The things that I need to survive the winter

The weather was quite mild over Christmas, but this week the temperature has definitely gone down. We even had some snow earlier in the week! I don't like it when the weather is cold, all I want to do is to snuggle up under a blanket, but I have discovered a few things over the years that help me to cope!

If I have to go outside, I can't go without my hat. It's only a cheap one from Primark and it's not particularly stylish or flattering but it is very warm and it definitely does the job. When I go out for a run I have a thick running jumper which also has some bright panels for visibility in the dark and I wear a headband that covers my ears. It's difficult to force myself out for a run, but once I get going I warm up quickly.

Around the house I wear an extra pair of thick socks over my normal ones. If I'm sitting in one place then I wear my Oodie which is fantastic, although a little bulky if I actually want to do anything. This year I bought myself a lighter zip up version from Primark which is still really warm but gives me a bit more movement in my arms!

I enjoy a hot drink to warm me up. I'm not a coffee drinker but I do like flavoured tea, especially berry teas which remind me of all the raspberry leaf tea I drank at the end of my pregnancies. I am also partial to a mid-morning hot chocolate, I like the Options range which comes in lots of different flavours. A hot lunch is always nice too, I love my soup maker or even a hot bagel or some cheese on toast. 

Last year we invested in an electric blanket and it was amazing. We use it while snuggled up on the sofa watching television and sometimes put it down on the bed before we go to sleep to make it nice and cosy. I never want to get out from under it!

Finally I like to have some projects to see me through the long dark evenings. At the moment I'm challenging myself to do some cross stitch every day so that I can make a real dent in my latest project. I also have a large jigsaw puzzle on the go, and I often pop up to bed early to read with a hot water bottle before my husband comes up.

I always find winter easier after Christmas, even though it usually gets colder at least there is the promise of warmer weather on the way!