First Weekend

Wearing //

Express jacket, tank, & jeans

Zara pumps, similar here and I want these

French Connection bag, similar

Stella & Dot Nova necklace

Delezhen labradorite necklace, similar

Beauty //

Nudestix lip and cheek pencil in Mystic

The first few days after any kind of move means comfortable clothing. For the majority of last week, I frumped around in whatever was handy and clean, and being "fashionable" took a backseat to comfort, We didn't hire movers to shlepp our furniture from the condo to the new house. Why would we? We only moved about a mile up the road! However, let me tell you. I am SO out of shape! My legs and back are still sore from carrying boxes up and down the stairs 50 times over. At the end of the weekend, all I wanted was a warm shower and a massage. I didn't get the massage, but I did take an extra long shower so I could feel human again. How I managed to get dressed at all still mystifies me, but we wanted to have some drinks at our favorite bar to celebrate our move and this is what I came up with. I'm still loving olive green paired with other neutrals, and this utility style moto jacket fits the bill of slouchy comfort. I definitely could have sized down, but this was the last one in the store and I kind of like the oversize fit with skinny jeans. Thank you ladies for all the well wishes on Instagram and snapchat! I really appreciated them. You were all right - the change felt sad, but only for a split second. Now that we have more space, I can't imagine why I worried so much that this wouldn't feel like home. It's been one week, and it absolutely does :)

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Two New Products Worth Mentioning

Over Christmas, Nate was sweet enough to get me a gift card to Sephora in my stocking. I was pleasantly surprised because I didn't drop any hints that I was wanting to splurge on some beauty items. He always does a great job, but we aren't the type of couple that gift each other with things. We like experiences instead, like planning a road trip or future vacation together. You know, memories instead of "stuff" that we frankly can buy on our own. However, I won't complain because I was able to get these and am so glad that I did.


First, this neutral eyeshadow palette by Tarte. 

It's a neutral lovers dream! I own many shadows, including palettes by Urban Decay but for some reason, every single time I passed by this in store, I had to stop and stare. The quality is just beautiful - smooth, easy to blend, no fallout, and a great range from nude to black. I also appreciate that these are mostly matte, with three exceptions being funny girl, rocker, and firecracker. The palette is small and compact, making it perfect for those of us who don't want a bunch of clutter in our makeup drawers. 

Next up is my reluctant answer to the Kylie Jenner lip. This cheek and lip pencil by Nudestix called Mystic is the perfect "my lips but better" shade. It adds that slight hint of mauve and brown, but is wearable enough. I was originally looking for Kat Von D's Lolita, but that has been consistently sold out in my Sephora so I decided to try this instead. It appears similar enough, maybe not quite as dark or dramatic. It does dry out my lips a bit, but if I use a balm underneath, it's perfect.

Have you ladies bought any makeup in the new year? Let me know if you have tried these!

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The End of an Era

Wearing //

Express trench and cami

Loft jeans, similar

Old Navy flats, identical and these too

Michael Kors bag

Stella & Dot necklaces

Use me (Noelle Engel) as your stylist

These photos and this post are bittersweet for me. This is the last time you'll see me beside our condo, our first home together as a married couple. It was our first time living in a small space, but it was also the first time we felt like we were truly at home. No parents, no roommates. There were plenty of firsts here. From planning our wedding to getting a dog to turning thirty. I'm going to miss it, even though I'm excited to have more room and a yard again. I won't have to worry about looking put together when I take Nettie out for a walk in the mornings, and I'll be able to do laundry inside the house instead of in the garage. Small luxuries that I took for granted before condo life. But your first real place together as newlyweds is always special, and up until a few months ago, I loved calling this home. It definitely served its purpose, and allowed us to save a little money in the process because our bills were so low. I remember feeling so unsure when we moved in, and now I'm experiencing the same pangs of anxiety as we move out. I told you guys I'm not good with change. Living in a house is a bigger responsibility. I'm excited to decorate, as well as the means to entertain guests. We never really had friends over in the condo because it felt too cramped.

There's so much more I could say, but it's hard to collect my thoughts at the moment. Maybe things are better left unsaid, or maybe I'll write a future post once I feel settled. I'm happy that I'll have my blog archives to look through which documented this period. Even though I don't get too personal on here, it feels like a diary. I have to remind myself that it's just a move, and like most change that has happened so far in my life, I doubt I'll regret it.

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