Tips for Winter

Let’s not beat around the bush:

Most people really, really, really hate winter.

They hate the way the freezing temperatures creep into your home. They hate the way that frigid cold permeates your every layer to make your bones chatter. They hate the freezing wind, and the way it leaves your face feeling raw and unloved. They hate that you need fifteen layers to go to the store, and most of that time is spent blowing hot hair on your hands.

Many people started dreading the season from the end of April, and we can’t say we blame them. The moment that chill arrives come the inevitable murmurs of “Winter is Coming”, and smarter-than-thou chuckles from Game of Throne Fans. It’s almost as if preparing (and talking about) winter earlier allows us to mentally prepare for its icy embrace.

It doesn’t. And, rest assured, once the cold kicks in, we’ll know all about it. But, and you should know this by now, we at Sandton Central are all about making your life easier. So in the interest of not breaking tradition, here’s our Survival Guide for Winter 2019- even if you really hate it.

1) Invest in quality (not quantity) warm clothes.
It may seem self-explanatory, but most people get so excited by the concept of layering and idea of looking like their favourite London model that their idea of winter dressing is throwing on their entire cupboard at once. Unfortunately, not only is this ineffective, but impractical as well. Many warm winter items are systemically designed to combine aesthetic function with maximum heat retention. And, take our word for it, there are plenty of ways to look amazing while being dressed correctly. You can’t tell us you haven’t seen EVERYONE rocking K-Way jackets to varying degrees of success? Trust us, it’s substance over style any day, and the only way to brave our Jhb winters is to be properly prepared.

2) Learn to love the great indoors.
There’s something magical about being curled up, feeling all cosy while being protected from the cold winter air and hearing rain thud against the window. It’s one of our favourite sources of comfort and comes with an innate sense of satisfaction that simply can’t be beat. The way we see it, everyone has two options this winter: complain about being inside, or make lemonade and just embrace it. We’ve got an entire shopping center for you to roam around in and explore. But maybe that’s not your thing, and we get that wholeheartedly. Well, there’s always the Sandton Library, and if you can find a greater feeling than being snug with a good book on a cold winter afternoon, you’re a lucky human.

3) Eat. The. Food.
Cold weather and comfort food go together like, well, cold weather and comfort food. Hot chocolate, warm bowls of soup, steaming loaves of bread- our mouths are already salivating. But, let’s be honest, going out to eat EVERY time it gets chilly is a sure way to go broke this Winter. Which is why we suggest a few good recipes and quality, delicious ingredients for you to prepare (and enjoy) from the comfort of your home. Here’s our pick for the PERFECT winter treat.

• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder, plus more for serving
• 3 cups whole milk
• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons demerara or granulated sugar
• Lightly sweetened whipped cream (for serving)

Bring ¾ cup water to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
Whisk in 3 Tbsp. cocoa powder until no lumps remain, then add milk and return to a simmer.
Whisk in chocolate and sugar and cook, whisking frequently, until mixture is smooth and creamy and chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes.
Divide hot chocolate among mugs.
Top with whipped cream and dust with cocoa powder.

It’s so good you can almost taste it.

Needless to say, you can get all the ingredients you need at Sandton Central. And, lastly, our final Winter Tip is as follows:

4) Treat yourself.
Too much of life is spent being extra. Going out, saving money, running while the sun is shining, fishing and exerting yourself. Your body needs a bit of rest, recovery and down time as well. And what’s the point of working so hard if you never get to enjoy it? So invest in a thick, fluffy blanket or soft squishy pillows and curl up in a ball. Buy the soup, drink the cocoa, wear the onesie and watch the movies. Surround yourself with people you love and savour every moment because, we assure you, these are the moments memories are made of.

And, that being said, when you’re ready to get out the house again, you know where to find us.