About Jennifer Hughes
Ottawa City Editor Jennifer Hughes has an ongoing love affair with design, art, fashion and food that began many years ago with redecorating her dollhouse or staging impromptu Barbie fashion shows. Now she unearths the best of the above in our vibrant capital city.
Getting Through Winter in Ottawa
capital city scene: winter survival tips ottawa, canada
(Jan.04.12)
OK, so the holidays are over and winter has finally arrived in full force. Now what? If you’re anything like me, the temptation to hibernate under a warm blankie for the next two months is nearly impossible to resist. But instead, I’m forcing myself to find ways to enjoy, or at least make the best of, our harsh winter.
One of the best things about living in Ottawa is all the built-in opportunities for outdoor winter fun. Lace up the skates, strap on the skis or snowshoes, or seek out a hill for tobogganing. All that white stuff actually has fun qualities (though I have to remind myself of this every time I brush several inches of it off my windshield), so enjoy it whenever you can. The right outerwear is key here, so if you need to pile on the layers and disappear into a poufy, marshmallow-like parka, then by all means do so. Of course, in less than a month there’s Winterlude to look forward to, so stock up on super-cosy mitts, scarves and toques.
Next, seek out all manner of delicious hot drinks and meals (see our local Top 5: Cold Weather Comfort Foods for inspiration). Hit up your favourite local café and order the largest, most decadent hot bevvie on the menu. I love a chai tea latte for the sweet-and-spicy hit of heat in the dead of winter. I plan to indulge almost daily.
And finally, take care of numero uno. This involves hydrating facials, plenty of ultra-rich hand creams, soft cashmere sweaters and scarves, and long hot baths (followed by more rich lotions). After the bath, once you’re in the soft sweater with a thick layer of luxe lotion all over, feel free to curl up under that blankie for an afternoon movie with a steaming cup of hot chocolate. After all, a little hibernating can also help see you through.