Fashion: Jeans for Every Day

February 3, 2021 | Leave a Reply

I mentioned in this post that I’m tired with all the loungewear options that are promoted online these days. I haven’t adopted the loungewear lifestyle even though I’ve been working from home for nearly a year. My pre-pandemic fashion included a daily mix of suits, skirts, dresses, and shirts, and all of these items have been hanging in my closet waiting for their turn again! My pandemic fashion includes jeans just about every day. I haven’t worn jeans so much in my life! Jeans are fine, but I don’t love them. I’m now due for a new pair, but anything I’ve ordered hasn’t worked out.

So my daily work-from-home (WFH) outfits generally consist of jeans and a sweater. I’m on Zoom (teaching, meeting) for the majority of every day, so I like to look put together and comfortable. I rarely wear all of my regular jewelry, but I think I’m going to get back into the habit of wearing it every day. I do switch up my glasses a lot, and I’m always eager to order more pairs!

*black jeans + white tee + grey duster cardigan*

*grey jeans + white shirt + my absolute favourite slippers from JCrew that I’ve never seen again*

*black jeans + white tee + tunic turtleneck sweater + pom pom slippers (my second favourite pair)*

*grey jeans + grey turtleneck (one of my faves from Lacoste) + pom pom slippers*

*black jeans + peter pan collar top* *(socks and slippers were optional this day, apparently)*

What are you wearing these days? Have you adopted the loungewear lifestyle? Do you wear slippers?

Marketplace: Love Local this Valentine’s Day

February 1, 2021 | Leave a Reply

While I have already shared some sweet Valentine’s Day items recently, today’s love themed curation is from local shops. Even though we can’t visit the stores in person quite yet, these Ontario shops are offering easy delivery and curbside pickup options. Have a browse and buy what you love!

The Art of Home (Cambridge, ON)

Jellycat amusable brie, $28.50CAD; amoroso cushion, $49.95CAD; mug, $10.95CAD; tea towel, $10.95CAD; wild heart bowl, $35.95CAD; alabaster stone heart, $8.95CAD; white heart doormat, $28.95CAD; you me oui card, $6.95CAD;prayer beads, $14.95CAD; shop in the name of love sign, $7.95CAD

Gifted (Waterloo, ON)

*card, $5.95CAD; headband, $10CAD; card, $6.95CAD; ring dish, $12.50CAD; cookie cutter set, $16.50CAD; bath bomb, $8CAD; Shower Whip body wash, $15CAD*

Wills and Prior (Stratford, ON)

panama tote, $31CAD (on sale); brass tray, $12.95CAD; wine tumbler, $8.95CAD; honeycomb throw, $89CAD; small pendant, $298CAD; cloth and tea towel set, $22CAD; handmade stoneware vase, $89CAD; art, $139CAD; hand cream, $24CAD; door mat, $35CAD; soap, $10CAD; perfect match card, $7.95CAD; card, $4.95; to my valentine card, $7.95CAD

Hue La La (Burlington, ON)

mortar & pestle, $12CAD; heart earrings, $26CAD; ring dish, $7CAD; flamingo card, $6; ornament, $7CAD; so sexy bathmat, $45CAD; embroidered pillow, $52CAD; soapstone heart, $6CAD; keychain, $12CAD; bracelet, $32CAD

Lofthouse Living (London, ON)

*mug, $20CAD; mohair throw, $130CAD; dish cloth, $7CAD; heart bottle stopper, $18CAD; deviled egg tray, $45CAD; card, $8CAD; vase, $24CAD; velvet heart pillow, $45CAD; tote, $10CAD*

Personal: January Update of My 2021 Goals

January 29, 2021 | 2 Commentaries

Who else has drafted a list of goals to accomplish in 2021? What’s on your list? How did you to this month?

Here’s an update of my 2021 goals.

Eat more vegetables. Yes! I did fairly well this month with my veggie intake. I made soups and salads regularly.
Travel. Nope! TBD.
Save money. Sort of. I continued to track my spending this month, but I had a major car expense (ugh!). A positive result of that expense though is that my car is now safe and quiet. I also couldn’t resist clicking “buy” on the spring Jilly Box (a Jillian Harris project). I won’t get it until March, but I’m hoping it’ll be a cheerful mail day when it arrives.
Pass on magazines/books/clothes/puzzles. Yes! I passed on magazines to a friend, I added clothes to my donation box, and I have a puzzle ready to give to my parents as soon as I can see them.
Crochet a blanket. Nope! I haven’t bought yarn for my future blanket yet. I wanted to buy it from a store, but because of the lockdown, I think I may have to buy it online just so I can get going on this project. I did crochet a new LOVEly pot holder.
Reduce social media consumption. Nope! I still consumed a lot this month. Aimless scrolls through Twitter and Instagram are the worst.
Renovate my bathroom. Nope! No decisions made here. I’m hesitant to do any work until the lockdown is over. Even the planning of the reno isn’t exciting me at the moment.
Play games. Yes! This month, I had fun with crosswords and Bananagrams.
Edit my magazine subscriptions. Yes! I cancelled one subscription (Architectural Digest). I also signed up for a new subscription (Vanity Fair). One in, one out?
Read more. Yes! I finished Dale Carnegie’s How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. It was first published in 1948, so the language is definitely not 2021-approved, but the concepts are very helpful. I’ve underlined so many passages and pieces of advice. I’ve also started back on audiobooks, and I’ve just finished All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin (it was fine). Two books in a one month – yay!
Blog. Yes! I’ve achieved my aim of publishing 2 to 3 posts per week this month.
Embrace cross country skiing. Sort of! I skied twice this month after a great snowfall and on sunny days. The weather conditions have to be just right for me to get out there. Check out this snapshot of me on my skis at Explore Waterloo Region!
Cross stitch. Sort of! I have semi-planned my first project (from my hand-me-down embroidery floss collection). All the needlepoint scenes in Bridgerton has sort of served as motivation.
Have fun! Yes! I did a lot of things each day (e.g., cooking, Zoom calls with friends, walking, FaceTime calls with family, buying flowers) that made me happy.

Marketplace: Happy Hearts

January 27, 2021 | Leave a Reply

I love when all the heart items hit the market around this time of year. I wish hearts (and stars) would stay year-round. Heart pyjamas are my favourite, but they’re not always easy to come by (especially at a reasonable price). I also think adding a heart tea towel is an easy way to bring (more) happiness into the kitchen.

Valentine’s Day platter, $23.95CAD; Valentine’s Day mugs (4), $51.95CAD; cupcake mix, $24.95CAD; cookie cutter set, $44CAD; marble heart coasters, $37.95CAD; hearts towel, $16USD; raffia heart baskets, starting at $59CAD; heart picture frame, $275USD

*Peanuts hearts pajama, $104CAD; heart stud earrings, $72CAD; heart print top, $14CAD; heart print peplum top, $15CAD; heart beanie, $8CAD; heart earrings, $56CAD; sweetheart necklace, $252CAD*

*kisses pajama, $59CAD; bib, $17.95CAD; Love sweatshirt, $11.87CAD; heart pocket top, $7.90CAD; heart print tunic and leggings, $50CAD*

Marketplace: Rose & Rex

January 25, 2021 | Leave a Reply

Rose & Rex is a marketplace for educational, well-designed toys and games for kids. Their toys promote imaginative play, and I think there are so many great items to spoil your kids…and to give them a break from virtual classrooms.