Canadian Welcome

It seems there is cold weather everywhere these days, but that doesn’t make it any easier for us here in Ontario. No matter how many winters I’ve lived through, I still don’t like it. Although I do like the snow and when it isn’t too cold I enjoy how fresh the air feels. So how can we deal with the cold other than fly south every winter or stay in the house for months until it warms up?

Here are some coping tips I’ve found, please comment and I can add yours to the list:

• dress in layers – a t-shirt, then a long sleeve sweater, then your coat. I also wear long johns or tights under my jeans on really cold days.
• warm, thick socks and boots that are warm and not too tight
• if the boots are a bit higher, the snow can’t get inside them
• a warm hat to cover your ears and keep the body warmth inside
• a nice thick scarf that you can pull over your face if needed
• snowpants over regular jeans if you will be outside for a long time
• warm mittens or gloves. I find that mitts keep my hands warmer but are clumsy for driving. And wool mittens are best if you can get them.
• a coat that’s long enough to keep you warm but doesn’t restrict your movements
• a wool coat keeps you warmest. One year I paid a lot of money for one that was a nylony material with fur inside and it was terrible. The cloth didn’t breathe, so it was either too hot or too cold.
• Have a lot of warm, nutritious soups and hot, comforting foods

Now I’m off for some homemade soup. How do you survive the cold?

Technorati Tags: cold weather, tips for dealing with cold, dressing for cold

Note from TorontoCarol – Although this blog usually focuses on Ontario, today Melanie is taking us to Quebec and some of our Canadian history. Driving distance from Southern Ontario, Quebec City is a part of our heritage that everyone should enjoy.

The Quebec Citadel is a military fort that was built from the years 1820-31 in Quebec City. It was originally designed to protect the city when Quebec was one of the main ports through which an attack could be launched. Read the rest of this entry →

Thanks to a couple of industrious ladies, Lisa and Diane, otherwise known around the Waterloo region as those2girls, families here don’t have to worry about what to do with their kids anymore. Those2girls manage a facebook group that sends updates to their members, letting them know what is going on the Kitchener-Waterloo region.

The following activities Read the rest of this entry →

If you are new to the Ottawa area or are looking for a place to go for some winter fun, then the Ottawa Winterlude Celebration is the place to be in February. Here is a little background about the Festival so you can decide if it is the place you would like to go and share some fun with your loved ones this coming winter.

Every February flocks of visitors come to Canada’ capital city to partake in the fun winter activities that can be found here. For three weekends, fun and excitement are yours to discover with ice sculptures, to an awesome playground made of snow. You can Read the rest of this entry →

Photo credit: dieraecherin from morguefile.com
One of the most popular sports in Canada is hockey. Some of you newcomers may not have had the chance to enjoy this sport due to your cultural backgrounds. Hockey is a fun sport that both children and parents can enjoy alike. Whether you play outside on a home made ice rink, or in an arena setting, this sport can provide hours of fun for all you try.

One of the many benefits of living in a big city such as Toronto is Read the rest of this entry →