Personal Photo Gifts From Posterjack: Win a $100 Voucher

I truly believe that the best gifts are personal ones, and you can't get much more personal than photo gifts.

Posterjack (a Canadian company) has a huge selection of options, in a variety of sizes and at a range of price points, which is why I turned to them in the past when redecorating my family room, and just recently for my husband's birthday gift.

We have a small music room downstairs where he and the girls spend a huge chunk of their time, but until now the only things on the wall were our framed Trent and Queen's degrees (still there from when we used the room as our home office). I wanted to put something personal on the wall, so I decided to take photos of the girls doing what they love to do: singing, playing guitar and playing piano. (I just snapped the pics on my phone, made some minor edits, and sent them off.)

I love the look of a row of canvases, so I ordered three identical 16 x 20 sized pictures. My husband always loves black and white photos so I went with that style, and added floating black frames for a bit of extra punch (thanks to a recommendation from my Posterjack friends). Their shipping, as always, was very quick, and I was thrilled with the results. (I just had to hide the large box from my husband for a few weeks!)

He was definitely surprised and very impressed with our new musical mini-gallery, and I just love how there's now a personal touch. It makes the room seem much warmer and "finished"...giving everyone even more motivation to get in there and practice!

If you're thinking ahead to gift season (Mother's Day, Father's Day, graduation, weddings, etc.) you can't go wrong with a personalized photo gift from Posterjack. From poster prints to framed photos to desk items, there's something for everyone you know and love.

Now one lucky This Mom Loves reader will win a $100 voucher from Posterjack to be used towards any item of their choice! To enter, simply fill out the form below with your email address (so I can contact you if you win) and what item you'd love to order from Posterjack (see their website for ideas). Bonus entries for showing social media love to Posterjack on Twitter and Instagram and to This Mom Loves on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. The giveaway will run until Saturday, April 29th at midnight, after which time a winner will be chosen by random number generation. Good luck!

Disclosure: I was provided with the above products for review purposes. Opinions are, as always, my own.

My Favourite Mother's Day Gift

Oh, I love my spa days, flowers, chocolates and jewelry. I especially appreciate the restaurant meals, so please keep those coming, honey. But after 11 years of being a mom, if I had to choose my favourite Mother's Day gift ever, it would be this.

The supplies were purchased at Michael's, but many of these items could even be picked up at a dollar store, so the cost is certainly not prohibitive.

The project definitely did require some time. My husband sat the girls down one afternoon when I was out and got them to decorate the box, and then the really personal part began: he asked them to tell him all of the things they loved about me. Liv was five at the time, and Eva almost three, and six years later their answers still bring tears to my eyes. (Plus it's cute to see what their printing looked like at that age.)

I'm so glad to have proof of that one! 

The sentiment has changed over time.

"Brighten" is putting it politely. My father used to always

tell me to put my eyes back in my head...

If you can't read five-year-old, this one says,

 "I love when you read in funny voices"

Even at age three her passion was evident!

As the queen of decluttering, there aren't a lot of things that I keep - especially indefinitely - but my special little box of love will be with me 'til the end.

This Mother's Day gift is not only great for moms: there are many grandmas, aunts, godmothers and stepmothers who would appreciate the personal touch as well.

New York City Travel Highlights

I am often asked what my favourite travel destination has been, and while I love the sunny south, and have had a wonderful time in many Canadian and American cities, my heart always goes back to NYC.

My husband and I spent a fantastic few days there (we traveled one August) and I have incredibly fond memories. Please check out the links to highlights of our three days in New York City, including a thisclose Julia Roberts sighting and a photo op with Regis and Kelly (yes, that says Regis - it was not a recent trip!)

New York City Day 1 (Central Park, Sex and the City Tour, Movie Premiere/Julia Roberts Sighting)

New York City Day 2 (Regis and Kelly, Top of the Rock, NYC Public Library, Empire State Building, Wicked)

New York City Day 3 (9/11 Memorial, Brooklyn Bridge, Circle Line Cruise)

A random note for my Peterborough area friends: did you know Stewart Tours is running charters from the Peterborough Airport, including a 4-day April trip to NYC (with an air-only price of $399 + taxes, or an air and hotel package for $1199 plus taxes)? This isn't sponsored - just wanted to share a great deal!

March Break Wish List

This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label.

