Friday Favorites: Winter Essentials

It's double the fun on FSF today, two posts in one day! The world MUST be ending, right? Nope, probably not, I am just finally posting a bunch of things that have been in the works so I hope you enjoy!

A few months back I rounded up some of my seasonal favorites and did a post on all the things I couldn't live without last fall. Well, now that the polar vortex part dos is assuring us that winter is sticking around for awhile, I decided I might as well compile the products and pieces I am currently loving, and couldn't survive the season without. 

Essie Polish: No other time of the year says "sparkle" to me like winter. With the glistening snow and twinkle of the holidays, I can't help but want a little extra glitz for my tips. This winter I have been reaching for gold and silver metallics, with topcoats of glitter polish. No one does luxe like Essie, and this winter is no exception. Two of my favorite polishes right now are "Good as Gold" and their Luxeffects "Sparkle on Top." Both are perfect alone and even better together!

Fur Lined Suede Moccasins: Winter is pretty much the only time of year I don't wander my apartment barefoot. There is just something about being barefoot that is comfortable and liberating to me. I generally dislike slippers and even to a certain extent socks. However, I have hard wood floors in my apartment and even without the polar vortex, find them to be a little too cold during winter to walk around without a barrier between them and my skin. Enter moccasins: the perfect house shoe. I have a pair lined with fur and an unlined suede pair, they work with or without socks and don't slip off like traditional slippers. Which drives me nuts. I wear them all the time when just hanging out in my apartment.

Candy Cane Chapstick: Hello new favorite thing. I am obsessed with lip balm, my lips always seem to be dry and cracked, dry lips are my biggest pet peeve, I hate having them or even seeing them on other people. Gah! Nightmares! Anyways, I love that Chapstick released this slightly tingly, peppermint-y flavor for the holidays. Not only did I stock-up to last the rest of winter, but I gave them to everyone for Christmas to spread their awesomeness with others. =)

Winter Candy Apple Gel & Body Cream: So...this is actually a sad one for me. For years this has been my go-to scent for winter. Every year for like the past 5 years someone in my family knows that I love it, need it, have to have it, and buys it for me for my birthday or Christmas. This year, no such luck...and with the hustle and bustle of the season, I completely forgot to pick it up for myself. So, I missed out. BBW ran out in the local stores quickly and then the body cream sold out online too. Infinite sad face. So, I am currently rationing the last of my supply from last year and am about to run out, eek! Anyways, its a must have. Find it while you can! 

Plaid Peacoat: Living in a cold state where winter seems to last the better part of the year, I have always liked to have a variety of coats to choose from for when I leave the confines of my warm apartment. I think that outerwear is just as much a statement about your style and taste preferences as your normal clothes are. This probably explains why I love me a plaid winter coat (or 5). My philosophy is that if you like your coat(s) you will be more inclined to want to leave your apartment and not just hibernate all winter. To me, coats in unexpected prints, colors, shapes, and details are fabulous. I don't want to wear a boring black coat for 6 months out of the year (if you do, that's a-okay too), its just my personal preference. However, good outerwear, the type that actually keeps your warm and is cut to fit all your bulky layers without making you look like the kid from A Christmas Story, are not typically cheap. This is why I stalk sales and look for middle of the road priced pieces, knowing I won't wear the same coat every day, but that I want to be warm and comfortable too. I think that this peacoat by Old Navy is perfection. I love the red and navy pattern, the cute play on a peter pan collar (which is removeable), and the contrast between textures of the smooth wool and the sherpa collar. Just darling! I definitely snatched this up in December and have had it in rotation with my two other plaid dress coats this winter. At 50% off, there is not time like the present to add this piece to your closet too!

Cream Bow Gloves: This goes along with the coat philosophy: have lots of cute options and putting on your winter duds will seem like planning another outfit (yay!) versus transforming into the Michelin man to leave the house (boo!). I always destroy my gloves, I wear them to death which is why having a lot helps. when one unravels or gets lost, I have back-ups ready and my tiny fingers are never left to become popsicles. I particularly love the gloves with the mitten flap because I fine them the most practical for my everyday life. These cream ones match the sherpa in the coat above AND have sparkly bows, what more could you want? 

