CREDIT: KERRA SEAY
With cozy mittens and a warm tea in a travel mug, you are more tan prepared for winter.

For the winter enthusiasts, below freezing temperatures and kneedeep snow is welcomed each year with fondness. If you are not as inclined towards a never-ending runny nose, hands as dry as the Sahara and the exhausting workout that comes with climbing over snow banks and trudging through the snow, this guide may help ease the winter blues. Whether or not you are a fan of this chilly season, this guide will without a doubt improve your experience.

Hand and toe warmers

These nifty, little things easily fit into your mittens and socks. Just like a self-cooling ice pack, once shaken these warmers only take minutes until they reach just the right temperature to keep you warm. These are especially great for freezing temperatures when warm clothing just isn’t enough. They are useful for those who plan to spend the whole day outside. For those always complaining of being cold, this is a great way to make you so much hotter. The HotHands brand can be found at Walmart.

Insole shoe heaters

Similar to toe warmers, insole shoe heaters are a car seat warmer for your feet. By controlling a remote you can adjust the temperature of the insole. The insoles can be trimmed to size and are rechargeable. The brand Thermacell can be found at Canadian Tire.

Slippers/fluffy socks

When it’s the end of the day and all you want to do is sit back and put your feet up, make sure to slip into some slippers beforehand. Slippers and fluffy socks are the comfiest and easiest way to warm up your feet when you are at home, especially if your heating bill won’t allow you to crank the thermostat any higher. Reading Socks are the thickest and fluffiest socks that we have ever encountered and can be found at Indigo.

Hand cream

If there’s one thing you can’t go without during the winter, it is hand cream. By applying a dollop once a day before you go to bed, you can save yourself so much pain that comes with chapped, dry and cracked hands. We recommend Aveeno Intense Relief Hand Cream that can be found in your local drugstore. The best part about this cream is, it’s not greasy.

Lip scrubs

Replace your regular lip-licking routine with something a little more beneficial. First, rub a lip scrub over your lips to remove dead skin and follow it by applying a lip chap. There are many make-your-own recipes online or grab a tasty edible one from Lush. Trust us, your lips will be just as kiss-friendly as they were in the summer.

Travel mugs

To get you through that class where your teacher doesn’t give you a long enough break to grab a coffee, a travel mug will allow you to bring your favourite hot drink anywhere. It saves you money from buying a coffee elsewhere, is great for the environment and if you still do like going to buy your coffee, you will likely receive some sort of a discount for using a reusable mug. Specifically for tea lovers we recommend DAVIDsTEA Lock Top Travel Mugs as they keep your drink just as hot by the end of the day and are leakproof.

Crock-pot

Whether or not you’re a “Susie homemaker”, a crock-pot is a simple addition to your kitchen appliances that will make it easy for you to make hearty, healthy and hot meals with minimal effort required. Perfect for making stews, soups and hot apple cider, crock-pots allow you to just throw in all of your ingredients and go. There’s no need to argue with your partner over who is cooking dinner when you’ll both come back home to a ready-made meal. Recipes can easily be found online or in cookbooks. We recommend the Crock-Pot brand stainless- steel models that can be found at Walmart.

Throw blanket

Thick, warm throw blankets are a cozy way to add some flare to your otherwise boring couch or bed. Not only that but they are also great for staying warm while reading a book or watching the countless episodes of your favourite TV show on Netflix when you really should be doing your school work. We recommend the softest and thickest blanket you can find; some suggestions on where to find them include Walmart, Indigo and Urban Outfitters.