Our March Break this year is shaping up to be a much-appreciated staycation. We work hard (and by "we", I also mean my girls, 10 and 8) and I know we're very excited to slow things down for a week. (I'm particularly looking forward to turning off my alarm!)

Today I'm sharing with you what's on my wish list for a perfect March Break:

• Great reading material. I love my psychological thrillers and celebrity memoirs, so you can bet I'll be devouring some of these over the break. I've also been a magazine lover since I could read (and my aunt let me read her Teen magazines), and while I still keep a couple of hard-copy subscriptions, I love the Texture app for reading a huge range of magazines on my tablet. I hope to get all caught up before the holidays are over! It's also important to model a love of reading for kids, so I definitely plan to cuddle up on the couch with my girls and a whole pile of books. (One already takes after me, with her nose constantly in a book, and let's just say the other takes after her father!)

• A night on the town. After weeks of cooking from a box or can or hitting the drive-thru (hey, I'm keeping it real, here!) I'd love a nice restaurant meal and night out with my hubby (I'm thinking prime rib and garlic mashed potatoes...) It will be fun to pull out a nice dress and heels (which I don't wear teaching kindergarten), and I definitely plan to make use of my Dr. Scholl’s® For Her™ , with several slim-fitting insole and cushioning options to fit different kinds of heels and flats, so that I don't have to suffer for fashion with foot pain! (If you're lucky enough to be going out of town for a break, make sure to throw these in your suitcase too!)

• A clutter-free home. Yes, I am a bit obsessed with this. I really do believe that things go better for me when I have my house in order, and March Break will give me the chance to do some extra spring cleaning (though there are very few areas yet untouched by my urge to purge!) We recently scaled back on our board games collection, which was perfect timing leading up to our staycation, and I am actually excited about going through a box of electronic odds-and-ends and continuing to curate my clothing collection. To each her own, right?

• Heat. I know, I will be in Canada in March so this is highly unlikely, but I do have a lovely fireplace! As happy as I am to be staying home for the break, I have to admit that part of me is wishing we were heading south (as we have a couple of times before) for some sun and sand. If your break is taking you somewhere sunny, even if it's just the great Canadian outdoors, remember the sunscreen. I wear it year-round - even though I'm the least outdoorsy gal you could meet! Coppertone ClearlySheer SPF 50 and Coppertone Kids Sunscreen Lotion SPF 60 filter UVA and UVB rays to help provide sunburn protection. ClearlySheer feels weightless on your skin, won’t clog pores or cause breakouts (I only use sunscreen with these qualities now), and works great under makeup. The Kids Lotion is waterproof*, so it’s ideal for water-loving kids. If you’re headed to the beach (lucky you!), remember that reapplying is just as important as putting on in the first place, so reapply at least every two hours, or after being in the water. (*Retains SPF after 80 minutes of activity in the water or sweating.)

• A little bit of Ireland. My husband and I both come from Irish roots, and live in a very Irish community, so no March Break is complete without the wearing of the green for St. Patrick's Day. We will also be taking in the local Irish Concert, and my girls have been practicing all of their favourite tunes in anticipation. I'd like to leave you with a little taste of Ireland: my daughter Olivia rehearsing the song Danny Boy. Enjoy, and whether it's a vacay or a staycay, I hope you have a wonderful March Break!

This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label.

Loblaws Click and Collect: My Starring Video Role

This Mom Loves has moved! 

For updated content (plus all the posts found here) on our fresh new site, visit www.thismomloves.ca

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Loblaws Click & Collect for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

We've all been there: lying awake at night, thinking about the next day's to-do list, and wondering how to get everything done. Some people like to count sheep to fall asleep, I like to count all of the things that could be taken off my list if only I had a personal assistant (grocery shopping, for example)...but who can afford that?

Then, one year ago, Loblaws actually made my dream come true with the launch of their Loblaws Click and Collect program at my local store. What a treat to order my groceries online from the comfort of my own home, and have a trained personal shopper do the work for me. All I have to do is drive into the specially marked parking spot, phone in to the store and have the groceries brought right out to my vehicle.

"Ah, but what's the cost for this dream-come-true service?", you may be wondering. The cost to shop Loblaws groceries online  is...wait for it...drumroll please...either $3 or $5, depending on the day and time of your pickup. Really, that's it. The cost for the items is the exact same as in-store, and you can even link up your PC Plus account to earn points as well.

Even if I pick up my groceries at a peak weekend hour, it is still totally worth $5, not only for the time saved, but also because I'm sure that I cut 5 bucks off my order by not taking children into the store...and let's be honest, adults make impulse purchases too!

