Trends in Toronto

After a great Christmas in Toronto, I am leaving refreshed and newly inspired by the fashion trends of the big city. Although I have not spent that much time in the East, I was really surprised to see the people of Toronto wearing a completely different style than in the west of Canada. After a discussion with my good friend who has lived in both places, we came to the conclusion that the dress in the west is much more casual compared to the upstyled fashionistas of Toronto!! 

The overwhelming trend this season in Toronto was definitely the Canadian Goose Down Parka paired with the Sorel Boots!! While I am sure this look kept everyone nice and cozy, I think that it would have been much to warm for me to wear in the mild temperatures of the city. I must say however that I think it would be a great look for the frigid temperatures of Saskatchewan.

Trends in Toronto by eggermak featuring sorel boots


Ciao,
Karen

Merry Christmas!!

Wishing you the very merriest of Christmases!!

Just a few of my favorites decorations on our Christmas tree. Hope you are enjoying the holidays!! We are off to an afternoon Christmas skate in the center!!

With Love, 

Karen

Oh Tunnenbaum..... oh Tunnenbaum.....

Dominic and I are moving to the eastern Canadian province of Newfoundland while Dominic does in MSc at Memorial University. Although I would have love to have flown out there, we decided to drive so that we could bring our most essential items with us. So, after a long drive across the country we have finally arrived in Toronto and although the road conditions were worse than we ever thought they could be, it was so nice to be greeted by the bustling city cheer of Toronto and Dominic's family.


Spending the holidays in Toronto however, meant that we had to miss Christmas on the prairies. My family, being as nice as they are, decided to have a bit of an early Christmas with us before we departed on our trip!! You can look forward to some great posts because I got some great gifts from my family!!! And on a side note, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for spoiling me so much!! 


I thought I would post a few pics of our Christmas tree which I had to take down due to the early move.

I made these stockings for everyone in Dominic's family!! I hope they like them when they receive them tomorrow morning!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

All My Love.

Karen

Christmas Oranges

I love when the Christmas season finally rolls around because it means that Christmas oranges arrive in the super markets. Not only do I love the taste of the oranges but the smell of the oranges brings back wonderful Christmas memories of my childhood. Isn't this the cutest bowl of mini oranges you have ever seen?

XOX,

Karen

St.James Nautical Shirt

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. We are busy with Christmas and of course getting ready for our big move across the country. Although I have already bought all of my Christmas presents, I thought this St.James Nautical Shirt would be a great gift for a sister/in-law or a friend. I know I would love to have one!!!

I have a similar one from Zara and I have worn it in so many different ways. I especially love how it gives the entire outfit a casual look even with the pearls and the Chanel inspired cardigan.

Ciao,

Karen

Ornamental Acorns!!

Aren't these the most adorable little acorns you have ever seen? The top is actually from a real acorn and the bottom is made from felted wool.  I think they would be so perfect on a christmas tree and you could almost keep them out all year round!! They made by a designer from New York and you can buy them on her etsy shop called Angel Dog Designs!



Tus,
Karen

Dear Creatures

I bought my first ever dear creatures item when we were in Vancouver a few weeks ago. Well, actually Dominic bought me  a  sweater but it is for Christmas and he won't let me wear it until then. So, as I have been anxiously awaiting Christmas day I have been thinking about all of the wonderful places I will go wearing this sweater!! I think I will start by wearing it on Christmas morning - it will be perfect as my opening presents gift, then I will wear it as we make out trek across the country to unknowns of Newfoundland, and once we are there I will wear it on our first cross country skiing adventure. I have come to the conclusion that it will be absolutely perfect for the brisk days of the holiday season!!

The Highland Cardigan

In the mean time, I have been checking out the other items from Dear Creatures which are also amazing. Vintage inspired, the entire line has sorta of a sixties vibe and I am loving the nautical feel. Plus, it is so great to support an independent clothing line as it seems they are almost becoming extinct!! SO here are a few of my faves from the winter line which I think would be perfect for the holiday season to keep you warm and stylish!!

The Pigeon Sweater Dress

Anna Sweater Blouse

The Avalon Dress

XOX,
Karen

Protect Your Computer!!

If your still searching for that perfect gift for your boyfriend, husband, brother, father etc, you should check out these computer cases form Montreal, Quebec. Hand crafted out of eco-friendly and recycled materials, the ccommeca cases are a super stylish way to protect your laptop from any bumps and bruises. You can purchase them at the esty shop Commeca.





Ciao,
Karen

Christmas Tree Expedition

Since we live a bit of a gypsy lifestyle, I have never had a christmas tree of my very own. And although we are moving in a few weeks, I decided that I was going to put up a christmas tree anyways. 

Living in the middle of the prairies, we have only a few options as to where to can acquire a christmas tree. A) We can buy it buy it at our local gas station, B) we can go into the forest and cut one down ourselves or C) we can go to a Christmas tree farm. I prefer option C as I think it falls somewhere in the middle of options a and b. Not only is it an environmentally friendly choice but it starts the christmas season off with a feeling of old world tradition, which is sometimes hard to find in Canada. 

