You know it’s that time… if there’s any kind of long weekend, there’s a sale to go with it! I wanted to share with you guys some great sales happening over the next few days, and of course, my picks!
Nordstrom – lots of great additions to the sale section!
Shopbop – tons of fall items added to the sale section – and some seriously great accessories
Old Navy – 30% off $75 with code ENJOY + up to 60% off throughout the store
One Kings Lane – major furniture sale with some items marked up to 70% off
J.Crew – 30% off all full price items + 40% off sale items with code WEEKEND
– a nude and gold clutch (on sale!) that I can’t wait to rock with black! –
– a quick trip to LA to celebrate my nephew’s first birthday (seriously how cute is this cake made by my sister-in-law!?) –
– custom Nikes… I mean, these shoes are way cooler than I am let’s be real –
I can’t get over these high top sneakers with my name (the other shoe has my last name) – I mean – ahmazing! I’ve got to find a way to rock these without looking like I’m some old gal trying to look younger and cooler than she actually is.
I’ve come across some Internet gems this week that you know I have to share. Of course this week’s Whine About It was especially hilarious centered around the annoying things about fall. I think the part about the aggressive fall squirrels was just the whipped cream on top. The pastry eating squirrel… I can’t even.
Also, I might be late to this, but this article about the Bahamian raccoon named Pumpkin who thinks she’s a dog!? WHAT!? Only the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Discovering Pumpkin had an Instagram account was enough to make me jump out of bed to run downstairs to show Christian. This picture!? I don’t want a baby, I want a baby raccoon. Decision made.
In other news, I wanted to share with you guys that I will be speaking on a panel at StyleCon in OC on 11/7! If any of you are attending, I would love to meet you! Get the details here.
This weekend we are laying low – Christian is working and I’m considering dragging him to a pumpkin patch on Sunday. The jury’s still out. Who’s been to a pumpkin patch already this year? Tell me your pumpkin picking strategy! Thanks so much for reading guys! XO –
Christian and I have been wanting to upgrade our living room sofa for a few years and we’ve been dragging our feet because we couldn’t seem to agree and commit on the same one. A nice sofa is a big investment (easily the most expensive piece of furniture in our home), so I knew I couldn’t pull the trigger unless it was a piece I wanted in our home for years to come. This meant it needed to be comfortable, attractive and versatile.
SO, when the opportunity came along to work with Gatehouse Home to finally select the sofa we had in mind, I knew this was our chance! I wanted to share with you guys not only the finished product, but also my recommendations if any of you are looking to make a similar purchase.
Know your non-negotiables. For us, this meant machine washable. We have a dog and a cat, and I know we will always have pets because we are both big animal lovers. This means I need to be able to throw a cushion cover in the wash when someone puts their dirty paws on the sofa or drops a piece of pizza. Who am I kidding – I’ve spilled half a glass of wine on a sofa before. But guess what? I washed the cover and it was good as new. #smallvictories
Keep it neutral. This may seem like a no brainer, but I can’t preach enough to invest in neutrals for your big pieces. I always add color with art, flowers, throw pillows, blankets, picture frames, the list goes on. Don’t get me wrong – I love the beauty of a statement sofa (like this one), but I know myself, and I know I would tire of it. Before I committed to a fabric, I brought two large swatches home and put them on my current sofa arm. I wanted to see what the color and texture looked like during all hours of the day, as well as against my current living room layout. Doing this showed me that one swatch actually looked much darker than I had anticipated, but had I not taken them home for two weeks, I wouldn’t have known!
Test it out. I knew I’d found our new sofa when I sat on it. Gatehouse carries Lee Industries sofas, and when I sat on the down-blend cushions, I was all, “welcome home.” Christian lays on the couch more than he sits on it, so it was a match made in heaven. You sink into it just enough, and I wanted the seating area to be just deep enough to be comfortable, but not so deep that it affects your posture. We’re both tall, so 40″ deep was perfect.
Check the warranty. When making an investment purchase, check the warranty. Lee Industries offers lifetime warranty which is a huge bonus. They also keep all the measurements of their furniture designs, so even if this particular slipcovered sofa was to no longer be available, I could still contact them about ordering a new slipcover down the road. This kind of service makes the price tag sting a little less!
Have you made a big furniture purchase recently? Have any advice? I’d love to hear it! And if any of you are in the Orange County area, I can’t recommend enough popping in Gatehouse Home in Costa Mesa. The store is so beautiful (and inspiring for any décor lovers!) and the team is so friendly.
Thanks so much for reading, and you can see our full home tour here. Stay tuned for a reveal of our home office and guest bedroom! XO –
When were in Napa, one of our favorite stops was in the late morning when we visited Inglenook Winery and Vineyard. The scenery reminded us so much of Europe, and it was the most romantic little spot. For a (delightful) and long day of wine tasting, I wanted to look cute but most importantly, be comfortable.
