Staying active and staying outdoors is the theme here in Montana. Yesterday’s activity was a five hour snowshoe hike in the northwest tip of Yellowstone National Park led led by our fearless leader, Ken from Yellowstone Safari Company. An amazing day trekking through snow enjoying the natural beauty of a constant changing landscape.
Peaceful and untouchedKen led us with enthusiasm and an abundance of local knowledgeBear claw sightings
One learns how vast this land is when you put on snowshoes and think you are going to just take a hike to explore Yellowstone. Yellowstone is so large that five hours of adventure trekking just gave me a taste of the majestic environment. Although no wildlife was spotted on this outing, a distant grizzly sighting would have been amazing. I did feel like a humble trespasser in their vast home of unspoiled wilderness. It is breathtakingly beautiful and nature is meant to be respected and enjoyed.
UntouchedCoffee, snowshoeing, and mountains is pretty spectacular!Found a lovely spot for lunch under the trees with the sun keeping us warm
The day started off chilly but by the end I was peeling off layers of clothing. It was a bluebird day. I have a few more wrinkles from the sun but they will be a constant reminder of this beautiful day!
Style is whatever you make it. I have always been interested in following fashion in my spare time via insta, Flipboard, Pintrest, and magazines. I enjoy sitting in cafes to watch the city style pass me by. I love when someone is rocking their own style. It is not about what is on trend or what bag your sporting but more importantly being an individual and what inspires you.
Currently, I am having fun with functional winter pieces. It is still winter ladies (hopefully not for long)! I am totally digging track pants, black turtlenecks, boots, and my beanies (sounds a bit boring). My every day life is moving around the city and running around with my son. A lot of what I wear seems to be pieces that I have collected over the years (which makes me happy).
At the end of the day, I am a casual gal kicking it in streetwear. Loving that jeans are the norm and I can alternate them with track pants. Currently I have a couple jeans that seem to be in heavy rotation. One being a black mid rise, fitted jean from Madewell, and the other a Simon Miller, high rise, wide bottom leg. I call those gems my man repellers (brilliant name by the way and I love the site of the true Man Repeller). I typically pair any bottom with an easy knit or sweatshirt and occasionally layer on a blazer. Along with one of my favorite kicks or my Hope or Church’s boots depending on my day. Throw on a coat that suits the weather and top it off with a beanie. Easy Peasy and out the door.
Black on BlackStreet Boot from HopeBasic uniform with some edge: high rise denim, black Zara sweater, black boot, and Jennifer Meyer x Barneys coat.Beanie & Sweatshirt (pretty much my winter uniform)My Man Repeller jeans and I love them!Now A Vintage A.P.C. jacket (scored 6 or 7 years ago). Hands down my favorite go to jacket.Church’s!Heavy rotation on the adidas track pants. Worn with black turtleneck, vans or low heels.Everyday! The beanie that never comes off and the sweatshirt that I cherish.
Why the beanie love: I love the warmth, love to hide my bad hair, love the look, and love to sport it around the house:) Either my black Acne beanie or my son’s Vans beanie. As one has seen on most of my insta pics this season.
It can be such a mixed bag of winter weather when one heads to New England’s ski mountains. The range of weather is unpredictable. We travel to Vermont pretty much every weekend in the winter. The boys are skiers. I am at best a fair weather skier. I do love the idea of skiing but the cold scares me as well as tumbling down the trail with my butt and skis in the air. It is also important to mention that I am painfully slow! So I try to spare my family’s embarrassment and opt for snowshoeing or a trail hike. But when I do surprise my family when I put on the skis, it is always so nice to take a few runs with my boys! Later this week we head to Montana so I have put together a winter post as I pack just the essentials.
I require warm gear to embrace the elements. I love warm layers. I have great luck with both Nike (PRO HYPERWARM line) and Under Armour (Cold Gear Armour line) for base layers. My KJUS jacket is one of my best investment pieces. It is from their Freelite collection. It is knitted, warm, and super comfortable to wear. This Swiss company simply makes great products that are designed for function. Mittens, I love my tried and true Hestra and beloved by many outdoor enthusiasts but my Astis are a nice alternative. A new find that I am enjoying are some playful bandanas that are double lined. I also find them handy for the post hat head. I found them in Big Sky and unfortunately they have no label so I can’t share the source. The idea is planted so you could make them yourselves if you are crafty! Perhaps isostilo may surprise you down the road. I have included some snow/hiking boots. La Sportiva boots are the best that I have found. I wear them snowshoeing and they keep my feet dry, warm, and have molded perfectly to my feet. I pair them with some Smartwool socks and off I go!
I am always happily hunting for warm pieces. Here are a few pieces that are similar to what I own and a few extra pieces that I wouldn’t mind adding to my winter wardrobe. It’s all about getting out to play with just the right pieces.
Always in the mix for layering in the warmth
All about the base with Under Armour and neck bandanas
Wild accessories, more layering options from Nike and new addition, kjus Freelight jacket
Jacket from KJUS
Purist Gore Tex Pant from The North Face
Moto Seamless Base Layer Top from Sweaty Betty
Moto Seamless Base Layer Bottom from Sweaty Beaty
Smartwool PH D Ski Light sock
Fleece Neck Gaiter from Patagonia
Hestra Swiss Wool Loft Mitten
Hestra Power Heater Mittens, The Mother of All Mittens!
Pop of color: If you want some fun retro bottoms then check out these little fancy bottoms from Shinesty. Only to be worn in warmer temps. I whipped them out recently when the temps were in the 30’s. They have a similar feel to yoga pants. Hello!
Pop of fun from Shinesty
Goal: More skiing! Fingers crossed that there are plenty of sunny days, no ice, no wind, low crowds and plenty of fresh powder that drops each night (my skiing requirements, not much to ask for:)
Funny how a snowstorm can stop you in your tracks. Over the weekend much of the East coast was recovering from a massive snowstorm followed by ridiculously chilly temperatures. The city of Boston and surrounding areas came to a halt and schools were canceled after just coming off the holiday break. Parents very much welcoming the reunion with routine.
Mother nature had a different agenda. What came from this was sort of magical. A flashback to my childhood. I remember winters filled with snow days. Days that kept me outside like it or not playing in the snow, pond skating, making snow angels and building snow forts. My brother and I had the rosy cheeks, frozen toes, and dressed like Ralphie’s little brother in A Christmas Story. All to be followed by Nestle hot chocolate with all the good stuff.
This weekend my son, Aleisi, and his visiting buddy, Hashim, relished in winning the lottery of a school cancellation for two consecutive snow days. They played outdoors for endless hours despite the frigid temps. It took no convincing. They were drawn to the fluffy, white, fresh snowfall that came to cover their knees. They shoveled sidewalks for cold hard cash, built snow forts, and enjoyed snowball fights. It was so fun to watch from the window. Kids being kids and enjoying the magic of a snowstorm and the bonus of an extra long weekend. Hot cocoa was enjoyed throughout the weekend and we even took in some ice skating. That was unexpected fun! Many laughs at myself (and I admit at others) but in the best ways! It has been some time since lacing up skates and pretending to be Dorothy Hamill. Still working on that:) I relived my childhood though the eyes of a ten and an eleven year old but from the comfort of inside while sipping hot coffee. It was fun to slow down and embrace the weather. But now I would love the snow to melt. We have things to do! xo
All in on the cocoa!
Coffee with a view
On top of the world
I loved Dorothy Hamill and I had the haircut to prove it!
