“In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind
made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; snow had
fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow” – In the Bleak Midwinter, Christina
Rossetti. January 1872
Hello everyone! I hope 2017 is
treating you well so far. The hymnal lyric above was one of my favourites
growing up and the chilly weather in Boston has gotten the tune stuck in my
head lately. If it does leave my head, it is quickly replaced with California
Dreamin’ (all the leaves are brown and the sky is grey. I’ve been for a walk on
a winter’s day…) Suffice it to say, I could feel a theme emerging in my head.
At the end of last summer, I compiled a few of my favourite things (Cue: Julie Andrews and some Austrian children) from Summer 2016.
So, I thought the best thing to brighten up my winter would be to do something
similar and share with you some of the products that are helping me to survive
these long months.
So, here we go:
CLOTHING
L.L. Bean Ultrawarm Coat, Long
The first item up is this deep
chocolate coat from L.L.Bean. The down insulation has kept me toasty warm in some truly frigid Boston
winters. Furthermore, the coat comes with ample storage space; two zipped
pockets on the outside, one smaller pocket with a Velcro closure on the inside
and a very deep breast pocket with a zip to keep items safe.
We all know that quality winter
apparel can be a bit of an investment; and at $239, this supremely soft winter
coat may be a bit pricey. However, it is still a fraction of the cost of
similar Canada
Goose products that can retail upwards of $1300. Now, don’t get
me wrong, I love the style and design of the popular Canada Goose coats but we can’t always afford such an expense; so it’s
great to have this gem from L.L. Bean. Furthermore, it’s exquisite
craftsmanship, comfort and utility have made it well worth my while.
Hello everyone! As December steps in and it's only
getting colder I felt it was time for another chat about some of my wintertime
staples. If you missed my last Winter Staple post about one of my favourite
hoodie brands: Jobedu, you can check it out here. As for today, I'm talking about
hats; specifically the brand, Caheez. I stumbled upon Caheez hats quite by accident while scrolling through Instagram about a year
ago. The stylish woollen beanies claim to "enhance and protect the hairfrom elements within and beyond our natural control."Having lived through a couple of truly dreadful New England winters, I was
desperate for something that could keep me warm while also not damaging my
hair. I love the look of woollen beanies, but often the wool can strip curly
hair of moisture; which coupled with the dryness of Boston winter, only
creates more issues. I've always know that satin and silk products counter this
problem by locking in moisture but I'd never heard of woollen hats that were lined
with satin before, so I was eager to find out more about this product.
I'm always sceptical about companies that I hear about on the
Internet but after learning about the founder Carla Helené 's commitment to the quality of the
materials and overall product, it became clear that this was a
respectable brand run by passion, hard work and determination. I decided
to give it a go. My first purchase was The Purled Newsboy Cap in
Cranberry** with a 10" diameter.
As this blog is still
very new it's good to give you all more background information about little old
me, so we can get to know each other better. Back in 2011, I spent the first
six months of the year living in Amman, Jordan. While six months may seem like
a short time, they were truly some of the most exhilarating and eye-opening months
of my life. To be honest, all of 2011 was a very transformative year for me in
terms of personal development; as I spent the latter half of the year working
with the United Nations on international finance and development issues. 2011
was a wonderfully exciting year that I could go on about for ages but
that's another blog post all together. However, if you are interested in
hearing more about those adventures, let me know in the comment section and
I'll think about sharing them in a Throwback Thursday post.
But for today, I am discussing the Jobedu clothing
line that I learned about while I was in Jordan. I was studying Arabic at the
University of Jordan in Amman when some friends told me about this quirky store
in Jabal Weibdeh that sold fun and interesting clothes that embodied the city’s
growing youth culture. I had complimented the T-Shirt that one of my friends was
wearing at the time; a black shirt adorned with the phrase “Parental Advisory: Jordanian
Content”, and the conversation flowed from there. A few days later, a group of
us were walking down the white cobbled streets of Jabal Weibdeh heading towards
the Jobedu store. The buildings around us were all a similar blend of limestone
and cement with a view of Downtown Amman in the distance, but we managed to find
the store with ease. Outside, the powerful afternoon sun illuminated the streets,
casting its light on roadside Nescafe and Tea vendors; but it left the Jobedu
store in shadow making it difficult to see what lay inside. I pushed open the
glass door and as my eyes adjusted to the light, I was enthralled by the brightly
coloured fabrics that lined the walls from the floor to the ceiling.
