You guys, how is it already December __?! I can't believe we're already this deep into the Holiday season. Life definitely seems to speed up this time of year, and if you don't make a conscious effort to take in the festivities, it all seems to pass in the blink of an eye. This year I'm going to try to make the most of every second, which for me really boils down to a few key traditions— heading home to Victoria to spend time with loved ones, watching every classic holiday movie known to man, checking out the Christmas trees at the Empress Hotel, and baking at least one festive treat with my mom. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, not necessarily. Last year I didn't even get to watch Home Alone let alone the less paramount titles on my list, and I'm pretty sure the sugar cookies and gingerbread were non-existent. But not this year. A priority list has been set, baking ingredients have been purchased, and I've been making real progress on that holiday shopping list of mine. Heck, I even put up my tree on the first of December, which is saying something for me. In short, the mistakes of yesteryear will not be repeated... I'm ready for you, Christmas!

A big part of getting ready for the holidays for me also centres around outfit planning and tracking down a few festive additions to my wardrobe. Clothing has always been such a big part of my life, and I remember even as a child how getting that new velvet dress or embroidered sweater to wear during the holiday season made me feel— excited and ready for anything. And other than the fact that adult Vickie doesn't wear dresses or shop at Oshkosh anymore, not much has changed. You guys know me; I'm a casual girl at heart, so I like to focus on accessories to elevate my holiday look instead. In fact, the moment I saw this Studded Beret, leopard coat and velvet bag from Winners, I knew they were exactly what I was looking for. The colour palate felt very holiday-appropriate to me, as did all the materials and textures. And when paired with an ultra-soft cashmere cardigan (my latest obsession) and a great pair of suede pumps, I became officially holiday-ready while still remaining true to myself... bless.

I always seem to gravitate towards Winners this time of year in particular for those special pieces you can't find anywhere else (their beret selection was unbelievable the last time I was in there), as well as to stock up on gifts for the fam. My mom in particular is a big Winners nut, and every time I head back home to visit, we have a mother-daughter date there— complete with a caramel brûlée latte. I guess that's another holiday tradition to add to the list!