We are all so busy (my readers know that I'm a teacher, freelance writer and TV guest), with lists of errands that can be pages long, and Loblaws has really helped to ease that burden. It seemed like every weekend we'd vow to get groceries on Friday, and then it wouldn't happen. Saturday for sure, we would say, and then Saturday would fill up with kids' activities and yard work. Definitely Sunday then, after we prepped for the next school day...which usually meant a stressful last-minute run to the store so we had something to put in Monday's lunches!

Now, I order online, often while at my treadmill desk, or sometimes even sitting on the couch crashing at the end of a work day. Then only minutes are required to drive into the Loblaws parking lot and do the pick up. (I've trained the girls to do the unloading and putting away of groceries, so that's a time-saver too. I highly recommend you get your kids started on household chores as early as possible!)

While my kids are older now (ten and eight) and thankfully past needing to be buckled and unbuckled into carseats by mommy, I can't even imagine what a convenience this would be for parents of younger children. No need to wake the baby to take him or her into the store! (Payment is so easy too, as we keep a credit card on file.)

We've gotten to know the Click and Collect employees, and now it feels like they're friends that we see on a weekly basis. I love how I can leave a little note online (e.g., "Green bananas please", or "Didn't see our usual floor cleaner on the website; could you check the store for me?") and the shoppers always happily oblige. You can even indicate what your preference is if an item is out of stock - I always ask them to choose the most similar item in a different brand.

Other than the cost, the biggest question that friends and family ask me is about the quality of the food, especially produce and meat. I can swear that we have always (after dozens and dozens of Click and Collect experiences) been happy with the quality of the food: fresh produce and meat that's well before it's best-before date.

I highly recommend you try out Loblaws online grocery shopping for yourself.

I am such a fan of the service that when I was approached to be part of a testimonial video, I jumped at the chance (and there are very few brands I would want to go out on a limb for like that). You may remember that I dropped some hints about a special project going on in my home back in the summer (with a makeup artist required!), and my girls even got to be part of it as well. (With all the lights, cameras and crew, "It looks like Hollywood in our house!" Eva observed.)

The video is now online; please check it out for yourself below and let me know what you think, and don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions about the program!

Realistic Resolutions for Your Health in 2017

Note to readers: I will be working with Bayer on a series of sponsored posts throughout 2017. As I'm sure you know, opinions are always my own.

I'm not big on official new year's resolutions. Even in terms of health, I don't smoke, I hardly drink (some of my friends would tell you that drinking *more* should be my resolution!) and I keep a healthy weight. However, there are some small, realistic tweaks that could enhance health for many of us. Maybe some of these will appeal to you!

If you're facing a "holiday hangover" (not the alcohol-related kind), part of the problem may be the germs you were exposed to when getting together with friends and family. Does anyone not have a cold? (Fortunately, my month-long cold symptoms seem to be subsiding, but the pleurisy I was diagnosed with before Christmas still won't go away. Yes, pleurisy. Look it up, I had to!) If you've got annoying nasal congestion, hydraSense® can help get rid of it, so you can breathe better...important for work, play and exercise!

Speaking of exercise, I am a huge proponent of walking...and while many experts out there insist that walking outside is the way to go, it's not happening for me in Canada in January - I can't even handle the 10 second dash in from the hot tub in this weather! I absolutely adore my treadmill - and, as regular readers know, the amazing treadmill desk my dad built for me. Again, there are experts who urge us not to multitask, but I find I am quite capable of walking and doing one other thing, like blogging, at the same time - I'm actually at my treadmill desk right now as I write this! On days when I'm not teaching, I get on the treadmill first thing after breakfast, otherwise I walk as soon as I get home from work. Either way, it gives me a boost of energy and makes me feel that I'm doing something positive for my health.

Now, while I'm not in the habit of publicly discussing my digestive, um, habits, it's safe to say that while holiday eating is fun, it may lack the fibre we need to keep things...moving. Keeping yourself hydrated can help, and for effective relief of occasional constipation without bloating, cramping, or gas, you may consider RestoraLAX® for a bit of assistance.

