Hi everyone!
Here's a look at what I wore to my first week back at work in 2019!
I'm not going to lie, my first few days back at work this year were rough. January in general is usually pretty quiet for me at work, (which is why I insisted Tony and I go on vacation this month - we leave for Costa Rica tomorrow!), but the first day and half we didn't have access to email so it was really tough to 1. get back into the work mindset 2. try and figure out things to do that didn't involve email! Anyway, I was able to get back into the work mindset and made some good strides the next week, just in time to leave for vacation! LOL
I read this Instagram caption by Bri from DesignLoveFest that really resonated with me: "every year like clockwork I crawl out of the holiday vacation haze and have no idea what i’m doing". Does anyone else feel this way? I keep my work life very separate from my personal life - I don't have work email on my phone except when I travel for work, I don't check work email when I'm not at work and I kind of just turn my work brain off everyday when I leave the gallery. So I think after 10 days of really not thinking about work at all (except for that weird bad dream I had about it over Christmas) it's hard for me to get back into that mindset.
(scroll down for more!)
Fit & Flare Flute-Sleeve Crepe Dress by Old Navy
Tights by Gap
"Bazovica" Leather Loafers by Aldo (old, similar)
Gold Bar Necklace from Etsy
T-Shirt by Old Navy (sold out in this colour)
"Mid-Rise Pixie Ankle" Pants by Old Navy (old colour)
Mules by Town Shoes (old, similar)
Necklace from Etsy
T-Shirt Dress by H&M
Tights by Gap
"Rodney" D'Orsay Suede Flats by Sam Edelman
Contrast Collar Polka Dot Blouse by Forever 21 (old, similar)
"Mid-Rise Pixie Ankle" Pants by Old Navy
Sueded Ankle Boots by Old Navy
Over the break, I was able to publish two blog posts, my Monthly Outfit Roundup for December 2018 and also my Closet Tour! Be sure to sure to check out the Closet Tour video if you've ever wondered how I choose what to wear everyday or how I organize my closet!
I wanted to do a Favourite Outfits of 2018 or a collage of the entire year, but the collage turned out to be a massive file (obviously LOL) and I couldn't get the size to format correctly so that was kind of a bust and then after being in the Okanagan over Christmas Tony and I both got sick and blogging was traded in for hibernating on the couch with You and HGTV.
Other than both getting sick, we had a great holiday! We drove up to the Okanagan on December 22nd and the roads were pretty dry (ie, no snow) and there was barely any traffic (yay for leaving at 2pm!). Tony brought this puzzle to work on and him and my Mum really got into it! It was kind of their thing while having morning coffee and at night after dinner. Often we will get to have a White Christmas in the Okanagan but this year it was dry and sunny! Of course it snowed on Boxing Day LOL. We spent lots of time with my sister and her kids, Tony brought some board games that he taught us all how to play and on Boxing Day night we went to see Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse. We saw my brother and his wife a bunch too, we had dinner with them on Christmas Eve (they have a tradition of doing a seafood dinner so we had King Crab legs) and saw them for Christmas brunch at my sister's and for dinner after Spiderman on Boxing Day. Normally my Mum hosts Christmas dinner but since we were a smaller group this year (two of my cousins and their partners couldn't make it) my aunt offered to host. It was a nice change but so different for us not preparing all afternoon and then cleaning up after everyone leaves! We were at a bit of a loss on what do to with ourselves LOL
For Christmas Tony shopped for me exclusively at Lululemon, which I was not mad about at all! He got me a pair of Align pants (the BEST), a yoga mat, a hot yoga towel and a yoga mat bag (I do hot yoga about once a week). I exchanged the yoga mat for a lighter one and while I was there I bought myself a new pair of Wunder Under Crops to replace a severely pilling pair I've had for years. During the Boxing Week sales I also bought myself a pair of 721 Levi's (thanks Crystalin Marie & Brooklyn Blonde!), and these flats from Steve Madden. I love the colour!! I also ordered these mules from SM but they just emailed me to say they're out of stock, so we'll see. It says they are still available online so I tried re-ordering them!
Also before the holidays Ashley Roberson influenced me to buy these Rag & Bone jeans. As you know, most of what I wear is inexpensive. But I have a weak spot for designer denim and in my experience it is 100% worth it for quality and fit. That doesn't mean I like spending $200 on a pair of jeans, but I will do it every so often if it means they are going to fit like a glove and last for 5+ years. Anyway the jeans were on sale at Nordstrom, I had two gift cards to use and for some reason I was able to get free shipping and didn't have to pay any duties. I usually don't shop at Nordstrom online because of the cost of shipping & duties to Canada (for example, a pair of $95 SM flats at Nordstrom online would cost me another $18 shipping and $28 duties). They arrived a couple of days ago and I am in love! They are the right length for me (I'm 5'3" and this never happens), skinny all the way to the ankle, high waisted but stretchy so they don't dig into your tummy, not too stretchy so they don't bag out. They are definitely going to be my new go-to dark denim. Sorry old J.Brands, I think it's time for you to go!
For Tony's Christmas presents I bought him a Herschel neck pillow (he's excited to try it out tomorrow) and toiletry bag (which we are returning), a set of Ghostbusters meeples, a board game expansion (which he already had - fail) and a wireless charging pad for his iPhone. He was really excited about 3 out of 5 of those things so that's not bad for me! I am usually terrible at buying him Christmas and Birthday gifts whereas Anniversary and Valentines Day I knock it out of the park :)
Anyway, like I said above we are off to Costa Rica tomorrow for two weeks! I don't have any blog posts planned or scheduled for while we are away so it will be quiet on here but I plan on posting lots of vacation pics and videos to Insta Stories if you want to follow along!
Thank you so much for reading!
xo JULES
