Top 10 Favourite Purchases of 2021

Wow, what a journey this year has been. Like many, my year was spent on the rollercoaster of despair, hope, and anxiety, influenced by the uncertainty the pandemic continues to wreak on our lives.

As we end year 2 of this , there were some items that I found that helped to ease the anxiety and lean into the hope that this year provided. Self-care, home nurturing, events and more – each of these things I purchased helped make this year easier for me, and why I share them with you.

In no particular order, here are ten of the items I purchased and loved this year.

1. Athleta Altitude Tight in Polartec Power Stretch

If I’m being totally honest, I picked these Athletia tights up on a whim before this year’s Columbus Marathon as soon as I saw the temperatures were going to plummet the day of the race. I’m so glad I did. They’re warm, comfortable, and block the wind – they kept me toasty outdoors cheering on runners for 5+ hours on Marathon morning. I’m pumped I’ll have these for my outdoor walks in January/February.

2. GHD 2” Max Styler 2-Inch Wide Plate Flat Iron

Back to the office this year meant back to styling my hair and I knew I needed to upgrade my hair tools. After quizzing my hair stylist for her favourite brands, she recommended I try GHD (thanks Melissa!), and a Nordstrom sale later I picked this one up. The wider width is perfect for my thick hair, leaving it straight and shiny in just minutes, perfect for my (always) hectic mornings.

3. Supergoop Glowscreen/Tula Protect & Glow

Like many during the pandemic, I ditched Foundation as part of my makeup routine. Because it was my source for my daily SPF, suddenly I needed to find sunscreen to wear that wasn’t the sport version I use on the weekends. These two sunscreens are the perfect replacement, fantastic primers underneath concealer and liquid or cream blush/bronzer, and the glow they provide makes you lit from within. I love Glowscreen in the summer when I’m sporting a bit more colour, when the weather dips Protect & Glow’s transparency works fabulous with my paler skin tone.

Cheesin’ with my new CR-V Hybrid (old CR-V in the back!)

4. 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid

I’m laughing that a purchase of this size is alongside sunscreen and leggings, but I really did just replace my old Honda CR-V for a new, more environmentally friendly version this year. And while the new features (leather, satellite radio) are nice to have, it’s the hybrid engine that put this purchase in the top 10. It’s a dream to drive in downtown city traffic – it zipped around downtown Toronto like a breeze. I find myself avoiding freeways where I can to keep my gas mileage high, having not yet dipped below 35 mpg since owning it. Shout out to Mo, my awesome dealer agent, for a smooth-sailing purchase experience.

5. Tickets to Arts performances

It was soul feeding to experience live music, art and theatre again this year. Admittedly, most of the performances I saw this year I purchased tickets for in 2019, but actually being able to redeem them provided some much-needed culture and was healing I new I was needing. From Alanis to Fiddler, Warhol to Van Gogh, gosh it was so great to experience live art again.

6. Loeffler Randall Marine Shoulder Bag

Thanks to COVID, I’m still trying to master the art of the schlep, making sure I have everything a need when leaving this house. This Loeffler Randall bag lets me carry my world on my shoulder and look stylish while doing so. The leather is buttery soft and surprisingly durable, and the interiors allow me to fit things of every shape and size inside it. Mask pouches, hand sanitizer, wallet, glasses, etc – all of it fits and fits with my aesthetic too.

7. HAY PC table lamp

I still remember the now-iconic line that Carrie Bradshaw narrated in the second SATC movie, the one where she talks about cheating on fashion with furniture. While I’m just starting to get some of my pre-pandemic fashion mojo back, my interiors style really started to hone-in this year, stronger than ever. This PC table lamp is part of that style, but also substantial, it anchors a counter in my kitchen for some much needed soft-light now that the nights are ridiculously long. Designed by Danish designers HAY, I love its modern look, it’s touch dimmer, and also its durability, it’s so easy to clean when exposed to those accidental kitchen spills.

8. Boll and Branch Waffle Bed Blanket

I was influenced, I admit it. But for the record, the blanket on my bed I had been using since my first job out of college. The hype is real on this Boll and Branch waffle bed blanket – it’s the perfect light blanket to keep you warm, or cool, on any given night. It’s lightweight, but not too light, long enough on all sides, and has kept its shape beautifully after numerous turns through the washing machine. Bedding is one of those items where you actually notice a huge difference in quality, it this upgrade is so worth the extra good night’s sleep.

9. Meza Rose Wine Subscription

Staying safe and supporting local have been hugely important to me during COVID and this rose wine subscription from Meza Wine Shop checked both of those boxes. More than that, the roses delivered were of AMAZING quality, much better than the variety you’d find at the grocery store. The personal touches were what really made this a fave: included in your hand-delivered box each month was a printout of the origin of each wine, tasting notes, and pairing suggestions, all curated by the small team at Meza. I was super bummed to have to cancel when our return-to-office became a reality, but look forward to ordering my faves again from this local gem.

