I realize that the weather varies depending on where you are in the country, but we enjoyed some unseasonably warm temps this past weekend! I broke out this shirt dress for the first time and decided to skip the leggings and pair it with some over-the-knee boots. The nice thing about shirt-dresses is that they give you the flexibility of wearing them with sandals or slides in the warmer months and leggings or tights in the cooler months. I’ve gathered a handful of options for you to check out below.
You know I love playing around with pretty color combinations and this pink/green/brown combo is a favorite of mine. You saw me wear this jacket with my overalls last here, and I can’t tell you how much wear it’s getting already. If pink isn’t your thing, it comes in a great neutral as well. Regardless of the color, it’s a great layer to have in your closet!
I know that we are still a month out from Valentine’s Day but I’ve already been eyeing up and grabbing a few goodies in anticipation. I’m not necessarily a huge fan of Valentine’s Day per se (paying for over-priced flowers, fighting the crowds for dinner reservations etc), but celebrating love is a good idea, always, isn’t it? So I’ll be wearing my heart sweaters and t-shirts on any given day from here on out and figured I’d share some of the things I’ve had my eye on. This sweater arrived yesterday and I couldn’t love it more. I included some goodies for the kiddos as well, because we know they love being festive and sizes always sell out so quickly!
Hi, friends! I’ve been finding some cute pieces recently and wanted to share some of them with you today. I found a few sweaters I liked at Loft and a handful of pieces at Target that you can check out here…
Love this cozy poncho sweater. Great to pair with jeans or leggings.Comfy and playful pom pom sweater. Runs TTS, I’m in the XS.Such a great color combo in this one! Another one by Lou & Grey and runs TTS.This off-the-shoulder sweater can also be worn above the shoulders (see below). I could have gone with the xs or s in this one as I found it ran a little snug in the arms.At Target, I started with a few warm layers by Joy Lab. This pullover felt like a baby’s blanket and would make a great extra layer when you’re out running around. I’m wearing a Small in all Joy Lab pieces.Such a cute sherpa jacket that comes in a few other color options as well.Here’s a half zip, pullover option. I love the side slits that make it easy to move around. I loved the versatility of this pullover. Labeled as a sweatshirt but wears as a sweater it could be worn casually with loungewear or slightly dressed up. It ran small for me however, I’m wearing the Med here. Also comes in grey. This must have been an online return to our store, because it was the only one I could find, but I just loved this knit blazer. The fit is oversized, but the Med (seen here) was a little too large, so I ended up ordering the small.I loved the print on this top by Who What Wear. You can also see it on this dress…How cute would it be with black tights and booties?There’s a tie at the neck that could be left open or tied. It runs TTS, I’m in the XS.
It’s always nice to have a few go-to outfits made up of a few go-to pieces that you can turn to regularly. This winter I’ve found that I’ve been gravitating toward a number of basics to layer with. I didn’t realize how much I’d love a good mock neck sweater until I had this one. I love that it doesn’t have unnecessary bulk, but still keeps me covered. These high-rise black pants are very work appropriate but I’ve been dressing them down and getting a ton of wear out of them! One way I do that is by pairing them with my white sneakers. I typically pack my sneaks away for winter, but if the temps allow my ankles to be exposed lately, then chances are I’m reaching for them. If you have a pair tucked away, try pulling them out. You may be surprised with the outfits you can pull together! And it’s obviously a given, but a pop of color through any accessory is always a good idea during the barren winter months. You can find all the links to exact and similar pieces below.
Details: Scarf / Coat (see similar below) / Sweater (see similar below) / Hat / Pants / Sneakers (see similar below)
Here we are, jumping into 2020! Although it’s always nostalgic moving onto a new year, and a new decade this time around, it’s refreshing at the same time. I don’t always set a New Year’s resolution, but this year I want to focus more on reading. This is a goal I’ve set before, but I’m hopeful my ‘one chapter a day’ will be more manageable. Last year my goal was to start drinking half my body weight in water (ounces) and although I didn’t hit it every single day, my water intake has become drastically greater since then. My SIL gifted me this water bottle and it’s made all the difference for me. It makes drinking more of a game and more manageable as well as it walks you through the day hour by hour. Here’s another one that I really like. Finding a good bottle to keep by your side may be beneficial to you as well, New Year’s resolution or not! Have any of you set goals this year? Big or small? I’d love to know!
I ordered this quilted jacket prior to Christmas during one of Anthropologie’s sales and boy am I glad I did! This is one of those unicorn pieces in my closet for sure. Dusty pinks are my favorite shade of pink, and this casual, throw-on and go type jacket (that feels like a broken in sweatshirt) is perfect for my casual everyday. I traveled in it over the holidays and it was the best cozy layer. Here I wore it over top of my Madewell overalls that I’ve had for what feels like forever, yet they look brand new. I also layered on a faux fur scarf that’s been in my closet for years. It may seem an out of the ordinary color to have, but I wear it so often and receive many compliments on it each time. I’ve gathered a bunch of similar option for you to check out below. With more winter ahead, it’s a smart piece to consider.
Hi, friends! Sorry for the lack of posts over this past week or so. This time between Christmas and New Years is always such a whirlwind! With a mix of relaxing, entertaining and traveling, it’s been hard to keep my days straight! After Christmas we headed to NY to visit my SIL and her family for a few days and then Jack and I took the kids into the city to see all the things. Despite the inevitable crowds we all had a really great time. The tree at Rockefeller was breathtaking as always and the girls went crazy over the Frozen II windows at Saks 5th Ave.
