It’s that time of year. The trees are lit, the wreaths are up, and here in Evanston the temperature is consistently around 30 degrees. But with papers and finals, possibly hundreds of miles away from your family and hometown traditions, it can be hard to get into the holiday spirit while at Northwestern. Here are some helpful tips to make your last few weeks at NU in 2012 jolly and bright:
1. Decorate your dorm. Back at home, returning to a lit and festive house ensures that the joy of the holiday season is never far from your mind. So why should school be any different? Sure, Christmas lights aren’t exactly allowed in dorms, but that shouldn’t stop you from decorating in other ways. Garland, bows, and mini trees are easy ideas, as well as stockings for you and your roommate (maybe you’ll even find a gift left in yours!) Advent calendars help remind you of the holiday season each and every day, and fake snow spray and window stickers can create a snowy scene peeking out from your shades (at least until there’s some real snow to replace it!) And if you live in a dorm where rambunctious boys aren’t likely to destroy things outside on your door, wrapping your door in holiday paper is another fun idea.
2. Visit Starbucks for holiday drinks. Enjoying a gingerbread latte or peppermint mocha while listening to holiday tunes is a surefire way to get into the spirit of the season. Which brings me to…
3. Listen to Christmas music, 24/7. In my room it’s never turned off. My roommate and I have even played it on a timer while falling asleep.
4. Have a holiday movie night. Pick up some eggnog at Whole Foods, rent a favorite classic, and gather your friends to have a festive night in.
5. Or go into Chicago for a night! The window displays and lights in the city are sure to make you feel all warm and fuzzy. But if that’s not enough, there is caroling at ‘The Bean’ every Friday starting at 6 pm until December 21st.
6. Go online shopping. Picking out the perfect gifts for your family, friends, and even yourself are sure to make it feel like the holiday season.
7. Make gingerbread houses. Pick up an easy kit at CVS or Whole Foods and gather some friends to have a gingerbread house competition. The one with the most festive house will win…
8. Cookies! There’s nothing like baking to get you into the holiday spirit. Even freshman dorms are equipped with functional kitchens, but if you don’t feel like baking from scratch, store-bought dough is an easy alternative.
9. Have a secret Santa exchange. With your friends or your floor-mates, secret Santa is a great way to exchange gifts without having to buy one for everyone you know.
10. Festive nails. Red, metallic or sparkly nails are a constant reminder of the excitement of the season.
Happy Holidays!