Thanksgiving Recap

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend! It has been super busy here, but also so fun! Look out for a weekend recap tomorrow!

Thanksgiving was amazing, we had a wonderful day! All of our preparation totally paid off and we were able to enjoy the day with our guests! We had the table set, and food prepped so we were able to wake up late- 930! :) We then took Clo on a long walk- he was so excited/overwhelmed with his first snow experience! How cute are these two photos?

After that we swung by my parents house for coffee & breakfast. We were back home by 11 where we got the game hens underway and fired up the ovens. I did some last minute cleaning and we were ready when our guests arrived at two!

 

The food amazingly all came out right on time, we only set the fire alarm off once which is pretty impressive for apartment living! To be fair we were also making Yorkshire puddings- if anyone has ever made them without setting off the fire alarm I welcome some advice! While doing my fifth "checklist rundown" we realized we forgot the stuffing- no big deal we skipped it and I don't think anyone noticed as we had plenty of dishes. 

Overall our day was wonderful and we were so grateful to spend time with family and friends. I was a terrible blogger, I took exactly ZERO photos, so thank you to my guests who did. They are not the high resolution photos I usually use, but I like the idea of seeing the day through our guests eyes! We rented chairs because we didn't have enough, they were gorgeous! Thank you, Taylor Rentals it was super easy to pick up the chairs in advance, they were beautiful & totally reasonably priced!

If you saw my Instagram post I made the leaves for place cards, however I had trouble writing the lettering on the leaf itself, so I made tags which I stamped with a mini gold leaves as the background and wrote the names on. I tied them with bakers twine to bring together the rustic decor. Overall I was very happy with them even though it was not what I had originally envisioned. 

I had spare burlap when I was done with the banner and table runner so I made these little bows for the backs of some of the chairs, adding some fresh pine for color & scent.

The second table we used to accommodate all of our guests had a variation on the tablecloth & runner, with fresh flowers, candles and gold dipped pine cones. The arrangement turned out beautiful! I was really happy with the simplicity of it.

 

I used more of the pine & burlap to make a half wreath. This wasn't a planned project I just improvised a little on this one but I was happy with the outcome! It is amazing what you can do with a little burlap & a glue gun! 

 

 This was after the storm, our dining room is actually still set up like this! I will get around to taking it all down soon. We have a Holiday party coming up soon, so I can start to plan the next set of decorations! I can't wait to host again! :) 

What was your Thanksgiving decor like? Do you decorate around a theme? I'd love to hear from you all! xo

Giving Thanks

As I sit here writing this post cozy in my favorite pj's & champs in hand I've been reflecting on what this year has brought us!

Last Thanksgiving we were so fortunate to be with our "Second Parents" - a couple who has known my husband since he was five. From the first time I met them I totally understood why Oliver loved them so much! They are the most generous, kind & loving people, who adopted us while we were in DC for some time. We spent almost all of our holidays with them when we couldn't travel home for whatever reason, and I never felt anything less than part of the family. This year we are missing them hugely, one day I hope that all of our parents both adopted and by birth can all celebrate a holiday together!

There is no doubt there has been much preparation leading to today, I have menu planned, changing several times, purchased & returned countless plates, napkins and decor. Ultimately, the end result is beautiful! The table is set, anything which could be prepped in advance has been and now we sit and relax until the crowds arrive at half past two tomorrow!

So here I reflect on the many things I am thankful for this year.

First and foremost, Oliver, I am so grateful for everything he does for Clo & I. He is a true gentleman & family man and for that I feel blessed beyond measure!

My family, which is ever expanding with a few new arrivals come 2015! :) They have been the most supportive, loving and loyal people in my life! It is impossible to get photos of all of you but I love you all the same!





















Our dog, Clovis, we love you more than is probably normal. You have brought us so much joy, love & a sobering reality of what dog ownership is actually about! The last seven months would have been incredibly boring without your antics!

My friends, this group has changed quite a bit over the last few years, however the end result is an intimate circle of people who have seen me through the roller coaster that is life. I love you all & am eternally grateful for the direction, honesty & laughter you have brought to my life, I am a better person for it!

Lastly, I am thankful for everyone who reads the blog! This has been such a wonderful journey so far & I can not wait to see where the future takes it!

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving (for those who celebrate!) Oliver merely participates because of the food like any good Englishmen! :) Enjoy the day with family and friends!

Faux Fur Find

If you read about my fall "wish list" you remember that I had been on the hunt for a faux fur vest for some time!

Well I finally found it, and at Forever 21 no less! It was the perfect balance of quality and price- I couldn't be happier! A friend of mine knew I had been looking and when she came across several vests at F21 she gave me the heads up- thanks Ash!

I promptly headed over and was so happy to see there was tons of variety in color, length & style! I tried on just about all of them, and fell in love with this one the moment I put it on!

I've been wearing it around the house constantly! I actually planned to wear it to dinner with friends last Saturday night, but Ashley texted to see if I was wearing mine- she has the same one and was wearing her's. I left mine at home that night, it looked beautiful on her as most things do!

