A few years ago I snagged this camel chunky knit sweater that I could wear as a cowl neck or off the shoulder sweater. It was sooo cute and whenever I wore it, I would so many questions about it.
Cut to this year when I found an identical one on Amazon for under $25. Okurr! It comes in three colors, so I had to order the pink one for myself. But the camel and ivory ones are equally fabulous.
It’s long enough to wear with leggings or you can tuck it into jeans. My favorite part about it is that it’s open knit enough to where it’s not too warm. Living in the South and now California, let’s be honest – it’s never actually that cold. But I can pretend it’s cold and wear this sweater with feather earrings, so there’s that.
sweater – comes in 3 colors and is under $25 | denim (runs small, I ordered one size up), also have and love these (TTS) | heels (old), similar styles here and here | earrings | bag, on sale here | sunglasses | lip in Disobedient
I get so excited when you guys ask about something and then I can find a solution, so finding this sweater was just the cherry on top. Thanks so much for reading! XO –
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 – ever since I got these this summer I don’t travel without them. Perfect give for the traveler! | 9 – we both have one of these and use them daily | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14
Truth be told, the gift guides for guys are the ones I’m always paying attention to because I think shopping for guys can be so hard. Of course, this is depending on the guy, but C is a “less is more” kind of guys which makes shopping for him extra hard.
He has the vest version of this jacket and has worn and loved it for years. I’ve found that it’s preppy-dude-approved across the board. These slippers were a big win last year, and I bought him these pajamas so when we travel he has something presentable in case someone knocks on the door or we’re staying with friends.
Most guys are on the Yeti-wagon, so these tumblers are really great. I actually recently got one myself and it’s definitely my favorite thermos. I’ve also said this a few times before, but these headphones were a travel game-changer for me. I would definitely recommend them to anyone who spends a lot of time in flight.
This hat just seems appropriate since our last name starts with a “B,” and everyone knows guys like the gadgets so this, this and this would be well received in our house.
Do you have any tips for shopping for dudes? I’ll take any tips I can get this year! Thanks so much for reading and don’t forget you can see all of my holiday content by clicking “holiday” at the top of this site. XO –
I wanted to kick off my holiday gift guides with my picks under $50! Some of these items I have and love, others are definitely pieces that look real fun. Let’s get into it, shall we?
Capri Blue + Voluspa = some of my favorite scents. You can’t go wrong with these two brands! If your recipient is more of an essential oils person, a esthetically pleasing diffuser is a great gift. I use this oil in our diffuser and it makes our entire house smell like a Christmas tree. MAGIC.
I have these earrings in multiple colors, and they’re so lightweight and fabulous that I reach for them over and over again. This hair oil is addicting, and this rose balm is in my desk drawer – I apply it multiple times a day!
I think this phone case is beyond adorable, and this tic tac toe set – is that not the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? You can’t go wrong with a cozy throw blanket, and anything for entertaining is always a great hostess idea.
I’ll be putting together more gift guides this month (you can see all my gift guides and holiday-related posts at the top of this page under the “holiday” tab), so let me know if there is a specific category you’re interested in! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
One of the most common questions I get from you guys is “what do I wear to a ____ wedding?” This could be seasonal, black tie, beach-themed, etc. SO, this is my fourth seasonal look to share with you! You can see spring here, summer here and fall here.
I think this look could work for a black tie OR fall/winter wedding. Bonus points that the set is actually under $65. One of the things I love about a set like this is that you can wear the pieces together or separately. I know that this bow crop top would go with SO many different high-waisted skirts. Chic!
If it’s colder where you life, a faux fur wrap like this or this would be a great addition to the look. When it comes to picking a color scheme for a winter wedding, I usually stick to black or jewel tones (burgundy, emerald green, navy, etc). These colors also tend to flatter most skin tones!
Do you have any weddings to attend this winter? My brother-in-law is getting married in early February (!!), so I’ve already been thinking of what I might wear to the festivities!
This post is overdue, especially considering it might be my favorite post of the fall season. Talk about fall leaf magic! This year I’ve definitely jumped on the “fuzzy sweater” train. Not only does it look so cozy and feminine, it also feels like butta.
What’s extra cool about this sweater is that you can wear it off the shoulder like I’m doing here, or you can pull it up to wear it like a mock turtleneck (like here). It’s a two-in-one! I’m sharing some of my favorite fuzzy sweaters at the bottom of this post. Trust me, if you don’t have one – you should get one.
I think this would also look beautiful for a holiday party with a pair of black pants, faux leather pants or belted with a pencil or midi skirt. You could wear it to the office on your shoulders and pull it off the shoulder for happy hour with the girls. I mean… what’s better than that!?
I don’t really know why, but this is the first year I’ve taken holiday decorating to the bedroom. Now I’m thinking… why on earth haven’t I been doing this every year!?
It’s so easy to add a few special touches to make things feel that much cozier, and I want to share three quick and subtle tips to transforming your bedroom to a magical holiday fairyland (too much, too soon?)!
