Hey, Michiganders. Look outside. Hate it, love it, it doesn’t matter–there’s snow on the ground.

I know it’s almost finals, and I know school is causing students to go into a deep study-induced hibernation, but everyone needs to get into the winter spirit a little. I mean, isn’t it the most wonderful time of the year, or something?

So, to help, here are some basic essentials for a perfect winter night:

1. A fresh layer of snow.
Who cares if it was hailing during my walk home and I was getting ice in my eyes? There are a good three inches of snow outside right now. I’m a very, very happy ginger.

2. Coffee with a best friend.
By now, you all are pretty familiar with C, but since we don’t live next door to each other this year, our late night adventures are much more sporadic. We decided to face the blizzard and meet at Biggby tonight. I decided that the fact that we were willing to leave our warm, toasty homes to walk in the snow means we’re true best friends.

3. Christmas decorations.
Doesn’t matter if you live in a dorm room, apartment, or house–decorate your living space to give it a homey, festive feel. The hardest thing about leaving my house after Thanksgiving is that it looks so cute and Christmas-y, and I don’t get to enjoy it for as long. So why not bring some of the decorations back to school with me? Exactly.

4. An awesome Christmas playlist
I’m not talking about your classic choir Christmas carols (hello, alliteration). My roommate and I are listening to the She & Him Christmas album right now, and I’m quickly falling in love. Glee also has a pretty awesome Christmas CD. Pick your favorite and start shaking your jingle bells. (Yes, I did just say that. No, I did not actually mean for that to be suggestive.)

Also required for the perfect winter night: sweatpants, candles, slippers, chocolate, Santa hats, optional snow dance. 

Happy Tuesday!