a lovely living

Monthly Archives for September 2019

Ruffled Flannel Midi

When we think of our fall wardrobe, we typically lean towards all the warm and cozy pieces. Often times, when we head that direction it seems that we loose a lot of the feminine details that are so prevalent during spring/summer. In addition to the beautiful plaid and the great cut of this midi dress, I was also drawn to the adorable ruffle detail. That piece alone really makes this one stand out among the rest. The flannel feels like a worn in pair of pj’s pulled off in the chic-est of ways! This dress is perfect for all of your fall activities and outings and I’d even venture to plan family photos around it if you have them scheduled! Consider pairing it with your denim jacket, a comfy cardi or a sleek duster. You could even throw a belt around your waist for a little more definition. So many great possibilities with this one!

Details: Dress / Jacket (similar) / Tote / Shoes (similar) / Earrings / Bracelet

Everyday Layers

Not only am I enjoying breaking out the layers lately, but also getting to play around with all the color combos. I’m not a stickler with the whole no white after Labor Day rule, but I do find that I prefer the warmer off-whites a bit more. They pair a little better with all the fall colors, do they not? I can’t pull off all the warm reds and oranges very well, but greens are frequently a color I lean towards. And I guarantee this camo scarf will get its wear this season! I’ve had it for a few months but waited patiently for the temps to drop just enough.

Details: Cardigan / Pants (similar here and here) / Scarf / Tote / Loafers (similar) / Earrings

Welcome Home

Many of us put a lot of time into decorating our homes with the expectation of making them feel warm and welcoming. One of my favorite compliments I receive is when friends tell me our house feel home-y. Although we spend most of our time indoors, the first way to provide a friendly welcome is before they even step in the front door. Layering a rug under a doormat has become quite the trend over the past few years and it’s one that I absolutely love. It’s so simple, yet you can add so much style and personality with the quick addition of an outdoor rug. There are so many fun options out there, so I decided to take some time and play around, mixing and matching to find some great pairs. I’d recommend that your base rug is at least 3 x 5, if not larger. Each home and entryway is different so you’ll need to work with your space, but I used a 4 x 6 on our front porch and enjoy the slightly more dramatic look. Below are eight different layered looks to get your wheels spinning. Work with what you have and play around until you find a fun match that fits your home and personality!


Details:
Rug 1 / Mat 1
Rug 2 / Mat 2
Rug 3 / Mat 3
Rug 4 / Mat 4
Rug 5 / Mat 5
Rug 6 / Mat 6
Rug 7 / Mat 7
Rug 8 / Mat 8

Mock-neck Midi

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Ours was filled with the norm in addition to some work on Audrey’s big girl room which is coming together beautifully. We got it painted and as it always does, it made a world of difference. We are still waiting on some furniture and nailing down some of the decor, but once it comes together I hope to share her updated room on here sometime soon!

I wore this look to church yesterday and just adore how chic yet easy midi dresses can be. This one comes in various fall colors, but this green had me. Layering with my denim jacket is a no-brainer during fall and this bag has been adding such a fun pop to just about all of my outfits lately!

Details: Dress / Jacket (similar) / Bag / Shoes (similar) / Sunglasses / Earrings

Fall Decor

Even though it may not feel like it, Autumn officially begins on Monday. I saw a meme this morning that read: ‘It’s officially wear a sweater in the morning and regret it in the afternoon weather’. Couldn’t hold more true here in PA! For those that may have been hanging on to summer and holding off on any fall decor, I think it’s safe to say, now’s your time.

I laughed as I pulled out my fall bin this year and looked into a giant box of pumpkins! They are basically my go-to in every shape, size and color. I’m not much of a Halloween decorator, but I do love fall accents that will carry me from Sept through November. I don’t do a major overhaul with my decor, but I typically swap a few things out and change over some of my faux florals. The bulk of my purchases come from HomeGoods but without the ability to share their items, I’ve dug up a number of other pieces from various retailers that allow you to purchase online. All of the pieces below are similar to items I have in my home and I hope they provide some inspiration to take right into yours!

