Always cold when indoors

I get cold at work so I have a couple of tricks I use.  One thing for sure is I wear sweaters nearly everyday and always have an extra cardigan around that I can throw on.  Also, I've found a pair of tights or pantyhose on under my slacks keep me much warmer than you'd think and it doesn't make me feel all bulky.

One trick I can't live without is my two small rice bags.  They are just small fabric squares, filled with uncooked rice and stitched up on all four side to make little pillow looking things.  I have two that are both just the right size to fit in my coat or cardigan pockets.  I pop them in the microwave for about a minute and they stay warm for an hour or so.  It's perfect if I have to walk anywhere in the cold as my hands stay toasty warm in my pockets, but even at work at my desk, just having those little bags of warm is lovely. And when they stop being warm, I just pop them back in the microwave. they last forever.

I know you can buy similar things at most hiking/outdoor stores, but the rice bags are super simple to make and cost almost nothing since it's just rice and a tiny bit of fabric.  I also have larger ones I can use in place of a heating pad and they work a treat!

I never thought about rice bags for pockets-THANK YOU!  I'm going to make some for the girls-my 9 year old in particular always has cold hands and feet. 

Mine laughs at me as well.  When it's 65 degrees here people dress as though it's 95!  I dress the same as I would back in the US on a cool 65 degree day--with long sleeves or an extra layer on hand, *not* shorts, sandals, and a strappy top!

This! I think people must think I am Amish or something and I am just too modest to show any part of my body. I walk into the pub and all the women have tops that barely cover their t*ts and there I am with my turtleneck.

This! I think people must think I am Amish or something and I am just too modest to show any part of my body. I walk into the pub and all the women have tops that barely cover their t*ts and there I am with my turtleneck.

I have been known to stop dead in the street when we are out and mutter "My god, she must be FREEZING" at some of the girls walking around Manchester. It cracks DH up. Sheesh.  Not enough clothing for a warm evening, let alone the middle of winter!

I have been known to stop dead in the street when we are out and mutter "My god, she must be FREEZING" at some of the girls walking around Manchester. It cracks DH up. Sheesh.  Not enough clothing for a warm evening, let alone the middle of winter!

Ha ha, I do that too. I often find myself muttering "someone PLEASE throw a coat over her". I've never understood it, and I am British. Perhaps I'm American on the inside?!

Only another month until I go to Florida...bring it on.  

So jealous!   

Since others from places with climates similar to the climate where I'm from have the same problem, I think it might have to do with the dampness. I have asthma and cold air is a trigger for me, so putting on layers doesn't always help. If I'm outside in the cold I'm only outside for a short time. 

I have cold-triggered asthma, too.  People tend to look at me like I'm making it up when I mention it.  I'm the girl walking past with a double-layer knit scarf wrapped around her face, hat tied over it to keep it in place.

Today in the office I wore: Vest top, long sleeve tshirt, thick knitted cardigan, tights, jeans, 2 pairs of socks, Ugg boots. And I had the space heater on. And my hands were cold.

I used to dress really cute in the US, but I can count on one hand how many times I wore dresses here: I'm just too cold! When we went to the beach this summer I was hunkered down in a hoodie with a towel over me for most the day, looking around in awe at all the people that could stand to be in a bathing suit. DH and I joke the only tan you can hope to get in England is freezer burn.

So jealous!   

Well, for years I met up with my family in St Petes Beach, but for the last three years we have been going to Fort Lauderdale, its nowhere as nice at the Tampa side. Nowhere as nice, but my 96 year old Grandma is there, and the place we stay is nice, and its on the beach. But, I love St Petes Beach, a lot.

Dude, there's a Baja Fresh in downtown ft. lauderdale.....

The salsa on the far left is muy excelente

Dude, there's a Baja Fresh in downtown ft. lauderdale.....

The salsa on the far left is muy excelente

Thanks I'll make sure I stop by!

Well, for years I met up with my family in St Petes Beach, but for the last three years we have been going to Fort Lauderdale, its nowhere as nice at the Tampa side. Nowhere as nice, but my 96 year old Grandma is there, and the place we stay is nice, and its on the beach. But, I love St Petes Beach, a lot. 

Me too! 

Caladesi Island, Ft Desoto Park & Fred Howard Park beaches are the very best!  I miss it so much.

I never thought about rice bags for pockets-THANK YOU!  I'm going to make some for the girls-my 9 year old in particular always has cold hands and feet. 

You're very welcome!!  My daughter loves them.

I was told at work today to invest in fingerless gloves because I'd need them.  I can't wait. 

I was told at work today to invest in fingerless gloves because I'd need them.  I can't wait. 

Back before my drafty, warehouse office got a proper roof and central heating (yes, really), my husband bought me these USB heated gloves. They're those convertible fingerless/mitten types and they've got a heating pad on the back of your hand and another in the mitten part over your fingers. If you're sat at a computer all day, they're very warm indeed!! (you need two spare powered USB sockets though)

I've been tempted by those gloves.  Instead of splashing out for them, I tried to use a pair of those stretchy ones (magic gloves?) for typing.  We've had our computer in freezing places since I've moved to the UK, and the pair I have are thin enough to be great for typing.  They aren't super warm, but they work in a chilly home.

Today's weather sort of reminded me of something regarding dehumidifiers.  I don't know how much this applies in the upper levels of a building, but I've found that you need your dehumidifier the most on the first sunny day after a string of rainy days.  If you're trying to only run it sometimes, on rainy days maybe run it a few hours, but on days when things are drying out, run it all day.  Evaporation can cause a lot of vapour to run into the air.  I also don't tend to stick a lot of stuff to dry on my rads unless we have a ton or we need things dried really fast.  By doing a load every couple of days and letting it dry a bit more slowly, it helps the dehumidifier to do its job better.  When weather permits, of course, I always stick things outside to dry.