a lovely living

Last week I had a little time to sneak into H&M. Ours happens to be downtown, smack in the middle of Penn State student central. I love Penn State and all it has to offer to our town, but I’m not always thrilled to fight parking and shop amidst the early 20- somethings. Although I may not get in there often, I do always find some great pieces. I was childfree (which was a good thing because their fitting rooms are tiny), so I was able to snap some pics to share with you all!

I have a bunch of tops and sweaters to share as well as a dress today, all of which are under $35! I did try on some jeans, but wasn’t impressed by those that I took in with me…and should have known I would need to size up in there!

Okay, let’s jump in…

This sweater caught my eye as soon as I walked in. I love the stripes and the fit (I’m wearing a small) and think this would look adorable paired with white denim.

I couldn’t pass this sweater up. I came home and told Jack we needed a date night asap so I could take it for a spin :) It’s super cozy and not restrictive despite being off the shoulder. I went with an XS here, for reference.

Sleek, classy and Audrey Hepburn-ish, I love a good turtleneck. The button’s on the sleeves add a perfect little touch. This would be great for work with some trousers or for the weekend tucked into some high-waisted jeans. Oh and with a trench coat tossed on over top!

I took this sweater into the dressing room in this neutral shade but ended up bringing it home with me in blue. This color was a little too bland, but the blue is bold and beautiful, as is the purple, you should check that one out too! It reminds me of something I’d find at Madewell, but at half the price. There wasn’t a big difference between the xs and small, but I ended up with the xs that seemed to fit just a bit better.

One final sweater was this blue beauty. The picture makes me laugh because I remember how much static was in my hair from all the trying on by this point, man does that drive me crazy, lol!! The sweater though, was great. I’d probably wear a cami underneath because you can see a little more in person, but I often do that with sweaters anyway.

For those of you that are thinking spring (I can’t say I’m there yet), this blouse is right up your alley! The ruffles and eyelet detail are adorable, as is it’s billowy shape.

I don’t have a need for a dress at the moment, but I wanted to try this one on regardless. It’s very lady-like and I loved the pattern as well as the length (it fell about mid-calf). Wrap dresses can be tricky at the top, but this one worked pretty well. Depending on where you’d be wearing it, you could always discreetly hide a pin to make sure things didn’t shift around ;)

To finish with, I have four sweatshirts (because you know I can’t get enough of them these days) that would be perfect for Spring. I would have sized up to a small had they had it in this one to get a little more room, but otherwise I loved it.

This one is so fun! Give me all the greenery and pair it with dark denim, light denim, white denim, or sweats!

I love a good hoodie, especially when when embroidered flowers are involved!

This may be too late to apologize, but please ignore the state of this mirror. I didn’t notice all the dirt and dust all over it until I started putting this post together, whoops! Hopefully you can make out this pretty floral sweatshirt behind all that ;)

If you have any specific questions on these pieces feel free to ask! I’d love to know your thoughts on H&M. I’d be happy to venture in there more often if it’s something you guys would be interested in, so let me know! Some stores can be overwhelming and some people lack the time or desire to get in to the retail stores, so my hope is that these posts help to save you some time and energy. Plus, I typically enjoy it. Minus the static cling ;)

Also, take note, today H&M is offering 10% off new styles with code 0575 both online and in store!

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Happy Monday, guys! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Ours was rather low-key, spent catching up on a few things and prepping for the week ahead. What was nice is that it felt somewhat Spring-like outside! But don’t worry, like it or not, snow is in our (ok my) very near future ;)

When I recently saw this sweater, I knew I loved it A) because it is reversible and B) because it comes in heathered pink and grey. If you guys could only get a glimpse of the sea of pink and grey that my closet is turning into, you might say that I have a problem. Or at the very least that I should broaden my horizons. Black isn’t my color (but it’s also available), so navy it was! I’m always a fan of navy, it’s classic, works universally, and will also pair beautifully with some white denim! This sweater does run slightly large, so I’d size down if you’re between sizes. And if you wear it in reverse you’ll likely need to layer under it…I could see a tee or a lacy cami both working well depending what style you are going for.

