the crisp, cool air of fall has finally hit texas, and because fall generally only lasts a few weeks here, maybe a month or two at the longest, i know that winter’s just around the corner.  [in fact, this post has been drafted since sunday, but each day since then has gotten more and more wintery, to a point where i debated on changing that first sentence to “welp, we skipped fall and winter has arrived!”  but i suppose that’s a bit premature because tomorrow it’s supposed to be 70 and sunny.  damn you, texas, for always confusing me with your seasons and your weather patterns.]

despite the busyness of the christmas season being imminent, there’s a calm and laziness about winter that i can’t explain.  it’s dark and quiet and peaceful somehow.  and yes, there are many things about winter that i find so unfun and unglamorous, like going for a run when it’s really cold and the way my home feels drafty and how the darkness makes me tired and the way my skin turns pale and my cheeks get red and dry from the wind [my skin hates the cold], and i end up lounging around in my fuzzy robe and thick socks way more than i should…

yet all i can think about these days are the glorious, cozy, sexy things about winter that make me determined to enjoy every minute of the season this year:  fires in my living room fireplace – pushing the couch right up next to it to roast marshmallows and watch a movie.  and fires in my bedroom fireplace – letting the crackling flames lull me to sleep.  real hot chocolate – the kind where you heat milk on the stovetop and use chopped chocolate, the good kind.  oversized sweatshirts and chunky-knit sweaters and little dresses paired with stockings.  soup on the stove, served steaming hot with crusty bread.  snow days, which always mean staying in and being cozy and the occasional bundled-up walk to the grocery store to get logs for the fireplace or to a restaurant for dinner, just to get out.  evenings in the hot tub.  knit hats.  throwing my comfiest pair of pajamas in the dryer before bed so they’ll be warm and toasty when i get out of the shower.  hot tea in the mornings and the evenings.  rich, dark beers in a cozy pub.  blanket forts.  chili in the crockpot and cornbread in the oven.  hot baths and delicious candles.

i’ve even been listening to some wintery tunes [no christmas songs yet though…it’s way too early for that!].  they’re all chill and somewhat somber and i love it.  here are some of my faves:

{i had trouble getting the playlist centered so it’s just going to have to stay left-aligned…}

ready for winter yet?

{photos from the icestorm in november last year}

happy cold weather season!  hope you’re all keeping warm out there!