Joined by Dominic, my brother Chad, my sister in law Minna, and my nephew Otto, we ventured out to a nearby Christmas Tree Farm to find our perfect trees. Trudging through the snow, surrounded by various sizes and varieties of christmas trees, we weaved in and out of the tree rows searching for The One. When we finally found it, we knew right away as it seemed to just call out our name. 


Minna, Otto and I voted for Chad and Dominic to cut the trees down and load them into trucks while we went to warm up around a fire with some hot chocolate, apple cider and freshly baked cookies. And like Minna pointed out, I hope this will be the start of an annual christmas tradition.

Stay tuned for some pics of the decorated tree!!

Much Love, 

Karen

Winter Sparkles

This post should actually be titled, "because you can't wear skirts and I can't wait to move back to the Tropics!" Sorry for the lack of outfit posts lately but I haven't been wanting to do a photo shoot because it has been too cold here to take photos outside. I did try to take some inside photos but they turned out horribly due to bad lighting etc. So I have now decided that I would take one for team Ruby Tuesday and bear the -11 weather!! 

While the white snow makes for a pretty backdrop, I thought I would add a few props which I have picked up lately at our local thrift store. I got these two sweet vintage suitcases for $2.50 each. I am not sure when I will ever put them to use but I have a dream of using them as decoration in a clothing store that I might one day own. 

Sunglasses: Rayban

Shirt: Zara

Skirt: Zara

Boots: Madewell

Suitcases: Vintage

Aurevoir Mes Cheris,

Karen

Just Because.....

There is nothing better than your husband bringing home a gift just because he loves you. Since we don't have a flower store in our little town, that is currently not really an option. But, last week when we were in the city, Dominic bought me this beautiful bottle of perfume, just because. It has a slight citrus scent with a splash of floral. I usually go for the sweet floral scents, but since it was Dominic's special treat we made a compromise on one that we both liked. And since we tend to spend most of our time together and we therefore will both be smelling it, I figured that was fair.  

Not only does it smell amazing but it looks so pretty on my dresser!!

XOX,

Karen

Zara Evening Collection

Have you seen the new Zara Evening line yet? I couldn't have chosen a better selection of evening wear for the holiday season myself. 

Incorporating the perfect combination of red, black and leopard print, the entire line has a festive yet stylish feeling. With  the rich colors and heavy fabrics, the only accessories you will need are a great pair of black pumps and an amazing shade of red lipstick!!  

Bye For Now,

Karen

Keep Cozy!!

It has been snowy and cold here for days and I have been dreaming of the perfect little fire place to keep our little Swedish abode warm and cozy!! I think any of these would be perfectly amazing in our house!!

source

source

Stay Warm,

Karen

The Tuque

Tuque: (tūk, tyūk) n. French Canadian word signifying a knitted woolen cap

I am proud that Canada proclaims itself as a bilingual country of French and English. Being bilingual not only offers a glimpse into other cultures, but opens up your world and point of view to whole other level. Reducing stereotypes and prejudices, often facilitating the ease of learning other languages, and traveling to far off countries, being bilingual is something we should all strive for. Sadly, the majority of people in Saskatchewan cannot speak both languages which is a disgrace to our culture and our bilingual reputation - but this is a whole other topic which I won't get into right now!!).

Although I am one of those poor people who cannot speak French, I do have an appreciation for the language and one day I would love to learn to speak it. For now, one of my favorite French -Canadian words is tuque. Adapted from the French (France) word toque meaning a hat that knocked against the back of your shoulders because it had a long droopy end. Today, the word tuque is widely used throughout Canada referring to a woolen hat that keeps you warm on those cold, snowy, winter days. 

As a Canadian, I think that tuques can be one of our very best accessories in the winter. Since tuques are readily available and relatively cheap, you can have a wide selection of tuques to pair with your other winter gear. And since my winter coat was a bit over budget, I think it will be the only winter coat I am getting this year. However, by changing up the style of tuque, you can change the entire look of the coat, making super versatile and fun. So, here are a few pics of my new coat with three different tuques!!

The Bobble Toque

The Nautical Sailor Tuque

The Faux Fur Cossack Hat (definitely my favorite right now)

Black Tuque: ???

White Tuque: Joe Fresh

Russian Faux Fur Hat: H & M

Coat: Filippa K

Boots: Madewell

Hugs and Kisses,

Karen

Shoe Clips

Arent these shoes clips from Ban.do great. I think they will look lovely with the new pair of black pointy toe flats that I have been searching for. I can picture these with a fun cocktail dress at a Christmas party!!

Hugs and Kisses,

Karen

Baby Its Cold Outside!!!

