We are officially in the dead of winter. Our hands are dry and cracking, we’ve worn our Uggs for 48 days straight, the cold air is seeping through our windows and the cracks in our doors, and we would rather stay home and watch a movie than go out. It’s bad.

Unfortch, it’s not even close to being over. Hey now; don’t shoot the messenger! I didn’t create the seasons.

It takes a lot of will power and positive thinking to get through the next 6-ish weeks of winter (or longer if you live in the midwest), so we thought we’d remind you of all the wonderful things this awful season has to bring. Surviving winter is all about seeing the glass as half full and not as completely frozen. And stuck to your hand.

So, here are the reasons why CollegeCandy cherishes these winter months. What are your favorite things about winter? Read More »

The one thing that I really enjoy about winter, other than the holidays piled on top of each other, is the food. When it’s cold outside a nice bowl of soup, a warm crusty panini and hot cocoa are daily meals for me.  In the summer the idea of something hot generally makes me feel like stripping naked to stay cool…so you only have a few more weeks to enjoy the greatness that is: hot food.

Here are some of my favorite recipes that can be made affordably. They’re filling, healthy, and will have you wishing winter was just a couple weeks longer…

Butternut Squash and Vanilla Soup:

- 2 tablespoon olive oil

- 2 onions, peeled and sliced

- 4 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeds scooped out and cut in chunks

- Salt, freshly ground pepper

- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract/paste (preferably natural), or one pod dry vanilla, split open

Serves 6.

DIRECTIONS: Read More »