Loving Lately: Amazon Finds

Just like many of you, I’m a sucker for Amazon. For all of those random odds and ends, it all too often feels like the sensible place to turn to find what you’re looking for, at a great price nonetheless. It’s taken me a while to jump on their fashion train, but I’ve been very pleased with the few pieces I’ve purchased thus far. Overall, there are a handful of Amazon purchases that stand out as favorites and I wanted to share them with you today.

This pillow is my oldest purchase on here today and possibly my top favorite. I’m very particular when it comes to my pillow and this is the first one I’ve ever been happy with. The cut up memory foam allows you to add or remove as needed which allows you to find the perfect amount to fit your comfort level. I’m also very prone to waking with headaches and they have drastically decreased since I began using this pillow. It now comes in tow with me anytime I travel!

On the opposite end, this coffee maker is the most recent purchase I’ve made, but it’s already claimed a special corner in our kitchen. We switched from the Keurig that we had used for over a decade to this coffee pot and we are not looking back! I didn’t realize how much flavor we were missing out on, but I think my favorite part is setting it to brew before we even wake in the morning. That smell draws me down in the morning with a smile on my face! I’ve had numerous people reach out asking about which one we settled on, and you can find it here. Prices fluctuate store to store, so make sure you do a quick search in order to get the best price at your time of purchase!

I’ve had this jade roller since Young House Love told me I needed one earlier this year. I’ve used it fairly regularly since then but it’s never felt better than using it over the past few days while I fought off a head cold. After rolling around my sinus’s for a few minutes, I’d quickly feel some relief. It also feels amazing around my temples anytime I’m dealing with a headache. And if it ends up helping with anti-aging as well, I’m all in.

I finally purchased this Dyson during Prime Day and it’s by far the most used out of the bunch. I reach for it for multiple quick clean ups throughout the day and take it through the van frequently in an effort to keep those crumbs at bay! Its sleek size and various attachments allow me to get in all the nooks and crannies throughout our home that our larger vacuum can’t easily reach. Chances are you’ll be able to catch this on sale during Cyber Monday or at some point throughout the upcoming holidays, so keep an eye out!

As far as clothing purchases, I’ve found three, totally unrelated items that I’ve been very pleased with. These leggings have been dubbed the ‘Lulu dupes’ and they seem to live up to their claim. For a fraction of the price, the fit and quality are spot on. This hoodie is another fan favorite and a great piece to have around when fall decides to show up. And this dress that I ordered this summer (and shared here) turned out to be better than I expected. It’s great for summer but will be just as cute with booties and a denim jacket once the weather allows.

So I’m curious, what are some of your favorite Amazon purchases?

Fall Midi Dress

There’s something so ladylike about midi dresses really draws me in. In between a maxi and a mini, the midi dress can be a perfect middle of the road length to choose from. It’s also a great option for fall weather as the temps begin to cool down and you have the choice of pairing it with booties or knee high boots. I love this particular dress as it’s a great blank slate to layer overtop. In addition to a denim jacket, blanket scarves, sweater ponchos and utility jackets could all be great options to pair with this dress. I had ordered it in both gray and oatmeal and ultimately settled on the oatmeal color as it works so well with the season.

Speaking of perfect fall pieces, this tote will be by my side until further notice. I love the printed canvas, the size and the interest it’ll add to any outfit. Prepare yourself for compliments ;)

I’m also wearing two of my favorite Noonday pieces of jewelry here. These cow horn hoops and this leather bracelet. I’m always more apt to layering on more jewelry as the weather cools down and these two pieces work with much of my wardrobe. The perfect accents! The best part is, purchasing this jewelry helps to provide jobs for those in need in vulnerable communities throughout the world. It’s a win/win!

Details: Dress / Jacket (similar) / Boots / Sunglasses / Bag / Earrings / Bracelet

Insta Lately

Hello Friday! This week flew by for sure, and I may or may not be fighting off a sore throat (kids sure love bringing home allll the germs!), but the weekend is here, so all will be well.

