#winter tips

[phoenixfatality]

Since the south is getting a big winter storm, I’d like to share some cold weather tips from a Northerner (who’s now down south)

- first off, consult your local news/weathers stations and follow all their instructions/tips. They know more than I do

- if they say stay off the roads, STAY OFF THE ROADS. If you have not had experience driving on ice, DON’T DO IT. Ice is mean. It will cause accidents. It’s not like driving in rain.

- if you must drive for any reason, here are some tips I’ve learned from driving in the North. Drive slow, and drive careful. Better to be a slow driver than a dead driver. Try to drive in cleared roads or higher-traffic areas, they are more likely to be treated with a de-icer.

- all ice is bad, but black ice is the worst. You can’t see this ice, it blends in with the road. Not until you’re actively in a patch. Here’s some tips (if you must drive). It usually forms at night/early morning, when temperatures drop below freezing. It’s found most often on bridges/overpasses, shaded roads, and roads that are less used.

- if you hit an ice patch while driving, FOLLOW THESE TIPS: take your foot off the gas. First thing. Foot off gas pedal. Steer into the skid. Turn the wheel slowly into the same direction as the skid. If the back end of the car skids left, slowly turn the wheel left. Don’t slam on the brakes at the first sign of a skid. Quickly pump your brakes, or if you have anti-lock brakes, press the brake pedal down and hold it. Don’t slam on the brakes unless you’re about to crash/go off the road.

- also, if you must drive: brake early. If the car in front of you starts to slow down or brake, do the same, no matter how far ahead of you they are. It takes much longer to brake on icy roads.

- Also, some weather forecasts I’ve seen say there is a possibility of downed trees on roads. Now in my case, downed trees usually means downed power lines, but idk how accurate that is down here. Either way, if you see a downed power line, NO TOUCHY. Call the proper authorities to come take care of it.

- roads, when icy, often get salted to melt the ice. This salt is often chemical. This will cause burns to animal paws. If you have a pet that has to be taken outside, get them shoes or pet wraps, or if you’re able to, carry them over roads/sidewalks to a non-salted area. You can use party balloons or medical gauze in a pinch, just put them over the animals paw pads. The salt is pretty easy to spot, it’s usually bright blue or green, and looks like giant rock salt. If you aren’t able to cover your animal’s feet, try to avoid salted areas, and wipe their feet off with a towel or wipe afterwards

- I’ve also heard of the possibility of power outages in several states. Again, check your local forecasts for instructions on how to prepare. Follow those.

- my staying warm tips: lots of blankets. Wear layers to bed. Socks and hoodies/hats are best, they’ll keep body heat. If you have power, space heaters. If your fingers are cold, stick them right under your armpits, preferably skin against skin. That area radiates a lot of body heat.

- if you are cold, movement helps! Run in place, do a few jumping jacks (if you’re able), and bundle up again. Blood flowing is good.

- try to get hand warmers and similar things if possible, they can be a lifesaver when the power goes out.

- try and get extra coats/gloves if able

- in terms of stocking items, look for preparedness instructions from your local authorities/weather service. Each area is different, and the forecasts are still changing. Prepare, don’t panic.

- pipes here are usually not insulated against cold, so run your faucet at a drip to keep it from freezing. Again, check local sources for instructions. I am not super familiar with preparing pipes.

- have emergency contacts + a plan prepared. Make sure you have a way to charge devices if you loose power.

- also, if you have outdoor pets, GET THEM INSIDE.

- help your unhoused neighbors! If you have the ability, donate to mutual aid funds/charities, donate to unhoused neighbors directly, or see if you can donate blankets, coats/gloves, hand warmers, and other necessities. If you have the ability to help, please do! No one deserves to die in the cold.

Lastly, if you all have any tips of your own, or mutual aid/charity links/recommendations, please feel free to reblog with them! Doesn’t matter what state it’s for, this storm is likely to hit hard.

