The Best Teddy Jackets + a Sephora Giveaway 11.20.2018

As you may have noticed, I'm just a little bit obsessed with teddy coats and jackets! I've always hated wearing coats and feeling stuffy/bulky, but this is a trend that's equal parts comfy and chic. This is the coat I'm wearing in these pics (highly recommend grabbing it before it sells out again). I also own this budget-friendly tan jacket, and just added this black teddy jacket to my collection (use code BRI20 for 20% off).

Most of these are under $100 and quite a few are under $50!

Outfit Details

Coat  |  Sweater (so soft!)  |  Jeans   |  Hat  |  Sunglasses  |  Backpack  |  Similar Boots

Winter has definitely arrived here, and while I'm pretty sad about that, cute new clothes do help to make it better! I try to venture into color more often these days, but I can't lie...I still love my neutral outfits like this one the most.

New makeup and skincare help too, so be sure to enter this awesome giveaway!

To make your holiday shopping a little bit easier, I've teamed up with a group of bloggers to give you a chance to win an $800 Sephora Gift Card!

To enter: complete the steps in the Rafflecopter below. The more steps you complete,
the more entries you receive, and the better your chance at winning!
This giveaway runs until Tuesday, December 4th at 12am PST

Winner will be announced here. Good Luck!
*this giveaway is in no way sponsored by Nordstrom.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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My Spring Check List 3.06.2018

I love the fresh wave of motivation and energy that comes with any new season, but especially spring. Spring always makes me feel hopeful and inspired! Since I'm feeling so motivated right now, I thought I would share my spring check list with all of you! 

Try at least one new dinner recipe each week. I've been so into cooking lately and want to continue the momentum by trying more new recipes. It's easy to get into a rut (especially in the winter) of making the same dinners over and over, but I want to keep things fresh (literally and figuratively) in the kitchen this spring!

File our taxes weeks before April 17. I'm a classic procrastinator paired with a millennial that is overwhelmed by adulting. It's quite the combo, let me tell ya! haha. This week I'm working on getting everything organized so that we can get started well before April!

Read a new book, front to back. This is a sad one. I am so, so out of the habit of reading. I actually read quite a bit every day, just not out of books. I've always loved reading, but in college I was doing so much academic reading that reading for fun lost its appeal. I have a stack of some books lent to me by friends and I'm debating between reading this one or this one first.

Start (and complete) the Bikini Body Guide workout program. "BBG" is a 12-week workout guide created by Australian trainer (and babe) Kayla Itsines. I actually found this four years ago and did 2/3 of the program before our wedding, and looking back at the photos, it seriously worked! While I've done some of the circuits here and there for a quick home workout, I've really been contemplating doing the program start to finish as I'm trying to get in the best shape of my twenties! I haven't decided what 3 month time frame to do it in, but I want to at least start it in spring so it carries over into summer!

Finally get rid of my sell + donate piles. My guest room is currently a hell hole of clothing piles. I have a Poshmark pile, a Facebook sell pile, and a large donate pile. I recently listed quite a few items on my Poshmark (@lovelenore) that are slowly but surely selling, but I need to stop procrastinating on the rest! I always want to be more minimal and not have clutter in the house, and getting rid of these piles will be a huge step in the right direction!   

top  |  skirt  |  similar bag  |  boots  |  sunglasses  |  earrings

What are some things on your own spring check list? I actually have a lot more, but wanted to keep things simple for today's post ;)

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Five Random Thoughts this Friday 2.23.2018

Why do short weeks feel so long??

Having a 3-day weekend was exactly what I needed in my life, but somehow this 4-day work week was not a breeze. I feel like something always goes a bit wrong on a short work week.

I cannot wait to get my hair done on Tuesday.

I go around 4 months between appointments (I'm so glad I can because it saves me money!), but I'm feeling especially ready for some fresh blonde and a big trim! My hair has actually grown A LOT for once (woohoo 🙌) so my highlights are pretty grown out and my ends are kind of thin and scraggly right now. I'm going to go back to more of a blunt chop, but hoping not to lose too much of my new length. 

Why am I craving dark chocolate like a crazy person lately?

I looked up some scientific reasons (a magnesium deficiency is one possibility I found), but I swear I want some after every meal this week!

The funny trick that made these jeans photographable.

I was laughing to myself while putting this post together because of the crazy hack Bri suggested to make my jeans "fit." I'm obsessed with these jeans (the Riley High Rise), and went up a size to get a looser look in the legs. Unfortunately that has left me with an absolutely gaping waist to where the jeans won't even stay up on their own (don't worry, they'll be visiting my alterations lady next week!). So, we grabbed a bottle of lotion I had in the car and stuck it in the waistband to make the jeans "fit." I felt like a complete weirdo, but looking at the photos I guess it worked!