The Toronto sign in Nathan Philips Square at night

10. Trip to Toronto

Technically this isn’t something tangible to include on this list, but neither were the arts tickets I listed above. Like those tickets, this trip home was therapy for the soul. Previous to August it had been over two years since I’d been home to Canada, the entire trip was emotional starting from the completely empty border crossing, all the way through to stopping for a fast-food fave (Harveys!) on the way back. Some of my favourite purchases from home include stopping at Dillon’s for a bottle of Dill Pickle vodka, picking up butter tarts from Pusateri’s, discovering a new artist at the AGO (Matthew Wong), and relishing in the amazingness that is the Toronto fashion scene (Aritzia, Holt Renfrew, Blu Boho, etc). You never know how much you miss home until you can’t go to it, and boy was I thankful for this trip this year.

 Cheers to 2022 and more great finds along the way!

31 Shoes in 31 Days: Day 17

Shoes have always been a cornerstone of my wardrobe, they’re part of my signature style. As the world starts to open up and we venture out again, I’m sharing a sneak peek into some of my collection, and the story each pair has to tell.

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This morning I was looking back on these entries and started to notice a theme appearing, repetition in the way I style a significant size of my shoe closet. It’s the juxtaposition of masculine and feminine.

There might be no greater way to show this than this next pair I’m sharing – these Botkier Violet Loafers. I have worn these loafers to their almost demise, I reach for them that often. And after reading back to my previous entries, it is so obvious why.

They’re the perfect mashup of masculine and feminine. A patent leather black loafer, topped with an oversized fabric bow on each toe. They work because they’re monochrome, the textures of each tone down the other.

It will be of no shock that I pair these most with ankle-length trousers or denim, but my absolute favourite way to wear these is with a pair of black leggings, an oversized tunic sweater and an oversized blazer. I love how the loafers balance out the blazer and elevate the sweater and leggings.

Botkier Violet Loafer | H&M Tan Teddy Coat (old)

31 Shoes in 31 Days: Day 16

Shoes have always been a cornerstone of my wardrobe, they’re part of my signature style. As the world starts to open up and we venture out again, I’m sharing a sneak peek into some of my collection, and the story each pair has to tell.

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The thing I enjoy most about collecting sneakers is how a pair can go from fresh to iconic with relative ease and become building blocks for a pretty solid sneaker wardrobe.

If I were to suggest a list of sneakers to include for an investment wardrobe, the Nike Cortez would be one of those pairs. Around since the 1970s, they’re nostalgic and current at the same time. Their look is sleek, with the oval-shaped toe and super flattering low-cut ankle, but most importantly, they are ridiculously comfortable.

I love to dress full-on minimalist in my pair, a black t-shirt dress, a white baseball hat, and a crossbody bag, but I also love these with a great pair of denim cutoff shorts and white tee in summer or a pair of leggings and an oversized tunic sweater when the weather gets chillier.

Nike Cortez Sneakers | Toronto Neighbourhood Map Poster

31 Shoes in 31 Days: Day 15

Shoes have always been a cornerstone of my wardrobe, they’re part of my signature style. As the world starts to open up and we venture out again, I’m sharing a sneak peek into some of my collection, and the story each pair has to tell.

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A sequined skirt. Huge statement earrings. The sleekest clutch. Each of us has those extra special pieces in our closet that we pull out for special occasions, occasions both real and aspirational.

But what if we wore our special occasion pieces on regular occasions? That’s the approach I take with these sparkly beauties from & Other Stories.

On their own, they look like something saved for the specialist of occasions, paired with a dress or tuxedo for a night on the town. I love to pull these out for daytime with more modest and masculine clothes – a midi-length long-sleeved dress, a pair of floor-length wide-legged trousers – and always with a thin black sock. The socks provide the extra coverage needed to keep things looking fresh for daytime, and they make the shoes way easier to walk in as well.

Just like they used to say, why save the good china for only special occasions? Why save the fabulous accessories only for a night out? It’s all about celebrating something special every day.

& Other Stories Leather Rhinestone Heel Sandalette

31 Shoes in 31 Days: Day 14

Shoes have always been a cornerstone of my wardrobe, they’re part of my signature style. As the world starts to open up and we venture out again, I’m sharing a sneak peek into some of my collection, and the story each pair has to tell.

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You know that shirt, those pants, even that coat that was a bit out of your comfort zone that you purchased a bit timidly? And now that same item is one of your favourite items in your closet? These shoes are one of those items for me.

The Converse Run Star Hikes were just finishing their first drop when I took the plunge on them, sneakerheads and celebrities were the only ones sporting them when I bit the bullet. Nervous that the thick soles would make my already large feet look huge, I was ridiculously self-conscious that I wouldn’t be able to pull them off. Trust the folks at Converse, the home of the most classic shoes there is, to put us all in their fashionably good hands.

Sure, the soles are huge on these, but the tread makes all the difference. It’s rugged, it’s interesting, and coupled with the slimming high-top, they balance each other in a way that makes everything work.

I find myself looking for reasons to pull these shoes out of the box. I pair them with long dresses and blazers for the office, slip skirts and short sleeves for weekends, and when I do put them with pants, always with a wide-legged or flared crop. It would be such a shame to hide the now-iconic soles on these.

Converse White Run Star Hike