winter outfit.

It got CRAZY cold here over the last few days. I know the rest of Canada is telling us to stop whining, but the cold here is damp and seeps into your bones. I would much prefer dry cold, but that would also mean sacrificing our beautiful summers! Alas...

Zara wool jacket   |   BestBuddiesGifts headband   |   Ron Weasley sweater
H&M jeans   |   DKNY scarf   |   Plush arm warmers
Topshop boots   |   Givenchy Nightingale satchel   |   Harry Potter deathly hallows socks

How are you all staying warm this winter?

outerwear.

I'm a born-and-raised Vancourite, but I still suck at dealing with the cold rainy falls and winters. Maybe the solution is more coat and jacket options?

all from Zara

fall outfit.

We're having tonnes of rain and wind lately. How are you keeping warm?

Topshop chambray shirt   |   Topshop sweater   |   Alexis Bittar bib necklace
Alice.D leather tote   |   Tory Burch booties   |   Topshop skinny jeans   |   Topshop wool coat

regarding skin.

One thing I have noticed the last few months after I turned 31, is how much elasticity the skin on my face has lost. My eyes seem more hollow and my skin looks kind of dull.

For years I've sworn by La Roche Posay products, specifically the Toleriane Riche face cream, but I'm just not sure it's doing the job for me anymore.

At the tail end of winter, I picked up a face mask/cream from L'Occitane (lured in by their free hand cream samples) and received a schwack-load of samples and a free mini set as well.

Tonight, as I was washing my face and lamenting at how disgustingly dry my skin was (along with its dullness and saggy-ness), I decided to look at the mini set I got from L'Occitane again and opened up the Immortelle Precious Cream.

Usually, due to my dry, sensitive (prone to eczema) skin, I stay away from scented creams, but my first thoughts on the Immortelle are positive: it's not greasy nor heavy, the scent isn't overpowering, and it smoothed out my dry patches pretty well. How my skin will really react remains to be seen in the morning, but since this cream is from the same line as the mask I picked up, I don't think there will be any ill effects.

Have you noticed any significant changes in your skin as you've aged? What have you done to combat it? I would love some suggestions!

progress.

After ordering a Beachbody fitness program, they encourage you to submit before and after photos to be entered for weekly and monthly prizes. I'll spare you all from seeing mine in this public space, but I do want to share a different type of photo with you.

For the record, I have always hated shopping for pants. Three reasons: my short stature, lack of hips and butt, yet proportionally curvier thighs and calves.

About two Decembers ago, I walked into Urban Outfitters to buy a new pair of jeans. I started buying jeans from Urban Outfitters because the BDG Grazer style jeans were the perfect length for me. On this particular shopping trip, they did not have a pair that would fit me. Stubbornly, I left the store with a pair of jeans two sizes too small: a pair that I would have fit into two years prior.

I hung the too-small jeans up in my room to guilt myself into working out. It didn't work.

As mentioned in my previous post, it took a bit of nudging and an accountability group for me to really get moving.

In January, I finally mustered up the courage to put on The Jeans. They were still a little snug, but there was no fear of ripping the seams if I sat down. Two weeks ago, I actually had to use a belt.

There is still room for improvement. I still have some extra body fat I'd like to lose, but I won't lie about how happy I felt to be able to fit into The Jeans.

 

PS: I no longer shop at Urban Outfitters, as I do not agree with their business practices (i.e. blatantly ripping off designs without credit nor compensation).

happy.

A super belated Happy New Year and a belated happy birthday to me!

I spent my 31st in Portland. Here I am, nerding out at an entire bookcase of Agatha Christie books.

 

I've found it increasingly hard to get started on a blog post now that I've been quite absent for the past couple years. The reason is I'm just not sure where to start!

 

Over the past few months, I have taken big steps in changing my life. In October, thanks to my friend and coach, Kim, I started on a fitness journey.

I was gaining weight from lack of exercise, sitting in front of a computer every day, and eating out lots. In the past, I never had big problems with weight gain, and I ate A LOT. But, as I got a bit older, and my lifestyle became more sedentary, I started putting on weight more rapidly.

Last year was the heaviest I'd ever been and I knew I had to make a change. I was good at hiding my extra body fat, but I was depressed that my clothes didn't fit like they used to. Kim offered her help at the right time.

 

My lack of motivation to get moving was based solely on how hard I find it to be accountable to myself and create new habits (more on this later). Kim encouraged me to try a 30 Day Challenge program with Beachbody. I decided enough was enough, and investing $200 now meant a lifetime payoff of learning how to be healthier.

I chose to do a strength training program – ChaLEAN Extreme – because I lacked upper body strength and my goal was to lose the extra fat and tone up. It was probably the best decision I could have made! Not only is the program easy to learn, Chalene Johnson's attitude and positivity is just so infectious and inspiring! I am not the biggest fan of über enthusiastic coaches nor do I care for the boot-camp drill sergeants, but Chalene's got the perfect balance of encouragement and attitude that pushes you to work harder.

Anyway, all this is to say that since October 21, I have lost 11 pounds and reached my goal weight (the one that was on my driver's license!). I still have some ways to go in losing that extra bit of body fat around my waist and thighs, but I know I'm on the right journey; I just need to work a little harder at eating clean more often and concentrate more on core and leg exercises.

 

After starting my fitness journey, I have had a lot more energy as well and found myself feeling less upset and anxious over things out of my control. I have always thought of myself as an optimist, and more of a realist-optimist as I got a bit older, but it was hard for me to feel positive all the time these last couple years. There were days where I felt so consumed with negative thoughts that I just couldn't stop crying and feeling sorry for myself for hours or days at a time. I am not a mental health expert, and I am not advocating that exercise will help everyone, but for me, it has certainly helped.

I am definitely not perfect and I have fallen off my exercise routine this past week. I have finished the 90-day ChaLEAN Extreme program and I was half way through my Lean For Life circuit when I just couldn't find that motivation to do it anymore. I spent all of last week cheating on most of my meals and only did my daily squats (as part of a 30 day squat challenge) and biked every other day to not feel completely guilty. What do you do when you've lost that spark? You need a reset button. I decided to do Chalene's 7 Day Eat Lean and Train Mean Challenge.

As part of Day 1's workout, I practiced this dance routine. Watch it, learn it, and be happy!