[stqrdxst-xx]

tips to romanticize winter

keep your lips hydrated

~ use aquaphor, lip gloss, or chapstick to keep your lips moisturized and prevent peeling

protect yourself from the cold

~ wear fuzzy socks, earmuffs, and puffer coats to stay stylish and warm

turn on the lights

~ because it gets darker earlier, turn on warm lights like lamps and fairy lights to brighten up your space

watch winter movies

~ whether it's a christmas, hanukkah, or winter movie, watch something to get in the winter mood

go for a walk

~ getting fresh air, even through a ten minute walk, can help fight seasonal depression

find something to look forward to

~ having something to get excited about is a great way to spice up the winter season

[akkifuar]

🌨️☃️❄️Краткое руководство по зимним травам и благовониям ☃️❄️🌨️

Вы можете комбинировать ниже перечисленные растения или масла для привлечения в наступающем году благополучия и позитивных энергий (например, заполнив ёлочный шар определенными травами или составив масло для привлечения удачи и т.п.)

Омела: любовь, защита, удача, примирение, изгнание.

Лемонграсс: изгнание негатива, притяжение, очищение.

Корица: любовь, счастье, деньги.

Шалфей: долголетие, мудрость, защита, пожелания, преодоление печали.

Розмарин: очищение, вещие сны, исцеление.

Имбирь: сила, проявление.

Апельсин: гадание, удача, здоровье, любовь, деньги.

Лавровый лист: очищение, исполнение желания, благополучие, защита.

Ясень: пророческие сны, удача, влечение, передача энергии.

Чертополох: жизнеспособность, очищение, изгнание негативных энергий, разрушение проклятий, уничтожение привязок.

Кедр: защита, притяжение, исцеление, призыв (духов, например).

Сосна: позитив, защита, плодородие.

Ладан: очищение, освящение, изгнание негатива.

Каштан: долголетие, интуиция, заземление, фокусировка, успех.

Падуб: процветание, защита, удача, сновидения, возрождение, изгнание негатива.

Дуб: деньги, сила, плодородие, стабильность, здоровье, исцеление, удача.

Плющ: плодородие, защита, исцеление.

Можжевельник: защита, охрана (границ), гадание, скрытность, любовь.

Сандал: исцеление, очищение, освящение.

Кипарис: очищение, стабильность, фокусировка.

Мирра: очищение, изгнание, защита, исцеление.

[littlemisshare]

Six Considerations in Prep for the Winter

Chill is in the air, and with it comes sleeping spirits. It's a season for rest, and with it we spend more time in our nests and dens, bundled up with or without our mates and pups and packs. But how many of us properly prepare for it rather than being startled with the first snow?

So, how do we prepare?

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We clean out the dust and dirt of the summer. Take apart your nest, wash and dry all the materials that were in it. If you use essential oils in your scenting, add some into your dryer. If you line dry, add it into the washer with your soap. Some more diluted perfumes (Eau De Toilette dilution) can also be added but be careful if you have delicate fabrics in the wash. I like to add Florida Water into my wash. I also recommend you do this with any normal bedding as well. If you have pups, I suggest you stick to sensitive or scent free for their bedding unless you speak to a doctor about what essential oils may be safe. No judgment from me but ideally if you choose to put scents in your pups(') spaces, try to stick to essential oils or gentler things, as some artificial scents can cause irritation to your pup's delicate skin. They're not as tough as us adults yet!

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We sweep, dust, and vacuum all corners and pop the windows open if you can to let the fresh air sweep through the house. Make sure you turn off your heaters for the moment while they're open so you don't run up the electrical bill. Take down curtains and pull out any towels or linens that have been sitting gathering dust and wash those next. You can do the essential oil trick again, but you don't have to! Because of a wondrous thing called ✧Linen Sprays✧! You can even make your own custom linen sprays, which will be a post at a later time. But I recommend spraying down your curtains with a linen spray, allowing your scent to easily permeate your home without wax melts or candles. Which actually leads to-

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When buying candles or wax melts, try to look for ones with your scents. If you have a mate, I recommend getting either a candle with both of your scents in it, or one for each of you and your mate. If you live with pack members, do the same for them too if you'd like! Refresh your scent regularly in your house over the winter months with linen sprays on your curtains, couches, pillows, and other such items. And most importantly is if you can, crack open a window and let your house breathe at least once a week. If you have pups, I recommend diluting your scents with things like lavender or fresh linen or cotton. Things to signal to your pups' brains to relax and wind down, especially in evenings or in bedrooms. This can be helpful in things like your own bedroom as well if you wish. Because this is a season of rest, so we want to make sure that we promote relaxation as much as possible.

