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http://barbaraannsolomon.com
Mon, 08 Jul 2019 14:44:30 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.21http://barbaraannsolomon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/cropped-main-and-central-32x32.jpgCollab – BARBARA ANN STYLE BLOG
http://barbaraannsolomon.com
3232Has style became secondary
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/07/has-style-became-secondary/
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/07/has-style-became-secondary/#respondSun, 07 Jul 2019 17:20:36 +0000http://barbaraannsolomon.com/?p=7047Motherhood has changed me in ways I never expected.
I never thought that I’d live in jeans for the simple fact that I spend most of my day on the floor (and they have pockets). But life with a one-and-a-half year old and an active dog has made practical fashion seems to be winning day-in and day-out.
And that’s not to say that I’m not following trends and playing with colours, prints and patterns like I always do. But dare I say, my outfits do seem to be “toned-down” this year vs. years past.
I also find myself shooting content more regularly, but not often sharing the details or styling choices behind it. Because in my mind the choices have been, “we were going to the park, it was hot, and I only had one clean bra.”
And thus the title of the post: has style (as a subject matter) become secondary (for me)?
I truthfully hope not, as the reason I’m in this blogging game is to share my passion for fashion and styling, but we’ll see, as the summer season is made for shooting, hopefully I’ll get more quality time to spending sharing my thoughts and takes on the current trends.
Here is a great spontaneous shoot we did in the early spring. To stay up to date with what I’m wearing make sure to be following me on Insta.
Some thoughts about this look Since early spring, I’ve been living for beige and tonal neutrals. There is something lovely about the natural hue that matches so well with my predominately pastel wardrobe (and hair).
Sterling and I have both lived in our denim coats last season. Mine, gifted to me from Joe Fresh, is oversized, pastel and basically made out of dreams. Sterling’s jacket was found at a maker’s market last year, during the very early days of Baby Shark, and was hand-painted on the back of an up-cycled coat by artist Natalie Daye of Big Blue Denim. I instantly fell in love and predicted how much Sterling would love sharks.
So until I’m back spending my days in an office, I think my style will have a touch of “practical motherhood” sprinkled throughout.
On Sterling: Jacket: Natalie Daye, Romper: Gap, Shoes: Minimoc On Barbara: Jacket: c/o Joe Fresh, Shirt: Target, Pants: Topshop, Shoes: Coach, Sunglasses: c/o Clearly, Necklaces: Van Der Hout Jewelry
]]>http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/07/has-style-became-secondary/feed/0Toddler Toys
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/05/toddler-toys/
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/05/toddler-toys/#respondMon, 06 May 2019 16:48:27 +0000http://barbaraannsolomon.com/?p=6078Since becoming a mother in January
2018, there are a few things that have consistently blown my mind. The biggest
being how quickly time moves. It was just earlier this week, when it dawned on
me, that I was pregnant two years ago.
TWO YEARS AGO. How is that possible?
Sterling is 16 months now, taking
about 10-15 steps on his own and ready to explore new things each day. He and I
spend our days together and are currently exploring options of childcare, but
in the meantime, Trevor and I have prioritized him having a growing library of
books, toys, tools and crafts to engage and stimulate his developing mind.
So when buybuy BABY reached out to share their amazing assortment of indoor, outdoor, creative, and educational (STEM) toys and activities from our favourite brands (at every budget) I jumped at the opportunity to spoil Sterling. Although this post is sponsored by buybuy BABY all opinions are 100% my own.
Having Sterling born so early in the year (January 4th), I find his developmental stages change with the season. As we approach spring, he’s all about moving and being outside, which is convenient because I am as well. The Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Sports Car has definitely been a winner as the weather has been warming up. We’ve gone cruising around our neighbourhood thanks to the push handle allowing me to have full control. Sterling absolutely loves playing with this stylish car in our home too, and practices getting in and out. I love that this toy can also grow with him as there is a removable floor to give him control once he’s ready.
We also picked up the Happy Trails Walk and Ride-On Giraffe to encourage movement around our home. I love to watch Sterling’s development, coordination and balance while pushing and scooting on this adorable wooden toy. Sterling is currently mastering backing up and navigating around Taco.
As a designer myself,
sparking Sterling’s interests in the different types of art is one of my
favourite parts of parenting. He’s been drawn to music since day one, probably
because I walked around singing every day of his life and my entire pregnancy.
The Hey! Play! Acoustic Toy Guitar has been fun for the whole family to play with, Trevor “tuned” it and I’ve been walking around playing everything from The Beatles to Baby Shark. Sterling likes to pick the cords while hitting the base to a beat. Instruments as toys, introduced at an early age will hopefully ignite a life-long passion for music and the preforming arts.
