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Entries in Made in Canada (42)

Wednesday
Jul082020

100 NIGHTS WITH ENDY | My Real Review

How we feel every time we go to sleep on our Endy mattresses. 

Before kids and pets, I always had this feeling: I’m pretty sure it was called ‘well-rested’.  It’s tough to recall - kinda like trying to remember the feeling of hugging people you just met or sharing popcorn at the movies. But I know it was there and I know it was real. I remember yawning in the morning; that smug, satisfied kind where you yawn and then your mouth slowly stretches out into a smile before you either fall back into bed or casually plan a long, impromptu brunch with friends. Since our babies turned into kids and now tweens, there’s been loads of yawning for sure, but it’s the frustrated kind, followed by some twitching and then a few dozen jugs of coffee and then a bunch of sighing throughout the day. But well-rested? Let’s just say it’s been a minute.

We got our last mattress when we moved into our first apartment 15 years ago. I remember going to the mattress store and feeling so grown-up as we inquired about things like ‘pillow top’ and ‘pocket coils’; this one had both, so we were sold. And I’m not gonna lie: I loved that mattress. But as the years went by, it slowly morphed from a young, springy thing into a tired burrito (for the record, I remain a young, springy thing). I’d start on my side but somewhere around 3 am, I’d end up log-rolling into a well-worn dip in the bed, mouth wide open, pressed directly against my perpetually sleep-deprived husband. I’m a cuddler so this was not really a huge problem for me. While I can sleep through just about anything, James has a few issues that make sleeping extra tough: stomach problems (sensitive), inability to turn his mind off (highly intelligent), back pain (captain of his highschool football team). Age - both our mattresses and his... err, I mean ours -   meant we needed a new mattress. But change is scary. Especially when it comes to something as important as sleep. Were we ready to give up this piece of our shared history to give something else a go? I think you know where this is headed…

 

I’d heard all about Endy and SO many friends of mine had raved about their experience, so when the opportunity to partner with them came up, it just felt right. I did a bunch of research and loved that Endy mattresses are made and manufactured in Canada, plus their comfort and support sounded like just the thing we needed. I like my mattresses on the soft side and James prefers a firm mattress and everyone I asked said that Endy was the perfect balance of both. Unlike memory foam mattresses that sink in the summer and feel hard as a rock in the winter, Endy foam is temperature insensitive so it maintains a consistent feel through every Canadian season. They’re also CertiPur-US Certified AND the only mattress brand in Canada to be GREENGUARD Gold Certified, meaning they meet the most stringent health and environmental standards. Plus, Endy mattresses are bomb at minimizing motion transfer which I knew James would love since I move around a lot and stay up too late watching The Bachelor and other intellectual programming, always (always) waking him up when I trip over something and gracefully crash into bed. Research done, I told Endy we were ready to do this. Just a week before COVID hit, we thanked our old mattresses for the memories, donated them to a local thrift store and waited for our delivery.

Our Endy mattresses arrived on our doorstep that afternoon in some impossibly small boxes. Like, how?? They sent a king-sized mattress for us, a double mattress for our 11 year-old daughter  (who had an even older mattress from James’ university days), plus 4 brand new Endy pillows. James had to go to work that day and I’m impatient, so the kids helped me carry the boxes upstairs and we did the unboxing. It was so easy and honestly so much fun. You cut off the plastic with a little tool that comes in the box, and the mattresses just sort of unroll themselves.

Now the real test: would the mattresses live up to all the hype? 

For the first week, Imma be honest. I was worried. James instantly fell in love with the firmness of the mattress but like I said, I prefer a softer feel and missed that sinking feeling of our old mattress. Now it was my turn to wake up in the middle of the night and look over at James blissfully snoozing away while I stressed about COVID and insomnia. With Chlo’ in her new room and her new bed, she was in heaven, too.

I talked to some friends and they gave me that knowing look and told me “just wait” and “you’ll see.” And sure enough, within a few days I was already over our old mattress. Unlike memory foam that makes you feel trapped, our Endy mattresses give just the perfect amount for our bodies, making them cushy and comfy like you get at a really nice hotel, while still providing just the right amount of support. That ‘perfect firmness’ claim is on point. And it just kept getting better. By month two, James had stopped complaining about his back and shoulder pain and we were both constantly saying, “I l-o-o-o-ve our mattress.” Our new dog, Ollie, constantly sneaks upstairs for naps on our bed (the Endy pillows are his fave). And not sure whether this is a pre-teen thing or if I have the mattress to thank, but 100 days in, Chlo’ is now sleeping in on the regular.

