Gift Guide: Mother’s Day

I’m thrilled to welcome back Daniela to White Cabana. She’s prepared a fantastic gift guide with moms in mind, but as she told me, they’d be great for many people (I couldn’t agree more!). Mother’s Day in Canada is on Sunday, May 12th, if you needed a gentle reminder.

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Hi Everyone! 
My favourite holiday (a tie with Christmas) is right around the corner, and I’m back with a gift guide full of ideas for that special mom in your life.

Is there a mom in your life that is stuck in the T-shirt and leggings style and wants out of the style, but the thought of putting on a pair of jeans is terrifying to her? Well I have a solution—one that got me out of my leggings—Mother jeans! These jeans are not only extremely flattering but are so incredibly comfortable that I never want to take them off. Give the woman in your life a wardrobe pick me up by adding a pair of these to her closet. Trust me she will love them! 

jeans, $340CAD, Mother, Holt Renfrew

Have someone in your life that likes to read and wants to read about a woman that empowers and is relatable? If so, then I recommend picking up this easy read.

Becoming by Michelle Obama, $25CAD, Chapters Indigo

If you want to give something more funny, then pick up the latest book by my go-to author Sophie Kinsella.

Since becoming a mom of two, I rediscovered the knapsack! This is something that I had not worn since my university days. I actually don’t know how people don’t have a knapsack once they have one, two, or more children. I feel like I will need a knapsack full of things for my children for at least the next decade! Here, I’m including both a diaper bag knapsack (which I own) and a non diaper bag option if the mom in your life is past the baby and toddler stage. I’m sure the owner of a new, gifted knapsack will thank you a million times over!

Duo diaper backpack, $32.50USD (on sale), Skip Hop
City Adventurer backpack, $128CAD, Lululemon

It wouldn’t be a gift guide by moi if it didn’t have an element of coffee in it! This next item is on my wish list, so I hope it will be my next upgraded coffee maker for home brewing. This coffee maker brews an incredible cup of coffee. If you don’t believe me, stop in at a Williams-Sonoma as you may just find salespeople brewing coffee from it. Technivorm is handmade in the Netherlands and each coffee maker is individually tested. Learn more here. My wish is for the glass one linked below as I love my coffee from a glass carafe; however, the insulated option is great if you want to brew and take your pot of coffee to work with you.

Have a mom who is “fancy” but who also loves comfort? These sneakers are absolutely stunning (yes I used the word stunning to describe sneakers), and they may just fit in very well in your mom’s wardrobe.

Sneaky Viv buckle leather sneakers, $1485CAD, Roger Vivier, Holt Renfrew

I have always been a big Gucci fan, and I think these sneakers offer a casual yet still luxurious option for someone who is not into the bling as seen in the ones above. 

Ace leather sneakers, $690CAD, Gucci, Holt Renfrew

Finally if you have a mom who is all about giving back and supporting causes, Birks has just released this “bee chic for a cause” bracelet. 100% of the proceeds benefit the Nature Conservancy of Canada. 

Happy shopping! Happy Mother’s Day!

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I think Daniela was right in saying that these items would be great gifts to spoil many ladies in your lives! I think the Birks bracelet is my favourite thing on today’s list. It’s pretty! Thanks for sharing your ideas and time with us, Daniela.

If you’re looking for more gift ideas, check out these White Cabana gift guides.

Two for Tuesday: Staying Warm in (almost) May

Every time I say the word spring, the sunny days leave, and the cold weather returns. I was so happy for a touch of warmth and sunshine on Sunday, and then yesterday, boom, back to gloves and my winter coat! Not fun for a sun-seeker like me.

