Living in Southern California (pre-covid) I don’t think I had the extreme need to be cozy in the winter – the light and year-round sun just barely called for it. Then lockdown in the mountains changed everything, and now in Portland, when November rolls around I have my tools, my go-to things that make me and my house feel really cozy (which is an inherent mood boost to combat any potential SAD). So today I’m sharing a few things that could help your life feel cozier and take advantage of these short days and dark nights.
The Faux Fur Throw Blankets
I have A LOT of blankets and while I know that “faux fur” isn’t as chic as a handmade woven wool blanket (I love both) during these months I want to feel like I’m being snuggled by 20 bunny rabbits at all times.
Crate & Barrel Faux Fur Throw Blanket
We (myself and the kids) have always loved these Target ones (see below) and I still do, but when doing this Crate & Barrel job this year I couldn’t believe how soft this new throw was. When I got home from the shoot I bought it for myself (and now fight with my kids over it). It’s splurgier but literally NO ONE will dislike this throw (thus making it a great gift, too).
Textured Faux Fur Reversible Throw Blanket
The Pillow
I’m trying to figure out what makes these pillows more soft and cozy than others and I think it’s the silk velvet material and the down insert. They are SO cushy, not stiff (I hate when you bounce off a pillow that you want to sink into). These are splurgy but I can promise they are really soft and cuddle-able.
The Candles
Reflection Glass Candle | Ginger Black Tea Candle
I’ve been bathing to this Target scent for almost four years now and still love it. It’s definitely more year-round (not a fall or holiday scent) but the ritual of lighting it and the smell put me at ease immediately. The other one is also a Target candle and is beloved by Jess. This is what she had to say about it.
From Jess: This is by far my favorite candle of the moment. Are you ready?? Ginger Black Tea. It’s the perfect season transition candle because it’s light for the summer but still warming and cozy to get you gently prepared for fall. A total random find that now is in heavy rotation. O and it’s only $10. Dreams really do come true.
Here’s another wonderful cult classic option that will absolutely get you into the holiday mood. Oh, and Sara is the president candle expert so she is the most trustworthy!
From Sara: If you’re looking for the perfect holiday candle, THIS is the one. There are a lot of “Frasier Fir” candles out there this time of year, but for me, none have compared to Thyme’s timeless scent. Brady had this burning in his apartment one year while we shot Christmas content. He’s always burning a good candle, but this one really got my attention. It’s fresh and the perfect replica of a woodsy Christmas tree covered in crisp snow, without being overpowering. Hot Tip: Get the white wax version, I’ve found that the colored wax versions don’t throw the scent as well.
The Mug (Coffee And Tea In General)
Nothing gets me out of bed more than the coffee that Brian makes and sets the night before (we love the Cuisinart Coffee Center 12 Cup you see above there). We are real coffee lovers and I truly am so baffled/impressed by anyone who has kicked this addition. Then around 11 am (latte) or 3 pm (tea) if I’m working from home in the winter I’ll take a break and make something that feels more indulgent. We bought that espresso maker last year and while I didn’t use it much during the summer, we are back to daily lattes for the whole team and it feels so luxurious and special (aka a mood booster). I usually have a cup of herbal tea at night in the bath, too. So many rituals in the winter, y’all.
Double-Wall Glass Latte Mugs | Matte Stoneware Mug
I love this glass mug for the lattes or tea, and then still opt for my coffee out of the Target mugs (they stay hot much longer than others I’ve found).
The Electric Kettle
Gooseneck Electric Water Kettle
Once my tea habit felt like something I wasn’t going to kick I bought an electric kettle to not have to deal with the stove (and to be able to leave extra water in, making tomorrow night’s tea easier). I truly don’t know why some of these are so expensive when my $30 one does the job of boiling water in under five minutes perfectly.
The Sweatpants
Heathered Leggings | The Relaxed Pant
I have multiple recommendations here depending on the mood and what I feel like showing to the world. The Vuori Heathered Pants are my go-to leggings and I have them in three different colorways because I wear them so much. I wear them on walks, to yoga, and all day around the house when I’m not shooting. Size up – I wear a medium and it has a nice wide waistband that never cuts in. And then I recently started wearing Varley and their fabric is RIDICULOUSLY soft (some sort of trademark proprietary blend of which I’m a sucker for). These are baggy and more volumious so less flattering on my frame but I still love to wear them because they are loose and velvety soft on the inside. (These are the pants I’m wearing the in opening photo with the pink sweater).
