Outfit Staples

10+ Ways to Wear Leggings

This time last year I was driving to an office everyday and my wardrobe looked very different than it does these days. Over the last year, I’ve learned that I love dressing as comfortably as possible since I no longer have an office dress-code to follow but that doesn’t mean I can just wear my pajamas all day. I’ve noticed that I am most productive when I feel my best… when I take the time to put a little bit of makeup on, do my hair (somewhat), and wear as close to a normal outfit as possible. I’ve also noticed that I basically wear leggings every. single. day. Especially now that colder weather is coming, I’ve been on a mission to be better about putting together outfits that make me feel both comfortable and confident so that I can focus on my work but also feel good about going out to run errands, seeing people throughout the workday if needed, and just feel my best.

Below you’ll find 12 different outfit ideas using the same black leggings ranging from more dressy to sporty and casual. Let me know which one is your favorite!

Look 1: Striped Tunic (similar less $ option), Vince Camuto Bestant Over the Knee Boot, Plaid Scarf
Look 2: Plaid Poncho, Black Mock Neck Sweater (similar), Over the Knee Boots
Look 3: Tunic Blouse, Plaid Scarf, Grey Hat

Black Leggings: Zella High Waist Leggings

Look 1: Tunic Blouse, Faux Fur Vest, Black Leggings, Tan Over the Knee Boots
Look 2: Navy Fair Isle Sweater
Look 3: Navy Fair Isle Sweater, Faux Fur Vest, Tan Over the Knee Boots

Black Leggings

Look 1: Chenille Turtleneck Sweater, Quilted Vest, Chunky Knit Beanie, Hunter Boots
Look 2: Plaid Scarf, Over the Knee Boots
Look 3: Grey Turtleneck Sweatshirt, Hat, Boots

Black High Waisted Leggings

Look 1: Colorblock Cardigan, Grey V-Neck Tee, Sneakers, Hat
Look 2: Denim Jacket, Grey Turtleneck Sweatshirt, Sneakers
Look 3: Chambray Shirt, Colorblock Cardigan, Boots

High Waisted Black Leggings

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Our Home

11.07.18

Mini Home Tour (@LikeToKnow.it.Home Takeover)

Earlier this week I tookover the LiketoKnow.it.Home Instagram page and shared a few of my favorite spaces in our home. This was SO much fun for me and something I had always wanted to do so, when they reached out, I couldn’t wait to share. Because we’re a little ways out from Thanksgiving, I added some Thanksgiving decor into it along with some more Christmas-y touches. It’s a definitely a mixture of both but I’ll be sure to leave a link to everything down below. If I missed anything, feel free to comment or email me!

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In My Suitcase

11.01.18

Top 10 Cold Weather Accessories

shop this outfit here

Happy November! I can’t believe Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I can’t wait to switch up the decor in our house. Last night was mine and TJ’s first trick-or-treating experience in our neighborhood as homeowners and it was really fun (also the most perfect fall weather so we sat outside the whole time). It was fun meeting more neighbors and eating 400 kit-kats. Anyways, today is all about cold weather accessories and the cutest ones I’ve found lately. All of these would also be perfect stocking stuffer ideas (it’ll be here before we know it). Some of these are ones I took on our recent vacation but some are new arrivals I’ve been eyeing for gifts for my sisters and mom.

I have these in the white color and the inside material makes them the softest gloves I’ve ever worn. I packed them with me to Canada and they kept my hands fairly warm until they got really wet with snow but, for winters in the south, I’d highly recommend! You’ll thank me once it gets too cold to touch your steering wheel in the early morning. UO is my go-to for accessories and I love that most of their gloves are at a good price-point! These come in 4 colors and I might get some of these as a stocking stuffer this year.

Okay, so these are basically the same as above but in mitten-form! I usually go for the gloves or the “convertible-mittens” but I just had to add these to the list because they’re so cute & cozy with the speckled knit.

I’m not totally sure if a sock is considered an accessory (I’m thinking not) but I’m going to go with it because these socks need to be added to my life. If you’ve never felt a Barefoot Dreams cardigan or blanket, these socks are basically the same thing but a mini version for your feet and I love them! Another small gift idea for friends or family too.

