a lovely living

Monthly Archives for January 2021

Valentine’s Gift Guide

Although this Valentine’s Day may be more unique than others, love is still in the air. We haven’t thought too far ahead in terms of any plans, but it’s one holiday that I love getting festive for. I’m always on board for a matching heart set and would be perfectly content snuggling up in one and ordering in this year. I always fill a little goodie box for the kids and if I had my act together I know they’d be thrilled to start their day with some heart shaped waffles <3

Below is a lovely inspiration board that I filled with ideas for the family and beyond. Whether you want to dress festively or give a thoughtful gift, a little love in any form goes a long way!

**click images for shopping details**

Everyday Style

Happy Monday, all! It’s the last Monday in January, can you believe it?! Today I’m sharing a round-up of some of my everyday looks. Is there any other look these days? My husband teases me that I’m the only one he knows that actually gets dressed (coming from someone who works from home in his joggers everyday). For me, getting showered and dressed has a huge impact on my mindset and productivity for the day. T-shirts, cardigans and sweatshirts play a big role, I’m not talking fancy here, so if that sounds similar to your outfits, scroll on for some inspiration!

tee / sweater / jeans (size down)
tee / sweater (similar) / jeans (similar) / hat / boots (similar)

turtleneck / pants / boots (similar)

sweatshirt / jeans (similar)

tee / sweater (similar) / pants / slippers / puppy (not for sale :)

top / jeans / slippers

top / jeans

sweater / tee / jeans / sneakers

Meet Cinnamon the Cockapoo

Blog world, meet Cinnamon. Cinnamon, blog world <3 This sweet girl was welcomed into our family just before Christmas and we couldn’t love her more. We managed to keep her a secret from our kids which was quite the struggle as Jack and I were constantly sneaking puppy pictures back and forth. Our kids all placed ‘dog’ at the top of their Christmas list, but honestly, it’s been on their wishlist for years. We are in the thick of training her and puppy proofing the house but she brings so much joy and excitement that it’s all worth it.

My outfit doesn’t feel nearly as interesting at this point, but I’ll share about it regardless! These jeans have been shared numerous times and I know this won’t be the last time as I adore their fit and style. This Free People turtleneck is the perfect casual and cozy top. It has a loose fit and works well paired with jeans or joggers alike. My coat and boots are both staples that have been in my closet for years, but I dug up some similar options for you below.

Shop the Look:

For all of those homes that are feeling a little too sparse post holidays, Studio McGee’s latest collection may be just what is needed! Their spring collection was just released yesterday and I couldn’t love the overall vibe more. From sofas, accent tables and rugs to smaller pieces of everyday decor, there’s a little something for every space in your home. I already brought home the pillows shown below as well as this beautiful lamp. It always amazes me how small accents such as these can leave a room feeling fresh and new. No need for a huge overhaul to happen in order for your home to feel refreshed!

Below you’ll find some of my favorite pieces from the collection. Trust me, I could go on and on (see the full collection here), but I did my best to narrow things down. Let me know what you find!

*click images below for details

Loft Try-On

I ventured into Loft yesterday to check out their new arrivals. I wasn’t sure what to expect because I had browsed online but wasn’t struck by a whole lot. That all changed when I walked in the door and realized I didn’t give myself nearly enough time to try everything I wanted to! Online pictures often don’t do clothing justice in my opinion, and I love getting a chance to get my hands on things and style them in a way that works for me. I do realize that you are also seeing these pieces ‘online’, but my hope is that I can give you an even better idea of what they look like and how they wear for us everyday gals!

With Valentine’s Day heading our way, I obviously took all the hearts in to try on, but gather some other tops/sweaters that stood out to me as well. I’ll have to head back for a more in depth try on at some point, but hopefully this is helpful for now! I took a pack of barretts in with me as well (that I purchased) because I’m realizing that my hair is actually long enough to start playing around with some accessories!

I’m always between XS/S tops at Loft, so I’ll note which size I’m in and what size worked best for me as a reference for you. Most importantly, most everything is up to 60% off, so don’t wait for your size to sell out!

top / bottoms

LOVE this matching set which is Lou & Grey (ie super soft). I’m wearing an XS in both pieces.

sweater / jeans

I think the colors in this sweater are so beautiful. It’s light-weight, so will also be great for Spring. I’m wearing the S here.

sweater / pants

I love the look of sailor pants. These ran large and I would have needed one size down, but otherwise they are a fun alternative to denim.

sweater / jeans

This is a great, classic sweater that would work most of the year (ok, maybe not a turtleneck in the summer, but…). I’m in a S here and the sleeves ran too short for my arms, but most of you won’t have that issue! These jeans weren’t a great fit on me, but as reference, this was the pair I tried.

sweater / jeans

We can always count on Lou & Grey for cute sweaters! Love the playfulness of this one, yet in colors that work on everyone. I’m in the XS here but would have gone with a S.

sweater / jeans (similar)

Another cheerful sweater by Lou & Grey. As with the previous sweater, I would have gone with a S in this one as well.

sweatshirt / jeans (similar)

This light-weight sweatshirt had me at ruffles. It also comes in grey…

sweatshirt / jeans (similar)

…which is what I brought home in a size S.

sweatshirt / jeans (similar)

I would have loved for this tunic to work, but the wide arms and loose fit left me feeling like I was wearing a potato sack. Wasn’t a winner for me.

sweater / jeans (similar)

On the other hand, I loved this tunic sweater. The fitted arms and ribbed detail was much more flattering. I may head back for one of these but I couldn’t decide which color I liked best!

tee / jeans (similar)

I love cute, graphic tees and grabbed this one in this and this color in a size S. Great for lounging or layering.

tee / sweater / jeans (similar)

This is a really great cardigan. They didn’t have a S in either color I wanted to try, so I took a M back with me and loved the oversized fit of the pink.

sweater / jeans (similar)

I also took it back in an XS in navy and loved that I could wear it without layering underneath. So the gist of this one is that you have flexibility on sizing and styling!

*will update with link once they become available online

Shop the Looks:

It’s been a bit since I’ve had my act together to share an outfit post with you. I’ve gathered some great new pieces over the past few weeks, but this sweater has got to be towards the top of the list. The ottoman slouchy tunic sweater is one I’ve had my eye on for some time. It’s a bit of a splurge and there are a number of dupes out there, so I kept holding off. I finally caved and now I get all the rage. It’s is such a great sweater and has a wide appeal thanks to it’s oversized yet classic fit. The tunic length draws many of us in as it works just as well with leggings as it does with jeans. Not to mention the wide array of colors that are available. You can often track certain colors on sale, so keep an eye out. I’ve listed a few for you at the bottom of this post. These slim, demi boot jeans from Madewell have been another recent favorite. They are on major sale right now and I adore the shape paired with some booties. I do recommend sizing down one. My oversized scarf is from last year, but I did link a few similar options for you below.

Shop the Look:

Every year when I clear out the Christmas decor, I know I’ll have the itch to make some changes/updates in our home. There’s something about a little refresh that can feel so rejuvenating and keep a home from becoming boring and stagnant. Simple changes from new pillows, art, lamps or rugs can make the biggest difference in your living spaces. I’ve been tackling a little bit here and there but funny enough, our bathroom is where I started. I found new towels that drew me in and that led to a new shower curtain, mat and a few new bath accessories that left our bathroom feeling like a brand new space.

I’m assuming I’m not the only one with the updating itch, so today I put together five different bathroom looks to provide you with a little inspiration for your own rooms. Let me know which is your favorite style!

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