Winter Survival Gear

The wind chill is -15. I would say this is for the birds, but the birds have enough sense to leave.

Here are a few things that help get me through the cold winter months. I couldn't survive until March without them! (Click the blue titles to shop for items.)

China Silk long underwear

Nothing beats silk against the skin for pure warmth. I’ve tried Cuddle Duds and a few other mixed material versions, but they just don’t cut it. I wear these under my thermal long johns. :-)


EMU Australian Boots

I bought these boots at the end of last season, on sale. Even then, they weren’t exactly cheap so I beat myself up about it all summer long. I really do not ever spend money on myself, even when it’s something I need. But now that winter is here, I can say unequivocally that these were an excellent purchase. The tips of my toes all the way up to my knees are surrounded in warmth. I only wish they covered my thighs....


YakTrax

Quite possibly the best thing ever invented…and so simple. Metal coils wrapped around industrial-strength rubber bands that wrap around your shoes. Dayton is notorious for not salting their sidewalks or parking lots in the winter. With these babies on, I can walk anywhere without worrying a bit. I ought to be on their payroll, because I can’t even tell you how many pairs of these I’ve sold!



Avon Intensive Moisture Therapy

An absolute must. My skin gets so dry it cracks and bleeds, and no other lotion I have ever tried comes close to providing enough moisture. In fact, I have bad reactions to most other lotions. This coats the skin nice and thick and takes awhile to fully rub in, which is why it works better than the thin, runny stuff. Fortunately, Noelle's grandmother keeps me stocked!

Bailey’s Irish Cream

Mmmm. A jigger or two of this stuff in some decaf coffee at bedtime is the perfect recipe for sweet dreams.

What's on your list of winter must-haves?

Welcome, 2009

Well, my hard drive has gone to hard drive heaven. So sad. What really makes me sick is that Noelle and I had hundreds of photos on the computer that are gone forever. I at least have a Flickr account to which I have been uploading photos for the past couple of years, but that is only a fraction of what I had. Poor Noelle, who had so many lovely photos, is heartbroken. Lesson learned: get a backup drive. Fortunately, my computer friend says I can pick up a new hard drive at Best Buy for around $100. Not that I have $100, but it’s a heckuva lot better than a whole new computer!

I have to say, I am very glad to see 2009 get here. The last half of 2008 was not good to me! Have you made any resolutions? I normally do not make any resolutions. This year I have decided to learn how to relax. I know, I KNOW. You all know me pretty well by now, and you know that this is really like Mission Impossible. But a friend of mine pointed out that our local rec center is having Yoga classes, so we might sign up and do that together.

My other resolution is to reconnect with friends. With all the craziness of last year taking up so much of my time and money, I have turned into quite a hermit. I need to find ways to get together with my friends on a more regular basis.

I hope 2009 is off to a great start for all of you!