I'm currently obsessed with... 
Do certain styles or trends ever just click with you and you find yourself adding different variations to your cart on several different sites? Me toooooo. I have so many cool statement earrings on my wish list right now, and love the options here, here and here (a dedicated earring blog post might be coming soon!). I'm also loving prints (florals and polka dots) and ruffle details. This brand is killing it in those departments right now. 

top  |  jeans ("riley high rise" | I went up a size for a relaxed fit) (similar, less expensive options here)
boots  |  sunglasses  |  earrings  

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I'm In a Funk 2.21.2018

Part of me feels weird admitting this here, but the other part of me knows it's healthy to talk through things. I am in such a funk lately. I've been going in circles over branding, aesthetic, etc. and I'm feeling so unsure lately that I haven't even been wanting to edit photos or post - things I usually love and look forward to! 

I LOVE creating content, but I'm so in my head right now that it's feeling very stressful instead of like a creative outlet. 

Location, location, location
Part of the "funk" that I'm in stems from the fact that the aesthetic and vibe that I love and am personally drawn to is nearly impossible to achieve living in Missouri, especially in a smaller community. I think I've always done a fairly good job with creativity of photo locations, but ultimately the look I love doesn't exist here. So why not just work with what I have and be happy? Well, I'm trying. But I think we're all intrinsically drawn to what we're drawn to creatively. So, right now I'm feeling a little stuck on this front! In some ways I would love to pick up and move to SoCal, but I also don't see it happening for us :) So, somehow I have to figure out something that will work for me. I still haven't found that formula or "look" that's perfectly "me."

Self-doubt
I also fall into terrible little black holes of self-critique sometimes. I'm struggling to find my place right now, and trying not to compare myself to others!

Winter Doldrums
I also think a big part of the weird funk I'm in is honestly that I'm so sick of winter! I don't know if it's seasonal depression, but I'm not quite feeling like myself. I'm not feeling my usual motivation to go out and shoot content and get things done due to the cold and constant gloom. I'm hoping that spring brings a wave of fresh motivation to me!  

Anyways, the point of this post is just to let you in my head a bit, and to ask you to bear with me as I try to figure out what the heck I'm doing! You'd think I would know after years of blogging 😝 but I'm still exploring and learning where I stand in this crazy blog and Instagram world! I need to make the most of where I live and make it work with the aesthetic I like, stop comparing myself to others so much, and take advantage of spring weather and the energy it brings!

Now, a quick word about my outfit... This dress is one of my first spring purchases, and I love it so much! Looking at my closet, I've realized I'm really, really into black florals, so of course I was drawn to this little wrap mini dress situation. To transition it from winter to spring I stuck with a denim jacket and some ankle boots for now. I bought my dress here, but I also found it with all sized still available here.

Dress: available here & here  |  jacket (more options here)  |  boots  |  sunglasses  |  necklaces here & here  |  earrings  

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"Realness" in the Blogging World 2.08.2018

Something I've seen being talked about quite a bit lately is "realness" in the blogging and Instagram world. It seems like readers and followers (non-bloggers and influencers) are craving authenticity more and more these days, perhaps because we're so oversaturated with media and social media and expectations for what both we and our lives should look like. It's a tricky issue for sure! I've been thinking on this a bit, and thought I would share just a bit of my perspective. I honestly wrote down so many thoughts at first and then paired them down, because it was too much for one post. So, here are just a few thoughts (and maybe we can dive in more another time)...

I think there's a huge difference between being fake and showing your life in a beautiful way. I'm sure we all have some girls who come to mind (influencers or not) who we think of as fake. I've seen many a girl on Instagram or in the blogging world whose body looks so different in her photos versus in other people's photos, or who wasn't transparent about plastic surgery, or who simply doesn't share anything authentic about her life. It's frustrating, FOR SURE. But, I also think a lot of bloggers and Instagrammers are getting lumped into this simply because they post beautiful imagery. I feel strongly that just because someone only posts pretty images on their Instagram, doesn't mean that they're fake - it's just what they like to share in that space. 

Something to ask yourself is if you think someone's posts are coming from a place of creativity or from a place of insecurity or bragging. There are some big bloggers I've unfollowed because it rubbed me the wrong way when they overedited their photos or wore crazy amounts of makeup. These accounts made me feel bitter, and I don't want that negative energy!

In the end, I think we should just follow people who make us feel good, and who inspire us. For me that's a whole mixture of folks. I love following my friends who don't give an F about a curated Instagram grid. I love following fashion and lifestyle bloggers and home decor accounts that give me so much inspiration about how I want to dress and decorate and entertain. I love following travel accounts so I can dream of future vacations. All are okay! 

