Carolina Sky Blue Sweater

The weather lately has been both strange and perfect... almost 80 degrees and it is almost January?!  A few weeks ago, I found this blue v-neck knit sweater in the most gorgeous shade of blue that quickly reminded me of carolina skies.  It also comes in grey and pink but I naturally gravitated toward the pretty blue option! This sweater is the perfect choice for a casual weekend full of running errands or just relaxing.  This past weekend I wore it with my comfy light grey slip-on sneakers for the ultimate weekend outfit. 

NYE Outfit and Party Ideas

If you haven't thought about it already, now is the time to start thinking about your New Years Eve plans including what outfit you're going to welcome 2016 in! Today, I'm sharing some NYE inspiration with Taylor Rae (Style Souffle) & Zelle (Southern Style), two of my fave blogger friends! We're bringing you an assortment of adorable party supplies from Swoozies, one of my personal favorite places to shop for fun events like these! As for my outfit, I went for a dressy-but-comfortable sequined kimono dress and love how flattering yet conservative it felt! Scroll down for more sparkles, laughs, confetti, and NYE inspo!

Cozy Sweater + Faux Leather Leggings

I'm back with another shade of blue/green outfit featuring an under $30 cowl neck tunic sweater.  I paired it last weekend with my favorite and very affordable two-toned faux leather leggings which I love wearing this time of year! These leggings and an oversized cozy sweater make for the easiest but still very chic outfit to put together.  See more photos below for how I wore some of my favorite winter accessories with this comfy chic outfit!

Our Engagement + Happy Birthday TJ

Today is my best friend and fiancé's birthday! Yes, I said fiancé and it still feels so unreal! I wanted to take a moment to share a blog post different than the usual ones on here and share how special this guy in my life for (almost) 6 years is.  This past Saturday, he completely surprised me with a proposal and every moment of it was so "TJ".

Dress With The Fur

Blue has always been my favorite "color".  I say "color" because I love some grey and white but if I had to choose an actual color, it would definitely be blue.  When I saw this navy blue faux fur scarf in stores, I knew I had to have it.  I just couldn't agree to the price tag so I waited until Black Friday to order it online.  I'd keep a look out to see if it goes on sale again because this fur scarf is a winter must have! Not to mention, this teal turtleneck swing dress is the most comfortable weekend dress I own.  

Christmas Jammie Party

Last weekend, Zelle (Southern Style) and I took a mini road trip over to Charlotte to stay with our friend, Taylor Rae (Style Souffle).  It reminded me of the good 'ol days when my friends and I would have slumber parties and do nothing but girlie things! We went all out and had a Christmas jammie party filled with festive tunes, hot chocolate overflowing with marshmallows, and the coziest pajamas.  

Holiday Slow Down

The holiday season can be so packed full of parties, to-do's, events, shopping, etc. that it is not hard to get wrapped up in all of the craziness.  Honestly, I have had very little time this season to stop and reflect on the year, what I'm thankful for, and let those who I am thankful for know! That is until this past weekend when I took an hour or so to write some cards to my family and friends. 

Blanket Poncho

It's Friday! 

There are just too many things that get me excited for the weekend.  One of them being the fact that I can wear whatever I want and be the coziest I want.  See ya work clothes and hello blankets! Wait, a blanket?  Yes, I found a poncho that is basically a blanket with a hole for my head and I love it.  You should order one as well for your weekend wardrobe!

Toyota Adventure in Wrightsville Beach/Wilmington

Last weekend, TJ and I packed up our weekend bags and headed to the coast in the new 2016 Toyota Camry.  We had the opportunity to test drive it for the weekend and had the best time! We've always loved taking a weekend during December to spend at the beach.  There is something about the simplicity, non-existent crowds of people, and feeling like you have the island to yourself that makes going to the beach in the off-season really special, especially during one of the busiest and craziest months of the year! 

