Winter Faves
My Top Ten Winter Essentials
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Winter is the time for cozy clothes and hot drinks. The only thing I am ever easily motivated to do in winter, is curl up in something fuzzy with a good book. Alas, that is not life. At some point we have to get up, put on all of the layers, and do the adulting. Here are my 10 suggestions, to make this transition, just a little bit easier:
Reading socks
I have found that this item is somewhat polarizing. You either get them, or you don’t. I personally love them. I feel 27% more productive when I can pull them up and get to work. There is something about your feet feeling like they are surrounded in clouds, that helps with concentration. I got my first pair as an impulse buy at chapters and quickly went right back to stock up on more. My only problem now is finding an excuse to wear them everywhere.
Pocket scarfs
I love me some pockets! I remember how giddy I was the first time I discovered a dress with pockets. It was completely by accident, now that I have discovered that it can be done, I firmly believe that every dress should have them. This position has now been extended to scarves. I was browsing and spotted them from across the room, it was love at first sight. It was amazing! It’s knit, it’s over-sized, it’s the best scarf I have ever owned. This also came from chapters, they are my kryptonite.
Caramel macchiato
This is hands down my get up and go drink. Nothing motivates me in the morning like a Venti Caramel Macchiato. Even just the smell of it says, time for work! That first sip, when you can feel the warmth spread down your throat and throughout your body! On especially cold, or early mornings I ask for an extra shot of espresso and I am on my way!
Twinkling lights
There is something about twinkly lights in the winter. I even hang them around the house. Just plain white, nothing fancy. It seems to add a warmth and intimacy in the room. It reminds me of the feeling of having hundreds of candles, flickering, illuminating the rooms, but without the looming fire hazard. There are so many different arrays of hanging lights or desktop lamps that make use of the delicate twinkly feel. Team it up with some reading socks and a hot cup of tea and I am in heaven.
Comfy throw
Actually, this is the one thing that can make the above suggestion better. Once I get my throw warmed up I wander around with it wrapped around me like a cape. It is my superpower that keeps all of the negativity and cold, frost biting reality away. Under my throw it is warm, comfortable and productive, or not.
Biscotti
I was always kinda take it or leave it with biscotti, until I made some of my own. It was all downhill from there! Fresh pistachio biscotti is the stuff of legends. The first time I made it I ate nearly the entire batch in a day. I had always liked the store-bought kind but I never fully realized what I was missing. If you have a spare afternoon, make yourself a batch. I promise, you will never look at it the same again.
Candles
It is really hard to dedicate an entire afternoon to baking, and with my penchant for twinkly lights, you had to see this one coming. I love having a collection of smelly candles on hand all year ‘round. However, something is special about lighting them in the winter months. I think it is because winter scents have so much more warmth and richness to them. They just smell like home, while spring and summer scents smell more like the outdoors or vacations.
New planners
New year, new planner! If you did not pick one up at the start of the school year, now is a great time to start one. New planners and journals feel like such a fresh start. Anything seems possible as you set your goals and fill in your plans for the year. There is no better way to get organized and no better time to do it! Don’t even get me started on planner stickers and accessories...
Tea
While caramel macchiato will always be my #1, tea was my first love. Specifically, Earl Grey. I still drink it fairly regularly, especially in the winter time. It is already a great coffee substitute since it is served in much the same way, with milk and sugar. Don’t get me wrong, this is a black tea, so it does contain caffeine, but sometimes it’s nice to switch it up.
Tuques
I keep an arsenal of tuques for those “messy hair, don’t care” days. For my American neighbours, I believe you call these beanies. Having a bunch on hand to match whatever I am wearing helps motivate me on those cold winter mornings, especially when daylight savings comes knocking. These are also a great way to cap this list off… get it?
What is the item that you could not survive the winter without?
I would like to be transparent so that there are no misunderstandings. As an affiliate, I may earn a small commission from any products linked in this post. This is not a sponsored post, and I was not asked to recommend these products. These are products that I genuinely love and wanted to share with my audience.