Well, where to even begin? 2019 was definitely very eventful for us. First off, we had a BABY! Even though our little bundle of joy was born in the last month of this year, the 9 months of pregnancy basically made it feel like it was the whole year. This little girl has changed our lives; I didn’t know I could love any stronger!
The next big thing that happened in 2020 was that we bought and moved into our dream family home – which in turn means, we can finally settle down! No more moves, no more house hunting – I can actually unpack everything, paint the walls, and design the interior knowing we are here for the long run!
Looking ahead into 2020, I know it will be quite eventful as well. Not only do we have our little bundle of joy with us now, but we already have a few projects in the works that I know will impact our life and keep us busy. I am very excited to see what this year will bring for our family and will try to share as much of it as possible with you! Life is such a journey – the ups and the downs, and everything in between.
Every year, around mid-Novemeber, my husband and I start watching Christmas movies. It’s become a tradition and our list seems to grow longer and longer each year, as we find new movies to watch. Perhaps mid-November may seem a bit early, but when you have a long list as ours, you need all the time you can get – plus, we usually only watch movies on weekends; and some week nights if it’s not too late after dinner and work.
So today, I am sharing with you our Christmas Movie List! Yes, some movies are really old, some are really cheesy, and some are in Polish, but they are all Christmas/Holiday related and have become a part of our Holiday tradition. The movies are really in no particular order, and we basically watch whatever we’re in the mood for that day.
Four Christmases
Love Actually
Home Alone
Home Alone: Lost in NY
Christmas Party
Santa Clause
Santa Clause 2
Santa Clause 3
Fred Claus
Grinch
Christmas with the Kranks
National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
Deck the Halls
Bad Santa
Elf
Polar Express
The Holiday
Family Stone
Die hard
Christmas Eve
The Night Before
Almost Christmas
Bad Moms 2
Daddy’s Home 2
Office Party
Holiday in the Wild
Listy do M – 1,2,3 (Polish Movies)
There are also 8 other movies which we consider our “Holiday Tradition movies” and that’s all of the Harry Potter Movies:
Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Go ahead, print this off, save the list on your phone, and start your own Holiday/Christmas Movie Marathon!
Hello December! The last month of this year; the last chapter of 2019. I could wait till the end of the month to share this post because I may find another book to add to the list, but, with my due date being early December, I’m basically assuming that I won’t be adding others to my list and I basically won’t have time to dive into books as much for a little while.
My intention was to post book reviews regularly, but this year has been a bit busier than expected for us. Also, truthfully, I didn’t even have time to really read that many books until just a few weeks ago; when I really got back into it. Pregnancy would not really let me focus on reading, and once I got into bed at night, I would prefer to turn on a tv show or movie and would just fall asleep right away. In the last few weeks, my reading has picked up drastically, and I’ve gone through at least a book a week – that’s a quick pace for me.
So, although there are many books I still have on my “to read” list that I haven’t gotten to, I wanted to share with you the books I have read so far this year, and loved. Here we go:
The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind by Barbara Lipska
A memoir, both frightening and enlightening. Barbara Lipska tells her story; her experiences and lessons, as a deadly cancer spread through her body. She recounts what happened to her body and brain during that time in her life, and how it affected both her and her family. Although the story recounts many scientific terms and situations, it also greatly touches on the human side of things. For fans of Brain on Fire, this is one that will keep you flipping pages until you’ve reached the end.