Tassel Necklace: I wear mine practically everyday. It is seriously the greatest piece ever; goes with basically every neckline, every color, pattern, cut, layer under a scarf, in a neck stack, etc. Seriously, the styling possibilities are endless. I got mine (featured in excess on instagram) from Mint Sugar Boutique, but there are so many options, like the one pictured from Bauble Bar which comes in a variety of colors/metals. You won't regret adding one to your collection. 

Alice & Olivia for Starbucks Travel Mug: Just look at it; adorable, ridiculous, fun. It's a mug wearing a tutu. Enough said.

Cable Knit Sweater: Fact: you cannot survive the polar vortex or any of its siblings without a healthy supply of sweaters to slip into and cozy up in. This happens to be my personal favorite, I love the color, the cable knit pattern and the material. Since I am allergic to wool, I especially love that this is wool-free, yet it is still super warm. It comes in a variety of colors and can be worn over a button-up, under a vest, or on its own with a scarf or jewelry. Definitely a winter staple. 

Candy Cane Lane Tea: It's simply delicious, the perfect hint of candy cane. Buy it, make it, become addicted.  

Fresh Picked Hard Working Hand Cream: I work in an office and handle a ton of paper. I live in a state that salts its paved surfaces in the winter. I exist in a world bent on sucking moisture from me. =( Hand cream is pretty much essential to not having my skin splitting open and bleeding everywhere. As a sensitive skinned and mentally unstable crazy person, I am incredibly picky about cream and lotion texture/consistency. Think of me as the Goldie Locks of lotions. This product line from BBW is a life safer, as its "just right." Not greasy or oily, light fragrance, coats but doesn't make your hands feel slick. I use it like 5 times a day and am still on my first tube, which I bought in the fall = extra happy camper.  

Statement Necklace: see rave review here. Buy it, rock it, love it. <3

Faux Fur Throw Blanket: I'm unashamedly an old lady trapped in a nearly 30 year old body. I am cold all.the.time. It's not even funny; shivering is like a natural state for my body. I wear sweaters in the summer, so you can image that amount of clothing I need to wear in the winter. So, when I went out in search of yet another throw blanket for my apartment and stumbled about this jem I was elated. This faux fur blanket is the best thing ever. Its like being hugged by a million polar bears. I am almost never without it at home (where no matter what the thermostat says, it always feels 10 degrees colder). It you are a cold blooded person like myself, which I am declaring a thing, you need this blanket, check your local Target stat people!

Knee High Socks: Obviously. I don't wear boots without these. You can wear them over leggings, tights, and jeans (or under depending on the cut). I am digging cute details, like the bows on this pair, but patterns, a variety of colors, and varying heights are all worth experimenting with. 

Plaid Snow Boots: as much as I would love and could totally justify investing in a good pair of snow boots, like Sorels, I cannot afford them at this time. BUT Target has some amazing options that are much more pleasing to my bank account. From their selection of casual boots, dress boots, ankles boots, rain boots, and snow boots, Target is definitely stepping up their game to offer designer inspired options at a lower price. I have the particular pair pictured and these boots are cute, warm, cozy, and with a rubber sole, are holding up well to Detroit's icy, snowy, freezing winter. I picked them up right after Christmas for 40% off, which made them a total steal!

Merry Cookie Candle: Every season has a blend of scents in my apartment because I am pretty much obsessed with candles, so one is never enough! For fall its pumpkin, spice, and apple inspired scents, for winter its vanilla, sugar cookies, and caramel. BBW has such yummy candle fragrances and they easily fill the air with a delightful aroma after a short time of burning. I am definitely a fan! I have also been known to pick up the jar candles from Michael's (the craft store) which have great scents at an unbeatable price (find them on sale for 2 for $8!). My only complaint is that they don't burn down as clean as the BBW ones or as soy candles. What are you favorite scents?

So that concludes my incredibly detailed review of all of the things getting me through the winter season. If you made it to the end I applaud you! I will work on my brevity for the next post, I promise. I hope you all have a wonderful and warm weekend!

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!