Happy Monday! I hope everyone had wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. I had so much seeing friends and family I don't get to see very often and eating way too much. And even after a nice long weekend, Monday somehow showed up just a few days too soon.
I'm sure like many of you, this weekend was spent getting into the Christmas spirit. It's a holiday tradition not to be broken in our house that the weekend following Thanksgiving is spent cutting down the family Christmas tree. And every year, at least one of us dresses extremely impractically for this activity. I (very wisely) wore an old pair of boots so I wouldn't ruin a new pair. Well, turns out this very well loved pair of boots lost any and all sort of traction on the bottom through the years. Let's just say it was the first time in a long time that there was actually snow on the ground. There were hills and there was ice...
Outfit Details: Sweater: Old Navy (old) | Plaid shirt: T.J. Maxx, similar here | Jeans: T.J. Maxx (Joe's), similar here | Boots: Baker's (old), love these | Hat: Lord & Taylor, similar here | Coat: J.Crew Factory (on sale!) | Scarf: Target
Did you start getting into the holiday spirit this weekend?
Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving full of family, friends and delicious food. I know I did! I'm lucky enough to have today off from work and thought it would only be appropriate to share my top 5 Black Friday deals I've been shopping (Christmas music blaring - it is the day after Thanksgiving, after all) before spending the day with the fam. But first, a few from yesterday...
My friends and I woke up bright and early to run a Turkey Trot. Nothing like earning your Thanksgiving meal!
Naturally, we had props at dinner. Who doesn't?
1. Old Navy. Totally guilty of stocking up on plaid shirts and a few staple shirts and sweaters. Everything is on sale up to 50% and get an extra 15% off your purchase using GRAVY at checkout. Bonus: Free shipping over $50!
2. Gap. 50% off EVERYTHING with BLKFRIDAY at checkout. Gap has stepped up their game the last few years and has been added back on to my list of staples for basic sweaters. There's definitely some great deals here.
3. Nordstrom. If you can, stop into a Nordstrom today and get an additional 20% selected sale items. Nordstrom is the best for gift giving, too, since their return policy is so awesome.
4. Express. 50% off everything. Express is especially great for NYE dresses and outfits, so this is the perfect time to scoop something up instead of waiting until a few days before!
5. Bauble Bar. 15% off 2 items using FRIDAY15, 25% off 3 items using FRIDAY25, 35% off 4 items using FRIDAY35. No explanation needed here. Everyone should shop Bauble Bar. However, their earlybird sale was actually better than their Black Friday sale, which is a bummer! It's so tough to know when you're going to get the absolute best deal.
Happy Friday, loves! Not only does the happiest girl in the world work at the coffee shop I tend to go to on Fridays, but she also upgraded my medium latte to a large today and I am about to start a four day weekend! Woohoo! Small victories, people.
Here's what I've been watching, reading, doing this week...
1. Shake It Off. No, I'm not 2 months late to the game with this song, but this 80s aerobics video is something everyone needs to watch immediately if you haven't already.
2. This Proposal. I'm a sucker for a good marriage proposal, and this video and story is too sweet not to share. Read the full story here.
3. This Post. I've been a fan of Cupcakes and Cashmere for a couple of years now and was so excited to find out Emily was pregnant (isn't weird how we start to feel like we actually know these people and get genuinely excited for them?! No? Just me?). Anyway, this article written by her husband about his future fatherhood is seriously adorable.
4. NYE Dresses. Granted, I have no plans yet, and would be quite happy sitting on my couch, but every year I rush at the last minute trying to find a New Year's Eve dress. So I've started early this year. Well, at least starting pinning in anticipation (check out my full board here). Now I actually want to do something just so I have an excuse to look like somewhat of a disco ball. But don't think I won't sit on my couch and drink champagne out of the bottle in a sparkly dress if need be. These are my favorites right now:
5. Jimmy Kimmel. Sleepover at Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's, anyone? This video cracked me up. I think Jimmy Kimmel is hysterical as it is, throw in Tim and Faith and that's one great segment. Plus, check out Tim and Faith's house and farm. In. Love.
I'm headed into NYC tomorrow to go see UConn vs. Army at Yankee Stadium which will be so fun! Do you have any fun weekend plans?
As promised, here is a short hump day post dedicated to my Halloween shenanigans and a little weekend recap. Friday was spent mostly dedicated to setting up our Halloween Happy Hour at work (I swear I did some work..). I love planning a good party and love it even more when it's not my my money being spent! I scoured Pinterest for a few weeks and gathered up the easiest ideas that could be executed in the office, and even put together a Halloween playlist! Some may say I have too much time on my hands..
We have an office costume contest every year and this year I decided to go as a pineapple. Seriously, easiest costume ever. I had this bright yellow dress already and just made the leaves by using a toilet paper roll and hot glued some construction paper cut out as leaves and rolled them down a bit to give them a staggered and realistic look. My genius mom suggested cutting slits in the bottom of the toilet paper roll to make tabs and bobby pinned the tabs in my hair and voila! It was a hit all day. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have gotten a sneak peak.
