Hi Ladies and Gents,

Its that time of year again when we are getting a bit chilly and as we all use this forum as a source of advice and comfort lets try to keep together for warmth!

My problem is my apartment is SO chilly so how about we swap ideas to keep warm or even our favourite winter recipes and hot drink ideas? Nothing like a warm feeling to pass a day?

WARMEST wishes to all!

B
x

Wear a scarf and wrap a blanket around my legs and wear fingerless gloves so I can still type...

I'm still cold though!

It's sooo cold and I hate how grey and dark it is all the time :(

Anyway, I live off tea, so that keeps me warm. And cup-a-soups are good too. Definitely fingerless gloves, like TreeofLife said.

Hope you get nice and warm, BevCha =D
x

Thanks Tree and Glow,

The fingerless gloves sound great. Bizarrely I live in Portugal (not always sunny as many think and the temps are certainly dropping!) BUT I am a native Northumbrian (North East England) so pretty adept and knocking together a hearty stew and soups - Mackem Beefy will know what I mean!
After work I plan on going to the supermarket and getting the bits and bobs for a slow cooked beef stew that should keep me toasty.

hugs
B

That sounds delicious! Can you send some over to manchester please! ;)

x

No problem Glow! :D Consider it done!!

Brownie in a mug recipe!!!

1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 2 tbsp cocoa, a pinch of salt, 2 tbsp oil (it says olive oil, but I find it's too stong a flavour, so I use vegetable oil), 3 tbsp water.

Mix all the ingredients together until smooth, microwave on high for 1min40sec.
And it's ready!
I love it..and it's just a really quick warm and easy choco fix, expecially when it's freezing outside.

Give it a go if you like the sound :)...I like this thread already.

Wow PhDefault!

That sounds great! I like a choccie fix but not actually buying a chocolate bar (I will stuff the whole thing in my mouth) so a nice indulgent fix like that sounds perfect!

Well done!

hugs
B

Hi Guys,

Another day of combating low temperatures - honestly I swear that the temperatures outside are warmer than my office!!

I couldnt make my stew last night as I forgot honey (an important ingredient!) So if you can wait another day glowworm I will get it to you haha! When I get the honey I will try the brownie in a mug because I cannot wait to try that - I think I will make it for my mum when I go home for christmas :)

My outfit today is comprising jeans, thick socks, boots a jumper and a scarf. I have also found an odd contraption here in portugal which is a like a footwarming plate. Its a heated metal plate with wooden slats over it and you put your feet on it and get them warm. Never seen anything like that anywhere else!

Keep the ideas coming guys!

hugs
B
xx

When I lived in a cold flat, I always had a hot water bottle somewhere about me while I was studying. I also like hot orange, hot Ribena etc as a way of keeping warm without drinking too much tea or coffee. If your apartment is draughty, try to block as many of the draughts as you can. There's always the studying in bed option as well!

Hi Chickpea!

Welcome to the discussion :) I have had a funny sort of day in that I did that thing where you think you are SO organised in the morning only to have to go back home through the day to get something you forgot :(

Problem is we have TORRENTIAL rain here so I have ended up getting soaked twice - a mug of hot tea is the only reasonable course of action now!

liking all the ideas people :)

warm hugs!
B

I suppose I can wait, Bev! Hahaha ;)

That brownie in a mug idea sounds awesome. The only problem for me is I'm already carrying a little, ahem, phd weight, so i'm not sure cheap and easily accessible choc fixes are a good idea for me. The 4th year is so damn sedentary and this cold weather does not make me want to go outside and run! :(

Lol, I know how that feels glowworm!
I avoid the cold by doing my running on the house stairs, half an hour running....this is me typing as I'm eating a gummy worm! Woot Haribo!! :p

I swear by Jillian Michaels aswell, who is the goddess of hard abs, I've copied in the link below :)

I use it as an excuse to indulge a little bit. Us PhDs need the extra comfort :)

Also BevCha, that warm wooden plate sounds amaze! My socks aren't doing me justice atm!

Thanks for the link, PhDefault :)

I do need to get more motivated and it's good to hear from other people in the same position. I used to do a workout at home, but have fallen out of doing it. It's definitely a good way of keeping warm.

So, BevCha, did you manage to make your stew? And how did a good Northumbrian girl end up in Portugal??!!

Keep keeping warm, everyone x

Hi Guys,

I did make my stew and SOOOOO looking forward to having some tonight with some nice fresh bread - Yum!!

Exercise is a good way to keep warm and is a great suggestion :) I was at the gym last night and got caught in the heaviest rain on the way home! So today I am feeling a bit extra chilly - I too love a good run but lets be honest when it cold and raining outside and you have arrived home after a long day and you have just put the kettle on its so so hard to put your running shoes on!

Any more warming recipes and keeping toasty ideas people? My next attempt might be something like a hot chicken noodle soup if any one has any suggestions on that front?

Your stew should arrive in Manchester tonight Glowworm :D I ended up here after applying to do my postdoc for what is possibly the nicest and kindliest professor in the world (I needed it after my first postdoc experience!) I will send a nice bit of bread and butter with your stew!

Hugs everyone!

B
xxx