Now that elusive “well-rested” feeling - something I never thought I’d experience again - is finally coming back. And we can sleep extra easy knowing we’re supporting a great Canadian company. Endy works with dozens of charity partners to donate new and gently-used mattresses to families and individuals in need, including new refugees to Canada, women and children exiting the shelter system, and youth transitioning out of homelessness. They’ve donated over 5,000 mattresses - if you stacked them up, that’s 2 times taller than the CN Tower. So good.

Looking for an amazing sleep? With the Endy sale on now until July 13th, now is the perfect time to invest in yourself. Head to https://glnk.io/ykyj/realliferunway to save 10% off your entire Endy order. Check out endy.com for more info. And yes, the pillows and duvet are 100% worth it, too. You're welcome ;) 

 

Friday
Jan242020

2020 VISION | My (Chinese) New Year Fashion Pledge

My Chinese New Year outfit picks for Vaughan Mills (before I added cherry blossoms & fixed the shoes but you get the picture.) L to R: Uniqlo, H&M, Laura, Disney Outlet, Marc Cain, Tommy Hilfiger 

I consider myself a naturally positive person and try hard to keep my champagne glass half full (a girl's gotta play) but TBH, it's been a bit of a rough start to 2020. Between school strikes, seriously meh weather, my kids being sick, this blog crashing for 2 weeks right after I tried to relaunch it, and having to put our dog Fonzie down (heartbreakingly horrible), the year of January has felt E-TER-NAL.

But then Vaughan Mills asked me to be their stylist for a Chinese New Year event and I felt like 2020 was starting to turn around. I booked a collab with Charmin (started from the bottom now we're here), secured a partnership with another big exciting brand (stay tuned for that one) and have started to feel my freelance writing flow again. And so, I've decided to treat Chinese New Year as a second chance for a fresh start. I could pretend that I meant to wait for Chinese New Year to make some resolutions but I'll be honest: with everything going on at home, I just kinda missed the other new year. 

And so, with a renewed sense of hope and a steadfast commitment to a ballin' February, let's celebrate the Year of the Rat. Ermmm, okay, nobody in the fashion world wants to acknowledge that for obvious aesthetic reasons, so let's go with the rat’s close but cuter relative: the mouse. For my styling project with Vaughan Mills, I added Mickey & Minnie Mouse into the mix and, of course, added loads of red for loads of good luck (see above for the lewks). 

Happy belated NY and a most fantastic Feb to you, you beauties! Here are the fashion resolutions I intend to keep this year - while 'guilt-free finds' used to reference budget, it's come to mean a lot more to me as I try to be more mindful of what I buy. None of these pledges are particularly groundbreaking but I find writing things down helps my sticktoitiveness. Hopefully seeing them here will help you, too!

1) BUY LESS, BUY BETTER

For 2020, I'm only buying things I love. Like, actually, 3 o's-worthy looove. I intend to buy fewer things but better things - better quality, better details, better fit. I want my closet to be full of well-curated gems so I never feel like I'm compromising.

2) REPURPOSE WITH PURPOSE

Before donating something, I'm going to first see if there's a way it can be repurposed. As this viral Vogue article so rightly points out, the year of 2020 will be about giving new life to old things. I've given some of my 90s vintage sweatshirts a modern edge by cropping them with a pair of scissors (sometimes lazy = edgy, unlike that time I tried to cut my friend Krista's hair in grade 7). I've found new life in old dresses by layering sweaters over top and adding a belt. When I can't find a way to repurpose, I'll...