I plan on pairing this with black jeans, booties and a sweater for Oliver's birthday dinner coming up soon! :)

What is your favorite fall find? How do you feel about the faux fur trend? I'd love to hear from you!



Gift ideas for the 'Hostess with the Mostess'

With the Holiday season rolling in I thought I would share with you some of my favorite ideas for hostess gifts! When I am going to be a guest in someone's home I always try to think of a thoughtful gift they will enjoy receiving. I tend to politely decline when guests offer to bring a dish or dessert to my home. I have many reasons for this but mainly I want my guests to enjoy their time and relax instead of stressing over what they are going to make or bring. I do have an exception to this rule and that is my Aunt who makes a mean butternut squash dish! She makes it every year for Thanksgiving so instead of attempting to recreate it I gladly took her up on her offer to make it for me!

With all that being said, my Mom always taught me you never go anywhere empty handed so I have cultivated a list of staple items I bring to someone's home to thank them for having me!

1. A bottle of their favorite drink- whether it be an aged scotch, or bottle of bubbly I feel it is important to bring something that the Host/ Hostess will enjoy. If they so choose to open said bottle with you it would be lovely, but the intent is that it is primarily something for them to enjoy! Speaking of favorite drinks how cute are this seasonal Chandon bottles?

2. Flowers- know your host on this one, I would never bring flowers to my Mother, she hates them and would likely forget to water them. A dear friend of mine however loves fresh blooms so for her I would certainly find this an appropriate gift. I like to go to Whole Foods or Trader Joes' and pick up some of their loose blooms and arrange them myself. If you want to bring flowers make sure they are already arranged, if you did them yourself or purchased them that way and they are display ready upon arrival.

3. I saw this idea on Pinterest a while back but I absolutely love it! A "Next Morning" box, complete with breakfast items, such as coffee, tea, scones, tea towels & jam.  You could also make a batch of your favorite cookie dough and gift it with instructions for cooking so the hostess can make it on her own time as a little treat! We had a very sweet friend do this for us and I loved the idea! As someone who hosts quite frequently (& loves every minute) waking up the next morning to a messy kitchen is stress inducing, but a beautiful breakfast basket would be the perfect pick me up!

4. A personalized item is always a hit- Etsy is a perfect place for something like this! I received a return address stamp from a friend as a housewarming gift and I love it! Whether it be a cutting board, ornament for their tree or stationary, something with a personal touch shows you planned ahead & thought of the Host!

Regardless of what route you choose to go make sure to drop a "thank you" note in the mail when you leave. Snail mail is a lost art, but is far more meaningful than the "thank you text", which I have without a doubt been guilty of, however I am trying to make a more concerted effort to fix!

Happy Holiday Season!

Holiday Decor- Gold & Creme

 Over the last few months I have been acquiring items for my Thanksgiving table as well as some of the smaller touches which I feel really make the experience. Some of the items I've purchased have been featured on the blog before, the champagne flutes & charger plates both from Target, as well as the Kate Spade table runner. I also had some great luck at Joann's where I found a tree wedge and some branches which I am using to add some height and texture to the table. I have also worked with some amazing Etsy vendors to create custom napkins, coaster, & edible gold sugar!
 

The napkins I had made are beautiful- I absolutely love them! They are from Sincerely Yours Lauren's esty shop. I went with the ivory napkin with gold monogram, I really loved this particular font, Sonnet, I felt it was very elegant but not over the top. I decided to go with the single monogram in place of our couple's monogram because I wanted these to represent our family for many years to come if we do add to it one day! :) Lauren was absolutely fantastic to work with, she was very prompt and patient with her responses to my many questions, and there is no denying the quality of the napkins! Thank you, Lauren! :)

Next were the coasters, I went to Dinglewood Design for these beauties! I loved the scripted "cheers" as well as the polka dot ones. Christy has a great variety in her shop, from wedding invitations to stationary she really makes it all! I will be revisiting soon for some personalized stationary! 

Ruffled Paper made these adorable gold stripped straws! I had similar ones I had purchased from Target last year but they no longer make this color so I was on a hunt that Jessica helped me solve! She also has some great confetti, and decor that I will be purchasing for my next party! I especially love this I love you dearly print!

 Then there was Dell Cove Spices which helped me to fulfill a longtime lust for gold sugar rimmed champagne cocktails! I saw this on Pinterest a while a go and pinned it for the future, and then I found this shop. They have literally every color you could imagine, and they now have flavored sugars, I have a "Christmas Cosmo" I only make after Thanksgiving so I will certainly be ordered the Christmas cocktail sugar! :)

I did a little practice run for some girlfriends the other night! They photograph very differently the photo in the tin was impossible to get good lighting so I wanted to include how great it looks on the glass! 

