Monday Musings: New Traditions, New Style Choices and the Blessings of Family
This weekend has been busy and cold! Living in Northern California for the last 45 years has certainly influenced what I think qualifies as cold weather. I grew up in Toronto and Long Island, where the winters can be brutal, but their temperatures seem like a distant memory for me. I’ve been soaking up the crisp sunny weather in Vancouver these last few weeks, and loving it. I find the change of seasons stimulating, and if you’re dressed properly, it’s just fine to brave the cold!
Thoughts on Puffers
This puffer coat is cozy and perfect for watching my grandson’s chilly baseball games early in the spring, but it doesn’t cut it on a windy November day in Vancouver. It was ok for a walk in Spirit Park on Saturday, but once the the sun began to go down, it offered all the protection of a tee shirt.
I’ve taken note of just how many women and men wear calf-length puffer coats here, and they’re appeal is growing on me.
This Aritzia one comes in lots of gorgeous colors, and for once, I’d prefer it in a color other than black. The combo of shiny, black and oversized is not my fav. I like the soft blue best. Its a sportier look than I usually gravitate to, but I need to be flexible because the first “rule” of dressing is to dress for the occaion and that means weather too.
Puffer coats add bulk to your silhouette so I prefer ones with narrow channel stitching in diagonal or vertical lines which are the most slimming. Those seem to be much harder to find. I’m also seeing lots of these coats with huge hoods which seemed like overkill on first glance, but now seem smart.
MORE PUFFERS ON MY RADAR
My new grandson
My new grandson is on my mind a lot these days. Its been a long time since we had a little baby in this family. And it will make this Christmas all the more special and merry. My son is adapting to the lack of sleep that comes with a newborn, but loving all of the baby snuggles. I’ll be back in California in a few days, and I’m so excited to hold him again. He looks like the perfect combination of my son and daughter-in-law.
Dry Winter Skin
Another thing I have noticed about living in Vancouver these last couple of weeks is how dry my skin is in this wintery climate. The moisturizers I’ve been using at home, like this one from Dermalogica just isn’t enough on its own. My daughter has confirmed that the winter brings dry skin, especially for your face and hands. She recommends this very gentle Avene moisturizing balm for sensitive reactive skin. I’m going to have to up my moisture game.
Walking, walking, walking
My husband and I have noticed that our city lifestyle has an unanticipated health benefit, which is that we are walking much more than usual! Our phones track our every move, and our daughter showed us that by pulling up the Health app on our iphones, we could see how many steps we were taking. What we found was that without trying, we have DOUBLED our typical steps per day. I’m now averaging 12,000 steps per day in Vancouver. Most of that is just walking around… to stores, in our neighbourhood, out for dinner, to the theatre, etc. And lets be clear… I feel this in my hip. I recently learned I have tendonistis in my left hip, bilateral hip osteoarthritus and chronic acetabular labral degeneration (not fun).
Holiday Cheer
This weekend we helped our daughter put up her Christmas tree in her darling little apartment. I thought it was very special, because I’ve never been able to do that with her before. She’s lived up here for twenty years without family nearby, and I feel very blessed to be able to spend this time with my girl. You may remember this pug ornament I bought her last Christmas to commemorate the passing of her companion, sweet Honeypug. It was so special to be there and find a spot for Honeypug’s ornament on the tree.
Have you started any of your holiday decorating yet?
I am looking for a winter coat for our visits to Pennsylvania from South Carolina but I cannot wear down I am allergic to feathers. I did find a puffer jacket made with recycled plastic bottles in Nordstrom but it is almost too warm, will try again this year to look for a long coat. Enjoy your Christmas and have a blessed New Year. Thank you for all your ideas.
Another option is Land’s End ‘Women’s Insulated Cozy Fleece Lined Winter Coat’ which has 100% recycled REPREVE® insulation (up to 14 recycled plastic bottles per coat!) instead of feathers/down. I have one and purchased another for my DIL. Both of us love them. I’m a shorty, so the XSP fits perfectly and the XS fits her well with a bit longer arm length. Super soft/cozy/fuzzy lining and wonderfully feminine styling with the diagonal shaping on top and bottom. Speaking of bottoms, this is a perfect length covering our backsides, without walking limitations (long coats can be cumbersome). We both get loads of compliments!
Precious little grandson and beautiful daughter. Enjoy both as much as you can. I have started decorating but have much more to do.
Aww So sweet! I could sit and cuddle a little one all day.
When picking a warmer coat, think rain for waterproofing, and wind for a hood that tightens. I walk every morning no matter the weather so I never buy outerwear without a hood and one that will not blow off my head. I keep my puffer coats to just above my knees for ease of walking while still keeping my thighs dry. The super warm ones are too hot for our milder Canadian winters so pick carefully.
Good advice, Joanna!
Here in Colorado we tend to go for shorter coats and warmer pants, for ease of movement. Wind-resistent fabric is key! Love your grandson’s photo and that darling little upturned sleep-smile.
Oh you now know why I have several puffer coats living here in Victoria on the Westcoast of Canada! My later mother said they were like wearing a duvet! My warmest is made by Columbia and is down filled. It is very warm and keeps me from shivering on my walks.