3) DONATE AND CONSIGN LIKE IT'S MY OWN SIDE-HUSTLE 

My city is full of amazing consignment shops and clothing donation centres. Nothing goes in the garbage. I'll take the time to consign to make more room in my closet and then donate the rest. Anything that's not in good enough shape for the above, I'll recycle (see below) :)

4) RECONSIDER RECYCLING

Stores like H&M have made sustainability a growing part of their mission statements. Their fabric recycling programs take donated clothing and gives you a coupon in return (ideally to shop their Conscious line). Certain clothing donation programs like Diabetes Canada accept unusable clothing (ie. ripped, stained, torn) and sell them to fund research. Other local programs are doing some incredible work - Markham’s textile recycling program saved 1.4 million kg of clothing from going to the landfill in less than a year - so be sure to search for textile recycling programs wherever you happen to call home. 

5) FOCUS ON FABRICS

While I don't enjoy wrinkles (on my face or my clothes), I really hate the idea that when my clothes eventually end up in a landfill, they will never biodegrade. While natural fibres make their own environmental impact, I still feel that cottons, linens, silks and wool are better choices than man-made. Do your own research (if you dare), and do what makes the most sense for you. I'm a burgertarian so I eat like a vegetarian 90% of the time and then spend 10% of my life in drive-thrus blissfully eating hamburgers. I see fashion the same way - it's impossible to be perfect but every little effort helps. 

6) RENT, ROCK IT, REPEAT

The rental business in Canada is getting more and more attractive, with stores like The Fitzroy, Dresst and Rent Frock Repeat springing up all over the place. If you don't live in Toronto, certain companies offer free shipping and subscription boxes. For occasions like weddings, job interviews, important presentations, a very extra school drop-off (sequin jumpsuits are one surefire way to liven up those early mornings), renting is so. much. fun. 

Ok, I'm out. Off to take a pair of scissors to an old hoodie. Um, wish me luck. xx

Saturday
Jul012017

CANADA 150, EH? | These Fashionable Finds Will Make You Feel SO Canadian

via Roots

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Campfires. Gord Downie. Timmies. Pond hockey. Muskoka chairs. Loon calls. Bautista bat flips. Complaining about the weather. Saying sorry. A lot. Paleness. Patio parties. Backyard bbqs. Justin Trudeau doing push-ups.

We might all be different but there's something about being Canadian that unites us. We work hard but we play harder. We love fiercely, we're polite and we're kind - buuut we still like to cause some trouble because how else could we possibly get through 8 months of winter? We love our nature and we love our summers because we know that before too long, they're gone. We're far from perfect but we're working on it. Most of us have never seen a beaver. And most of us will find that last sentence funny. 

Unlike our American counterparts, our patriotism is a steady, quiet sort. While we love Canada, it's not the decal-your-car-in-Canadian-flags kinda love. But with Canada 150 just a few weeks away, this might be the year to get just a little bit loud. 

Rock maple-leaf hats & sweatshirts from Roots (one of our country's biggest retail success stories) or Made in Canada finds from Le Château. Try flirty dresses from stores that you didn't even know were Canadian or homegrown beauty products to help you embrace your short-lived summer glow. Pick up some new shoes from a Canadian fave (shout-out to ALDO) or treat yourself to a few things from Hudson's Bay.  Love this country as much as we do? Scroll below for some fashionable finds that will help you wear your heart on your sleeve this summer.

Happy 150th birthday Canada! We love you xx

SEE OUR CANADIAN FASHION FINDS HERE...

 

 

Tuesday
Oct042016

STREET SMART | Vaughan Mills Welcomes WLKN to the 6

If you've never heard of Montreal brand WLKN, now's your time to get acquainted. The streetwear store has gained a massive following in Québec and has finally made its way to Ontario with its first GTA store at Vaughan Mills. See what I scored on opening day and get in-the-know about WLKN on the Vaughan Mills blog here...

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Monday
Sep212015

COAT CHECK | The Outerwear Picks You'll Love to Wear This Fall

via Ricki's

Originally posted in The LOOK

I've always believed that a woman can never have too many coats. But if you live in Thunder Bay, you can actually say this and mean it. I mean, between fall and spring, we're talking 8 solid months of outerwear needs. You need a coat you can count on, a jacket that just won't quit and a parka that can prove its worth time and time again.

This fall might be the perfect time to update your outerwear collection. Whether you've actually worn out your old coats or your current coats are simply way out-of-date, we've got loads of new options for you to consider this year. From lightweight vests and anoraks, to fashion slayers that are never an afterthought, to cozy coats that will keep you covered no matter what the forecast brings, see our all-out outerwear edit below. 

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