So, since we have another cold week ahead of us, today, I’m showcasing two items that will keep us warm. And since they’re on sale, today is a great day to buy them!

sweatshirt, $45+, Gap
joggers, $32.99, Gap

Travel: KAI Nikko, Japan

As I mentioned last week in this post, I stayed in five hotels during my two weeks in Japan. I would not hesitate to stay in each hotel again if I had the same itinerary on a future trip. But one hotel definitely stood out to me – Hoshino Resorts KAI Nikko. The hotel is on Lake Chuzenji, which is about a three-hour train+bus trip from Tokyo. It’s a hot spring ryokan which means that it has traditional hot spring baths and the rooms are traditional Japanese, meaning rooms with tatami mats and rice paper screens. Rooms have lake and mountain views with lovely sitting areas, dressing areas, and cedar-lined bathrooms. This place was special.

I stayed at KAI Nikko for two nights and I included breakfasts and dinners in my hotel package when I booked it. It was a good decision to do this because I was spoiled with beautiful and delicious meals, and I was able to meet so many of the hotel staff. Most of the staff spoke perfect English, and their attention to service and detail did not go unnoticed.

the view of Lake Chuzenji and Mount Nantai

Each of KAI Nikko’s spacious rooms (there are only 33) incorporates regional crafts, a yukata and sash for guests to wear at the hotel (along with socks and sandals), and a pretty furoshiki (cloth) for carrying small belongings.

sleeping area
bed frame detail
bathroom
bathroom slippers & tatami mats
wood detail
the room’s beverage station
sitting area in my room
I loved wearing this yukata for two days!

Here’s a quick video I made of my KAI Nikko room.

dinner menu (night 1…it was different on night 2)
sushi
tempura
breakfast on day 1 (it changed day 2)
gorgeous lighting in the library

When I go back to Japan one day, I’m going to see if there are other KAI resorts I would like to visit. I have a feeling that each one is unique and has something spectacular to offer its guests. They also seem to be in locations that are just slightly away from the routes of many tourists.

sunset on Lake Chuzenji

If you’d like to see more of my trip to Japan, check out #WhiteCabanaGoesTo Japan or read these blog posts.

The Friday Five: Things on My Mind

Okay. So here’s what’s been on my mind lately.

1.Travel. One of the things I’m thankful my parents did for me was to expose me to languages and countries of the world. They traveled with two young kids all over the world, and even though I may not remember much from those early days of travel, the stories and photos show the excitement of exploring foreign places. The travel bug has stayed with me all of these years, and while I may have made return trips to some favourite spots (Florida, North Carolina, France, Italy), I’m always grateful to explore new places. Japan was on the top of my travel list for so long, and I am thankful that I was able to make it happen this year. I know travel is a luxury for many people (Japan, overall, was an expensive two weeks), but I think it is so important to try to set aside funds to explore places near and far. Travel is such a rewarding learning experience (and we all know that I’m all about learning!).

2. Montreal. Speaking of traveling, I’m off to Montreal next month, and my friend Shannon and I are already scouting out restaurants. Any recommendations? We’re going to try to get to ToquĂ© (currently Canada’s 3rd best restaurant according to this guide), but they’re already full for the days, so unless someone cancels, we’re not going to be able to visit it.

3. Life is too short. Just two days ago, a colleague was hit by a car and died. She was just walking on the sidewalk midday on a sunny afternoon. It’s crazy. Just like that, her life was taken away.

4. Book. I have started listening to Multipliers: How Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter by Liz Wiseman and Greg McKeown. So far, it’s interesting.

5. Netflix. I started watching Schitt’s Creek. I’m laughing my way through it. I started watching it a while ago, but never got into it. Now, I’m into it. Have you watched it?

Travel: 10 Things to Know About Traveling in Japan

Several people on Instagram and in real life have told me they are now adding Japan to their travel bucket list after seeing my photos on Instagram and hearing my stories. This makes me so happy! If you like art, architecture, food, organization, and heated toilet seats, go! You won’t be disappointed!