These slippers are lined with the softest material and you’ll never want to take them off. I feel like I’m getting a lot of good gift ideas going in this post but these may be something you want to buy for yourself asap… I also have a feeling they will sell out fairly fast and they’re only a little over $3o for a pair. I’ve been wearing mine every night around the house and find myself not wanting to take them off for bed.

About a month ago, I bought one of these head wraps that looked identical to this one but I can’t figure out where on earth I got it from. SO, while trying to solve that mystery, I came across a similar one by UGG and I had to include it in my top 10 list. I don’t wear these head wraps until it’s really cold and below freezing but it’s always a good thing to have if you have any outdoor activities planned in the cold weather.

If you have a chunky knit ivory scarf, it’s really the only scarf you need all season long! It goes with everything and I love how long this one is so you can wear it multiple ways. Plus, you can almost always find it on sale.

I had the honor of working with Aerie this year for their holiday gift guide and these convertible mittens are included (also available in ivory). I feel like convertible mittens are the perfect piece for the weather we get down here since it’s usually not too cold but you still want to wear something in the mornings/nights.

I love a good oversized colorful scarf. By colorful, I really mean white and grey but you know. ASOS is my favorite for these and you can usually find them for really great prices too. I recently purchased this herringbone print one and it’s gorgeous! Such a great addition to any fall or winter outfit!

I’m going to act like a wrap is an accessory for today. This green one is so beautiful for the holidays and it also comes in white/black if you’re wanting a more neutral option. These also make such an easy and perfect gift idea because they’re “one size” and are basically a blanket with arm holes to be honest. I just can’t get over how pretty these are for this time of year!

You’ve probably seen this chunky knit beanie before but it’s just too good to not include! In fact, I’d say this is my #1 favorite cold weather accessory. I also noticed it now comes in a colorful option. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or for a sister/friend, you can’t go wrong with this cozy knit hat.

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Holidays

10.26.18

Decorating at the Biltmore

shop all outfits here

Last week I had the incredibly cool opportunity to visit the Biltmore Estate with Balsam Hill during their holiday prep time! I’ve always been a fan of Balsam Hill as they have the most realistic and luxurious looking artificial Christmas trees and garland along with the most intricately designed ornament sets & decor for the holiday season. Christmas trees are their passion and they recently collaborated with the iconic, close-to-home, North Carolina estate, the Biltmore® to create the Balsam Hill Biltmore Collection, a timeless and elegant collection of pearl and sparkle embellished ornaments, gilded ribbon and tree-skirt, decorative picks, and everything you need to help you decorate a tree inspired by the beauty, history, and heritage of the Biltmore Estate. This collection had been a year in the making and it was so exciting to see how everything was so perfectly “Biltmore inspired”.

This was my first time visiting the Biltmore and, while I’ve visited Asheville multiple times, I’ve always wanted to set aside a couple of days to explore everything the estate had to offer… the winery, house, Inn on Biltmore Estate™, the animals, restaurants, shops, trails, and more. When Balsam Hill reached out several months ago with an invitation to help decorate the suites at the Inn on Biltmore Estate™, it was a quick “YES!”.

When I first arrived to the Biltmore, we had a tour around the house, and had the afternoon to explore the entire property on our own. I especially loved the gardens & the winery but the home was insanely beautiful. I grew up visiting my mom’s side of the family up in Newport, RI every summer where the Vanderbilt’s other iconic mansion, The Breakers, is located. I was blown away by the Biltmore though and it was especially exciting since everyone was just getting started with decorating the home for the holidays! Everywhere I turned, there were decorators setting up shop with their ornaments and trees. We met with the Biltmore’s head designer, Lizzie, and she told us all about their decorating process. The holidays at the Biltmore are one of their most popular seasons and they like to have all of their decorations up by November 1st, which is why they like to get an early start… also because they set up hundreds and hundreds of trees around the home. There is always a theme for decorating the house each year and, this year, it is “The Art of Christmas”, and each decorator can take that theme and decorate in the way they see fit.

The first day we ate lunch at Village Social, checked out the winery, and headed back to where we would be staying that evening at the Inn. Once we checked into the Inn, I felt like I was living in pure luxury. The Inn at Biltmore Estate is probably the most luxurious hotel I’ve stayed at and I never wanted to leave! It was so beautiful. We ate dinner down in their Library Lounge and then went to bed early because we had a big day following!

