A roundup of the things actually getting me through the colder months: no huge purchases, no perfectly curated performative self care, just genuine things that have defined my winter so far.
I always love the idea of winter. Cozy living, staying in more, comfy clothes, warm drinks. On paper, winter should absolutely be my season.
But in saying that… It’s all too easy for me to enter hibernation mode and get stuck in a cycle of just surviving until the weather warms up again. But these last couple of years I’ve made a real effort to genuinely enjoy the winter months as much as the summer, and so I’m starting a monthly roundup of the that are doing a lot of the heavy lifting for me this winter.
in my ears & on my bookshelf
Olivia Rodrigo covering CMAT
I have been completely and utterly obsessed with Olivia Rodrigo’s cover of CMAT’s “When a Good Man Cries” this week and I refuse to not mention it to anyone who will listen. Some things just deserve to be shared. I am very rarely the type of person that will love a song on first listen, they typically have to grow on me. But the bridge of this song could play on a constant loop in my brain til the day I die and I still wouldn’t get sick of it. Obsessed.
The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth
I’m only partway through this one but already very invested. I’m new to Sally Hepworth novels after recently reading Mad Mabel, and understand all the love she gets. I’m hooked. I’ve spent many winter nights staying up far too late for “one” more chapter. It’s a very good winter read to snuggle up with on the couch, while also helping me tick one more book off my ever-growing TBR shelf.
keeping us busy
Colouring books (not just for kids)
Okay so this one started as a kids activity and then quickly became mine too.
We’ve been doing a lot of colouring together this winter. There is something genuinely meditative about sitting down with a set of pencils and just… filling in a page with no pressure to make things perfect. My kids’ choice is almost always pokemon while I’ve got some cute little animal one from Kmart . Highly recommend picking one up even if you don’t have kids.
Auskick season
If you know, you know. There is genuinely nothing cuter than a bunch of small children running in the approximate direction of a football on a frosty Saturday morning. We have been loving it. Is this world-class football? Obviously not. Is anyone kicking straight? Also mostly no lol. Is it the highlight of our families’ weekend? Absolutely yes.
Also it forces us outside in the morning too which gets me out of my comfy clothes at a reasonable time of day haha.
on the table
Homemade pizza nights (on rotation)
Every week. Every single week. I tell myself we’ll have something different and then someone asks for pizza and I think “…..absolutely.”
It has become our mid-week ritual and I’m not mad about it. We let everyone pick their own toppings, the kitchen gets a little bit messy, and it’s one of those simple things that I know we’ll look back on fondly. Plus it’s genuinely easy and cheap which I appreciate very much.
Gnocchi (when I can be bothered)
Pan-fried gnocchi with roasted sweet potato, crispy sage and brown butter.
This is the meal I make when I want something cozy and homely but still fresh. It looks somewhat impressive, it tastes incredible, and it’s actually not that hard.
My biggest obstacle used to be actually having sage in our house, but I’ve since started to grow our own in our herb garden. So that’s one less excuse for me to not make this more often. I make it maybe once every 4 months and every time I do I think “I should make this more often.” And then I don’t. And then winter comes around and I make it again and the cycle continues.
If you want the recipe, just say the word and I’ll put it up. It’s genuinely worth the effort.
currently using
The Medicube PDRN collagen overnight mask
I’m not a big skincare routine person. I tried, it lasted about four days before I got lazy and just put on moisturizer and called it a night. But this Medicube mask is the one thing I’ve kept up with because it takes five seconds to put on, it feels like a fancy treat, and my skin genuinely looks better after. It’s become my small winter self-care thing that doesn’t require a whole “routine” or thirty other products to go with it.
My decade old Ugg boots
These boots are TEN years old. There is a small hole above my left toe from the way I walk, the sole is worn in the exact shape of my foot, and I have absolutely no intention of replacing them. I think there’s something really nice about that. Despite my constant urge to impulse buy, not everything needs to be new to be good. My uggs are proof that some things just get better with time, and winter is honestly the perfect reminder to appreciate the things you already have rather than buying your way into the season.
wildcard: worth the drive
The Grampians for a weekend
We did an overnight trip to the Grampians with my family last weekend and it was exactly what we needed. A cabin, some proper cold air, and a break from the routine of home.
The kids love it there, maybe even more than we do. The place we stayed had plenty of play equipment to keep them busy. And so much wildlife – kangaroos, emus, kookaburras, galahs, cockatoos – all visible from our front door.
The highlight was heading into town for our lunch and a kookaburra swooping in at full speed, stealing my dad’s food clean out of his hands. Mid bite. So if you do head up to Halls Gap any time soon, be very protective of any edible items hahah.
If you’re in Victoria and you haven’t done a Grampians trip yet – or in a while, add it to the list.
What are you loving this winter? I’d love to know — drop it in the comments below.
Olivia x