Faux fur
Outfit: Coat-Second hand (Via overmystylebody), Faux fur-H&M, Top-Free people via Beacons Closet, Rings-The bay & Miss boss, Necklace-F21, Jeans-Dynamite, Booties-Aldo
As much as I might dislike the temperatures in the winter months, I sure do love dressing for it. Nothing screams winter, or christmas for that matter to me quite like this faux fur stole. I've actually had it for years and it's held up pretty damn well. I love having something like that which instantly elevates any outfit you pair it with.
I bought this lace top on my very first trip to NYC 5 years ago, at Beacons closet. I am so glad I've held onto it all these years, it's come and gone through my style rotation but it is definitely back on in a big way. Especially paired with these high waisted jeans, it's a combo I am really digging right now.
Jenna
At Home Posture Workout
Here are some releases/stretches and exercises you can do at home, all you'll need: Trigger point ball, broom stick, rolled up towel.
Trigger Point:
1. Pectoralis Major/Minor
2. SCM (attachment points along the side of your neck)
3. Upper Traps
Roll ball until you find a point that hurts and hold it down for approximately 1 minute
Stretch:
Pec stretch, lay on your side and rotate open chest and hold for 30s
Roll up towel and place along spine, let the chest open up for 60s, try to breath into your stomach
Laying on the towel, use the broom handle to stretch overhead and keep your ribs tucked down
Strengthen: Strengthen the back muscles will help straighten up your posture
1. Mid trap engagement: Arms straight out to the side, thumbs towards the ceiling squeeze the midback, keep the head down (we don't want to be strengthening the back of the neck)
2. Overhead mid back squeeze: arms straight up overhead holding stick, keep traps relaxed and squeeze midback to bring chest up. Again, keep head down and neck relaxed.
Recipe: Turkey or Vegetarian chili
Chili is the best comfort food on a cold winter day! Which is probably why I've made it twice in the last two weeks, I've made a turkey version and a vegetarian version. Both were delicious.
Ingredients:
1 can kidney beans
1 can black beans
1 can borletti beans
1 can pinto beans
2 can low sodium stewed tomatoes
2 can low sodium tomatoe paste
1 beer
2 jalepenos
3 T chili powder
2 T cumin
4 cloves garlic crushed
1 T onion powder
2 lb turkey ground turkey or 2 lb veggie ground
1 1/2 bell peppers
1 small zucchini
Directions:
1. Soak the beans over night this removes the indigestible complex sugars that cause gas. Also cook the turkey in a pan with 1 T cumin 1 T chili pepper the night before.
2. Place beans, turkey (or veggie ground), stewed tomatoes, tomato paste in the slow cooker. Add the beer and spices in and mix it around. Cook on low for 8 hours
3. When there is about 30 minutes left, cut up bell peppers, zucchini and add it in so it does not become too mushy.
4. Top with cheese, plain greek yogurt and enjoy!! Add more chili flakes if you like it spicy!
Nothin but Neutrals!
Outfit: Dress-F21 (old), jacket-Dynamite, hat-H&M, Shoes-Aldo, Necklace-f21 & the bay
My wardrobe is currently reflecting the weather here. It's cold, grey, dreary and I am super over it. I really miss seeing the sun, if its cold, snowy and sunny I am a okay. I don't know how you ladies do it over in Vancouver. Big cozy sweaters, hats, and fluffy jackets are my go-to these days, anything that will keep me warm!
It would have been so easy to go all black with this outfit, but I loved the subtle mix of neutrals with grey and blush. It's hard to get any more dressed up when it's -20 with the wind chill out. But gives me an excuse to wrap myself in blankets and snuggle the dog. As if I needed an excuse for that!!
Jenna
Winter Weekend Guide
It's another chilly week in YEG and it's more than tempting to spend all weekend wrapped up in blankets and pretend the outdoors don't exist. But these cool temperatures will last another 6 months so let's try something different.
1. Bundle up and embrace the cold. Snowshoeing or cross country skiing is great exercise and you won't even notice the frigid temperatures once you've bundled up. Just make sure you're wearing wick away fabric or else that sweat will freeze and make you colder (totally defeating the purpose!)
2. Hot yoga. You're cold? Go into a nice toasty room and stretch it out, perfect cure for the winter blues! Be hot yoga is the bomb.