The next morning I met the other ladies downstairs in a conference room where we began our decorating process for the suites. The other women who were a part of this project were Courtney (French Country Cottage), Christy and Amy (11 Magnolia Lane), and Robin (All Things Heart and Home). If you are in need of some major interior decorating inspo, these ladies’ blogs are so inspiring and resourceful.

We each had a 6’ tree to work with and we were able to pick and choose ornaments from the Biltmore Balsam Hill Collection to each create a different design. I started decorating using only the neutral golds & whites but added in a pop of color using their burgundy ornaments. The entire collection is magical. The merlot tones & elegant embellished gold ornaments couldn’t be more perfect for the Biltmore. We were able to tour some of the largest suites at the Inn and saw where these trees would be placed at the start of the holiday season.

This was such a fun retreat and I really hope to visit the Biltmore again once it’s fully decorated! We only have less than a month until it’s decorating time at our house and I can’t wait! If you want to see more of the Balsam Hill Biltmore Collection, you can see more of the pieces here.

Happy Friday! A lot of my family will be in town this weekend for an event my family is hosting on Saturday and today is also my dad’s birthday! I’m not going to say what year it is because he reads my blog but it’s a big & exciting one. 🙂 Busy, busy weekend but filled with lots of fun things.

In partnership with Balsam Hill.

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Wedding

10.24.18

Stackable Anniversary Rings

I’ve never been one to wear a ton of jewelry but I do love wearing a few meaningful everyday pieces and an occasional statement earring depending on the occasion. I’d say on a typical day, I’m wearing my everyday rings (engagement and wedding band), a very minimal necklace, and a pair of neutral statement stud earrings. Most recently, I added a beautiful rose-gold diamond band (a “one-year anniversary” gift) from A. Jaffe and it has added so much to my stack while being so dainty and cute. I love hearing the stories behind people’s favorite jewelry they wear and what everything means/signifies.

I’ve had my eye on A. Jaffe stackable rings for about a year now and I just love how many different styles they have and how beautiful they all look paired with each other. I thought it would be fun to add one to my engagement ring and wedding band for our first year anniversary. I wanted something totally different than what I currently had to create a fun and unique look. I narrowed down my top 6 favorite bands below (but in rose gold to switch it up):

I ultimately ended up going with the ‘Seasons of Love’ Geometric Pavé Diamond Stackable Anniversary Ring and I couldn’t be happier with it… it’s SO beautiful. The interior of the band features a luxurious quilted pattern and the exterior sparkles with pavé diamonds and I just love the rose gold. I’m so excited that A. Jaffe is also GIVING AWAY this ring to one of you all so look out for an Instagram post later today with how to enter to win!

To me, this ring means so much more than just a “first year anniversary”. December will mark 9 years since TJ and I started dating but this past June marked 1 year of marriage. This ring signifies so many memories of our first year being married… the best year of my life yet, the year we learned even more about each other and our strengths/weaknesses, and learned to put each other’s needs before our own, made really important decisions together, started creating our first home, his endless support for helping me grow a business, and my love for him growing exponentially.

If you’re looking to add to your jewelry collection whether it’s for a special occasion or just for yourself… you have to check out the complete stackable collection at A. Jaffe.

This post is in partnership with A. Jaffe.

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Uncategorized

10.22.18

It’s Sweater Season

I woke up early today, had to leave for a doctor’s appointment, and was shocked to see frost on my car. It’s hard to believe that it is actually sweater season. The older I get, the more I appreciate every season though and I’m really excited for the temperatures to change. In fact, (this isn’t normal) but I’ve already put up and taken down our Christmas tree twice due to some projects for after Thanksgiving and most retail stores are already decked out for the holidays! Sometimes, for my job, I feel way ahead of the seasons but this year has been way, way ahead. Our neighbors think we’re crazy probably. Anyways, I’m also excited to get back to posting more frequently on the blog. We’ve been traveling more than usual and I’ve been trying to stay present on these trips which has kept me off of WordPress more than I planned to be. Incase you missed it, I shared all about our Banff trip last week and I’ll be sharing more details of our time at Biltmore with Balsam Hill later this week.

