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I do like winter. There\u2019s something oddly satisfying about the ongoing battle against the elements. Each time I don\u2019t<\/em> fall on a patch of ice while carrying four bags of groceries, it feels like a hard-won victory. And yet, sometimes I wish winter would be a LITTLE bit less of an unmitigated ass ache. In the past, we\u2019ve shared small, inexpensive things<\/a> that make our everyday lives easier. And since this February has really been February-ing, we thought we\u2019d share the little things that make our winter<\/em> lives easier. Hang in there, gang. We\u2019ve got less than a month (?!?!) to go\u2026<\/p>\n Kelly Dawson<\/a>, contributing writer<\/a><\/strong> I don\u2019t mean to sound like Lieutenant Dan, but I\u2019m about to sound like Lieutenant Dan: it\u2019s important to take care of your feet, especially in the winter! Dry feet can be painful; I use this cocoa butter<\/a> on mine throughout the year \u2014 but especially during the colder months. I sit on the side of my bed each night and slather it on, like a mom in a movie scene, then seal everything with socks and slippers. Don\u2019t forget the backs of your feet!<\/p>\n Brooke Williams<\/a>, photographer<\/strong> My other go-to under-layer pieces are these ultralight cashmere sweaters<\/a>. They\u2019re thin and fitted, so I\u2019ll wear one under a thicker sweater to add warmth on extra cold days when I have to shovel my car out of the snow.<\/p>\n Casey Elsass<\/a>, food writer<\/a><\/strong> I\u2019ve always had cold feet, so my other winter go-to are Acorn Slipper Socks<\/a>, which I\u2019ve been wearing since I was a kid. The wool part is breathable, so my feet don\u2019t get sweaty. And the suede sole has extra structure and padding, so wearing them on my apartment\u2019s hardwood floors is actually very comfortable.<\/p>\n Alex Ronan<\/a>, contributing writer<\/a> Kaitlyn Teer<\/a>, newsletter<\/a> editor Abigail Rasminsky<\/a>, contributing writer<\/a> Kelsey Miller, senior editor My other winter must are wrist warmers<\/a> \u2014 aka, fingerless mittens. It doesn\u2019t matter how high I crank the heat; some days, you can\u2019t avoid a cold draft. I used to get distracted while working at my laptop, because my wrists would get uncomfortably cold after typing for hours (does anyone else\u2019s desk surface get cold too?). The only thing that helps is fingerless mittens. Yes, I feel like a Dickensian character, working away in my little wrist woolens, but it\u2019s amazing what a difference it makes in my day. <\/p>\n Now you go! What little things do you rely on to get through winter?<\/strong><\/p>\n P.S. More inexpensive things that make life better<\/a>, and a very low-key winter checklist<\/a>.<\/p>\n (Photo from The Shining.)<\/p>\n
Lifesaver: Palmer\u2019s Cocoa Butter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Lifesavers: HeatTech base layers<\/a> and Quince ultralight sweaters<\/a><\/strong>
I swear by pretty much everything in the Uniqlo HeatTech family<\/a> (see: my 2017 Week of Outfits<\/a>), but especially the leggings<\/a>, which double as long underwear. I put them on in October and keep them on until April (I\u2019m wearing them right now). They\u2019re so thin that they fit under almost anything without feeling bulky, and they really work. I\u2019ve spent a lot of time at outdoor protests this winter, so I can definitely confirm this!<\/p>\n
Lifesavers: Onsen Saru bath soak<\/a> & Acorn Original Slipper Socks<\/a><\/strong>
I love the emotional process of all four seasons \u2014 but the emotions I feel about winter are mostly loathing and despair. One thing that helps is spending time in the bath. I recently found this Onsen-inspired bath soak<\/a>\u00a0and I\u2019m obsessed. I don\u2019t totally understand what the Himalayan salt and\u00a0magnesium flakes do, but I\u2019ll tell you, I feel like a spaghetti noodle after. And the\u00a0cedar and pine scent is absolutely divine.<\/p>\n
Lifesaver: Better spices<\/strong><\/strong>
During a very competitive white elephant gift exchange over the holidays, I won a set of spices from a small-batch spice store<\/a> in San Francisco. I\u2019ve since learned that a) high-quality seasonings actually do<\/em> make a difference (especially in the winter when good produce can be hard to come by), and b) I really need to go through my spice drawer and toss all the stale, expired ones. Even upgrading one or two can make everyday cooking feel like a fun project. We\u2019ve been adding a pinch of this herbes de provence<\/a> to salad dressing, and it absolutely makes grocery store greens taste better.<\/p>\n
Lifesaver: Dr. Bronner\u2019s hand spray<\/a><\/strong>
To ward off sniffles and bugs, I keep bottles of Dr. Bronner\u2019s lavender hand-sanitizing spray<\/a> stashed everywhere \u2014 the car, my belt bag, you name it. Kids touch everything, so I\u2019m constantly passing into the back seat after we\u2019ve wrapped up at the library or grocery store. I love that the lavender fragrance smells fresh and herby, not harsh or sterile (same goes for this Trader Joe\u2019s version<\/a>, which I also use). We go through so many this time of year!<\/p>\n
Lifesavers: A really good mug<\/a><\/strong>
I grew up in Montreal, so I know<\/em> winter. It really helps to have a mug that you look forward to drinking out of in the morning, especially when it\u2019s still dark out. I asked for this East Fork mug<\/a> as a birthday gift a few months ago, and I find getting out of bed less dreadful, knowing that it\u2019s waiting for me. <\/p>\n
Lifesavers: Pocket thermos<\/a> & wrist warmers<\/a><\/strong>
My aunt was recently visiting from London, and while we were out on a cold, wet day, she suddenly pulled a tiny, screw-top bottle out of her coat pocket. It turned out not to be a flask of liquor (as I\u2019d briefly imagined), but a stainless steel thermos<\/a>. She uses it for tea when it\u2019s cold, or just as a water bottle. When I asked where she got it, all she said was \u201cJapan.\u201d With some deep-Googling, I was able to track it down here<\/a>. (My husband was less patient and found a similar one<\/a> on Amazon.) It doesn\u2019t hold a huge volume of liquid, but the convenience of something you can just stick in your pocket is SUCH a relief.<\/p>\n