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I wasn’t sure why I felt so out of sorts, but when my husband said, “Let’s go snowshoeing,” it dawned on me that I was spending too much time inside working.

We gathered up our gear and headed outside. As we sweated our way through the snow, I began to feel refreshed and ready to think of other ways of getting out of the house. Here are ten that came to mind.

1. Call a friend to go for a walk or snowshoe. Go where it is safe from ice and snow – maybe at a school track, the Mall, a beach, or a public park or land trust.
2.  Go to the library and browse through the magazines you never get to see.
3.  Visit a museum. Most museums have a time that is free to the public.
4.   Join a book club.
5.   Take time to write down your goals – things you want to do or see in the coming year, or five years.  Forget what the costs are, and dream. Remember the song? "You have to have a dream to have it come true." Keep in mind that you can change the plans.
6.   Then research a trip or trips that you want to take in the summer.
7.   Finish a project that you have been meaning to complete.
8.   Start a new project that you have always wanted to do.
9.   Write a letter to a friend or family member who may be confined to indoors.
10.   Volunteer at a community event.

As we returned to the car with our snowshoes, collar open and gloves off, I thought, "I don't need a Maine

Maine Warmers' Microwave Hand Warmers

Warmer to keep me warm." In the evening I would need one to relax the stiff muscles.

For those who cannot be active, there are Hand Warmers and FootWarmers to help stimulate circulation and keep them warm. 

13 tips to keeping warm while keeping the thermostat turned down.

With home heating oil and gas prices at record highs, you may want to keep your thermostat turned back toward 60 degrees but not suffer from the cold in the process of saving on your heating cost

Maine Warmers' Hand Warmer Mittens

1.  Dress in several thin layers. The air space between the layers also helps keep you warm.
2.   Look for silk or thin polyester long underwear – especially the tops. They can be worn under turtlenecks, blouses, and dresses.
3. Tights and leggings are fashionable. They can be worn under dresses, skirts, or pants for added warmth.
4. A vest will help keep your core warm and a scarf to wrap around your neck will help keep the heat in.
5.  Wear warm socks and shoes that do not fit tightly. When blood flow is restricted toes may feel cold. Shoes that cover your foot completely will help as well.
6.  Wear gloves without the fingers inside, and put on warm mittens or gloves before going outside.
7. Wear a hat. We lose a lot of body heat through our heads.
8. Stay well hydrated, drink warm liquids, and eat nutritious foods.
9.  Keep active to promote good circulation.
10. Going for a walk outside in the winter?  If it’s windy wear a shell either under or over your coat to help break the wind. Also, a light pair of wind pants will slip on over your slacks or blue jeans.
11. Slip a pair of Palm Packs (small reusable hand warmers) inside a pair of large fleecy mittens or your

    

    Palm Packs are small reusable hand warmers

    coat pockets to help keep your hands warm.
12. Put a Maine Warmer or two in your bed to take the chill off cold bed sheets before turning in at night. The warmth may also help you relax and go to sleep.
13. When you sit down to read or watch TV heat up a pair of Hand Warmers  or Neck Warmer and hold it on your lap or tuck it behind your back.

How to stay warm for extended periods of time outside in winter

With winter temperatures bottoming out it is good to avoid hypothermia when you venture outdoors -- especially if you are going to be outside for the inauguration or some other winter event.

• Wear a hat -- most body heat is lost through the head.
• Wear warm socks and insulated foot wear -- save your fancy duds for the inaugural ball.
• Wear gloves -- not those fashionable leather ones but insulated ski type gloves.
• Dress in layers. Add down vests, long underwear, and windbreakers.
• Wear a Neck-up or extra long turtleneck pull up to help cover your face.
• Take warm clothes in your car if you are traveling a distance -- if your car breaks down you may wish you had some extra layers. Pack them for your kids too.

When you come inside away from the cold, use a Maine Warmer to help warm up. If you are going to be out for about an hour you might wrap a Neck Warmer around your neck under your coat, or take some Hand Warmers with you. Slip a warmer or two under the covers before hopping in bed to avoid the chill of cold sheets.

Trapshooting

Trapshooting is a sport that originated in England as a way to train bird hunters and differs from skeet shooting in that the shooter moves from station to station instead of shooting from the same spot. A clay disk is launched from different locations instead of always from the same spot.

Several positive aspects of the sport are that it allows people to compete against themselves as well as others. People who belong to trapshooting clubs or attend meets enjoy the companionship of others who have the same interest. Participation requires physical ability, concentration and practice to achieve excellence.

Trapshooting is usually done outdoors, and in winter can cause hands to become quite cold and uncomfortable. Maine Warmers offers Palm Packs and microwave Hand Warmer mittens that can be reused. Once heated, they can go inside pockets or large mittens to help relieve the pain of cold fingers.

They may also be frozen and used as gentle ice packs to help reduce swelling and soothe migraines.

Maine Warmers offers other styles of heating pads and ice packs to help stiff necks and sore back muscles.