Winter Must-Dos!

Brrrrr! Now that Winter has well and truly arrived, I thought it would be nice to remind myself that while Winter may indeed be a very cold time of the year, it doesn't have to be miserable!

Here is a list of some nice things I will be doing this winter to keep warm, cosy, and happy!

1. Knitting!



A few months ago, I started knitting again, and I remembered how much I love it. Not only does it mean you get to create some gorgeous new knits to wear or to gift, it is also incredibly relaxing and therapeutic to do any kind of stitching. Then one day I visited Cottage Industry on Gertrude St and discovered the CUTEST knitting needles I've ever seen! The needles are handmade from Tasmanian Oak by some lovely artisans called Art Viva, and you can buy them from Cottage Industry on Gertrude St in Fitzroy, or online at the Art Viva online store. Oh, and if you want some cute knitting patterns you can get started at The Purl Bee or at Ravelry.

2. Hot drinks! Coffee, Chai, Hot Chocolate and Tea!



This one is pretty self-explanatory! What better way to warm up than by curling up on the couch to read a book or watch TV with a warm cuppa! My favourite home-brew coffee right now is Amanti Butterscotch Toffee. It is some seriously yummy coffee! The Tea Leaves Store in Sassafras also has some AMAZING tea selections, and they have an online store too if you don't live near the Dandenongs. My favourite Chai tea, however, is from RealChai. BEST CHAI IN THE WORLD! Not even kidding. If you haven't tried it, you MUST! Even better, you can get a Chocolate Chai blend, which is to die for! If hot chocolate is your hot drink of choice, then you can't go past Lindt Hot Chocolate, which comes in flake form in either dark or milk, and melts into a smooth, rich and creamy hot chocolate. Yum!

3. Rugging up on the couch and watching TV and DVDs!



What better way to unwind than to veg out and watch some good TV. My picks for this winter are Mad Men (Two words: Don Draper. Drool!) and Offspring series two, which airs on Monday on Ten at 8.30pm. SO EXCITED!


4. Going for bush walks!



It is no secret that I absolutely adore the Dandenong Ranges. I have stayed at Candlelight Cottages almost every winter for the past four years. It's just so nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and into the peaceful surrounds of a rain forest. This year I won't be staying at the cottages, but I still like to make the time to go up there whenever I can... Even when it's freezing cold, it can be nice to rug up and go for a long walk in the forest. There are so many gorgeous birds, amazingly tall trees, beautiful ferns, and there are some great tracks up there too. Then afterwards you can have some tea and scones at a lovely café in Olinda or Sassafras and visit all the quaint little shops. That's my idea of a nice wintery day out!

5. Baking cupcakes!



Who doesn't love a good cupcake? The Crabapple Bakery Cupcake Cookbook is a great starting point, but if you just love to bake, then the Frankie Magazine Afternoon Tea recipe book is also really great. Put on your best apron and make some mess in the kitchen!

What are your Winter must-dos this Winter?