Sara J

Reitmans

This week I went down to surprise my husband at work. So we got down town long before he would be done for the day, so we went and wondered around in the path for a bit.

This is always fun, there is lots of stores to go into or just do some window shopping.

I did end up going into Reitmans as they used to go up to a size 22. Well it seems they still do. All the sizes are mixed together to give a feel of inclusiveness. Some people like this some don’t, I have not truly made up my mind on it yet.

I was able to find some stuff to try on so really that’s all that matters.

All three of these items where from the sale rack, so you maybe able to find them online still if it’s something you really want. The 1st top is cute. I do wish it was shorter and that the ties on the shoulder where real though. I have this on in a XL and it’s $14.97. The dress was a 2X and a real wrap dress. It was closed with buttons not a tie, I really like this idea. (Maybe that’s because I know my little one would be pulling on the tie every chance he would get.) It also have pockets. This is on for $44.97. The last top is really nice very light fabric. Although the buttons on the front are not real. This I have on in a 2X again is on for $19.97.

If you get a chance to get into a Reitmans I would say take it. You may just find that one piece that you have been looking for.

The Path

The path is a underground path system in downtown Toronto. It has anything and everything in it from food courts to clothing, jewelry, book stores and everything in between.

You can enter the exit the path in many different locations in the down town core. I can walk underground from the Eaton Center to my husbands work in less then 20 minutes and that’s with doing window shopping.

The Path has over 30 kilometers worth of shopping, services and entertainment. According to the Guinness World Records, it’s the largest underground shopping complex in the world. The weather does not matter you want to shop in a snow storm, the middle of the summer and it’s +35 Celsius no problem.

Over the last year or so I have started to notice some problems with the path mostly when I have my son with me.

There are some stores I just can’t get into because of the way they have been set up they have stairs going up to them. Also there are some areas that you can only get to by stairs. Now some of them do have elevators but there are always working.

Then there is the doors that go from one area to another. Now this is not a problem with the path but with people. People will see a door opening or open they will make a bee line for them. So the person that has pushed the button is now getting cut off by people and I can just hold my ground since I don’t want to have my stroller pusher around.

The same thing will happen at ramps. Most are only wide enough for one person so you can get left standing at the bottom or top waiting to be able to use it as you don’t have the option to use the stairs that are right there.

Will these little things stop me from using the path. Nope not at all. The benefits largely out way the negatives.

YouTube

Most people have watched a YouTube video at some time on another. Be it for music, how to’s, video games reviews or watching others play.

For me lately I have been watching fashion videos. So let me tell you what I mean. I have been looking for plus sized Canadians that try on and show clothes that can be gotten in stores here in Canada.

I have looked and looked and only come across a few that are here in Canada. The other biggest thing I find is that all the plus size YouTubers are either on the smaller side or the bigger side. So to explain what I mean some where in the 12-16 size or 26+. Oh and they all seem to be small chested.

We all want to see some one that looks like our self’s, and I just have not been able to find that.

So I guess where I’m going with this is I have found a need that I think I may be able to fill. In the next little bit I am hoping that I will be announcing that I have loaded my first video for my channel.

Let me know if you would be interested in watching and what you would like to see.

Still shopping for my little one

I don’t want anyone thinking that HnM is the only place that we looked for stuff for our kids. Or that they are the only ones that don’t have a good selection for boys.

As we walked about last week we also went into Old Navy. Now I have shown you what I found in there. Honestly not much.

So after looking for our self we headed to the kids/baby floor. (This Old Navy is three floors). The first thing I noticed was they have moved the area around. So where I had normally gone to find my son his stuff was now filled with girl stuff.

Well after looking about I finally found the toddler boy section. Let me tell you it is so small I though I was missing it. In the girl area they had these cute Mario T’s. I was trying to see if they had any for him. Nope!! I was able to find one item for him.

You cal also follow me on Instagram at

sarajohnston079

Shopping for my baby boy

My son is now 14 months old. He is the best thing to have ever happened to me and I love him so very much.

Just needed to make sure that I put that out there right off the top so that there is no confusion.

When I was at Yorkdale mall I was also checking to see if and what I could find for my little guy. The friend that I was with has a little girl and when I was first complaining about how small the boys section is in most stores she just did not get it.

The was until we started actually looking around HnM and shopping for my boy, not just what extra oppositions she has for her little girl. At first glance it looks like it’s about a 50/50 split. Then you start looking closer. You start to see that the displays are girl cloths, and the stuff hanging on the walls are also girls.