Most women I know who walk regularly own a puffer coat. I look forward to seeing how you will adapt your wardrobe for our foggy, wet and often windy weather!
Enjoy your week!
Leslie
Hostess of The Humble Bungalow
Being by the water does make it seem chillier too. Happy Monday Leslie!
Enjoy your beautiful, precious daughter and the time of Christmas love. Please keep inspiring your readers to “keep our game up”
Love and peace,
diane
Happy Monday Diane!
I really love puffer coats with hoods. I’m too short to wear a long one but I have many in regular length. I hear you about your hip. Ever since Covid my husband and I have been walking every day and I developed inflammation in my hip. I had to take some strong antiinflammatories for awhile along with heat and ice. It still wakes me up at night. I average 12000 steps a day too. We have our tree up and decorated. Christmas comes and goes in no time so I like to enjoy it early.
I’m sorry to hear about your hip! It’s so painful. During Covid, I left our tree up until the end of Jan just to enjoy the cheeriness of the lights.
Your grandson is so sweet!! It must be hard to be away from him for even a day👶🏻 have a wonderful visit with him just soaking in all those snuggles
Couple of comments:
Congratulations on your baby! Such a blessing!
After having a knee replacement in July, my PT taught me lots of hip strengthening exercises. I don’t guess I had ever seriously thought about how it all fits. I am in the best shape I have been in for over 20 years after working with a very skilled PT.
Started wearing a Michael Kors puffer several years ago from Macy’s . I am now on my 3rd one. I have several lengths and weights, several brands. I got over it adding weight when I started traveling with it in the small bag that I could attach to my purse handle. I live in Houston and don’t wear my heavy coats but a couple of days a year.
Congrats on your new knee! I’m needing a PT to help me with this. There’s always something!
Your new grandson is beautiful! And precious! And sweet! Enjoy every minute of being a grandmother – it’s the best “job” you’ll ever have! 💙💙💙
It sure is
glad you enjoy the city, but the hip situation sounds painful. hope there is something that will help you. Your grandson is gorgeous!
Je vous trouve merveilleuse,douce et affable .Votre famille semble chaleureuse et unie .
Quel bonheur d’avoir un nouveau né a la maison !
Je n’ai qu’une seule petite -fille ,Clara ..Elle a 24ans et travaille comme chef de projet chez Hermès a Paris .Et moi je vis a 800km d’elle ,en Provence .
J’aime beaucoup votre blog ,qui vous ressemble.
Bonnes fêtes à vous et votre famille
Thank you so much!! Provence is such a gorgeous place to live. Happy holidays!
You can be grateful for so much, Jennifer. Your new grandson is precious and will be a perfect addition to your holiday celebrations.
I’ve been looking for a lifestyle blogger for urban living in colder climates. No kidding. While I learn so much by the “over a certain age”
lifestyle bloggers I follow, all seem to be in suburban, mild climates- which is not my lifestyle. So, imagine how excited I was to read a post about longer, warmer coats!
Lol! That’s fun. Happy Monday Susan. We’re enjoying city life so it’ll be fun to go back and forth.
Congratulations on your new grandson! Enjoy those snuggles .
I have ornaments for three of my pets who have crossed the rainbow bridge! It brings back such great memories to recall the love they brought to my life! I love the pug ornament!
Your grandson is adorable! How wonderful you will get to be with him and your family at Christmas. Also, I know it means the world to your daughter to have you there with her!
Happy holidays!
That’s so sweet Denise. Our little pets do give so much love during their short time with us.
My goodness, your new grandson is so adorable. No wonder you are eager to hold him. Now the tug of both spots on your heart. More traveling but with the new apartment it will be easier. I enjoyed your lovely chatty post.
The tug is huge but little apartment will make it so much easier than having to stay in a hotel!! Happy Monday.
I walk too and live in New England so everything you write us do very true! My 2-3 miles a day doesnt take me close to your 12000 steps but enough to maintain my weight under 129 pounds. Since Thanksgiving and baking for my daughters meal, I’ve gone up a tad but hope that wriggles off soon!
It will in no time.Happy Monday Paulette.
Good morning & Happy Hoildays, I like your puffer coat, I use to wearing them when we lived in Woodstock Vermont. LLBean has great puffer coats, they vary in warmth, I have several 😀
I started decorating yesterday, first is the family room, takes all day to do the fireplace mantle which is the width of the room.
Today the living room and yet another fireplace mantle!, tonight m6 husband and I will decorate the tree. Have a wonderful day
🎄🎄🎄
That sounds so fun!! I need to do my mantle (a small one) when we get home this week.
Congratulations on your adorable grandson! Love your walking outfit even though it didn’t keep you warm. I’ve finished my gifts and going to start wrapping as for decorating we wait until December 1st but so many have had the Christmas decorations up early this year. I thin we all need some cheer. Have a great day everyone.
I think you’re right about needing the cheer. I saw trees up earlier than ever this year.
My favorite winter coats for Vancouver come from Lands End. Actually for anywhere – I live in Alberta and we know cold. I wear a different warmth level in Alberta than I do in Vancouver but wind proof is still important to me
This Lands End one I have is perfect for California so maybe I should check out other lengths and weights. The quality is wonderful!