Unless you are blessed enough to live in Hawai’i, you are likely suffering through that frigid winter chill right along with the rest of us. Sure, we love parts of winter—i.e. the holidays and only the holidays—but even the magical aspects seem to be made worse by the darkness, the freezing cold temperatures, and, of course, the inhospitable weather.

Luckily, we have amassed plenty of tips and tricks over the years to ensure that each and every winter can be bearable—and dare we say “fun!”

To kick things off, let’s talk about winter prep; it’s never too late to prepare for winter, even if you ARE technically in the midst of it! Watch the video below to get the low-down on some of the very best tried and true cold weather provisions that we should all be following…

Helpful stuff, huh? Now that you know how to prepare for winter, let’s take a look at 13 of our favorite DIY cold weather hacks! For full tutorials, be sure to follow the links below.

1. Build a roaring fire in seconds flat

   The secret to a long-lasting, easy-to-ignite fire? A pine cone, of course!

2. Upcycle your garden tools into heaters

   Believe it or not, a couple of run-of-the-mill clay flower pots can be upcycled into a powerful room heater. Funky, yet functional!

3. De-fog your windshield with kitty litter

   Don’t let a foggy windshield compromise your visibility! Sift a few scoops of kitty litter—the silica crystal variety works best—into an old sock and place it directly on your dashboard for a cheap DIY de-humidifying solution!

4. Make your own cold-busting shower bombs

   If you’re anything like us, you spend half of the winter battling colds. While it’s not a fun way to spend the holidays, you can get relief from even the worst bouts of congestion with these easy-to-make menthol-scented shower bombs!

5. Insulate with bubble wrap

   Don’t let thin glass be the reason you are freezing your tush off all winter long! Simply secure a layer or two of bubble wrap to the inside of your windows and watch those heating bills drop.

6. Defrost your windshield in seconds

   If you are waking up to a particularly frigid morning, sometimes those ice scrapers just won’t do the job. If that’s the case, spray on this simple water-alcohol solution for a frost-free windshield in a fraction of the time it would take to scrape.

7. Keep your summer skin

   It’s no secret that cold, dry weather wreaks havoc on the skin! To give that epidermis a fighting chance, scrub with this coconut oil-baking soda rinse for gentle (and inexpensive!) exfoliation.

8. Humidify on the go

   For most of us, humidifiers are godsends during the winter months, but that doesn’t mean that they are exactly ‘travel-friendly’. Luckily, you can still inject some moisture into that dry air by boiling a pot of water and leaving it to cool on the stovetop. Pro tip: The hotel coffee machine works just as well!

9. Foster that heat with draft guards

   Take control of the cold with these cute DIY draft guards. All you’ll need is a pool noodle, some fabric, glue, about 10 minutes, and you’ll be good to go!

10. Keep your holiday party dishes warm

    Anyone who has ever dared to cook for more than 10 holiday guests knows how difficult it can be to ensure that each and every item is warm upon serving. Fortunately, splashing a bit of hot chicken or veggie broth on to your meats and side dishes will heat them up fast—no oven or microwave required!

11. Wrap oddly-shaped gifts with ease

    Don’t plunk down your hard-earned cash on those pricey gift bags! Instead, use this time-tested “pocket wrapping” technique for even the most ‘odd’ oddly-shaped gifts.

12. Waterproof your shoes

    No need to invest in pricey winter kicks when a candle and hair dryer can waterproof even the flimsiest of canvas shoes!

13. Spruce up last winter’s sweaters

    Give your boring sweaters a facelift with this ultra-cute hack. The best part? No sewing machine required!

See—we told you winter didn’t have to be painful! We’d love to hear your thoughts on all things winter. Have you tried any of the hacks before? Do you have any of your own that you would like to add to this list? Why do you love the cold season?