a lovely living

Monthly Archives for September 2017

Act Fast Sales

Happy Friday! I had an outfit post that I was planning on sharing today, but then a bunch of sales crept up on me! You know my love for a good sale and so I felt obligated to share them (and my top picks) with you guys today. Not a bad way to jump into the weekend :)

JCrew is currently offering 30% off of your purchase with code SHOPFAST. This sale is running through tonight!

Eyelet top / Leopard sweatshirt / Coat / Denim / Tie sweater

Madewell is currently offering 30% off of $100+ or 30% off of $200+ with code YESANDYES. Sale runs through Monday.

Turtleneck / Embroidered sweatshirt / Booties / Sweatpants / Fringe sweater

ShopBop is currently offering 20% purchases up to $500 and 25% off orders over $500 with code EOTS17. Sale ends tonight!

Faux leather leggings / Sunglasses / Booties / Tote / Rain boots

 

 

Bootie Roundup

Forget the weather! Regardless of whether you are experiencing 80 or 60 degree days, it is bootie season! I love sneakers, I love mules, I love knee-high boots, but my booties end up being worn the bulk of every year. They are cute, comfortable, functional and pair well with any number of outfits. From skirts to dresses, shorts to jeans, they have you covered in just about every area. Below are currently my top picks. Greys, browns, taupes, pinks, perforated and fringe details…I love them all! What’s your fav?

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Floral Midi

I hope you all had a great weekend! Mine started with a brunch/Noonday party that I hosted on Saturday and ended with a birthday dinner for my dad last night. And now I’m ready to dive into Monday!

I have quite an affinity for floral dresses, well floral anything really, but midi dresses are one of my favorites. I wore this outfit to church where I knew the extra layer would be needed but my goodness it was not necessary outside! Hopefully soon! This was the denim jacket that I finally settled on recently. Ironically enough, it’s the same one that I have in a dark wash…I should have known.  This Pilcro jacket was more of a splurge (although I did manage to get it on sale), but the fit, the quality, and the structure are all exactly what I was looking for in this closet staple. It has a touch of stretch which makes it incredibly comfortable and the sleeves have plenty of length, which was an issue in others I had tried.

On a final note, I felt compelled to belt out ‘The hills are alive…” during this whole shoot, lol! Julie Andrews I am not and lucky for you, you’re on the other side of the lens because singing is not one of my God given talents ;)

Details: SheIn dress c/o / Pilcro jacket / Booties (similar) / LeSpecs sunglasses / Nickel & Suede earrings

Shop floral dresses:

 

Happy Friday, ladies! LOFT has a 40% off sale going on, so I figured sharing some of my favorites would be a great way to jump into the weekend, yes? I didn’t have much rhyme or reason to what I was grabbing to take into the dressing room with me, but by the end of my try on session I couldn’t get over how darn comfortable everything was! Let’s take a look and I’ll give you the details…

This top, or ‘sweatshirt blouse‘ as it’s called is the reason I went into the store initially. I had seen it before but was waiting for a sale as I typically do. It’s adorable and comfortable and will fit into my day to day wardrobe perfectly! I’m also very much into straight jeans lately and love the look of this pair. I had the ‘back gap’ (is that a thing?) as I often do in their pants, which is a bummer because I loved everything else about them.

 This sleeveless sweater is so cozy! It also comes in grey and oatmeal, all great fall options!

While we’re on the cozy topic, this was the coziest of them all! This piece falls somewhere between a poncho and a sweater but has enough coverage that a shirt underneath isn’t necessary. It also comes in a pretty, neutral color. These herringbone leggings were also adorable. They actually had a bunch of fun legging options, more of which I’ll be sharing…

This outfit doesn’t really scream Marisa, but I think it’s super cute. The plaid leggings are fantastic and I love it paired with the stripes of the sleeveless sweater.

When I first tried on this sweater I thought it was cute, but I wasn’t sold…

…and then I threw on this skirt with it and wanted to walk right out of the store wearing it! I couldn’t get the camera to capture the colors in the fitting room, but they are so rich and beautiful in person.

One more adorable skirt, and again, sooo comfortable! It has a nice stretch to it and is made with a super soft denim. Great for fall (and spring and summer!).

Adorable sweatshirt-like top that could easily be dressed up or down. I’d wear it at home with sweats, throw it on with denim or even cute trousers!

Grey. Ruffled. Sweatshirt. Three of the most dreamy words combined :)

LOFT always has a cute military jacket on hand. This one doesn’t disappoint.