As Trevor and I are photographers, our collection of cameras is pretty big and growing. Knowing that Sterling will grow up around cameras, we started his collection of toy versions pretty early. Again, hoping to spark interest.
I love the nostalgic feeling of this Fisher Price Classics Changeable Disc Camera, that is an updated version of the 1968 original. So far Sterling has only figured out the pressing of the button, and has yet to discover the adorable pictures that can be seen through the viewfinder. The camera comes with three discs, which are filled with images from animals to nursery rhymes to stories.
We also picked up the Hey! Play! Montessori Wooden Math Game, which teaches STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) basics. With wooden pegs and colour tiles and stacking rings, the game teaches children to count, sort and stack. This is another toy that will continue to grow with Sterling and so far, he’s at the stage where he’s arbitrarily stacking the rings and sorting them across the pegs.
Probably Sterling’s favourite and most used item we picked up from buybuy BABY was his new Sweet Seats Shark Chair. His face lit up the first time he sat down in it. He can usually be found lounging in it while flipping through his books, cuddling with a stuffed animal or snacking on Cheerios. I think he really likes having a spot just him.
Over these next few months as we move into the warmer weather of spring and summer, I can’t wait to see how much more Sterling learns and develops. These toys and activities from buybuy BABYshould ignite his interests, creativity and thirst for discovery. Each day as he takes his tiny steps forward, it feels like leaps and bounds as he discovers the world around him.
]]>http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/05/toddler-toys/feed/0Traveling with a one year old
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/04/traveling-with-a-one-year-old/
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/04/traveling-with-a-one-year-old/#commentsTue, 02 Apr 2019 01:19:27 +0000http://barbaraannsolomon.com/?p=6012
At the end of last month, our family escaped the never-ending, shitty winter weather, to beautiful Miami for two weeks. And I’ve got to tell you, it was probably one of the healthiest decisions we’ve made as a family in a long time.
Winters are hard for everyone, but I think it’s especially hard for those who work from home or spend their days raising little ones. Between the cold and winter storms, being trapped inside for months can feel isolating, so this escape was very much needed. The weather for each of the days we were there was 27 degrees and sunny.
We split our trip into two sections, the first 5 days we stayed at the beach in a newly built hotel and then for the next 10 we were with my grandparents.
Last year, Sterling and I came down (I shared about my trip with a 7 week old, traveling alone, here) but as my grandparents weren’t there, I knew this trip would be much more special. I also thought it was really magical that the ages of the people on this trip are Sterling: 1, Trevor and I: 31, my grandparents: 91. 1, 31, 91. A truly special trip.
Flights We planned our flights around nap-times and found great success with Sterling. Our flight to Florida departed at around 6pm, and although Sterling didn’t sleep on the 3 hour flight he was easy and calm due to the late hour. The minute we landed he fell asleep in our ErgoBaby until we picked up our rental car. On the way home, we arrived at the airport at 10am for our 1pm flight, and Sterling made some friends with the people around us, and passed out on top of his dad until we landed.
Hotel We spent the first 5 nights about a 20 minute drive away from my grandparent’s place in Aventura, at the newly built Costa Hollywood Beach Resort. We decided on this resort for a few reasons: • their proximity to the beach and boardwalk • A full kitchen. As Sterling goes in and out of picky stages with food, preparing and having essentials on-hand is key • A separated living space and bedroom. Sterling is a great sleeper but goes to bed around 8pm, so having a space for us to be in was key
The location was truly amazing. A 1 minute walk to the beach where you could spend your days on the touristy but family-friendly Hollywood Boardwalk which is lined with restaurants, ice cream shops and little stores. On the Friday and Saturday nights, most of the restaurants had live music and the streets were filled with people.
The hotel staff were friendly and knowledgeable about local restaurants as well as the area. Our room was great, very modern and sleek. I did a room tour and it’s saved to my Miami 2019 Highlight on Instagram. They also had a small breakfast available each morning, which was great because croissants are key for Sterling and coffee is mandatory for this mama and both were delicious.
Food The first few days Sterling had a hard time adjusting to the break of routine around meal time. So we focused on simple meals and invested in an Ikea highchair so he could sit properly with us during family meals, and almost immediately he started eating better.
We didn’t really go out to eat much so unfortunately we didn’t hit many of the spots on our must-eat list, but rather ate where it was convenient. Feel free to DM me on IG or leave a comment if you want more details of the spots we did go to.
