Six cozy capsules for surviving winter

as we enter the hardest month of the season

Jan 28, 2024

Before I share my cozy capsules, I want to make sure you saw the news: The February Romance Collection will be in your inboxes on February 14th, and to celebrate I’m having a winter subscription sale!

For a limited time, you can get an annual subscription to The Eclectic Reader for just $35. Your annual subscription will include the February Romance Collection, paid subscriber-only personal essays, specially curated book lists, and upcoming projects.

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I can’t wait to share my collection with you soon—and I’m so grateful for your support! I couldn’t spend time reading, creating, and dreaming up these projects without it.

Winter Capsules

I’ve written about my practice of creating seasonal capsules here and here. Today, I’m, getting right into the good stuff—the stuff that’s been keeping me afloat during blizzards, freezing temps, and potty training my toddler.

Meals

I’ve been making ricotta and spinach stuffed salmon from The College Nutritionist at least once a week with a side of whatever veggies we have on hand. I add seasonings to the ricotta mixture, along with a squeeze of lemon to bring out the flavors of the fish and spinach.
I found my new lunch obsession. For a few months, I’ve been focusing on adding more protein to my meals. Usually I go for things like cottage cheese, beef sticks, hard boiled eggs, or chicken apple sausage for an energy boost, but a few days ago I made the most delicious bowl with greek yogurt tzatziki dip from Aldi, cucumbers, roasted chickpeas seasoned with cumin, and air fried sweet potato wedges seasoned with garlic powder, cumin, salt, and paprika. I’ll be repeating this formula, especially since all of the ingredients are super affordable at Aldi.
- Speaking of my favorite grocery store, I need to shout out Aldi Instacart grocery pick up because it’s been saving my sanity in a busy work season AND saving us a nice bit of money on food each week.

Wardrobe

I’m living in sweatsuits, leggings, and sweaters. I ordered these Gap Factory pants and sweatshirt after keeping my eye out for a neutral set to wear with sneakers. I love wearing it as a full outfit or mixed with other pieces and may consider adding the gray to my closet. I sized up for a comfy-cozy feel, but it runs pretty true to size with a relaxed fit.
After four years of heavy wear, my Kamik snow boots are still in excellent shape. I walk on all sorts of wintery terrain in these boots, and the tread has held up, they still keep my feet warm, and they look decent with leggings.
Even though a linen button up typically belongs in my summer wardrobe capsule, I was excited to see this cute purple shirt pop up on sale from Old Navy. I like wearing a collared shirt under sweaters or for online Zoom events, and I can’t pass up a top that will bridge multiple seasons.

Skincare & Beauty

I had such oily skin until turning 30, and now my skin is combination most season—dry, dry dry in the winter. Naturium’s plant ceramide rich moisture cream is keeping things under control.
I’m also slathering myself in Naturium lotion every night and drinking tons and tons of water. Our humidifier helps some (when I remember to refill it).
To manage my dry scalp, I use a Brigeo scalp scrub every other week or so, followed up with leave in conditioner. I’m in the market for some new curly-wavy hair products, though—any recs?

Activities

By this point in January, the magic of snow and cold has worn off, the holiday recovery period is over, and I feel a little bored. To keep myself from spending money shopping (dopamine hits!), I’m channeling my novelty-seeking impulse into rearranging corners of my home. Yesterday, I took down our refrigerator pictures and put up new ones. Tomorrow, I might move my plants around. Next weekend, perhaps I’ll clean out my closet.
My son’s imagination is blossoming, and he’s invented two main games for our household: “bear cave” is when mom and dad pretend to be hibernating bears and he sneaks into the cave to wake us up and get tickled (we love a game that involves sleep). “Dragon pizza” is a reenactment of the picture book Knight Owl, in which you must feed a dragon some pizza to befriend him.
We try to get outside as much as possible, but YUCK it is so gross and cold out there. I’m pulling out all the art supplies and instituting daily craft time. We’re loving this stamp collection, homemade dough, and coloring.

Reading

Romance, romance, romance, and…
So many incredible Substack pieces!
- I’m excited to see podcast pals
  Shruti & Neha
  on Substack! Along with Shruti’s personal endeavor
  Brief Op Notes
  .
- Lauren Barber
  ’s love note to her real postpartum really spoke to my heart.
- I look forward to many more editions of
  The Joy Era with Rev. Alicia
  in my inbox.
- Drooling over the new-to-me
  Pizza Every Friday
  newsletter.
- Finally, here’s a little plug for an essay I wrote for
  FictionMatters Newsletter
  about how romance made me a better literary fiction reader.

Self Care

Moving my body every day. I’m back to Peloton rides and yoga classes, and I’m sleeping so much better because of it.
Speaking of sleep, I hopped on the “sleepy mocktail” trend and continue to enjoy my nightly tart cherry juice, sparkling water, and magnesium.
See above for: more protein, grocery pick up, and repeating the same meals over and over.

Self care in the winter season is all about the basics, and as boring as it may seem, focusing on the building blocks of wellness allows me to stay creative, spontaneous, and present in the dark months. I’m noticing a big difference in my mental space this year compared to last year, and I know it’s due to the foundational, humdrum, grown-up self care I’m prioritizing.

The Eclectic Reader