How to Stay Warm This Winter, Ohl Style

Here in upstate New York, the temperatures are dropping. Rapidly. It's just a matter of time before that first real snowfall. And when it's cold outside, it's cold inside. So, what can you do to keep warm, without racking up the RG&E bill? Here at the Ohl house, we have two suggestions.

First: "The Heat Surge Roll-n-Glow electric fireplace with Amish made wood mantle, is the best and easiest way to save money on gas bills by heating just the rooms you use the most, have a beautiful real wood mantle handmade by the Amish, the ambiance of real fire, and have the convenience to simply move your fireplace from room to room." I couldn't have said it any better.

Yes, we actually own one of these electric fireplaces, with Amish made wood mantle, crafted by the hard working Amish folks you see here. Two years ago, we were suckered in to decided that this would be a worthwhile investment, and could help cut down on our energy costs.

Who could resist such craftsmanship? In your choice of light honey oak, rich dark oak, manor cherry, or black. We choose cherry. Here it is, in our living room. The "fire" really does add a bit of ambiance to the room. And as you can see, it's perfectly safe for pets. Especially pets that like to sit on every single piece of furniture in your house.

We were a bit skeptical at first, but thought it would be worth a try. In all fairness, don't expect it to heat your entire house, by any means. It's good for a reasonably sized room. It really cranks out heat in smaller rooms. What's nice, is that it's portable. Just roll it into your room of choice, plug it in, and enjoy the toasty heat and dancing fire. The best part? No firewood required. And it uses about as much energy as a coffee pot. Sold. Visit the Heat Surge website to learn more. They actually cost less than they did two years ago. You might even see their infomercial on TV. 

Second: Fuzzie Wuzzie (cousin of the Snuggie). It's super soft microplush fleece with pockets. My thoughtful husband surprised me with one of these blankets with sleeves that he found at Big Lots, for $10. He also made sure to got the most obnoxious design. Zebra.

Here I am, wearing my new Fuzzie Wuzzie for the first time. Mind you, this photos was taken after playing soccer and my hair is pulled back. Not the most flattering moment. But, as you can see, my hands are free to read a magazine, yet the rest of me is covered in warm fuzziness. Try to contain your laughter.

I had to let Andrew try it. He looks like a crazy monk from the Serengeti. Or Moses and the technicolor zebra coat! The claim on the box, "One size fits most adults" is a bit misleading. Look how long it is!

Feel free to submit a caption for this one.

And here he is on the couch, hands free to hold the remote and cheer for his team.You can find the Fuzzie Wuzzie, Snuggie, or other similar blanket with sleeves, just about everywhere you shop.

There you have it, two great tips from the Ohl's on how to stay warm this winter. We're trying to see how long we can go without raising the heat above 60 degrees. This could be a long winter!