Hubby and I will be heading out for a few days of skiing in a week or two. Maybe. Hopefully. Fingers and toes crossed. We're not making firm plans because, well, snow. Or the lack of snow, more like it. Our January weather can be unpredictable; we may have a big dump of snow one day, followed by rain, freezing rain and a big thaw the next. But I'm planning my getaway outfits just in case.
This is what I'll be wearing, above, after the skiing is done. My Stuart Weitzman ankle boots, my old black Vince leggings, and a black and white print Noujica long-sleeved tee which I bought over a year ago at Canopy on Richmond Road, in Ottawa. Noujica is based in Montreal, they have a small collection, design their own fabric, and I just noticed on their website that you can buy pieces from past collections. You can check out my shirt here. I'll also throw on my new Uniqlo ultra-light down jacket. I love this jacket. It weighs next to nothing and is surprisingly warm. I like the slim cut; trust me, I do not need more "puffa" on top. Ha. And it looks great with my black and white tee, and my new black and white neck warmer, doesn't it? Oooh... look at me mixing prints for probably the very first time.
You probably haven't noticed, but I'm trying very hard to get used to the bolder shade of lipstick I bought back in November. I utilized some lip-liner pencil today, blotted my top lip like there's no tomorrow, and added gloss on the bottom lip. And I'm quite happy with the results. I've also started wearing eye make-up again. I lasted the two weeks after my cataract operation wearing nothing at all on my eyes, then wore only a bit of shadow, no eye-liner, and a teensy swish of mascara for another two weeks, but today I was full-on back to what I normally wear. I am, however, much, much more comfortable with barely there eye make-up now. Which is a good thing, I think. Makes it so much easier just to pop into the village. And I'm sure when we travel and need to be on the road, Hubby will be happy with a few minutes less waiting time in the mornings.
The shot above is of Hubby and me on Boxing Day, skiing our turkey and stuffing off, so to speak. I'm sporting my new neck-warmer for the first time. And my new socks and ski underwear. I laughed when I saw this selfie. Hubby's balaclava comes up over his lower lip, and he looks a bit like a shield biting Berzerker, those ancient Norse warriors who were so fierce they bit their shields before they went into battle. He only needs a shield. Seriously, check them out here. Now tell me that didn't make you laugh too.
Now, I really have to finish this post. Since I began writing this morning after breakfast, I started the laundry, then went skiing for a couple of hours. It was so warm out today that most of the gorgeous snow in my shots is now mushy, or melted. The trail was icy and very quick when we started skiing, and melted almost down to the grass on the way home. I did a major butt plant side-stepping down one icy side-hill, then couldn't get up. It's hard when your feet and legs are uphill from the rest of you. We laughed that I had "really stuck my landing," as they say in gymnastics. Except in my case, I landed and then was stuck there. Ha. Then after we came home from skiing, I carried on writing, had lunch, read a bunch of blogs, commented on some, read my book for a while, and finished the laundry. Now it's late afternoon, Hubby is making dinner, and I'm still pounding away on the computer. I am nothing if not easily distracted.
That's my serious "What the heck is going on with this thing? What button did I press?" face in the shot below. It's very similar to my "get back to work" face that I used with recalcitrant students. So I will utilize it here to chastise myself for procrastinating this afternoon. "Sorry, Miss."
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Après ski outfit |
I won't need to pack much. Mostly my ski wear. I have a few much needed new pieces for wearing on the trail. Hubby and I visited Bushtukah, our favourite outfitters store, in December, and he bought me my not-a-Christmas gift. New Helly Hansen Lifa ski underwear (top and bottoms), some cosy ski socks, and a gorgeous Buff neck warmer that is soft and light-weight, and can be pulled up and over my head, and even over the lower half of my face, for added warmth on those really cold days.