Christmas Cookie Swap

One of my blog friends, Laura (Louella Reese), came up with the brilliant idea of having a "virtual" Christmas cookie swap.  We're each sharing one of our favorite cookie recipes on our blogs today and at the end of this post, you can click to the next recipe shared! I was one of the last people to respond with a traditional favorite recipe, naturally, so I decided to share a NEW favorite recipe.  This recipe came from a friend I roomed with in college, Kaylyn.  They are AMAZING!  Scroll down below for the full recipe.

At Home Holiday Headquarters

This time of year is the best!  Everybody is getting into the holiday spirit, decorating their homes, spending time with friends and family, giving gifts to loved ones... what could be better?

One of my personal favorite activities this time of year is decorating my home the weekend after Thanksgiving.  There is just something so exciting about the start of the season.  It's really the little things like burning the first Christmas tree candle of the year or hanging up stockings (including my dog's) that really get me all warm and fuzzy feeling inside.

Winter Essentials

It's funny how I am talking about "winter essentials" today yet it was 72 degrees and sunny all weekend long.  Since this week is supposed to get way cooler, I figured it would be a good time to share some of my favorite winter essentials in my closet including boyfriend flannels, quilted puffer vests, and cute beanies. I also have to share how unbelievably awesome my weekend was. 

The Best Black Friday Sales

Happy Black Friday!

 Let the Christmas decorating and holiday shopping begin!  Scroll down below for some really great Black Friday sales that will make your holiday shopping a lot easier this year. 

 I've rounded up my favorite sales of the weekend so if you're the online type of shopper, you'll want to grab some hot chocolate or coffee and stick around! If you're the brave type and want to hit the stores today, take a look at these sales and map out your plan! Either way, a bunch of these are too good.  My personal Christmas shopping goal this year is to get it all done online and completed by the middle of December so I can really enjoy the holidays once it gets closer to Christmas! 

Fall Blues

I've always been a fan of florals but this specific floral print is the prettiest I've ever seen! Not only does it come in a blouse version as pictured in this post, but there is a dress and a scarf too.  I went for an all blue look paired with some grey over the knee boots and accessories. 

Suede Vest

Happy Thanksgiving week! I don't know about you but I am super excited for this week being a short and sweet one.  I also can't contain my excitement for Christmas decorating on Friday.  I love Thanksgiving but my family will be out of town this year so we celebrated last night with a full Thanksgiving dinner.  It was delicious and my refrigerator is stocked with leftovers... the best!

Spots

If I could recommend one good pair of pants that every woman should have in their closet... it would be these black highwaisted ones! They are definitely on the pricey side but I can see myself wearing these probably once a week to work or even out to dinner with friends.

Coat Season

It's almost Thanksgiving and I cannot believe it.  This entire year has flown by way too fast.  On the bright side, my coat closet has accumulated quite the collection of fall and winter coats over this year and last.  I just can't help myself with them! Having some good choices of coats makes cold weather not so bad at all. Thanks to Bernardo Outerwear, this one added a little pop of color in my black and white ensemble the other week. 

Workwear for Active Women

I love my comfy weekend clothing so it can be sad on Sunday nights saying goodbye to oversized t-shirts and leggings before a long week of work.  I try to be as active as possible on weekdays so it is important to me that I wear very comfortable and moveable clothing.  Fortunately, there is a designer who has created the most perfect workwear for active women! Meet, Jackie Real... where fashion meets function! 

Outfit Essentials + 25% Off Code

Lately, I've been finding myself wearing a little bit less color than usual and to be honest, it hasn't made me feel any less "colorful" at all! Have y'all taken a moment to soak in the gorgeous colors of fall?  The leaves are at their peak and everywhere I look, I'm reminded of how beautiful the season is.  I've also found a few black staples that I have had on repeat in my closet, especially these perfect black booties, the timeless tweed skirt, and the everyday turtleneck. 