I obviously couldn't wear the same costume to two events, so I had a different costume planned for the Halloween party I was going to - a mermaid! I've always wanted to be a mermaid for Halloween and with a little encouragement from a friend, I decided to create a handmade mermaid ensemble. I hot glued and sewed some shells, pearls, beads and sequins on a strapless bra for the top. I found a turquoise pencil skirt and my mom assisted (who am I kidding, she did the whole thing) in sewing a blue sequin fabric I found to the bottom of the skirt to create a mermaid effect. We ended up turning the skirt around and stitched up the slit that was in the back to make the "tail" be in the back of the skirt.
Saturday was UConn Homecoming which meant waking up bright and early for some tailgating and reliving the glory days of college. What did I get out of this? I am old. And always remember to bring a hooded jacket and completely closed shoes to a cold and wet tailgate. And remember to bring tickets for the correct game. But it was fun to see a bunch of college friends for the day!
Well, that was quite the opposite of a short post. Sorry! All in all, it was a long but fun weekend. What did you dress up as for the Halloweekend?
P.S. In honor of the CMA Awards on tonight, here's a little hump day treat :)
Alright, I'll be the first to admit it, I've been slacking. I don't even have a good excuse, other than that it was awfully dreary all week which forced me to be very tired and unproductive. But, have no fear, I have a post scheduled for the beginning of next week and plan on taking some pictures this weekend. So be on the lookout for a comeback in full force.
Last night, we had our annual work dodgeball tournament, which was a ton of fun, as always. Nothing like a little dodgeball to get some aggression out :) We didn't win, but team Snoop Dodgey Dodge (team name thanks to yours truly) had fun. Per usual, I cannot wait for the weekend, most of which will be spent trying to think of the winning costume for our work Halloween contest. Any and all ideas welcome!
Maybe it's just me, but I feel like I haven't had a good fall wardrobe redo in a long time. It's been a real struggle getting ready in the mornings with these colder temperatures. The fact that I usually refuse to believe it's actually getting cold out and therefore don't buy appropriate clothing, may contribute to that problem just a little. Today's Friday Five will be dedicated to my fall wishlist, some of which will be arriving on my doorstep shortly!
J.Crew Pea Coat. All throughout my college glory days, coats were a huge necessity in the arctic temperatures and wind tunnels of Storrs, CT. But more times than not, we would (stupidly) brave the cold in minimal clothing in hopes of not ruining your beloved coat - usually some type of North Face - or forgetting it at the bar (obviously out of excitement to go to bed and wake up for class in the morning). For the record, while I do have still have my (now ratty) North Face, I also have some battered and well loved winter pea coats. This year it's time to clean out and revamp my collection, and I'm thinking of starting with this beauty. Here's hoping my linebacker shoulders will fit into it!
Tommy Hilfiger Boots. I literally wore holes through my old cognac tall winter boots (which I loved so much and are no longer made). I've always loved the two-toned color block boots and when I found these on 6pm.com for 50% off I was immediately sold. I know I will absolutely get my money's worth out of these and will have them for a few seasons. Can't go wrong with a classic brown boot.
Old Navy Smoking Slippers. I went into Old Navy the other day just to look around and get out of the office during lunch, actually not anticipating any purchases... until I saw these smoking slippers. Not only did the red and embroidered tassels catch my eye, but so did the bright orange clearance sticker. Score! P.S. They are having their 20th Birthday Sale and have some great fall staples for even better prices. Check it out! I spotted this great dark royal blue bag that I know I will be eyeing for a while. It's not online yet, but I'll keep be on the lookout for you guys.
Plaid Scarf. Call me basic, but I'm loving the plaid trend this fall. I also happen to love oversized scarves. Put the two together, and I'm apparently overjoyed with love. I've been seeing these scarves around fellow bloggers' necks and recently found out they sell them at Target! I need to get there soon and pick one up before they are sold out. This one just screams "holiday season" to me.
Wrap Bracelet. BaubleBar does it again. I am seriously lacking in the bracelet department and this little guy was their $10 special last week. $10 + free shipping. It would be silly to not indulge. Right?
Happy Friday, loves! This week has flown by and I can't believe we're half way through October already! It sure looks like fall here in Connecticut, but we've had a freakishly warm (and humid!) week. My wardrobe has been very confused, but I'll take any last bit of summer I can get!
Here's what I'm loving this week:
#PimpinJoy. This may sound funny to a lot of you, but if you're a listener of the Bobby Bones Show, you know what I'm talking about. A little background for those of you a little confused about who's pimpin' what: Amy's (one of the show's hosts) mom, Judy, was diagnosed with cancer and decided to not let it get her spirits down and instead would choose joy. Judy then made a twitter account under the name of JudyBePimpinJoy, and the rest is history. She used something bad to encourage everyone to do something nice for someone and to always choose joy. We recently found out on the show that Amy's mom has received all the treatment she can get, and is living out the last few months with her family (I would be lying to say I didn't cry listening to this segment). As the Bobby Bones Show always encourages, I also encourage each of you to "pimp joy" this weekend, in honor of Judy. I was lucky enough to sit in on the show a couple of years ago and Amy and the rest of the team could not be any sweeter.