Becoming by Michelle Obama
I know, I know. This book came out back in November 2018, but I just picked up a copy a few months ago and read it a few weeks ago. I needed to be in the right mindset for this book. I was very interested to read it, as I’ve heard really great reviews on it, but I wanted to make sure I was fully engaged with the story when reading it,. So, why did it make my top 5 best books of 2019 list? Simple; it’s a true story, it’s inspiring, motivating, and written from a powerful female perspective in the political world. I’ve never been really interested in politics, but seeing/reading things from Michelle’s perspective gave me a new outlook on the world of government. No, she doesn’t go deep into political issues and whatnot, but it was a big part of her life for many years and therefore it’s definitely incorporated within the pages of her book. I also really enjoyed how the book is laid out into three parts; BECOMING. It’s fascinating and inspiring to read her story from the beginning to where she is now,
The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding by Jennifer Robson
Being a fashion girl, this book caught my eye the moment I saw it. Not only is it a historical fiction, it also takes place in one of London (UK’s) designer workrooms, where many of the world’s most famous dresses were designed and created. The story is split into two timelines; 1947 (London) and 2016 (Toronto), to tell the story of the creation of the world famous wedding gown of Princess Elizabeth, as well as the story and lives of those who created it. In general I love historical fiction/non fiction so this was a book I was really looking forward to reading, and it did not disappoint.
I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t recommend a book by Kristin Hannah. Although I read (and reread) a few of her books this year, this one really stuck out for me. As always, Kristin tells her story completely different than any other writer I’ve read.This time, Kristin takes her readers into a small town in Washington, where a mother/wife is coming to terms with her newly changed life situation and identity. A beautifully written story with just enough detail from the author, for the reader to create his/her own image of the tale.
The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff
I really cannot describe this book any better than its actual description: “Vividly rendered and inspired by true events, New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff shines a light on the incredible heroics of the brave women of the war and weaves a mesmerizing tale of courage, sisterhood and the great strength of women to survive in the hardest of circumstances.”
Goodnight from London by Jennifer Robson
Set in London during the 1940’s, Ruby, a New Yorker moves to London to pursue a career at a local London newsmagazine, reporting on the daily and weekly events of 1940’s life in London. This story not only gives insight into the harsh and difficult times in London during the 1940’s but also, provides the reader a look into personal lives of the people living in this city.
***
Well, that’s it for this year in book recommendations, but rest assured I am continuously adding new books to my list and picking up new ones to read. I will definitely be back with more recommendations, and of course, a “Best Books of the Year” list at the end of 2020.
A few weeks ago, we received the sweetest package for our #BabyWiercinski from our dear friends Sabrina and Michael, from The OVer Company. They picked out the most perfect pieces for our girl, and even added some goodies for Mom and Dad too! I had originally planned to wait for our girl to arrive so I could put all these different pieces on her to share with you all, but I can’t hold it in any longer. I’m going to share our new OVer additions now, and then of course there will be a follow up post with #BabyWiercinski modelling them too!
A little bit of background before I jump into things…
I love and admire a good “Girl Boss” story – especially Sabrina’s with her company: The OVer Company! This is the story of a company which literally skyrocketed; developing into one of the best and most trusted brands for moms all over Canada (and internationally). I constantly look back to the day Sabrina first told me of her idea and think WOW. I’m just so proud and happy for her! She made her business dreams come true; and to this day continues to push forward with new ideas and products, simply growing her brand! You go girl! If you haven’t checked out The OVer Company yet, don’t wait any longer – follow this link directly to their website and #GetYourOVerOn !
Nodo Gowns, Blankets, and OVers, Oh My!
Let me start by saying that I have been dreaming of the day when I could finally purchase OVer items for my own child, ever since the company opened. Finally my dreams came true, and instead of just getting things for my friends and family, I am now able to buy things for MY BABY!
This lovely package from Sabrina and Michael came to us filled with goodies and love for our #BabyWiercinski ; I couldn’t have picked out the items better myself!
First and foremost, #BabyWiercinski will start her life with two of the original OVer Company Overs! I literally dreamed of the day I could finally own one of these to use on my own child! We are now the proud owners of two; one in a solid soft pink in the Serene print, and a second in a solid black Eclipse print (this one is for daddy when he takes baby out and perhaps starts feeling a bit too overwhelmed with the amount of PINK everywhere – haha).
