If you’ve been following BNOTP for a while, you know this girl is not the biggest fan of cold weather. I am always on the lookout for anything that will make getting through the coldest days of fall and winter easier and more fun. Fall is such a gorgeous time of year and winter has its charms, as well. I want to experience all of the beauty in warmth and comfort. Here’s a brief list of some of my cold-weather favorites that make that goal possible.
If you live somewhere that gets super cold during the winter time and you spend a good bit of time outdoors, or just like to keep the heating bills down as much as possible, I very much recommend a couple of pairs of fleece-lined joggers. They are super comfortable and block the cold incredibly well—way better than jeans. The ones I’ve purchased over and over are these: Fleece-Lined Joggers.
I wish I had discovered the joy of wearing a hoodie many years ago. I’m very late to the hoodie game but am a huge, huge fan now. During the colder days of autumn and pretty much all throughout winter, you’ll find me in some kind of hoodie when I’m working/playing at home or out running errands. I love how most have a big front pocket, a great place to stash away a cell phone when you’re hands are full carrying groceries or just working around the house. My favorite brand of all that I’ve tried are the ones by North Face. They definitely know how to keep you warm and they wash beautifully. Many of my North Face Hoodies that are several years old now, still look brand new. Love them! One of my favorites is in this gorgeous plum/purple color; I’m actually wearing that one right now as I type this. You’ll find them in a variety of colors here: here: North Face Hoodie.
I’ve mentioned before how much love a great barn coat. I’m not a big fan of thick bulky coats that make it hard to get in and out of the car or just feel binding and tight when worn over a sweater. Barn coats are designed a lot more roomier in all the important places that you don’t want a coat restricting you, like through the arms, the shoulders, the back, etc… I love how easy they are to layer over a sweater, because of the way they are designed/cut. I think it’s very telling that of all the coats I could bring with me here to the Dollhouse, two are barn coats from L.L. Bean and Talbots. I’ve had both of these coats (the darker green one on the left and the red quilted one in the center, for several years and I still love them as much today as the day I bought them. Love the corduroy collar on the green one and love, love, love the soft velvet-like feel of the red quilted one. The L.L. Bean barn coat with the corduroy collar is currently on sale 10%, along with other outerwear) here: Adirondack Barn Coat.
The quilted barn coats similar to my red one are available here: Quilted Barn Coat.
Gotta give mention to these Merino wool socks that I’ve been wearing for several years. As soon as the weather turned chilly here in Ohio, I ordered a few more sets. They are super soft, not at all itchy and keep my feet toasty warm all winter. I can’t imagine going through a winter without them and I’ve heard from so many BNOTP readers who love them as much as I do. You’ll find these for both men and women here: Women’s Merino Wool Socks AND Men’s Merino Wool Socks.
Since I wear a lot of wool and cotton sweaters during the wintertime, I like keeping them looking sharp and new looking as much as possible. I purchased a great sweater shaver several years back—it’s the one on the right below. After it arrived, I liked it so much, I immediately purchased a second one so I’d have one available in my sweater closet, as well as one in my dressing room. Also, I wanted a backup in case the first one ever stopped working.
They are both still going strong. I should probably bring one here to the Dollhouse since I’ve moved all my winter sweaters to the cedar-lined window seat in the master bedroom now. I’ve had several readers ask about this shaver and where to buy it since it appears to no longer be available.
This is the closest-looking shaver to the one that I currently use, and it has great reviews. Maybe this is a revamped version of mine. I love the look of it! It reminds me of my favorite blow dryer that I purchased for the house here. I think I’m going to order one since I don’t currently have a sweater shaver with me here in Ohio. You can read all the reviews about it here: Fabric Shaver.
My daughter-in-law and I are both obsessed with these Ugg slippers! We each have several pairs and they are amazingly warm and super comfortable. They have great arch support, too—love that! I mainly wear mine here in the house, but they are cute enough to be worn out anywhere during the wintertime. You’ll find them in several colors here: Ugg Tasman Slipper.
If I could only put one thing on a Winter Favorites List, it would have to be Cutemol. It’s the only thing that stops my fingertips from cracking when I’ve had them in water a lot washing dishes or cleaning. My daughter-in-law swears by it too. It’s great for chapped faces and we even put a little on our lips at night since it protects so beautifully. My grandsons love it too! They know how powerfully it works to keep their faces from getting chapped on the coldest Ohio days. A tiny amount will go a long way and it lasts for hours if you apply it as recommended on the container. Best stuff ever!
This is the size we all most often buy since we use it so much and this larger size is a better buy since you get so much more than you do in the tube. It’s just the most amazing lotion for winter–can’t say enough great things about it! You’ll find it in both sizes here: Cutemol.
