As we prepare the house for the long winter ahead, I have cozy on my mind.

A few of my favorite cold weather items, to keep me (and my kids) toasty warm in our home…

Flor tiles at our back doors. It’s the entrance for our dogs from the wet backyard, and I can’t figure out how to keep it clean. Since I’m not one for mopping on a daily basis, I really wanted something that would look good and be easy to clean. I’d always turned up my nose at Flor tiles, but you know what? These things are awesome. They are indestructible. They catch the muddy footprints. And when a square or two get trashed, I just toss them away and replace with new ones. No more ‘disposable’ rugs for us.

Sheepskin rugs for the girls. I bought one of them, custom, from a little shop on Etsy, but then a flabbergasted reader left a comment that they have them at Ikea! For 20 bucks! And while 1) I am fairly new to the joy that is Ikea, and 2) the Ikea sheepskins are smaller than the one that I bought, and 3) while there is a $20 sheepskin, there is also a larger one (go for the white) for just under $50, which is about what I paid for the one I bought from Etsy, so really, it’s a wash. I did go ahead and buy another one the last time I was there. I was so tired of listening to my girls fighting over the sole sheepskin. Now, they both snuggle up on their respective rugs, which brings me to my next favorite…

Classic family movies. Think “The Sound of Music,” and “Mary Poppins.” I couldn’t wait to have kids old enough to watch these, and now that I do, bring them on! With a big bowl of movie-butter flavored popcorn. Individually portioned out, of course.

Ikea’s Unni Virka throw blankets, stacked up on the end of a sofa. Eventually, the snowy weather outside that is so delightful now is going to turn grey and dreary and endless. These colorful blankets will add life to those days.

I am loving Steven’s Gourmet Hot Cocoa in Belgian Dark Chocolate. Delicious. I’m not much for milk chocolate, but I hoard dark chocolate. Chances are, you can find this at your local grocery.

And to keep us warm on the inside, too, Bear Creek Chili mix. I have a wonderfully delicious homemade chili recipe from Canyon Ranch Spa that is incredible. But sometimes, in a pinch, I want something hearty and tasty that doesn’t involve chopping vegetables. All you need for the Bear Creek mix is a can of tomato paste to make this chili mix work. I always throw in one pound of ground turkey meat (already cooked) for extra flavor. You’d never know this wasn’t homemade, and the best thing is? It cooks up in 20 minutes. I find mine at the grocery, I’m sure you can, too.

And lastly, nothing says warm and cozy days inside while it’s blowing blustery winds outside then library books! My newest discovery! I don’t know what took me so long. Well, yes, I do. As a kid, I was tormented with trips to the library, and would always refuse to take a book out. Because sometimes? There were gross things stuck to the pages, and my little mind imagined the worst. Boogers. But now that I’m a mom, I’m not afraid of a little booger.