winter favorites
a recap of new and old items i loved during the fall
I’d longed for spring ever since it went below 30 degrees. We had a couple of false starts to spring with a light snowfall sprinkled in between, but warm weather has officially arrived! Winter dragged on for way too long so I’m glad it’s now over. Winter is the only season in which I don’t fully understand why people love and defend their lives over. The days are short and the weather is unbearably cold. I find myself wanting to stay inside during the cold season, so I made it my objective to spend as little as possible during these past few months. It’s tough to say if I succeeded or not based on this list, but most of these items I cherished and used quite literally daily all winter.
Free People Balabonnet: My go-to hat all throughout winter. You could not catch me not wearing this when the weather was at least under 30 degrees. It kept me warm, it fit me snug, it didn’t ruin my hair as much as a beanie would, and it is so stylish. This was a little pricey, but worth every penny and every wear.
Apartamento Magazine Issue #36: Have I read a single piece from this issue? No. Is the cover cute and makes for a cool coffee table decor? Yes and yes.
IKEA Trumfisk cup: I bought this on sale and wish I bought more than one. The perfect cup for an iced coffee or matcha. Yes, I still drink iced drinks in winter :P
Baggu Camo Slipper: This was a birthday gift a couple of years ago, but I definitely got a lot of use in them around the apartment when it had gotten a little too cold for my bare feet.
Kitten by Stacey Yu: A fast read and page-turner for me. This doesn’t come out until August, but winter was the perfect time to read this. Kitten follows twenty-something post-grad Katie as she becomes engrossed with her boyfriend’s cat over the course of a week. I think Yu captures perfectly the fish-out-of-water feeling you get right after graduating and the intricacies of an immigrant parent-child relationship. Comes out on August 4th, so be sure to check it out!
The Invisible Years by Rodrigo Hasbún: A fascinating insight into the lives of upper-class adolescents in Bolivia. The novel goes back and forth between present and past while changing narrative styles effortlessly. There are elements of suspense and mystery sprinkled throughout the novel that made this the perfect winter read.
Baked Orzo: A quick and easy oven-baked meal for when I am feeling lazy. A warm hug that’s especially needed during long cold nights.
Uniqlo Multi Pocket Shoulder Bag: I go through messenger bags so fast, but I think I found the one that will last me for years. This bag has so many pockets and is so spacious. It has become my go-to work bag when I don’t feel like wearing my backpack; I can easily hold my laptop, a book, and my lunch in this bag.
Espoir The Brow Color Fixing Cara in the color Fake Bleach: This is the next best thing to committing to bleaching your eyebrow. I love this when I’m feeling nonbinary asf and having bleached brows will elevate and complete my look for the day. It may not be super realistic, but I love the three-week-old-bleached-brow vibe.
Sundae School Charcoal Five Peaks Fleece: One of my more expensive purchases in the past few months, but worth every penny. The fleece is so warm, the graphic is so stunning, and the attention to detail from the jacket’s structure to the custom zipper makes this an investment piece priceless.
Winter Soundtrack, or albums that’ve been on repeat all winter
Big Fish Theory by Vince Staples (2017)
Sports by Sports (2026)
Take Me Apart by Kelela (2017)
Through The Walls by Rochelle Jordan (2025)
TOTAL SELLOUT by Jae Stephens (2025)
Wuthering Heights by Charli xcx (2026)
