Three days ago, Alabama suddenly decided that summer was over and winter was upon us. I'm not terribly thrilled to see it but I have compiled a list of my favorite and most commonly used winter life hacks to get us through the next 5 months.

1. Stuff empty toilet paper rolls with dryer lint and light under logs to start a fire. I hate buying those starter logs. This will save you a trip to the store and $$$.

2. Dried out orange peels will also do the job. Just dry them out on a sheet pan and twist through the middle.

3. Fill your tires with nitrogen instead of air. Tires filled with air lose pressure as the temperature drops. If you use nitrogen instead, it won't seep through the tire rubber nearly as fast.

4. Frozen locks? Hand sanitizer. Frozen Windshield? 2/3 Vinegar, 1/3 Water. There is nothing that frustrates me more than having to sit in the cold and wait on my windshield to defrost. I am not a fan of winter and we're just adding salt to my wound by that point.

5. Park your car facing the East. As the sun rises, your windshield will naturally defrost. I'd love to try this one but my sense of direction is sub par.

6. If you live in an older house, slide pipe insulation tubes under your door to prevent cold drafts from running up your power or gas bill.

7. Wool inserts for your shoes. Use the insert that came with your shoes as a stencil. Buy a half inch thick piece of wool and you're ready to winterize all of your shoes.

8. Keep a jar of coconut oil in your car. We already know this stuff can fix just about any issue you have. Winter brings dry skin, chapped lips, windburnt cheeks, and hair full of static. The answer: Coconut Oil.

9. Self Tanner: Coconut Oil and Cocoa Powder. I hate being pale. Mix up a batch of this stuff and you can kiss the tanning bed goodbye.

Is it summer yet?!