When it’s chilly outside, there’s nothing better than baking cookies; Valentine’s Day allows for some creative twists on conventional confections. Are you a traditionalist? Spruce up a sugar cookie mix by adding red sprinkles or pink cream-cheese frosting, or—even better—both! Is your baking style a little more experimental? Buy an oatmeal cookie mix and add chopped dried cherries, coconut flakes, finely chopped pecans, and semi-sweet chocolate chips to make “I Love You This Much” cookies.

Kindle a fire while your cookies are in the oven—when they’re done, have a game night next to a roaring fireplace. If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted event, try Catch Phrase or Yahtzee; if you want to put your collective noggins to the test, play a few rounds of Cranium or Clue. Make it interesting by letting the winner choose the movie you watch as a family afterwards. Our suggestions: Be my Valentine, Charlie Brown, Shrek or Enchanted.

If you feel like getting out of the house, visit your local park for ice skating or a snowball fight or just go for a stroll around town. Layer up, the winter chill is still here.

Looking for something creative to do? Make your own paper floral arrangements to pass out to friends and family. For an affordable DIY version, all you need are clay pots, Styrofoam blocks, colorful pipe cleaners, mini pom poms, and construction paper. Make the flowers by cutting out various shapes in different colored paper. To create your arrangement simply attach the flowers to the pipe cleaner, then cut the Styrofoam blocks to fit the clay pots, and arrange the flowers into a dome-shaped creation. You’ll end up with a beautiful display that will perfectly adorn any area in your home.

Whether you stay in or go out, our ActiveLayer top is perfect for a day like this: it will keep you warm while wicking away moisture; plus, the hot pink top accentuates a Valentine’s Day celebration perfectly! Plus fall in love with the thumbhole as you layer with your favorite sweater.

What’s your favorite Valentine’s Day activity? We’d love to hear about your experiences with the above tips, or about your unique take on Valentine’s Day with the family by connecting with us through Facebook or Twitter

This time of year it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. If you’re anything like us, you probably still have shopping to do, sugar cookies to bake and a huge Douglas Fir tree to trim.

Oh, and only 8 days to get it all done.

We try to remember “it’s better to give than to receive” as we wait on the mile-long line at the store and fight rush-hour traffic on the way home. Something about the holidays seems to make our stress levels increase and our free time disappear.

Take a minute to relax and remember that the holidays are a season of giving. There are countless ways to give back to others this December. The holidays are a great time to volunteer of your time and give back to others. Helping out at a local shelter or donating to a charitable organization in your community are great ways to get in the spirit of giving.

Need an organization to get involved with? We are proud to support:

• Deborah’s Place, Chicago, IL
• Community Housing Association, DuPage, IL
• The Salvation Army, Chicago, IL
• Women’s Resource Assistance Program, Harvey, IL
• Joy House, Milwaukee, WI
• Sharing and Caring Hands, Minneapolis, MN
• People Serving People, Minneapolis, MN

Spreading warmth and comfort to others is especially important to us. These organizations rely solely on donations to make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and children in need, and will gratefully accept your time and donations.

Doing good for others this season will make your celebration even more special. So as you look down at your list of things to do today, try to make some time between the decorating and wrapping to bring joy to someone who really needs it.

After all, isn’t that what the holidays are all about?

No need to readjust your screen.  You are still at CuddlDuds.com

Luckily, we’re versatile.  Welcome to the new home of CuddlDuds.com! Our new site features a shop section, so that you can peruse our collections; an events section to keep you in the know on what’s happening with us; a where to buy page in case you want to check out Cuddl Duds live and in-person at one of our retail partners; and a community page, on how to connect with us on Twitter and on Facebook.

We’re most excited about where you are now – the “Live in Layers Blog.”  Forgetting you’re wearing us – like with our streamlined Active Layer tops – is part of the pleasure for sure, but don’t forget us completely! Come back every couple of days and check out our thoughts on fashion trends, style tips, health and fitness, looking smart, feeling comfortable and advice on building a fabulous routine.

It’s our drive, amidst the foliage, towards a life well lived every day.

We dabble – in warm weather, cold weather, fashion trends, active wear and more – and we’re always available for a cup of coffee, a meeting or a run.

Life’s got a lot of layers and many can take the form of good or bad: family, work, friends, relationships, houses, cars and so on and so forth.  Peel those off and put ours on. You can “live with it” by living in Cuddl Duds.

Having a moment of sheer adulation?  Pull up your Softwear with Stretch Hoodie and jump!

Getting ready to take the dog for his daily morning walk?  Put on a Fleecewear Long Sleeve top to help you plow through the cold.

Layer up and start your week’s routine off right!