The classic OVer Company Nodo Gowns with matching hats! Here we have the Serene print and the Lala (floral) print! These gowns and hats are made from the softest materials! I cannot wait to dress our little bundle of joy in these, as they seem so practical with the fold-over sleeves over the hands, and the open tie up bottoms! Check out these items, as well as the many other Nodo Gowns + Nodo Hats available on The OVer Company website by following this link HERE!
The Butter Blanket and the Swaddle + Car Seat Blanket
Both of these blankets are the softest, most sweetest blankets I have seen for a newborn (and not only). The Lala Swaddle + Car Seat blanket is reversable – one side in a solid grey and the other in the OVer Company original Lala print. The butter blanket can also be used for swaddling and is also made from the softest light weight material. I’m sure we will be using both of these blankets around the clock with our little one as they are SO adorable and so practical!
I don’t think I will ever wear another robe every again! These OVer Mama robes are the softest, comfiest, and prettiest! AND who doesn’t want a matching scrunchie? Not to sound like an overkill but seriously, Sabrina worked her magic on these scrunchies too because literally I LOVE mine and wear it ALL THE TIME! It’s super comfy, the size is ideal, and it actually holds my hair together! Of course these beautiful mama pieces also come in different colours and patterns, all original to the OVer Company!
Here is the packaging for the OVer Mama products – how incredibly practical and pretty! Mama’s deserve sweet treats like this!
I cannot wait to start using all of these products with my little girl when she arrives (the due date is fast approaching), and I promise I will share many photos of her wearing these pieces!
In the meantime, I highly recommend you visit The OVer Company’s website and do some shopping of your own! There are so many amazing items to choose from; from blankets to gowns, and everything in between!
I am so thrilled that now that I will be a Mama, I will be able to shop this brand for my own child! This is literally just the beginning of my #BabyWiercinski’s OVer Collection!
The hospital bags are packed, the baby clothes and blankets washed and ironed, the stroller and car seat are ready, and the baby room is complete. Now we are playing the waiting game for #BabyWiercinski to join us!
We are both so happy that the due date is coming up and that we will be meeting our little girl soon, but we also can’t believe how quickly these last few months have flown by. We were looking at pictures from the last few months and really so much has happened – from finding out we were expecting, to moving into our new house, and travelling – it was such a busy time for both of us.
The truth is, these last few weeks have been a bit more difficult for me, as I’m feeling much more “pregnant”. I’d say I’ve slowly started the winding down process, before I have to pick it up into full speed again when baby arrives. I’ve definitely been feeling much more exhausted, heavy, and simply put, slow recently. Now that I know that everything is ready for her arrival, I think my mind has finally given in and relaxed.
Nonetheless, no matter how nauseous, starving, or exhausted I’m feeling (sometimes all at once), I wouldn’t change this time for the world. I feel so blessed and happy to be on this journey, and already feel so in love with our little girl!
We have ten weeks *officially* left until we meet our baby girl! TEN WEEKS! I can’t believe how fast the time has gone; I feel like it was just yesterday that we found out that we were expecting; just yesterday that I was concerned with the size of my belly and that I wasn’t gaining enough weight. {Today, my belly is perfectly round pushed up in front of me; and I can’t be happier}.
Today, our baby girls room is painted a ballet slipper powder pink; her crib is assembled and ready for the accessories; and her collection of clothing and shoes has already taken up an entire shelf in her walk in closet! *she will take after her parents in the fashion department, for sure*.
Health wise, baby is doing great! She is healthy and growing as expected. Mom on the other hand, although doing great as well *glass half full mentality* is beginning to feel more and more pregnant. Sleeping is difficult and I perhaps get one or two full nights of sleep a week these days. The weight I’ve gained, which is just 10kg in total, is weighing me down like I never thought it would – I’m not used to it, that’s all. My appetite; well, that depends on the day I guess. Some days I could eat all day – everything and anything. Other days; I can’t even imagine putting food in my mouth – the nausea and distaste for food is real.
