Tag: holidays

How to Create a Holiday Party Look You Can Actually Wear Later

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Every year around the holidays, we inevitably have one fancy party that requires us to get all dressed up. It’s a great time to break out of the normal routine and embrace a little holiday cheer. And every year, it’s hard to stand out in the sea of plaid. Plaid is great and I own a few pieces that I love to wear around the holidays, but once you’ve worn a plaid item once, it loses its novelty. That’s why I like to have a few neutral pieces that help me get through the holiday party season and beyond. Here’s how I pulled together a timeless, classic look that still feels festive and how you can do the same.

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I Made Nutella Crepes and So Can You

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When we visited Paris last fall, we stopped at the Luxemborg Gardens or the Jardin du Luxembourg, an attraction know for it’s cascading flower pots, serene pond, and tree-lined pathways. While we were there, I was feeling a little peckish (let’s just be honest, hangry), so we stopped at the crepe stand inside the gardens. I ordered the Nutella crepes, and to do this day, I remember it being one of the most life-affirming snacks of my life. Paris was already beautiful, but the gargoyles at Notre Dame really had a sparkle in their eye after that. I instantly felt energized and warmed by the gooey chocolate center enveloped by fluffy pancake. Ever since our trip, I’ve been dreaming about recreating it. Here’s the crepes recipe I followed. To my surprise, they turned out great!

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The Perfect Holiday Top + Thanksgiving Traditions

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Madewell Top / H&M Jeans / J.Crew Factory Necklace / J.Crew Factory Shoes

I’m officially home for Thanksgiving! Yay! I drove in Thursday and have been working from home this whole week. When I can’t take paid time off around the holidays working from home is the next best thing. It means I get a bonus weekend in Cleveland! Over the weekend, I made sure to squeeze in as much fun as possible. I went shopping with my mom and sister, had dinner with our friends and their two kids (where we played a rowdy game of pie face), and spent a lot of time snuggling my niece.

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2019 Gift Guide: A Few of My Favorite Things

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I feel like a broken record, but I can’t believe it’s already time to start Christmas shopping again. Where did this year go? I feel like we just watched the ball drop and now 2019 is almost over. Time is flying! The holidays are right around the corner, and with that, comes the joy (and stress) of trying to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

As I get older, it seems like it gets harder and harder to come up with gifts ideas. Most adults I know, including myself, buy the things they need, and within reason, the luxuries they allow themselves. Every year I get more and more excited to receive practical gifts. I guess that’s part of adulting.

In an effort to add a little fun to your holiday shopping and maybe spark an idea or two for someone on your list, I put together a gift guide of some of my favorite things as well as some things I’d love to find under my tree on Christmas morning. I’ve included something for everyone – from the world traveler to the fashionista – and at various price points.

Happy shopping!

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Easter Dress

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Billabong Dress (Similar LuLu’s Dress) / Nine West Pumps via DSW (Similar Nine West Pumps) / Target Tights / Charming Charlie Necklace 

When I look at old family photos, some of my favorites to peruse are from Easter. Not because of awkward poses with the Easter bunny, although I’m sure we have some of those in a box somewhere. My favorite part about them is how my mother used to dress up me and my sisters, sometimes to match, in frilly pastel dresses, white tights, and bonnets. We looked like little Easter confections, and I honestly think this is one of the reasons I am so into fashion. My mom always created these wonderful outfits for special occasions that I loved and could not wait to wear. As an adult, I still feel that excitement picking out an outfit for a special event.

Although I have moved on from white tights, I will be donning tights this Easter to stay warm. To match this year’s dress, I’ve decided to wear navy tights. My conundrum was then what shoes  to wear. I wasn’t sure at first, but I actually think these nude pumps look kind of cute with tights. I think what makes this work is that the colors of the tights and shoes can both be found in the dress itself, but aren’t a perfect match. What do you think? Would you wear nude pumps with navy tights? What are you wearing this Easter?

Fourth of July Outfit Ideas

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The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. Summer weather is usually at its peak, meaning a lot of time spent outdoors, and its the perfect little break from work.

For a work potluck, I plan to wear this great scarf that I found in Annapolis last year at one of my favorite accessory stores, Lou Lou. I wanted to pair it with something different this year, but something that still had American roots. This denim dress could not be a better fit. I still haven’t decided how to tie my scarf so I’ve shown both options below. Which do you like better? 

Details: Lou Lou Scarf / Thrifted Gap Dress and Belt / Tommy Hilfiger Shoes

For the weekend, I plan to wear something a little more low key. I have been gravitating to the off the shoulder trend lately and this shirt from H&M combines that and my love of stripes. The pops of turquoise, pink and white are just strong enough hints to the patriotic red, white and blue.

Details: H&M Top, J.Crew Shorts, Baublebar Earrings, Jack Rogers Sandals

Craft: Fourth of July Pinwheels

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Having just spent a few days in one most patriotic of cities, Annapolis, MD, I felt the Fourth of July spirit a little early this year. Everything from boutiques selling American Flag scarfs to delis selling crab cakes and reciting the pledge to the flag every morning, that city seems like it’s in a constant state of pride.

To celebrate the Fourth this year, I wanted to find a simple project to decorate my apartment. These Good Housekeeping Fourth of July Pinwheels using patriotic scrapbook paper were really easy to make. I glued two pieces of scrapbook paper together to make them double sided. The mismatched pattern effect is really cool.

I think the dowels I bought were a little too thick as I had a hard time hammering my pin through. I also skipped the sticker as I used straight pins a with a pretty white button at the top.

Next time I would have used my glue gun instead of a glue stick to glue the pinwheels together to make them a little sturdier.

Other than that I think they turned out really well. These are great as indoor decorations in a vase or as outdoor decorations stuck in the dirt or in a potted plant.

Valentine’s Day at Home

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Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Because of scheduling conflicts, the boy and I celebrated this past weekend. We tried this trendy restaurant in Pittsburgh called Salt of the Earth. It was amazing! It features local and seasonal gourmet cuisine.We had the prawns and scallops and the pork — both good choices. The dining room feels both relaxed and elegant with its modern design, long tables and chalkboard menu. I wore this dress and these tights:

So that means on the actual day of love, instead of peacocking around town with my man, I get to stay in and avoid the crowds. Read about my ideal Valentine’s Day at home after the jump

Ideally, I would be eating Chocolate Covered Strawberries:  (Dean and Deluca, $60)

Drinking my new favorite wine, Cupcake Vineyard’s Red Velvet ($12.99):

And not watching a romance, but something a little more light hearted, like Troop Beverly Hills. I was born to play that role by the way.

Wearing this nonchalantly sexy shirtdress (Gap, $29.95):

 Or maybe these adorable leggings (Gap, $29.95):

And cooking an amazing dinner in this heart-shaped Le Creuset pot (Amazon, Sold Out!). May need some help with the cooking part.

Soo happy…

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Don’t forget to enter my Shabby Apple giveaway!

…I picked out my very own Christmas tree this year. It may be from the Lowe’s Lawn and Garden center and not the beautiful snowy fields of Chesterland, but it’s all mine. As you can see I am playing around with some plaid ribbon. I’ll let you know how it turns out. And I can’t stop wearing these beauties. They were a gift to myself on Black Friday on super sale from Old Navy. I love how versatile they are. I have been able to wear them with everything from a skirt for work to jeans for the weekend. They are $20 online right now.