At this time of year it brings me great joy to get into the back of my closet, bring out my knee-high boots, smile widely and say: “hello girls!” My hair goes a little darker, bouquets of sunflowers adorn my kitchen table, my slow cooker comes out more often, and fall fashion is my favourite; I love all the jewel tones, the sweaters and boots (oh the boots!). I’ve had to work very hard to narrow down this season’s list to just these few of my favourite things, so in the interest of space unfortunately some things had to be omitted.
From Mark’s: Sofie Knee-High Boots
I don’t think I’ve ever met a boot I didn’t like… and these are no exception. The Sofie boots are a suede-like material, making them just a little dressier than my faux-leather boots. Denver Hayes is a brand I can trust for longevity, which I need because I like to wear my boots a lot. I can dress these up with a skirt and thick tights or down with jeans, and they feel fabulous on!
From M&M Food Market: Cranberry Brie
Cheese is one of my go-to comfort foods, and brie is a particular weakness of mine. Wrap that beauty up in puff pastry with cranberries and apples? Oh my soul! So. Good. I like to have mine with a fresh baguette from COBS Bread, grapes from Fairway Market and a bottle of the next thing on my list:
From Signature BC Liquor Store: Kim Crawford Pinot Noir
No one would call me a connoisseur of wine, but I know what I like. I tend to reach for VQA Pinot Noirs from the Okanagan, and have been told that because New Zealand has a similar climate, I’d probably enjoy reds from there too. Kim Crawford did not disappoint. Great with a meal (or gooey, delicious brie!) or great paired with nothing more that conversation.
From Nygard: Lola Faux Fur Reversible Coat
This coat is true luxury. Soft, glorious and it looks amazing. The faux fur will keep you warm during the winter months, and if you’re looking for a more subdued look, reverse it to only have fur trim. Psst… it comes in a beautiful charcoal grey too!
From la Vie en Rose: Hooded Short Robe
Because who doesn’t want a hooded, fuzzy robe with ears? If you don’t, I’ll bet there’s someone on your Christmas list who does!
From Coles: Fraiche Food, Full Hearts
The dynamic duo of designer Jillian Harris and dietitian Tori Wezzler have put together a beautiful book filled with recipes that are easy to follow, with ingredients that you can find in your local grocery store (yes, Fairway Market!). Rekindle your love for cooking with this kitchen staple.
From Quilts Etc: Warm Blankets
A perfect fall evening for me is on my couch, cuddled in a blanket with a mug of herbal tea (or a glass of red wine), my kids and a good movie on Netflix. Since I have three kids, I also have need for a lot of blankets. I like to have a variety of fabrics, colours and sizes to choose from. Quilts Etc has me covered (see what I did there?).
I’ve had to leave a lot of wonderful Westshore Town Centre finds off my fall wish list, and I know your top picks might be a little different than mine. What I’m particularly grateful for (and I think we can all agree on this) is that I can run all my errands and get everything I need at Westshore Town Centre as a one-stop-shop. In today’s busy world, that’s a valuable gift.
-Kelly M.