Since this is my first winter in the suburbs where I am consistently leaving the house, I thought I would share a few items that help me through daily life (walking the dog, daycare drop offs/pickup, driving, etc).

The recent snow and ice made me reevaluate my shoe choices. I wanted boots with a thick sole that I could wear on slushy sidewalks, but looked nice enough for errands around town. I got these rain resistant Freda Salvador boots during a sale and love them.

Unlike when we lived in the city, I don’t want bulky layers to keep me warm. They don’t feel great while driving, and I find myself shedding everything as soon as I enter the grocery store. My new revelation is a merino base layer under a thinner sweater. I like this one from Heimat, and the gorgeous cuff looks great peeking out from under sweaters. I’ve also never been a scarf person, so this balaclava from Nadaam keeps my neck and head warm without me feeling strangled. It’s also easy on, easy off as I’m going about my day.

I do still have my huge puffer from my city walking days, but got this sleeker yet still warm coat from APC (sold out now) for my current life. The photo is deceptive – the shape is oversized but the quilting is thin. It’s comfortable to wear for long neighborhood walks but also not too bulky for getting into and out of the car.

Finally, I am in love with cashmere socks. Why didn’t I wear them sooner? I like these from J.Crew, which I picked up when they were 50% off. I wash them with my other clothes (on cold) and lay flat to dry, and they are holding up great (especially since I wear each pair multiple times a week). I do use a sweater shaver on them sometimes but that is more because sweater shaving has become therapeutic for me. More on that later.