Baby, It's Cold Inside.

Hotel de Glace, Quebec

Hotel de Glace corridor, via Octobre46 flickr

Jukkasjarvi Ice Hotel, Sweden

Jukkasjarvi, Sweden

Jukkasjarvi Ice Hotel, Sweden

Hotel de Glace via Octobre46 flickr

Hotel de Glace Bar, Quebec, via Octobre46 flickr

The dacha from Dr. Zhivago

Although they look like movie sets, Ice Hotels are temporary structures made entirely of snow and ice (except for the fireplaces and the vodka). The first one popped up in 1989 in Sweden as an igloo intending to provide temporary shelter for an art exhibition. Some people brought reindeer hides and spent the night, reporting it to be an amazing experience. The builders of the igloo expanded on their idea and the Jukkasjarvi Ice Hotel was born.

The hotels offer day tours or for the heartier tourist, overnight stays. There are wedding packages available, including same sex weddings (forget California, make it really memorable!). Their beauty is truly ephemeral, lasting about 3 months before they disappear.

For more on the Hotel de Glace, click here. The website wouldn't allow me to download photos and they are worth seeing. For the Jukkasjarvi Ice Hotel, click here.

Groundhog Abuse.

I'd crawl back into my hole, too. Crazy mofo.

Six more weeks, folks, like every year. Thanks, Phil.

Personally, I think Punxsutawney Phil is overrated. I like Staten Island Chuck. He's usually wrong but optimistic. Today, he predicted an early spring.

Actually, after a wee bit of research, I found this press release (although a few years dated) by NY Senator Chuck Shumer stating that historically Chuck has been right 90% of the time while Phil's record is an embarrassing 30% of the time.

I guess Phil's hiding his head in shame.

Under Armour Has Change My Relationship with Winter.

I am from Chicago. I used to tolerate the cold much better than I do now. I ran around in heels and open coats all winter. What has happened to me since I moved to Delaware? I've turned into a wimp. Anything below 50 degrees has me in the bathroom with a hairdryer under my shirt (I wish I was joking).

Until this year.

In October, while shopping at Dick's Sporting Goods for one thing or another, I decided to buy myself some Under Armour. You're probably familiar with it. It's popular with the kids for sports and outdoor activities. It's thin, stretchy, high-tech long undies, basically. And it's my friend.

I have had Under Armour on under practically every outfit I've worn since November. It's warm and toasty. I've slept in it.

Combine it with Uggs (don't care if they're post-trend, ugly or whatever, they are WARM!!) and NorthFace gloves and you are ready for some 20 degree dog-walking. Actually, if you have warmer gloves, please inform.

Just thought I'd share during this nationwide deep freeze we're having.