I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day! We hosted family here and had such a great day together. Our dining room, kitchen and kids table were all packed and the food was abundant. So much to be thankful for!
Now we turn our excitement towards Christmas and Black Friday which is well underway! I plan to keep this post updated through Monday so you can keep up not only with the sales, but also my top picks from everyone. There are some great deals to be had and some things are sure to sell out, so don’t miss out!
Hi guys! Today I’m sharing a gift guide for all those littles ones on your list. Whether you’re shopping for your own children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren or special friends, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to check them off here! Also, my guide from last year is just as relevant and most of the links should still be active for you, just in case you needed any more ideas.
Playhouse: What kid doesn’t love a cute playhouse? There’s something about them that brings out the creativity in kids and keep them entertained endlessly!
Cuddle & Kind: I shared these dolls last year and had to include one again because they are just too cute! My girls have the bunnies and
Art Box: For all of your little artists! Madelyn is my little crafter and I love enabling her and providing as many supplies as I’m able, but if there’s a way to keep things somewhat organized with a kit like this, I’m all over it!
Smart Watch: Jack has had one of these for a few years and he and Madelyn both love it. They can take pictures and video with it and they love timing themselves as they set up obstacle courses and races through our house.
Disney Jewelry Box: Such a sweet gift this would make. You only have to narrow down which princess for your own little princess.
Firehouse: A fun play set for all of those kiddos that love their firetrucks! This two story firehouse will thrill them and encourage their imagination.
Water Wow Books: My cousin introduced me to these a while ago and I have kept one in my car ever since. The paint brush is filled with water that is used to paint a beautiful picture that eventually dries so that it can be used over and over again! Mess free and perfect for toddler and preschoolers.
Laser Tag: If you have older children, this is a gift that would most certainly excite them. I don’t love finding Nerf bullets all over the house, but lasers I can handle!
Alphabet Puzzle: A great gift for your preschooler, these alphabet puzzles make learning fun (and I sound like a commercial, lol).
Fingerling: I really can’t explain these, but all I know is that they are towards the top of both my daughter’s Christmas lists. They come in various colors and animals and they talk to you as well.
Coffee Set: If your children are like mine, they want to do everything they see us doing. Making coffee is no exception! We were gifted this set last year and it’s gotten a ton of use and goes perfectly with their play kitchen.
Princess Castle: Such a sweet gift for the littlest babes on your list. I love this adorably soft castle!
I can hardly believe Thanksgiving is upon us! I’m hosting a bunch of family here so I’ve been in organizing/decorating mode the past few days. Thankfully my grandmother is tackling the turkey because those things still intimidate me! But I’ll be having fun prepping the table, tackling the pumpkin pie and making a few sides (this green bean casserole is a favorite of mine, I cheat with the canned french onions though).
I wore this outfit to church yesterday and was telling a few friends how I hold off on wearing my winter coats as long as possible. It seems like once you start, you’re wearing them for five straight months, so when I’m only running to/from the car, I like to layer up without the added bulk of a coat when I’m able. I walked into LOFT wearing this and one of the employees had on almost the exact same outfit, with this sweater which is currently available (mine is a few years old). The shirt is one I could have easily passed by but I’m so glad I didn’t. The colors are soft and beautiful and it lays really well, perfect for being able to layer under a sweater or blazer. And for those of you that grabbed this boyfriend cardigan when I shared it before, the greens match perfectly!
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and we are already living in a winter wonderland, so apparently it’s time to get these Holiday Gift Guides rolling! Since the gift guide ‘for her’ is the easiest for me to tackle, I figured we’d start there. Feel free to use it for those special women in your life or pass it along to a significant other as a sweet and subtle hint ;)
Slippers: A new pair of fuzzy slippers are always welcomed. And who can turn down these adorable stripes?!
Leather Tote: One of my favorites year after year. You cannot go wrong with this tote! Bonus points for add the monogram.
Faux Fur Scarf: A beautiful neutral cold weather accessory that any lovely lady would love.
PJ’s: I have these in navy and it’s my favorite set. Pink seems like the next best option!
Faux Fur Clutch: Adorable and playful, a perfect winter accessory.
Monogram Necklace: A thoughtful and stylish gift that any women would welcome.
Fleece: A cold weather must-have. I’ll take each and every cozy fleece with arms wide open.
Faux Fur Throw: Your only problem with this throw is narrowing down which color to get!
Wedge Bootie: I recently splurged on this bootie and I absolutely love it. They are great for winter yet the wedge adds the perfect amount of style (and height!).
Bathrobe: The perfect gift that every woman needs as she unwinds at the end of the day (or preps in the morning!).
Scarf: One of my favorite scarves this year. If I could I’d take one of every color!
Earrings: These are some of my favorite earrings. I have a few colors but the neutral colors get worn far more than any others.