As I always say though, I am taking all of this with a positive attitude because well OMG there’s a baby, a human being growing inside me! Of course the body will feel and react differently. I’m taking it all one day at a time and still feeling extremely blessed and lucky to be on this adventure. It does help and make it better to have a very supportive partner too – my husband has been an incredible support from the beginning of this journey and I will be forever grateful!
“I just rescued a pair of shoes. They were trapped in the store.”
I’ve attempted that line on my husband a few times, especially in my favourite shoe boutiques such as Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, or Gucci. It works sometimes. But I’d say I’m pretty good at knowing my limits, so it’s actually usually him that’s convincing me to “just take the shoes already – you’ve been thinking this over way too much – let’s just buy them already”. I’d say my husband is the best and spoils me too much – but that’s not what this post is about. So, what’s it about?
LOUIS VUITTON BOOTS!
It may be obvious to some of you already, but I am absolutely IN LOVE with the Laureate Platform Desert Boots by Louis Vuitton; and have been for some time now. The first question I get when I make this statement is usually: “So, why haven’t you bought them yet?”. I don’t really have a good enough reason for this – there always just seems to be something else to spend my money on – can I just say the timing has never been right. I also cannot get over the idea of spending THAT much on a pair of boots. The last time I came close enough to buying them, I dropped twice as much on a bag – but it’s a BAG. A bag I will carry around and watch where I place. Shoes are meant for walking, and shoes get ruined much faster. It’s an internal battle I’ve been having for quite some time now. I’m sure the day will come when I finally crack, but for now, I’m still dreaming.
Okay so, the NEW SEASON is here, and so are the new designs of these gorgeous boots. In all honesty, I’m not that crazy about them and I really do prefer the classic black and beige designs – but nevertheless, here they are for your viewing pleasure!
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Louis Vuitton Shoe Post if I didn’t show you a few other beautiful pairs; which I’m also eyeing (but of course, the desert boots are priority if anything).
|| Top to bottom; starting on the left side. All prices in CAD: || Discovery Ankle Boot – $1720 // Discovery Flat Ankle Boot – $1690 // Jumble Flat Ankle Boot – $2090 // Silhouette Ankle Boot – $1730 ||
Do you remember those blogging days when all I posted were outfit photos – all the time? Well, I miss those days! I was looking back on my Lookbook.nu account and this wave of nostalgia came over me. My first thought was; why did I stop? Immediately after that thought, came my answer : life! That’s the hard truth; I got too busy too fast and couldn’t keep up with taking photos and writing weekly posts about my outfits! I know they say “no excuses” and really, this isn’t an excuse. I LOVE my life and I wouldn’t change my path for anything, but I do miss my outfit posts and sharing them with the world!
Therefore, I’ve created a new goal for myself – to post at least ONE outfit post during the month. I’d say that’s achievable. I’d of course like to do more, but the truth is, especially right now, I mostly spend my days in sweatpants and a hoodie at home under a blanket. PLUS; this beautiful baby growing inside my belly isn’t really allowing me to get all that creative. Although, I won’t lie, I’m still wearing all my regular clothes and they are fitting just fine {except for pants which I definitely cannot zip up…}.
Nevertheless, I am on a mission and I don’t take missions lightly 😉 here is my first take at a style/outfit post. Pregnancy and all; I pulled out my favorite pair of denim {undone, of course} and paired it with my one and only favorite poncho sweater. Autumn is hitting Ottawa quick this year, so I completed the look with a leather jacket, booties, a hat, and my darling LV Palm Springs Backpack. Honestly, I felt GREAT in this outfit! The spacious poncho gave me room to breathe, but also kept me warm enough during the cooler evening. I can’t live without a leather jacket so really no explanation needed there. The jeans; that’s another story but I wasn’t going to give in and wear leggings just yet { I still refuse to buy maternity clothes – I just have one pair of leggings and I hope to manage with that}.
