Snow Day

Posted on by barbara solomon

Okay winter. Calm down.
The weather in Toronto over the next few days is filled with snow to blanket the city and slow down what is suppose to be a busy week.

We leave on our first family vacation in one week and I cannot wait to escape. I typically can handle the cold temperatures fairly well (1, 2, 3,) and feel confident driving in the snow (I’ve always invested in the best winter tires) but now, with Sterling, it’s harder to prioritize leaving the house when conditions are bad. Meaning we’ve been home bound for a while over the last few weeks. So I’m looking forward to spending time outside while showing my son one of my favourite cities and spending time with my grandparents.

But first, there are a lot of planning to do for this vacation, and my number one plan for success is giving myself the most amount of time to do every task, especially on travel days.

Sterling and I traveled to Miami last year, when he was a few weeks old around the same time, but he was a newborn and only the essentials were necessary to bring along. This time he has a pretty good, yet flexible, routine. Lately, he’s become more picky with food, but he definitely has his favourites so I can plan and make sure I’m prepared.

I’ve already started pack, like 3 weeks out. I started with Sterling, checking out this spring wardrobe I’ve been building for a while now. I picked up a few shorts, bathing suits and new shoes which will give us more than enough for him, plus I’m sure I’ll be hitting up a Target upon arrival.

I also began trying on my summer stuff and didn’t love most of what I have. It’s been about a year and a half since I’ve bought non-pregnancy clothes and the few pieces I did buy this summer are probably the ones coming. So I also picked up a few things that I’m excited to wear and show you.

So, until next week when #theNegins escape to Miami, I’ll be hibernating, making lists and packing while trying to get over this cold.

Puffer: Lacoste, Sweater: Zara, Pants: from my grandmother, Boots: Uggs (old but similar), Glasses: C/O Clearly

Smarter Shopping

Posted on by barbara solomon

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I never thought I’d say this, but I’m exhausted from shopping. Over the last 5 years since my blogging career started, and truthfully long before that, I’ve accumulated and discarded so much clothing that I can’t even begin to understand my purchasing decisions that I’ve been making. I’ve always tried to rationalize this bad habit, by distributing my old clothing to my friends and family, who were always happy to accept my barely worn pieces.

But recently something has changed for me. I’ve found myself no longer drawn to the world of fast fashion, but to higher end pieces, that at the rate I shop would bankrupt me quickly. So I’ve slowed down my shopping, and instead of getting the fast fashion version of a piece, I’ve saved a bit longer and really thought about the purchase before investing in the designer’s collection. I’m not saying that I won’t shop at accessible stores, but my frequency of shopping will be limited to allow for smarter decisions to be made.

How have your shopping habits changed recently? Let me know if you’ve also seen a switch to shop smarter and invest in higher quality pieces.

Halter: Diane Von Furstenberg, Pants: Fabiana Filippi, Shoes: Pierre Hardy, Frames: C/O Main & Central (by Clearly.ca)

Everybody Knows

Posted on by barbara solomon

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It’s spring time in Toronto and everybody knows that the one place to go at the end of April-to-early May is High Park to try to snap some beautiful shots of the Cherry Blossoms. Trevor and I explore High Park as often as possible, as the trails are simply beautiful and even when the main attraction (the Cherry Blossoms) aren’t in full bloom there is so much magic to discover there.

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With the cooler weather this year, I’ve found myself living in denim. I can’t seem to get myself into the season’s dresses and skirts, so jeans has been my go-to staple these last few weeks.

When dressing up this essential, I’ve found myself always looking for statement coats to really add that something special to my rather basic outfit. This collared-floral coat by Diane Von Furstenberg (which I have the matching dress for) is the perfect nod to the cherry blossom season and the right weight for these confusion spring days.

Coat: Diane Von Furstenberg, Denim: Marc Jacobs, Tank: Helmut Lang, Boots: Timberland, Hat: Lack of Color, Frames: Clearly.ca
Photography by 2Boo Studio