Blog Posts by Sarah McColl, Shine staff

We're deep into February, buried in snow (or just freezing our butts off), and for now at least, spring is way out of sight. What better time to think about the aspects of winter that are actually pretty grand? Bet you can add at least 25 more reasons in the comments. And yes, that is a dare.

1. dogs in sweaters
2. getting sweaty outside: snowshoeing, skiing, sledding, snowball fights…
3. renewed resolve
4. slippers (especially the anthropomorphized ones)
5. babies in fuzzy hats
6. wearing the deepest, darkest, muskiest perfumes
7. a big, wrap-it-around-three-times scarf
8. using that posh, ultra-rich moisturizer
9. stews & soups
10. sun reflecting off the snow
11. blood oranges
12. fireside brunching, napping, smooching…
13. big, bold red wines
14. big, sweeping epic novels
15. bubble baths (they just don't hold the same appeal in summer)
16. the perfect blush color, naturally
17. hot tubs
18. flowering bulbs
19. holding hands inside your

We all know that restaurant portions are totally out of control and that we've lost sight of how much food it takes to sate our hunger. The bridge between knowing and changing is crossed with small steps. Here are 10 simple tips to keep in mind to help scale back your super-sized portions. Some are

There are the times you spring for a massage because you woke up with a crick in your neck that brings tears to your eyes. And then there are the more self-indulgently-motivated times, when you just need to escape to a quiet room and feel pampered. But massage is more than a posh spa treatment for a girl's day out. This is an ancient therapeutic practice (even Hippocrates thought all doctors should now how to give a proper rub-down!) that can lower stress and blood pressure, boost immunity, and ease depression and anxiety. School yourself in which type of massage might best suit your needs using the following rundown:

Swedish massage. This is the most commonly offered type of massage and is the basis for some of the other types of massage below. Even though you're usually nude under a towel, shy types needn't worry, because you're never really exposed. Using a technique called draping, the massage therapist will uncover only the body part they are working on. This is a relaxing form

USA's Wilma Rudolph, Clarksville, Tenn., hits the tape to win the gold medal in the women's 4 x 100-meter relay at the Summer Olympics in Rome, Sept. 8, 1960.If you're looking for a kick in the pants to jump-start change, look no further than prime-time. With the hours of hard work, sweat, sacrifice, tears, and eventual triumph, the Winter Games are as juicy as daytime soaps and far more edifying. Because when you're looking to change something in your life, to be the best version of yourself, and to take things to the next level, who better than a world-class athlete to shine a light on the way?

• "The potential for greatness lives within each of us." --Wilma Rudolph, former Olympic track and field

• "Ingenuity plus courage plus work equals miracles." --Bob Richards, former Olympic pole vaulting champion

• "The only way to overcome is to hang in." --Dan O'Brien , former Olympic Decathlon athlete

• "Focus, discipline, hard work, goal setting and, of course, the thrill of finally achieving your goals. These are all lessons in life." --Kristi Yamaguchi, former Olympic figure skating champion

• "A trophy carries dust. Memories last forever."

I still remember the time someone told me "Monday is a state of mind." Uh, no, Monday is a stark reality of the standard work week and the end of all fun. Duh. But over time, I've come to see what this person was getting at -- there's no difference between Monday and Friday other than our state of mind. In other words, our experience of the world is filtered through our perceptions. One sure fire way to change the quality of our day-to-day lives is to try to change our perspective, and one tried-and-true method to do that is through a gratitude practice. Some call it counting their blessings, but the idea is the same: instead of harping on all that's going wrong, we choose to focus on what's going right. Thinking about your life in these positive terms can not only make your life seem more charmed, in can help reduce stress. Here are four easy-to-execute life-improving ideas that don't cost a dime:

Write in a journal. You've likely seen this suggestion before, and the reason is it's a

I have a friend who is pretty breezy about her spending habits, and in a way, it's a quality I admire. While I'm weighing the cost benefit analysis of dried versus canned beans, she's getting herself cheap manis or treating herself to a new drugstore eyeliner. She's not rich by any means, and her splurges aren't bank-breakers, she just likes to give herself lots of little treats. "That was just the price of happiness today," she'll say. And sure, money can't buy happiness, but it can buy a little pick-me-up on a day that's not going your way.

• A coffee for you...and the next person in line. Don't you love those stories about people getting to the pay window at the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru and realizing the person in front of them paid for their drink? This might fall into "urban legend" territory, but I like to think not. For example, a generous friend of mine regularly treats the next person in line at her coffee place and it makes her feel like a million bucks.

• Wet 'n'

There's nothing intrinsically wrong with being a night owl -- you're looking at one, after all -- but the trouble arises when you have to abide by the schedule of the rest of the world. You know, the one that gets up early for their morning commute and snatches that proverbial worm. Here are eight painless ways to join the early bird ranks.

• Make a nighttime routine. Half the battle of getting up earlier is falling to sleep at a reasonable hour. Start a nighttime routine that gets your body ready to relax, and put your routine in motion at least 8 hours before your alarm is going to go off in the morning. Maybe this includes taking a warm bath, having a cup of chamomile tea, deep breathing, or getting under the sheets and reading or writing in your journal. Create a ritual that will really get you to slow down and welcome an early bed time with open arms.

• Turn off the TV and the computer. Television and the internet are too stimulating for pre-bedtime behavior. Don't watch

Ah, remember when the year was fresh and new, and we were pumped full of resolve to become the ideal versions of ourselves? We were going to exercise 90 hours a week, cure cancer, and cook like Julia Child. And then we realized we were being utterly unrealistic. But look, just cause it's a random Tuesday in February doesn't make today any less fitting for a fresh start. In fact, that might as well be our first tip: this moment is the perfect time to start over.

• Rekindle your motivation. The reason you made these resolutions in the first place is because there was something you wanted to achieve, and at the start of the year you had the fire in your belly to make it happen. But now it's cold outside, you haven't made any progress, and the couch is singing its siren song. Been there. You just need to get back in touch with that fire in your belly. Look at magazines, blogs, and books that fill you with inspiration. Visualize yourself achieving your goal. Read some encouraging quotes.