Winter means dry indoor air, a result of lower humidity outside and blowy heating systems inside. Adding cool or warm moisture to the air by using a humidifier has many benefits: easier breathing, a diminished chance of suffering winter ills such as colds and respiratory infections, furniture and other indoor items will not dry out as much, the air will feel warmer, plants will stay fresher longer, and your skin and throat will not be as dry. The best benefit, as far as I'm concerned, is that moist air helps avoid the unpleasant "zap" you often get from static electricity.

If your home is more than a few rooms, invest in two or three humidifiers and keep them filled. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for filter maintenance and changing as well as for how often and how to clean the water reservoir so as to avoid mold and bacteria buildup.

[via Cool Hunting]

Aspen - A perennial favorite, this resort seems to be geared towards adults, with few beginner runs on the ski slopes and lots of great restaurants and shopping in town, as well as a satisfying mix of romantic and luxury accommodations.

Vail - Lots of lifts and more groomed terrain than any other resort on the planet, Vail is great for skiing, but the resort is so large that you won't have a problem finding off-mountain activities, from luxury spas to excellent eateries.

Kirkwood (pictured)- This California resort is somewhat off the beaten path, but all the better for it, as it provides skiers with the steep slopes and great snow they could want, with plenty of relief from the crowds at other mountains. The town is quiet, but only a short drive from Tahoe.

With the recent rash of cold weather across the country, a new ice scraper would have come in handy in more than one location. Better late than never, the Rosendahl Ice Scraper is a surprisingly stylish way to get into your car after a storm. It features hard plastic for chipping through ice and moving piles of snow on one side, while the other side is made of soft rubber to allow you to easily defog windows. Designer Eric Baggers worked with physical therapists to ensure that the scraper would be easy to handle and cause no strain to hand, arm or shoulder during use. Price: $29.

[via core77]

My rain gauge looks vaguely like a piece of lab equipment, shaped like a large test tube and designed to be mounted on fence or other post. This rain gauge is far more elegant than the commonly found industrial designs, with a flaring glass cup atop a tall spike that can easily be slide into the ground in a garden. It would look great with a climbing vine wrapped around the base, or simply amongst tall plants, acting as a functional accent piece. It measures in both milliliters and inches. Price: £43.

If you are a skier and didn't get one for Christmas, you might want to consider getting yourself an Audex Motorola Dutchess Jacket before the season is over. Much like the hat we saw several months ago, this women's ski jacket has a Bluetooth stereo system built right into it. The jacket itself features Thermacore Insulation under a shell of plaid Storm-lite 3.0-E ballistic nylon. It has a removable hood, faux fur lining and collar and, despite having a reasonable amount of bulk that will keep you warm in almost any weather conditions, it has flattering, tapered seams. The Dutchess jacket is $600.

And don't worry guys, there are plenty of men's jackets to choose from, too.

This Snow Frosted Tree in Pewter Urn looks a bit like something that was a prop in The Chronicles of Narnia last year. Fortunately, that only adds to the romantic, natural look that this tree brings to a room. It stands 5 feet tall and has no lighting built in to it, although you could certainly add an ornament or two if you wanted to bring some color to the elegant, but monochromatic, base look. Price: $160.

Sporting equipment is very personal, since every sport has so many variations in the capabilities and performance benefits of the various shoes, racquets, clubs or, in this case, skis. You have to start somewhere, no matter what you are specifically looking for, so Style has a guide for men's skiing gear that will help you get the ski season started off on the right foot. Or slope. They cover ski, binding and boot picks for four categories: Downhill Racer, All-Mountain Expert, Powder Hound and Laid-Back Cruiser. They also provide a great FAQ section with the 9 things you need to know before buying skis. Their tips include how to choose the right length, buy wider skis for powder skiing and narrower for icy downhills and recommending parabolic-shaped skis for just about all recreational skiers. You can also find some great skis at rental shops, where they tend to have the very latest equipment and you don't have to commit if you only ski once or twice a season.

Volkswagen, not wanted to neglect any portion of their potential customer base, has a line of winter off-road vehicles for those who are still to young to drive. Their sleds are inspired by the designs of some of their cars. The Schlitten Snow Future GTI (pictured), for example, features an ergonomic design that was modeled after the Golf GTI., with lookalike grille, tachometers and steering wheel. It is made of high-quality, strong double-walled plastic and steers easily due to its central front ski. It will probably be a bit easier to place your order if you know German because the sleds are available from the German Volkswagen site. This one runs $144 (€109).

[via carscoop]

Over the summer, we saw a cooling pet bed that was designed to help keep your pup comfortable on even the hottest of summer days. This heated pet bed does just the opposite. It is designed to stay at a constant 102F, which is comfortable for most cats and small dogs, as well as being therapeutic for older pets. It is even recommended by vets for animals with problems like arthritis. It is made of faux suede with a faux lambskin lining, all of which is removable and machine washable. Price: $60.