We also had an eye-opening moment with little Jack as he was struck by the amount of visible people in need while we walked the streets. It was a humbling moment as we took time to process his emotions and share with him that there are people in need everywhere, even though they may not be as visible. I reminded him how and why we donate and sponsor certain causes and how he’s helped us to pack food multiple times for families in need (he just hasn’t seen the end result). It’s a reminder to myself as well, that we can always be doing more to help and at the same time be thankful for how blessed we are, not taking anything for granted.
This post was originally meant to share some of my favorite pieces that have been drastically marked down. Now that feels a little silly! Although obviously not the most important thing, appreciating the beauty in style isn’t a bad thing either. Browse some sweaters, donate to a charity close to your heart…or do both. I’m not here to judge. I may have another post towards the end of the week, but I’ll wish you a Happy 2020 ahead of time! Here’s to a great year ahead!
Do you guys have a favorite cookie that you look forward to making year after year? I do. And this chocolate chip cookie is it. The holiday season isn’t the only time it can be pulled out, but it’s likely the most popular. I’ve been making this recipe for years and it’s by far my favorite chocolate chip cookie. I love the rich chocolate and the sprinkle of kosher salt on top should be a must to balance the sweetness of almost any cookie, in my opinion.
Keep me posted if you try them. But if you decide to share them, be prepared to make them repeatedly ;)
Ingredients: 2 cups minus 2 Tbsp. cake flour (8 1/2 oz) 1 2/3 cups bread flour (8 1/2 oz) 1 ¼ tsp. baking soda 1 ½ tsp. baking powder 1 ½ tsp. coarse salt, such as kosher 2 ½ sticks (1 ¼ cups; 10 oz.) unsalted butter, softened 1 ¼ cups (10 oz.) light brown sugar 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. (8 oz.) granulated sugar 2 large eggs 2 tsp. vanilla extract 1 ¼ pounds bittersweet chocolate chips or chunks, preferably about 60% cacao content, such as Ghirardelli Sea salt or kosher salt for garnishing
Directions: Combine flours, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Whisk well; then set aside.
Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars until very light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Reduce the mixer speed to low; then add dry ingredients, and mix until just combined. (Unless you have a plastic guard that sits around the rim of the bowl, this will make a big mess at first, with flour flying everywhere. I found that carefully holding a dish towel around the top of the bowl helped a lot.) Add the chocolate chips, and mix briefly to incorporate. Press plastic wrap against the dough, and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. The dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.
When you’re ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F. Remove the bowl of dough from the refrigerator, and allow it to soften slightly. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat.
Using a standard-size ice cream scoop – mine holds about 3 fluid ounces, or about 1/3 cup – scoop six mounds of dough onto the baking sheet, making sure to space them evenly. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt, and bake until golden brown but still soft, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then transfer the cookies onto the rack to cool a bit more.
It’s one week until Christmas which also means that today is my birthday :) Today I turn 38 and oddly enough, I’m ok with that! At one point in my life those numbers sounded ancient to me but now that I’m stepping into those shoes, I’m happy with where they’ve taken me. I’m at a place where I know life is hard, but the ups and downs are what have helped me to grow and become who I am today. I’ve followed a rather untraditional path that I couldn’t have forseen, but that fact that I get to be a wife, mother, stylist and designer is more than I could have dreamed. Thanks to all of you for being a part of that and following along on my little journey. I hope it’s been (and continues to be) beneficial to you in one way or another!
Today I’m rounding up all those outfits I’ve shared on Instagram that will hopefully provide some inspiration for you! Exact and/or similar items are listed below.
I love a classic look that’s a bit playful. The large scale polka dots on this sweater bring a bit of fun to this look that I wore to church yesterday. I’ve been on the wide leg pant train for a bit now, so these are right up my alley. When I saw that the black was almost sold out (still available in a beautiful burgundy that I just may grab too!), I easily found some similar options for you (see below). The sweater is also quickly selling out, but it also comes in a navy/burgundy combo that would look fantastic with those previously mentioned burgundy pants ;) Also, the scarf that I have on is one of the softest I own, very warm, comes in a few others colors and is currently marked down! A pop of red lip, which always feels so bold for me, is just what so many holiday outfits call for. I typically choose this lipstick in ‘rubino’.
I hope you all enjoy this week, as hectic as it may be, and do your best to find a few peaceful moments in the midst of the beautiful chaos.
With less than two weeks until Christmas I’m sure many of you have a good handle on your gift lists. At the same time, I know those names that remain on your lists are the ones that you just can’t figure out what to get! Below you’ll find plenty of ideas for your friend, mother, sister etc. that’s been stumping you.
No one can turn down cute pj’s, cozy slippers or an adorable matching lounge set, especially this time of year. With many traveling over the holiday’s, this chic carry-on would make anyone’s day, as would these cute packing cubes. If they don’t yet own a monogram necklace, this one is one of my favorites. A cozy throw is a great option for anyone (here’s another one I’ve also had my eye on). Another cozy go-to is this pretty scarf. There are a bunch of color options and it’s super soft and warm! And for your stylish friend, these adorable barrettes or this chic bow hat are sure to make her smile!
In addition to the inevitable shopping, I hope you all are enjoying this magical season. We’ve been keeping busy with Christmas concerts, Santa trains, Christmas shops at school, get-togethers and I’ll have my annual Cookie Exchange next week. It always flies by, but these weeks can be full of fun if we take the time to breath and enjoy them (not the easiest thing!)