Our home is a work in progress. For someone like me, whose taste and style is constantly evolving, I’m learning to embrace the fact that no room in our home will ever be ‘finished’. I’m working on a talk I’m giving to our local MOP’s group and the topic will revolve around ‘Making your House your Home’. Being that they will all be mothers of young children, I want to enforce the fact that our homes will never be perfect. We all have a to-do list that’s miles long, a wish-list that may or may not ever be completely checked off and rooms that turn themselves upside down as soon as you turn your back. Our house is no different.
I feel an added pressure being that part of my career has become helping clients design rooms and specify color to showcase their spaces. Well, to my surprise no one has cared that things aren’t ever perfect in my home. It is lived in and loved and the best compliment I have ever received is that our house feels ‘homey’. In the end, that’s all I want. I want my kids to feel safe and loved and our guests to feel comfortable and welcomed in our home. My friends may laugh as I chase our kids around with a sweeper but hey, a girls gotta clean what a girls gotta clean!
Back to our master bedroom. This room came together piece by piece. It’s not a fancy space by any means with any architectural details, but it was a perfect blank palette that I had before me. Rooms often evolve from one source of inspiration for me and in this case it was our ‘love’ pillow that I found at a local decor shop. I had always had busy bedding in the past and knew I wanted something more subtle that would allow me to play with prints and bolder colors in the rest of the space without making the room feel too overwhelming. This Pottery Barn quilt has worked perfectly for us. We keep a bed blanket underneath and the extra quilt folded on top of the bed for when we need it during the winter.
The drapes are actually the second set that I’ve had in here. The first set I had was pretty, but when I laid eyes on these at HomeGoods one day I knew it’s what we needed. This is part of the reason I try not to rush decorating. In time, the right thing will always pop up. These nightstands followed shortly after and I haven’t regretted the bold choice since. Try not to worry about trendy colors, but focus on colors that speak to you and you’ll have a much deeper and longer lasting love for your space.
Jack and I have had these dressers since we were married. They aren’t likely what I’d pick today, but changing our furniture with every new color trend isn’t an option. They are classic enough and add depth to our room and so they will remain.
Our wedding photo actually served as our guest book and that’s another decision I don’t regret. It’s remained in our bedroom through every rental we’ve been in over the years and I love having it next to our bed now. Our kids love to make fun of us kissing as we cuddle together on weekend mornings.
This space above our tall dresser remained blank the first few years in our home. I just couldn’t figure out what I wanted there! I saw the ‘love’ sign one day at Target and then everything fell into place for me. I pulled the frames out of our basement and within an afternoon it was done. Again, all about timing.
This is my favorite candid picture that we have. There’s a whole big story as to why my son was even at this wedding, but that little kiss is what I’ll always remember about it.
Let me wrap up by saying that yes, I removed some of the clutter that’s ever evident in our room for the sake of pretty photos. Laundry baskets and kids toys scattered all over the floor are what make this place ours and I hope you are able to leave here not seeking perfection, but taking the time to wait and find the things that speak to you the most and enable you to create a space of your own that you’ll enjoy walking into each and every day.
I hope you all had a great weekend! Things were pretty laid back here as we watched football and got things done around the house. I did manage to get my Christmas shopping off and running and in the meantime I’ll keep my fingers crossed that my kids don’t change their minds about their requests!
This sweater came home with me from the Loft sale last week and I’ve already worn it twice! I wasn’t lying when I said this was one great sweater. The colors are incredible, as is the feel. Thick and warm yet soft to the touch and overall not that heavy. I wore it with my go-to Madewell’s earlier in the week and then for church yesterday I paired it with these off-white jeans. I love pairing sweaters with lighter denim throughout the fall and winter because it’s just so pretty. I’ve also been wearing the heck out of this scarf already. Soft and cozy seem to be my prerequisites lately, and this one passed with flying colors. I’m always gravitating towards the pretty printed scarves when I’m shopping but then end up wishing I had more solid colors to pair with some of my outfits that are busy enough. This one comes in a number of solid colors, it was hard to narrow down my choice.
Happy Friday guys! There’s a great Loft sale underway and I’ve got a lot of great pieces to share with you! Earlier this week I teamed up with my good friend Rebecca from Mommy in Heels over on Instagram to share how the same pieces look on different body shapes and sizes. I saved those images so you can find them easily on my highlights. So many of you reached out to say how helpful that was which I’m so happy to hear! No two bodies are the same and shopping online can be a difficult task, so I’m all for helping to ease that process for you all any way I can.
Our fab Loft ladies were busying un-boxing so many goodies when I was in there, so I know there’s even more that I’ll have to get back in to check out! For reference, I typically wear a size XS/S or a size 2. Here’s what I was able to try on and all the details:
I was excited to see this sweater in person. It’s beautiful. I love the color and it’s very soft. The sleeves ran slightly short on me even in a size small which was the only downside for me. I often struggle with Loft denim as I typically have a gap in the rear. That was minimal in these however, and if you typically have luck with their denim, I highly recommend this pair. Mid-rise, great medium wash and a perfect amount of distressing.
