There is no question about it. Aspen is a wonderful place to be in the winter. There is something magical about the sparkling snow, and the bustling streets and the even more crowded Ski Mountains. With the holiday lights shining on the mill street mall, it is nothing short of a winter wonderland. However, over break with many people out of town and visiting family or friends, there is not too much to do in our small town. Skiing everyday for fourteen or fifteen days straight can be a little much for some people. Luckily for you, reader, I am here with a few ways to brighten up your holidays while at home.

1. Go see a play. This December, there seems to be an abundance of theater and dance in the Roaring Fork Valley. There is the ASFB Nutcracker, Annie at Sol Theater, Shrek by Theater Aspen, and A Lion in Winter, which is presented by Thunder River Theater. Almost all of these productions will feature various students from AHS, so go check it out. The dates of these shows can be found in the December Event Calendar of our previous issue.
2. If you are not in the mood to brave the cold and venture out of the house, try doing a puzzle. If done with a few friends, family members, and just the right amount of hot chocolate, it can make a once dull and cold afternoon into a fun one.
3. Another good stay at home option is making holiday cards. Staying home and cutting out shapes of colored construction paper (or if you are really creative maybe drawing or painting), while watching your favorite Netflix show is far from the worst thing to do while the snow (hopefully) falls outside.
4. Go on a hike or walk. Although the weather can get into the negatives, sometimes all anyone needs is a break from the indoors. Smuggler Mountain is a relatively easy trail, as is the Rio Grande if you are in search of something flatter. If you are in the mood for a challenge, try Tiehack or Ajax.
5. Try a new holiday recipe. Even if you are an atrocious baker and can barely cook Mac n Cheese like myself, there is something fun about getting in the kitchen and trying something new. There are a lot of recipes that work well enough if you follow them diligently, and the truth is that your family and friends won’t complain about having fresh baked goods, even if they are slightly burnt on the outside and gooey in the interior. **Check out Jordana’s holiday recipes on page ___!
6. Find a good holiday themed movie. Alright, yes. Most of them are more than a little bit cheesy, but who’s to say that’s a bad thing? It’s still enjoyable to curl up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and laugh and get way to invested in the character’s decisions regarding their singing group (The Mistle Tones, anyone?)
7. Just sleep. Hey, it’s break. Why not?
8. Blow frozen bubbles. I have tried this one before. Blowing bubbles in cold weather is possibly one of the most amusing ways to make a boring day better. The bubbles that ordinarily pop when touch can now be tossed (kind of), and poked and prodded.

With these suggestions in mind, hopefully it will be easier to avoid a break spent sitting around aimlessly, wondering what to do. Have a wonderful winter holiday, AHS!