Keeping Warm

Sale PSA: A cashmere scarf from Uniqlo, now $30, a cozy white sherpa jacket from Madewell, now 40% off with code BIGTIME, a forever useful down puffer from Mackage, now 40% off, and the perfect smaller cocotte from Staub, now 53% off.

How are temperatures where you are? It feels cold where we are! Even though it isn’t *that* cold. We had rain this weekend (oh boo hoo, I know some of you are thinking) and since we’re basically trapped inside all day I started to think about all the ways I try to get cozy for winter. Having been raised in a cooler (ok, cold) Asian house, I am just used to not using much heating in the winter (and too much dries out my skin), but I still like to be comfortable. So below are some of my favorite products and ways of using them to do so!

First is the item I use the most, and which is very practical: this bottle from Zojirushi.

I drink hot tea green constantly all year, but especially in the winter months. I really like my tea at a precise temperature – not scalding, but not lukewarm either. In the winter, it cools down too quickly in the air and so I rely on this thermos. It barely loses heat at all (in fact, if you put in super hot water, it will stay super hot for a very long time, so just FYI).

What I do is make my tea in my normal porcelain mug. Then I will add some cold water just to immediately get it to the temperature I want. And in the mug it goes! I take it with me everywhere, and especially on cold hikes/outings (I just drop it in my husband’s backpack). But I also use it all the time in the house. The only pain is that you have to be careful to wash each component – I take it apart every few washings. It is also available at Target at identical pricing.

Super thick fleece. This may have been obvious to most of you, but this is something I’ve only recently discovered, despite my extensive hoodie collection: there is regular fleece, and then nice super thick fleece. And super thick fleece is soooo much warmer and cozier. I realized this when I was freezing in my adidas hoodie only to realize I was nice and cozy in my Patagonia, seen above. A less expensive version is also Uniqlo’s. I do love Patagonia though for multiple reasons, including their mission and quality, and have been trying to shop there more!

Comfortable, high quality slippers. I wear slippers all year round and don’t always use thick socks, so in the winter, good slipper are key! My FAVORITE are these LL Bean Wicked Good Slippers. I have multiple winter slippers just because I can’t be without them (so upstairs, downstairs, at my mom’s, etc), and go through about one pair a year. Though to be honest, I could wear these LL Beans for longer. They are super good quality and the shearling lining is so warm and the rubber sole is almost like a shoe. I’m a size 6.5 and sized down to a 6 – after a few wears the shearling gets pressed some and the soft suede also stretches to be a perfect fit.

Polartec leggings. I used to have fleece leggings but somemies found them too thick – then I discovered that there are these thick ones, like this Polartec version from Athleta. To be honest in California I have to be careful about wearing these – they can easily feel OK in the early morning, but then by the afternoon quickly feel too hot. I feel anything at 50F and above and these aren’t necessary.

For some less expensive versions: these from Amazon have great reviews, and though I do not wear them out, these AE waffle joggers are super duper cozy and soft.

Rechargeable hand warmer. I take super early morning walks and I use these when it is freezing and my hands are cold. I love that it is rechargeable and this is just a handy little item for picnics outside, waiting for the kids on outside playground playdates (when we had those), etc. Very useful!

PS: I also have a few of these disposable ones that I keep in the car just for emergencies – if you have kids and are in a cold area maybe consider having some too!

What are some of the ways you keep warm and cozy in the winter?