Settling Into Winter With Some of My New Favorite Things

The guest cottage dressed for winter, a new morning coffee routine, a cheery little oatmeal pot, cozy coat, plus more favorite winter things!

Settling Into Winter

Wow, has it been cold here!

Nights in the single digits. And days well below freezing.

Plus the wind! Icy gusts that make it feel 10 to 20° colder.

The snow from Christmas is gone, but winter is definitely here.

Time to settle in and get snuggly!

Today I am sharing a few of my new favorite things that are keeping me warm and cozy.

The guest cottage dressed for winter.

In the kitchen: My new morning coffee routine, a cute little pot for oatmeal, and a gift I received that makes it easy to enjoy freshly baked cookies whenever you want!

On the fashion front: The best everyday winter boots, a cozy red coat and cashmere beanie, and a fun look with cheery colored socks.

Let’s embrace winter together!

Winter In the Guest Cottage

Since the kids weren’t home for Christmas, I didn’t decorate the guest cottage.

I missed the little Maine-themed tree I usually display up there, but there was no sense getting it out this year.

You can see what it looks like in this post from last year if you are curious about it (and haven’t had your fill of Christmas decor…). The ornaments on it are so special and unique!

Truth be told, I hadn’t even put the cottage back together after Thanksgiving, the last time anyone stayed there.

Every time I go up to the cottage, I tell myself I need to spend more time there. It is such a cheery little space! But it tends to be out of sight out of mind in the winter.

The bed

The other day, though, I gave the cottage a clean and made the bed for winter.

This is the first winter season that I have had the new-to-me bed frame I got off of FBMP last spring.

Read all about the bed and the bedding refresh it inspired in my post A Spring Bed Nook Refresh Inspires Sweet Dreams for Guests.

For this season, I kept the quilt, and I just couldn’t bear to put away the shams with the ruffled edge that almost did me in when I was making them! So they stayed too, along with the coordinating throw pillow.

Blue and white plaid flannel sheets will keep guests warm.

And at the foot of the bed, I swapped out the fresh white duvet cover for a cozy flannel one with a winter woodland pattern.

I will admit that, even for me, this is a lot of pattern play! I usually like to have a solid or two to break things up. But I like the homey unstyled look of it all.

Kind of like pulling on a bright cozy sweater and tights with a floral dress….

In the window above the bed, I hung some fabric hearts that my sister Amy got for me in a small market in Breisach, Germany. She bought them from the ladies who made them! They have a sweet cottage appeal, and will be perfect as we head toward’s Valentine’s Day.

A new chest of drawers

Right before Thanksgiving I bought a chest of drawers from a friend of mine who, sadly, is moving.

I had always admired this piece in her home, so I scooped it up at their moving sale.

It is an antique cottage piece that was beautifully painted in shades of honey and red, with an incredible sailing ship on the top. It really couldn’t be more perfect for the guest cottage!

I loved the scrubbed pine chest I had there before, but this new-to-me piece was too special to pass up.

Eventually I will hang the tv on the wall above so that none of the painting is obscured.

Not only is it a wonderful addition to the guest cottage, but I will always think of my friend when I look at it.

Winter In the Kitchen

I received some gifts from family members for Christmas that are making my winter kitchen so much cozier!

They sure know me well!

My new morning coffee routine

Caffeine doesn’t agree with me, but I still start every day with a warm cup of decaf coffee this time of year.

There is just something about the comforting routine, the smell of coffee brewing, and the warmth of the mug in my hands.

I also love a specialty coffee — the bolder taste of the espresso and maybe a little seasonal flavoring added to the brew.

But the nearest coffee shop is a good 20-minute drive. Not practical every morning. And expensive too.

My son Jack has gotten into making his own espresso drinks at home, and, as with everything he does, has become an expert at it. I talked with him about purchasing a fancy espresso machine for the house, but I don’t want to give up my drip coffee machine. And I certainly don’t need two large coffee makers on the counter! Those machines are also pricey.

Instead, for Christmas Jack and his wife gave me a Bialetti moka pot.

What is a moka pot? Found in almost every Italian home, it is a small stovetop coffee maker that uses steam pressure to brew coffee.

Simply fill the bottom chamber of the moka pot with water and add finely-ground coffee to the filter in the middle. When the water heats up, steam builds up and pushes the coffee up into the top chamber.

I favor a decaf espresso coffee for a nice rich flavor. I heat oat milk in the microwave and use the frother on my coffee machine. A spoonful of Trader Joe’s drinking chocolate powder in the bottom of my mug makes for an extra special drink.

It is a little more work than a traditional coffee, but all-in-all an easy process. And again, I find the new routine comforting.

It certainly makes my mornings feel just a little more special!

NOTE: The Bialetti brand moka pot, is generally considered to produce the richest smoothest coffee. They come in different sizes and finishes, from plain metal to a variety of colors to fun patterns.

Shop my morning coffee routine:

A cute little pot for oatmeal (and more!)

Another morning routine for me this time of year is oatmeal for breakfast on the weekdays.

Sometimes it is baked and sometimes it is overnight oats.

But usually I just make it on the stovetop.

My daughter Leah and her husband gave me a Dansk Kobenstyle Butter Warmer for Christmas.

