So often we think we need to go shopping and buy something new, when really we just need to think outside the box in our own closet.
Exhibit A: belting a cardigan sweater as a top! When I got this chunky cardigan, I thought it would not only be a great layering piece, but also fab on its own. This could also work with a v neck cardigan buttoned up as a top or a loose fitting blazer belted as a top… get creative!
I paired this with faux leather pants, but I think it would look great with high waisted jeans or fitted boyfriend jeans. When the top is chunky knit, I try to balance it out with something more fitted on the bottom so I don’t lose my shape entirely.
There are some great sales going on this weekend, specifically Nordstrom’s winter sale which has TONS of amazing items marked down big time. Above are some of my favorite items, some of which I have myself, and I’m sharing some additional favorites below.
Hope y’all have a beautiful weekend – thanks for reading! XO –
I bought these classic Chanel flats for myself as a birthday gift last year. I thought I would wear them constantly, but because I’m such a heels girl… I actually haven’t. I keep telling myself I will wear them a lot more in San Francisco because we’ll be walking everywhere. Until then, I’ve challenged myself to style them in new ways to show you (and myself) the versatility.
If you’re like me and you like to give things a “trial run” before making the splurge, there are a ton of similar styles that are a fraction of the price that you can try out first. I bought a similar style from ZARA years ago. After wearing them to shreds during the work week and on trips I made the splurge.
I styled these flats with boyfriend jeans here. Today I wanted to make them a little more edgy with faux leather and this rockstar bag that I am more than in love with.
This is the kind of look that I think really works for nearly any age – a fitted legging, boyfriend fit button front shirt and chic flats. It’s kind of fool-proof in my opinion, just like the denim on denim look here!
Do you have a ballet flat that you can’t get enough of? I want to hear about the comfortable shoe in your closet that goes with everything. Seriously… share the goods, sister!
Thanks so much for reading – XO –
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It has been so chilly lately in Southern California, so I made this soup Monday night and shared it on Instagram Stories. It was delicious, and after getting so many emails and messages from y’all wanting the recipe, I thought it deserved its own post!
I followed this recipe exactly and let me tell you… it is magical. At first I thought I might need extra vegetable broth but sure enough, as I stirred and waited patiently – it was perfect.
I’ll definitely be making this again, and if it’s chilly where you are, you need to make this! I served it with cheesy breadsticks, but I think it would knock your socks off in a bread bowl.
Enjoy – and let me know if you want more quick snippet recipe posts! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
When I shared this outfit on Instagram, I got so many questions that I knew it needed to be its own blog post. This classic, denim on denim outfit is the kind of look that I think any woman of any size can pull off at any age.
Yes, anyone! And you probably have similar pieces to this look in your own closet already.
You could wear this exact same shirt, jacket and denim with sneakers or flats. It’s comfortable, versatile and it’s a great look to have in your closet for those days when you don’t have time to reinvent the wheel.
I added a vintage scarf to add some pizazz, and this is my short PSA to always check out the scarf section in vintage or consignment shops. This is a Christian Dior scarf I discovered for next to nothing (linking similar style below), and I love wearing around my neck or tying it on a handbag strap. There are so many fabulous vintage scarves out there!
Are you a denim on denim kind of person or no? I’d love to hear if you think you’d wear this look or if you have an outfit in mind that is appropriate for all ages. Gimme what you got, girl!
Thanks so much for reading – XO –
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One of my FAQ is about my skincare routine. I touch on it in the FAQ page of this site, but today I want to dig a little deeper into my usual day and night pampering.
One of the skincare brands I’ve used for years is Tula. While I’ve always been fortunate to have pretty clear skin, it is sensitive, so I love that this brand is great for that need. Another thing I really love about Tula is their many selections of travel-sized products. As you guys know, I’m on the go fairly often – so having high quality travel-sized cleanser, serums and oils is clutch!
My morning and evening routines are fairly the same, so I want to share the step-by-step products that I use daily to take care of my skin.
A Great Cleanser
This is so important! I’ve found that some cleansers feel like they burn my eyes, but not this one. It’s gentle and refreshing, and I love that it comes in a baby size for travel. This oil-based cleanser is a fun change that I like to use sometimes in the evenings. Oil-based cleansers are especially helpful in the winter months when we we all need some extra moisture.
On this topic, I also love my strong hair clips and scrunchie game. Gotta have ’em!
