Curious on how to spice things up when you have some free time to spare this quarter? Whether you’re spending Winter quarter at home with your family or in Santa Clara with your roommates, here are some COVID-friendly winter activities that you can do from the comfort of your own home!
- Bake cookies and drink hot chocolate
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I’d love to do this all year round, but something about eating warm cookies straight out of the oven with a mug of hot chocolate just screams winter to me. The pre-made Pillsbury cookie dough is easy to use if you’re looking for a quick dessert to eat alongside some Swiss Miss hot chocolate with whipped cream. Yum!
- Pamper yourself with a spa night
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The other night, I grabbed my roommate and we put on facemasks together, did some yoga and ended the night with some meditation after a long day of classes and homework. Every so often, take a night to relax, light a candle and diffuse some essential oils.
- Make a homemade dinner
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Gather up some ingredients to cook a homemade dinner for your family or with your housemates. You can make everyone prepare their own personalized dish or appetizer for a potluck style meal or choose to make something together like personal pizzas.
- Sing along to Disney or 2000s karaoke
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By connecting YouTube to your TV or laptop, you can have your own karaoke party with your housemates by searching up songs to sing. Team up for duets like “A Whole New World” from Aladdin or battle it out while belting Alicia Keys. Just be sure you don’t disturb the neighbors.
- Create a monthly music playlist
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Something I look forward to each month is making my monthly music playlist! Using Spotify or Apple music, you can curate a playlist of music releases from your favorite artists or brand-new ones.
- Have a classic movie marathon
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Grab some popcorn and pick from the High School Musical trilogy, Harry Potter, Star Wars or any other classic movies you can find while using your streaming service. Take a day off full of nostalgic movie watching in your pajamas.
- Start a mini book club
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Start your own book club with your housemates or with friends through Zoom to meet up every few weeks and discuss the latest novels you’ve been reading. If you’re struggling to choose what to read, check out recommendations from celebrity book clubs such as Oprah, Reese Witherspoon, or Good Morning America.
- Dress up for a photoshoot
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Something I’ve missed doing since the beginning of the pandemic is dressing up to go out with friends. Find a new reason to dress up by having your own in-home photoshoot in different locations that you can decorate — from your living room couch to the kitchen counter.