 C. Heat together the margarine and syrup. When the mixture boils, add the bicarbonate of soda. Sieve the flour into a large bowl, and mix in the oatmeal, sugar and coconut. Add the margarine mixture to the dry ingredients and mix. Press the mixture evenly into a shallow greased cake tin, and bake for 15 minutes. Allow to cool for a few minutes and then cut into squares, still in the pan. Remove from the pan after about 10 minutes and set on a cooling rack.
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