A Face Serum
I’ve really jumped in the serum game in the past two years, and I can tell a difference when I’m using a serum regularly. This one is excellent and I feel like it adds some dewiness to my skin. Recently I tried a pressed serum for the first time and it’s very cool! Super silky and luxe feeling, and a little goes a long way.
When I worked for a beauty company, I started using facial oils and couldn’t help but notice all the comments I started to get from coworkers on my skin. Since then I’ve used one daily, either on it’s own as a moisturizer in the summer or mixing it into cream lotions for a glow.
I’ve found that my skin now almost thirsts for it if I skip this step! Again – a little bit goes a long way.
Eye Cream
I use eye cream in the mornings and evenings. Again, if I skip this step my eyes feel dry – so I’m now addicted! If you like Tula’s day/night moisturizer shared above, you’ll love this eye cream.
A Face Mask or Treatment Pad Once a Week
I try to use Sunday evenings for a little extra pampering and will pull out a face mask or treatment pad for a some self-love. Not only is great for a skin reset, but it’s also just fun to terrify my husband with a face mask, robe and Real Housewife TV show. That’s a lotta estrogen coming atchya!
This is a new product of Tula’s and it’s unlike any other face mask I’ve tried. It’s really creamy and while some masks feel like they really strip and repair damage (which is great too!), this one really helps your skin hold onto moisture and is ultra-hydrating. A great mask for winter skin!
Bonus Product When Needed: Moisturizing Eye Gel Pads
When I have some extra time or feel like I need some quick skin TLC, I’ll pop on some eye gels for 10 minutes or so. I actually keep mine in the refrigerator because it’s some bonus de-puffing!
Have you ever tried using Tula products? I’d love to hear which ones you may have tried and what you thought!
AND you can get 20% off your Tula order with the promo code KATHLEEN20. You’ll also receive free shipping on orders over $50!
I’d also love to hear any extra skincare steps that have been beneficial for your skin. Let’s all learn from each other! Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –
Brought to you by Tula, all opinions and experiences are my own.
– trying Crumbs new Samoa Cronut… which was delish –
– a fridge full of juice and kombucha thanks to my friends at Suja –
– nothing like classic Valentine’s Day cards –
– the sweetest surprise from the fab ladies at Ralph Lauren – candy is A++ because you know I’ve been eating it –
– the cutest little bag just in time for a week of red and pink –
I hope your week has been full of candy, wine, red and pink! On Valentine’s Day I met some gals at Pelican Hill for the sweetest ladies afternoon tea, and then I got home to my guy for a low-key date night at home.
We decided to ditch the crowds and cook dinner ourselves. Christian brought flowers, I made brownies (his favorite), and we grilled while keeping an eye on the Olympics (we are addicted!). I made these vegan scalloped potatoes (delicious), an easy salad, roasted brussels sprouts and we lit candles for the sweetest little date night!
I feel like so often we prefer these planned out dinners at home. I love knowing what’s in my food, lingering over the table and playing our own little “dinner party” playlist we’ve put together over the years. Is this something that comes with age? Although I assume those with little ones probably prefer to get a babysitter and go out rather than stay in… so we’ll see if that changes for us one day!
This weekend C has a mandatory work conference, so I’ll be getting ahead on some work, having a little Kat time and then meeting C and his coworkers for a night at Disney. Apparently there are discounted night passes that allow you in just for the evening!? But I’ll take it!
Tell me your Valentine’s plans – I’d love to hear if it was with the ladies, the dude or the pets. All sound A+ to me! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
If you guys follow along on social media, you may have seen that after my brother-in-law’s wedding in Mississippi, I hopped over to Atlanta to be a guest host of the Atlanta Apparel Market.
It’s been a couple of years since I’ve visited Atlanta, and it was just as fabulous, friendly and delicious as I remember! A fun fact: my grandparents owned a ladies clothing store in Greenwood, Mississippi. Growing up, when we would visit them from Nashville or Columbus, we would go straight to their store and eat peanut butter crackers in the back office or wait to be given coins from my grandfather for the gum ball machine (my personal fave… I wish I had claimed that machine!!!).
They always had stories from their trips to Atlanta, Dallas and Las Vegas for market, and until last week, I’d never fully understood what they were up to. This was my first clothing tradeshow and I was amazed.