3. Punch something. Legit the best way to get over your frustration with the cold, punch things! Champs boxing just opened up, perfect timing to try it out.
4. Fat bikes. Hey, edmonton did just put all those bike lanes in....oooh sore spot? Rent some fat tire bikes from MEC and hit the trails, for the newbies stick to a paved trial, for those looking for more of a challenge there are ton of back trails around and in Edmonton (and most cities for that matter)
5. Go to the mountains. It's not quite as chilly there and it's so damn beautiful. Go for a small hike, explore the towns, etc.
Recipe: Chicken thighs with Orzo
So we know this recipe is super tasty because there is no finished photo of it. That's what happens, I eat it all too quickly. This is one of Darcy's go-to recipes, its quick, and super tasty. Adapted from this recipe
Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs chicken thighs (no skin)
2 T olive oil
for rub on chicken: 1 T oregano, 1 T paprika, 1/2 T red pepper flakes
3 cloves garlic,
2 cups cherry tomatoes
1 package basil
1/2 cup kalamata olives chopped up
1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken stock
1/2 cup crumbled feta
1. In a pan over medium heat brown the orzo with nothing added. This should take roughly 3 minutes. Then set the orzo aside
2. In a seperate pan coat chicken thighs with the rub and cook on medium heat for 3 minutes per side
3. When you removed the chicken, add garlic to the pan and let it become fragrant, then add in the orzo, chicken stock, cherry tomatoes and chicken together. Let this come to a boil and the orzo should absorb all the chicken stock
4. Toss in the olives, feta and basil and serve
Snuggled up
Outfit: Top- Z supply via Miss Boss, Coat-Maccs the label via Miss boss, Jeans-Zara, Boots-Aldo, Purse-Aldo, Sunnies/Necklace-F21, Ring-Hudsons Bay
This coat is heavy in my rotation, essentially my go-to. It's super cozy but we've hit -17 temperatures so it is in need of layering, which is why this waffle sweatshirt is perfect. Both are super soft and cozy as all hell which is what I want when it's this cold. I'm annoyed that the temperatures went from +15 to -17 in a week but, that's alberta. Just means I get to wear my beanies all the time now. I love a good beanie, especially if it has a pom!
Jenna
Tips for Staying Motivated
It's officially that time of year where your motivation goes out the window, it's grey out, it's cold, it's straight up miserable. As soon as this happens all you want to do is sleep in, wrap yourself in a cozy blanket and binge watch your favorite show on Netflix. With this usually comes some questionable (albeit delicious) food choices, this can lead to a pretty viscous cycle that leaves you feeling crappy. It's important to try to avoid falling into the pitfall of feeling unmotivated during the colder months especially here where the colder months are 8 months!
1. Plan it out.
Write out your weekly schedule of when/where/how you are going to work out, it's written out and therefore more likely to happen.
2. Try something new.
For me, bouldering is a winter activity, I missed it all summer but we did more outdoor activities so I am so excited to get back into it!
3. The buddy system.
Someone waiting for you makes you way more likely to show up for it, besides it makes it a social outing and it's fun to catch up!
4. Get that Vitamin D.
Since it's gloomy/dark out we get a lot less vitamin D through sunlight and this can have a huge impact on our mood and motivation. Supplementing with Vit D is a great way to ensure these levels don't dip below ideal and can help keep you from feeling the winter blues too.
5. Eat lot's of fresh fruits and vegetables.
It's more expensive but they're so good for you, helps keep you regular and get a lot of the vitamins and minerals you need everyday.
Evolution
Outfit: Tank-F21, Coat-Dynamite, Jeans-Zara, Purse-Rebecca Minkoff, Ring-Miss Boss, Boots-Aldo
It's funny how I used to be all about bold prints, colours and now I am so drawn to neutrals. It's interesting how our styles change as we change over the years. At one point I was always dressed well even if just for school, but at this point I spend so much of my day in workout gear it's hard to be bothered. Which is so sad!
I love dressing up and putting together outfits but when it's just for an hour or so of my day I am gravitating to more casual pieces. I think that's why neutrals like this have been so important for me, casual yet pulled together and easy to mix and match. Although you can take the girl out of fashion but you can't take fashion out of the girl! And my heart will always always have a soft spot for brights, like this gorgeous bag.
JennaD
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