Holiday Outfit Idea: Cozy Cardigan

For my last holiday outfit idea, I decided to take things down a notch and dress the way I usually do for family gatherings - simple, comfortable, and casual. As much as I love getting dressed up this time of year, I must confess that my friends and family are more about sitting by the fireplace than partying it up somewhere fancy. Which ultimately translates into casual clothes that I can chase my niece in AND play board games involving wine (um, it's a thing around here). Bonus points for a ridiculously soft layer you can later sleep in too! I mean, after all that kid chasing and pinot noir...

Cozy Cardigan

Wear it to: 

Shopping on the weekend

Brunch

Party at a friend's house

Christmas Day

New Year's Day

Wearing //

Gibson cardigan

Asos skirt

Express cami, similar here & here

Halogen clutch, similar here

Stella & Dot covet necklaces 1 & 2

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Black Friday Purchases

Hey ladies, happy December! I just have a quick rundown of my purchases from last week when practically everything was on sale. I've never been much of a black Friday shopper but the deals were hard to resist this year! In fact, some of these items are still on sale and I have a feeling that most stores will continue to run promotions throughout the month so check often.
I'm finding that although I'm drawn to a lot of the current trends, I'm still committed to buying pieces that will get plenty of wear, fill a void in my wardrobe, and look great with things I already own. You know, the whole "buy less, choose well" mantra from Vivienne Westwood.

Aside from some gifts, here is what I picked up for myself:

1. B.P. Nordstrom leopard scarf - I can count on one hand how many scarves I own (I don't really need them living in southern CA) but I do love the way they make a sweater or coat look more interesting. After seeing this leopard print scarf on Gina and Amy Ann, I knew it would be the perfect neutral addition to my closet. 

2. Lush pocket tee - On my never ending quest to find the perfect t-shirt, I stumbled upon this one by Lush. I went down a size because they are quite forgiving. Love it in the taupe color I got, but also tempted to order another in white. They are incredibly soft. 

3. Old Navy rockstar jeans - The Old Navy rockstar skinny jeans are some of my favorites due to fit, length, and price. I have two distressed pairs that I keep in constant rotation, and I'm happy to add another in a darker rinse. They will go with absolutely everything!

4. Sole Society "Devyn" booties - I have a few pairs of Sole Society shoes and I've always been happy with the level of comfort and price point. 

5. Asos pink cord mini skirt - I just received this in the mail and I love it! It's definitely a "mini" but as long as the rest of me is covered, I can wear it comfortably without feeling too exposed. 

Did you participate in the sales this year? Share in the comments! Have a great weekend.

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Holiday Outfit Idea: Velvet

I wore this blazer twice over the long Thanksgiving weekend, and it's hands-down the current favorite in my closet. Out of all the looks I have planned for the holidays, this is definitely the most versatile. Trust me, you need some velvet in your life!

Velvet

Wear it to:

A holiday party or dinner

Date night

Girls night

New Years Eve

Anywhere!

This blazer is on sale too! 

Wear it more casually as I've done here, or drape it over a dress (it would pair perfectly on top of my first holiday idea).

Wearing //

Express blazer on sale

Lush clothing tee

Topshop jeans

Zara pumps, similar here & here

Sezane bag

C. Henry necklace

Stella & Dot covet necklaces (here & here)

Stella & Dot ring

Beauty //

Lips in M.A.C. "Ravishing"

There are so many beautiful trends making the rounds, but velvet is the one I'm crazy over.  It doesn't matter whether it's a top, skirt, or even heels, anything in this sumptuous fabric adds just the right amount of elegance. And the best part is that it doesn't seem to be going anywhere! Velvet is still going to be big well into next year, so you can keep the chic going long after the holidays are gone.

I hope you ladies had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and thank you to those who entered the Nordstrom giveaway last week! I'm jealous of the winner! 

Linking up with Gina, Amy Ann, and Brooke. 

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Perfect Gifts For Your Girlfriends + Nordies Giveaway

Hey guys, I hope your week is off to a great start! I have lots of fun things planned since it's the kick-off of the holiday season with Thanksgiving on Thursday. Are you ready for the marathon eating, drinking, and decorating? I have to admit, I'm actually...dare I say, excited this go around? I have no clue why, but I'm feeling more festive than usual, and I have a feeling you might be too after looking through all of the gift guides that my blogger friends and I put together below.

 When I thought about creating a gift guide, my girlfriends kept coming to mind. I get so much enjoyment shopping for them because most of the time, I buy things I personally would love to receive myself. I try to personalize each gift so that it feels meaningful to each friend, but ultimately I think all of my ideas are universal. Who wouldn't be happy unwrapping these? The best part is that everything is $50 dollars or less! I've already ordered a couple things...and because some of my friends read here, I won't say which!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Time for the giveaway! Enter using the form below to treat not only your friends and family, but also get a little something for yourself :)

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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