Every Fall Need a Wool Coat

Ahh, winter is fully here but if you are just entering winter season, then you might be thinking about upgrading to a warmer coat.  Outer wear is important around these parts as temperatures dip blow 0C, it's what people see  on you for the most part.  You can't leave the house without a coat!  Over the years I've invested in a few favorite coats that are good quality and most importantly keep me warm.  I scored a steal of a deal with this transitional coat through Thread Up.  It's an online consignment store and although I don't shop there often, this fall/early winter coat was the perfect purchase. Whenever I am buying a winter coat my biggest focus is  wool blend.  If you live in warmer climates going with 20 or 30% is probably okay, but here if you want to wear it through fall and then into winter you need to have at least 60% or more.  This coat gets me comfortably to just below 0C and then when it gets colder, I have another wool coat from Aritzia that I wear regularly, linked below.  I've featured it on the blog before, here and here,  because all the rich colors just work well with so many color combinations for the fall and I obsessed with the pattern.  

Speaking of color, I absolutely adore the rust color.  These coulletes have been a favorite of mine for many years and have appeared on the blog several times.  This time I paired them up with this polka dot, pre-plum, cropped top.  Usually I wouldn't wear a shorter top like this to work, but because the pants are high-waisted the outfit came together perfectly.  The top was a gift for my birthday in July and I had been waiting to style it.  It's a very different cut for me, but I absolutely love it.  There is so many simple details in this outfit from the pattern, to the pre-plum and then also the pinned seams in the middle, giving the waist even more definition.  

I added my new croc-print sling backs and the outfit was complete for a stroll downtown, work or dinner with friends (which we don't do but can't wait to do again once more).  I love the croc print so much that I'd like to add some booties for the winter season in the pattern too!

To my US friends, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving in whatever capacity you could do it this year.  Have a lovely weekend and thank you for stopping by.

Shop This Post:
Coulletes (old):  R W & Co (similar; on sale $11!!!)
Polka Dot Pre-Plum Top:  Amazon (similar)
Naturalizer Croc Shoes 
Wool Coat (ThreadUp old):  Aritzia Option 1 & Option 2

Teen Gift Giving Guide: From Stocking Stuffers to Bigger Ticket Items

Tween and teens can be tricky to buy for especially if you are not looking to spend a million dollars on the newest technology trends out there.  Each year my girls, currently almost 11 and almost 14, compile a list of items that are reasonably priced to give ideas to grandparents and aunts and uncles.  We don't like getting a bunch of stuff that will either be returned or donated.  This year it's especially important to give loved ones links to the products so that they don't have to leave the comfort of their home if they are uncomfortable or if their state/province is advising people to stay home.  I do also really like to support local as a mom but for the purpose of the blog, I am giving you easily accessible links and stores.  I do encourage you all to try your best to support local, especially if they are offering online orders, curbside pick-up or free shipping.  

I am also hoping to work with the girls to compile a list of books and games that tweens and teen girls would enjoy.  Stay tuned.

1.  Bluetooth Color Changing Lamp (Amazon)
Listen to music, charge your phone and enjoy a multi color lamp in your room that adds some great ambiance to your teens room.

2.  Tie Dye Set  (Shein)
A new twist to the traditional PJ set.  Teens are loving cropped tops and launge wear, and tie dye is still going to strong!  We purchased ours locally but they are all sold out.  These range in price, from $30 to $80/set, so shop around to see what you want to spend on it.

3.  Little Backpack  (Aldo)
You can spend as little as $15 or as much as you want for a cute little backpack.  Honestly, for tweens and teens I wouldn't drop a lot of $$$ on a leather backpack because they just like the momentarily trend and they care more about the look of it and less the quality.  But that's just me.

  
4.  Name Necklace (Etsy)
This is where I like to hit up Etsy to find a small business that can create your childs name.  I think this is such a simple, daily wear piece, that's still very much on trend across age groups.  Heck, I'd like one too. 

5.  Makeup Eraser  (Chatters)
If you have a child that wears make-up they need one of these or several in their life!!!!!  Seriously the best for getting the face clean and ready to be washed and help avoid some of the natural teen acne.  The perfect stocking stuffer.

