The winter in Edmonton is very cold and very dry. While I fully appreciate the magic of the sparkling of snow in the morning sun and the unique satisfaction that comes with sliding along a patch of ice or placing the first crunching footprint in a newly fallen snowbank, these wonders do not negate the fact that it is bloody freezing, my lips are chapped and my hair spends most of its time sticking straight up due to the static. Thankfully, winter's faults are manageable with the help of

1) Magic Bags. fabulous wheat/rice/I'm not entirely certain what-filled bags that come in various shapes and sizes and can be heated in the microwave and placed in key locations (such as around the neck or across the tummy) to speed the rewarming process after a hike out in the cold.

2) Polysporin Lip Treatment. There are a few varieties, not all of which I have tried, but this gunk is freaking magic! Cracked lips are healed after one application. What is polysporin not good for? honestly!

3) Pantene Pro-V silk transformation creme. According to the container this stuff is supposed to increase softness and shine, but mostly it just works really well at forcing my hair to obey the laws of gravity and stop sticking to my face while at the same time not making me appear greasy or encouraging terrible break-outs.

Also, I spent this weekend with my little sister avoiding school work and watching reruns of Bones. I really like Bones. You should rent it.

In summary, stuff that was liked this week: magic bags, polysporin, pantene pro-V hair gunk, my little sister, and television's bastardized version of forensic anthropology. What will the next week bring?