1. Add some soft textures. Bonus points for pom pom or faux fur!
I have different blankets I use at the foot of our bed depending on the season. So in the summer and spring I have a cotton quilt vs. in the fall and winter I had a faux fur or pom pom blanket like this one to add some extra texture and softness to the room. I also added a faux fur pillow this year that is SO soft and a great size! Nordstrom has so many great home decor items, and with super-fast shipping, it’s such an easy way to try out some new pieces.
2. Toss in some greenery.
This is frequently a decor tip of mine, but it’s amazing what some greenery can add to a room – whether it’s real or faux. In this case, I added eucalyptus from Trader Joe’s along with a mini faux boxwood wreath to the headboard that I snagged at Nordstrom.
3. A strand of twinkle lights will change everything – hang ’em up girl!
Our first Christmas we had a real tree. Then I was one of the many who got a pre-lit faux tree (details here), and was like… ok this is way too easy. So we have a few sets of Christmas lights from our first year, and what better way to use them than to drape them over your headboard? Instant magic! We used the second set to wrap around the stairway banister.
You can find other bedroom details in this post. Do you decorate your bedroom for the holidays? I’d love to hear any tips you have! I wish we had room for another mini tree in our bedroom but it’s just too small for now. Le sigh – maybe one day!
You can find so many great holiday decor items right now at Nordstrom – some would make great gifts. I have my eye on this ornament! Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –
The weekend before Thanksgiving my sister and I went to Jamaica for the first time with Seagram’s Escapes. I have been to the Caribbean many times but never to Jamaica, so I was excited to see what the island was all about!
What I didn’t look up ahead of time was how much time it would take me to get there. After about 10 hours on planes… I finally arrived! I think after living in the South so long I tend to forget that pretty much everywhere is extremely far from California. BUT, there’s no better place to relax than on the beach with warm ocean water and an open bar. Sign me up!
We went out to Dunn’s River Falls on a boat, snorkeled in the ocean, got massages, watched fire dancers (I think my jaw is still on the ground remembering this) and listened to local musicians. One night they had the “Jamaican Whitney Houston” performing and she was incredible.
All while sipping different Seagram’s Escapes cocktails. The resort made a rum punch with Jamaican Me Happy, coconut rum and a sweet & sour mix and it was SO good. The Calypso Colada is also quite delish. Dangerously good!
Have you been to Jamaica before? Christian went in jr. high for a mission trip that involved sign language, and he still remembers a decent amount of signing.
I feel like this outfit is not complete without a baguette or croissant or something to help me fulfill my Parisian chic dreams. But we aren’t here to talk about my love of carbs or all things French-cool-girl. Today I’m talking about a way to maximize some of last year’s sweaters in your closet!
Fun fact: this isn’t really a dress. It’s a long turtleneck sweater that I’ve belted for a makeshift dress. I’m 5’7″ (commonly asked so it’s actually in my FAQ!), so I don’t have many sweaters I can do this with. However if you’re on the more petite side, you’re in big luck, sister!
I think the best way to balance out something short in the colder fall/winter months is with some tall boots and/or stockings. Or you could wear leggings and booties – your call.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 – I have and love these, run TTS | 5 | 6 – I have these and they’re even more fab in person! | 7 | 8 – my favorite coffee machine, shared here! | 9 – I’m on the hunt for the perfect camel jacket and this one might be it | 10 | 11 – I bought these last year on Black Friday and they’re my favorite pair for travel
It’s Cyber Monday! Which means the deals are even better today than they were all weekend AND it’s now or never to score some major discounts. I’m sharing some of my all-around favorite picks above and the best in multiple categories in the slideshows below. Can’t wait to hear about the deals you guys scored!
BEST OF SWEATERS:
I mean… I could have listed 100 sweaters I love that are on sale, but I’ll just give you the BEST. I love this chunky, cozy gray knit sweater. Love the sleeve slit detail in this sweater and if you’re looking for the perfect OTS fuzzy sweater, this one and this one are two of my faves.
BEST OF BOOTS/BOOTIES:
These are my favorite black booties and they’re 44% off. I think these could be great casual booties that go with everything and you can’t go wrong with these OTK boots. These strappy sandals are the pair I wear with almost everything and the block heel makes them great for all-night wear.
BEST OF OUTERWEAR:
I have this coat in my basket, and this might be the camel coat I’ve been looking for (I’ve been on the hunt for almost three years but don’t want to spend a fortune). If you don’t have a military jacket this one would be a great find!
BEST OF DENIM:
I have this pair (runs TTS) and this pair (size up one size) and can’t recommend them enough. Both are 40% off right now! I also really love this pair and this pair.
BEST OF PAJAMAS:
I have these in two colors and LOVE them and bought these last year so C and I could have matching Christmas pajamas (throwback to this pic).