Today, I thought I’d share a few sweaters I’ve been wearing on repeat and a few I’ve been eyeing. It’s so much easier to dress in the fall and winter, in my opinion. I know in the summer you can just throw on a dress but I have to be comfortable so finding the right pieces are key.

Cable Mock Neck Sweater || Raw Hem Jeans

Textured Knit Turtleneck Sweater || Flannel Scarf || Dark Blue Skinny Jeans || All-Terrain Waterproof Booties

Chenille Turtleneck || Oversized Herringbone Scarf || Chunky Knit Beanie

Ribbed Turtleneck Sweater || Mile High Ankle Skinny Jeans

Marled Puff Sleeve Sweater || High Rise Black Distressed Denim

Textured V-Neck Sweater

Fair Isle Sweater

other sweaters I have my eye on…

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Canada

10.14.18

Our Banff Adventure

We arrived home from our trip to Banff, Alberta on Thursday and, with it so fresh in my mind, I thought I’d go ahead and write a recap post on our travels. TJ and I had never taken a trip quite like this before and we booked it almost a year in advance. We just used Expedia and booked our accommodations at Emerald Lake Lodge and flights together. I mentioned this on Instagram but, at one of my first jobs out of college (about 5ish years ago), I sat near a nurse named Sue who had a screensaver of a photo she had taken of this beautiful mountain landscape behind a lake. I remember asking her about 1,000 questions about this spot that I knew I had to visit one day. Ever since then, it has been the #1 place on my travel list. It has also become very popular among travel photographers since then and the best hotels tend to book really far in advance. After asking TJ for years, we finally booked a trip and we loved every minute of it! It might even be my favorite place I’ve ever been.

Most Worn on the Trip:

Getting There & Where We Stayed

We stayed at a secluded lakeside lodge located right outside a town called Field which was located about an hour from downtown Banff. Emerald Lake Lodge is located right on Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park, which is technically in a different province than Banff National Park. We flew into Calgary, rented a car, and drove about 2 hours to our lodge in Yoho National Park. We flew Air Canada to Toronto which was about 2 hours from Raleigh and then flew 4 hours west to Calgary, where we were greeted by a winter wonderland. We booked our car rental through Budget, by the way. If you’re visiting in the colder months (October through May/June), I’d recommend renting an SUV due to the snowy conditions, although most roads were pretty clear. Parking lots were a different story. I’ll talk more about “when to visit” down below.

Emerald Lake Lodge is a great place to visit if you want to really get away from everything. It’s not close to much, so if you stay there, you should plan on driving a lot if you want to see or eat at a variety of places. I was totally okay with eating at our hotel’s main restaurant and lounge for almost every single meal because the food was so delicious, the staff was very friendly, and we had a front row seat to an extra large fireplace. This was also the only spot where you could find any wifi, FYI. It was refreshing though. I ordered hot chocolate most nights and the first full day we were there was Canadian Thanksgiving so we ordered their Thanksgiving special which didn’t disappoint. Honestly, I loved this place so much. When we visit again (we will totally visit again), we may decide to stay in downtown Banff for a change though.

Other popular options to stay: Fairmont Banff Springs, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Deer Lodge at Lake Louise. I loved how secluded our lodge felt though and am so happy we stayed there… just depends on what you’re looking for though.

TJ took this before the sun came up one day and love how it captured the glow of the lodge.

right after we first arrived and we couldn’t believe the views!

*more of TJ’s photos before the sunrise

This was where we ate breakfast every morning (and where Emerald Lake Lodge guests could find wifi if needed). You basically had two options of breakfast: cold buffet or hot buffet. Their goat cheese eggs & potatoes were too good to pass on the hot option and you couldn’t beat these views! It wasn’t cheap but it wasn’t as high as some places we’ve visited in the past. I also want to say we paid around $300 a night for this lodge but our receipt isn’t itemized as it was booked along with our flights on Expedia.

Emerald Lake was at the end of this long road, Emerald Lake Road, and this photo doesn’t do it justice but the views were INSANE the entire way.

More cabins at Emerald Lake Lodge. We stayed in Cabin 32 at the end of the property which overlooked the lake. Each room had their own cozy fireplace in it too. With no cell service in any of the rooms, TJ and I slept SO good every night.