Farewell Fitting Rooms

The older I get, the less I enjoy going to the mall and trying on clothes.  I would rather spend my precious (and limited) weekend time doing fun things outside or spending time with my boyfriend, pup, friends, and family! Luckily, there is this new thing called Lyon + Post which solves that problem so easily! 

Parlor Blow Dry Bar

A couple weeks ago, I finally was able to try out Parlor Blow Dry Bar.  I met up with a few blogger friends in the Raleigh Blog Society for blow outs and dinner and it was the perfect way to relax after a long day of work.  Plus, I woke up the next day with my hair already nice and voluminous! 

image via

I went for a hair style that was close to my typical look - curled, down, and as full as possible.  As my hair has gotten longer, it has been more difficult to achieve that "full and volumized" look.  If anybody has any hair stylist recommendations, please share them in the comments as I am in desperate need of a cut!

I absolutely loved the atmosphere at Parlor.  I've been in there once before, but only to attend a braiding class.  This time, they gave me a nice glass of wine, washed my hair, and completely styled it for a really good price.  I'd highly suggest this as a girl's night or weekend idea.  The stylists were all so sweet too and made the experience fabulous!

I've always been the customer to ask 100 questions about the products they use and this time was no exception.  I was educated each step of the way and learned several tricks and tips on how to (try to) achieve the look at home! All of the products at Parlor are Bumble and Bumble and my favorite product would have to be the Thickening Dryspun Finish Spray!

Isn't Kate from Sara Kate Styling adorable?  I loved how her hair turned out.  

We ended the night at Shuckers Grill & Oyster Bar on Glenwood in Raleigh and the food was delicious.  After the assortment of appetizers we ordered (hush puppies, crab dip, wings), I attempted to be healthy and order a caesar salad with blackened salmon on top.  It was so delicious. 

Thank you Parlor Blow Dry Bar and  Shuckers Grill & Oyster Bar for having us that night! 

Left to Right: Angela of Head to Toe Chic | Maddie of Raleigh Revealed |

Kate from Sara Kate Styling | me | Meghan of Champagne & Suburbs

Wrapped Up in Plaid

Happy November, friends! I'm not sure how that happened so quickly but I am really excited to see what November has in store this year.  I stumbled upon this plaid coat the other day while running errands and the colors had me sold immediately.   

Halloween Chipotle Costume DIY

Happy Halloween, everyone!

 This year, I decided to be something that is near and dear to my heart, something that is a constant in my life... and that is a Chipotle bowl.  I had not seen a single Chipotle bowl costume before so I had to think hard about how this would work.  I didn't even know if it would work but I was very pleased with how it turned out!  I actually showed a picture of the costume to an employee at Chipotle today and they gave us our entire meal for free!

Sweater of the Season

I've officially found my perfect sweater for the upcoming seasons and I couldn't believe the price tag!   The quality of this beautiful blue cable knit turtleneck sweater is really impressive for just $23.  The rich color of the blue goes well with SO many things in my closet and I decided to wear it with white denim last weekend for a simple yet put together look. 

Hosting a Fall Party

I've always loved planning fun get-togethers and parties with friends, especially around this time of year! There is just something so special about spending quality time with friends, celebrating the season together and catching up on eachother's lives. However, entertaining also comes with a lot of prep and planning and there are a few key components you don't want to forget about! Today, I am sharing with you my personal top priorities during the party planning process. I hosted a pumpkin painting party last Saturday with some of my sorority sisters from college and it was a blast!

Floral Fall Dress

I love neutral colored clothing this time of year but I still always have a very hard time saying no to anything that is floral and in "my colors".  Anything that incorporates shades of pinks, blues, and greens has me naturally attracted to it no matter what time of year it is.  When I saw this floral v-neck dress, I knew the first thing I would wear it with would be my grey over-the-knee faux suede boots (which by the way are only $45). 

