Gear up for Cozy: Acorn Slippers

As Autumn puts on it's orange and red fireworks, I start wanting chai, and slippers.  It's time to gear up for cozy.  Acorn has a new bootie out, the Moxie, and it's super warm and cute.  Since I started wearing slippers, and not just socks, I don't get that cold-to-the-bone chill I used to.  You know that level of cold where the only cure is a hot shower?  You can help avoid that by keeping your feet warm.

Simple, I know, but I've spent many a winter in socks.  Sixteen dollar wool socks broke that habit--I wanted to preserve them--now I can't go without slippers.  The Moxies have a sole, so if you need to run to the mailbox or grab the paper, you can, and it comes up over the heel to protect the bootie.  They can be worn folded down, or up (I like them up).  These would be awesome for apres ski or snow play, they have a rustic, log cabin toasty appeal to them.  Acorn is having a contest right now to win these HERE. 

A great vegan alternative to the Moxie is the Chinchilla Mule.  These are so cute!  Perfect for slipping on and off, the pretty gray faux fur keeps your feet toasty.  I love the heather gray wool uppers, and they also have a sole which makes them last a long time, give your feet support while the memory foam makes them ultra comfortable and gives your feet a welcome relief.  They come in several colors and would make a wonderful holiday gift.  I wear a size 8.5 and need a 9, or large in Acorns.  Find them HERE. 

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Dyson's Hot & Cool AM05

Need a new fan to keep you cool this summer?  Why not get one that doubles as a heater--two appliances in one?  Dyson's new Hot & Cool AM05 is perfect for small spaces and those that appreciate a modern combination of looks and function.  First off--it's gorgeous.  It comes in different colors, but the black and nickel is really sleek.  It has a grippy smooth texture and the silver is a gunmetal that is so super shiny it almost appears liquid.  It's a fan that you won't mind seeing around at all, it's pretty much functional art and it's low profile with a small footprint.  It's ideal for allergy sufferers, people with kids and pets, and minimalists.

As a fan, it works great with the ability to tilt and oscillate.  When it's in cooling mode, you see a blue light, red when it's heating.  It's not like your typical fan with the screen that accumulates dust and is hard or impossible to clean.  There's no blade to get dusty or to harm children or animals and it's a breeze to clean.  The top of the unit has a magnetic surface so the remote will stick to it and always be easy to find.

The heating function has all the qualities of the fan and packs a surprising amount of heat.  It's a big improvement on the last model and gets hotter and has more force.  If it gets knocked over, it will automatically shut off for safety and it will take the chill out of a room quickly.  I would not recommend this for heating or cooling super large open spaces (nor would I recommend any space heater for this purpose), but it's awesome for an average to large sized room.  Because of the fan and its ability to oscillate, you get an even distribution of heat.  You also have the option of focusing heat to a specific spot.  The remote makes it so easy to customize the output, which is great if you are using this to heat a bedroom and want to turn it off without having to get out of bed, or wake up in the middle of the night cold.

There is nothing negative to say about this unit.  It is spendy and that might turn some folks off, but sometimes it's better to buy one quality thing and be done rather than having to replace an item over and over which ends up costing as much in in the end anyway.  The potential money saving benefit on your heating and cooling bill should be factored in (Dyson speculates up to 20-30%), as well as safety.  Also, this is two products in one, and the space saving benefit has huge value to those living in small homes.   Brilliant design as usual coming from Dyson, I can't wait to see what they come up with next.   Find it HERE.

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Kate Bush: 50 Words for SNOW

Kate Bush is one of my favorite musical artists ever and I've been waiting with for her latest effort, 50 WORDS FOR SNOW.  We haven't heard from Bush since 2005's Ariel and many of us have been eager to see what she would do next.  Just in time for the season, 50 Words does not disappoint, in fact, I haven't been this excited about new music in a long time.

Available on iTunes, be sure to purchase the whole album as one of the best songs (Misty) is not available separately and it's layered and lush and brilliant.

With songs about the mythical snow monster, aka Yeti, a love affair with a snowman, and the wonderment of snow,  Bush is up to her usual magic and I can't get enough, highly recommended.

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Enjoy the Cold Outdoors in The North Face

What do you wear when the weather is super cold, but also wet?  If you live in a rainy climate, it's a little bit tricky.  If you leave the house in a down coat and get caught in a downpour, you get soggy.   But there are solutions that will keep you warm and dry.  Check out this Brooklyn Jacket from the North Face.

It's a waterproof shell with down on the inside, so the water doesn't get near the down and it stays very warm.  The faux fur trim on the hood is removable and you can throw the whole coat into the wash when you need to clean it (sans detachable fur).  There are plenty of pockets for tickets, lip balm, id, money, etc., and the hand pockets are soft and cozy.  This coat has features that keep wind and rain out, like the cuffs, belt and zip/button down combo keeping well sealed against cold.  The fit is very snug, I recommend sizing up.

North Face makes another coat very similar to this called the Arctic Parka.  For those preferring a belt-less look, this one hits a little longer for added warmth.  Both coats have that durable HyVent 2L waterproof fabric that breathes while sealing out water and wind, in addition to ultra warm goose down on the inside of the coat.

I learned while taking the bus, or rather freezing at bus stops, that a good coat is a big deal.   When I wasn't driving, in the winter, I began to think of my coat (and footwear) as my car and with that came a lot of freedom. It makes all the difference in the world to keep warm, opening up various options like taking the bus and walking and playing outside.  Because of my proper cold weather clothing, I was comfortable taking the bus and dragged out getting a car a good extra year or two, not to mention being able to hang out in the cold and snow with my son as long as he wanted to.  Buy quality and you only have to buy it once.  Find these coat and other cold weather options HERE on the North Face website.

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Columbia Alpine Attitude Jacket: Sexy Meets Function

Need something to keep you extra warm this winter?  The COLUMBIA ALPINE ATTITUDE JACKET has a lot to offer.  If you are detail oriented you will really appreciate the features on this jacket.  They thought of everything. 

Let's start with the Omni-Heat feature, a new patented technology I was excited to try out.  There are little silver dots on the lining which serve to reflect heat back to the wearer.   I don't have a lab to test this out, of course (they have videos of testing on their website), but it really did seem to work, I found the jacket to be very warm and toasty. 

If it gets too hot, there are pit zips which instantly cool it down and are ideal for winter activities.  I found this very helpful while working up a sweat playing in the snow with my son. The optional adjustable powder skirt keeps the snow from getting up under the jacket, perfect for sledding and making snow angels.  There's also a connect tab that can hook to snow pants.  The mesh inner pocket designed for goggles also works for necessities like a small wallet/id, phone, etc.

I love the way the jacket hits at the low hip (I'm 5'5) covering most of your bum and keeping you extra warm.  The hem flares out slightly making for flattering feminine lines.  Comfort cuffs in the sleeves convert to optional fingerless gloves which keep the cold out and feel soft and warm against a cold steering wheel.  I've never had this sort of sleeve and it's very handy.

One of my favorite features is the ultra soft faux fur lining around the neckline.  So many times I've had jackets rub uncomfortably around this area and this solves that problem in a very luxurious way and it looks pretty too.  There's also removable faux fur around the hood--I love it, I think it adds some sass to the coat. 

I've never tried Columbia's brand before and I must say, I'm impressed! This coat is  multifunctional--something I look for to reduce my closet clutter and consumption.  The Alpine Attitude is a great jacket for skiing, snowboarding, playing in the snow with your kids, or just looking really nice while keeping warm.  Find it HERE.



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