Ok, you’re going to be sick and tired of me saying this, but goodness girls, this dolman top is so soft, and comfortable! I love the attached shirttail detail that makes it seem as though you put even more thought into your outfit ;)

I’m going to finish off this post with some really great sweater options. This one is so flattering and the sleeves are adorable. It also comes in a few other colors! I also loved these wide-legged jeans. I needed one size down (which they didn’t have), but you can get a pretty good idea of the look here.

This Lou & Grey sweater was one of the first things I picked up.  I love the shape and the fringe. I’m wearing an XS here but probably would have sized up to a S if I bought it to get a slightly looser fit.

And finally, a super soft and snuggly sleeveless sweater to wear now and layer up later! You may also notice that I am wearing stirrup leggings! I haven’t worn stirrups since I was in grade school and I was actually hoping they’d work. They were adorable but at 5’7″ and evening sizing up they were not staying up on me. I’d say if you are 5’5″ or under you have a better chance at them working for you ;)

I hope that’s helpful and maybe you’ll find a great piece or two to add to your fall wardrobe, you know, once Mother Nature decides that it’s actually fall! ;)

 

How To: Faux Floral Wreath

Guys! I made a wreath! And for some reason I feel the need to shout that out :)

I love wreaths. My front door has held one during every season since the day we moved into our home two years ago. The problem is, I have a difficult time finding wreaths that I love. And so, I found a few inspiration pics, ventured into Michael’s with Audrey and spent nearly an hour circling the faux floral stems until she decided my time was up.

I was totally winging it, but I gathered more than I thought I would need in different shapes and sizes in the color scheme I was going for. I bought a grapevine wreath, green floral wire and a hot glue gun. Because, no, I do not even own a hot glue gun, whoops!

Before I got started, I ran across the street to pick my neighbor’s brain. For those that don’t know, UnOriginal Mom happens to be my neighbor, lucky me! She has made more than a few wreaths herself and so I asked for her advise before I began gluing my fingers together ;) Turns out, the hot glue gun wasn’t even needed! Nor was the wire. All that was required was maneuvering the stems into the wreath and would you believe it actually all holds?!

Here’s the array that I brought home with me…

The only tool needed was a pair of wire cutters that I borrowed from my husbands tool box.

I left somewhere around 4 inches on the stems in order to have enough to work into the wreath. I started with the largest pieces and worked my way out from there.

I placed and removed and rearranged until I had everything arranged to my liking. In all honesty I expected this part to be much more difficult than it was. Having more than enough pieces to play with was a huge benefit however, so I definitely recommend over buying and returning whatever is unused.

And here’s what I ended up with. I was initially envisioning leaves and pumpkins and pinecones and acorns…basically all the fall things. But in the end, I love the way it turned out. Nothing over the top, but perfect to pair with mums and pumpkins on our front porch this season!

I ended up spending just under $40 for everything which I was pretty happy with. I have a funny feeling this won’t be the last homemade wreath that graces our front door ;)

Have you guys made your own wreaths before? Anyone plan on giving it a shot? I’d love to see if you do!

 

Floral Top

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Jack and I celebrated 11 years of marriage this past Saturday. What many of you may not know is that we actually dated for 10 years before we were married! Yes, we were girlfriend and boyfriend at ages 14 and 15…high school sweethearts with no idea what our future would hold. We are opposites in so many ways, but in the same regard, we even each other out. Life is far from perfect, but having him (and our three little monkeys!) by my side makes everything better.

I wore this outfit to dinner on Saturday and couldn’t be more obsessed with the top! It’s even prettier in person. Light and flowy with the most beautiful print. I can’t wait to pair it with black denim and OTK boots or distressed denim and booties!

Because the sleeves should be showed off…

Details: LOFT top / LOFT shorts (similar) / Shoes (similar) / Nickel & Suede earrings

Fall Favorites

Happy Friday guys! Last night I attended Back to School night with Madelyn in tow (Jack was at soccer practice). It was nice to get to chat a bit with the teachers because when I ask Madelyn how Kindergarten is each day she eagerly tells me every detail….. about her teachers outfit, ha! “Oh, Mom, her skirt was beautiful!” But I’m happy to report that things are going smoothly in other areas of the classroom as well ;)

With each season there are always a handful of pieces that I end up turning to the most frequently. Here’s a little breakdown on what I’ve already been and plan to be wearing in the upcoming weeks…

 

A classic pair of booties are a must. Knee-highs are great, and I recommend having a pair of those too, but my everyday always revolves around a comfortable pair of booties.