When To Visit

Banff is beautiful year-round but the most popular time to visit is July/August after the lakes have all thawed and the weather is perfect. We were hoping to visit for a fall trip right before the snow fell but it decided to snow early this year. This snow was still beyond beautiful but there were some trail and lake closures due to the danger of avalanches. For example, one of the most popular and beautiful lakes, which normally closes October 15th-ish, closed a few days before we arrived, which was a major bummer (Moraine Lake). If you want to travel to see the blue lakes, I’d recommend visiting between late June or July and October. But if you want a magical winter wonderland, you can visit in the fall/winter just be prepared to bring a lot of layers! Another plus to visiting in the late fall/winter is that all of the dog sledding and ski businesses are open. You know I called every dog-sledding place but there is a law that prevents them from opening until November.

What To Do

We mainly wanted to hike, see the beautiful lakes and mountains, visit downtown Banff, and have a relaxing yet adventurous trip. We visited Lake Louise, which doesn’t look real, spent a lot of time around Emerald Lake where we were staying at night, hiked up to see Peyto Lake (seriously the most beautiful view and a very easy hike), drove into downtown a few times to explore, visited a wolf sanctuary, and just took in the incredible views every single day. Everywhere you turn, you’ll find views that you won’t believe are real. If you’re into outdoorsy things, you’d love this place. Other popular things to do: ride the Banff gondola up Sulfur Mountain, hike Moraine Lake (if the roads are open), hike to Johnston Canyon, hike the Lake Agnes Teahouse Trail. We felt a little limited in what we could do due to the weather since some trails were closed. Someone recommended that we visit this spa and next time this is definitely on my list. The spa is called Kananaskis Nordic Spa it looks amazing!

Expect to pay a $20 park pass daily for when you’ll be in Banff National Park, unless you’re just passing through. You can order these and print them online or buy them right before you drive in.

One of my favorite things we did was drive down the Icefields Parkway and hike up to see Peyto Lake (shown above).

why we didn’t mind all of the driving from place to place.

I’m probably not the best person to ask where to eat because we just LOVED the food at Emerald Lake Lodge so much. Some of the most popular places to eat in Banff are Sky Bistro, Park Restaurant and Distillery, High Rollers, Three Ravens Restaurant and Wine Bar, Juniper Bistro. We also visited a couple of coffee shops we loved: Good Earth Coffeehouse and Little Wild Coffee. We’ll definitely have to stay in Banff next time and try more restaurants!

I’d also recommend stopping by the IGA in Banff to pick up snacks for your trip, especially if you are staying in a secluded area.

What I Wore and What I Wish I Packed

Before we left, I wrote a post on what I was packing… you can read it here. BUT, there were a few things I kept wearing day after day, some things I never really took out of my suitcase, and some items that I wish I would have brought.

The most worn items of the trip? These black leggings, this sherpa military parka, the chunkiest knit beanie, all three of my boots I brought: a casual brown lace-up pair, the warmest snow boots, and the lightest weight pair of white snow boots, this zip-up jacket to layer with, and some sweaters. I also always wore a white long-sleeve tee underneath everything to keep from getting too cold.

Fleece lined leggings are one thing I wish I had packed. I had my regular leggings but it didn’t cut it most of the time. Also, more socks! I had to borrow some of TJ’s socks because one pair wasn’t enough most days.

Boots I Packed:

TJ’s Favorites He Packed:

I felt so at peace here and I’d love to visit again. Sometimes in the past when I’ve traveled I’ve felt anxious and that wasn’t the case at all here. It was such a perfect mix of relaxation and adventure and it was so refreshing to be so disconnected from technology in the most beautiful setting. Even just driving from place to place was peaceful with those views. Banff was beyond beautiful and I already have some major post-vacation blues now that we’re home.

If you want to see more videos of the trip, you can see more on my Instagram highlights.

