8 shoes you NEED in Scotland

1. The Classic Tall Wellie Boot — Because this is Scotland, people. Get with the program!

2. The Hiking Boot — The best part about living in Scotland is getting out into the woods—or the countryside, or the coast, or the Highlands— and witnessing the beautiful views this country has to offer! Hiking boots come in many different styles, colors and fabrics, but the main things you want to look for are ankle support and that they are waterproof.

3. The Heavy-Duty Winter Boot — Depending on where you live, a snow/winter boot might be unnecessary, but up in North Scotland, where there is ice and snow, you're going to want these to throw on when it's dangerous outside.

4. The Out-n-About Bootie — If the ground is wet, but not seriously raining, I will throw these babies on to run my errands. I get bored wearing my tall wellie boots all the time, and after a while, they make my feet and calves sore and uncomfortable. These are a great option for light walking and exploring!

5. The Chelsea Rain Bootie — I've been wearing these a lot lately! They've basically become my "go-to" option when James and I go out for drinks or a casual dinner. They are super comfortable, fairly stylish (they don't scream, "I'M WEARING RAINBOOTS!") and I don't have to worry about wearing them in less than appealing weather. There are lots of fun and fashionable Chelsea rain boot options out there, like these!

6. The House Slipper — We've talked about this; my house is an icebox. 

7. The Date Night Pump — Or the "just because I dress like a tomboy every day doesn't mean I still can't look hot for my husband on date night" bootie. I've retired most of my leather and suede booties for the winter because I don't want them getting ruined by all the salt on the ground. These high-heel rain booties are a perfect combination of style AND practicality—with the height, you can avoid the puddles and with the tread, you can avoid slipping on the wet surfaces.

8. The Trainer — I can't think of a time that you wouldn't just need a classic trainer to run around in... I find a lot of the waterproof shoes I wear to be quite suffocating, so on the off chance that it's not raining or wet out, I like to wear comfortable, breathable trainers to run errands or walk around town. Neutral trainers + black cropped trousers + cashmere jumper = perfect casual coffee date outfit!

How I stay warm during the Scottish winter

Electric Blanket
I don't have a reason to complain about being cold anymore since we got this electric blanket. It makes SUCH a huge difference; sometimes I don't even turn the fire on! Right now, I keep it downstairs in the reception room so that we can cuddle up on the (cold) leather couch and wind down together after dinner.

House Slippers

I know this seems obvious, but a good pair of slippers are key when keeping warm on the cold tile and hardwood floors. I always choose warmth over style!

Heated Under Blanket

You might think this is just another name for an electric blanket, but it's not. Unlike the electric blanket above, this under blanket only creates heat when placed under something like a mattress pad, blanket or sheet. I was skeptical that this would work under our foam mattress topper, but it works like a charm! J and I used to play 'rock, paper, scissors' to see who would get in the bed to warm it up, but now we just turn on the under blanket a few minutes before bed and it's nice and toasty when we both get in!

Ski Socks

My standard cotton socks are NOT cutting the Scottish winter. Inside the house, it's not that bad. I am typically in the bath, under the electric blanket or in bed, but when I leave the house, my go-to rubber shoes provide very little insulation and therefore, very little warmth. Now that I am wearing heavier wool socks, my toes stay nice and cozy no matter what shoes I'm wearing.

Bathrobe

I might be the only person on the planet without a bathrobe, but that's about to change very quickly. My pajama game is seriously lacking in the warmth department, and I am dying for something to throw on when I get out of bed in the morning... Wait, am I actually looking for a Snuggie?

Touchscreen Gloves

Nothing is more irritating than removing my gloves to access my cellphone when I'm out walking in the cold. It's such a hassle, so these e-tip gloves keep my fulangies warm and keep me from fumbling my gloves around. 

Other things I've invested in/use to get warm are: 

- a hot water bottle

- microwaveable slippers (horrible lavender scent!)

- electric radiator

- lots of warm coffee and tea

- hot baths

What are your go-to's when keeping warm inside and outside?

Details from Château de Starnes

For those of you who have asked, here is a sneak peak in to our new home in Scotland!

Moving into a fully-furnished house can be a daunting process—especially for those who have very specific taste in home decor—but in order to stay sane, you MUST focus on what you do like rather than what you don't like. 

Look at every property with open eyes and an open imagination. That's what I'm doing.

Even though I might not see eye-to-eye with the owner on décor, (why do the Scots love wallpaper so much?) this traditional granite house has great bones and some serious potential, and I'm excited to share the process of turning this rental property into our home. 

Here's to creating something truly Team Starnes-worthy! Happy Monday, everyone! xx