I was drawn to a hoodie with the company’s signature yellow logo
of Jordan’s ubiquitous “Camel Crossing” road sign, set against jet black
material.
While it's still sweltering by midday, there is now a crisp bite to the early morning air as we rush off to work, subtly reminding Bostonians that Autumn (and ultimately winter) is coming. As I am in no mood to say goodbye to summer and delve back into New England winter, I thought I'd share with you some of my favourite things that I found and loved over the summer. Have a look below:
MUSIC
One song that I have had on repeat all summer is from up-and-coming Jamaican songstress, Jane Macgizmo. In "Babylon", the young singer delivers a powerful and unique sound, her voice at once melodious, haunting and utterly captivating. Aesthetically, the production quality of the music video is phenomenal; crisp and clean with the natural beauty and majesty of the Jamaica countryside on full display.
In post-colonial Jamaica, the term "Babylon" is often synonymous with systematic, structural and/or mental oppression. For at least 4 minutes however, the soothing tones of Macgizmo's music help her listener transcend the turmoil of the world around them and be at peace, with the world and within themselves.
Another favourite that is a bit more up tempo and in keeping with the summer vibes is Shakira's latest release with Carlos Vices, " La Bicicleta". It's safe to say that I've been a staunch Shakira fan since"Whenever, Wherever"(En Español:Suerte) came out in 2001 ...a while ago and"Hips Don't Lie"was a staple of my adolescent playlists. So, it's always exciting for me when she releases new music and this song did not disappoint. "La Bicicleta" was released in May, with an accompanying music video in July, that will have you up and dancing in no time. You'll want to grab your best friends, a bicycle and head to the nearest beach to catch the last moments of summer ASAP.
BOOKS The only thing I love more than new summer music is having my nose buried in a good summer read (preferably by the pool or in a hammock on the beach). This summer, the book I could not put down came in the form of Mitch Albom's "The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto". Having loved everything Albom wrote since "Tuesdays with Morrie", I actually got this book on pre-order last November, but life has been so hectic I didn't have a chance to crack it open until the summertime and it has been well worth the wait. Centred around the life of fictional pop star Frankie Presto and the transformative impact his music and talent has on those around him, it is a wonderful novel for bibliophiles and music lovers alike. For a more in-depth book review, see my posthere.
HOMEWARE
To me, the Malibu Citrus Glow scented candle from The Bath & Body Works is just heavenly. When burnt the candle produces a strong scent of salt and sand evocative of a hot summer's day at the beach, coupled with the citrus aroma of orange and lemon. And with the name "Malibu", you will be hard pressed to find a candle that more truly captures the warmth and excitement of summer. It's a simple, elegant way to brighten up your home in the summertime or to bring a little sunshine to the cold winter months :)
I can't seem to find a link online, but it may still be available in select stores, so check your local Bath & Body Works.
This product is part of a larger skincare range, but I only used the sleeping cream in conjunction with my regular drugstore moisturiser. However, if you're interested in learning about the other Oils of Life products you can find more info on the websitehere.
Now, I will admit that I usually have clear skin and don't worry too often about pimples etc. BUT work, family, finances and just life generally can get the better of all of us...not to mention those time of the month cookie/cake/chocolate cravings -- am I right, ladies? And it's often our skin that pays the price. Well, I must say this little jar of goodness from The Body Shop has seen me through a lot this summer. It carried me through the stresses of grad school, finishing my thesis and the hell of moving apartments.
I may have been overwhelmed, but the combination of black cumin oil, camellia oil and rosehip meant that my skin never showed it. The infusion of chamomile into the sleeping cream is also very calming, which made it a great addition to my bedtime routine.
My skin can get rather dry in the Boston winter, and while the Oils of Life Sleeping Cream has been wonderful in a hectic summer, I'm sure its moisturising powers will truly come in handy in the brutal winter months to come.
So, what have you been enjoying this summer? Tell me all about your favs in the comments below; maybe you can share some gems to help me bridge the transition into Autumn :)
--
*Always check the labels on any skincare products before beginning use to ensure that you're not allergic to any of the ingredients
