As the temperature lowers and the days get shorter, it’s time to think of hot toddies and snuggles by the fireside with our furry friends (human or otherwise). Here’s a few tips to keep you toasty - and get your autumn and Winter style sorted too.

Thanks to Kylie McShane of The Write Association for these top wintery tips.

Feel ill-prepared for the colder months? Not a huge fan of frost? WE ARE. We love the autumn leaves and the snuggly winter times. It helps to be prepared though. Start with a clean slate. Get your winter blankets washed and warmer wardrobe sorted.

You’ll also need a few of these things:

• Hot Chocolate. Yessss, it’s hot choccie time - SWEEEEEEET. Get your insides warmed up and the rest will follow. Or something. Available at the shops or in many good cafes. We really like Mork Hot Chocolate; it comes in different strengths so you can work your way up to becoming a hardcore aficionado over winter. Or if you’re in Adelaide, give Bracegirdle's luxurious Belgian concoction a try.

  And if you’re going to grab one on the go, might we suggest getting a Keep Cup? They’re stylish and help save the environment and stuff (a bit like our eco-friendly jewellery!).

• Socks! With winter winds and heating drawing out moisture from your skin many of us look after our hands, feet and face but forget about our feet friends.

  Now is the time to redress this imbalance by getting some cosy socks. Not only do they keep your little piggies warm but you can also cover your feet in foot balm and let them moisturise. Keep it Bright with Happy Socks’ fun collection, slap on some Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme and pretend you’re on a deserted island.

• A good book. Stormy outside? Many of us have a stack of books we’ve yet to get through. Why not set yourself a rainy day reading challenge? If you’re on a budget most libraries have a great selection. And if your library’s a bit old school why not get through some classics.

  A hot tip: The YA section (that's 'Young Adult' for those more mature folks) has some great fantasy and dystopia. Or be transported back in time with a historical figure from the biography section. If you like that kind of thing.

• Are you bed ready? Getting out your warmer linen and redressing the bed can be a nice ritual to ring in the new season. We like a layered bed with bright colours and luxurious op shop finds like crocheted blankies (also good for the lounge room) and vintage bedspreads.

  Believe it or not, Target has an ace range of bright, awesome linen. If you'd like something a bit more indie, we have a deep love for the bright and colourful Australian designed bedlinen at Castle & Things

  Topped off with a few hot water bottles to save money on energy, you’ll never want to get out. Don’t forget to give it all a good wash in some nice fabric softener in your favourite flavour. Most dry cleaners have deals on quilts too. Mmmm, quilt.

• First Aid. Have you had your flu shot? Getting the flu or a virus is one of the least fun things about the cooler months. And most of us are resigned to being sick for at least a few days – not to mention our partners and kids. So be sure to look after you. Keep a stash of throat lozenges, balm for chapped lips, eucalyptus spray, Vaporub and tissues, soup and an Uber Eats voucher for those days when you can’t get down the shops. And don’t forget to hydrate.

• Out of the closet. It’s also a great time to give your jewellery collection some TLC in the form of cleaning it - which we recommend you do at least twice a year. Get started by reading our comprehensive guide about how to clean silver, gold and gemstone jewellery.

  It's also time to transition your wardrobe (think more bright colours, plaid and a bobble hat with a nice pom pom, like this one from Otto and Spike). And there’s nothing like a bit of sparkle on a grey day so to complete your winter look, why not add some enviro-friendly glitter from Space Vivian. YAY!

  We’ve also got all sorts of handy jewellery style tips to help you make your bling, well, bling - even in the dreariest months.

  If you’re looking to add some of our Australian handmade jewellery pieces to spice up your life. Check out our gold jewellery and pink, red and purple coloured jewellery for some autumn and winter inspiration. We're now an Afterpay online store for added immediate gratification.