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In My Suitcase

10.07.18

What I Packed for Banff

TJ and I made it to Banff National Park in Canada and it’s easily the most beautiful place I’ve ever visited. We’re staying in a secluded lodge resort where there are no TV’s, no service, and really bad wifi so I’ll keep today’s post short and sweet. When we originally booked a mid-October trip here, I had no idea it would be snowing but apparently it ended up snowing a little early this year… which definitely isn’t a bad thing (the snow covered trees are SO pretty), we just had to prepare and pack for a more-wintry trip. The high will be in the 30’s while we’re here so I was sure to pack gloves, hats, and my warmest boots.

Geo Print Cardigan || Brown Boots || High Waisted Leggings

SHOES

I packed three pairs of shoes to bring with me… all very casual boots that I could wear out in the snow including these casual brown ones that would be perfect for even back at home this time of year, these lightweight (feels literally weightless) white boots, and a thicker, more terrain-ready pair. I actually wore these white ones for our entire travel day and I’m convinced they are some of the best shoes made… ever.

OUTERWEAR

SCARVES, HATS, & SOCKS

OTHER TOPS/BOTTOMS

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a good Monday! I’ll share more photos of our trip on Instagram this week and hopefully, if you’re looking for colder weather items, it’ll be helpful. If I had to choose 3 items I couldn’t have come without…. it’s this jacket (really good price if you find it during a 40% off sale), these boots, and this chenille turtleneck. These will definitely be my most worn by the end of the week.

Uncategorized

10.05.18

Friday Q&A

Shop office decor here.

Q: Where can I find the acrylic calendars in your office space?

This was definitely a splurge but I’ve been eyeing them for at least a year… from this shop on Etsy! You can get them customized with a name at the top but I chose to just have the calendar space and no personalization. I LOVE it but there are some less pricey ones available on Amazon like this one and this one. I have felt much more organized since using them and I only wish it had a third month out! Oh, and I finally found the perfect lamp for this space!

Q: Do you have any recommendations for what to wear to a fall wedding?

We don’t have any fall weddings to attend this year but, if we did, I would 100% be looking for a long-sleeve maxi flowy maxi wrap dress or something along those lines. I love maxi dresses this time of year, if they have some sort of fall coloring or floral print. I’ll share a few of my favorite fall wedding-dress options below:

Q: I’m traveling up to MI in a few weeks. Any recs on good quality hats/scarves/gloves?

YES. You’ll love what I’ll be posting on Monday because I’m been searching all over the internet for the best winter accessories for our trip next week. My favorite beanies I’ve found? This one and this chunky one! Both came in the mail this week and I love them. If you want a really budget-friendly one, Forever 21 has some cute chunky knit beanies. For gloves, you have to buy these. I never tell people you “have” to buy something but, if you are in need of some gloves for colder weather, these are the most comfortable ones lined with this heavenly chenille material… you just have to try them for yourself. My favorite place for scarves if usually ASOS because they make a lot of unique, thick, oversized ones. I’m traveling with this and this one next week.

I hope y’all have a great weekend! We’re seeing some of our friends tonight and I have a bunch of packing/errands to do tomorrow… however, I kindof want to take a break to see the Parade of Homes! Why? I have no idea, I just love seeing random nice homes. I’ll have a new post up on Monday sharing everything I packed for our Banff trip.

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Uncategorized

10.02.18

Fall Outerwear Guide

Quarter-Zip Fleece Pullover

It’s fall and officially October (!!!) , 31 Days of Halloween is on, I’ve purchased every pumpkin and butternut squash item at the grocery store and hit my max. limit of pumpkin muffins, but it still isn’t quite cool enough for jackets and scarves here in NC… although I’ve been living in them whenever I’m inside our igloo house (thanks, TJ). We’ve actually been mentally packing and planning for a trip to Canada next week where it is supposed to be 9 degrees and snowing so my mind has really been on winter coats, beanies, and snow boots. I can’t help but laugh when I look at the weather for this “fall” trip. Fall and winter have slowly become my favorite months for style though (and home decor)! Sweaters are, by far, my favorite type of clothing to shop for… along with casual and comfortable pullovers and jackets. In fact, one of my favorite ones from last year just came back in stores.

While shopping for some outerwear for next week, I came across so many great finds so I put together a guide for fall outerwear… including options for wherever you might live, whether it’s North Carolina or Canada or somewhere in between. When it gets closer to winter, I’ll share even warmer options.