If you can tell me that you and your kids get all the recommended daily vitamins and minerals through your food, then good for you - I'm very impressed! I like to keep it real here on the blog and I will freely admit that I do not...and while my girls are certainly better eaters than I am, I know they can't tick every nutrient off the list. Therefore, since they started chewing they've been taking FLINTSTONES™ vitamins (the #1 brand choice of pediatricians) every night when I take my One-A-Day®. (It's wonderful being approached to work with brands that I already use and love.) Vitamins can help provide the nutritional support we need when we may not be getting dietary needs from food alone...but try to keep in mind the famous advice from Michael Pollan: "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants." (And yes, potatoes are a plant!)

There are tons of people out there who promote adding meditation to your daily routine, which is something else that just takes a few minutes and can apparently have huge benefits. While studies show that meditating can actually help the brain process information faster, it's just not something that has appealed to me enough to give it a serious try. I'd love to hear from others who do it - what do you feel are the benefits for you? And how do you manage to sit still and clear your thoughts for any amount of time at all? Sell me on it!

My final piece of advice relates to sleep - something I've written about many times here on the blog, since it's so important to me. One small tweak you can make is to pledge to power down an hour before bedtime. The light that emanates from your phone, computer or TV can actually activate the brain and make it more difficult to fall asleep. Go with an old school book or magazine right before bed to help your body prepare for sleep...and help you feel much more refreshed in the mornings!

Are there any other simple tweaks you're adding to your routine to better your health this year? Let me know!

Disclosure: This post was generously sponsored by Bayer. Opinions are, as always, my own. To make sure products are right for you, always read and follow the label.

Gift Ideas For Kids: from an 8-year-old

Not to be outdone by her sister, my 8-year-old daughter Eva wanted to make a contribution to the blog as well. Today she is sharing some (mostly) classic gift ideas - items that she has enjoyed for years, and would recommend for your children too! Take it away, Eva!

*****

I am an 8-year-old child so I would know what some of the best gifts are to get your kids, at Christmas or any time!

• ·        Rubik’s Cube: This is very popular in my school, and it’s a nice thing for kids to try to solve when they’re getting bored.

• ·        Zoomer Zuppie: I got this as a Christmas gift one year and it’s especially fun to pretend you have a pet when you don’t really have one. But now I do and I think you have heard about Thumper!

• ·        Play kitchen: My sister got this before I was born and I have been playing with it as long as I can remember. I like to pretend that I’m working at a restaurant and making food in the kitchen.

• ·        Build-a-Bear: You would want to give a gift card for this so your child can pick it out and decide on the details because it's a lot of fun to have the whole experience of picking things out and making your bear. You can also get all sorts of accessories for your bear and bring it to the store to visit the bear spa too. My Build-a-Bear is named Minnie Eva and even though I got her four years ago I still play with her and like to change her outfits.
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• ·        Twister: Now this is a really fun and active game to play, and you can do it with different numbers of people. That’s not the only game we like though, also Bounce-Off, Trouble, Jenga and the Game of Life are fun to play with your family.

• ·        Play-Doh: I take this out and play at the kitchen table all the time. It’s nice to have lots of colours and accessories to use with it. I like to make food out of the Play-Doh too. (Yes I do like cooking and baking a lot!)

• ·        Barbies: We have a LOT of Barbies because some were my great-aunt’s and some were my mom’s and now Olivia and I have even more. We play with the Barbie house and cars, and now our bunny Thumper likes to go in the Barbie house too which is hilarious!

I hope this helped you with your shopping list. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Spirit Roundup: Decorating, Crafts, Gifts and More

It's pretty fair to say I get into the Christmas spirit early...so why not share all that joy with my dear readers?

Today I offer you the post of Christmas past (see what I did there?) - and whether you're in the mood to decorate, shop, craft with kids or bask in cheesy sentiments, I've got you covered!

Christmas Idea # 1: The Festive Lantern

Christmas Idea # 2: Displaying Christmas Memories

Christmas Idea # 3: The Holiday Book Basket

Christmas Idea # 4: The Throw Pillow

Christmas Idea # 5: Printables


Christmas Idea # 6: DIY Decorative Pots

How things are shaping up this year Chez Winn

Primary Christmas Crafts Morning

My Mom's Christmas Decor: A Photo Tour

My Christmas Decor: A Photo Tour (2014)

Christmas Gifts For Teachers

A Thank You Letter to my Mom at Christmastime


There you have it - a dose of Christmas spirit!

(Note: one month from today it's all over...and my house will be de-Christmased by lunchtime.)