Cozy Fall Style

Yesterday, I was extremely excited and grateful to be featured on Southern Weddings and style their 'Love Never Fails' tee from their adorable Southern Weddings Shop. I've been following their blog for a long time so when they reached out to see if I'd be interested in helping them with this Cozy Fall Style project, I could not have been more thrilled!

Accessorizing in Autumn

Well, it is officially poncho season in my book.  Yesterday's cool temps had me pulling out my favorite poncho and striped turtleneck to keep warm! Sometimes a big huge cozy poncho needs a little something to make it less bland though and this beaded tassel necklace by Sylvia Benson was the perfect addition! 

Oversized Chic Cardigan

I've been a huge fan of over-the-knee boots for a long, long time.  The only problem I had was that most of them were so over-priced.  When I saw these suede OTK boots were under $45, I couldn't resist.  I picked them out to complete an outfit I was planning for a French Connection + Belk event last week which I will share more details about next week.  My goal was to put together an outfit with this gorgeous oversized wool cardigan. 

Latest Makeup Favorites ft. IT Cosmetics

Back in June, I made big changes in my make-up routine. It all started at the Annual Southern Blog Society Conference in Charleston, where a bunch of bloggers got together for a weekend of networking, learning, and more.  We had the opportunity to meet representatives from numerous brands and businesses from all over the country.  The brands ranged from clothing to cosmetics and much, much more.  One of the brands I was most excited about was IT Cosmetics!

How To Wear White After Summer

GNO at Belk with French Connection

Mark your calendars for this Thursday, October 8th! Join me for a Girl's Night Out at Belk in Crabtree Valley Mall with French Connection, Zelle (Southern Style), and Emily (Life with Emily).  There will be wine, a DJ, and more! The event will be from 5-9pm so feel free to stop by for as little or as long as you want for some girl time!

Pretty in Plaid

I've always been drawn to plaid and checkered patterns for some reason.  I think its because I associate the classic pattern with fall and winter, which makes me think of the holidays, which makes me think of home and family.  Anybody else?  This green plaid turtleneck dress sortof reminds me of a wrapped up Christmas gift! Anyways, I absolutely love it. 

Move Loot + Giveaway

A few months ago, I moved to a new apartment.  I absolutely love it and I couldn't have chosen a better place.  However, as one might guess, the move was not very fun.  My car died that week, making it very difficult to move all my things, plus I had far too much stuff that just accumulated over the past few years.  I had to find ways to get rid of a bunch of my furniture and luckily, I found the perfect solution.  

Business Casual + Giveaway

This burgundy wool blend blazer is probably one of my top favorite things in my closet currently.  These pictures don't even don't even compare to how classic and sophisticated it looks in person.  It is the perfect blazer to dress down with some boyfriend jeans or dress up on a day at work with a pencil skirt. 

Fall Favorites

I always have a few fall favorites each year in my closet.  My favorites are typically things I can wear with an assortment of outfits... such as a neutral colored vest, some versatile denim,  a flowy long sleeved blouse, and  a great quality handbag.  You also can't do fall without a good pair of casual booties that you can wear with everything.  

Outfit Details

 J. Crew: Grey Herringbone Puffer Vest || LOFT: Light Pink Split Neck Tunic || Vera Bradley: Quilted Handbag c/o || Sole Society: Suede Booties || LOFT: Boyfriend Jeans || Kendra Scott: Elle Earrings || Kendra Scott: Elton Gold Bracelet || Swell Caroline: Lucky Bar Necklace c/o || IT Cosmetics: CC Lip Serum 

I hope everyone had a great weekend! It was a rainy one in my area but the rain stopped just for the few hours I had a wine tasting party at a local vineyard.  Yesterday was my birthday and I had the best birthday weekend! I'll share more details later on this week about the vineyard we visited.  Birthdays always make me feel so thankful and make me realize again and again how awesome my friends and family are. 

I also got to try out the Raleigh Beer Garden finally and it was pretty legit.  I will definitely be back there.  

Thanks for stopping by and hope you all have a good week!

Shelby

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