How cute is this preppy little look that Rebecca put together? I love a good striped turtleneck (well, a good striped anything really!), and this knit blazer is perfect paired over top. It has great stretch yet looked very structured and chic. You can find my metallic loafers here. Wearing XS top, 2 in the blazer and 2 in the denim.
The colors in this sweater were hard to pass up. The only downside here was that it wasn’t super soft and I’m pretty picky about my sweaters these days :) Wearing a size S.
You may as well go grab one of these in every color because this is a great tunic! It’s thin which makes it perfect for layering under a blazer or under your more fitted winter coats. I always love the classy look of a turtleneck. Wearing an XS.
I’m not sure I’ve ever tried on a more comfortable wrap dress. This thing really does fit like a glove and can easily be dressed up as much as you needed. I wore an XS here.
Such a great shirt dress in this beautiful plaid. If you’d prefer just the shirt, it comes in that as well which is a great option. How cute would it be with OTK boots and a fur vest? Wearing an XS.
Let’s call this our post-Thanksgiving dinner outfit! I brought home another pair of Lou & Grey joggers (seriously guys, if you don’t own a pair yet, pick a color or two and grab them now!) which I wear ALL the time. This super-soft striped top pairs perfectly with them as well as leggings or denim. Top is XS and bottoms are S (I have others in XS but they were out and the smalls fit very similarly).
There really were too many good sweaters in this round up. Although it isn’t, this one basically felt like cashmere. Long length which would allow it to pair well with leggings. Guaranteed you’d be reaching for this one over and over. Wearing an XS.
Very pretty everyday sweater and a great pair of Lou & Grey utility pants. The green was in store but doesn’t appear to be online yet. Wearing XS in both pieces.
Such a darling polka dot top. This would look so pretty with a red skirt or trousers for the holidays. These are my Madewell jeans that I had worn that day, this is the most similar pair.
I think this one topped the charts for me. This Lou & Grey sweater has an over-sized fit but still has a great shape. And not only is it soft, but the colors are SO pretty in person. I received compliments on it all day when I wore it yesterday. Can’t say enough about this one other than don’t let it sell out on you! Wearing the XS.
I love the navy/grey combo on this one, but even more I love the detail on the back…
So if you don’t sport short hair, get those pony tails ready! Wearing the XS.
This lace top makes for a great layering base. The mock neck adds an additional pretty detail without being overly feminine.
I grabbed this top not thinking it would be anything special but I absolutely loved it once I had it on. Maybe it’s the whole green-eyed thing, but I love the fit as well and plan on layering it under some of my cardigans. Wearing an XS.
And that’s all for today! I hope this helps you and provides some outfit inspiration! Have a great weekend!
Happy Wednesday! It’s time for a little round-up of some of my everyday outfits from Instagram. It’s so much easier to snap a quick pic than it is to plan out a whole shoot, and I know a lot of you enjoy more of these everyday outfits anyway, so I’m hoping this serves as a good source of inspiration for you! There are a lot of great pieces packed in here and worth looking into for the cold winter months ahead of us. Layering is the name of the game!
Happy Monday guys! I feel like I have so much to adjust to this week. The time change for one and the fact that it’s now November! I hate being a last minute shopper, but I’m also not in the right mindset yet to start tackling Christmas. I’m still acquainting myself with sweater weather, haha. Actually no, I’m one step further, I’ve moved on to the wonderful world of scarves. I did a major purge at the beginning of the season so now I’m starting to fill in the empty gaps. I found this one at Target the other week and couldn’t pass up this stunning shade of blue. I grabbed the leopard print as well because the price was so good! Here’s a little tip for shopping at Target when you don’t want to get sucked into the black (or red) hole. Score your goodies online and pick them up in store. This way they tackle the work for you and you only need to have one foot in the door ;) They typically have things ready within 2 hours for me to pick up!
Happy Friday guys! I hope you had a great Halloween and fun trick-or-treating if you were taking little ones around! We were hit with some rain but that didn’t slow down anyone. If you missed seeing my two little fairy’s and my soccer player (who is basically over dressing up) you can see them on my Instagram feed. Poor Jack was so upset because I held him up taking silly pictures when he was to be meeting up with his friends, ha! I can’t even wrap my head around what teenage-hood is going to bring! Thankfully the girls have no problem taking things a bit slower allowing their friends and moms to keep up :)
I’m basically a sweatshirt junkie. Every shade, every length, ruffled or embroidered, I love coming across those that I can easily work into my everyday wardrobe. When it pairs with denim just as well as sweats, I’m all on board. This sweatshirt is not only comfortable and beautiful but it’s also perfect for the season. I don’t wear a ton of red but this was too pretty to pass up! I’ve had these demi-boot jeans for a while now and love them. The updated version is almost identical, only missing the button fly. This pair, however, offers the button fly in a full length skinny leg. I’m contemplating them right now as they sit my cart.
I hope you all have a great weekend and enjoy your extra hour of sleep Sunday morning!
