How to warm up your home this winter

I truly love winter and everything it brings – grey skies, frosty temperatures, gingerbread lattes.

One thing I do not love, however, is being perpetually cold. Soon, waking up to 30 degree mornings will seem like a heat wave.{The hardwood floors and outside exposure of my bedroom do not make for  very toasty mornings}And forget space heaters – they dry out the air {and my skin, eek!} and make mornings anything but cheery.

So here are a few ways to warm up your home décor and furniture this winter, thus removing the need to perpetually wear your Uggs around the house as I’ve been doing for the past few weeks.

1. Add decorative pillows and throws to upholstered furniture for extra warmth. Pillows in rich colors and textures can add an instant feeling of warmth to neutral upholstery, and the throws are perfect for frosty nights.

2. Throw rugs can add warmth to bare floors on chilly mornings. Why not try a faux hide underneath a cocktail table or along with the guest bedroom furniture to add a bit of a rustic feeling to your winter décor?

3. Faux Fur is everywhere this season, from your home décor …

To your closet! In your closet, add a fur scarf. It is one of my favorite accessories for winter. Fur pillows and throws add instant warmth to any room.

4. Make your fireplace the center of attention. The sight and sound of a crackling fire is one of my favorite things through the chilly winter.

5. Beside your fireplace, add an ottoman or bench, cozy club chair or upholstered chair.

6.Create warm aromas in your home. One of my favorite things about winter is how aromatic everything seems. The smell of falling leaves as autumn fades to winter … evergreen branches … and cooking for warm winter gatherings. In my opinion, there’s no better way to warm your home than with baking … cookies, breads, pies… Glorious smells that permeate those cold nights. So here is one of my favorites. My mom’s Sour Cream Apple Pie {it’s simply divine}. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Sour Cream Apple Pie

Single Crust Pie Pastry

2 slightly beaten eggs

1 cup dairy sour cream

1 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

¼ teaspoon salt

3 cups coarsely chopped, peeled cooking apples (about 1 pound)

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

¼ cup packed brown sugar

¼ cup all-purpose flour

Prepare pastry and line 9-inch pie plate. {If you don’t have your own recipe, you can find one here from the baking diva herself, Martha Stewart}. Trim pastry to ½ inch beyond edge of pie plate. Flute edge; do not prick pastry.

In mixing bowl, combine eggs and sour cream; stir in granulated sugar, the 2 tablespoons of flour, vanilla, and salt. Stir in apples. Pour apple mixture into pastry-lined pie plate.  Bake in 375⁰ oven for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt butter; stir in brown sugar and ¼ cup flour. Dot top of pie with brown sugar mixture.Bake for 20-25 minutes more or until filling is set. Cool thoroughly on rack.

And of course… be sure to enjoy it with friends!