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Resting is important in the colder months, which means we should do things that will allow us rest. On top of the above suggestion of diluting scents with restful ones, make sure to keep your bedroom slightly colder and darker than the rest of the house, it helps lower your metabolic rate slow and release melatonin. And I hear you ADHD beings, melatonin is fucked for you and me, but a teeny bit of melatonin is better than none at all. Also if you can't get enough homemade melatonin, store-bought is fine! Another way to promote good rest is to stand in the sun for a couple minutes in the morning, as well as try to make your couch or nest a spot for daytime awake relaxing and minimize the time you spend in bed to when you are actively trying to sleep in order to train your brain that bed = sleep.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . Fifth . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .

F O O D. A key component of preparing for winter will always be food. While living in the city vs living in rural spaces (as I do) can mean different situations with food, I feel that the basics can work between both. I also will never recommend expensive food like steak or things like that, I am broke so you all will always get budget friendly ideas. Keep in mind, that I do comparison shop because I'm lucky enough to do so, and sometimes things may be more expensive in your area. My ideas are just suggestions and guidelines, never strict rules. But to begin, we recognize the usefulness of spices in our day to day cooking and the effects they can have on the body. Things like cinnamon, ginger, anise, turmeric, cumin, and other such spices can cause our body to warm because they stimulate thermogenesis. On top of that, a good way to promote warmth and rest in the body is to keep a higher protein intake than normal. Additionally, things we can eat if you want to feel sleepy are foods that naturally have high amounts of Tryptophan, like cheese, squash seeds, lamb/goat/poultry (poultry being the most affordable of these), chia seeds, and soybeans. A good tip to remember is that most stores sell turkey, a poultry high in tryptophan, at a loss during holiday seasons in order to get people in the doors, so if you have freezer space, stock up! Conclusion for this is eat warmly spiced high protein foods and try to include ingredients high in tryptophan whenever possible to promote rest. Unless you have to be fully aware and awake for work, in which case, I recommend avoiding these mostly. (I will be posting a link at the bottom of this post to a study paper in the National Library of Medicine about the connection between diet and sleep in case you would like to check it out)

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If you are a couple that is trying for pups, now is the time. Having pups in the spring and summer time is the ideal time as you have less risk of your pups becoming dangerously cold and by the time they begin eating solids you will have access to a wide range of nutritious foods. And for your own cuteness effect, they will be old enough to be in wonder of Christmas lights (So cute!!~) and will be just a tad bit easier to handle at holiday gatherings as you will have had time to settle into routine and they will have built a sturdier immune system. (Always make sure you get your flu and covid vaccinations, everyone, to make sure our elders and pups and immunocompromised community members do not suffer too badly from illness in the fall and winter seasons!)

And with that comes the conclusion of my six tips for winter in 2025. I hope this was helpful and if you have any questions, drop me an ask! I would love to hear any suggestions on topics you would like to hear about as well. Stay Well!

Two factors intrinsic to health are diet and sleep. These two behaviors may well influence one another. Indeed, that insufficient sleep adve

[ittybittykittyfingers]

Winter Clothing Tips

I wanted to make a friendly and detailed list of stuff I've learned from living in a cold climate.

(Note that I do not have vegan-friendly options- suggestions with links to a vegan product's efficacy are welcome)

This stuff is common knowledge where I live but it occurred to me that it might be useful to someone if I laid it all out. I'll be updating this list if I think of more.

I absolutely adore winter and want to help you love it too! Cheers! List below.

• “Cotton kills!" You see, when cotton gets wet, it will suck warmth from your body and freeze on your skin surprisingly easily. Use wool in place of cotton because when wool gets wet, it will still insulate you.

• Know how to layer! Counterintuitively, having layers of thinner, high-quality materials is less bulky than having a single jacket or pair of gloves/socks. Plus, it has the added bonus of being able to be taken off and switched around according to your needs.

1. Base layer - this is the layer that touches your skin. You want this layer to be light, flexible, and moderately form-fitting. This layer's job is to be moisture-wicking. Sweat evaporates, even under layers, so you want something that will move it away so you don't feel the cooling effect. You also just don't want moisture on your skin. Real silk is recommended.