Cowlneck Sweatshirt. I've been eyeing this sweatshirt for weeks now, but can never justify $50 for a sweatshirt. Yesterday, as I was just about to leave Kohl's (empty-handed, might I add), I spotted this and immediately thought of the Mindy Mae's one, and for only $20, I couldn't pass it up. I know I will live in it once it really starts to cool down.
NYX Primer. I heard about this on another morning show I listen to (I have a long commute....), the Elvis Duran Show, during their "What's Trending" segment. I used to use a primer in my daily makeup routine and eventually ran out and never replenished my stock. Well, this is it ladies. I'm obsessed with this primer and forgot how much better your makeup goes on with it. And, it's super affordable. I got mine at Ulta (they always have coupons - use them!!), but other makeup stores will carry it as well.
The Courtney Bib. We all know my love for Baublebar by now, and I look at this necklace seriously every time I'm on the site (just to give you an idea, it's frequent). I probably should have just gone ahead and bought it during their friends and family sale this week, but I didn't. So, Santa, if you're reading this... hint hint.
Bria Skirt.This past week I wore a skirt from Club Monaco and decided to browse their website to see what needs to be added to my wishlist. Well, it didn't take long to spot this and drool over it. I'm imagining it on NYE with a great pair of statement heels. The Club Monaco outlet by me is absolutely killer, so I'm hoping this skirt may end up there. Until then, I will just sit and admire it.
Hope you all have a great weekend! Are you doing anything fun? And, as always, thanks for reading!
You know those weeks where you're counting down the minutes until Friday thinking you'll never make it but all of a sudden it's Thursday and you still have a basket of laundry that needs to be folded from Monday and you have no idea where the time went (but it's somehow STILL not Friday)?! Yeah. That's the kind of week I've been having the past two weeks. And that basket of laundry may still be there.
It's been a couple of weeks filled with way too many grown up decisions and excel spreadsheets, leaving my head in the clouds and everything I need for work on the kitchen table. Seriously, I got into my car one morning and realized I left everything including my purse in the house, luckily before I left the driveway.
Anyway, it's Friday! And my life seems somewhat in order. In the midst of a whirlwind few weeks, here's what I'm obsessed with as of late.
P.S. I promise there are real posts coming next week!
Kip Moore. More specifically, his dance moves. I was lucky enough to see him (and the beautiful Sam Hunt) last week in NYC on the CMT Up In Smoke Tour. While the show was absolutely amazing, he was cracking me up with his dance moves, mostly because they were very reminiscent of my own. You know the moves. The three glasses of wine casual sway, some flailing arms, maybe a "flying like an airplane" move or two. Needless to say, Kip is now competing against Luke Bryan in my eyes. And we all know that man has one hell of a hip swivel.
Parenthood. The TV Show, just to clarify. I binge-watched this on Netflix this past spring while I was recovering from surgery and I finished it in just a few days. It just came back last week and I am so sad this is the last season. For all you fans reading - can we please talk about Julia and Joel?! (Here's a picture of Joel just for good measure :) )
Baublebar. Like many online stores, I have filled my shopping cart on Baublebar countless times, but never bit the bullet and actually ordered. Most of their stuff is pretty reasonably priced and they always offer free shipping, but I usually like seeing jewelry in person before I buy it. If you are signed up for their emails (obviously, I am), they will send out a promo each week for a $20 item. Well, a few weeks ago, this beauty was the $20 item and I couldn't pass it up. I pretty much immediately bought it. When it arrived just a few days later, I couldn't believe I also received a bonus necklace! The packaging was so cute and this surprise necklace quickly became a daily staple. Baublebar, I'll be back.
These Pants. So, after a stressful two weeks (partially induced by not having anything to ever wear - yeah, right, Colleen, get it together), I needed some retail therapy. There just so happens to be quite possibly the most amazing T.J. Maxx conveniently located down the street from my office. Holy dangerous, Batman. Also, let me just say in my defense, this started out as simply making a return. Well, as any shopaholic would know, while innocently browsing the store, piece after piece jumped out at me begging me to at least try them on. Trying on is harmless, am I right? But then, I saw them. In my head this went something like an Olympic event: I spotted these beautiful Kate Spade pants. I see a woman out of the corner of my eye doing the same thing. I step up my pace, put a little pep in my step, if you will; but so does she. Leaping over the racks of clothes and people, I get to them first, and as fate would have it, *lights shine down and angels sing* they are my size! The only pair! (I know it's hard to believe, but none of this happened - however, I do believe it was fate). So, moral of the story, expect a full post on these coming soon to a computer near you.
Plaid.Despite walking into the office and immediately being called a farmer ("She could be a farmer in those clothes" - quick, name that movie quote!), I am full on obsessed with plaid this fall season. Plaid button downs, plaid bows, plaid everything! This can be my fall substitute for pumpkin since I'm not (gasp!) the world's biggest pumpkin fan. I have a staple plaid outfit planned to show you guys in the next week or so that I'm not afraid to admit has already been worn a few times. So stay tuned! Loving this, this and this.
I'm looking forward to catching up on some TV and doing some fall cleaning this weekend. I'm so excited to have absolutely nothing planned. What are you doing?
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