Instagram posts only share so much, though, and I have more to say about my adventures. So if you’d like to read on about some things I noticed about traveling in Japan, please do! If not, that’s okay, too. I understand that Japan isn’t everyone’s cup of (matcha) tea!

prayers and wishes at the Toshogu shrine, Nikko

1.Communication. Before I left, several people told me that they thought I was brave to travel so far. I tried to assure people that I wasn’t nervous about traveling to Japan (yes, even considering the distance and the language). I don’t think they believed me though. To be honest, I was mostly curious about how I would fare given a major language barrier. But I also figured that I could use Google Translate and hand gestures to get my points across. And that’s what I did. The combo worked perfectly well.

It was rare to encounter people in Japan who spoke English. The people in hotels generally spoke English at an advanced level, but not everyone. I booked all of my hotels in advance (via Expedia, Agoda, and the hotels directly), so check-in was always smooth.

Some train attendants spoke English, but not everyone. To book train tickets, I used the automatic machines at stations to load up my Pasmo card (like a train/metro card), and since the machines had an English option, adding money to my card was quick and easy.

A lot of restaurants have photos on their menus, plastic replicas of their dishes, or English menus, so figuring out what to eat wasn’t generally an issue. Since I’m not allergic to anything, I was never concerned about what I ordered. If I didn’t recognize something, but I liked it, I just ate it. If I didn’t like it, I didn’t eat it. So simple. I pointed to a lot of things during food orders at restaurants and markets. If you’re allergic to something, I would make sure you have this written in Japanese to show the servers. Don’t count on anyone knowing English.

seafood at the market

2. Transportation. Using public transportation (buses, trains) was so easy. Unbelievably easy! I wasn’t expecting it to be so easy, but it was. I used Google Maps every day (and hour and minute), which worked out extremely well. Google Maps would tell me what bus to get on at what time and in what direction. It told me when to transfer to what train on what platform and at what time. It also gave me options for routes, pricing, transit, and walking.

Since the Japanese train system is advanced, well-connected, and efficient, I didn’t ever stress about not catching a train (because I knew there would be one soon after) or about a delay. Google Maps provides notifications of delays, but I only experienced one short delay on a subway line during my two weeks away. It wasn’t an issue at all.

The Pasmo card took me everywhere I needed to go – as in, it worked in Tokyo, Nikko, Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe. I didn’t need to switch transit cards for each city! Beyond refilling my Pasmo card, I bought tickets for the high-speed train (Shinkansen) once in Nikko (at an automatic machine) and once in Kobe (at the Shinkansen ticket counter (interacting with an attendant who spoke perfect English). I didn’t book any of my long trains in advance. I just went to the station, and within a half-hour, there was my train.

One option for long distance train travel is to invest in the JR Rail Pass, but after looking up some schedules and prices online before I left Canada (at Hyperdia), I realized that I wouldn’t be saving so much money with the JR Pass, and that I’d rather just take the “figure it all out once I land” approach. I think I spent between $400-500 for all my transportation costs (i.e., local trains, buses, high speed trains).

train station

3. Hotel room sizes. Everyone says that hotel rooms in Japan are small. And you know what? They are. I was very happy with all the hotels I booked, and I would stay at each of them again. With the exception of one (Kai Nikko), all of my hotel rooms were very small. I don’t even know where a full-size luggage would have fit or how two large pieces of luggage would have fit. My carry-on fit perfectly everywhere I went, and I unpacked my stuff everywhere I went, too. There were always plenty of hangers and cubbies for my things. I was traveling solo, so every room I had worked out perfectly. If you need to share a room, you might need to look at different hotel options than the ones I’ve listed below.

Here’s where I stayed:

bed frame details at the Kai Nikko Resort Hotel

4. People. While I didn’t encounter many people who spoke English, everyone I did meet was extremely polite, kind, and helpful. On the bus. In restaurants. On the subway. People smiled. People laughed when communication went poorly. People appreciated trying to communicate with Google Translate. It was awesome! At Kai Nikko, I met a Japanese mother and daughter who didn’t speak any English, but through Translate and gestures, we managed a bit of communication. These ladies were so sweet. They even saved me a seat for the hotel’s evening dance show. So nice!

