You know, I ought to be used to this sort of thing by now. I grew up in Utah – Missouri shouldn’t feel that different. Here’s the catch though – I was born in Southern California. I think when you’re born there, you get an automatic gene that says “I. Love. Heat.” Whatever it is, I’ve got it.

All my love for heat can’t stand in place of my family though – and they live in this freezing place. In fact, this is part of their front yard. “Yard” is kind of a misnomer. They’ve got 25 acres of “yard.”

This beautiful place can be kind of dangerous sometimes. You know how I was supposed to take the Iowa Bar Exam this week? Well, it didn’t happen. Winter storm warnings, combined with actual winter storm conditions, made the risk just too high to travel the 3+ hours to Des Moines on Saturday, Sunday OR Monday. (The Iowa Bar examiners are pretty inflexible about “mandatory orientation” held on Monday. There is no getting around it. Even if you’ve taken 3 bar exams in the last 2 years and it would have been your 4th. If you can’t make Monday’s orientation, you won’t be allowed to take the Tuesday exam. You’re simply out of luck – and money.) At any rate, I made the choice to stay put. So you know what I did? I had that virgin mojito early.

I think freezing temperatures have decided to follow me – when I moved to Las Vegas, it got the first snow it had seen in 30 years. (Yes, 30. Thanks very much. The kids in Vegas got a snow day for less than an inch of snow. Amazing.) Now that I’ve moved to Missouri, it seems like I keep hearing that this is “unseasonably cold.” My brothers and sisters have had snow weeks. (For more than an inch of snow. More like tons of inches of snow. And yes, that’s the technical measurement.)

This is the slightly more sophisticated marshmallow look. I know, I am totally kidding myself – this isn’t a look I’d take anywhere outside of the house! Oh – except I guess posting it online really takes it out of the house. Like to anywhere in the world with internet. Oh well. Enjoy. But know that if I actually walked outside, the beanie and the sweater would have to be the same color white – not winter white vs. white white. And that you wouldn’t catch me in glasses unless I was in front of the computer. Or the piano. Or reading a book. Okay, I admit it – given all the possibilities, you just might catch me in glasses. But NOT in a non-matching beanie/sweater combo.

One thing that I DO love about freezing temperatures is that you have the chance to wear lots of fun clothes. I’m a fan of lots of scarves, great sweaters, and fantastic jackets. I love rich colors, wavy hair, and dark lipstick. Winter’s the perfect time to pull off the cute layered look.  For today though, I’m content to be a marshmallow. Hot chocolate anyone?

Now, I know that I made a choice to move to Missouri. I am also making a choice to stay in Missouri. But I am going to figure out how to stay WARM in Missouri. Or at least not be frozen. :) My plan of attack? Hot chocolate, loads of blankets, and long johns.  Yes, I have resorted to long  johns… Welcome to Missouri.

Dad keeps saying I’ll acclimate. I think by the time that finally happens, I will have enough scarves to make a blanket. You know, that could come in handy… just in case I get cold.