Must-have winter essentials

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If you wait long enough, everything comes back into fashion eventually. Just look at tracksuits, Bitcoin and Kim Kardashian. And of course, it happened with puffer jackets which are both functional and fashionable. For men, a black puffer jacket is an excellent option: black is seriously versatile and you can wear it with practically anything. They work equally well at a casual family braai or while conquering Mount Everest.

A more stylish option for women this winter is a bodywarmer puffer jacket – pretty much the same thing, but without the sleeves. They offer superb insulation without making you feel like you’re drowning in layers of clothes. They look great worn over a tight-fitting long-sleeved top or a  jersey and can be paired with a light scarf for extra warmth.

Baby, it’s cold outside!

Nothing says warm and cosy like a hand-knitted jersey – a unisex classic that will keep your baby warm on cold days and looks great with this white and blue hand-knitted beanie. Speaking of beanies, choosing a cute woollen version is a great way to accessorise and keep your baby’s head warm. 

We’re currently seeing a real shift towards sustainability in baby clothing, and this breathable, lightweight Aden & Anais Bamboo Swaddling Wrap is right on-trend. It’s made of sustainable materials and can double up as a nursing cover, burp cloth or playmat. It can even be draped over a stroller or car seat to provide shade. Perfect for reminding your baby of the good old days in the womb!

The hottest appliances

E-mails roll in, you realise you haven’t started a task that’s deadline was yesterday and your co-workers need to talk to you, next thing you have a sip of your coffee and it tastes like insipid mud – introducing the mug warmer! If you’re a busy person or someone who is easily distracted, it could just be your new best friend. And what’s the use of having a mug warmer without a coffee maker?

Top chefs and the  People’s Choice Awards have raved about this next appliance. More importantly, it comes highly recommended by my mom. She loves the fact that the Salton electric pressure cooker is simple and easy to use for the best curries, soups and stews. It has a built-in memory to resume the cooking cycle after power outages (so load-shedding won’t ruin your dinner) and it promotes healthier eating by preserving more of the nutrients in your food.  Best of all, it has a dishwasher-safe, removable cooking pot -so no more washing up!

If you don’t have a significant other to keep you warm this winter, an electric blanket is the next best thing. Besides providing heat, electric blankets can also help relieve aches and pains by increasing blood flow throughout your body. This electric blanket has an overheating safeguard feature and costs less to run than a 60W light bulb. It’s comforting to know that it’s entirely worry-free. 

How to stock the perfect winter pantry

During winter, the food we like to eat changes from light, crisp and cool to warming comfort food. There’s something about a nice, hot, filling meal on a wintry day.  Here’s our list of must-have pantry staples.

Soup sachets in every flavour imaginable: beef onion, brown onion, minestrone and mushroom. Quick and tasty, they take up very little pantry space.

The answer to having a bad day – tea! For centuries the problems of mankind have been solved over a cup of tea, whether it be business disputes or family feuds. It’s important to stock tea in various flavours: my personal favourite is vanilla chai tea but other popular variations include English breakfast, green and earl grey.

There’s nothing quite like biting into a warm, freshly-baked muffin, especially when it took you only 20 minutes to bake because you’re a savvy chef who knows about this cappuccino muffin easy mix. I’d be a terrible friend if I didn’t suggest enjoying one with a steaming mug of hot chocolate.

Shop all your winter essentials from the comfort of your warm and cosy home, on bidorbuy!

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