Today I’ve gathered a number of Instagram looks that many of you may or may not have seen. From great basics, budget friendly dresses and a few fab fall pieces, scroll down to catch what I’ve been loving lately!

dress

This dress is one that can go from sneakers and a denim jacket to heels and a blazer with ease. Not to mention it falls under $25 and comes in a bunch of other color options!

cami / denim / sweater (old)

This cami is going to be put to work this season. You can’t beat the price or the fact that it can move from effortlessly casual to business chic as needed.

tee (updated without the pocket) / sweats

You can count on me to be a sucker for a good tee! This short sleeved tee has been a favorite of mine all summer long and will continue to be a go-to as I layer this fall. The length is great allowing room for a front knot if desired and also comes in various colors.

tote

I recently discovered the Scout brand and couldn’t be happier with my first purchase. A large, structured, collapsable, light-weight bag that can hold all the things this busy mom of three needs it to hold!

sweatshirt / sweats / sneakers (similar)

The outfit I wish I could wear everyday? This one. I’ve had these sweat pants for a while now (they are on major sale now) and the sweatshirt is newer from Target. It’s super soft and has a cute, cropped fit.

sweater jacket

I’m enjoying our warmer temps but I’m also dying to be able to break out this beauty. I grabbed it during Anthro’s latest sale and look forward to wearing it all fall long!

sweatshirt / shorts

Two of the coziest purchases I’ve made recently! Both are a dream (as sleep shorts should be) and I love not only the length but also the color of the tunic sweatshirt.

bag / sweater

Looking for a stand-out accessory that you can use all season long? This adorable canvas tote may be your answer!

rug

I may or may not have switched my living room room out (again). And I have to say, I finally have that look and feel that I was after. Love this soft jute rug and the casual, neutral vibe it provides.

boot

I’m already loving these suede booties. They are perfect for dresses, skinny pants and wide-leg pants alike.

tee

We’ll end with one final, really great tee. I love the fit and style of this one with it’s longer hemline in the front and back (great for leggings) and the scoop neck. It’s light-weight and perfect for layering under cardigans. Now I’m figuring out what other colors I need! Size down as it does run large.

Fall Shoe Show

Our high may be 88 degrees today, but we know that those temps won’t be hanging on for much longer. My pumpkins are out, so there’s no turning back now! I’ve been perusing and gathering my top fall shoe picks over the past few weeks and I’ve got a great round-up to share with you!

Flats, loafers, mules, booties and sneakers, I’ve included a little bit of everything. You’ll find more than a couple animal prints as well as a pretty ruffle detail or two. Both are great options to add a fun pop to your outfit. Something worth noting, most of these shoes come in various colors/prints. So if there’s a particular style you’re drawn to, click through to see all of the available options.

From work to play, there’s something here to carry you throughout fall!

Fall may be my favorite season for various reasons (sweaters, layering, pumpkin lattes, hayrides, campfires, football etc), but funny enough Autumn colors are not the best colors for me. For those that have followed along for a while now, you may recall my discussing Color Analysis and the breakdown of the four seasons. Everyone falls into a particular ‘season’ which in turns depicts the best colors for you based on criteria such as your hair color, skin tone and eye color. There’s a science behind it that’s best analyzed in person, but I did my best a few years ago to break things down for you in an effort to make it as easy as possibly to figure out your season on your own. You can find my four part series here: ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR.

I personally fall into the Summer category and look best in colors with cool undertones. That rules out those warm oranges, reds and browns. Now, I’m not saying that I never wear these colors (that’s a given based on my outfit in this post!) but what I find most important is that I wear one of ‘my colors’ at very least around my face. Pairing this outfit with a blue/green sweater instead of a burnt orange (which would look amazing on a freckled, red head) is a much better option for me. Knowing the colors that fall into my color palette has always helped me better navigate through my wardrobe choices and it’s something I highly recommend looking into if you haven’t in the past!

Details: Sweater / Pants / Booties / Hat (similar here and here) / Necklace / Bracelet / Earrings

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