The weather outside is frightful -- so it's time to get cozy indoors. Much of the Northeast is expecting anywhere from 18 to 30 inches of snow. Travel bans are in effect in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. A state of emergency has been declared in seven states. Public transit is shut down in many of the affected cities.
So, get comfortable, because you’re not going anywhere. But that doesn’t mean you have to go stir crazy! Here are 10 ideas to keep you busy while you hunker down and wait for the storm to pass.
1. The survival essentials
In case of a power outage, make sure you’re prepared with flashlights, batteries, and water. Experts advise against using candles for light, so be prepared with battery-operated sources of light, like flashlights.
2. The food essentials
Make sure you run to the store to stock up before a storm! Don't forget the essentials: bread, milk, eggs, and whatever other food items you'll need to get yourself through the next couple of days until the East Coast returns to normal.
3. A good cookbook
No time like a snow day to fire up your oven and make some fun treats. Ron Paul’s 2012 cookbook offers some fun ideas, like Oreo truffles, reuben dip, and cheese soup. For the other side of the aisle, try Michelle Obama’s cookbook, "American Grown," which also offers gardening tips (but somehow we think the gardening section might not be as useful this time of year).
4. Netflix
Season 3 of "House of Cards," the political drama that’s taken America by storm, is available on Netflix on February 27. In the meantime, if you haven’t watched the first two seasons, there’s no time like the present! Seasons one and two are available exclusively on Netflix -- spend your snow day getting to know President Frank Underwood.
5. Amazon Prime
"Transparent," another streaming-only TV show, is available on Amazon Prime. After winning awards for Best Actor and Best Comedy Series at the Golden Globes earlier this year, this show about a trans woman who comes out late in life -- and the impact on her adult children -- has become the talk of the town. The first season, 10 episodes long, is available on Amazon Instant Video.
6. A good book
Grab a book and catch up on your reading! Need ideas? Many 2016 hopefuls have been releasing books recently -- from Hillary Clinton’s “Hard Choices” in 2014 to Mike Huckabee’s “God, Guns, Grits, and Gravy.”
7. Our snowstorm quiz!
How much do you know about the storm? Test your knowledge here.
8. Kale
You're probably wondering: Why would I need kale in a snowstorm? Well, apparently a lot of New Yorkers need their kale, because there's been a shortage of the leafy green at grocery stores in the area as New York residents stocked up for the storm.
9. A cocktail
Let’s face it -- with travel bans in place and public transit shut down, you’re not going anywhere anytime soon. So pour yourself a cocktail and enjoy watching the snow come down outside your window. Need a cocktail recipe? Rachel Maddow's got you covered!
