It's back: The Daily's guide to banishing boredom this winter break. For those who found the first edition a bit too grinchy for their taste, eat this one up — it'll warm the heart.

Satisfying the sweet tooth

For those of you who believe the controversial claim that overeating leads to obesity, here's some food for thought: Wild animals often put on an extra layer of blubber during the cold season by gorging themselves. Bears do it. Should we really be so different from our furry friends?

Overeating is simply a means to an end. It is cold outside, you're cold, you'd like to be warmer, a thick layer of fat would undoubtedly help, so eat. It's vacation; a little — or a lot –— of eggnog (binges) never hurt.

After getting your fill of nog, it's time to reflect upon the sweet days of childhood. The glorious season of times tables, arts and crafts and recesses lives on only in our memories, but this winter bring back the nostalgia by taking part in some throw-back activities.

Exercise your creative side and satisfy your sweet tooth by making gingerbread houses with your friends.

The idea here is pretty straightforward. Get some graham crackers, frosting and other assorted decorative candies, and go nuts creating the fairytale candyhouse of your sweetest dreams.

If you've ever made a gingerbread house before, you probably know how hard it is to get the graham crackers to stick together using store-bought frosting.

According to Cooks.com, the perfect sugary cohesive is created by combining three egg whites at room temperature, one pound powdered sugar, one teaspoon, vanilla, one-half teaspoon cream of tartar, and beating all ingredients for seven to 10 minutes.

Whip up this sticky frosting, throw your gingerbread house together and then enjoy destroying your friends' houses in a jealous rage when you find out their candy cane lampposts are far superior.

Kickin' it with Santa

Over break it's almost inevitable that one will set foot inside a mall, whether it's preferred or not. Within the hallowed walls exists one of winter's most precious sights.

You've seen it: the Santa Claus display at the mall. It taunts you, teases you with the memories of your youth when you would eagerly await your turn to tell your wishes to the fat man whom would kindly welcome you into his plush lap.

Now, however, it's unacceptable for our generation to talk to Santa — well, most of the time.

There is still hope for infiltrating this stronghold of holiday wishes. It comes in the form of the Noerr Program. This is the company that hires the Santas and elves for mall displays.

Although Noerr is only looking for naturally bearded Santas (which, and this may be wrong, probably eliminates most students at the UW because a long, white and, most importantly, real beard is necessary) they are also looking for Santa's little helpers, also known as elves.

Remember them? The awkward men and women in tights and bell-laden hats and shoes who escorted little ones from the velvet rope to Santa. Becoming an elf seems to be the best way for college-age kids to kick it with Santa and not conjure up a restraining order or a banning from the mall.

If you'd like to become an elf for the holiday season, come close to reliving precious childhood memories and make a buck at the same time. Go to Noerrprograms.com and fill out an application.

According to the Web site, Noerr is looking for aware, friendly, gracious and positive people who can help children smile and enjoy themselves.

A word of warning however: These hired elves are not always taken kindly to by the staunchest supporters of holiday authenticity. Expect some backlash from your peers if you decide to pursue this pastime.

"You mean the elves that are totally not small and don't even have pointy ears?" said sophomore Whitney Carter. "They're [just] poseurs, man."

Other people hold more of a pitying opinion of the elves.

"I think there are two types of mall elves," said sophomore Joey Flynn. "One group are those who are contemplating committing suicide, and the other are those who think that being a Christmas elf is the coolest thing anyone can do."

Let it snow — sort of

If the elf bit doesn't work out, you can always build an effigy of a mall elf out of snow and then proceed to knock it down showing how you never really wanted to be one anyway.

If living in a climate that has not been blessed with bountiful amounts of snow prohibits your ability to do this, fear not. Mother Nature can't stick a fork in you; you've got technology.

There are numerous snow-making machines available on the Internet, but most are priced quite steeply.

"The weather is a tease here," said freshman Mara Zander. "I'd pay everything I have for some decent snow."

One doesn't have to pay a hefty price for a white winter. The most affordable thing to do is to make a snow-machine at home. These devices are actually quite simple, and kits to build them are available online for as low as $40.

According to Snow-blaster.com, a provider of such kits, the machines are perfect for those climates which have sub-freezing temperatures but little precipitation. The machines can produce enough snow to even create ramps and jumps.

If you love to make people smile spread some holiday cheer this year by going caroling around your hometown.

People love to hear the sweet voices of the youth gently singing outside their doors. It will surely warm their hearts.

"The spirit of Christmas is getting drunk and singing songs," said junior Bradford Johnson. "This isn't the Charlie Brown Christmas Special; this is real life."

Try singing some well-known classics like "Jingle Bells" and "Feliz Navidad." However, you could also mix it up and try to raise some other songs to the status of caroling classics like Will Smith's "Big Willie Style."

Experiment –— the neighbors will benefit from the broadening of their musical sampling.

Reporter Camden Swita: features@thedaily.washington.edu