Some of this year’s fall fashion trends are seasonally appropriate and easy enough to incorporate to the average woman’s wardrobe — sexy turtlenecks, Katherine Hepburn trousers, 60s glamor, buttoned-up collars — but others seem like trends that should’ve waited for the spring 2011 season. How in the world are you supposed to keep from shivering wearing a mini skirt or clothing with holes in it come December? Here, are five trends that seem a little impractical for the fall season and tips for how Cuddl Duds can help you make it work.

Cut Out Clothing: On the fall runways, cut outs showed up everywhere from dresses to shirt sleeves. Some leave skin totally exposed, while others are filled in with sheer fabric. Keep cut outs real for fall by wearing a Cuddl Duds cami or long sleeve tee underneath any tops lacking full coverage.

Sheer Fabrics: Sheer layering, tight sheer tops and dresses created with sheer draping are all in for fall. Most of the sheer looks you’ll likely get your hands on will be tastefully opaque, but on the off chance you find a must-wear transparent top, do everyone a favor and wear a Cuddl Duds cami to ease the see-through factor.

Pleated Minis: They may remind you of Britney Spears’ school girl fashion days, but pleated miniskirts are back in a tougher and plaid-free (thank goodness!) incarnation. Legs feeling chilly? Add leggings, or double up on top with a cami and hope you can heat up your whole bod to keep those goose bumps at bay!

Lace Clothing: Whether styled femme or edgy, lace pieces are all over the pages of this month’s fashion magazines. But lace, by nature, is a little airy compared to other fabrics. Some lace styles are lined, but for any dresses, skirts or tops lacking lining you can create your own by wearing Cuddl Duds underneath.

Lingerie as Outerwear: Really? Are they serious? You might want to leave the lingerie as outerwear trend for the style mavens dying to make a meat dress kind of fashion statement that will have everyone talking. Even wearing a Cuddl Duds tank under your bra, or leggings under your panties won’t keep you safe from the fashion police! You’re better off sticking to the aforementioned sexy lace dress trend instead.

Lead image: via Fashionising.com

Hot summer? Yes, but that also means the air conditioning is often blasting indoors in places where you’d be just about the last person to get your hands on the temperature controls. I used to be known in the office for having a “work blanket.” It was a cashmere wrap and I used it to keep either my legs or my arms warm daily in the summer.

An easier solution? Sneak Cuddl Duds under your work outfits. Whether you need to put on a suit or a pair of scrubs (because we all know hospitals get cold!) to go to work, Cuddl Duds can work with your outfits. The cool part is that your coworkers may never know why you’re suddenly comfortable, free of goose bumps and no longer drinking a constant supply of hot tea at work. Whether you choose a tank or a long pant, you’ll no longer stress over air conditioning settings.

If you commute to work, a layer of Cuddl Duds can help you stay warm on the way, too. Chilly commuter trains, subways, buses and even carpool counterparts that don’t share your idea of “room temperature” can make the ride uncomfortable. But if you’ve got a Cuddl Duds Softwear Camisole under your work clothes, you won’t have to fumble to get your sweater out of your bag and onto your body. This way, you can feel the way you’re supposed to feel in the summer — warm!

Earlier this month I vacationed in Vancouver, British Columbia and the Gulf Islands. While it was in the high 90s in sweltering New York where I live, the temperatures on my trip rarely climbed above 60 degrees with lows in the 40s and 50s. Let me remind you it was July, and I confess I didn’t bring any Cuddl Duds.

If had I been planning ahead — instead of living in denial about the cold summer forecast — bringing a set of Softwear would have made a whole lot of sense! While part of our trip was spent in the city, we also ventured off to Salt Spring Island (shown in the photo above) where we stayed at an electricity-free cabin. It was breathtakingly beautiful and had a rustic calm to cure any high-strung New Yorker’s stress, but we had to build a fire to stay warm at night. In July. A puffy vest around the campfire and a triple layer of sleeping bags on my bed could’ve both been avoided had I packed my Cuddl Duds! And after a dip in the refreshing lake with a chill in the air, again, I could’ve used a set to warm up in.

So if you’re planning a trip to somewhere that might still be chilly even though summer is in full swing — taking an Alaskan cruise, touring through the Australian outback or even traveling to South Africa (where World Cup soccer stars dressed warmly) for example — pack smart! Even though your first thought might be to pack an extra parka or puffy vest, those winter staples will take up a lot of room in your luggage. However, a simple set of Cuddl Duds can slip easily into your carry on and add warmth to your summer styles.

Whether you’re training for a 5K or running for fun, the brightening skies and climbing temperatures of spring provide plenty of motivation to get outside and hit the trails. But even when it’s warm enough for sandals and sundresses mid-day, the times when you’re most likely free to run — think early morning and in the evening after work — are often chilly.