Details: JCrew sweater / LOFT pants (similar here and here) / Mules (similar here and here) / LOFT earrings

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If we’re being honest, the cold weather for many of us won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. It’s fun to dream of Spring, but chances are I’ll still be bundling for a couple more months here in Pennsylvania. Not to worry though, there are pieces like this coat that make the process that much more fun…or at least bearable ;) Although I often question ‘one-size’ garments, I’m so glad I took a chance on this one. Although it is quite roomy, the over-sized fit lays really well. My advise when pairing a larger fitting top (or jacket) is to always go more fitted with leggings or skinny jeans/pants on the bottom. It helps to balance out the overall look. Unless you are on the petite side, where this may swallow you up, I’d say this coat really should fit most.

Details: Shein coat c/o / Rag & Bone denim (similar) / Boots / Striped top (similar) / Monogram necklace

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I love how on-trend athleisure is, and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon, thank goodness! Working out or not, I wear leggings or sweatpants with sneakers a few times every week. And even when I am dressed for the day, I often change into something athleisure-ly once I’m home. It’s all just so darn comfortable! Plus, sweatpants have come a long way these days and the abundance of adorable sneakers make it all too to easy jazz up your outfit (I’m sorry, jazz?? it just flew out there). I put together a few outfits that I’d gladly wear out and about running errands to provide a little inspiration for you.

What do you think about the whole athleisure style, are you on board too?

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We were out running a few errands as a family this past Saturday which, as a family of five, can be quite a production! We probably spent 45 minutes at Dick’s checking out all the clearance goodies while my husband sought out some new running sneaks. The girls took turns pushing each other in the stroller throughout the store which is pretty hysterical being that neither of them can actually see over the stroller! Thankfully I don’t think we caused too much of a commotion, or at least we didn’t receive any eye rolls that I caught. And Audrey of course had the cashiers awing as we left. The charmer that girl is!

While we were out and about Jack and I pulled off at the entrance to a walking trail to take some pictures. We took note of all the couples hiking by themselves and laughed at how comical we’d be if we brought our crew with us! Guaranteed we’d loose at least one wandering child into the wilderness! It did get us excited for the future however, looking ahead to days when we’ll all be able to get out into nature a bit more all together and enjoy more of what our town has to offer.

For those of you that follow along on Instagram, I shared this turtleneck over the weekend. It’s on mega sale and is still stocked in most sizes. I adore the loose fit and the unexpected color combo, but it also comes in a blue/grey stripe if that’s more up your alley! As for the coat, it is actually Land’s End that I found locally and have received compliments on every time I’ve worn it. The pink has sold out online (but if black is your color, it’s available and so chic), so I’m linking some other options below.

Details: JCrew shirt / Land’s End coat (similar here and here) / Madewell denim (similar) / Timberland Boots / LeSpecs sunglasses

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When it comes to my closet, I find that I mainly fill it with a lot of closet staples and sprinkle in fun/frilly pieces here and there. Take this outfit for example. I’ve been heavily rotating these faux leather leggings (can’t rave about them enough) since fall, pairing them with tunic tops, sweatshirts and sweaters. I’d love to have them in ‘wine’ too! The booties I have actually owned for a few years now, but coming from Madewell, I knew they would stand up to the test of time. This tunic sweater was a recent purchase, and I love it’s length, shape and comfort level! And being that I’ve already worn it a number of times, I can tell it’ll quickly become a staple. This coat, although bright and rather bold, has been one of my go-to coats for years now. I tend to invest a little more into coats when I know it’ll pay off year after year. The latest version of this coat is still available, but in limited colors/sizes (see below for links). And to top off this look, I threw on a Kate Spade scarf that I scored at TJMaxx last year. It adds so much personality that this outfit otherwise would have been lacking! There are actually two other similar versions of the scarf available right now (here and here), but don’t forget to keep an eye out for the steals when you’re shopping around the bargain stores!

