Random 5 for January 18, 2026 – Snow, weather, hair, colors, coupons

It’s snowing…again! – We’ve been hit with two back-to-back snowstorms. The original predictions were for 1 to 3 inches for Saturday. We had an “overachiever” and had 5 inches. It’s snowing now. It was supposed to be flurries to an inch. It’s “very heavy” flurries for sure and (at 8 a.m.) there is already more than an inch on top of yesterday’s snow. The weathermen were hedging on these storms because if they moved a little in any direction, their prediction is off. Well, they moved! I’m so ready for spring!

Speaking of weather – We had some very cold weather this week. It was in the high teens (Fahrenheit, it would be -7 C) in the morning. I was in Starbucks for a morning coffee. A middle-aged man came in with shorts on and flip flops. Not the furry-lined flip flops but the ones you wear in the shower. Rubbery. Cold. That sparked the conversation. It made me laugh. People are weird!

Then there is winter hair – My hair is different in the winter. I have a wave but with the dryer weather, not as much. It’s much easier to style with the summer humidity. I had a haircut this week and my hair is punishing me by doing wonky things, winter style! Maybe I should wear a hat.

Seeking distractions! — One of my favorite distractions is to redecorate something. In 2024 I painted my bathroom a pink to bring out a color in the wallpaper that was on the vanity wall. Nope, nope, nope. I love pink. I tried two different shades, and it didn’t work for me. I repainted it back to a neutral shade this weekend. I may not be done yet, but Barbie pink is gone. (What was I thinking?) Note to self: Buying new pillows is a lot less work.

Birthday coupons! – January birthdays are not my favorite for a lot of reasons. The birthday coupons are one. I try to buy stuff I need with the black Friday sales which are good. By the time January comes around, the inventory is picked over; my size is gone; and I don’t need anything. Yet I have a couple (very good) coupons to use. A November birthday would be good to get the coupons on top of the sales, but I’ve always wanted a summertime birthday when people want to go out and celebrate.

So how was your week?

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91 thoughts on “Random 5 for January 18, 2026 – Snow, weather, hair, colors, coupons

  1. YES, Spring cometh!!
    Way too cold this morning! My son woke up to 65 degrees this morning. I am in the wrong place. Was 13 degrees here! Now its a whole 17 degrees. Glad I don’t have to go out today.
    LOL about the shorts and flip flops. I love my flip flops BUT not in winter!!

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  2. Our weather forecasts are a bit like that. We might get snow or it might go to France instead. No snow here yet but I did catch the northern lights from my bedroom window as I was going to bed yesterday. It was a first for me.

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  3. Hi Kate. I just posted something and it didn’t show up. This has happened a few times lately when I’ve commented. I think I figured out what was going on. I’m going to see if this one shows up now. 🤷‍♀️

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  4. I worked as an RN in adult psychiatric hospitals for several years. When admitting a patient, part of the assessment was to observe and note whether the person was dressed appropriately for the weather. – Just saying…

    In regard to lack of humidity and waves in hair during winter, I have same problem in Texas. My solution – Kenra dry shampoo. Really fluffs it up. 😄

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  5. As you know, I like winter so I’m not tired of snow (yes I’m a freak). What I don’t like is when the temps drop to the teens and turns everything to ice. I like the fluffy, glistening snow.

    I love your sense of humor. I have way too many days of “I tried” hairdos–no matter the season. Most especially with my colicky bangs.

    Been thinking of you and sending warm thoughts as you miss your Morgan.

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  6. Second guessing the weather is a national and international occupation these days. Better to look out the window then decide, but dress for all types, just in case.

    Sorry your decorating went wonky. Change the vanity wall and maybe things will work out?

    ERin

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    • I wonder if you can bet on the weather at those big gaming companies. They would figure out a way to control it! I am changing the vanity wall and the soffit. Took the old wallpaper down and I already like it better. The new stuff is beautiful and the colors work much better. I loved the pattern of the old paper but the background was a gray tone and that just didn’t work in the bathroom.

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  7. We had the same thing happen to us last week – Tuesday I think it was they called for a “dusting” and we got six inches of snow. All the meteorologists were wrong though, not just a few … something atmospheric happened … they were kind of trying to backpedal and got all scientific about it. It did not make that six inches of snow any better – sigh. We are in the Deep Freeze right now – Monday and Tuesday will have a -15 to -25 real feel (depending on what station you listen to), 40 mph wind and snow squalls. I am so done with Winter and it will be weeks ’til I can get to the Park for the critters as there is ice everywhere. Funny about the guy with the flip flops. I was shoveling and a guy pulled up across the street with a snow blower and started on the homeowner’s driveway, then went to the door. The homeowner came out in flip flops, a tank top and shorts and moved his car into the street while the guy finished the driveway. It was a bitter cold day and I had multiple layers on and was still cold.

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          • I’m dreading it – we had -17 real feel when I got up this morning and thankfully there was no snow, so I just went out to run the car and scurried back in. But we’re getting 1-3 inches of snow overnight. I hope next week is better.

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              • Yes, we are already being warned about Saturday’s temps and “real feels” and it’s quite scary to be honest. For years when we had the really cold weather, I washed small loads of clothes to keep the pipes warm. Last Friday, the washing machine died. I didn’t call in anyone as we were having all this snow and ice and cold temps and multiple people said to me “I never wash clothes to warm the pipes” … the washer and dryer are Maytags, 34 years old. I’ll call the appliance repair person after this weekend … I am not in dire need of washing clothes right now – hopefully they’ll be able to get parts if needed. I was telling my neighbor about my washer – his died last week, two year’s old and a Whirlpool. I won’t be getting a Whirlpool if I need a new one. Our wintry weather started Thanksgiving and it’s been non-stop and we have two months until Spring (supposedly).