A RepliKate Update - My Fashion Finds in the Style of Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge

While I haven't yet stocked up on any of the Duchess of Cambridge's looks from the 2016 Canada Tour, I have had fun with a few RepliKates since I last updated my dear readers! (Though if you follow on Instagram, you probably saw all of these in real time!)

EARRINGS

Earrings from D Baker Jewelry on Etsy (bottom, under $40), replicas of Kate's Kiki McDonough Lauren Yellow Gold Pave Diamond Leaf Earrings (top; roughly $3600 Canadian). I've worn them several times a week since they came in the mail - love them!

MAKEUP

While in Toronto on the holidays, I made an appointment at Sephora for a Custom Makeover (free with minimum $50 purchase). The makeup artist (Khadijah) and I discussed my goals (to try out and report on some of Kate Middleton's favourite items) and it was a lot of fun! Of course I wasn't worried about replicating the Duchess's exact shades of products (although we do have similar colouring).

We know for a fact, through sources directly at Bobbi Brown, that Kate has worn the brand (including on her wedding day, when she did her own makeup!) Some other companies have confirmed that she has bought or worn their products, and on occasion she has even been spotted making a purchase. (Lots of info on my favourite Kate site, What Would Kate Do?)

So, in good fun, I tried out the following:

Urban Decay Naked Eye Shadow Palette (which I didn't end up purchasing, because I have almost all of the same colours at home by different companies...and I'm not made of money!)

Bobbi Brown foundation stick
Bobbi Brown creamy matte lip colour
Bobbi Brown lip gloss

Lancome Kohl Eye-Liner (recommended by the makeup artist over the Kohl Le Crayon, likely worn by the other Kate, which the pro finds drier and harder to apply)

There were many other products used to create the look above, but I ended up buying the three Bobbi Brown items as well as the eyeliner, which I really liked. (I already have a great mascara, blush, etc. at home.)

In the future, I'd still like to try out the Bobbi Brown Shimmer brick, Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer (seems like a quick and easy school-day product), and a bee venom mask that doesn't cost more than a mortgage payment.

SHOES

When in need of new running shoes, of course I wondered, "What would Kate wear?" Some quick research indicated that her latest sneaker appearance involved a pair of Adidas Pure Boost X trainers...which of course immediately sold out. However, someone on eBay happened to be offering up the exact same pair (in my size!), and I won the auction, paying much less than the regular selling price. They're funky-looking shoes in person (you can actually put your finger right through the area under the foot and above the sole of the shoe!) and SOOOO comfy.

SCARF

Again, I "needed" a neutral-looking scarf as the cold weather approaches...so why not go with the exact same one Kate wore on her very first visit to Canada? Here's my new Aquascutum Club Check scarf, and a grainy photo of Kate sporting hers while out on the Canadian water.

SWEATER

While I haven't yet copied any of Kate's style from last month's royal visit, once again she copied mine - which proves to me that I have chosen the right style icon! She was seen in a nice cozy red sweater, similar to the Joe Fresh version I've been wearing for over a year!

Until next time!

Sunglasses From Clearly (P.S. They're fit for royalty!)

For years, I've purchased sunglasses with single-digit price tags. Why pay more when I may just lose them, right? The problem is, it's pretty rare for me to lose my sunglasses. Much more often they break or scratch...um, could quality be a factor?

That said, I'm certainly not in a position to pay hundreds and hundreds of dollars for designer sunglasses. I need a happy medium!

Enter Clearly.  While they also offer contact lenses and prescription eyewear, thanks to the joy of LASIK I don't need those anymore! I was, however, very interested in their affordable selection of designer sunglasses, including Christian Siriano, Nina Ricci, Marc by Marc Jacob, Oakley, Ray-Ban, John Galliano and more!

I was thrilled when Clearly offered to send me two pairs of sunglasses to try out...especially because they carry the exact same pair worn by Kate, Duchess of Cambridge. (You may have read about my interest in the RepliKate trend a few weeks ago.)

Their website is easy to navigate and is very informative: I actually learned sunglasses have specific measurements (something I had never realized when buying eight dollar pairs!) and one pair I ordered ended up being a bit wide on my face (I still loved the look, but the arms didn't sit as snugly as I would have liked) so it's important to check out the measurements of the sunglasses which are listed with the product description, especially when ordering online when you don't have the chance to try them on.

My sunglasses shipped really quickly, arriving one day apart, and even the packaging was appealing (plus, they came with attractive, sturdy cases...never included with my cheapies!):

Now, what I chose!