This striped dress is so comfortable and paired perfectly with these majorly comfortable boots. Styled with the crossbody bag that goes with everything and a cashmere wrap for the chilly morning – it was a good choice for not only wine tasting, but also our casual picnic lunch. Writing this post just makes me want to go back – we didn’t get to spend nearly enough time in Sonoma! #wineaboutit
Have any of you visited this winery before? I would definitely recommend it if any of you headed to wine country! Thanks so much for reading and for all of you amaze suggestions along the way! XO –
While I mostly share fashion, home and travel on this blog – I do love beauty and have shared a few beauty related posts with you guys in the past few years (you can click the beauty category under categories up at the top right of the site to see more)! I’m so excited to team up with Pro Beauty Tools to share some hair tutorials in the next few months, and today I’m kicking it off with a tutorial on how to achieve that messy bedhead that looks effortlessly styled just enough.
My hair is naturally very straight and fine. I like to say I have the same hair as a six-year old girl – think about that silky, stringy hair (can’t you see it?). This has been both a good and bad thing for me, but when it comes to a quick hairstyle, it’s usually something I’m thankful for.
First I brush my hair out and spray it with a heat protectant spray (I’ve used several different kinds and don’t have a preference). Then I take my straightener (which heats up in only 30 seconds and gets as hot as 450 degrees) and clamp a section of hair about 4-5 inches from my scalp. I turn the straightener about 90 degrees away from my face and wrap the rest of my hair around the straightener, leaving 1-2 inches at the end.
After a few seconds, I slide the straightener down the section of hair, unclamping and clamping as necessary. Once I take the straightener off my hair I kind of scrunch the section with my hand and then move onto the next!
Once I’ve repeated this to my entire head, I spray a few spritzes of a texturizing spray and voila! I’m done. I really like this look for everyday and even more so, I like the affordable price tag of this straightener. Recommended by stylists, it straightens, reduces frizz and increases shine for better looking hair in minutes. The less time I spend primping, the better!
Do you guys have any straightener tips? I’d love to hear! Thanks so much for reading, and let me know what you guys think about some more beauty posts! XO –
When I was in New York, we stayed at the Nomo Soho and there were the most incredible cobblestone streets all around us! I usually opt to stay in Midtown when I travel to New York, not only because it’s where I lived the summer I lived in the city, but also because it’s always a little more quiet and a little less busy.
This time we wanted to be downtown, close to the venues hosting the shows, and I had so much fun exploring Soho and Chelsea. I remembered more than I thought I would (I’m not the best navigating downtown, although I really do love all the character of the different neighborhoods), and it was hard to say goodbye!
Not to worry, I’m heading back in December – and I plan to spend a little less time primping and little more time exploring.
– new heels that I can’t wait to take for a whirl (they come in red too!) –
– a sweet surprise from my Aunt Re, this pottery is a Mississippi staple! –
– a new scent that I can’t stop wearing from Mary Kay –
– saving a bottle from our trip for Thanksgiving –
– the prettiest flatware (and one of my favorite salads, let me know if you guys would want a post on it!) –
Hey Friday! It feels so good to have had a full week at home, getting settled back into the swing of things and only going to one event (which meant no makeup on most days, so refreshing) so I could catch up on work. I am the kind of person of feels almost out of control when I feel behind… part of my OCD nature. It keeps me organized, but it also means I lack the ability to be spontaneous and carefree. The balance between the two is something I’m always trying to work on!
In other news, this website has brought me unlimited joy this week. I literally laughed so hard at the texting video that I snorted. HILARIOUS. A Buzzfeed employee drinks a bottle of wine at work and complains about things that annoy him. I mean… why didn’t I think of this? I need a reason to drink a bottle of wine at my desk, pronto.
We are going to the Newport Beach Food & Wine Festival this weekend, and I’m so excited Christian can come with. I actually hosted a giveaway for two tickets earlier this week, so fun! If any of you are in the area for the festival, I’d love to meet you!
AND, last but not least I’m excited to announce the winner of the NY & Co giveaway – Amanda Norwood! Thank you so much to everyone who entered.
Y’all have an amaze weekend and thank you so much for reading! XO –
If you guys remember this post, you know I’ve been a fan of Nespresso for quite some time. I had my first cup on our honeymoon at Rosewood Mayakoba, and ever since then both Christian and I have been hooked!
I was so honored to be one of the first to try the new Lattissima Touch, and I knew Christian, a macchiato guy, would really love it. This particular machine gives you multiple options for the coffee and milk froth, allowing you to make any kind of latte, macchiato or cappuccino with as much or as little espresso, milk or froth as you would like. I love how easy this machine is to use and to customize your drink exactly to your (or your guest’s) liking.
SO, I thought why not try to make a Pumpkin Spice Latte at home? I looked up several recipes, and they were all pretty simple. I used this recipe and I’ve got to say – it was delish. And you use so little of the pumpkin puree that I then made a pumpkin pie… oy vey. I was trying not to be wasteful… right?
Do any of you have a fall coffee recipe you love? I’d love to hear about it! And who else is addicted to their Nespresso? I love how easy it is to make an afternoon cup.
