Essential Winter Warmers
It’s nearly the end of February already, but we can expect the wintertime chill to linger in the air for several weeks longer, confining most of us to our houses in the run-up to spring. From preparing warm meals and beverages to making sure there are some extra throws readily available for cuddling up on the couch, there are plenty of ways to make sure your family stays nice and toasty this winter. Consider investing in these essential winter warmers to keep the family happy—and healthy—while they’re hibernating inside the house this season:
Cuddling Up—Soft Throws and Electric Blankets
Whether your kids are complaining that their bedrooms are too cold or your hubby wants something to cuddle up with when he’s watching TV or reading on his recliner, warm blankets and throws are an obvious solution to your problem. Texture plays an important role in helping the family to stay snug, so consider adding a few throws made from soft fleece, cashmere, or faux fur to each room of the house. For especially cold nights, consider investing in a comforting electric blanket or mattress cover to help you cosy up quickly—and stay that way all through the night!
Dealing with Cold Spaces—Fan Heaters and Fires
Your favourite family spaces can get dreadfully cold in the wintertime months, especially if there’s a draft leaking in from the outdoors. Instead of bumping up the thermostat, save money—and energy—by heating the current space you’re in with a fan heater or a freestanding gas, electric, or bioethanol fireplace. The former does the job of cosying up a room for a cheaper price tag, while the latter will add a more pleasing overall aesthetic to whichever room you and the kids are curled up in.
Making A Warm, Hearty Meal—Slow Cookers, Stick Blenders, and Beyond
Home-cooked meals are always comforting in the wintertime months, so make sure your husband and children have a hot plate of food when they arrive home from work or school in the evenings. Sear and slow cookers are an absolute must for the busy mum, as they allow you to sear and cook your meat in the same pan with minimal supervision. This appliance is ideal not only for preparing a quick and easy roast dinner, but hearty soups, stews, and chilies as well. Another handy tool is a heat-resistant stick blender, which can be used in pots and pans to prepare homemade soups as well. Treat your husband to his morning cup of coffee and your kids to some hot cocoa after an afternoon outdoors by investing in a good coffee maker; the best models today have the settings for these beverages already programmed in, so you’ll never have to worry about getting the brew time or temperature settings right.
One of my favorite winter warmers is one that I make for my kids. I take a stuffed animal and slice open the belly (yup – like a surgeon). Remove some stuffing, add velcro so the belly can be velcroed shut, and make a warming rice bag just large enough to fill the now empty cavity. Warm the bag up (while outside the stuffed animal) – when warm (not hot) replace in the belly and the kids can cuddle with a warming buddy.
Electric blankets really are the best. My cats never leave me alone when I have one on, haha. And winter is also perfect for soups and homemade bread! Hubby won’t eat hot soup in the summer, so I take advantage of cold weather to go crazy on soup recipes.