Derek Cardigan 7014, part of Clearly's in-house designer line (as a teacher, I thought the little multiplication and division signs were particularly apropos).

Next: the Ray-Ban Folding Wayfarer Classic in Tortoise,,,as often worn by the Duchess of Cambridge (formerly Kate Middleton) herself!

No, that's not me, silly! That's the other Kate.

This one is me!

I've been extremely happy with the quality of the products, and now that I have both black and tortoise, maybe I'll never have to buy another pair of sunglasses again! (Okay, that might be stretching it.) Check out Clearly for your own eyewear needs!

Disclosure: I was provided with two pairs of sunglasses by Clearly for review purposes. Opinions are, as always, my own.

Shop Lands' End - Great RepliKates, School Uniforms and More!

I will admit it: I am a Lands' End newbie...but I have learned quickly!


Launched in 1963 as a mail-order operation for yachting gear‚ the business filled about 15 orders on a good day. Now they carry a huge variety of clothing for women, men and kids. Lands' End runs the range from casual to dressier wear, plus active and swimwear, in addition to uniform pieces for students...and the list goes on! Plus, they are famous for their unconditional return policy (customer satisfaction is a big deal to them). And yes, my Canuck friends...they do ship to Canada!

I came across Lands' End when I started paying close attention to the Replikate movement...women who like to follow and copy the fashion of Kate, Duchess of Cambridge. While it can be fun (if one can afford it) to own the exact same items as the Duchess, most often Replikaters hunt for similar yet more cost-effective fashions, and Lands' End certainly fits the bill!

I was excited when Lands' End sent me two items to try out (shipping was very fast, btw), so I could see the quality for myself.

First, I was looking for a navy pleated skirt, similar to Kate's Orla Kiely shown below (approx. $256 Canadian).

Embed from Getty Images

Lands' End sent me this great Replikate, the Girls Solid Pleated Skirt, which is actually from the school uniform collection (shopping trick: if something isn't available in an adult size, try a larger size from the children's section - the adjustable waistband is helpful, too!) The price? Under 40 bucks!

I look forward to wearing it to school in a traditional outfit (maybe with a button-up and nice navy blazer) but it can also be worn in more unexpected ways, like with a graphic tee or print sweater.

(Tip: if your pleated skirt gets wrinkled, just use the bathroom-shower-steam trick. 15 minutes of hot steam and my pleats fell perfectly.)

If you need to purchase neutral school uniform pieces for your child (sometimes I wish that was the case for my girls!), definitely check out Lands' End.

Next on my back-to-school shopping list was a pair of low-heeled black boots. I love wearing boots in the fall and winter, especially with skirts and dresses, and since I'm going to be teaching Kindergarten, a super high heel was off the list. I turned to Kate's Middleton style and loved the Stuart Weitzman HalfNHalf stretch riders she has been seen wearing...but didn't love the $400 price. 

Embed from Getty Images

But guess what? Lands' End carries a super-similar pair: suede at the front, stretch panel at the back, block heel...at a regular price of $162! (Watch for sales - I've seen the price even lower than that!)

But guess what? Lands' End carries a super-similar pair called the School Uniform Women's Stretch Suede Tall Boots: suede at the front, stretch panel at the back, block heel...at a regular price of $162! (Watch for sales - I've seen the price even lower than that!)

These boots are soooo comfortable, and I know they will be my go-tos for ages...at least until it's time to pull out the sandals again!

Now, I don't usually get much sympathy for the following problem I have, but I trust you to be kind, so here goes: I have skinny calves, and therefore tall boots don't fit snugly enough for me. The stretch panel on these boots is really forgiving for those with fuller calves, but since I'm planning to wear them over tights, I want them to be really snug. My local cobbler nipped them in for me, at a total cost of $25, which is fantastic, considering how often I'm going to be sporting them...black goes with everything, right?

Next on my Lands' End list is stocking up on swimsuits for the girls. They wore theirs out this summer (several each - which is a reflection on what a great pool summer it was), and since there are huge discounts on the website, now's a great time to buy!

Thanks to Lands' End for letting me try out their products. I will definitely be turning to this site again, if not for more Replikates then for the vast array of other attractive, quality clothing they have to offer. Thank goodness they moved past yachting gear! (Though if Kate and I do become best friends, I may need some of that, too...)

Disclosure: The above items were provided for review purposes. Opinions are, as always, my own.