For me personally, I love photography and am even a photographer now. I also love experimenting with photo editing (not crazy Photoshopping - I'm talking tones, white balance, brightness, depth, etc.). I feel SO inspired by producing creative content, and I always want to be proud to share it with you guys. I wouldn't feel inspired to share a dimly lit photo of my messy living room here on my blog when I'm talking about home decor or something. There's nothing inspiring about that! But, there are other ways that I can share my realness. I'm always real with you in what I write here! Instagram Stories are a great sneak peek into someone's life (you've seen me on there sick, with bad hormonal breakouts, and cooking in my ugly 90's kitchen and more 😜). And Twitter is probably my favorite social media channel because everyone is just themselves. 

In closing... Bloggers and influencers, I ask that you show your real selves. Don't stop producing beautiful content, but make sure it's relevant to others and still ties in with your actual life. Show us your personality, tell us when you've had a bad day, and complain when you have a bad zit. To those who read blogs and follow influencers on Instagram, I ask that you only follow people who make you happy and provide positive inspiration for you. Don't hate-follow someone so you can roll your eyes at their fakeness. Also, please don't assume we're all like that. There are many of us that are super real (as dorky as I am), and would love to build that trust with you. Trust that even if we post pretty pictures, we are still real people and are making efforts to let you into our lives. 

Top (can't recommend this enough!)  //  Jeans  //  Boots  //  Sunglasses

(bag & hat are sold out)

I thought I would use this opportunity to give a little shoutout to some four bloggers and Instagrammers who inspire me, but also make me laugh and feel like I know them in person!

Sivan Ayla (blog, Instagram)

So naturally beautiful, super real on IG stories, and always has great blog posts. I always wish I could be her friend because she's the coolest!

Ashley Guyatt (blog, Instagram)

We've become blogging friends over the years and she's such a genuine, kind person. Her style and LA photos are to-die-for and I'm always checking her Instagram for new photos!

Emily Vartanian (blog, Instagram)

Emily is always real on Instagram stories, and also writes about some amazing topics on her blog!

Mary-Katherine Minnis (blog, Instagram)

She's one of my oldest blogging friends, and is the most selfless gal ever! She is now a travel blogger, and I'm always inspired by her travels and her style.

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Valentine's Day Outfit Ideas 1.30.2018

Trey and I are all over the place when it comes to Valentine's Day. Some years we block off the night to eat takeout and watch a movie, and other years we've gone all out with a fancy date to drinks and sushi. Regardless of what it is, I just love getting the chance to spend some time together! I know VDay is cheesy, but now that we're in the throws of busy adult-life, I do really appreciate that reminder to spend time together and to have a more romantic kind of night.

Regardless of if you're hitting the town or staying in, there are lots of ways to look cute and a bit flirty. If you're more of a casual gal, layer a lace-trim cami under a cardigan or leather jacket, or style a sweater or blouse with a deep-v and some delicate layered necklaces (so chic!). If you love to dress up, lace and ruffles are both feminine touches that I love. I personally like to add a little bit of edge to a feminine skirt or dress, which is why I styled this velvet, floral dress with a leather jacket and ankle boots!

I linked a bunch of amazing pieces below, but there are a handful of pieces I couldn't include in the widget. For outfit options I love this one-shoulder top (the print is to-die-for!), this gorgeous romper (super on sale), and all of these options here.

Dress: c/o Lush Clothing (I couldn't find it online, but you can shop their line here)

Jacket  //  Boots  //  Sunglasses ($11 & free shipping!)

Here are some finds I'm loving for Valentine's Day (ranging from $8 to $80)!

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The $42 Jacket I'm Wearing Non-Stop 1.08.2018

When I got this $42 jacket I didn't get my hopes up, but I've been wearing this little guy so much the past few weeks! It's cozy and trendy, and I love the color. I've always hated to spend lots of money on coats and jackets, so I was happy to find this one for such a steal. I feel like it helps to make my winter outfits more interesting too!   

jacket (c/o - wearing size small)  |  jeans (true to size)  |  ankle boots  |  similar tees here, here & here  |  hat  |  earrings

Trey and I laid low most of the weekend as we're both under the weather. I did get a few blog photos in and some photo editing done, but other than that I was honestly pretty lazy, which was so nice for a change! 

We watched the Golden Globes last night and I thought it was a great awards show. I loved all of the pointed references to gender biases and inequalities in Hollywood, the US and the world! It's definitely ridiculous that it's still as much of an issue as it is today. I especially loved when Debra Messing called out E! live on air for paying Catt Sadler far less than what her former male cohost makes (more on that here). It's time for a change, that's for sure! 

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