Details: LOFT sweater / JCrew coat (similar here, here and here) / SPANX leggings / Madewell booties (similar) / Kate Spade scarf (similar here and here) / LeSpecs sunglasses / LOFT earrings

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I’m going to start sounding like a broken record if I keep bringing up the frigid weather in every post aren’t I? But since our outfits revolve around weather each and every day it’s hard to skirt around it! January and February are the months where I do my best to stay warm and cozy as often as I’m able. After all the dressing up over the holidays it’s nice to relax and enjoy some comfort. March comes around and I start getting antsy, trying to wear lighter layers than I should….but we’ll get to that when the time comes ;)

For now, I wanted to share all of the warm and cozy things with you, so you can hunker down with me! And if you’re skipping away to somewhere warm and sunny, well, take me with you!!

There are some fab markdowns happening too. This fur lined hoodie, faux fur coat, plaid scarf, leather gloves and pink beanie (reg price) are each under $35. Not to mention this leopard beanie that’s less than $8!

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It appears the bitter cold weather is back to hang around for a bit. I don’t mind 30 degree weather, but waking up to single digits is not my cup of tea! Despite the cold, I was brave enough to bare my shoulders to give you a glimpse of this adorable sweater. I use the term sweater lightly because it’s very light-weight, but regardless, it’s sweater material and it’s adorable in the most understated of ways. It’s also marked down to $25 and comes in grey and black and is surprisingly still well stocked.

Let’s also talk about high-waisted jeans for a moment because they are basically all I wear these days. Putting on anything else just feels like I’m leaving everything all to exposed! I don’t need to worry about bending over and constantly hiking up, and not to mention the fact that they give you legs for days! And that’s never a bad thing is it? I held off on this pair for a while, but the button fly (and the rave reviews) finally got me. The chewed hem will be fun to pair with sneakers, booties and mules when mother nature eventually allows ;)

Details: Madewell sweater / Madewell denim (similar) / Boots (similar) / Jacket (similar) / Nickel & Suede earrings / LeSpecs sunglasses / Monogram necklace

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Happy Friday! I ventured in to LOFT yesterday because I had been seeing some of their new arrivals trickling in and was excited to give them a try (on) ;) They’re also offering 40% off full-priced styles and I know we all love a good sale!

Check out what came into the fitting room with me…

I’m just going to start here, because nothing can compare to Lou & Grey sweatpants! At home especially, I love lounging around in their sweats and a comfy top. Let’s just say I have a few pairs in my closet. Just as I walked out of the fitting room with them, some of the employee’s were surrounding the rack discussing the same pants. Apparently they had just been put out within the hour and were already all the rage! This sweater is also amazing. It has a great fit and was very comfortable. Had I not already bought a similar one recently, I would have brought this one home with me.

This shot cracks me up because the angle makes it looks a though I’m showing off a baby bump….which I’m not ;) The perfect hand placement and all, lol! But I promise, in person, this sweater won’t make you look pregnant. Unless you are pregnant, in which case it would look adorable on you!

The denim pants are also super cute, check out the snap detail at the ankle. They have a great amount of stretch to them which makes them extremely comfortable.

The new arrivals include a bunch of beautiful florals. This embroidered sweater is example A! I love the colors, the embroidery and the 3/4 sleeves, especially for the spring.

This was probably my favorite floral top. I love that it was paired with stripes. A little fun, a little preppy, a lot of style! I also love the button fly on these jeans. I still tend to battle the rear gap in some of their denim, but if you don’t, you’ll want to check these out!

Another adorable top that could be dressed up for work or worn on the weekend with denim. I love the bell sleeves and I’m always up for a good peplum!

How cute is this top? The bright colors are screaming for spring with its Lily Pulitzer-ish vibe. It would look so crisp paired with some white denim!

I’ll leave you with one final adorable top. In case the florals didn’t sell ya, maybe the pearls will :) Another piece that will be absolutely perfect for spring.

So how about you guys….ready to start prepping your spring wardrobe or still cozy-ing up in all things warm?!