Exetercation: Keeping Entertained at Home this January

Welcome to the January edition of the Exetercation - a guide to inspire you during the long cold month of January! Let's face it, most of us struggle during the first month of the year. Pay day seems like miles away, it's cold, dark and now we're under another national lockdown!

It's more important than ever to look after our mental health and wellbeing as much as we can. We hope that we can help encourage you all with some inspiration and motivation with our latest stay at home guide!

Exciting activities 

We already have some great activities lined up on our Exetercation page, so make sure you scroll through and try something new. Activities include DIY Pamper Party, Arts & Crafts and Come Dine with Me Home Edition! No matter our age, we all like a bit of colouring in - take a look at our Exeter Themed posters to get you started! 

Make sure to keep an eye out on these pages, we'll be regularly updating them with fresh ideas...

Have a cosy night in

Why not have a night at the movies in your very own home! Below we have some tips and tricks to make your movie night extra special!

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Checklist:

• Dim the lights and close your blinds/curtains
• Create a cosy place… think lots of blankets and duvets, extra pillows – make sure everyone is comfortable
• Have your favourite snacks and drinks at the ready (we have even included some links to our DIY recipes)
• Make sure all phones are on either turned off or are on silent
• The hardest part - chose a film!

Visit our Stay at Home Cinema page for some amazing popcorn ideas and visit our Celebrating Bonfire Night at Home for some yummy hot chocolate recipes.

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Struggling to pick a film? You're in luck, we've put together some winter-themed films for both adults and children. We've even put together a list of song and literature guides to keep you entertained after the film has finished!‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎Don't forget to check out our Imagination and Music blog for songs written by artists from Exeter or very close and books based in Devon!‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

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10 winter themed films for adults

1. The Grey
2. Wind River
3. Snow Day
4. White Out
5. The Day After Tomorrow
6. Bridget Jones
7. Titanic
8. Into the White
9. The Snowman
10. Snow White and the Huntsman

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Winter themed films for children

1. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
2. Ice Age
3. Frozen
4. Abominable
5. Happy Feet
6. Mr Popper’s Penguins
7. Mary Poppins
8. The Polar Express
9. March of the Penguins
10. Arctic Tale

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Winter themed songs

1. Wintertime – by Norah Jones
2. Let it Go (from Frozen) – by Idina Menzel
3. Coldest Winter – by Kanye West
4. I’ve got my love to keep me warm – by Frank Sinatra
5. The Hounds of Winter – by Sting
6. Winter Winds – by Mumford & Sons
7. Wintertime Love – by the Doors
8. Snow – by Red Hot Chili Peppers
9. Winter Things – by Ariana Grande
10. Winter – by Khalid

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Winter themed books for adults

1. Murder on the Orient Express – by Agatha Christie
2. The Snow Child – by Eowyn Ivey
3. Winter Garden – by Kristin Hannah
4. The Spy who came in from the snow – by John le Carre
5. Shiver – by Maggie Stiefvater
6. Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances – by John Green
7. Kissing Snowflakes – by Abby Sher
8. Winter Town – by Stephen Emond
9. The Winter’s Tale – by William Shakespeare
10. In the Bleak Midwinter – by Julia Spencer-Fleming

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10 winter themed books for children

1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – by C.S Lewis
2. The Snowy Day – by Ezra Jack Keats
3. The Polar Express – by Chris Van Allsburg
4. The Long Winter – by Laura Ingalls Wilder
5. Katy and the Big Snow – by Virginia Lee Burton
6. Dream Snow – by Eric Carle
7. Waiting for Winter – by Sebastian Meschenmoser
8. The Snow Queen – by Hans Christian Andersen
9. Willow and the Snow Day Dance – by Denise Brennan-Nelson
10. Winter is for Snow – by Robert Neubecker

Capture that picture-perfect wildlife image

It's important to take a little time out and get a breath of fresh air! Even spending 10 minutes in your garden can help, weather permitting of course. Whilst you're enjoying your outdoor space, if you see any wildlife you may want to get snapping... 

Exeter City Council and Devon Wildlife Trust have teamed up to encourage people to take photos of 'Wildlife at Home', as part of a new competition! Anyone who lives in Exeter can enter, there are some great prizes up for grabs! Click here to find out how to enter!