I got an early Christmas present over the weekend: A mug warmer. They sell them at Bed Bath & Beyond for about $10.

It's a little electric plate designed to keep a cup of coffee warm.

To use it I heat my mug up with some hot water, then empty it and set it on the warmer. I lather on my face and set the brush in the mug during passes. (The warmer isn't powerful enough to heat the mug by itself.)

The plate keeps the brush warm, actually a little hotter than it was from the tap water. I can enjoy nice warm lather for the whole shave.

There are plenty of other ways to accomplish the same thing, but I just thought I'd share this one.

Good luck,
Josh