It’s HUGE! Yet still so organized and streamlined. The actual AmericasMart building is so beautiful with over 10 floor of vendors and booths. I spent two full days at the tradeshow, and the first day I teamed up with the fashion department of Atlanta Apparel to scour the floors for key spring/summer trends and pieces.
After collecting different clothing, jewelry and accessories all day, I created 16 looks that would be displayed on some gorgeous models the following day during a live model demonstration. I am not a stylist but… this was so much fun! The key spring trends I was looking for were lavender, yellow, sheer, ruffles, floral, both pastels and vibrant hues, white sunglasses and suiting – you can scroll down for my final looks!
I also participated in a Q&A session with Diana Harbour of Red Dress Boutique that was fabulous. We both talked about how brands/boutiques and influencers can successfully work together for a mutually beneficial partnership, and I loved hearing her perspective on building relationships with bloggers. She was spot on and she shared both fascinating and insightful info. I put some of the audience questions on Instagram Live – so I hope some of you were able to catch it!
My first tradeshow experience blew right by. By the time I was checking out, I couldn’t believe how quickly the time had passed and I felt like I needed an extra day to get my shoppin’ on! I had so much fun. The girls that work for Atlanta Apparel, the showroom and boutique owners – they were all so kind and FUN.
I love California, but I do need my Southern “fixes” from time to time, and I loved spending time chatting with all the lovely Southern gals in Atlanta.
Have any of y’all ever been to a tradeshow or the Atlanta show? I’d love to hear about your experience! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
This is just my opinion… but I feel there are three ways to go on Valentine’s Day when it comes to movies. A romantic comedy, a dramatic love story, or boycott the whole thing with a thriller. I made Christian go see My Bloody Valentine when we were dating because it was in 3D and that’s when 3D movies were much harder to come by. I stand by my choice!
If your plans are to get together with the girls and make popcorn, maybe a chick flick is more up your alley, but personally… I’m all about a twisted thriller on Valentine’s Day. Is that weird!? I’m going out on a limb here by telling y’all to watch crazy suspenseful movies on a lovey-dovey holiday… but something about it is so funny to me!
Other good ones I’d recommend are Sleeping with the Enemy and Get Out. Both SO good!
Let me know what you guys like to do on Valentine’s Day – I’d love to hear your recs! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
The love of pom pom clothing and accessories is real. I shared a pom pom cardigan here and a pom pom maxi dress here, but this is a double whammy because I’m styling poms on poms. I know less is more… but sometimes more can be more more, you feel me?
Fashion should be fun, and at first when I put this together I thought… this is a lot. But the more I looked at it, it felt really playful and interesting, and I love the way it turned out!
Oddly enough, my fashion choices were actually much bolder when I was in high school. I would try things and some were hits and many were misses, but I had this confidence that I sometimes look back on and think, “why am I not as daring now?”
As we get older, we lose some of those invincible feelings that we all have when we’re younger. And pardon my French, but that is just B.S. I’ve challenged myself this year to get back to that high school girl who was wearing tees under tube tops and trying all kinds of things just for the fun of it.
Do you feel like you used to be more daring with your wardrobe choices, or even just your choices in general? Tell me if you also want to challenge yourself to branch out this year!
Thank you so much for reading – XO –
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I love music. I love to dance. And I really love a great Spotify playlist. I share some of my favorite kitchen dance party jams as well as my let’s-get-motivated Monday music on Instagram, so I wanted to create two different track lists for both vibes.
I have both of these playlists public on Spotify, but I wanted to include them in today’s post for some jams –
Warning: They both have a few songs with explicit lyrics… so if you’ve got kids in the car or you’re not into that, this probably isn’t the playlist for you.
FRIDAY PLAYLIST
MONDAY PLAYLIST
If you guys dig these I’d be happy to share new playlists more often! Let me know what you think – thanks so much for reading! XO –
I wanted to share a pairing duo I’ve been obsessed with lately – tees and blazers. I know this is nothing new, but it’s such an easy ensemble that anyone can pull off.
You can go classic with a solid tee and blazer, mix it up with printed or sequined tees and blazers – the sky is the limit. Tuck in the shirt, knot it at the waist – you do you, girl.
I think it’s fun and a great way to show your personality in your wardrobe! I always think you should try to make some new looks in your own closet before buying something new. Trust me, you might surprise yourself.