It is the cutest little enamel pot with a wooden handle. It comes in a variety of colors. Of course they gave me the blue!

It is called a butter warmer, and you could certainly use it to melt butter. But I have been using it each morning for my oatmeal. It would also be great for heating up milk for cocoa! Or a serving of soup. And the list goes on…

I love everyday items that are also beautiful! They just add a little extra cheer to daily life.

And this little pot looks awfully cute sitting on my stove when not in use.

Unfortunately these Dansk pots were a very popular item this year and are now on backorder.

I will link a site where you can preorder for May delivery. And also a few dupes. I can’t vouch for the quality of the dupes, but they are also very cute!

Shop my little pot:

This little enamel pot from the Museum of Modern Art is similar and comes in three colors!

Easy freshly-baked cookies whenever you want

Of course there is nothing cozier (or yummier!) on a cold winter day than cookies fresh out of the oven!

But we don’t always have the time to whip up a batch, right? And we certainly don’t want to clean up the mess afterwards…

My sister Lissa gave me a gift that solves this dilemma.

Leave it to King Arthur Flour to come up with a handy silicone freezer tray that makes it easy for you to have fresh-baked cookies whenever you want!

Simply spread the dough in the tray to the fill line, and press the lid down to seal. Hexagonal cutters in the lid do the portioning for you. Store in the freezer until you’re ready to bake. Then just pop out as many cookies as you want, bake, and enjoy!

Genius!

Shop the cookie dough freezer tray here!

Winter Fashion

Of course the main thing I think about when I get dressed this time of year is being warm and dry.

But I also want to look at least a little stylish.

Here are some things that help!

The best everyday winter boots

Since moving to Maine, where our winters are always cold and frequently snowy, icy, or bone-chillingly wet, boots have become my footwear of necessity this time of year.

For everyday wear, my favorite boot is from the Australian brand Blundstone.

Blundstone is best known for their Chelsea-style boots, made from premium leathers with durable double-stitched construction. The outsoles have textured treads for excellent traction on uneven surfaces and snow. The leather has been treated to be water resistant.

Basically, these are boots that can really take a beating.

And yet, they also look nice. Chelsea boots are definitely on trend right now. You can find this style from many other brands.

But not with the durability and versatility of Blundstones.

You can wear them for a hike in the woods. And they also look fun with a skirt or dress.

I just got a pair with a bit of a heel, which definitely gives them a dressier look.

Blundstones are not cheap, but they will last for years!

Shop Blundstones:

Note: I would say these generally run true-to-size, except for the heeled boot, where I went a full size up.

A cheery red coat

My friend Kim from Northern California Style wrote the best blog post this week on “Great Coats to Grab Right Now”.

I love a nice wool overcoat, but I have to admit that in the last several years I have been all about the puffer. It just seems to be the thing to wear, with the more casual lifestyle here in Maine. And the cold.

But Kim gave plenty of examples of people wearing a classic overcoat with jeans and even athleisure wear.

And really, why not?!

So I went ahead and ordered a full-length red coat on sale from Macy’s. It is a heavy boucle fabric, so it is nice and warm. And I love the cheery color!

I have worn it twice since it arrived and got compliments both times! Today at the grocery store, a man actually stopped me and told me how he liked my coat and sock combo! (More on socks below…)

You only live once, so I figure wear the coat!

Thanks for the inspiration, Kim!

See Kim’s post for more coat ideas!

I am linking my coat here:

Note: This coat is oversized. I ordered a small, but probably could have worn an XS for a more fitted look.

Cozy cashmere beanie

After ordering the coat, I decided I wanted a sleek cashmere beanie to go with it.

I looked at a bunch on Amazon, but finally settled on one from Quince. It was cheaper than the Amazon hats, and I know that Quince cashmere is high quality.

Linking it here:

Fun colored socks

This blog post has turned out to be much longer than I expected…

But one last quick thing before I am done!

I have always been a no-sock (or no-show-sock) gal.

But if you don’t wear socks here in Maine during the winter, your feet and ankles will freeze.

Well, fortunately, socks are apparently “in style” right now.

Wear them with loafers and ballet flats. Scrunched with sneakers.

And of course peeking out of your boots!

I particularly like the look I have seen of a bright or contrasting color with cropped pants. They pop and make a bit of a statement.

Today when I was complimented at the grocery store, I was wearing deep red socks that coordinated with my coat. So fun!

I prefer a solid or a stripe for this look. But hey, go for a wild pattern if that is your style!

I just ordered two packs (blues and reds) of these cotton socks from Amazon:

This Week Into Next

Phew! That’s it!

You might not be able to tell, given the length of this post, but I understand that writing about home and clothing right now, when so many in L.A. have lost all of this, can seem disconcerting and even insensitive.

But I believe firmly in the importance of home, beauty, and, yes, joy.

So, I write about these things, while my heart breaks at the scenes of utter devastation I see unfolding on tv.

Keeping those who are victims of this tragedy firmly in my thoughts.

Hoping the winds will die down so that the brave firefighters are able to get the fires under control.

And, as always, deeply grateful, for this place I call home, and my ability to share it with all of you.

If you want to donate to help those affected by the fires, you can find numerous lists of vetted charities online, such as this list from the Washington Post.

Take good care and be well, friends.