5. Cleanliness. The five cities I went to were very organized and clean. Tokyo, my first stop, shocked me. How can a city with over 9 million people remain so clean? I was very surprised! There aren’t public garbage cans, so maybe that’s why the streets remain so clean. Japanese people don’t eat in public, so there was no litter related to street eating and drinking. Subways, too, were incredibly clean! It made traveling around big cities that much more enjoyable. The cleanliness and orderliness of the cities and towns made me feel calm, in fact!

at the Zen Garden, Kyoto

6. Wi-fi access. You may be wondering how I stayed connected while away. Japan has this figured out for tourists, too. There are two main options to stay connected: Pocket wi-fi or SIM card. Pocket wi-fi is a little gadget that you pick up and drop off at the airport. It gives you unlimited wi-fi access for your desired number of days.

Another option is to buy a SIM card for the duration of your stay. If you have an unlocked phone, you can install a Japanese SIM card and get connected within a minute. I went this route because I didn’t want to carry around another gadget with me (and worry about it losing power and such). I bought a SIM card (unlimited data) and had it sent to me in Canada before I left (from Japan Rail Pass). I wanted to feel a bit more prepared, and I didn’t want to deal with finding a SIM card seller at the airport after such a long journey. I think my SIM card with unlimited data for a 16-day period was under $50 CAD (including shipping). Next time, I would just buy my SIM card when I arrive at the airport. There were SIM card vending machines everywhere.

Hotels and many department stores offer wi-fi, too, so if you don’t want unlimited wi-fi, you could connect in these places when you need it.

so many flowers

7. Money. Cash. You need cash. I used my credit card twice. In two different stores. Stores and restaurants generally take credit cards, but I think cash is preferred and easier. I bought meals at some old-school restaurants and at the market, so cash was essential. I tried to add money to my Pasmo card with my Mastercard, and it didn’t work, so cash it was!

If you run out of cash while you’re there, not to worry. You can take out money with your Canadian bank card via an ATM that you’ll find at convenience stores like 7-11 and Lawson (they are everywhere!). My bank (TD Bank) charged me $5 each time I withdrew money in Japan, FYI.

bamboo forest, Kyoto

8. Toilets. I miss these. Seriously! The Toto Toilets I experienced in Japan were awesome! They are toilet/bidet combos, and, best of all, many of them have heated seats. Heated! Enough said. (Don’t be surprised if I dedicate a whole other post just to Toto toilets!)

Toto Washlet control panel

9. Safety. As a single, female traveler in a foreign country, I felt very safe in Japan. I would not hesitate to return, and I would recommend it for others similar to me who are looking for an interesting place to travel to. One Japanese woman I met told me that Japan is so safe that if you left your bag in a café for five hours, it would still be there when you got back. I believe it, too! Also, I saw so many young kids (like 7- and 8-year olds) navigating the streets and public transportation systems of Tokyo and Kyoto on their own or with a friend like it was nothing. And it was nothing.

at the Torii gates

10. Be an early bird to avoid crowds. I traveled to Japan during cherry blossom season (so pretty), which meant that it was high tourist season! In Kyoto, especially, there were busloads of tourists from everywhere at each of the very popular sites. In Kyoto, for example, if I wasn’t somewhere by 8am, I would be surrounded by the busloads of people, and I would hate it. So, I woke up early, ate breakfast early, and got on my way! This meant that when I saw the Torii (orange) gates or the Bamboo Forest or the Philosopher’s Path, I went when it was calm and peaceful. I was grateful for this. When I visited the Golden Temple mid-day, on the other hand, I didn’t find any zen or peaceful moments. Not ideal for someone like me.

If you have any questions about my itinerary or experiences, let me know! I’m happy to share!

If you’d like to see some more photos, click on #WhiteCabanaGoesToJapan.

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