Sleep Now and Hold Your Peace

Preparing for the holiday season means there are many things to do and remember. There is one key thing that anyone can do to keep up your energy and keep stress at bay.

What is this secret? Sleep! With enough sleep, you can take on your worst relative, the busiest shopping mall, or the crankiest Santa.

Yet at such a busy time of year, sleep can be hard to find. Here are two of the worst enemies of a good night’s sleep:

Alcohol

With all the parties of the season, more alcohol will likely be flowing your way. Even though drinking can make you feel tired, it actually leaves you less rested.

According to an article at WebMD, alcohol interferes with your REM sleep (the deepest level of sleep), when your body’s systems are restored to face the new day. Depleted of REM sleep, you’ll feel tired, irritable and fog-headed. That’s no way to enjoy the holidays!

Change to routine

No matter what kind of wonderful sleep oasis you’ve created for yourself during the rest of the year, when you get off your routine your sleep quality can go right out the window.

One trick is to create a Plan B and have it ready. Plan B is essentially a shorter, simpler routine that still incorporates some healthy habits.

For example, while you may usually do a 15-minute yoga stretching session before bed, Plan B might be two minutes of deep breathing and one quick stretch.

That way, you’re not throwing out all your good intentions and it will be easier to get back to your full routine the next night.

For more ideas, see our earlier post with tips for better sleep and this post about restful sleepwear ideas.

P.S. Want to take away more holiday stress? Have a few hostess gifts prepped and ready (e.g., a bottle of wine decorated with a tree ornament or a bag of Fraktals chocolates), and consider registering at your favourite store to give your loved ones a hand when buying for you.

Lingerie Tips for Bridesmaids and Mothers of the Bride

While bridal dresses may have a built-in corset, bridesmaids and mothers of the bride usually need to take care of that foundation separately.

After all, you’re going to be in many of the wedding photos, and also want to make the best impression in those important mementos. With the investment you’ve already made on the dress, shoes, hair, accessories and more, don’t neglect the essential ingredient of an attractive and comfortable wedding day outfit.

Without proper-fitting lingerie, mothers of the bride and bridesmaids may not feel or look your best, constantly adjusting or pulling at straps or waistlines, instead of focusing on the precious occasion.

Depending on your outfit, bridesmaids and mothers of the bride may need:

• Strapless bra
• Halter bra - if the front of your dress comes down lower, you can try a transferable bra that can either go across the back or be worn like a regular bra
• Control wear for nice smooth lines

Tips for buying lingerie for a special occasion:

• Plan ahead and shop early (some items and sizes may need to be special ordered)
• Bring the dress or a photo of you wearing the dress
• Have a professional fitting - you'll be amazed the difference it makes and once you have a proper fitting bra you'll want to wear it every day

Fun Ideas for Bridal Showers

Are you planning a bridal shower this summer? Here are some ideas to spark your creativity:

Boasting a beautiful waterfront, Barrie would be the perfect place for a bridal shower on the beach (check out these décor ideas). Set up manicure and pedicure stations for the ultimate pampering experience for the bride and her guests.

Match the shower theme to the bride’s interests, whether that means starting with a round of golf or a DIY craft activity. Then move on to refreshments, gifts and party games.

Purse bingo is perfect as an icebreaker for groups where not everyone knows each other. Make up some bingo cards with common (and not so common) items, and call out one at a time. The catch is you have to find someone else who has the item in their purse – it can’t be in your own purse. When you find someone with the item, circle the item on your card, until someone fills up a row and calls “Bingo!”

A lingerie store is a fun and unique setting for a bridal shower. Guests can bring cash instead of gifts, and the bride creates a wish list of lingerie items to spend her gift dollars. All guests can have a personal fitting to see and feel the latest products on the market. If guests do choose to purchase anything, some stores like Brabary apply a portion of that amount towards the bride’s purchase.

Wherever your bridal shower is located, the one-size-fits-all Hanky Panky thongs make a fabulous gift. You can even throw in a pair of Saxx for the groom.

Spring Colours for 2014

The snow mountains are melting, the grass is peeking out, and the temperatures are finally starting to climb – yes, spring is here! From our first glimpse at the colours and designs, we had the sense that this spring is going to be fun. We’re all tired of the dark and dreary of winter, let’s come out of that and get a little more lighthearted and play!

We’re seeing more on the coral line of colours, with a punch of neon. This makes for an interesting contrast, where you might have a coral blush pink bra with just a pop of chartreuse (neon green). It’s a fascinating juxtaposition of bright colours onto these nice subtle colours.

Bright green is a popular colour trend for the spring, while different shades of blue will be ongoing right into fall. Blue has already been around for awhile, so it’s surprising how long it’s hanging on!

At Brabary we’ve even brought in a little bit of white, in keeping with the North American trend of white and nude t-shirt bras and white lace. Now keep in mind that whites don’t stay white for long. They get yellow very quickly, so if you’re refurbishing your wardrobe, you might want to choose some new articles to brighten things up.

As the temperatures heat up, it’s also worth looking at technical fabrics that breathe better and keep you more comfortable. Rather than rigid, molded cups, they use what’s called a spacer or 3D fabric – it’s like a weave with pockets of air in between.

As with the start of any new season, this may also be a good time to be fitted and make sure your bras are still fitting properly. Your bra should be supporting 65% of the weight of your breast tissue. If it’s not fitting properly, you’re carrying that weight in your neck and shoulders, which can cause headaches, back pain, neck pain and irritability.

If it doesn’t fit properly, your bra can be your worst enemy. If it does, it can be your best friend.

Beautiful Swimwear Made in Canada

With the frigid temperatures and extreme weather we’ve seen so far this winter, we thought it was time for some warm weather fantasy.

At Brabary we’re always looking for beautiful new products to bring to our clientele. Known internationally but designed and produced right here in Canada, Canadian-made SHAN swimwear and resort wear is recognized for their soft fabrics and gorgeous artistic patterns.

SHAN was founded in 1985 by designer Chantal Levesque, and by their fourth year they were already winning awards (Miami Swim Show). SHAN can be found in some of the prestigious stores around the world, including Harrods, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Holt Renfrew.

After observing their consistent quality, we knew our customers would appreciate this beautiful and well-made line and SHAN designs are now available at Brabary.

As our vendor it was also important to see how SHAN stands behind their products and their  commitment to customer service. Because they’re in Canada, we can order in any of their products – regardless of whether we carry it in the store – and usually have it within the week.

From design to production to customer service, SHAN is top Canadian quality all the way, and we are so pleased to feature their swimwear and resort wear in our store.

Things to do on Valentine’s Day

This year in Ontario, Valentine’s Day falls on the same weekend as Family Day. This is a wonderful opportunity to plan activities with people you love – whether a romantic partner, your children, extended family, or good friends.

Look beyond the typical dinner and movie and consider meaningful activities that everyone will enjoy. Consider adding some physical activity like ice skating, snowshoeing, or just a brisk winter’s walk to give everyone a chance to keep up with your healthy resolutions for the New Year. Check out the skating track at Arrowhead Park, just north of Huntsville. Or go for a lovely snowshoe in the Copeland Forest, off Highway 400 extension. There’s so much to do in our beautiful part of the world and what a perfect way to show love to yourself and others!

You can also extend that loving spirit to think about how you can help those in need and improve things in your community. Volunteeringwith your kids can be a bonding experience for the whole family that’s full of rich life lessons.

In this month of romance, why not think about how you can bring more love into all of your relationships?