Embracing the Wintrovert Within

My Winter Survival Kit

Orchids in the Snow

In my latest gift guide, I introduced a term that encapsulates a seasonal sentiment I've often felt:

Wintrovert (noun)

A personality type where one becomes quieter, more introverted, more withdrawn in the winter.

When I consider my hesitance to embrace "introvert" as a label I choose to wear, I find that my reclusive tendencies align closely with the dwindling daylight. While the vibrant energy of spring and summer invites weekend adventures and spontaneous strolls after work, my enthusiasm for exploration diminishes significantly around the winter solstice.

Through the years, I have discovered ways to soften the harshness of winter's chill, even embracing some culinary traditions. My heart will always yearn for summer skirts and the sweetness of stone fruit, yet I cannot overlook the comforting allure of newly released Beaujolais Nouveau, scratch-made soups, and head-to-toe cashmere.

My curated Winter Survival Kit is designed to please the senses and combat the bits that plague us.

1. Prid Drawing Salve + Weleda Everon

   This recommendation may raise eyebrows, but I stand by its efficacy. When my lips succumb to the dreaded dryness—cracked, peeling, and bleeding—this salve is my sole salvation. Its thick, molasses-like texture locks in moisture, acting like a protective mask that holds firm until I choose to wash it away. I’ve relied on it during skiing trips to shield my lips from windburn and dehydration, and if applied overnight, it works wonders, leaving my lips nearly healed by morning. While the packaging cautions against internal use, I find its effectiveness worth the risk.

   For daily care, I keep a stick of Weleda Everon by my bedside and another tucked into the pockets of my favorite winter coats. As someone sensitive to mentholated fragrances and aromas, I appreciate that this balm offers the gentle scent of beeswax—nothing more.

2. Sunday Roast and Soups from Scratch

   Max and I have adopted a very domestic tradition, the Sunday Roast. Each week, we procure a spatchcocked chicken from our local butcher, roasting it alongside a medley of potatoes, carrots, fennel, shallots, and delicata squash. The leftover bones and chicken backs find their way into a silicone freezer bag, which I affectionately call the “broth bag.” Throughout the week, I toss in onion ends, parsley stems, and any other vegetable scraps that might otherwise go to waste. After about three weeks, my collection is ready to bake and boil into a nourishing bone broth.

   Twelve hours later, I’m rewarded with two quarts of liquid gold that genuinely feels like the fountain of youth. This broth serves as the foundation for a variety of soups, each evolving based on what I have on hand. One of my all-time favorites is a Curried Red Lentil Soup, a recipe gifted to me by my friend Allison over a decade ago. Its warming ginger and jalapeño notes provide the perfect antidote to winter's chill.

3. A Trustworthy Humidifier

   While I wish I could recommend a chic humidifier, my past experiences have led me to curse the beautifully designed yet ineffective models. I’ve settled on a reliable option that, while not a showstopper, has proven its worth over three seasons. I have been told the canopy is also a crowd-pleaser but it still doesn’t do much for me aesthetically.

4. Tan Luxe Face Drops

   When the sun-kissed glow of summer fully fades from my face I like to supplement with a few drops mixed into my daily moisturizer for a subtle boost in radiance.

5. Flamingo Deep Nourishing Cream

   I will preface this by saying I would love to have a steady supply of Aesop Ressurection to slather over everything below the neck but even I draw a line at how much I am willing to spend on luxury skincare.

   While it is not a sudden seduction of perfectly engineered aromas, the scent is not girly or overpowering, a soft bergamot and vetiver lingers a little and then lets whatever other scent you chose to take the stage. I like that it comes in a tub and offers a generous portion in a very discreet package that sits right at home for those who shudder at the sight of a giant lotion bottle. I also love the hydrating spray for a quick post-shower seal

6. Red Wine

   Not unlike a seasonal diet, my wine choices change with the seasons. I like easing into red wines, starting with a bright Gamay and incrementally working toward a dense Nebbiolo. To kick off a winter of reds I celebrate the release of the Beaujolais Nouveau. Annually, the week before Thanksgiving, the nouveau is a fleeting moment of fresh ripe wine to be enjoyed immediately and whet the palette for a gradual journey to more mature wines as the temperatures drop.

7. Head to Toe Cashmere

   Among my most frequently searched shopping terms, cashmere and silk are neck and neck. While both fabrics shy away from machine washing, welcoming a cashmere sweater into your wardrobe requires a level of commitment. After the honeymoon period of a newly purchased garment, many things can go wrong, from shrinking to pilling to moth holes. I’ve loved and lost many fine knits over the years, yet my heart remains a devoted romantic for luxurious yarns. I am currently eyeing the Doen Petra and this one from Buck Mason.

   To ensure a good investment here are my three essential tips for caring for cashmere & fine knits:

   1. Avoid Frequent Washing: Resist the urge to wash after every wear. When necessary, handwash using Laundress Cashmere Shampoo (or a rinse-less option with lanolin) in ice-cold water, and immediately run it through a spin cycle. This minimizes exposure to water and allows you to reshape the sweater before laying it flat to dry.

   2. De-Pill with Care: Use a cashmere comb to gently remove pills, restoring your sweater's pristine appearance without damaging the fibers.

   3. Seasonal Dry Cleaning: At the end of each season, take your cashmere to the dry cleaner and store it in a moth-protected container to ensure its longevity.