Where did this outfit take me you ask? Well, right into the heart of Student Downtown Life in Ottawa for dinner with my husband and brother. Even though I didn’t actually eat anything here, I enjoyed taking photos of their food.
So, how about that for my first {maternity} look of the day!? Perhaps if I get good at this monthly routine I’ll have to start posting my outfits on external #OOTD sites again! HA!
Hello Week 26 and our last week of the second trimester! As we enter our final trimester of pregnancy I still can’t believe how blessed and lucky we are to be on this journey! Although my pregnancy hasn’t been the easiest; I keep telling myself it really hasn’t been that bad (glass half full a l w a y s !) There have been a few speed bumps along the way; such as the nausea, back pains, headaches, food aversions, appetite breakdowns, and complete lack of sleep, I would do it all again in a heartbeat. The joy that this pregnancy is bringing us is far greater than the “pains”.
They say that you feel this type of “it was all worth it” joy once you see the baby, but for me, every time I feel our little girl kick, I light up in my heart and with a smile – that’s our sweet bundle of joy!
In terms of being organized and ready for baby to arrive; I am in a complete standstill. I have MANY ideas for her room, and MANY things on my “need to buy” list. There is still so much we have to do in this area; and it’s stressing me out a bit now that we are coming up at the “three months left” mark! I know myself though, and I know that once I get it all together, I’ll be able to complete it all successfully. I just want to start already but there are so many other things I need to do (or not do – but REST) right now that I can’t put my all into the room. And, I’m the type of person who won’t start something this big, only to be interrupted hundreds of times in between. It has to be done right!
All in all, positive vibes and happy thoughts all around – because that’s how we plan on raising our baby girl!
Ps: I’ve caved and bought my first pair of maternity clothing – leggings! I figured I won’t be able to wear my dresses for much longer {because A U T U M N is here!} so sweaters + leggings it will be. I actually can still fit into my jeans; by wearing them pretty low on my waist, so I figured leggings are the next best thing!
Another summer has gone by and here we are again; my absolute FAVOURITE time of the year! A U T U M N! As I sit on my deck, sipping my decaf coffee, I can’t help but stare out to the beauty around me. Soon enough these wild green forests will start changing colours and turn into a beautiful golden and orange glow, swaying through the warm autumn breeze. Not only does the weather change, but also the season for paper & stationary picks up (hello new notebook collection), retail targets adjust to bring us more cozy and comfy clothing, deliciously scented candles, and cozy home decor which make us want to start up the fireplace and cozy up on the couch with a new book! Did I just paint you a picture of the perfect autumn night in? Because, I definitely did for myself!
September brings us an opportunity for change and re-evaluation for the last bit of the year; especially in terms of goals and achievements. Although it’s the start of a new school year for students, it also brings the start of a refresh for everyone (else). With only a few months left in the year, it’s a great time to re-evaluate our goals; see if there is anything that we still want to achieve this year; and (if you’re a hyper-planner like me) start building and thinking of goals for next year.
For a moment I stopped to think that maybe I’m building up this love for autumn because of how chaotic and busy these last few months of summer have been; but that thought quickly evaporates. AUTUMN has always been my favourite, and all the things that come along with it.
It is true though, that this year, I’ve been awaiting this season more than ever. As our new home is situated in the peaceful countryside, surrounded by hills and forests, I can’t wait to see how the season changes around us. Living a distance away from the noise and pollution of the city has already brought over a sense of peace for me, and I can’t even begin to explain how blessed I feel to be able to call this place my home.
Starting tomorrow, the city of Ottawa will resume to its regularly scheduled programming ; starting with morning traffic and back to school excitement. I too will pick up where I left off with planning and coordinating for what’s up ahead. Stay tuned for more baby + mama related posts as we enter into the third trimester of pregnancy, as well as posts about lifestyle + adventures of our life and lessons in our new home. And of course, I will work in a few outfit/shopping posts – it wouldn’t be The Prettier Life without fashion, now would it!?