Smart layering can keep you comfortable and keep you warm so you’re not shivering during your warm up and cool down. Since you’re not dealing with freezing temperatures, you can leave the heavy sweat pants and fleece zip-ups at home. In fact, you’ll probably only need a layer of Cuddl Duds on the top or on the bottom instead of wearing a full set.

On the bottom, Cuddl Duds Activewear Lightweight Pant can double as running tights. For added, humble, coverage slip a pair of running shorts or a running skirt over the pants. Or go for a warm shirt. On top, wear a Cuddl Duds Activewear Lightweight Crew Neck Longsleeve underneath your favorite running short-sleeve tee or a lightweight jacket. Both of these running outfits will keep you light on your feet and help you stay warm so you can enjoy your run.

With budding trees and blooming flowers, spring is a beautiful time to go camping. But as you indulge in spring fever, remember that even if it’s sunny and 70 degrees during the day, temps will likely dip to the 50s or even 40s at night. Unless you plan to sit around the campfire eating s’mores ‘til the sun comes up, you’ll need to layer on warmth—luckily that doesn’t mean you need to grab a pack of that dorky thermal underwear at the camping store.

Cuddl Duds are the perfect early spring camping base layer. Pack two sets with you so you’ll have one for sleeping and one for activities. Before you snuggle into your sleeping bag for the night, slip into a set of Climatesmart Cuddl Duds. If it’s really cold, you can layer a hoodie or sweatpants over top, too.

When you wake up and want to go for pre-breakfast hike, the Activewear Lightweight collection is the right way to go. Layer a fleece or puffy vest over a long sleeve Cuddl Duds top. If you luck out with good weather, you’ll be able to ditch your Cuddl Duds for most of the day for tees and tanks, but when the sun sets, we bet you’ll want those warm layers again!

In New York City, we’re just getting our first taste of cold weather and I know many parts of the country have already felt a chilly blast. For fans of outdoor winter sports and activities, that means finding ways to stay warm now that the mercury has dropped.

One of my favorite ways to stay warm during outdoor activities is to layer on warmth with Cuddl Duds. If you’re not familiar with Cuddl Duds, it’s the nation’s top selling warm underwear brand, offering long underwear leggings and snug fitting tanks and tees all made to layer in super soft fabrics.

From temperature regulating Cuddl Duds Climatesmart tops and bottoms to sweat-wicking and breathable Cuddl Duds Activewear, adding a layer of Cuddl Duds to your outfit can help you stay warm so you don’t have to head in with the “I’m cold” excuse before the fun is over. Here’s how to dress warm for winter step-by-step:

How to Dress Warm for a Winter Run

Even though it’s cold, you’ll surely sweat when you run so the key to staying warm is to choose moisture-wicking fabrics.

1. Wool socks
2. Cuddl Duds Activewear Midweight Long Pant
3. Sports Bra
4. Cuddl Duds Activewear Midweight Crew Neck Long Sleeve
5. Zip-Up Fleece
6. Glove liners or thin fleece mittens
7. Wool hat or ear band

*For temps below 30 degrees add wind pants, a windbreaker and a neck gaitor.

How to Dress Warm for a Winter Sports

Downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating are only fun if you’re not freezing, but you can turn up the heat deep beneath your outwear just enough to keep you warm until you get moving.

1. Wool socks
2. Cuddl Duds Activewear Lightweight Long Pant
3. Waterproof Snow Pant
4. Cuddl Duds Activewear Lightweight Crew Neck Long Sleeve
5. Fleece pullover
6. Lightweight jacket or softshell
7. Wool hat
8. Mittens or gloves

How to Dress Warm for a Winter Walk

Whether you’re walking your dog or simply using your own two feet to get from here to there, the key is to stay warm on the go, and not overheat once you get to your destination.

1. Wool socks
2. Cuddl Duds Climatesmart Long Pant
3. Jeans
4. Cuddl Duds Climatesmart V-Neck Short Sleeve
5. Wool sweater
6. Winter jacket
7. Scarf
8. Hat
9. Mittens or gloves

How to Dress Warm for a Sledding with Your Family

As you’re bundling up your little ones, don’t forget to bundle up yourself because you know you’ll end up taking a few snowy spills together before you head in for hot chocolate.

1. Wool socks
2. Cuddl Duds Activewear Lightweight Long Pant
3. Waterproof Snow Pant
4. Cuddl Duds Climatesmart Mock Neck Long Sleeve
5. Waterproof winter jacket
6. Scarf
7. Wool hat or ear band
8. Mittens