Alright, remember all that celebrating we were doing just a few weeks ago, amazed at how warm it was in New York (and hence our love/hate relationship with global warming continues)? Well, it officially feels like winter now. Big coats are coming out. I'm stocking up on an unhealthy amount of tights. And those dreaded double door entries are finally up to prevent you from being that "jerk" that dared to open the front door of the restaurant and let a nasty draft in.

But you know what? I'm excited! I mean, yes. I'm well aware I'm probably going to regret that previous statement come February and March, but for right now, winter carries a lot of promise. The promise of Christmas magic, the promise of tighter embraces from loved ones, the promise of your breath hovering over your conversation like thick, dancing fog.

And there's no place I'd rather be to take it all in than Central Park. Especially if ice skating happens to be involved. I headed out earlier last week for my first skate of the season in the park and was greeted by holiday crowds of families and friends, laughing, twirling and yes, falling (yours truly included!). It made me think of that scene in Serendipity where Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack (swoon!) head out for a late night ice skating session when they first meet, albeit they headed to Rockefeller Center, but that's beside the point. They were talking about their favorite New York moments and Cusack (swoon, again) mentioned (in regards to their date), "This one sure is climbing the charts."

While I didn't have a Cusack with me (last swoon, I promise), I did enjoy a quintessential New York afternoon in the park, one of those that seemed straight out of a movie. A brisk walk from The Plaza, laughing with friends and possibly chasing Big Bird (true story).

And with the spirit of the season meaning we're inevitably going to be bearing the elements (as much as we don't want to sometimes), I'm stepping up my winter skin care prep. I didn't realize how serious New Yorkers get about this, but trust me, they're neither kidding nor messing around. After just a few days of bitter, biting winds, my hands have taken a beating and started to crack. I've since started lathering myself with Vaseline's Intensive Care Advanced Repair Fragrance Free right after I get out of the shower and pat dry it in to really let it absorb. I'll then throw it in my bag (along with a pair of flats) before I head out for the day, in case I need little pick me ups from time to time.

So when my Cusack does come along, I'll have soft hands for him to hold. 😉 But I won't make him track down my phone number in some obscure book that I sold to a used book store. Kate, seriously?! What were you thinking?
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Photos by Lydia Hudgens

This post was in collaboration with Vaseline. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all This Time Tomorrow collaborations!