So yesterday, the temperature dropped to -40 degrees Celsius (with the wind chill).

This means it felt like it was -40 degrees Celsius regardless of what the actual thermometer was implying. The wind chill sort of takes what the thermometer suggests and says, “Good guess thermometer, I’ll take it from here.”If you think you know what -40 degrees Celsius feels like, allow me to explain.

 
I cooked some lean ground beef to begin my crock-pot marathon day of cooking because there was no way I was going to be leaving the house anytime soon. After draining the fat from the beef into a can, I opened the door between the mudroom and the garage to set the can next to the recycling bins. The once liquid beef juice solidified instantly as I opened the door. I felt like the ice cream barristas at Dairy Queen who are tasked with turning my blizzard upside down to prove that it is too thick to fall onto my fists full of nickels during our exchange.

 
That’s how cold it is.

 
And because we are not skiers (too much equipment) and we’re not skaters (weak ankles) and we’re not dog-sled breeders (too much barking) and we’re not seal hunters (too political), we decided to stay inside until the first signs of spring.

 
Here are a few things you can do if, like us, you hate being outside when your beef fat freezes faster than my husband and I can say, “Jinx!” after saying at the exact same time, “It’s snowing to beat the band out there.”

 
1. Skip Bo and Skip-Bo Jackpot—our new favourite card game.

2. Movies-guilt free! Snow days are about survival. Don’t worry about letting your kids watch a great movie (or seven)

3. Too Many Monkeys, Sleeping Queens and Wig Out—any GameWright games.

These are card games kids of all ages can enjoy. They’re educational, fun and in many cases, invented by kids.
4. Wii Ski because it’s warm and ironic.
5. Bake something—better still, let the kids find a recipe and bake something with minimal assistance from you.
6. Have your kids organize and/or clean a cupboard or closet. You’ve got free help, take advantage of it. Two shelves of my kitchen pantry have been addressed and they look, well, like a couple of kids had fun building pyramids out of cans.
7. Send someone a homemade card.
8. Taxes—bleh (I said here are a few things you can do. I didn’t say “fun” things)
9. Vacuum your stairs. When else are you going to do it?