Plaid shirts scream fall to me. I adore the colors of this one and I plan on getting a ton of wear out of it. Worn alone or layered under a jacket or fleece. It’ll be a workhorse for sure.

My skinny jeans aren’t going anywhere, but I’ve been loving the straight leg option that’s gaining popularity. My legs can breath a bit but they still have a beautiful silhouette.

I picked these faux leather leggings up during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and am so glad I did. These things are amazing! I laughed when I pulled them out of the package because I didn’t think they were even going to go over one leg! But sure enough they did and now I can’t wait to wear them…dressed up with heels or down with sneakers and a cozy sweater. (PS they are currently on sale for 20% off here!)

I wanted this fleece last year, but it sold out before I could get it. When I saw it back in stock in the blush I jumped on it!  They offered a sale a few weeks ago and I’m hopeful they will again because I know a number of you were interested in it! It comes in a few other beautiful color options as well.

This tote remains my go-to year round, but fall is always my favorite time to wear it because the cognac pairs so beautifully during this season.

Maybe it’s because I can be lazy with my hair, but I love having a baseball cap on hand to throw on when I wake up with crazy hair (hello short hair problems) and lack the time to wash it!

I haven’t pulled the trigger yet (I’m hoping to catch them on sale) but I love these sneakers. I typically turn to my Converse but I’m looking to step up my sporty look and think these might be the missing link!

I have an almost identical jacket that I purchased earlier this season and I love it. It’s a perfect light layer for the brisk days ahead and it can be thrown on over a dress just as easily as it could work with a t-shirt and jeans.

Any other scarf hoarders out there?? There’s something about a new season and a new scarf…isn’t there?!

I know I had this sweater on my list last week, but guys, I’m telling you, it is the softest, most comfortable thing in my closet. And I want to wear it everyday. Seriously.

Mules now have a solid space in my closet and I don’t see them going anywhere. They are perfect for fall and the ease of slipping them on/off is a huge plus.

Ruffled Rental

My cousin was married this past weekend on the most gorgeous fall day. The weather was perfect, the ceremony was celebrated outdoors near a natural spring and the reception was every bit as elegant as she is. Not only did we have a great time, but I got to wear this designer dress for a fraction of its price. I’ve used Rent the Runway a number of times now and have loved every rental. I love getting to wear pieces that I would otherwise never splurge on and in all honesty I don’t have any need to keep the dresses because I’m all too anxious to wear a new one come the next wedding/event!

In case you are unfamiliar, Rent the Runway allows you to rent a dress (or clothing/accessories) for 4 or 8 days. They send you two sizes, which to me makes all the difference in the world! I always read through all of the reviews and look through the images others have submitted before making a final decision. They can be very helpful in answering any pending questions I have. When it’s time to ship everything back (as difficult as it may be to let go of!), all that’s required is a quick drop at UPS and you are set! I’m happy to answer any questions you may have, but in case you weren’t sure, I highly recommend them ;)

Details: Dress via Rent the Runway / Shoes (similar) / Earrings (similar) / Clutch (similar)

*Use this link to receive $30 off of your first order (they also apply $30 to my next rental as a thank you!)

Babydoll Dress

Hey guys, happy Monday! We are jumping into the kids first full week of school this week. The mornings have been starting off quite chilly but are warming up to the 70’s which makes it so difficult to dress them for school! My son continues to insist on shorts, despite the fact that it’s not quite 50 degrees, when he walks out the door! I suppose this is why layering is one of my favorite parts about fall…we can bundle up and then lose some layers as the day goes on :)

One of my favorite fall combo’s is pairing an above the knee dress with knee-high boots. This was the first time that I broke out my boots this year and I was actually eager to do so! When I bought this dress last month, this was exactly the way I had pictured wearing it. It would work just as well with booties, but with our chilly mornings, I needed a little more coverage on my legs! There are so many adorable dress options at the moment, so I’ve gathered a bunch of my favorites for you to check out below.

Details: Dress / Boots (similar here and here) / Necklace / Bag (similar) / Earrings

Shop Dresses:

 

Sweaters Under $100

There’s a chill in the air and sweater weather is well on it’s way. I ordered this cardigan from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and I’ve found myself throwing it on around the house this past week, it’s an absolute dream! I’ve gathered more favorites that I’ve come across over the past few weeks, any of which I’d take in a heartbeat. Embroidered cardigans, plaid kimonos and ruffled sleeves. Thoughtful details that I’m always looking for in my sweaters. Not to mention the beautiful shades that all of a sudden have me eager for fall. I’d love one of each, but what’s your favorite?

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