Winter Home Essentials
Winter is upon us, and while I recently did an Autumn and Winter Essentials list, I realised that there are a few things that are absolutely needed now that the real colder weather is here. (To be fair, by “cold” I mean 3°C in the mornings in Auckland. It still hasn’t reached freezing my entire time I’ve lived here.) There are a lot of complaining about how cold Kiwi houses are, and I know that it is a work in progress for me to manually control the temperature because I’m still used to the set-it-and-forget-it attitude from a lifetime of central heating. So until I master the art of household climate control, I have a few things that help me feel warm, especially in the cold mornings and nights in Auckland.
A big, fluffy robe - I’m obsessed with Papinelle, and their long, plush robe is no exception. You need something like this in the mornings because it is a shock to the system to walk from a warm bedroom to a cold kitchen. Despite my best attempts at programming our heater to automatically turn on in the kitchen before we wake up, its still cold in there.
Ugg slippers - Feet need to stay warm, too! Ugg slippers are perfect for cold mornings. One of the best places to get a good deal on these slippers is from NZSale. They always have a lot to choose from, and the prices are really good.
Oversized cardigan - Is this basically a glorified day-robe? Yes, it is. I have a black version similar to this option from Moochi, and it is the perfect thing to wrap up in when it isn’t appropriate to wear a robe. The Kiwi response to anyone complaining about it being cold is to admonish you and tell you to put on a jumper (aka sweater). It’s easy to do with a giant, warm cardigan.
Electric blanket - Unlike in the US, electric blankets go under the sheets on a bed, kind of like a mattress pad on steroids. There are lots of options to choose from, but I’m a fan of dual-control blankets so two people can set their own temperature, like this one from Briscoe’s. (Reminder: don’t ever pay full price for something from Briscoes’s. They have a sale every other week, so be patient, and you’ll save a lot of money.)
Warm duvet inner - Kiwis like to have a duvet inner for every seasons (or so it seems). The winter inners are no joke, and they really keep you warm. They are available everywhere, but this ethically sourced goose down one from Wallace Cotton is a premium version that feels divine.
Bourbon - for hot toddy’s, naturally. When nothing else will warm you up, a hot toddy will! This is my favorite winter drink, and it really does help when a cold comes along. There’s a delicious New Zealand-made honey bourbon called Batch 10 that’s worth trying.
Are there any other tricks and tips for keeping warm in a cold Kiwi house? What have you figured out?
