Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of my faithful readers!  I hope 2017 brings you and your family all that your heart desires.

Scrambling to get the tree up on Christmas Eve.  Here is Monsieur giving it a good watering whilst wearing his Santa slippers.

LBH Christmas Gift Guide for Men 2016

Whoa, is Christmas just around the corner already?  Even though I have been diligent all year in decluttering my home, I don't try and force a spartan mindset on friends and family during the Holiday Season.  If not at Christmas, what other time can one relax a wee bit and ooh and aah over lovely things?   I put together a little Gift Guide for Men because, let's face it, men are hard to shop for.  At least, I find them hard to shop for especially when considering something other than the standard fare of shirt, tie and socks.  I asked Monsieur for his input but he said that he was drawing a blank. Hah! It is a very edited and curated list with a decidedly Canadian slant, just to kickstart your imagination!

First up is a gift set from Acqua Di Parma.  Holiday Season is usually the time when fragrance houses bring out their gift sets.  While pricey, they can be a better deal than buying everything separately.  Monsieur loves Acqua Di Parma.  I got him Acqua Di Parma Colonia Essenza for his birthday which was just in November so this set won't be sitting under the tree for him.  This set is $152.00 CDN at Saks.

via saksfifthavenue.com

For those frosty Canadian winters, there is nothing more cozy than a pair of Garneau sheepskin slippers.  Best yet, they are a Canadian company.  All of their slippers are made by hand in Quebec and come in a large range of colours and styles.  The mules are $95 CDN.  Monsieur's parents got him a pair of moccasins for his birthday so he and I can attest that they are sublimely soft and comfy.

via garneauslippers.com

Speaking of eminently Canadian, of course I have to mention the iconic Hudson's Bay Point Blanket.  It comes in a variety of colourways in case the traditional red, yellow, green and black stripe is a bit too log cabin-ish for your suburban man.  

via thebay.com

The Millenium Point Blanket, from $325.00 to $550 CDN is in a tasteful neutral colourway of taupe and brown and would not look out of place in a downtown condo.

If that special man in your life is a foodie, then an apron from The Blunt Roll is just the ticket.

via thebluntroll.com

The Blunt Roll is a local Toronto-based shop that specializes in aprons made of denim and leather.  The aprons can be rolled and double as a knife roll, hence the name.  The original apron, pictured above is $170.00 CDN. Hurrah for supporting local, small businesses!

Lately, I have been seeing a lot of university students walking around in Moose Knuckles coats and jackets.  They are a Canadian company that seems to have taken over the winter outerwear scene.

via mooseknucklescanada.com

This parka is the Yellowknife Parka $895.00 CDN.  Well, I guess if it's good enough for the Millenials, it's good enough for Monsieur.

Oh my, my brain is whirling now!  Time to start making lists.  Do you find men hard to shop for?  Any suggestions?  Please let me know!

This is not a sponsored post.  There are no affiliate links although such links may be added in the future.

LBH November Favourites: Kate Spade Tasha Tote Bag

It is time for another Monthly Favourites!  I have only one favourite to highlight this month for reasons I will explain in a bit.  My father gave me my Christmas present early.  It is a Kate Spade tote bag.  I believe the style is called "Tasha Foster Court" in aubergine and rose.

It was a complete surprise.  I love the contrasting lighter interior as it means that I am not madly scrambling for my keys in the gloomy depths.  The deep plummy colour has got me thinking that this could be one of my favourite colours for a winter wardrobe as it is a dark colour that has warmth to it without the starkness of black or the boldness of red.  I must say I adore gifts that are gorgeous, practical and much needed.  Where I live, there are quite a few grocery stores that charge 5 cents per bag as a way to encourage customers to bring their own tote bags.  I have gotten into the habit of bringing a tote bag everywhere I go.  However, I found that my previous one was now too big and cumbersome as I injured the rotator cuff in my right shoulder recently.  And then, because my left shoulder was taking the brunt of the work that my right shoulder used to do (I am righthanded), the left rotator cuff conked out as well.  Shampooing and doing my hair became hard for me.  Putting away the dishes and getting dressed became agonizingly tough.  Most days are spent in a fog as I usually spend the nights tossing and turning in pain.  And yes, typing away on my laptop is arduous and painful.  My doctor says that it could take up to a year to heal.  A year!  If I think too much about it, I will just become overwhelmed.  I have been taking magnesium supplements because I heard it was good for the bones but if you have any suggestions on other vitamin or mineral supplements that would be good for the ligaments and bones, please let me know!

This week I am linking up with Share Your Cup.