For Sterling, we brought a bunch of his favourite food pouches PC Organic Banana Kiwi Strained Baby Food and once we got to my grandparent’s we made his regular smoothies for meal times, which consist of blueberries, bananas, peanut, nut or seed butter, yoghurt and whatever else we have on hand, like spinach or strawberries.
Overall, traveling with a baby (almost toddler) is never going to be easy, but being flexible with your schedule and rules can allow for a painless trip. I really enjoyed the extended time-off, typically vacations are one-jammed-pack-week of sight-seeing and activities, but this trip to Miami for 15 days, meant that we could keep each day light and enjoyable.
]]>http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/04/traveling-with-a-one-year-old/feed/12018: Year in review
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/01/2018-year-in-review/
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/01/2018-year-in-review/#respondThu, 03 Jan 2019 21:45:12 +0000http://barbaraannsolomon.com/?p=5908I knew that going into 2018, it was going to be a very different year. I was 38 weeks pregnant as we started the year and were just finalizing the final details and meetings before #babyNegin was to join the party, and then Sterling decided to come early. He was born January 4th, and I’ll be working on a post discussing what I’ve learned in my first year of motherhood, but first I wanted to flash back on some of my blog highlights this year.
When I did shoot, I tried my best and feel confident, but it wasn’t a year where I felt my best. I struggled with my health; recovering from both pregnancy and injury, back-to-back. So when my confidence was at its lowest, I pushed myself to face fears. This year I shot basically naked and allowed others to take control of my image. I quickly realized that shooting my own content for the past 6 years, meant I’ve always had the final say of which pictures were release or shared. Giving up that up wasn’t easy, but I’m learning to enjoy the process of releasing that control.
Another post I have coming up is one about my goals for 2019. It will be another year of changes and transitions and I’m excited to get started on this exciting chapter. Leave a comment and let me know if there is anything you’d like to see on the blog, as I change things up.
]]>http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2019/01/2018-year-in-review/feed/0Sweater Season
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/12/sweater-season-2/
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/12/sweater-season-2/#respondThu, 13 Dec 2018 17:59:50 +0000http://barbaraannsolomon.com/?p=5869As soon as the temperatures begins to dip in mid-September, I get excited to pull out my sweaters and begin layering them to stay cozy on those cool early fall nights. As we are now in mid-December, most days I’m rotating between chunky knits, oversized cardigans and soft turtle necks.
So when UNIQLO reached out to share their new collection of sweaters I jumped at the opportunity to try them on and style them for the season. Although this post is sponsored by UNIQLO all opinions are 100% my own.
What I look for in my knitwear is very specific and I always gravitate to whites and cream knits, (I have around 10 white[ish] sweaters that I love). It’s likely because they are so easy to style with any print, pattern and colour. I’m obsessed with the texture and cut of this 3D Lambswool sweater, that has the perfect V-neck in the front and a mini one in the back and cocoons out in shape allowing it to be ideal for layering.
For the past few years, I’ve lived in turtle necks. Tight and tucked-in or oversized and chunky; turtle necks are one of the ideal cuts for sweaters. And it was love at first sight when I tried on this fineMerino wool turtle neck. The fabric is super soft, fine and fitted but not too tight.
After wearing it twice, I downloaded the new UNIQLO CA App, picked it up in two more colours and had them shipped directly to my door. I’ve worn it tucked into jeans and track pants, under overalls and dresses and layered with a chunky cardigan for a sweater on sweater look. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve seen me in them via my stories and feed for the last month or so.
With the holiday season officially starting, a great way to take knitwear into a more formal setting is with a sweater dress. Because knitwear could add a little bulk, I like to keep things more fitted when it comes to dresses allowing the material to hug your curves. This Extra Fine Merino Wool dress is a great fit and flare cut, making it super flattering. I added simple statement earrings to help highlight the mock turtle neck, adding a touch of glam to the look.
Having cozy and effortless basics to turn to makes getting dressed in the dark easier and the luxurious knits at UNIQLO are going to continue to be the go-to piece for the upcoming winter season.
Sweater, Turtle neck and dress: UNIQLO Canada, Glasses: Clearly.ca
Jacket & Pants: Banana Republic, Boots: Zara, Jeans: Target, Shawl (actually a blanket): Vintage, Shoes: Nicholas Kirkwood for Erdem
]]>http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/12/sweater-season-2/feed/0Good Enough to Eat
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/11/good-enough-to-eat/
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/11/good-enough-to-eat/#respondSun, 04 Nov 2018 16:57:53 +0000http://barbaraannsolomon.com/?p=5775
There’s nothing quite like the soft, delicate skin of a baby. And using the right products to protect and nurture Sterling’s skin has been one of our main concerns.