Herringbone Modern Blazer (wearing size 2)

Quarter-Zip Fleece Pullover

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Our Home

09.25.18

6 Essentials For a Fall Mantle

Last winter, TJ and I gave our fireplace a complete makeover and it got me so excited to decorate the mantle for each season, especially for fall and winter. There is nothing like the start of fall to get me in the spirit of decorating and, this year, I’ve decided to stick to a very muted, neutral fall theme throughout the house…. well, minus our Halloween porch (to come). TJ has been talking about decorating our house for Halloween since we bought it last December so we’ve accumulated quite the collection of random skeletons from various trips to Home Centric lately. We actually decorated most of our fireplace this year using all items from Home Centric, a home store located in Crossroads Plaza in Cary. The prices are incredible but the selection is even better, in my opinion.

When decorating the perfect fall mantle, there are a few key ingredients….

Decorative or Real Pumpkins (or both)

I went with both this time around and I’m so glad I did. Aside from the beautiful dark green and white pumpkins we picked up at a local farm, I found these little blue pumpkins in the fall section of Home Centric and knew they would tie in the green/blue/white look I was going for. They were under $12 and I also couldn’t pass up the larger glass white patterned pumpkin either. They had so many pumpkins to choose from- straw, different fabrics, pumpkins with words, everything. Whether you choose a orange/yellow theme, white, or blues/greens, you’re sure to find some really pretty and unique ones at Home Centric. I love the organic feel of the real pumpkins mixed with the textures of the faux ones.

Greenery

No matter what season it is, you can never ever go wrong with simple greenery when decorating a space. Eucalyptus is one of my favorites this time of year before we shift to pines for the holiday season. My personal pick is baby blue or silver dollar eucalyptus. I love how silver dollar eucalyptus looks when spread out across the entire mantle but the store only had the baby blue kind so I filled a neutral-colored vase (also found at Home Centric) and set it on the side. Another pretty option would have been a wreath! There are so many pretty and colorful fall inspired wreaths that would have been a perfection addition.

Lanterns

There were way too many lanterns to choose from so it was a tough decision but I love the semi-rustic feel of this wooden one and I love how it is the perfect size to stuff a bunch of mini white pumpkins in. I feel like I was conservative with my lantern size but I actually really love seeing gigantic lanterns on each side of fireplaces, which is also a good way to add height and dimension to the entire space. Even small lanterns on each side of the mantle would be gorgeous for a more symmetrical look. To add even more height, stack some big books underneath!

Letterboard

I had a tiny little space to fill and this small letterboard was the perfect fit! I love how you can use these for birthdays, holidays, even just daily encouraging or funny phrases. Home Centric had some other sizes to choose from but this one was just perfect for the mantle since I knew I’d be keeping my regular sized frames for art.

Fall Inspired Art

If you’re new to visiting my blog, I have to admit that I have a slight obsession with art and photography prints. I think it’s my favorite thing to decorate any space with and if I could be a professional gallery-wall designer, I think I would be. I stayed with a mountain theme for these and I love the cozy, fall feel it gives without being overly colorful or bright yet still adding color to the space. Other options of art I considered: greenery, stacks of wood, cabins, leaves, pumpkins.

Cozy Throws

The complete the look, find a basket (Home Centric has an entire aisle dedicated to baskets) and put a cozy throw blanket or pillow in it to add some fabric texture for a warm and inviting touch.

Bonus: Colbie wanted to add her skeleton brother to the list….

With these fall mantle essentials, you’re sure to end up with a warm & festive fireplace and mantle in no time while staying on a budget! If you’re local to the Raleigh area, definitely stop by Home Centric next time you’re near Crossroads.. It’s located right beside Total Wine and you’ll be blown away by the prices.

Thank you to Home Centric for sponsoring this post!
Follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for more home decor finds for less.

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09.24.18

My First Fashion Week

I had been thinking about going to NYFW for a few years now but it wasn’t until this year that my schedule really allowed me the flexibility to do so. While it was a complete whirlwind, I had the best time with the best people, met so many new friends, and stayed at my new favorite NYC hotel, Park South Hotel, located in the NoMad neighborhood. Since this was my first time visiting NYC during Fashion Week, I didn’t totally know what to expect but I decided that I would just embrace all the craziness and look at this trip as a first-time experience. Although we barely had time to sleep or eat, I’m so happy I decided to go this year. I now know exactly what to expect and how to prepare ahead for the week and I already can’t wait to be back in the city!