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                  • Yes, I am wondering how successful that venture will be. If I have to get a new washer, I’ll just get a new dryer while I’m at it and get it over with so not to invite another mess down the line. I’m waiting until this bitter cold weather has passed – so first of February I’ll call.

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                    • I do too! I have plenty of bedding, towels, etc., as my mom and I had four sets of bedding for each bed and lots of towels. I have a lot of my mom’s clothes that fit me, like PJs (even though she was much shorter than me). Some things can be hand washed. I have enough going on with this bitter cold for now … if he tears it apart and doesn’t come back right away, I need to have a place for the condensate hose from the furnace to drain – it is hooked up to the washer hose and I need to reach the laundry tub. I’ve been dripping, now streaming, water in all my taps most of January.

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  8. I’m glad we don’t have snow. It’s been in the low 50s, high 40s here, sometimes sunny, sometimes cloudy. The problem: This is supposed to be our rainiest month. That might be a problem for our plants and trees. (The weather always gives us something to complain about.)

    Pink is tricky. The first year we were married, I painted the living room pink because my grandma gave us a burgundy sofa. (My husband let me choose.) A pink bathroom is one thing, but a pink living room?

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  9. Pro tip: most places will let you choose any birthday you want. I also didn’t like getting my coupons in January so I changed my birthdate to late spring so I could use them to buy summer clothes.

    Both my husband and I were in flip-flops today… maybe it’s time to take a little vay-cay to warmer climes. 😎🌴

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    • I chose a July birthday for one rewards program but that wasn’t really a good month for buying either. Probably March-April or the September-October time frame would work. I tried to change my birthday on another reward program and it wouldn’t let me. I guess it thought birthdays weren’t like addresses. They don’t change. Instead of a birthday coupon I wish they would let you pick a coupon month of your choice. Now that’s an idea!

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    • Lucky you! I like changing things up but the last few times I did projects myself, I said this is the last! I’m too old for this. Then I get an estimate and say, “well, maybe one more time!”

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  10. I’m the same with wanting to change something in the house when January comes around. I’m ready for spring and a fresh start. I’m in Canada and see the occasional guy in shorts during winter. They can’t let go of summer and admit they are freezing.

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  11. The flipflops-and-shorts guy evidently went to Giant after Starbucks. I saw him coming out as I was going in, and I did a double-take. He must have enjoyed the attention he got at Starbucks and decided to stay that way and see how people he could freak out.

    Either that, or we’ve got multiple weirdos who prefer the polar plunge around here!

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  12. Ah, isn’t it just a big relief to have a color that works for you? It was a good distraction and I am glad to hear you are finished and done with ladders… or step stool for a bathroom? I am thinking you have some high ceilings. That’s a lot of snow, Kate. Hope you are enjoying tasty snacks. Snow was always an excuse to eat FOOD. It’s cloudy, blustery, rainy and cold—54° at one oh clock. Not normal and the temp is still dropping. Our week was an assortment of good, great, sorta bad and hopes this coming week will be better.

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    • I’m not done. Just the painting part is done. I also decided I hate the wallpaper too. Pillows are so much easier! 🙂 I would take 54 in a minute! Right now we consider that downright balmy. Still love pink but maybe not on my walls. My next door neighbor is a snowbird. She hasn’t left yet. Not sure why. Your weather has to be better than ours.

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  13. HAHA! That “weather report” sounds like the stuff we hear too. We had about 25 flakes of snow this morning and the weather people called that a “snow shower”. So far we’ve only had some fairly conversational snow – not that I want more but so far predictions have been WAY OFF. The guy in Starbucks with flipflops obviously is taking “hot flash” to a whole new level. Stay cozy…..we are………fires in the fireplace, hot soups, might as well enjoy WHATEVER comes our way.

    Hugs, Pam

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    • That guy got a lot of comments (all in good spirit). He admitted that he wasn’t thinking when he ran out for coffee. The 2-tier storm was supposed to mostly miss us with not much more than 25 flakes on the second pass. Welp! They were wrong! Streets are clear now. We went out for pizza. Snow gives me cabin fever even if I hadn’t planned on going out.

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  14. Been snowing here on and off. Now it’s raining with more snow in the wings. New York City of course treats every weather alert like the Cuban Missile Crisis store shelves stripped like we should be headed to our bunkers.

    I love when you redecorate since we get to see those snapshots.

    You sound much better. So glad. 🙂

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  15. This snow wreaks havoc with pet sitting. Roads cleared enough to get to places by yesterday afternoon but it doesn’t look good for today. Which is why I require people to have backup plans in winter. But it means I couldn’t get my new foster kitty either which is a bummer. And temp predictions for Tuesday – argh! How many days until spring?

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  16. Oh my! I was trying away and somehow, it all went away! What I did was say that while I didn’t want to be ridiculously complimentary, I have to tell you I loved the blog. It matches my thought processes today, so of course, that got my typing fingers moving! The weather predictions were spot on!!! I’ll be send the blog to my family members. They will enjoy it as well. Thanks for the smiles. I’m a kitty, so don’t mind my zooming back and forth between topics.

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