basic winter apparel

Not to freeze (in low temperatures as -25°C).

*The order of factors does not change the product...

Head 
- wool or wool and leather hat/bonnet;
- winter ear protection.


Face (cosmetic products required)
- some kind of cocoa butter lipstick;
- moisturizer;
- a pack of facial tissues (because your nose will flow!).


Neck
- wool scarf;
- wool neck protector / wool neck warm hat / wool neck guard.

  
Hands 
- gloves/mitts 

(until -5°C, of wool / lower: sheep wool and leather / lower than -20°C: ski ones)

- for special occasions, when you'll be oustide for a while: hand warmers.


Body 
- long johns;
- baselayer long;
- a windbreaker or a sweatshirt (or both);
- snow/winter overall;
- a warm winter jacket - a long one, not to freeze your butt!

(wind-resistant and waterproof, appropriate for low temperatures);

- a (big) bag, in order to put in your gloves, hat, scarf and everything else you will take off while on metro, shopping etc. (believe me: it's boring. After ten minutes, it also starts to be heavy with the jacket in your arms!), besides all other necessary accessories you have to carry with you, like your pair of step dry shoes.


Feet
- a good pair of special winter boots

waterproof, appropriate for low temperatures. Nice brands:

Columbia, Kamik, Sorel and The North Face.

- wool socks (until 5°C: 1 pair / lower: 2 pairs / lower than -20°C: 3 pairs);
- thermal insoles;
- for special occasions, when you'll be oustide for a while: foot warmers;
- a pair of another softer shoes to wear while inside 

(snow is beautiful, but it is wet... mainly when it melts and mess all the floor).

 

Besides you look like a Eskimo or a winter monster (with lots of clothes - which you spend at least 20 minutes putting it all on), no, IT IS NOT cheap dress yourself in the winter season... Furthermore, pay so much doesn't means (at all!) you'll look great, though. Discriminating taste in fashion is a second point... (even more expensive!)
 

In your mind and spirit

- courage;

- patience; 

- willingness.

be mine

I found it, hung on the handrail of a bar, missing. Perfect for me! At that moment and then.

About a year and half ago, I don't know how, when or where, I lost it. Unfortunately.
 

Brown, warm, versatile, basic... I confess that, many times, it was hard to manage without it.
 

One fine day (yesterday, to be more accurate), I went to a second hand shop, looking for something similar to wear under the coat. I even told my husband about that... Surprisingly, there was one! I-d-e-n-t-i-c-a-l. 

What a goog luck! Amazing. So far... So good! 

Well, it's said "If you love something set it free. If it comes back to you, it's yours. If it doesn't, it never was". Thus, more than never, I pretty think that it REALLY belongs to me. 

against frost weather

I used to dream about a winter black jacket of Benetton. Fluffy, with many buds. A little undue for the tropical cold of Porto Alegre city, I confess. All the same, during several years of my teenages, I went there just to check the price. Something about US$160.

Impossible for me, at that moment, buy it. Too expensive for a luxury. Nevertheless, in 2010, travelling in Europe, I found a similar one. New... for US$ 50! A bargain. I nearly bought two! No, not in a store, in a street market. A generic one. F*ck Benetton!
 

Maybe, I always knew one day I would live in a freezing place, where I will really need it. Today, it's a necessity in my current life. 

Lucky, I received from my step sister a pretty good long one. For very low temperatures, coat the ass is required (we quickly realize that!). 

Not even - 30°C scares me anymore...

so long!

We must enjoy every little moment in summer because it flies... When we realize, swallows are already leaving for south! 

While ants and squirrels wildly try to carry much food as possible (before arrive the time when bears hibernate), I attempt to stock as much as D vitamin I can. It's the last days taking sun in the skin, free of coats, jackets, overcoats, scarfs, hoods, bonnets and gloves.

Now, I'm catching on their rhythm... Maybe too late.

Well, many things we couldn't do this year, only in 2013... (Why? Because HE comes... the winter) It's a matter of cycle; here, the best season ends now... very early, so fast.

Next year, I WILL make up for lost (sunny) time.