Subscribe
Search

Entries in Shopping (187)

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 ;) 

 

Monday
Oct022017

FLOWER POWER | 10 Ways to Pull Off Fall's Floral Trend

via @howimetmystyle

Originally posted in The Fashion Scoop

While summer might be officially over, I'm not ready to say goodbye just yet. Luckily, the fashion world isn't great at letting go either. One only has to glance at any fashion influencer to see that when it comes to fall fashion, it's all about embracing the season with a healthy dose of denial. Yup, I'm talking fall florals. The runways were loaded with moody blooms that perfectly echo our feelings about fall. We love it, we're ready for it, but at the same time, those lasting memories of gardens in bloom and a long, lazy summer can't help but bring us joy. The leaves might be falling but our wardrobes are just getting ready to bloom - think embroidered floral sweaters and jeans, pretty floral ankle boots, and fun floral printed pants that bring life to our solids and let us think warm thoughts. Alright fall we're ready for you...kind of..sort of...;)

READ MORE...

 

Wednesday
Sep132017

SHOP TALK | How to Slay Fall for Under $100

Love this pretty knit from Reitmans

Originally posted in The Fashion Scoop

I have a growing list of concerns when it comes to fall shopping. First, the jeans. My old ones look old, but not old enough to look vintage, so I need new ones that look vintage but aren't, if you know what I mean. Then, the sweaters - I mean, nothing gets you over the loss of summer faster than a cozy oversized sweater paired with perfect boots. Speaking of which, don't even get me started on boots. You'd only have to glance at my bursting closets to realize I do n.o.t. need new shoes but somehow, every fall, there I am taking home blue velvet ankle boots that I 'had to have' and over-the-knee suede boots that I literally 'could not live without'. So many wants. So many bills. 

While I firmly believe in investing in quality pieces that you love, I've found loads of fantastic pieces that fall well within my shopping budget this year. The stores are loaded with cozy, well-made finds that you can add to your existing wardrobe now to get it right up to date. Silver shoes, beautifully detailed knits, and subtle hits of soft pink, purple and olive green give me all the feels I need to get pumped up for the season ahead. Scroll through the thumbnails below to get your fall fashion fix. Did I mention there's nothing over $100 on this list? #slay

SEE MY UNDER $100 FALL FINDS HERE...

 

Friday
Sep012017

FALL FORWARD | The 5 Trends You'll Be Living in This Fall

Red hot at Max Mara via Vogue

Originally posted in The CLOSET

I know, I know. I said the F word. And it's still officially summer. As your humble fashion blogger, though, I feel it's my duty to to ease you and your wardrobe gently in the direction of what's next because let's face it: fall fashion is the bomb. You've probably stopped buying summer things by now and started noticing the new crop of fall temptations already in stores so I'm here to help get you up to speed. I've rounded up 5 of the season's most wearable trends, some of which you can start rocking now if you like. From cool silver to red hot red, from new-school brooches to pretty fall florals, I'm seriously loving what's coming next...

READ MORE...

 

Friday
Aug252017

BACK-TO-SCHOOL 101 | 50 School-Ready Scores for the Rest of Us

via Blackwell Supply Co.

Originally posted in The CLOSET

I've never believed in letting kids have all the fun. I'm not saying kids shouldn't have any fun - that would make me the worst -  I'm just stating that fun should be shared by all ages, don't you think? And when it comes to fall shopping, we should never stop getting those back-to-school feels. There's a certain sadness about saying goodbye to summer for sure; but there's also that feeling of anticipation, of wondering what's coming next, of starting fresh.

Since September's widely considered to be the real start of the new year in the fashion calendar, now is the time to take stock of your stuff, donate the old/ugly/ill-fitting and shop for some new things. Whether you're a teen, a twenty-something, or are someone like me who basically just loves any excuse to shop, I've rounded up 50 of my fave school-ready finds below. You might be going to an actual school; I'm currently enrolled in a school called life. It's a stretch, I know. Either way, we all need to shop, right? Happy new school year, lovelies! Hope you're enjoying every last little minute of summer xx

SEE MY 50 PICKS HERE...