I am so grateful to all of these vendors for their help in making our first Thanksgiving a memorable & beautiful day! :) Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Date Night Top Knot

 If you have viewed some of my pasts posts- especially on Instagram you'll notice I am queen of the top knot. Mostly due to laziness, I have super thick hair (I know stop complaining) but it takes a lifetime to tame so I often toss it up & accessorize to the nines to compensate :)

I wore this outfit recently for date night nothing too fancy but I love getting dressed up after spending so much time in over sized scrubs!

A good pair of black pants can really transition to many different situations, these are Loft from last year, they have the perfect balance of stretch without giving that saggy look after some time. I have had them tailored so I can wear them with both flats & heels.

I paired these pants with a silk blouse- total steal from target & black leather booties with of course a gold zipper! :)

Onto the accessories- I love this necklace! A friend of mine wore it out & I promptly went home to purchase it. It is from JCrew, now on the factory site. It is super versatile (and only $27!) I have worn it with dresses, sweaters and layer with smaller pieces. I will say it is definitely on the shorter side so I often add a chain extender ($9 from Stella & Dot) depending on the neckline.

The bag is a definite go to Kate Spade piece- I love the gold chain, and cute bow on the front! It also has an awesome polka dot lining which adds a little something extra when you open to reapply a lip!

The Perfect Fall Inspired Bootie

Last fall when the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale catolog came out I drooled over a pair of L.K. Bennett Plum Colored Suede Booties- "Doris Bootie" they were the perfect heel height- just high enough for a fancy night out but not so much that you couldn't pull it off in a "casual"  heel scenario...maybe only in my book! :)  Regardless, I loved them, they were on sale and when I popped into my local Nordie's & there was only one size 37 left- in my closet they went!

I found myself being so careful with them it was almost not worth having. 

So I have decided to wear them with as many outfits this fall as I have convinced myself they would go with when I purchased. 

Here is one look I recently wore to a baby shower and loved wearing these beauties!

 Here are a few similar styles I love!

Ralph Lauren Cape Perfection

As I mentioned in my weekend recap I went shopping on Saturday with my Grandmother. She spotted this amazing Ralph Lauren Cape so I tried it on. I got mine at Lord & Taylor which is not showing online - so I've included the Nordstrom link.


















I was hesitant because being on the shorter side I was worried I could not pull off the cape look. Many I have tried on overwhelm me hanging close to if not below my knees. This cape however was absolutely perfect!

It is definitely over sized but in an obvious and intentional way. I paired this with a plain black long sleeved shirt - this one is actually from Old Navy (on sale for $9.00!) and my favorite jeans. For a more nighttime look I wore my favorite black patent leather pumps from L.K. Bennett!

Stitch Fix Delivery

I was anxiously awaiting my first Stitch Fix shipment & the day finally came! Just a quick little rundown on the Stitch Fix concept. You fill out a profile of what your style is with sizing, and suggestions of what you're looking for. You can also link up social media, I linked up the blog as well as my Pinterest for extra inspiration. At intervals you choose you receive a personalized box containing five items, you can purchase all five and get a discount or none at all. The cost is only $20/shipment which is subtracted from your total if you choose to keep anything.

It is a great concept, and I made sure to give ample examples of what I was looking for. My stylist Alissa did a fantastic job, I loved her personalized note and that she mentioned she used my blog posts for inspiration :)

Here is what I got in my first fix! 

 

I absolutely love this Polka dot shirt- it will be perfect for a holiday party on a night out- definite keeper! The pants I did love, I am not sure you can tell from the photos but they have a great texture. My two big issues with them are the fit & price. They were more than I would normally spend on a pair of pants, however I would have splurged if the fit were better. The faux fur vest is amazing, I loved it. However I did find out I love recently so I decided to send this one back. As for the cardigan- I totally get where the style idea came from but the execution just was not there. It looked horrible on me- I thought about not even posting the picture, but I wanted to fairly represent what I got so here it is! Lastly, the necklace I loved it in the box and would probably love it on anyone else but I did not like the way it fell on my chest. 

 Overall I am super happy with the shipment- I think my stylist gave me great options. I have since updated my profile and sizing so next time I will get an even better match! I highly recommend anyone to check out Stitch Fix! I've included the link so you can sign up before the wait list gets too long! :) 

Stitch Fix Referral

The Scarf of the Season- Thanks to Zara

 I don't think you can look too far without seeing one of these gorgeous scarves this season. They made several colors, the most common being the tan with green/red- which of course is sold out!

 I always make sure to take a peek in every Zara I come across to see if they have it but no luck yet. However I do love the one I have and for $29.90 you can't beat it!















It is so soft, and really versatile! I am always trying out new ways to wear it but I think my favorite is having the "V' in the front and draping it under.

I also love that it is such a statement piece- I paired this with minimal (for me) accessories!

Sweater: Gap old, see this Scarf: Zara Jeans: old- love these & these, Booties: DSW old, check out these,  Earrings: Kate Spade Necklace: Etsy Watch: Kate Spade: old see this one