Comfort & Style for Black Friday: A Holiday Series Collaboration

Hello and welcome to the Holiday Series by my sweet Ada from Elegance and Mommyhood!  Please scroll to the bottom to see how all my sweet fashionista girlfriends have styled the Black Friday outfit!!!!  Here are my thoughts on the whole Black Friday thing and what I would wear.

I find the whole idea of black Friday quite underwhelming to be honest.  EEK, sorry if that rubs you the wrong way.  Maybe because I am Canadian so Black Friday isn't quite as hyped up, though in recent years it's been a bigger event here as well.  Maybe it's the idea of the crowd and the $$$$ bills flying straight out of my bank account, or maybe I am a Grinch.  LOL.  In any case, I don't think it's just the Black Friday, I think for me it more about the idea of fighting through the crowds and making snap decisions.  I am really not good at shopping under pressure so there are a few things I do to prepare so I don't miss a good sale. 

1)  I have the kids wish lists created and presents already picked out ahead of time.

2)  I figure out what the current price is and if it's reasonable I just get it ahead of time.

3)  I choose what big ticket items I am really looking  for  on that day.  This year I am simple keeping my eyes open to see if flights to San Diego go down in price.

4)  I shop online as much as possible to avoid the rush.  

Online shopping is sooooooooo easy and made for me.   Click, click, click....ding-dong, it's here!  

 

Sometimes it's coffee and sometimes it's wine.  

I do like wandering the stores ahead of the Christmas rush to get inspired and check out new displays in the stores.  So last weekend we went to the mall as a family without any pressure to buy or find anything in particular.  We just grabbed some coffee, hot chocolate and hit up some local stores and then made our way to Toys R Us (for the kids) and the mall.  Anya added a few items on her wish list from Toys R Us, and Halie and I found some things we liked at Bath and Body Works. 

Jeans, boots, poncho comfort are my weekend jam.   The poncho kept me cozy and warm, and my hands free while waking through the mall (I despise having to carry my coat around in the mall).  The outfit was pretty tame so  I added a little bling with these new Stella and Dot chandelier earrings.  Love how it all came together and how the daylight cooperated for these pictures.     

Hint, hint, Santa.  Please place one of these in my stocking.  -Love me.

 

Fell in love with this mirror/door and  would absolutely love to have it at the cabin.

What are your Black Friday thoughts and plans?

ADA Elegance and Mommyhood "I cannot believe Thanksgiving is this week and then Black Friday, which means the Holiday craze has started. I am one of those 'lucky' ones that has to work all day on Black Friday, because the company I work for deals with sales among other things. For the small portion of the day when I do not work, you will find me bundled up in layers like my Abercrombie henley, Abercrombie fleece jacket, ponte skinnies, sneakers, the softest fleece scarf and a fleece beanie. And yes without realizing it, I wore yet another leopard hat. Happy Thanksgiving week, babes!"

BOJANA Bo's Bodacious Blog "Jeans, boots, poncho comfort are my weekend jam.   The poncho kept me cozy and warm, and my hands free while waking through the mall (I despise having to carry my coat around in the mall).  The outfit was pretty tame so  I added a little bling with these new Stella and Dot chandelier earrings.  Love how it all came together and how the daylight cooperated for these pictures. "

SHELBEE Shelbee on the Edge "I will be working all day on Black Friday: at the consignment shop from 10 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. then heading to the mall to work at Torrid from 5:30 until 10:30 p.m.  So I need to be comfortable while donning my battle gear! I found this graphic tee which says “My coffee needs coffee” to be perfectly appropriate for working 12 hours on Black Friday.  To be battle-ready, I went for a camo cardigan and plaid combat boots.  Wish me luck! 

LAURA I Do deClaire "I don't normally head out on Black Friday. It's too chaotic and my introverted self gets overwhelmed with all the crowds. I like to be home, nice and warm and cozy, recover from Thanksgiving, and do some light online shopping if I have a chance! What could be better than overalls and a soft cardigan for a day at home?"

AMBER Avec Amber "I know that many people have a four day weekend and roll right from Thanksgiving feasts to Black Friday shopping! My Black Friday outfit idea has this in mind with pieces that are both comfortable and cozy for the dropping temperatures...and leggings instead of pants, because real pants the day after Thanksgiving is just too aggressive."

JENNIE A Pocketful of Polka Dots "When it comes to Black Friday shopping I am all about staying warm, being comfortable, and wearing things that are easy to get in and out of. A plaid vest layered over a simple sweater keep me warm and slide on sneakers make trying on clothes easy, while also helping me walk the distance. The great thing about wearing basics like a sweater and jeans is they work well while trying on other pieces, because if you are anything like me, Black Friday shopping inevitably means finding things for myself, too. ;)  Gotta take advantage of those sales for All the important people on our list!" 

LINDA A Labour of Life "My Vanheusen Dot pants are so very comfortable and perfect for Black Friday Shopping.  For me I will be working (aka Canadian) but comfy at my desk and surfing for awesome deals."