2. Mid layer - this layer can actually be as many layers as you want. I rarely need anything more than a knit merino wool sweater, but accommodate yourself. This layer does the brunt of the work of keeping you warm. Real, non-blended wool is recommended, but really any wool will be miles better than most anything else.

• make it a priority to keep your center warm. Many people choose a vest as a mid-layer as it keeps bulk off of your arms and keeps your middle toasty.

3. Shell - this layer keeps the warmth in and the elements out. Many people go for waterproof shells so they can be worn all year (i.e. rain jacket). Shells have little to no insulation and usually have a hood. You want the shell big enough to always cover your underlayers, but not so big that it bunches up. I don't have a material to recommend here since anything truly waterproof and tough enough to resist puncture will do. It can actually get hot under there so consider whether you might want a ventilation hole for your arm pits. There are plenty of options. Know that any shell which says it's both breathable and waterproof is lying (unless it's a super fancy item, like $300 fancy). Sometimes, a water resistant material will be better for you than a waterproof one. It depends.

• socks, socks, socks! A pair of silk foot liners paired with a good pair of wool socks will keep you comfy all day. Make sure your winter shoes/boots are a bit too big to accommodate the extra space that multiple socks take up. Make sure your socks are taller than the top of your boots. You want the socks sticking out from the top. I like to layer my foot liners the highest, then the wool socks a bit lower, than the top of my boot lower than that. You can always fold the top of socks to make them a comfortable height. (Pro-tip: do not use ankle socks! They will bunch up)

• The above logic should be used for gloves too. You'll want to make sure your shell gloves are waterproof but thin enough that you are able to use your hands. Again, the name of the game is staying dry.

• Waterproof, non-slip boots are a must. You don't need to get fluffy or insulated boots if you use my sock tips. This saves money too because now you have boots to wear all year instead of just winter boots. I'm a fan of Gore-Tex with Vibram soles.

• If you do a lot of walking on pavement and such, get a pair of crampons! There are tons to choose from. They're awesome. They'll have you confidently walking around a frozen driveway with ease. Crampons are these rubber and metal things you strap to the bottom of your boot. They often use either spikes (only recommended for seriously rough terrain) or coils that lay horizontally under your foot to increase traction.

• Speaking of footwear accessories, consider getting waterproof gators. Common wisdom is to tuck pants into your waterproof boots to keep them dry. Sometimes, especially if the snow is deep enough, snow will get trapped at the top of your boots where your pants are tucked in anyway and it'll start dripping into your boots. Gators fix this issue. They're these... they're like shin guards that go all the way around your ankle and up to your knee. They cover the area where your pants meet the boots and will completely prevent snow from getting in. (Pro-tip: if you get ones that are also puncture resistant, they can be used in nice weather too to prevent ticks and protect against snake bites. They're perfect for tall grass. I use mine all year.)

• Scarves are often overlooked but they can make a huge difference. You'll want to find a way to tie them that is comfortable for you. There are plenty of guides on the internet for that. I've found that extra long scarves tend to be the most useful. I like to stuff the ends of them into my layers for extra coverage wherever I need it. Plus, it's easier to tie long scarves.

• Get a good hat that also has ear flaps. I like ones that have space above my head so that a warm air pocket forms, keeping my head comfy. Or you could get a pair of earmuffs that go around the back of your head to pair with your hat. You can use the hood of your shell to protect your hat if you need to, so focus on comfort and warmth for the hat rather than it being waterproof or especially durable. I tend to like alpaca wool for hats.

• Sunglasses can make a difference since blinding light glares off of the snow.

• Before you go out in the snow, put one of those foldable clothes drying racks in your bathtub. Leave a watertight bin by the door you'll be coming in from. Lay a towel at the door if you don't have a good/big enough doormat. You'll be dripping water and littering the floor with snow and ice when you come back inside. Wipe off/ shake off as much snow from your person and knock your boots on the lip of the doorframe before coming inside (this logic works for cars too). Put your wet clothes in the bin. Change into whatever you need to. Bring the bin with you to the bathroom and hang up your articles on the clothes rack to dry. You can keep your boots in there too, just make sure the clothes aren't going to drip into the boots. If you want to get fancy, you can buy a cheap boot dryer to keep in the bathroom.