As we where walking around we just kept finding more girl stuff. When we found the boy stuff a lot of it could be worn by both of our little ones. But the stuff in the girl area if its not pink it has some sort of frill on it.

Please don’t get me wrong if he wants to wear pink or frills or what ever once he is old enough to say so I have zero problem with that.

I would just like more cute choices to put my guy into that’s all.

Yorkdale Part 4

So we are just going to jump right into this. We headed into HnM and had some luck. All the sizes are mixed together and you do need to take the time to find the size you are looking for. Also for the most part you are on your own in the store.

These are the tops that I found, in store I was able to find up to a size 14 and XXL.

The tiger print is a basic T. It’s a little long for what I was looking for but $6.99 every day price not bad at all. This is a size XXL. The black pleated top was just a little to tight around the bust. But was on sale for $17.99 and in a large. If they had had a XL it would have come home with me. The last one is a cute little pink T. Much more on the lines of what I was looking for. It was on sale for $7.99 and in a size XL. This I would have gotten if I had been able to find a XXL.

I loved this top, I am kicking my self for not having picked it up. As you can see the straps are functioning ties so if you want it higher no problem. If you wanted to make it strapless doable. This was on sale for $9.99 and in a size XL.

The last two items in HnM did not go so well. This top was a miss the only thing I liked about it was the sleeve. I found it itchy and the buttons where popping. This is an XL and $19.99. The dress I had so hoped it would have fit. But with having zero stretch it just was not doing up. This was a size 14 and $49.99.

Now HnM had a great plus size section online. They used to carry it in stores. Unfortunately they don’t seem to anymore. I like to feel and try on items before I spend money on them. I also hate to spend even more money on shipping if I’m just not sure.

I also took time to go into Zara. This is such a big store and it is full. It was a little hard getting around in here with the stroller so I did try anything on. But they do have up to a size XXL in the store. The best thing was the tags. It shows you all the sizes that the item comes in, and the size that you are looking at is in bold.

The last store that we visited and the biggest surprise of the trip was American Eagle. When we walked into the store we where greeted with smiles. The sale lady at the front of the store was so helpful. She recommend sizes and styles that she felt would work for us. As we walked though the store I was offered a bag to put the items in the I wanted to try. Pushing a stroller and holding on the hangers is not easy.

So lets show you what I found

The tops, this pink tank is so soft I had to try it on. It does not fit. This is a XL and $24.95. The other one is very cute is also a XL and $29.99. Just a little to tight.

So the tank here again just that a little bit to tight for me. This is an XL and $24.95. Now this other one, I loved it and almost got it for my self. This is once again in an XL and is $39.95.

Now lets just take a moment to appreciate these jeans. This was the first time I have ever tried on distressed anything. The jeans go from a size 00-24 in store!!! If you need short or long length they do have them online. Both part that I tried are in a size 22, the none distressed are curvy hi-rise jegging at $59.95. The distressed are curvy highest rise jegging at $69.95. We did both buy a pair of jeans from A.E. they are supper stretchy and are so soft. I don’t think I will buy jeans anywhere else ever again.

I do want to let you know that the tops also go up to a XXL on line.

So with all said and done I went into a total of 15 stores. I was able to fine sizes in 7, so not to bad. (So why is less then half not bad?) But their was a lot of stores that I just did not go into at all. Mainly because just walking by them I new that I would not be welcome in them. No one should ever feel that way when shopping ever.

The average size of woman in North America is a 16-18. So why is it that most of the stores only go up to a 12?

York dale Part 3

For today’s trip to York dale I went with a friend. We both brought our babies with us. So much fun was had. We both went a little out of our comfort zone with our picks and I’m happy we did.

We started out by hitting Forever 21. This was a safe pick for us as we know that they carry plus in the store. After fighting though the racks of clothes to get to the elevator, (we both had our strollers) we went to the floor that the sign said had the plus sizes. Nope not there. So after hunting someone down we where told that it was moved down another level. That’s fine no big deal but at lest change the signage so people know where to go.

We where both able to find things to try on.

None of these worked for me. This 1st one is just a little to short for my liking and was a 2X on sale for $15. The second one is better but there was a lot of my bra showing on the side. It is a 3X at $22.90. The last one is to big and is a 3X.

Here I am going way outside of my comfort zone. The 1st jumpsuit was just a little to small. If I had somewhere I was going and needed something this sexy I would have gotten it and tried it with some shape wear and it would be perfect. This is a 3X and $39.90. The 2nd one I did like, fit well in the bottom has a nice open back to it. The only problem is it did not fit in the top. I had this one on in a 2X and is $29.90. The last item is a dress it’s slip is to tight, and not enough coverage in the chest. Size 2X and $39.90.