I am a difficult fit when shopping for active wear. My legs are too long for many women's pants, or long underwear, or anything on the bottom, really. And, if the pants are long enough, they are often way baggy in the rear-end and around the hips. Once, when I despaired of ever finding Gortex pants that fit, a resourceful sales clerk at Mountain Equipment Co-op suggested that I should try a men's size small. Men's pants are usually longer in the leg, and smaller through the hips. That worked a treat, and I wore those pants fishing and canoeing and skiing for years. She said that most women's active outerwear is designed for the women who excel at those sports, and their body is generally shorter in the legs and more muscled through the thighs and butt than mine. But I always have good luck with Helly Hansen. Here and here are the links to the ski underwear I bought. Both tops and bottoms are currently on sale at Bushtukah.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| I love my new neck warmer. It goes from ski to après ski effortlessly. |
So yeah, I'm happy to have new base layer pieces, particularly bottoms that can slip easily under my jeans, as well as under my ski pants. And a top that doesn't irritate my neck. Most of the base layer tops are mock turtlenecks with a zipper in the neck, and, ouch, that tiny zipper always leaves a big red welt on my sensitive skin. But the crew neck suits me fine. Especially with this lovely neck warmer, above, to keep my neck and chin warm and toasty.
So I'm all set for the trails. And I'll only pack one après ski outfit, for wearing to dinner. It doesn't need to be fancy; we won't be staying at the Ritz. Not that there IS a Ritz where we're going.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| I love this outfit. If you see me on the streets of Ottawa this winter, I'll probably be wearing this. |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| My new neck warmer off the trails |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| On the ski trail on Boxing Day |
Now, I really have to finish this post. Since I began writing this morning after breakfast, I started the laundry, then went skiing for a couple of hours. It was so warm out today that most of the gorgeous snow in my shots is now mushy, or melted. The trail was icy and very quick when we started skiing, and melted almost down to the grass on the way home. I did a major butt plant side-stepping down one icy side-hill, then couldn't get up. It's hard when your feet and legs are uphill from the rest of you. We laughed that I had "really stuck my landing," as they say in gymnastics. Except in my case, I landed and then was stuck there. Ha. Then after we came home from skiing, I carried on writing, had lunch, read a bunch of blogs, commented on some, read my book for a while, and finished the laundry. Now it's late afternoon, Hubby is making dinner, and I'm still pounding away on the computer. I am nothing if not easily distracted.
That's my serious "What the heck is going on with this thing? What button did I press?" face in the shot below. It's very similar to my "get back to work" face that I used with recalcitrant students. So I will utilize it here to chastise myself for procrastinating this afternoon. "Sorry, Miss."
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| What the heck?? |
My last job today is to check out the accommodation list that Hubby left on my desk, so we can make a short list for our upcoming (hopefully, fingers crossed) ski trip... and I really have to go do that now.
But before I go I just want to say that ski or no ski, this après ski outfit is going to become my go-to outfit this winter. If you see me out and about around Ottawa, this is what I'll probably be wearing. I think it looks great. I know I probably shouldn't say that, but I do.
Now... off I go.
So, how about you, my friends? Any favorite outfits you'll be reaching for time after time this winter? Any fun activities coming up in your near future? Even if they are still hypothetical, and might not happen due to weird weather, or other circumstances not in your control? Let's hear what you're up to this January.
Linking up this week with: Visible Monday, #IwillwearwhatIlike, Thursday Favourite Things, #ShareAllLinkup.
But before I go I just want to say that ski or no ski, this après ski outfit is going to become my go-to outfit this winter. If you see me out and about around Ottawa, this is what I'll probably be wearing. I think it looks great. I know I probably shouldn't say that, but I do.
Now... off I go.
So, how about you, my friends? Any favorite outfits you'll be reaching for time after time this winter? Any fun activities coming up in your near future? Even if they are still hypothetical, and might not happen due to weird weather, or other circumstances not in your control? Let's hear what you're up to this January.
Linking up this week with: Visible Monday, #IwillwearwhatIlike, Thursday Favourite Things, #ShareAllLinkup.