How to celebrate a not-so-white holiday season

While Bonner County usually boasts a white Christmas, the lack of snow this year doesn't mean the holiday cheer has to disappear.

There are many ways to enjoy holiday festivities without making snow angels, snowmen or spending the holiday weekends skiing at Schweitzer. Indoor crafts can be a great way to decorate your home while spending time together. Paper snowflakes are easy and fun to make and can be taped to windows or strung up around the house.

Baking holiday pastries can also be a fun way to bring holiday cheer to the home, as well as making the house smell amazing in the process. A simple sugar cookie recipe with some fun cookie cutters and frosting can help cure the lack-of-snow blues.

Additionally, snow alternatives can be created out of bundled up socks for a less messy and cold “snowball” fight. This can be a great way to get out of the house and make the most of the weather while still enjoying the holidays.

Just because there isn’t snow, doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of Christmas lights. Take the family on a drive around the neighborhood to enjoy the lights in the evenings. Make a game out of how many Christmas characters can be spotted in yards, like Santa, Rudolph or the Grinch.

And, if all else fails, Christmas movies are in abundance these days. Choose from the classics, a Hallmark flick or a more modern holiday storyline.