Next stop was The Bay. Not much to say here. They have a large section of plus size. Just not for us. It feels very grandmotherly.

Old Navy was up next. Sizing at Old Navy can be a little strange some times. They carry up to a size 20 in jeans (only up to 18 today in the store) and up to a XXL.

What can I say about these two T-shirts? They are both in size XXL. The 1st one is $24.99 and the 2nd is $16.99. I just don’t like the fit on these at all.

This dress is cute. Too big for me and lots of cleavage. Dare I say maybe to much? Size XXL and $39.99. The tank top is very soft but way to big and is on the sale rack for $9.99.

Yorkdale Part 2

The “shopping” or at lest the trying to shop did continue.

The next stop was Disney, I love walking around the Disney store. Or at lest I did before I had my son. But that’s a rant for a different day. Well they do have woman’s cloths and they do up to a size 2X is tops and bottoms. They have a very cute skirt. But no change rooms, so I don’t have any pictures.

For the first time I ventured into Uniqlo. They do not carry my size. None of the sales people talked to me. Mind you they where very apologetic for getting in my way with my stroller. They do show on the signs in the store what size they have on hand and what can be found on the website.

Next stop was Canada Goose. This made me very sad. The guy that I talked to was very nice and he truly did try, it’s not his fault that they do not have a winter coat in their woman’s area that will fit over my chest.

I did go into Nordstrom today also. All of the sizes are all mixed together so if you do not know what brand carries the sizes that you are looking for plan to spend some time wondering around the store. I was able to find a few that did go up to XXL but honestly after having to search for them I was in no mood to hunt down a fitting room.

Last place that I am going to talk about I was really looking forward to going into. I have walked by this store so many times and loving the stuff that are in the window. I was so so disappointed in Honey. Not on sales lady talked to me. It went so far as to have the sales lady on the floor walk the other way when I was near her. The lady that was on the cash was on her cell phone. I stopped to ask her about a top that’s in the window and she looked up then went back to looking at her phone.

It’s one thing not to have my size it’s another to treat me like I’m invisible.

Yorkdale Part 1

Today I started my trip around Yorkdale mall Toronto. Their is 74 woman’s apparel stores in the mall. Now this does include stores like Victoria Secret, Pink, and Thyme Maternity. Today I visited 10 of them.

I started off in Club Monaco. As soon as I walked into this store I was asked what I needed. Not in the helpful let me point you in the right way kind of ask, more like the why are you in our store kind of way. I stuck it out and looked around anyway. The larger size that I was able to find in the store was a large or size 12. To say the lest I did not try anything on.

Next I went to Wilfred. I new from the moment I started looking around that I was once again out of luck. The sales lady’s saw me but said not one word to me. The sizes here go from xxs to a large.

Kate Spade was my next stop. The sales lady here was super nice. I felt welcomed right away. Unfortunately they only go up to a size 14. But if you are in the rang I would say go here.

So lets end part 1 on a high note. The next store I visited J.Crew. The sales lady here was great. She even asked how my little one was doing. I was able to find a few items in an xl and even tried them on.

All the tops are in a xl. The 1st one has no stretch at all. It’s also the only one not on sale and is priced at $125.50. The 2nd one also has zero stretch to it. Honestly not sure it I like the ruffled neck on this one. This one is on the sale rack for $66.99. The 3rd one I did not mind I like the cowl neck on it and it is very stretchy. This one is on the sale rack for $39.99

Local shopping trip part 2

So back with part two of Walmart from yesterday.

Loved the cropped hoodie. So cute hit me in the right spot. $17.97 and this is a xxl. Now the bottoms, sorry I just could not get them off fast enough. I tried them as it was a full matching outfit. They just did not fit. $17.97 also in a xxl.

This Batman top is a 2x, now a 1x did fit but I like a little big more room in a top like this. The tie is a fully functioning tie and can be made tighter or loss like it is here depending on what you like. $16.97 for this baby.

So this pink hoodie was the other big winner for the day. It is so soft and that’s even a real pocket! The sleeve is not full so it would be great for early fall mornings when the air is just starting to get a little chill to it. At $19.97 it was the most expressive top I tried .

If I had to get just one outfit from the items I tried on I would be getting the jeans and the pink hoodie. So a full outfit for a plus size lady at only $51.55 is not to bad at all. All in all good job Walmart Canada

I will be posting these are other pictures over on Instagram if you wish to follow me over there.

Sarajohnston079