NYE Attire 12.27.2016

Dress (more NYE options here, here & here)  |  Jacket  |  Identical Boots

This NYE we'll be driving back home from Utah, but if I got to dress up, this is what I would be wearing! I love the colors and velvet details of this dress, and it's even prettier in person. I also love the idea of OTK boots to make a dress or skirt more wintery (and warmer). I'm wearing this pair with dresses later this week for my cousin's wedding and rehearsal dinner since it's cold here in Utah!

We skied Christmas day and yesterday, but are taking the day off today to rest our muscles and just relax and explore. As much as I love skiing, I'm excited for a chill day!

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Merry Christmas / Our Christmas Photo 12.25.2016

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you have a wonderful day with family. I am so thankful that you take the time to read and follow my little slice of the blogging world, and I love connecting with all of you. 

I wanted to share our Christmas card photo because I love how it turned out! We haven't taken a high-quality photo together in quite awhile, so I was happy to have an excuse to take one :) I wish I had remembered to take a pic of our Minted cards before we left town, but you'll just have to trust me that they were really cute 😉

Alright, we are headed to the slopes for some skiing and snowboarding! Have a very Merry Christmas! 

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Holiday Sangria Recipe 12.24.2016

Happy Christmas Eve! We pulled into Park City, Utah about an hour ago after driving 18 hours straight through the night! Today we're going to relax, get groceries, rent skis and watch football, then tomorrow we may be skiing on Christmas day!

I only have a couple of blog posts planned for next week since I know most of us are on vacation, or at least off of work some days and spending time with family. I was planning to shoot a couple of outfits here, but there is soooo much more snow than I expected, so we shall see if that happens or not. You may just get a lot of Instagram photos! 😉

Now to the sangria... I made this a couple of times last year, and again Thursday night, and it's so delicious and festive! I've adapted my recipe from this recipe.

Ingredients for 1 pitcher

1 bottle of pinot grigio
1 bottle of moscato
3/4 cup of sparkling apple cider
1 green apple - chopped
1/4 cup halved cranberries
3/4 cup whole cranberries

Combine all ingredients and stir, then chill in fridge for at least 4 hours. There is a lot of fruit, so you may want to remove a little when serving to make it a little easier to drink :)

Let me know if you try it! And have a Merry Christmas Eve!

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Dressy Christmas Outfit Idea 12.22.2016

Dress + lace top set (similar dress for even less) |  Identical Boots  + more options here  |  Bag

I'm keeping today's post short and sweet because I know for a fact we're all running around like crazy people! 😜 We got back this morning from visiting Trey's dad in Arkansas, have Trey's mom's side's Christmas tonight, and then leave for Utah with my family tomorrow - HELP. I haven't packed at all yet, but my sister is here with me today helping me cook, wrap presents, pack and clean. She's a lifesaver!

I think we'll be skiing on Christmas day this year, so I won't be very dressed up at any point of the day, but I am packing this exact look for my cousin's wedding next Friday. I think the dark green is absolutely stunning for this time of year!

Tomorrow I'll be sharing my signature holiday sangria on here, so don't forget to stop by! Good luck getting everything done these next few days! ✨

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5 Ways to Add a Little Glamour to Your Holiday Look 12.21.2016

If you're anything like me, you're already planning what to wear on Christmas, Christmas Eve, and other gatherings this week! I don't usually buy anything new specifically for holiday occasions, but there are definitely some finishing touches you can add to your look that add a bit of holiday glam! Here are a few quick tips I came up with to spice up your look!

1. Add a Statement Earring
I always feel glamorous when I wear a statement earring, and I feel like they instantly add interest and elegance to any outfit. 

2. Wear a Darker Lip
I loooooove a dark berry or burgundy look for the holidays! So polished and chic.

3. Throw on a Little Faux Fur
Anytime I wear faux fur I feel like I have a little diva moment. I love that faux fur jackets and coats are big this year because they keep you warm in the winter while also making you look super fashion-forward and chic!

4. Do Your Nails
I'm still rocking bare nails as of today, but a holiday manicure is on my to-do list this week! Red is always a go at Christmastime, or to mix it up I like to do burgundy or gold.   

5. Wear Lace
Something about lace just exudes elegance, especially in the wintertime. Whether it's trim on a top, or a lace dress, lace is lovely for the holidays.

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Our Christmas Decor + $250 Minted Giveaway 12.16.2016

I'm so excited to be partnering with Minted for today's post! I've been a fan of Minted for a few years now, and have ordered our Christmas cards from there both last year and this year (I'll be sharing this year's next week!). They also have all kinds of beautiful artwork, and I love that they partner with independent artists and designers. Be sure to enter the $250 Minted giveaway at the bottom of this post!