I have yet to invest in green beauty for myself, but I did want to start my son on the right path, using products that are as natural as possible, especially since a baby’s skin absorbs so much. So when my friends at West Coast Kids introduced me to one of their favourite brands Shoosha Truly Organic, I quickly became obsessed with a line of products with ingredients that are so pure and organic you can actually eat them.
Because soap always end up getting in baby’s eyes and mouth while in the bath, Shoosha ensured that their line was made from USDA Certified Organic food grade ingredients, like Calendula, Coconut and Sunflower Oil, so it’s not only gentle and hydrating on sensitive skin but it’s also tear-free.
Sterling absolutely loves bath time and now I do too, knowing that I’m using the purest products for his soft skin. Thank you Shoosha Truly Organic and West Coast Kids for partnering with me on this post.
Real talk. This summer was rough. As some of you know (if you follow me on IG), I broke my 5th metatarsal on my right foot pretty badly in mid-July and most of my summer dreams were crushed. I wasn’t allowed to swim, long walks were extremely painful, and driving was off-limits due to the cast (a walking one, thankfully). Some days seemed impossible. I tried to make the most of out of my quiet summer and filled my days with Sterling cuddles, picnics, reading and singing to my sweet boy.
Thankfully, now that Sterling is fully on the move, (and I am as well), one of our first big trips out of the house was visiting one of my go-to mommy malls, Hillcrest. I grew up pretty close to Hillcrest Mall located in Richmond Hill and used to love it, but I moved away after high school and hadn’t really been back many times since. But when my girlfriend mentioned that you could get the H&M Mama line there, when I was in search of pregnancy overalls, I ran there ASAP and was shocked to see how much had changed. Hillcrest was had completed about 50% of their renovations at the time and you can see the beautiful new tiles and redesign of the space.
I soon found out that along with some of the newly open shops like Aritzia,Sporting Life and Starbucks, my favourite baby store West Coast Kids would be opening their second Toronto location during summer 2018. And just like that, Hillcrest quickly became my new go-to mall.
When I got invited to preview their new wing earlier this month, I was excited to hear all about the changes and check out what other stores had opened since I’d been there last. We strolled through the whole mall, peeking into stores like Sephora and Miniso and the newly renovated Hudson’s Bay.
As for us mamas, they have all the amenities to make it your most comfortable visit. With nursing rooms, bottle warming service and free diaper kits that are available at their Guest Experience. They also have parent parking available at all of the main entrances which are crucial for the upcoming colder months. And if you need to connect with Guest Experience you can text 226-210-1015 and ask any question.
The new wing is now open and includes a giant Home Sense and Marshalls (which opened last week), and an Indigo and Old Navy that will both open in the next few months. My friends who own the contemporary store Carbon, located just down the hall, just opened this month and has a beautiful assortment of the world’s most relevant brands, catering to men and women of all ages. The Japanese-styled cheesecake sensation, Uncle Tetsu also just opened their doors early and if you haven’t tried the super soft freshly baked cakes you must.
After the tour, I headed back to West Coast Kids to pick up some essentials for Sterling that I’ll be sharing on an upcoming blog post and took in all the beautiful thing that this spacious store has.
The West Coast Kids’ grand opening is coming up and I’ll be sharing the dates and details on my Instagram account and hope you can join me there and check out the new Hillcrest Mall.
]]>http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/10/mama-mall-hillcrest-glowup/feed/1What’s your super power?
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/09/whats-your-super-power/
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/09/whats-your-super-power/#commentsThu, 20 Sep 2018 21:50:12 +0000http://barbaraannsolomon.com/?p=5658I make milk. What’s your super power?
Being a style blogger for the past 6 years, I didn’t realize how much of my closet would change when becoming a mother. There were the obvious changes, like size, and for me it’s been harder than expected to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight as I’ve been suffering from patellar tendonitis on my left knee and for the last 10 weeks a broken right foot, but I’m not putting too much pressure on myself. Though, I think the biggest change was that I’ve needed my clothing to do more.
As a mom, who has exclusively nursed her son for the past 8 months, finding clothing that is nursing-friendly has been a struggle, especially being well-endowed. Many new moms can still adorn their button-up blouses, or many of their pre-baby clothing that allows for easy nursing while on-the-go, but for me this has been impossible.
Luckily, I’ve partnered with the amazing maternity brand Ingrid & Isabel, and have a few key items that have been on serious rotation over the last few months that have allowed for me to discreetly feed my son. Specializing in trendy clothing to take you from your first trimester into your fourth (after baby is born), I became obsessed with their line of dresses and tops and this amazing jumpsuit that make nursing a breeze.
