The first really big snowstorm finally arrived -- a few weeks late for Christmas but, "packing the biggest wallop so far this winter." In what amounts to one big morning plop, forecasters say the storm will blanket the midwest and northeast with nine inches of snow in just a few hours. Speaking of blankets, you'll probably need a few of those if you're planning to hunker down until the storm moves along. Here are a couple of tips for keeping warm this weekend:

When the weather turned cold, my grandmother always turned to baking instead of stovetop cooking. You can roast beef very slowly at a low temperature for a yummy dinner that helps heat the house for hours. Of course, if you aren't tired of it yet, there's always turkey, too. And when you're done with the main dish, a fresh-baked pan of brownies warms the innards -- of home and family.

And there's always the cold weather-dweller's best friend: fleece. Dollar-for-dollar and ounce-for-ounce, fleece keeps you warm like nothing else. Snuggle into in some comfy fleece pajamas and cuddle up under a fleece blanket -- before you know it, you'll be turning the heat down!

Your "Bundle Up, Hunker Down" Gift Guru
Linda