The lotion that I use all over when I’ve just gotten out of the shower is Curel Itch Defense. I’ve always had dry skin and as I’ve gotten older, I think it’s dryer than ever. If I don’t use this Itch Defense lotion when I get out of the shower, my dry skin is unbearably itchy throughout the day. I buy this larger size and it lasts for many, many months. You’ll find it available here: Curel Itch Defense
Love, love, love flannel sheets for winter. I have to force myself to remove them come springtime. They are just so warm and cozy! The woodland pine/chickadee ones I bought a few years back were out of stock for a while, but I noticed they are back again this year. You’ll find it available here: Flannel Sheets. You’ll find flannel sheets in other designs here: Flannel Sheets.
I love doing puzzles year-round, they are so relaxing. Puzzles and winter just go together, nothing better to pass a cold winter evening. My favorite way to work on a puzzle is on this adjustable, tilting puzzle board. It saves my back, I don’t want to do a puzzle any other way now!
This is the one that I have and you’ll find it available here: Puzzle Board.
Need a cozy puzzle for winter—this is one of my faves: Cozy Puzzle.
Back home in Georgia I have a wool cushion I place in my desk chair during the winter months. I find it stops any issues with static electricity building up on my clothes, plus, it’s just so warm and cozy! This year, I came across this adorable wool cover that’s in the design of a sheep. Sooo cute!
It’s super comfortable and doesn’t budge when I stand up to leave my chair, so it has worked out really well. I want to buy a second one as a backup in this same color, but I think this color is already sold out. You’ll find it available in several other colors here: Wool Seat Cushion.
I still absolutely love having a heated toilet seat for wintertime. I’m so spoiled by the one in my master bath back in Georiga. I’ve been getting quotes for adding an outlet in the cabinet next to the toilet here in the Dollhouse bathroom so I can have one here, too. Unfortunately, adding outlets in an old house can be challenging. A heated toilet seat is great all year around, especially in the winter! Once you have one, it’s hard to ever go back to sitting on a cold seat during the wintertime again. Check out the reviews for my favorite one here: Heated Toilet Seat.
Hope you find these favorites helpful as you navigate the cold months ahead!
If you are going to live in Georgia this winter , you will definitely will not needs those things. Trust me been in the south all my life, never needed a that.
lol I know, I was born in Georgia and have lived there my whole, except for 4 years when we were stationed in Alabama at Ft. McClellan. But it still gets really cold in Georgia during the winter, maybe not as cold as Ohio, but I remember plenty of days that it got below freezing and into the teens. Here’s a photo of my Georgia home just a few years back.
And then there was the year of Snowmageddon in the Atlanta area: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/snowmageddon-10-years-later-what-georgia-has-learned
I remember freezing my buns off growing up in Macon while waiting for the school bus to arrive. It always cracks me up when people say that I can now experience all four seasons since I have a home in Ohio. Georgia experiences all four seasons in full, including fall and winter. I’m dreading an Ohio winter. I may go back home to Georgia when that hits! lol
You must be new around here, Harper. Susan is famous for her “winter survival tips” – even though she’s lived in Georgia all her life. Lol. Our girl does not like the cold.
100% true! lol
Susan, whatever would we do without you? You have been such a wealth of information and great suggestions for the BNOP community in so many different areas! I cannot wait to order and try the Curel Itch Defense. I also have always had very dry skin and now that I am older, it’s become much worse – I never before had the constant itchiness that I’m now experiencing. I just love your blog, thank you so very much!
Aww, thanks Renee! I hope it helps. When it arrives, read the label since it gives you tips to get the most results from the Cutemol.
That sheep seat is too adorable. I would love to get one but I doesn’t wool get static-y easily?
I’ve been using a regular wool seat cover on my desk chair for several years and I’ve never had any problem with static. I love how warm and comfortable they are.
My brother worked for the man who invented Cutemol, he said the man was a genius. I recall when my husband had a scaly rash on the palm of his hand my brother gave us a number of tubes of it. The rash cleared up! The sheep cushion is so cute but I am afraid my dogs would chew it!
Wow, so cool that your brother knows/knew him! I hope he obscenely wealthy from his invention because he sure has made a whole lot of people’s lives better with his awesome creation!
Putting on flannel sheets as we speak (or, read along) I AM NOT A FAN OF COLD, EITHER!!! Our leaves are at peak so…itsa comin… franki
Our leaves are changing here in Ohio, but still a lot of green, too.
Susan
Iam ordering the puzzle board after I write to you.
No more neck or back aches from bending over .
Hope you love it, Terri! I’m crazy about mine, def spoils you!
Susan, this has to be one of your best posts ever! We moved to Northern Idaho almost three years ago and I’m still trying to figure out the best way to dress for winter. I have a couple of fleece-lined joggers but they are both black and that gets boring – your source is perfect for alternative colors and patterns! And I had never even heard of barn coats – will have to give one of those a try over the hoodies I already have. Can’t wait to try the Cutemol and Curel – my skin def gets so dry here. If you go to the trouble to put an electrical outlet next to your toilet, I would consider a Toto toilet – we put one in our master bath and honestly, the warm spray, warm “blow dry” and warm seat are heavenly in more ways than one!!!