I must be honest, breastfeeding has been one of my favourite and least favourite parts of the last 8 months. I can feel the special time coming to an end as Sterling becomes more dependent on food and he approaches his first birthday. Which makes me feel excited to take back ownership of my body, but also saddens me as I’ll miss the cuddles and closeness that breastfeeding provides.
]]>http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/09/whats-your-super-power/feed/2Babywearing Mama
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/09/babywearing-mama/
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/09/babywearing-mama/#respondFri, 07 Sep 2018 22:08:30 +0000http://barbaraannsolomon.com/?p=5625
As soon as Sterling was born, it became clear to me that I loved baby wearing. The first time I wore Sterling for an extended period of time (more than just being cozy with him at home) was during our flights to and from Miami when he was 7 weeks old. He snuggled into me so closely for those three hours, and since then we’ve both been hooked.
As much as I loved wearing Sterling, it became a necessity for me as the task of taking our puppy, Taco, out for walks fell solely on me. We live in a stacked town home, meaning a lot of stairs, so babywearing became the only way to get a newborn and puppy safely up and down those stairs.
Like most of the essentials for babies, there are so many options, but after buying and trying three different kinds, I’ve ended up using my ring sling by Canadian brand Junior Foxes the most. It was the quickest and easiest method to put him in when he was fussy and allowed me to get things done around the house.
I also fell in love with the fun and fashionable prints on these linen slings and found it nearly impossible to choose one for Sterling, but ended up picking up The Palms from their Classics Collection. The entire collection is based around their owner’s favourite tropical places to travel to.
One of the lessons I hope to teach my son is to shop local and support small businesses. I love that the owner, Milli Fox (follow her on IG for mom-entrepreneur content), a doula by trade, started this company out of her need when she had her adorable son and believes in producing locally and employs home-sewing mamas to carefully craft the Junior Foxes slings.
Do you babywear? If so which is your favourite way?
]]>http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/09/babywearing-mama/feed/0On a Walk with Sterling
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/06/on-a-walk-with-sterling/
http://barbaraannsolomon.com/2018/06/on-a-walk-with-sterling/#commentsSat, 30 Jun 2018 17:28:19 +0000http://barbaraannsolomon.com/?p=5584
As a new mom, I think one of the most important things that helped me feel normal (during a time when nothing feels normal) was getting outside. Having a winter baby, it was easy to get comfortable staying at home and hibernating while getting to know my new bundle of joy, but as the season changed, there was no longer an excuse and it was time to move that bonding time outdoors.
All babies are different and I’m beyond fortunate that Sterling allows me to bring him with me to events, road trips and errands around the city. Having a baby that cooperates with an active lifestyle has proven to be a blessing and the right equipment has been key for when he needs a little extra attention and care.
The essentials for excursions may also differ baby-to-baby, but for Sterling and I, the keys to success has been to have options, sun protection and a plan. I never leave the house without my diaper bag filled with a swaddle blanket for privacy during nursing, either my ring-sling or baby wrap in case he gets fussy and wants to be held, and a handful of outfits for him (and at times an extra one for me).
Probably the most important item for a day on-the-go is a compact and portable, lightweight stroller, like the new MINU by UPPAbaby available at West Coast Kids. I’m so excited to have partnered with UPPAbabyto try the newest stroller to the collection. It has a spacious seat suitable for babies 3 months to 50 lbs, there is also a bassinet attachment available for newborns (From Birth Kit), and the seat has the ability to recline which allows Sterling to fall asleep while we’re on-the-go. (From Birth Kit & Infant Car Seat Adapters available in stores Fall 2018).
But my favourite feature, with this compact stroller is the way that it folds, it’s literally a one-handed smooth movement, that I can do while holding Sterling. Once folded it can stand and can easily be carried using its built-in handle or shoulder strap.
Some of my favourite places to go with Sterling are for walks along the waterfront where we live, for picnic days at Trinity Bellwoods and shopping around downtown on Bloor Street or Queen Street.
He travels so easily in the UPPAbaby MINU stroller, with the all-wheel suspension and a pop-out sunshade to shield his eyes from harmful UV rays that I don’t need to worry about having him tag along during any adventure I’m on. There is also a peekaboo-window which allows for air to flow through during those hot summer days that we’ve been having.
I think that having options available to you is important when it comes to life with a baby. Different things work at different times and a travel stroller, like the UPPAbaby MINU, has been essential for a busy day in the city.
They say “you only get 18 summers with your children”, and with this being our first one with Sterling, I’m looking to making the most out of it as we explore our favourite parts of Toronto with him. Be sure to follow along Instagram, as I share a lot more of our daily adventures using the hashtag #OnAWalkWithTheNegins.