Home on the island again, after a ferry ride that included an extended orca sighting. A pod swam alongside us, with a few lovely arcing breaches to show off dramatic black and white markings. Oohs and aahs from the passengers that quickly moved to starboard for a sighting. Always experienced with a sense of grace, for me at least. . .
The house is so cold, though, and I’m huddling by the fire I’ve built, trying to finish my marking. While I do that, perhaps you’d like to know how my Christmas shopping plans worked out. . .
I bought one of these J Crew dolman sleeve sweaters for my daughter on Friday, then had to buy one for me. I’m not sure how they make such a boxy cut so flattering, but they do, and it is, in a very fine merino that feels swingy-comfy-great to wear. Mine’s grey, but this teal is stunning on my daughter, very covetable. 30% off, so you could hardly blame me for jumping on the one-for-you, one-for-me program. . .
And then she tried on a pair of pants and I was just waiting around, so. . . Next thing I knew, there I was in the change room with a pair of these, in black.
Unbelievably comfortable. The wool is sweatpants worthy, plush, dense, no discernible itch, but the tailored pintuck down the front centre gives these a surprising polish, and they’ll be warm enough for a February deep freeze. Also on 30% off, and it’s a good thing I acted first because? Sold out! Watch for a rerun, though, and grab them if you live somewhere that does some cold regularly.
Another item I was lucky enough to grab, on sale, before it sold out was this cute little T. The SA who rang my purchases through wore hers under a black blazer, and I think I’ll borrow that simple styling. Maybe with my wool (non) sweats for a you-can’t-tell-I’m-really-wearing-pyjamas-at-work vibe….
See why I’m not hating the Christmas shopping?! Especially because B and I eased into it with
A lovely Rosé brut (Stoneboat from the Okanagan) and delish salads at Four Seasons’ Yew Restaurant.
Why yes, we did decide to split a side order of Fries with our healthy salads. . .
It’s all in the spirit of the season, no?
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What a delightful time you are having getting ready for Christmas. That sense of winding down and carving out a few treat times with family and friends is one of the loveliest parts of this festive season, I always think.
And your bonus buys – sound more like absolute essentials to me – are great and you will undoubtedly get a lot of mileage from them
It really is a great time of the season if we make room for it, Ceri. Too often, we're tempted to say we're too busy, but savouring that time together with my daughter validated my shifted priorities, absolutely.
I did justify my "bonus buys" by knowing that they were good basics, thanks!
Well, that was a yummy day all round! I love that tee shirt and it will look great under a black jacket. I love black and grey and gold. I've been wearing my grey with chocolate brown lately; grey dress pants and T-neck sweater with my chocolate brown suede boots and leather jacket. It's a combo I would not have thought would work….but it does.
Hope the marking is petering out. I always collected 25-30 major papers from my grade twelves the last day of school before Christmas every year. It made for lots of marking over the holidays…but with tea and in my pyjamas. Also it meant that when school began in January I had NO major assignments from the gr 12 class leading up to end of January exam rush. Self imposed short term pain for longer tern gain.
Have a great last few days before Christmas.
P.S. I heartily approve of the "one for you one for me" method of Christmas shopping!
I've done black and brown, which surprised me by working — I'd like to play around more with grey and chocolate — your combo sounds ideal (and I covet the chocolate brown suede boots).
You were smart in your working days to spread out the marking over the break. Sadly, we have to get our marks in before Christmas, even though classes only end the first week (so copious essays to mark) and exams only happen after that. And there's quite a bit of prep that has to get done for new classes which start right after the New Year. It's not a profession that makes room for Christmas! (consider that the biggest conference of the year, the MLA, happens between Christmas and New Year's — um, goodbye family time!).
Hence the rosé and the retail therapy . . . 😉
It seems to me that spending time with your daughter to choose the gift is a "double gift" and "one for you" makes it even better. I haven't purchased for daughter or Maman so I might choose to go shopping with them.
Exactly, it's a "double gift"! I highly recommend this approach if it works for you and yours.
It is way more fun shopping with a friend and even better that it is your daughter!
The salads look fabulous….
I notice that you had a similar outing with your daughter a week or so ago. . . .
That rosé bubbly would •definitely• improve my mood when facing crowds! Adding items for myself, though, would not make the opening of my Visa bill quite as much fun… I try to watch that temptation, but you could certainly lead me astray!
Honestly, although I write as if the "one for me" temptation was yielded to frivolously, it's something I plan on now — it's hard to beat those Christmas sale prices, and I always have a few items I'm happy to keep an eye on, especially with the daughter whose judgement I really trust. The bubbly was lovely!
Oh, I'm envious. Still with a huge pile of grading and no time for shopping or Christmas yet. Do have some decorations, mostly thanks to son's girlfriend. Classes went so late this semester that I wonder if I will ever catch up. Will stop tonight to get at least a couple of presents to mail for older son and wife, but I'm afraid it will be done on-line. I love your method of shopping!
Lynn
Our classes finished a bit earlier this semester and I only had three fairly small classes. . . I expect to finish tomorrow or Friday. I'd really like to have a clear week to savour the season and get the energy to gear up for the new year's new classes. I hope your pile starts to shrink soon . . .
That sounds like a lovely day! In my family we don't give presents to adults, only to the youngsters (every year I think with gratitude of my mother who established this new tradition), but if you do, yours is definitely the best way to go about it.
In this country, term ends in January, so the Xmas holidays are grading time. I have three piles of exam papers lurking on my desk, but last night I decided that they will have to wait until the 27th of December. I'm not even going to think of them before that!
That's an easier tradition — good for your mother! (although, honestly, I quite love giving to my adult children).
Good for you, deciding to put the papers aside for now.You are more likely to "enjoy" them once you've had a restful Christmas.