My number one goal of our Portland/Vancouver trip was to hunt down and purchase the perfect winter coat. Since Dominic and I are moving east in January to the rainiest of rainy climates, I wanted a warm and cozy yet stylish wool coat. 

While my search in Portland was unsuccessful (although I did see some amazing coats they were all wayyyy out of my price range), I was a bit more hopeful for Vancouver. Since I know the city well and have my favorite shopping destinations, I had a hunch were I would find my perfect coat. With a few stops on the way, I headed to Main Street and of course to Eugene Choo!! 

Upon my arrival, I was delighted to see an additional outside space full of winter coats. My day couldn't have got any better. My search was quickly narrowed down to three amazing coats, two of which were A.P.C and one which was Filippa K. Basically it was French vs. Swedish. 

A.P.C Duffle Coat

                        A.P.C Wool Overcoat

Filippa K Wool Coat

I ended up going with the classic Swedish Design Fillipa K. It has a sort of nautical feeling and reminds me of cold and rainy east coast of Canada. But now when I am cold, at least I will look good. Stay tuned to see pics of the new coat. Hopefully I will be able to get some pictures up in a few days!!


Besos,
Karen

XOX,

Karen

Going Green in Portland!

Dominic and I have just arrived home from a whirlwind trip to Portland, Oregon for an Environmental Science conference in which Dominic was presenting some research. It was such a perfect city for this conference because the entire city is sooooo green and environmentally friendly. The wide use of paper bags vs. plastic bags, the free train system and the abundance of bike lanes and biker friendly signs throughout the city was amazing and definitely a model green city. 

And what is more green than vintage clothing. They have the most amazing selection of vintage clothing stores with such a  wide selection of vintage goods. I however did not buy anything vintage as I was more focussed on the fact that there is no sales tax in the entire state. So I went for the big ticket items and bought a pair of amazing J-Brand jeans.  

I thought that the coolest feature of the city was by far the existence of food stalls which are located throughout the city. The options sold out of the food carts are endless with everything from Mexican, to Egyptian, to vegetarian, to Thai. We had a great time sampling as many food carts as we would. My favorite however was the Thai food which was way more authentic and cheaper than anything I have ever had in Canada.

Dominic in all his charm!!

Food Carts!!! Yumm!!

Although I do love good food, clothes are always on my mind. And after doing some research on Portland, I found out about this amazing little cart that rather than food, sold vintage clothing. Taking their cue from Portland's abundant food carts, The Wanderlust Mobile Cart, decided that the next logical step would be to have a stall that sold vintage clothing and hand made goods. Complete with a tiny dressing room and a store full of neat goods, the cart can easily change locations and will be moving through out the country. Although I kept my eye out for the cute little store, I sadly did not end up seeing it. Maybe next time. 

Cheers,

Karen

The Return of The Long John

Living anywhere in Canada, but especially in Saskatchewan, it is extremely important to incorporate warmth into your fall/winter/spring wardrobes. I have finally decided that I have seen way too many girls wearing tank tops, mini skirts, and pumps, shivering in the blistering cold to not write a small piece about dressing for the weather. And since I am constantly searching for beautiful accessories to keep me warm, I thought I would like to post a short series of my favorite ways to keep warm while looking good at the same time.  Because you shouldn't have to sacrifice your warmth for style.

I wanted to start with these super cool long underwear. Designed by Sara Torrie, a Canadian designer based out of Toronto, who, in search of her own long underwear, began crafting long underwear from recycled cashmere and merino wool sweaters.  The result of her endeavors are a versatile line of colorful, warm, comfortable and stylish long johns which can be worn underneath your clothes or layered under a mini skirt!! The line is currently being sold at Satoria on Etsy so if your interested in buying some be sure to check it out. For more info the line, check out the article in the Georgia Straight.

Adios,
Karen

Ballet Mini!!

I feel like it has been a long time since I have really fallen in love with a piece of clothing!!! That is why I was sooo ecstatic to see this beauty of a skirt. Ballerina inspired, this pink tutu like skirt from Designers Remix Collection is definitely on my Christmas Wish List!!




Much Love, 
Karen

Frosty Flowers

There is a recurring conversation that we have with some of our friends in which we all think that we were actually born and destined to live on a different continent in a different climate. It is in this alternative location, that one can be the best they can be, live their life to the fullest and be completely satisfied and inspired by their surroundings. 

Being sort of gypsy spirited, I feel like I may belong in two or more different continents. I love the summers in Saskatchewan, but as soon as the first snowfall comes (which was last week), I am ready to head out on an adventure to somewhere new, exciting and most of all hot. This way, you get the best of both worlds!! 

This year however we are not heading anywhere hot since we are moving to the East Coast of Canada in January. So it looks like I am going to have to brave the cold, Saskatchewan winter - at least until January!!! But, it is nothing that a cute sweater, some tights and some boots can't fix. 

Sweater: Joe

Skirt: Mango

Boots: Madewell

Ciao for now,

Karen