It’s January and this morning dawned a not-so-balmy 25 degrees. I got up, bundled myself in warm clothes, and set off to brave the ice on my way to Starbucks and then work. I simply could not face an icy Friday morning without a skinny vanilla latte.
Winter can be hard on us, physically and mentally. It’s cold, the days are short and dark, and weather conditions are often unfriendly. Luckily, I’ve found some things that make the January days much nicer. Here are some of my favorites:
 

 Clarisonic Mia 2
I bought my Clarisonic back in November, at the urging of my friend Kate. I love it! The Clarisonic Mia 2 is a small handheld facial cleanser. Since cold winter air can wreak havoc on my skin, I’m extra diligent about using my Clarisonic daily to keep my skin clean and vibrant. The Mia 2 is a little pricey (it retails for $119) but it was worth every penny. To keep my skin hydrated, I use the Mia 2 and follow up with applying moisturizer.
 

      Olay Quench Body Lotion
Cold, windy winter weather can cause some seriously dry skin. While my Clarisonic is taking care of my face, the rest of my skin gets a re-hydrating treat with Olay Quench lotion. I’ve been using this brand since my first trip to Seattle in 2008, when Paul was headed to the drugstore and I just needed lotion so I told him to pick one. He came back with a bottle of Olay Quench, and I’ve been hooked ever since. It’s not heavily scented, so it doesn’t clash with my perfume (I exclusively wear Dior J’Adore, in case you were wondering), and within a few weeks of using it, my skin was noticeably softer. And, added bonus, most drugstores and even grocery stores carry Olay Quench, with a reasonable price of under ten dollars.
 
 

Fuzzy Jammies
In my house, we turn down the thermostat at night so the heat’s not running needlessly. This is a great way to save money on our heating bill, but it also means that the inside temperature drops in the house and it can get pretty chilly. I like to stay snuggly in warm fleece jammies (my favorites are Simply Vera Vera Wang Dreamy Fleece, $50 at Kohl’s). These pajamas are fantastic!
Side note: Not sure how long it will last, but when I looked at the website today the pajamas are on sale for $20! Get yours fast!
 
 

 A nice, warm scarf
I love a cozy scarf with my winter outfit. Not only are scarves cute, but they really do keep me warmer. This year I received three scarves for Christmas, and all were handmade by friends. If you didn’t receive any creative gifts this year, you can pick up a variety of cute scarves for reasonable prices at Target.
**I should also mention that the scarf in the photo was actually a loan from Kate. Go here to get one of your very own!
 
 

 
Comfy Boots
Living in the Northwest, we get a lot of rain. I hate getting my feet or the bottoms of my pants wet, so I’ve learned that a great solution is to wear boots in the winter to keep my legs dry. Recently I found these great Dana Buchman Tall Boots on sale at Kohl’s for $38 (regular price $99) and I just had to have them. Since I bought them, I’ve worn them several times and they are my go-to shoe with jeans now. They’re super comfy, and the flat sole doesn’t hurt my feet after walking around a mall.
Hopefully this list will help make your January more enjoyable! What are your favorite winter items?