MONICA Jersey Girl, Texan Heart "Can y'all believe that it is already that time of year?  The madness of Black Friday shopping is upon us!  I usually don't go out shopping on Black Friday, but whenever I do, I'm always there later in the day in something super comfy, because I'm still stuffed from Thanksgiving dinner the night before.  Here is my winter uniform!  A sweater, some comfy pants, boots, and a hat."

CHERYL Cheryl Shops "Normally I'm down in Los Angeles for Thanksgiving—and California has been having unseasonably warm, dry weather—so this is what I'd wear on Black Friday. It's kind of half summer and half fall, but these are some of my favorite pieces that I've featured this year on Cheryl Shops. The accessories are key for Black Friday bargain hunting: the crossbody purse allows you to go hands-free, and the low-heeled boots are comfy enough to be on your feet for hours. Happy shopping!"

Give Me All the Fall Colors: White Jeans #3

When I see a pile of leaves I  instantly get that childhood urge to throw them up in the air, run and jump into them, or simply just play with them, don't you?  It goes without saying that one of my favorite things about fall are the natural  colors that surround us.  Even if you live in a city, like me, you can find pockets of that natural beauty without traveling too far.  Check out a local park, a hiking trail nearby, or just take the time to stop and notice the leaves, the fallen pine cones, the change in perennial plants and bushes, pumpkins that line peoples lawns, right in your neighborhood. 

Taking outfit photos indoors is always so difficult for me, especially as daylight is hard to come by after work, so taking advantage of the outdoor setting before it gets too cold has been my goal this year.  I've also been trying to shoot three outfits at a time in order to minimize the time I spend on the blog and away from my family. This is my last white jean outfit, see #1 and #2, and it's one that I think perfectly transitions me from fall into early winter.  Cooler temps are referred to as 'sweater weather' and I love me some sweaters.  What's great about this one, is that it's not over-sized, chunky and let's just cuddle up on the couch and hibernate through the winter (those are my favorite types), but it's a sweater/dress/tunic.  It's totally acceptable to wear to the office with jeans/ leggings and paired up with short booties, OTKB, pearls or funky jewelry. Because of the simple cut and neutral color, you can really use it as a basic piece and dress it up, down, funky, add color, basically you can style it whatever way you want!  I decided wanted the natural environment to stand out, so I kept everything else super simple and neutral.  I love how this outfit turned out.  Playing with the different shades of gray and adding the wine-deep-purple purse gives it just enough dimension without taking over.  The pearls are a simple and classy touch without making the outfit too formal. 

 Have a beautiful weekend friends.   Please join the  Continental Drift Link-Up on November 1st with any post of your choice (family, DIY, travel, books, fashion, etc.)  right here.  We will be sharing our tips for successful hosting through the holiday season.  Thanks for helping us grow and share.

SHOP THIS POST: 

 ON White Jeans

Aritzia Tunic (old; similar)

Expression Grey Booties

H & M Purse (sold out; black available)

Mac Diva Lipstick

Fashion Friday: Make a Statement with a Winter Sweater

This sweater had me at the big statement sleeves.  I set my sights on it way back in November and it immediately made it to the top of my Xmas wishlist.  Santa didn't let me down and it was nicely wrapped underneath the tree.  I want to pair it up with my suede skirt for the office but last weekend I went the  casual route as we took the girls to tour  the University.  The beauty of this sweater is that it has so much going on, with the bold, floral embroidery and the puffy sleeves that you don't need to add  accessories.  Eyes will just be naturally drawn to the sweater so you can keep everything else basic. I have three different pairs of Expression booties from the Bay and love them all.  These gray ones were a December purchase and I only paid $50!


This little tour that we did with the girls was the best.  Have you ever toured university grounds with your kiddos?  I value education but I didn't always give much thought to how incredibly important it was for them to have experiences going o a big place like the university.  Why is it important for kids as young as 7 to go there you ask?  Well I feel that they need to hear and see  us, their parents,  talking about post-secondary options in a way that opens their mind to many avenues in life.  I am not stuck on my children going to university, but I do want them to see their future full of opportunities, options and potential.  Currently Anya is exploring dinosaurs at school, excavation and geology, and we are so lucky to have numerous displays that are open to the public right in our city so we took a little tour.  As a result we also toured through the agricultural building and we saw the veterinary college which caught Halie's attention.  As we walked to the car, Halie confidently said, "I want to come here.  I want to go to university."  Music to my ears.  It might change but in her 11 year old mind she sees that as a valid option for her future and I couldn't be happier. 

What are you up to this weekend?  

