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 layer my Uniglo light weight down items. Coat is over vest. I add a merino ski turtleneck, and a wicking tee shirt with long sleeves.
I do this when I travel, as it’s more versatile.
My knee length down puffer from Tahari works in chilly windy San Francisco, it has a huge hood, and is wind proof.
So glad you are enjoying your new apartment in Vancouver. I’m sure your daughter is thrilled to finally have you close, even though it is not full-time. I LOVE the Avene Milky Cleanser. I have been using for several years and it aids in keeping my skin clean and moist in the winter. I think you will like it.
Thanks Christi. I’ve tried a few Avene products and I do love then.
What a lovely little boy!!!
I like down coats and parkas, but mine are not puffers. I have a really light weight jacket from REI that is super warm. Coats don’t have to be fat to keep us dry and warm.
Agreed
I Feel your pain …. I started taking all natural Golden revive , a year ago for my joint knee pain after getting shots in my knee . Since then my pain has decreased 90% and dr says i can avoid surgery .no shots for a year and no pain meds and im 76 . https://shop.upwellness.com/pages/golden-revive-plus so im a fan
Its all natural so i think its worth it .
Love puffer longer coats with hoods for showers and cold . I like the lite wt ones and i layer too .
Your grandson is gorgeous !
Comgrats
That sounds like a great product. I do take most of those seperatly so perhaps I need to up my dose of curcumin.
Your new grandson is beautiful!! Such a sweet blessing for Christmas!
Thank you Pam. Sending healing thoughts your way my friend! xox
Jennifer- congrats on new grandson!!
I need what brow product you use. I usually get what face products you show & I cannot read what brand my brow tube is . Pls help… Thank you!
I used this Anastasia Brow Wiz pencil in taupe.
Your grandson is adorable! I have a new great granddaughter in Iowa. Unfortunately. We live in Colorado. I will just have to snuggle my cat Molly and our new rescued 9 year old Havanese dog. She has been with us 5 weeks. She is adorable! I have a puffer coat from North Face, a knee length coat from LL Bean with faux fur around my hood, very warm and jacket length from LandsEnd. Try layering one of your cashmere sweaters and a cardigan under your puffer coat. Here in Colorado we live in layers. It was 29 this morning and now 45 and sunny. The workers are working even with inch of snow on the path. We are getting artificial pet turf around and in back of our patio!
Wow, that is cold!
Your grandson is simply precious. I live in Nebraska so we get quite cold in spurts. My problem is I hate wearing coats in the car, I just get too hot. So I can be found wearing 2 or 3 layers that I can add or remove. I have a puffer that I added this year, but it will be worn for extended times outdoors only😇
During a winter visit in Utah, I decided warm was more important to me than looking like a puff ball. I have an EF puffer coat that has served me well.
I love my Lands End packable puffer coat I’ve had for many years. Recently I tore a small rip in the sleeve. I don’t know how it can be fixed as some of the stuffing will come out if I wash it. So, just ordered another on the Black Friday 60% off sale!
FYI, I had a torn sleeve also on my puffer coat. My coat came with a little bag the same color as the coat so a local seamstress used the bag and was able to patch the tear….i can’t even tell where the patch is.
Just a suggestion for those aches in your hips & all others. Aquafit is very helpfu since there is no stree on the joints. I feel better everywhere when I do Aquafit two or three times a week.
Thanks Nancy
Hi Jennifer – I’m in Vancouver and have dry, reactive/sensitive skin. For the face, Avene moisturizers are lovely. I can highly recommend LaRoche Posay Toleriane Sensitive and Vichy Aqualia Riche moisturizers for the face also. For the body (and sometimes for slathering my face overnight), I like LaRoche Posay Lipikar AP+M Baume or Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume. I buy both in the 500mL size. I also buy 500g size of Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream or CeraVe Moisturizing Cream in the 500g (1lb) jars. I had chemo and radiation awhile back and had no skin problems at all using these products. Many of these are still on sale today on Amazon.
Thank you so much, Shaza! Things that don’t irritate my skin is so important with my rosacea. I’ve heard great things about the Bioderma brand as well.
As an eczema/rosacea sufferer, I can testify to the efficacy & sensitivity of all the brands suggested by Shaza. My favorite is La Roche Posay as I layer their mineral tinted sun block over the Toleraine. All is good.
Puffer coats are the best for super-cold weather. I live in Southern California, but I wish weather. I have two puffer coats. One is by Land’s End and hits mid-thigh, and the other is by Uniqlo and hits mid-calf. I love both and wear both a lot. Which one is based on event and temperature. I wear the shorter one more casually, and usually take the longer one on business trips as it provides more protection. With boots, the longer one provides a lot of warmth. I really like Uniqlo’s HeatTech tees and leggings to wear under my clothing for a bit more warmth. Wishing you and all your family a great holiday season!
I will check them out. I love the sound of these. Boots are on my agenda too:)