The PJs
photos by kaitlin green | from: my journey to find the most comfortable pajama set ever – and i found them
From the PJs post: I’ve been dying to give Skims a try and they did NOT disappoint. Oh my goodness the fabric was ribbed and so soft, with stretch and still really drape-y (it’s weightier so it drapes really nicely). We decided that these were by far the most flattering. I mean, Kim Kardashian cares about looking good/sexy. I just wish I had ordered a medium. These fit but the waistband was just a bit too noticeable when I was wearing them (meaning I could feel it, even though they didn’t cut in). If you want to splurge on a pair that is super flattering in a subtle way, these would be my pick. They are a bit thicker (but not thick) than the rest of them but still really lightweight (they cling in places, but since they are thick enough you can’t see bumps underneath and so soft that the kids were begging to snuggle with me).
The All Day Slippers
Classic II Genuine Shearling Lined Short Boot | Classic II Genuine Shearling Lined Tall Boot | Wicked Good Slippers
I’ve been wearing a version of Uggs every day, all day since lockdown began, and I go through them faster than I should (every other year I need a new pair). I’ve had the tall boot (and love) and the medium. I also have the L.L. Bean slides (my current go-to). None are flattering, yet all are so cozy. I also need arch support and most slippers don’t cut it. These feel more like house shoes – I clean in them on the weekends and my feet don’t hurt.
Caitlin felt VERY passionately that her favorite slippers needed to be included too:)
From Caitlin: Oh, hey, I’ve had these slippers permanently attached to my feet since March 12, 2020, and I WILL NEVER TAKE THEM OFF. (Well, not these exact ones, but this style -while my mom started gifting me a new pair every Christmas in 2017 or 2018, the transition to working from home full time REALLY solidified their place in my daily wardrobe). They have super solid soles (so they’re great if you need to make a quick run outside to the garage or trash can), they’re toasty and soft (obviously, I mean…look at them), and the support is pretty unrivaled (in slippers that I’ve tried, at least). My favorite part is how well they conform to my foot, though – they mold perfectly to the shape of your arches and toes (so when I’m home in Delaware and I try to wear my mom’s, I can tell that they’re hers!). They’re not too hot in the summer, even in my 90-degree apartment, they never make my feet feel sweaty or uncomfortable, and they don’t smell bad despite me wearing them non-stop (like, 16 hours a day, 7 days a week when I’m home – I wish this was a joke, but it really isn’t). I know I’ve written about them on the blog before and I’ve highlighted them in every gift guide I’ve ever written, but THEY’RE UNBELIEVABLE. I literally will not walk barefoot in my apartment anymore and I’m thrilled to slide into them every time I come home, which has been awesome for keeping more floors a little cleaner. I WILL NOT STEER YOU WRONG, I SWEAR. If you only consider one of my recommendations in 2023, THIS IS THE ONE. I love them so, so, so much.
The Beanie
I’m picky about beanies, I think because I have a big face with perhaps extra face mass and a too-tight beanie just doesn’t look good. I find this one really flattering and SO cozy. I don’t know if I would have spent $80 on it from what it looked like online, but I had a partnership with Varley so I got to try it and then IMMEDIATELY lost it walking the pups two days later (I put it in my pocket when I got hot and fell out). I had to rebuy it because I liked it so much. Also P.S. I believe in wearing beanies inside in the winter.
The Cookbooks
I buy new cookbooks ALL THE TIME, and yet I mostly cook from these staples:
Eatingwell Soups | Clean Soups
Simply Real Health | Half Baked Harvest
Dinner in One | The First Mess
This year I added: The First Mess and Dinner in One which I’ve been going to a lot. Cozy food FTW. I do not enjoy recipes on my iPad or phone, I like a BOOK and until I find the right chef/food content creator to collaborate with on my soup cookbook I’ll continue to hone my skills using these. I have only made five recipes from Dinner in one, but I like it a lot and the First Mess is incredible vegetable-forward vegetarian food (not a lot of just potato and rice dishes). I always do a week of vegan eating when I want to reset and her recipes are DELICIOUS and extremely satisfying.
So these are my cozy recommendations now that we are really heading into the colder months. I truly feel passionately about them but I would, of course, love to hear any of your recs too. Drop them in the comments! xx
Opening Image Credit: Kaitlin Green
THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED HERE.
