We also have a timer on the thermostat to turn the furnace on before we have to get up.

That doesn't help most apartment dwellers, who don't have the ability (or much incentive) to make structural improvements to their building. We're stuck with radiators that only know one setting: furnace. Our neighbors seem to keep their heat on enough to keep us warm most of the time. Occasionally, we turn on the radiator in the living room so that the bedroom is bearable. I truly wish I knew enough robotics to program something to turn on my radiator just before we get up. Until then, it's fluffy slippers and a hoodie next to my bed.

Sometimes it's not that there are problems with the house, but that it's expensive to heat a house. Our bedroom is pretty big, and since we refuse to turn the heat up past a certain point, it's chilly in there in the winter.

Install your own programmable thermostat! It's about $25 and super easy :)

Forever lazy and/or a snuggie, with some big fuzzy slippers. I also turn the heat up and crawl back under the covers until it's warmer.

where is that quilt from? and the table lamp? i need them!

I was admiring the quilt as well. Looks like it might be homemade.

I have a small electric fireplace in my bedroom -- cost me around $100. I turn down the thermostat at night, then I turn the fireplace on with the remote when my alarm goes off and hit the snooze button. By the time the alarm goes off again, my slippers are toasty and I can bear to get out of bed and bump up the main thermostat. (Even a model without a remote will work if you set up some sort of in-line switch right by your alarm clock.)

Wear something warm to bed and just sleep under a thin blanket or sheets. It's much easier to get out of bed when the warm layers are not part of the bed itself.

Actually, I think it might not actually be a quilt - it looks woven to me. Still, a source would be fantastic :)

I'm admiring the bed!

yes, AT, can you please clue us in as to where the lamp and the quilt/throw are from? We'd be eternally grateful :)

I second the shearling slippers. Nothing makes me feel as cold as getting icy feet while walking on wood and tile floors.
As far as easing getting out of bed, treat it like you're camping in cold weather - wear long underwear and socks to bed so you aren't cold when you wake up. Stash your undies/underlayers for the morning at your feet or under your pillow and put a few items of clothing on before you even get out of bed. Sleep with a hat, or at least put one on when you wake up. In our house (also expensive to heat) I wear hats indoors during the coldest months of winter.
I also keep a robe near the bed, draped over a radiator so it's toasty warm for my bleary-eyed shuffle to the bathroom.

Where is the bed from? More to the point, where can we find something similar?

I'm also very curious about the quilt. It's beautiful !

If I'm really on the ball, I'll prep on AM tea after I make my nighttime tea. It helps the cold AM work a tiny bit more smoothly.

But really all I want to say is thank you for introducing me to Treat Yo Self.

I dont know the sources but the image came from this blog: http://www.the-brick-house.com/

Where is the quilt from, or what pattern is it? Love it!

like pennymonster said it's from the brick house which is one of my favorite blogs. you guys should definitely check it out. but knowing her most of those thing are probably thrifted from somewhere in the california desert. so jealous.

i put a small light on a timer to turn on 30 minutes before I need to wake up. That way when my alarm goes off it isn't pitch black in my room and makes getting out of bed MUCH easier. I also put one on my living room lamp so when i walk out to make my tea I am also greeted by some light instead of darkness.

Our thermostat is programmable, so it gets warmer in the morning, goes down during the day, and then gets warmer in the evening again.

That being said, we have hardwood floors and few rugs (rooms are too small), so my felted wool slippers and flannel pjs are always stowed by my bed. My boyfriend is a furnace at night and we've got a down comforter, so I can't sleep in flannel, but it sure helps to pull it on once I get up.

I live in Edmonton, Canada and winters can be brutally cold (-46C anyone?). I buy men's bulky 100% wool knee high socks and wash and dry them in the machine. This shrinks them to my size. A fresh dry pair of these on my feet and they are never cold, and yes, I wear them to bed.

Dimmer light switches! I absolutely refuse to jolt my eyes with the harsh switch from natural early morning darkness to artificial light in one blow. I need to ease my eyes into the day. I even have a dimmer in the washroom.

I found the post about the quilt: http://www.the-brick-house.com/2009/08/ebay-3/ if anyone is interested :)

I'm not sure of the exact make, but the bed is a Danish teak platform with floating nightstands.

As far as getting out of bed, a morning coffee (or tea) ritual before a shower works for me. I use a french press, but have the electric kettle set up on a timer.

I'm asleep for the first 10 minutes out of bed anyway.

First up - HOT shower, then coffee. The residual body heat from the shower stays thru dressing to sipping. After that we're in daytime mode and ready to suffer.

thank you for the reference! "TOMMY FRESH!"

I finally hung up my thermal blackout curtains, it helps keep the cold out since my bed is right by the window. I love my portable radiant heater. I'd like to get a timer for it to help save money though because I've noticed my bill is higher.

The lamp looks to be a Hector with a pleated shade by BTC electric. They are hard to find here in the US because they are made in Britain (and wired for Britain). I want it. And the bed cover. http://www.originalbtc.com/catalogue_item.php?catID=2859&prodID=13993

PS Here's Brick House's post on the hector, with shots of the bed and bedspread:

http://www.the-brick-house.com/2009/12/thrifty-52/

The light seems to bother me more than cold, so I invested in a light alarm clock (verilux rise and shine). This thing is amazing and helps me get up in the dark and cold and not hit the snooze one-thousand times only to be grouchy and groggy. Even better is that my husband and dog also wake up in a happier mood now! This alarm clock has changed my winter routine for the best!
I too do the socks/uggs/have the house heater turn on for 30 min before wake up :)

I tend to wake up about an hour before I need to. I get up, turn the heat up, then go back to bed. That and jump in a hot shower as soon as possible!

A plug-in timer on a little fan heater in yer bedroom really helps.

I like the idea of having a 'treat' for breakfast.

Prep as much as you can the night before (just read that on another AT post on organization ;)