Winter Essentials

It's finally happening. This place is beginning to look a lot like winter! It's bitterly cold at night and dropping just above freezing during the day. We have been wondering for awhile, will Asiago ever become the place we envisioned?

Snow is on the forecast for next week but I'm hoping for a white Christmas. Doesn't everyone wish for that?

With the temperatures dropping and the wind picking up, your skin, hair, lips, and mind take a beating. Winter can be this amazingly beautiful time with so many fun things going on, but it can also make you feel like junk. I've put together a list of some essentials for the winter months. Things to get you through everyday, and things to give you a little pep once in awhile.

Take my advice ladies. My life revolves around the winter months because of hockey. You have to look great and feel great (or at least know how to fake it) no matter how much you want to curl up on the couch and enjoy winter from your window.

The List

1. A great chap stick. Not lip gloss, lip stick, or lip stain. Chap stick. There's nothing like a moisturizing coat of chap sticky goodness. I'll use myself as an example. Here are Matt and me at the slide park our first year in Italy. I'm pre-chap stick.

Now, after some light application ...

Don't we look so much happier? That's chap stick for you, ladies. It does wonders. I'm a big fan of the classic ChapStick brand as well. It's my go-to. Just make sure you still have SPF even in the winter months. The sun doesn't rest even if you think it's not giving you a tan.

2. An amazing exfoliant. Store-bought or home-made, whatever you prefer. Make sure it's not too abrasive but just enough to wipe away all the dry, dead skin. It's necessary to keep a little glow in the winter. Dead skin reflects light in a crazy way so you end up looking dull and pastier than your grandma's old china dolls. Get something you can use 3-4 times a week, depending on your needs, and use it everywhere!

3. At least one (but totally get more) oversized, knit sweater. Cardigan, pull-over, wrap, poncho, super stylish, old grandpa-ish, festive or not. Take your pick.

4. Amazing socks. Enough said.

5. A cozy blanket and your couch. They're essential to have together. It's what you do when you're sipping your morning coffee, reading the books you put off all year because you would have rather been swimming, and watching the movies that get you through those long winter nights.

6. A moisturizing shampoo is a must. Unless you want to look like you stuck your finger in a socket. Or maybe that's your thing? Probably not. I'm not a huge fan of fancy, pricey products for just about anything. Go to your local drugstore or grocery store and find amazing products at a fraction of the cost of a salon. My favorite that I found this summer, Renpure Organics. I used their volumizing 'poo and it was awesome. I highly recommend their moisturizing one as well.

7. Perk up and invite some friends over. Or invite yourself to their place. No one wants to be alone when it's cold, dreary, and statistically the most lonely time of year. Get together with friends and warm yourself up from the inside out!

8. Get an animal. They make you so happy and they're the best for cuddling. I recommend a kitten. Dogs are nice too.