Living in Wisconsin has its perks. We're the home of several great sports teams, including the Packers and Brewers, we have access to all the cheese we could ever want, the people are known as some of the nicest and most welcoming in the country, there's plenty of nature to explore and, much to the confusion of some, Wisconsin isn't actually a frozen wasteland for the entirety of the year. For a few months out of the year, it's actually pretty hot around here, although I suppose we have to acknowledge the five months of the year where we all pretty much dread going outside in fear that our hair might freeze if it's wet (yes that does actually happen).

Oh yes, winter in Wisconsin does get pretty cold. Cold enough for schools to close or delay just because of the negative temperatures, for us to wear what feels like an endless amount of layers only to still be freezing the second we step out the door, and cold enough for our cars to not start when they've been sitting outside for too long. Some nights it's even cold enough that you can throw a pot of boiling water into the air and have it turn to snow. So here's what it's really like to live in Wisconsin in the winter.

Your expression when you go outside:

Sometimes, it's so cold that when you walk outside it actually hurts to breathe and you're sent into a coughing fit.

So you put on a ridiculous number of layers:

A sweater, two sweatshirts, a jacket, a giant scarf, two hats, two sets of gloves, three pairs of socks, insulated boots, Underarmor leggings, jeans and snow pants and you're still cold. Nothing can truly protect you.

It starts with frozen toes and a frozen nose.

And then the cold spreads to your ears and hands and feet and legs and arms and head...

After a few minutes, you can't feel anything at all.

Eventually, you start to wonder if your legs are still there because you can't feel them.

And that's not even mentioning the snow.

It gets everywhere and you regularly have to add a half hour to your commute to get anywhere.

Speaking of winter driving...

A foot and a half of snow? No problem. I'll just turn on the four wheel drive and drive two miles an hour.

The first snow is usually beautiful...and then it just gets old.

A white Christmas? Absolutely. Snow for the three and a half months following Christmas? Please no.

But we constantly say it doesn't bother us.

After all, everyone complaining about 50 degrees being cold has no idea what we live through.