In My Suitcase:

Where We Stayed

Just a few weeks prior to this trip, I visited NYC for a conference and stayed with TJ during one of his work trips but this time I was so happy to try out a new-to-me hotel, Park South Hotel. I actually decided to come a day early and spend an extra night at Park South and fell in love with the place immediately upon arriving. As chic and beautiful this boutique hotel is, the first thing that actually made me feel at home was the people… everyone was so helpful and made me feel so welcome right from the start. Being in New York by yourself can be so intimidating (but exhilarating) but I truly felt at home here. On the second night, my roommates finally arrived and we checked into our beautiful suite where we quickly made ourselves right at home. Back in February, I met my friends Bronwyn & Allison at a retreat in Kentucky and I am so thankful these two came into my life. If you’re not already following them, you should!

Other favorite parts about Park South Hotel? The FOOD. We had the best dinner in their restaurant downstairs, Covina, (even while editing photos on our laptops late into the night) and found ourselves visiting their coffee shop whenever we could to escape the rain and refuel. It was raining throughout our entire trip so we didn’t get to experience the hotel’s rooftop bar although we did get a peek at it and the views were so good! Just another reason we’ll have to stay here again. Side note: If you’re in a hurry, the bagel shop next door is all the NYC bagel goals there ever were.

The Activities

I arrived to NYC on Friday evening (stayed through Tuesday morning) just in time to check in to Park South and meet up with my friend, Alicia, who invited me to come along with her to a few events hosted by Samsung and then Lulu’s. These events were the perfect start to the weekend because I got to meet a lot of friends I’ve been following on social media over the years. The next morning I met up with my account manager for rewardStyle (the affiliate company I have used for my blog for a while) and was so excited to finally meet her in person. Later this night, that same company hosted a really fun rooftop celebration where I was able to meet a lot more familiar faces. After our meeting, it was almost time for my roommates to arrive so I headed back to the hotel! As soon as everyone arrived, we moved into our suite, grabbed a bite to eat, and the whirlwind of events began!

For this first time fashion week, I wanted to experience a little bit of everything… shows, brand events, meet with PR/marketing reps, meet other people in my industry. A lot of bloggers will use this time while they’re in NYC to meet face-to-face with people who they email and speak to on a daily basis since most of these people are based there. It ended up being a pretty mixed-up and well-rounded itinerary and we even were able to try out a new restaurant one night and meet up with our friend, Caroline.

One of my favorite shows was Nonie (so chic) and, while I had seen way smaller (local) fashion shows before, this entire experience was so unreal. The music, the lights, the audience, everything. It was so cool to be able to be the first to see these designs that so much hard work has gone into and gain some inspiration for spring/summer ‘19. In between shows, we decided to fight the rain and squeeze in some photos!

On one of our last nights, we tried out Tartinery for happy hour and ended up staying for multiple hours with good company and good food! This was one of the few times we actually could sit and eat a meal without being on the go. We went to their 90 Park Ave. location but there are 2 other locations in NYC too. I wish I could have packed this place up and bring it back home with me… the food was right up my alley (cheese boards, avocado toast, butternut squash soup, burrata, hummus, all the best things) and not to mention their happy hour features half off beer, wine, and select cocktails from 4-7pm! I will certainly be back to Tartinery next time I’m visiting.

Park South Hotel’s lobby

Happy Hour at Tartinery

Overall, my first time fashion week experience was so so good… for my soul, for stepping outside of comfort zones, for trying new things, learning, spending time with great people, being back in NYC, and just soaking up every moment I could. I’m considering planning a November/December trip because I miss it so much. I’m not going to lie though, it was really exhausting. When I got home, it took me at least 3 days to get back to my normal sleep routine. I think NYFW is just what you make it… you can say yes and no to whatever you want, you can fill your schedule as much or little as you’d like, and you get out what you put into it in terms of prep work and reaching out to PR reps/etc.

If you want to see more of NYC, you can read my last trip’s post here!

Thank you to Park South Hotel and Tartinery for partnering with us. All opinions are my own.

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