Winter Essentials When You Live in a Frosty Climate

If you are dreading the winter, this post is for you as I have all the winter essentials you will need when the frosty days hit. I live in Canada, and we get a lot of snow. Winter here is long. I’ve seen people posting photos in February of flowers blooming and that always blows my mind because we are still in the deep freeze in February. In fact, we don’t even bother planting flowers until after the Victoria Day long weekend, near the end of May. So I know something about how to survive a long, cold, snowy winter.

Now, winter is a great season. We have Christmas of course, and lots of outdoor activities like skiing and tobogganing and it’s always nice to have gently falling snow outside your window while you cuddle up with a cup of hot chocolate. But, take it from someone who has lived through long, grey winters and frigid winters, winter can be a tiring, long, cold season that makes you miserable. And I have all the essentials you’ll need to get through a cold winter.

Outdoor Essentials

I’m going to start with the practical essentials that you will need if you’re heading outdoors in a frosty climate. Because a sweater isn’t going to be enough. Then, we’ll get into some of the cozier essentials for enjoying the winter.

Manitobah Mulucks

For years, I did outdoor supervision duty at work wearing winter boots that were never quite warm enough. In fact, a lot of days my feet positively froze. Until I discovered these boots. Made by an Indigenous company, these are super warm and comfy. You will never regret having these boots. Plus, they are super fashionable made in the traditional way with modern technology.

Related Article: Uplifting Self Care Tips for Beating the Winter Blues

Oversized Scarf

An oversized scarf is a great winter accessory. You can use it indoors and outdoors and it’s especially necessary outdoors. I personally crocheted several scarfs and use them all winter long. A scarf goes a long way towards to keeping me warm, as that cold air can get under the collar of your coat. Brrr.

Big Down Coat with Furred Hood

Whether you go with a synthetic fill or a goose down filled, you need a big, warm winter coat. Many people have the Canada Goose brand, but there are other just as great brands that won’t break the bank as much. And while these coats are expensive, you’ll never regret it as they keep you toasty warm. I have one, and I love it because I’m never, ever cold when I wear it. The furred hood on these sorts of coats keeps the wind off your face and that is a must.

Mittens and Hat

You don’t live in the north if you wear gloves instead of mitts. Gloves are useless. Get yourself a good pair of lined mittens and thank me later. And of course, get a hat. I wear one even under my hood because it adds that extra layer of warmth. I like wool hats personally.

Indoor Essentials

Blankets, Blankets, Blankets

Blankets are a must! I love having them on my sofa, and I certainly have a big goose down duvet on my bed. It keeps you so warm and cozy. I don’t need any other blankets on the bed, so I highly recommend a goose down duvet. Blankets just are so necessary on dark winter nights as they just lovely to curl up under while you watch a movie or some tense Netflix series. Be sure to get some big, chunky blankets and cozy up this winter.

Hot Chocolate, Tea and Biscuits

Hot beverages and cookies can’t be beat on a cold day. This just makes you feel cozy. And warm drinks in a cold climate are a must. They really do go a long way to making a cold, grey day so much better. Hot teas get me through the winter if I am being honest.

Books, Puzzles and Yarn

When it’s too cold to go outside (such as when it hits 25-C) you need books. Or puzzles, or yarn because you won’t want to go outside at all. You’d be surprised how cold you can feel simply driving to the grocery store in such temperatures. That’s why so many people chose to just hibernate and stay inside, so you will need some activities to keep you busy. And what could be more cozy than books, puzzles and yarn? Crochet, knit, read and problem solve your way through the frosty day.

Socks and Stockings

I don’t mean the kind of stockings you hang up for Santa. I mean high kneed socks. Because they came in really handy underneath your pants if you are outdoors and are just cozy indoors. Especially the big, fat ones that are lined and are really only meant to be worn indoors. They are otherwise known as reading socks. So you need a variety of socks and stockings to add warmth and to just be cozy if you’re in a wintery climate.

In Conclusion

Those are all of the essentials I can think of friends! If you don’t live in a frosty climate, you might now have a better idea of what life is like in the north, and maybe just got some ideas on how to be cozy in the winter time. Winter is a long season, and I never believe in an early spring because goodness knows we’ve had April snowstorms often enough. But while winter can be a hard season to endure at times, it is a lovely season and I’m so happy to live somewhere in the world where we truly have all the seasons as each of them is beautiful in it’s own way and I love each dearly. So try and enjoy the winter, even though it can be frosty.

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