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On being Canadian: wearing toques in summer

I’m feeling very Canadian.

Our national band, The Tragically Hip, gave their last concert in Kingston because their frontman Gord Downie—who’s been called Canada’s Shakespeare and poet laureate—has incurable brain cancer. On Saturday, CBC carried the concert live, and a nation shut down to watch, to celebrate, and to say goodbye.

My husband took this photo. Gord Downie singing "Grace, Too" for the last time. Our twins offer comfort.
My husband took this photo. Gord Downie  sang “Grace, Too,” possibly for the last time. Our twins offered their weepy mama comfort.

I’m feeling very Canadian.

Our leaves have started to turn yellow. The sun no longer sets after 10 PM, but before 9PM. By December, it’ll be dark by 5 PM.

August Yellow Leaves Fall in Canada

I’m feeling very Canadian.

I wore a toque to an amusement park in July. Yes, I took my twins to Calaway Park near Calgary on one of the coldest days of the summer. But I wore a Caseco blu-toque beanie because I knew I’d be cold and bored, and because the good people of Caseco sent me one of their bluetooth-enabled slouchy beanies in exchange for an honest review.

Caseco BluToque Slouch Beanie Hat

Here’s my honest review:

I love it, eh?

My kids went on amusement rides and had no idea I was listening to my favourite podcasts.

My ears didn’t fall off, I didn’t make my kids leave the amusement park after 45 minutes, and I carried my Tim Hortons tea and grinned like a goofball for a couple of hours.

BluToque6
Yes, my kids are on that log ride in the background. Yes, the other log is empty. Yes, it was THAT COLD.

It was a win. The bluetooth beanie connected seamlessly with my iPhone 5c (I’m a technological leader, people). And I was warm. It retails for $50-55, and that’s in Canadian dollars, which likely means it’s practically free in USD.

A Canadian in July. Yes, my kids were on that ride, too.
A Canadian in July. Yes, my kids were on that ride, too.

While wearing it, I even spoke on the phone to my husband (who was not at the amusement park, I’ll have you know). Chatting out loud made me look like a semi-hip (the toque!) crazy lady (talking to myself!), but “semi-hip crazy lady” is a moniker I can rock — just ask my kids.

If you need a gift for someone who lives in a wintery climate, look no further than the Caseco Bluetooth Beanie. Seriously. Caseco is even a Canadian company. I will purchase another blu-toque if my kids lose mine or if my husband steals it…but only if they apologize a lot, because they’re very Canadian.

 

Filed Under: Funny Reviews Tagged With: blu-toque, bluetooth beanie, Canada, canadian, cold, gift, winter

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kathryn Slack says

    August 22, 2016 at 9:09 am

    I love that your scarf is from ROOTS!

    Reply
  2. Jody Robbins says

    August 22, 2016 at 10:52 am

    Love this! Toques are essential in Canada anytime of year!

    Reply
  3. Niagara Mommy says

    August 22, 2016 at 11:53 am

    I watched the Hip Concert with a friend in North St. Catharines, ON. It was an amazing show. I’m going to look into this Bluetooth hat…contrary to popular belief, it gets cold in Niagara too:) Feeling very Canadian after reading this post.

    Reply
  4. Kyla says

    August 22, 2016 at 1:11 pm

    WTAF. That is genius.

    Reply
  5. Lorraine says

    August 23, 2016 at 2:34 pm

    The photos capture just a hint of “going completely off your nut” that gives this whole piece a giddy kind of hilarity for which I have never loved you more. (*Typed wearing fingerless mittens because it is August 23 in Canada)

    Reply
  6. Kate Miller says

    August 30, 2016 at 5:55 am

    I live in Atlantic Canada and I think this hat is a must have. I’m buying it now.

    Reply
  7. Tinaica says

    September 29, 2017 at 9:44 am

    The toque!!! I have a 14 year old son that lives in a toque all year long (yucky) sweaty teenage boys lol!! He is what I call my Geek squad kid and he always smiles and laughs when I do. (because he knows he is and he loves it) So being my tech kid, he is going to loves this BIG TIME!! woot woot I am so glad I stopped to read ur hilarious blogs! I totally grabbed my cell and took a pic of the screen where I can order it from, because for some reason I thought it would be faster to find my phone haha. Thank you for getting me some momma points lol and keep on laughing!!

    Thanks again
    Tinaica

    Reply

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