6.  Gel Polish Nail Kit (London Drugs)
My girls love doing their nails but regular nail polish just isn't' that great.  This gel polish kit lasts a good week and it's a great investment if you don't want to go all out with professional stuff.  At $79 you get the lamp, dehydrator (which people don't often know is very important), base/top coats, and nail polish remover.  The polishes are reasonably priced at $11 and have endless color options.  Also, taking the polish off is much easier than the salon gel polish.

7.  Faux Fur Throw Blanket (Amazon, multiple colors)
Who doesn't love their own cozy blanket in the winter months.  I don't know about you, but I kind of hate when my kids steal my favorite blanket and I am left with nothing.  

8.  LED Strip Lights  (Amazon)
My girls LOVE these and they have become a favorite birthday gift to give to friends.  They come with a remote and can change colors!  So much fun for $25!

9.  Hair Band (Simons) & Hair Clips (Simons)
Stocking Stuffer alert.  Channel your inner Gossip Girl, our favorite Queen B.  Quarantine made all of our favorite shows come back to life for the tweens and teens in our lives.  Headbands, hair clips, scrunchies are still fun additions to any girls accessory collection.

10.  Body Shop Winter Jasmine Gift Box (vegan)
My teen is all about vegan products these days.  From shampoo to make-up to body wash.  Bye, bye Lush and Bath and Body Works, and hello Body Shop.  They have several pre-package vegan options that run from $25 and up, or you can buy individual products. 

I hope you enjoyed this and if you have a tween/teen in your life, I hope you found this post helpful.  Tell me what else you'd like to see!

My Home Gym Reno

If you have been here for a while now, you know that I am dedicated to working out and running.  So it's surprising that it took us so long to create a warm and functional workout space right in our home.  When COVID-19 hit and we went into lockdown, we finally had the time, and frankly the cash to re-do our 70's vibe basement, including the space where I kept my workout equipment.  Picture,  yellow-ish walls,  shaggy brown carpet, brown closet doors and just an overall low-light space.  Although it wasn't beautiful, it did do the trick for the past 12 years that we have called this house our home and sometimes it just takes time to get to all the places that need to be tackled.  So in March, I finally got a beautiful space that I now love walking into. 

Since my main form of exercise is still outdoor running, all year long, see my post here about winter running gear, I do liek to do some workouts at home as well.  I also don't run outdoors in the wee hours of the morning by myself, so if my buddy can't go, I get on the treadmill.  In my gym the equipment is very basic.  Treadmill (my favorite), an eliptical, weights, jump rope, yoga mats and bands.  That's its!  Recently, I signed up to have access to the BeachBody on demand workouts and love have tthat option at my fingertips.  I like to do a couple of runs during the week, a total body workout (cardio and weights), an upper body workout, and a yoga.  Other days I get outdoors for our regular walks with the pups.  I keep it simple and managable to be honest.  Most things are around the 30 minutes and one longer run during the week.  That's what I can handle and what makes sense for me.  

Now let's take a look at the bright, motivational and getting it done space we created.  The first and biggest two transformations were putting in new flooring a fresh coat of white paint on the walls and on the closet doors!  Siriously those two things opened up this tiny bedroom and made air circulate through it!!!  All of a sudden even though it's in the basement, it felt much larger and more inviting.  My favortie part of the room is that I found a space to utilize an old pin board, by printing off all the picture from the various 10 km and half- marathons that I have done over the years.  Seeing my friends and family with me, cheering me on, reminds me to keep going and how much I love running.  It's great to look at on days that I just don't feel like woring out.  LOL.  Some simple Dollarama frames, with motivational qoutes also hang on the one wall, while I've utilized baskets of various sizes to keep my mats, weights and bands in order.  Overall I am happy with the how it turned out.

Do you have a gym space or a designated workout space in your home?     

Glad to be back here again after a week and a few days off!  Thanks for the kind and supportive words as I took a little detox break.  XOXO.  - Bo