It’s January, I’m cold, and it’s dark so early, so let’s look at some things that are making us feel mellow, warm, and chill!
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All my sweatpants are getting threadbare, and that’s probably because I bought my current pairs between 2020-2022. And I wear them constantly, which probably doesn’t help. Given that it’s cold-cold, and I like being warm, I did some research and learned about two fleece-lined options.
First, I bought a pair of the Uniqlo Men’s Pile Lined Sweatpants.
Uniqlo HEATTECH Lined Sweatpants, $40
So far: I’m warm, and I’m not overheating! I’m the person who can feel a draft better than anyone, and wearing these, I’m pretty comfortable both outside walking the dog, and inside the house. I bought a size L, because I tried them on locally and the men’s M was very clingy and uncomfortable. So size up if you’re thinking of getting them, or try some on at a store nearby and watch for sales (this is my plan).
I also went hunting for yoga pants that
- Have pockets with sufficient width and depth to be called pockets AND be useful. None of this, “my fingertips fit in the pocket and maybe a chapstick” nonsense.
- Do not have gathered ankles like sweatpants so I could theoretically dress them up a bit.
- See above re: pockets
- Are thick enough that I’m not cold
Duluth Trading to the rescue!
I have two pair of the Women’s NoGA Naturale Cotton Bootcut Pants:
Duluth Trading Women’s NoGA Naturale Cotton Pants, $60
The brown appears to be on sale for $28 right now! I like these a lot because the fabric is substantial enough that I’m not cold, the waistband is thick so it doesn’t roll down and supports my midsection, and the POCKETS are REAL.
Honestly, if my legacy is telling people about pants with real pockets, I will have lived a noble and fulfilling life.
Speaking of lined, especially fleece-lined, I am thinking of trying these pants next, but I have a weirdly short inseam and an ample caboose, so I like to try pants on before I buy. Alas, the nearest Duluth to me is somewhere out in Virginia, so I’m fence-sitting about their Women’s AKHG Roadless Lined Pants ($50 or $105), and the Double Flex Fleece Lined Overalls ($130). I may be obsessed with fleece lining.
A Facebook group I am in (Actua-literally the only valuable part of FB for me, partially because the groups I’m in are strictly moderated – and do a better job than Meta ever did) recommended these as a less expensive fleece-lined pant:
BALEAF Women’s Fleece Lined Yoga Pants with Pockets, $36
The waistband is wild – do you have pants like this? Are they comfortable?
Speaking of cozy, before we hosted Thanksgiving, I ordered this set of guest slippers, and they were most appreciated by guests then, and recently!
Spa Slippers, 6 pairs, $23 These have been really useful now that there’s snow and slush everywhere, and they keep feet and socks dry when the floor is wet.
I also ordered these before Thanksgiving for a very old loveseat that was sagging terribly:
Couch Cushion Support, 20×20, Set of 2, $26
The loveseat was purchased sometime in the late-2000s at a discount furniture store so it is old old, and understandably showing its age, but I don’t want to buy a new one yet. These two cushion supports made an immediate difference. I can sit on the loveseat without my back or hips hurting afterward.
Elyse: I’ve been enjoying this book journal:
Reading Journal, $23I’m trying to be less online and I find writing down what I’ve read and my thoughts on it is very restful.
The skin on my face changed a lot with perimenopause and is chronically dry now. I’ve been using this morning and before bed and it’s helped a lot:
La Roche-Posay Double Repair Face Moisturizer, $24
This what I use for makeup remover:
La Roche-Posay Gentle Foaming Cleansing Oil, $18
And this blanket is so soft and heavy:
Oversized Faux Rabbit Fur Throw, 60″ x 80″, $60
Shana: I’m gifting these pins to the teachers and librarians in my life:
You’re Safe to Be You Around Me enamel pins, $10 for 4
I also bought this adorable Tabitha Brown teak kettle at Target:
Stove Top Tea Kettle, Tabitha Brown for Target, $30
It’s curvy and cute, and says “HELLO THERE” on the handle.
I bought these headphones to sleep in and they are amazing:
CozyBand Wireless Headphones, $40
They’re also great for spicy audiobook listening when my family is around.
Amanda: I also have a similar pair of sleeping headphones.
Sarah: I just bought a Cozyband to try for sleeping and audiobook listening!
What about you? What cozy, useful, fun, or excellent treasures have you discovered lately? Anything you’d like our opinions on?
I love the reading journal idea. I have been thinking of tracking my reading but didn’t want another digital file. Thanks for the suggestion!
My head was too big for the cozyband. I was so disappointed. But I need that blanket.
Bought these pants a couple of years ago to wear to a wedding. The only thing about them that really screams sweat pants is the string tie. (At least in black.) And the pockets are deep enough to hold my phone.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0170ACZV4?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
I have hopes that this plush will be a cozy friend (the shipping is slow, so I don’t have it yet) https://youtooz.com/products/appa-weighted-plush-16-inch
It is also the time of year when my favorite local tea shop (who will ship elsewhere) have their house blend cocoa puerh tea in stock, it’s a rich chocolatey indulgence with plenty of caffeine https://www.teasider.com/product-page/cocoa-puerh
I’ve been alternating that with the Queen’s Cake caffeine free herbal blend from Bridgerton collection over at Republic of Tea, which is the only flavor from them that both I and a friend both re-stocked in advance since it’s a limited edition. Recommended with a splash of cream https://www.republicoftea.com/queens-cake-vanilla-fruit-tea/p/v20906/
We got an 9 setting instant milk frother for Christmukkah this year, and I have one of those battery operated wand things I never use because I am extremely lazy, so I never would have gotten another frothing device but this is a whole different game. Dishwasher safe, for one thing. Press a button, walk away, come back for excellent cappuccino foam, hot or cold. Or a matcha latte, and I have never successfully made one previously. Or hot chocolate without worrying about the chocolate scorching or the milk getting too hot, I can’t always be bothered to make real hot chocolate because it’s a whole thing, and now it’s dangerously easy. It has worked with all the different milk types, too, although I might have to get special barista oat milk if I want a fluffier turmeric latte, regular oat milk gets decently but not fancy cafe level silky.
So my rewards for going out in the world are now available at home! Just in time for me to never leave home again, fortunately.
Also I am putting extensive testing into whether cashmere or silk or alpaca are the very coziest lounging socks, highly recommend getting in on this sort of experimentation. For science.
@kkw: I am very curious to hear the results of cashmere vs. silk vs. alpaca socks. I have two pair of alpaca socks and I LOVE them, but I am intrigued by your testing protocol! I hope you’ll update us.