• Once you get inside after being out in the cold, remove your jacket immediately. It'll take you longer to warm up inside if you keep wearing your outdoor clothes.

• Quick buying tip- if you end up visiting somewhere that's cold a lot, be sure to check out a wealthy location's Goodwill and thrift stores. I've found amazing brands like Patagonia, Kool, and Spider there for cheap!

• TL;DR If there's any one thing I would want to impress upon you, it's that materials matter. You could be wearing 4 cotton sweatshirts and still be cold or you could wear one marino wool sweater with a rain coat and be toasty and comfy.

[nourishcolourwellness]

IG: @NourishColourBites

[techmomma]

With weather getting colder than your local infrastructure was really meant to handle, there's going to be more pipes freezing and bursting as time goes on. So from the front desk of a mitigation company:

Find out how to turn off the water in your house in case a pipe bursts and floods.

If you live in an apartment or multi-housing building, you will probably need your landlord or property manager's help, if you can do it at all (they will probably have to do it for you). Find the best number to call if something happens say, in the middle of the night, if something happens.

For the rest of you, you'll need to find the main water valve. Sometimes it's not even inside your house! Sometimes you have to go all the way to the street to find the little hidden box that contains the main water shut-off! And if you think you know but aren't sure, run a test! (Obviously coordinate with whoever owns the building if that's not you.)

The easiest way to keep a single-room flood from turning into a whole-housing flood is to turn off the water as fast as humanely possible. Even just a minute can make a difference when a pipe bursts!

By the time a home is hitting about 20 years old, you should be really starting to prepare for pipes breaking. The longer they go without breaking, the more likely it is every year that something will go wrong. Note the places you can see pipes or are certain pipes are, such as under your sink, behind the toilet, behind the refrigerator and washing machines, etc., and try to make game plans for if something goes wrong with each one. If any of those are on floors above ground level (or a basement), those repairs get even more costly because that damages both the floor and the ceiling below it-and could mean having to remove everything between the two layers, like subflooring and insulation because if insulation gets wet, it gets moldy.

Our company literally just had a job earlier today involving a poor distraught woman who couldn't do anything as her basement flooded with 2 inches of water because she had no idea where the water shut-off valve was; her husband had always taken care of things like that, and her husband passed away two years ago, and she never learned where the shut-off was. She had to call the fire department to help her out, because in addition to the water, her basement was full of electronic things and outlets, meaning it was an electrical hazard down there that only the fire department could even take care of. Even stepping foot in the basement to help her out could have risked the safety of our own guys.

Knowledge is power. Weather is getting more dangerous, so understanding the building you live in is going to be more crucial these days. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best!

[oronthor]

Staying warm tips since real people didn't pick a war with canada in winter.

Sleep with your layering right. Fluffy inside thin on the outside. search up fabric layering.

Put the wind breaker over the sweater. Looks ugly but it's a wind breaker for a reason.

Dont shower at night and dry off as quick as possible after showering.

Keep at least one layer of fabric between your skin and the air.

Reduce the space your body has to dissipate heat.

Don't stay in large open rooms.

Put fabric over the windows and over the doors.

Dont clean before eating. Your food goes cold before you get to enjoy it so eat first after cooking. Enjoyment is half the battle in cold winter months.

If you feel super cold and can't get warm, Wrap your feet in fabric. Stick your feet into the arms of a hoodie. Feet stupid but you'll get warmer faster.

Start with luke warm water and build up if your really cold. You go into shock if you're being hasty.

Same with frost bite. You start with cool water and slowly build up the heat. Search up how to deal with hypothermia before you need that answer.

When showering if your feeling super cold, fill the bathtub below you up for a few inches of warm water. It will suddenly become more manageable.

For family's, sleep in the same room at night. The body heat alone will help but also you can keep the heater in one room. You don't need to share a bed just a room.

Be no afraid to walk around in a blanket burrito and drink hot coco with some candy cane. Doesn't help with the cold really but helps with happyness in the cold months.

If anyone else can think of anything add a comment but good luck Americans, I don't hate you, I just hate your government so you don't deserve to freeze for their sins.