I do want to add a quick disclaimer... We do not have our baseboard trim up yet, and don't have outlet covers and other little finishing touches. So please pardon those as you look at the photos :) Our house has been a serious work in progress the past couple of years, so these are actually the first home photos I've ever blogged. We should be done with the living/dining room area in the next couple of months, which is so exciting! I'll be sure to do a reveal once we do :)

Decor Sources:
Most Wonderful Time print (c/o)
Gold Foil photo print (c/o)

Small decorative Christmas trees - Target & TJ Maxx
Marble tray - Target
Dining room console & tv console - Target
Black bookcase
Basket on bookcase
Woven placemats
If have questions on any other idems, ask in the comments below! :)

I absolutely love the holiday print and gold foil photo print I got from Minted! They add just the perfect extra touch to my holiday decor, and I love that I can display the photo all year long. Minted has some amazing photo gifts if you're looking for a last minute Christmas gift ideas, or a personal gift idea for an upcoming birthday or anniversary.

If you love Minted as much as I do, enter here to win $250 to shop at Minted! The giveaway is open to US residents only and runs until midnight on Friday, December 23rd. The winner will be notified by email.  

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My Christmas/December Wish List 12.13.2016

I had some requests to share my Christmas wish list, so I kind of combined it with my December wish list! Sometimes it's hard to come up with a list of things to ask for for yourself, so I've been curating this for a few weeks now as I think of ideas! Hopefully it will give you some inspiration. I only put a few of the items in the collage, so make sure to check out the widgets below as well!

Trey and I are actually not exchanging gifts this Christmas. We leave next Friday for Utah, for a vacation with my family (more on that later), so we've been buying ski and winter clothes, and will spend extra money on experiences together :) I'm perfectly fine with that!

More items I'm loving and would ask for!

Other last minute ideas for yourself or for others (since Shopbop has free 3-day shipping)!

Gifts under $50

Gifts under $100

Rebecca Minkoff Bags

Coffee Table Books

Sunglasses

 

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Stocking Stuffers & Gifts Under $25 12.06.2016

I've decided not to do as many gift guides this year since it feels like there are a million out there in the blogging world, but I ran a little Twitter poll and some of you gals requested an under $25 guide and I threw in stocking stuffers too! Everything below is $25 or under :)

Choker  |  Earrings

Tarte Palette  |  Beanie  |  Cardigan  |  Satin/Lace Camisole

Star Choker  |  Pajama Set  |  Slippers  |  Candle

Marble/Wood Coasters  |  Scarf

Nail Polishes  |  Matte Lipstick

Here are some more ideas too...

For the Bar Cart

Tito's Vodka or wine always make for a great gift, and I also love the idea of gifting cocktail glasses or copper mugs. You can also gift a mixer set, or pretty bottle opener. There are so many options in this category!

For the Book Lover

If you have a friend who loves to read, or loves a certain author/celebrity, books are always a meaningful gift - and you can inscribe them! You can gift a book that made an impression on you, or a coffee table book to someone who loves decor. I have the SkinnyTaste cookbook on my Christmas wish list, and I think Mindy Kaling's books are hilarious!

For the First Digs

When we bought our house, we had no idea how hard it would be to decorate an entire space on a small budget (we're still working on it). There are lots of homey items you can buy under $25 - candles, picture frames, prints, decorative accents, coasters, vases and candle holders, and even holiday decor! I recently picked up two of these frames at IKEA, which look so high end, and would be a meaningful-and-chic gift with a photo inside.

For the Fashionista

Choker necklaces are one of my favorite gift ideas this year because they're typically pretty affordable, and there are SO many gorgeous options on basically every site. If you want to gift clothes, H&M has some really gorgeous pieces under $25 like this lace trim cami, and this slip dress that comes in 4 colors!

More Ideas

Portable Phone Charger

Pajamas

Pretty Coffee/Tea Mug

Fragrance

Skincare Set

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Holiday Party & Winter Wedding Attire 12.01.2016

Dress (pictured in burgundy)  |  Boots  |  Earrings  |  Lip Color

Happy December! I have no idea where the year has gone, but at least it's the holiday season and that makes me happy. My blogging bestie (and now real life close friend), Brianna of Gingham and Glam, and I have been so excited to do this dressy holiday collaboration! The day we shot these photos it was so ridiculously cold, and photos took foreverrrr because we had to keep warming up in the car. Hopefully you can't tell that we're freezing our you-know-whats off ;)

Trey and I don't have any dressy holiday parties this year, but we do have a few weddings on the calendar. I'm obsessed with this BB Dakota lace dress for the holidays and any time though! It's appropriate for so many seasons and occasions, especially styled with different types of shoes. I think over-the-knee boots are a great way to make a dress a little more weather appropriate in the winter, while also putting a unique spin on your look. Simply throw on a pea coat or faux fur jacket and you're good to go! 

Don't forget to check out Brianna's post to see more of her holiday glam look! Here are a few more dressy holiday pieces that I'm loving... 

  

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