Billie’s Autumn Warmers.
Okay Aotearoa. After Easter weekend, we can all collectively agree that the weather is well and truly cooling down. We can officially say goodbye to summer, and are starting to look ahead to the inevitable even cooler temperatures of winter.
If you’re someone who can fall victim to seasonal depression like me, now might be the time to start considering a winter self care routine. Think brat summer, but like… less summer and definitely less brat.
It’s time to start thinking about what makes you feel cosy inside and out this Autumn, and Billie has pulled together a few tips to give you a head-start thanks to a few of our new favourites and tried-and-true methods.
Keep Your Tootsies Warm.
RRP: $119.99
Every winter or so I find myself replacing my slippers. It’s the best way to start off the cooler season with a bit of self-care, especially if the old ones are worse-for-wear after a few seasons. When Crocs slid into Billie’s DMs, we jumped at the chance to try these out– Personalised slippers?! Yes please! And even better, they let us jump on the “fully loaded” Croc trend and pick out a range of bejewelled Jibbitz charms like the above.
These are perfect for both indoor and outdoor as the weather cools down, and the best part of Crocs is the personalisation– you can choose from a range of colours, and the options are endless for the charms (you want to dress it up with jewels or go full out cursed with a range of loud, maximalist charms? Your call!)
Refresh Your Bedding.
RRP: $59.00
Prioritising quality sleep is one of the best things you can do for your mental health, with experts generally recommending 8 to 10 hours sleep for younger Kiwis. If you’ve got your sleep routine down (avoid caffeine in the hours before bed, reducing screen time before bed, setting alarms etc), the next place to go to overhaul your sleep is your bed.
When I lived down in Christchurch the change in seasons meant a shift to cooler weather that demanded flannelette sheets, but now that I’m living in the warmer and more humid climates of Auckland we’re more comfortable in cotton year-round. Regardless of where you are in the country, Billie’s big sister advice is to invest in 100% cotton (whether cotton or cotton flannelette) sheets to avoid sweating that polyester sheets can cause. Cotton is a breathable material, and will help keep you toasty while not uncomfortable. Billie recommends Kmart for to get a good bargain on stylish yet affordable 100% cotton duvets and cotton sheets.
Pair your new sheets with a new throw or blanket at the end of the bed if you’re not completely ready to make your full winter cocoon just yet– something you can grab and get toasty with as you settle in for the evening.
Spring Gardens Start in Autumn.
My friends have started calling me a “bloomer” (not boomer) for my love of gardening, particularly flowers– they feel like a gift from past me to future me. Autumn is the time to consider planting your spring (or early winter!) bulbs, such as daffodils, tulips, freesias and ranunculus. If you’ve got a spare bit of garden bed or even space in a pot, consider popping down to your local plant store, Bunnings or Mitre 10 to brighten up the cooler months naturally. The joy of seeing these plants pop to life is unrivalled.
The general rule for tulips is to plant them around Mother’s Day (this year it’s Sunday 11th May), perhaps you could even take mum on a plant shopping date? Dreamy!
Get Crafty.
With the cooler weather keeping you more indoors, now is the time to consider picking up a new hobby or craft. Over the last year I’ve taught myself how to cross stitch, which is an easy hobby to pick up with the design options truly being endless– grab yourself a cute new pattern from a small business on Etsy, like these CUTE wildflowers or this pattern set of generation 1 - 9 Pokemon.
Otherwise, there’s some really cool affordable yet stylish crafting kits at the likes of Typo. Here are a few of our favourites:
If your budget is a little bigger, Billie has been OBSESSED with our new Cricut Maker 4. The personalisation options for self-care or gifts are endless– over Easter weekend I gave my Mum a new blanket with her name on it and a personalised Frank Green Keep Cup with sparkles galore.
Stay (Winter) Sun Smart.
RRP: $62.00
We will NEVER stop telling you to wear SPF - even in the colder months! Our Kiwi sun is harsh and still has plenty of burn power from May until August.
Brand new to the world is GLOWGUARD by Melitta. It is a 4-hour defence SPF 50+ designed to feel invisible on the skin and work seamlessly with all products. No greasiness, no pilling, no white cast, just a formula that enhances your routine.
This baby works perfectly in lieu of a primer which is great because we love a product that does multiple things. So just swap it out for your primer and enjoy your sun-safe skin!
