Winter is coming!

So I am a huge fan of Game of Thrones! I love the books and the tv series is pretty much the bomb.com!! Peter Dinklage is my hero <3! If you have not read the books or seen the show 1) what are you doing with your life? and 2) the Stark households saying is Winter is coming...because it is. So this has been on my mind pretty much all summer as I started to prepare myself for the move up here. It is  900 degrees with 100000% humidity but winter is coming!

Well guys it really is coming!! Most nights not it gets down into the 30's! The 30's!!! In August!!! So this new chilly weather has created a small mild internal panic inside me! AKA I AM FREAKING OUT!! I feel like I need to prepare. I need to chop lots of wood even though I don't have a wood stove! I need to hibernate or start squirreling away food. I don't know, but I do know that while I am freaking out over this winter situation that is about to lay a smack down on Fairbanks everyone else is just super calm. They are like hey are you ready and someone else is like almost. and that's it! Logically, I know they have no reason to freak out because they are used to it and whatever but I would really like them to join in on my panic. Have like sympathy panic with me. Is that too much to ask? I don't think so!

I have not used the heater in my cabin yet; mostly for two reasons: 1) my place is super well insulated so it usually never gets below 55 inside and 2) I figure this is a good way to start to adjust (and hopefully stimulate some fur growth in Lace).

So in my panic I made a list of top ten things you need in order to survive a winter in Alaska (Note this list will be revised in spring upon me actually surviving a winter in Alasaka:))

1) Get your car winterized - this means you get fancy oil put in that wont freeze and heaters installed. You have to plug those heaters in so they will warm up your car so you can start it. My house, the university and most parking lots have outlets that you can plug your car in!


2) Epic snow boots and jackets- I have a pair of Columbia boots but I am looking for a pair of bunny boots because everyone sweats by them. I have 2 jackets and my ultra heavy parka that I need to get.

3) Silk long johns- layers are most important lots of underlayers

4) Blankets- I have been stock piling blankets. I look for sales and good deals on blankets everywhere I go. You need them for your house, your dog, and in your car for emergencies. Also, a good goose down never hurts:)

5) Water- An emergency water supply is a must

6) Freeze dried food- Some for your house and car. (Really I have an emergency kit in my car that pretty much contains anything and everything you can think of and probably some that you have not!)

7) Day lamp- because the sun will be gone and that will be so sad! Day lamps are a must

8) Entertainment- Winter here lasts a long time so I have tried to stockpile movies, games, and books to get me through the winter. Psych and New Girl are probably my go to favorites:)

9) Candles and Twinkle Lights- Because they are pretty and handy in an emergancy

10) Hand warmers -this one is kind of self explanatory

I am like 95% sure this list will change and be expanded upon in the next few months so until then...