Hello! I hope everyone's enjoying their winter break so far, and for those of you who- like me have to work during the holidays, I hope you have at least gotten some rest. Hopefully, all of your finals are over, and you can give your brain a rest. Right about now you might be desperately trying to find something to do to get yourself out of your room. I love sleeping more than most people but I can’t take it anymore! I love learning new things and picking up new hobbies, especially during holiday breaks. So here are five new things to try over your winter break.

1. Knitting/Crocheting:

I know what you're thinking. Knitting, isn’t that for grandmas? No, it's not. Knitting and crocheting are really relaxing, and it's not hard to learn. When you finish a project it feels really good and you can flaunt something that you created (why pay for something you can make yourself?). Yeah, your friends will probably make fun of you for a while and call you grams/gramps but they will also be hitting you up for a new scarf this winter. I learned to crochet from my grandma who use to crochet everything from blankets, hats, to bicycle seat covers. She taught me the basics but I had forgotten everything. One summer I decided to try and pick it back up. I have now managed to master crocheting and knitting! if you're a beginner you might want to start with crocheting. You only have to worry about one hook and (for me) it's faster than knitting. The thicker the yarn the faster and easier the project you are working on is going to be, keep that in mind. Make sure you take into consideration the size of your crochet hook/knitting needles as well. Now when I first started to learn, it was hard to find good videos on where to begin. Here are links to some helpful tutorials and the brands I have used. My first project was a headband, which didn’t come out too well, so don’t worry about your first project not being how you envisioned. I hope you guys give this a try and maybe make a special someone, family member, or friend a nice handmade gift for the holidays.

Yarn Brands: Can be found at any Michaels store.

- Lion Brand

- Cloud Born

- Sprightly

- Bernat

Knitting for beginners:

Crocheting for Beginners:

2. Drawing/Painting

I recently started trying to learn how to draw. Of course, it is really difficult to not only draw well but to actually look at your work and think it's good. I have finally reached the point where I am not mortified at the thought of people seeing my drawings. But whether it be sketching or painting it is very calming and relaxing. When I draw I find that it takes up all of my focus and time seems to fly by. I was looking on Pinterest for ideas on what to draw (because I cannot draw freehand) and I came across these ‘sketch of the day’ challenges. If you are like me and have to have a reference to look at before you even attempt drawing then this could be quite terrifying, but I decided to try. I am now on day three (cup of hot cocoa) and it is really challenging, but it feels nice once it's done. By all means, you don’t have to do something like this but experiment. See what you like best whether it be watercolor, oil painting, charcoal sketching, or graphic design. Explore what you like to create like zentangles (my personal favorite), anime, landscapes, etc. try a little of everything and see what you enjoy!

3. Arts and crafts

I love arts and crafts. You can turn everyday things around the house into beautiful masterpieces. Not only is it fun but you can transform things you no longer use into new useful items. When I was a freshman, I was most excited about decorating my dorm room- I must have visited Michaels a hundred times. Whether it be making creative new pieces for your dorm room/bedroom, office organization, or maybe just a fun family craft project there are limitless options to explore. If you're looking for some projects to try, you can look on websites like Pinterest that give you the items you’ll need and give you the steps to get the end result you would like. You can even go online and type in what you would like to make and follow it with DIY (do it yourself). I will share a picture of a project I did with mason jars, paint, and some 3D stickers to give you an idea. Don’t worry about messing up or if you can pull it off, The best part about arts and crafts is that there are no mistakes, and something you may think you did wrong might be the best part of your project. So give it a try and have fun!

4. Get a new book:

This might just be me, but I am a bookworm. Some of my best days have been spent lounging around and finally finishing that novel that’s been taunting me on my bookshelf. But, let’s take this a step further. Go outside with your new book, Find a nice cafe, bookstore, etc. Find that shop that sells discount books and scour the different carts for your next favorite novel. Hit up your local Barnes and Nobles and walk around, look at a genre you don’t usually go for. Look at travel books and plan your next big trip. Find a book on a language you have always wanted to learn. Get that cookbook with recipes you have always wanted to try. Or stop by the graphic novel section and check out your favorite illustrators/comic artists. The best thing about books is that you don’t really have to even leave your house to escape.

5. Go on weekly adventures!

I know a lot of people get tired of staying inside all day so why not go on an adventure once in a while? My roommates and I have made a plan to go on an adventure once a week (I’ll be sure to post them soon). Even if you don’t live somewhere like the city, it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun exploring your hometown. Go online look up some fun activities around your neighborhood. You may find something you never thought to try before. Also, bring a journal with you jot down notes, sketches, poetry, etc. In high school, I went on a trip to Europe and my art teacher had us bring around these journals to sketch in and we could write, draw, even stick wrappers from the different foods we ate. Now, I can look back at it and I think of all of the memories I had. So go out and make some great memories this winter break!