Shop This Post:
Guess Embroidered Sweater (similar, mine is sold out)
Expression Booties (price drop at $ 29.99)

Fashion Friday: Mini Skirts and Winter Boots

Hello friends!  Every once in a while Saskatchewan winter days are warm enough to enjoy without a jacket, even if only for a few minutes.  This past week has not been as described above but looking at these pictures reminds me that better days are ahead and the frigid cold, -30C to -40C too shall pass.  It's really okay since I had a nasty, nasty spill on the ice a week ago and have been more or less resting on my back or attempting to hobble around, either way not a pretty sight.  Sigh.

As I have been working my way through my closet, seriously so many options in there, I gave this skirt a go.  I absolutely love a good cord/suede skirt in a rich brown color and I own both.  I needed to decide which one was going to stay and which one is going to go.  Well as much as I adore the cord skirt, with the cute little button details, I let it go because I discovered as I walked the material kept bunching up in all the wrong places.  Yes, I tried static spay but nothing.  Bye, bye skirt.  

Regardless I love how this outfit and color combinations turned out and I have since worn this same outfit subbing in my suede skirt, same result, LOVE.  These black booties, linked below, are work horses in my closet, especially for the office.  They are cheap, cheap, cheap and so comfortable (but I will admit they have no grip and I was wearing them when I slipped and did a number on my hip 😓) What I really think makes this outfit pop is the bright hues of blue and red in the blanket scarf.  Below I am linking up great options to recreate this look.  

Shop This Post:

Expression Booties (this years version)
Corduroy Button-Up Skirt (similar)
Ruffle Cold Shoulder Sweater (Wishlist item);
Blanket Scarf: Option #1; Option #2

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.  I hope it's warm enough, wherever you are, that you can get outside to get some fresh air and vitamin D.

Winter Style: Pom Toques and Plaid Shirts

My favorite part of this outfit is well EVERYTHING .  How cute are these matching pom toques that the girls and I scored at Urban Planet for $2 right after Christmas?!?  I was wearing this outfit when we went to the mall so the girls could spend their xmas money, and well, we all  ended up walking out dressed as triplets.  THIS NEVER HAPPENS so I rejoiced  and documented.  

Over the holidays I seized the opportunity away  from the office to wear my favorite jeans that have been  collecting dust in my closet since early fall.  As promised, I've been wearing my closet and I love how this outfit came together.  I would normally deem the cropped, step-hem, distressed jeans as spring-fall wear but that's just because I never thought to pair them up with cute little booties.  I can't believe I didn't think of this combination before.

One of my favorite pieces is this plaid shirt that I've had for a couple of years now.  I wear it to the office tucked into a skirt, under a sweater and dress pants, with pearls, etc.  For this outing I paired it up with a lightweight gray sweater, because gray is my new favorite neutral.  

This coat was a 'new to me' purchase through a local buy and sell.  I love the deep, purple color, the over sized brown buttons, and the large waist belt.  Do you ever shop second hand or do a girlfriend clothing swap? It's so fun to get new stuff without breaking the bank. 

What's your favorite casual, weekend, outfit combination?  

Shop this post:

Forever 21 Jeans ( similar)

Urban Planet pom toque

American Eagle Plaid Shirt (similar)

American Eagle Gray Sweater  (similar on sale $19.99)

Expression Black Booties  ($55 sale)

Fashion Friday: The Little Red Dress

Two nights ago, Logan and I had a date night with some friends that included a dinner and a live play.  I was super excited to check out our local, gluten free fine dining restaurant, Leyda's.   The food was 100% delicious and was a hit all around!!

 

In the spirit of Valentines Day that is fast approaching, I decided to wear this little red dress that's been hanging at the back of my closet for forever.  This dress is OLD, like 5 years old, but it's a classic piece and in great condition so I keep it around.  This dress used to be my GO-TO dress for anything important, presentations, parent teacher conferences, interviews, etc.  I always felt good in it.  I remember my colleague Jaime saying to me the morning we were going to present to a group of teachers, "I knew you were going to wear your red dress today, because you always wear it when you have to present."  It's been in retirement for a few years but once I put it on I was reminded why I love it so much. 

 

#1 Red dress, blazer and booties.  I will be wearing this to the office on Valentines Day. (I just realized that I seem to have a lot of sass in the second picture which is not like me, and I will be  leaving it at home)

#2 Red dress, fuzzy cardigan and strappy heels.  I wore this out for dinner mainly because it was -35C.  Brrr.  I really needed to keep toasty warm during dinner and the play so it just felt like the better choice for the freezing cold weather.

 

I added some bling by wearing my H & B rose gold jewelry, which I always wear.  I decided to stack the H & B bracelet with my pearl bracelets as well to make them stand out a little more.  I also added a skinny black belt just to pull in the waist a little bit.  Overall I am happy with both outfits and thrilled to have this dress out of retirement!

 

Happy weekend all!

 



Shop this post:

Modcloth A-Line Dress (similar)

Pink Martini Sweater (similar)

H & B Rose Gold Earrings, Bracelet (similar),  Necklace (sold out)

Strappy Suede Pumps (The Bay)

 Aldo @ The Bay Booties (similar)