TORY BURCH | 30% off orders of $250+ (including sale styles) with code THANKS
URBAN OUTFITTERS | 50% off purchases $150 or more, $15 off purchases $75 or more
YUMI KIM | 25% off sitewide and in store with code THANKS
WORLD MARKET | 40% OFF $300, 30% OFF $200 and 20% off $100 with code CYBERSALE
Happy shopping and thanks so much for coming to CBL for the scoop on the deals. I will be keeping this post updated throughout the day as things sell out! XO –
1 | 2 – the bootie that goes with everything | 3 | 4 – one of my favorite new scents (shared here) | 5 – I’ve heard great things about this wand | 6 – would make a great gift | 7 – one of my favorite serums (shared here)! | 8 | 9 – I have this watch and it’s like a bracelet + watch in one (shared here) | 10 – comes in 8 colors, would make a great gift! | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 – comes in 3 colors
Happy Thanksgiving! We are spending this year’s holiday in Orange County because Christian is on call all weekend, but thankfully my brother’s family was able to come down. We’re making a big feast and crossing our fingers C will be able to enjoy it with us – after all, today is his favorite day of the year (true story)!
I wanted to share my overall favorite sale picks (above) as well as my favorite picks in a few fall categories. I’m also sharing all the best discount codes so you can shop on your own if you have a favorite retailer. I will be keeping this post updated, so continue to check back as new sales are added and items are replaced as they sell out!
For all of my Shopbop picks in their huge buy more, save more sale going on this weekend, be sure to check out yesterday’s post!
BEST OF SWEATERS:
BEST OF DENIM:
BEST OF BOOTS/BOOTES:
BEST OF BEAUTY:
BEST OF OUTERWEAR:
ANN TAYLOR | 50% off everything with code THANKFUL
YUMI KIM | 25% off sitewide and in store with code THANKS
Thanks so much for reading, and ENJOY this weekend with loved ones. Hope you have lots of laughs, lots of food and lots of memories with your favorite people. Thank you so much for reading CBL – I’m truly so thankful and appreciative of each and every one of you. XO –
1 – have in two colors #love | 2, also love this one | 3 – everyone needs a classic white shirt! | 4 | 5 | 6 – in my basket for sure | 7 – if you don’t have a pair of sock booties, get on it girl | 8, also love this one | 9 – just bought and LOVE, runs TTS | 10 – have and love, size up one size (worn here and here) | 11 – under $50 and come in 4 colors | 12 – have three pair of Stuart Weitzman OTK’s and wear them year after year | 13
The sales are a-comin’, and Shopbop is kicking things off with some serious markdowns! They’re offering 20% off orders of $200+, 25% off orders of $500+ and 30% off orders of $800 or more with code MORE17.
This is the ideal time to snag some Stuart Weitzman boots, that perfect moto jacket, cozy sweaters and my favorite jeans (also have and love these). Last year I loved this scarf so much I bought it in two colors, trust me – it’s that good! Also included in the markdowns are these leggings which I wore yesterday here and earlier this year here and last year here. I have them in ALL three colors and they’re a fall/winter staple for me!
This sale will only go on this weekend, so take time to find those fall and winter items that are worth a bigger investment to really take advantage of this major sale. My favorite classic picks are above.
A few more of my favorite pieces in the sale below –
All my Thanksgiving sale favorites will be on the blog tomorrow – so check back for a huge roundup of markdowns! In the meantime, here are some sales that have already started:
ANN TAYLOR | 50% off everything with code THANKFUL
Christian and I took a mini anniversary trip to the mountains recently. You guys had a lot of questions about Big Bear so I thought I would answer some of those today!
Where to Stay:
We usually visit Big Bear in the fall for a taste of the season and both last year and this year we have snowy December visits planned. I think fall and winter are the best times to visit, and you’ll want to find a cabin on VRBO or Airbnb (better selection than hotels and more nestled away in the woods).
What to Do:
My favorite thing to do in Big Bear is just this – cozy up in Ugg slippers, all the cashmere and drink coffee/hot chocolate/wine by the fire. We play board games and watch movies. We usually spend the majority of our time at the cabin which is why C always spends a lot of time finding the perfect place.
I leave the fancy clothes at home and bring my Ugg boots (bonus points that they match Bailey’s hair – lab owners, you know what I mean!) and comfy pieces. I love the Ugg selection at Bloomingdale’s, and they have some of the best cashmere pieces.
Where to Eat:
I was surprised on this visit to see a lot of new restaurants! On this particular trip we only ate out once, but in past visits we have visited the below –
The Old German Deli – this is a new sandwich spot and has really, really good meat. Warning: they do put mayonnaise on everything even though the description doesn’t say mayo, so if ask for it without if you’re not into that. I say this from two people who don’t eat mayo!
Grizzly’s Manor Cafe – great for breakfast or brunch. Think coffee and gigantic pancakes!
Peppercorn Grill – the best place for a nice dinner…. but I still think you might be better off grilling steaks at your rental!
Saucy Mama’s – great pizza and sometimes on the weekend they have music outside.
The Black Kat – for years I’ve said that Big Bear Village would benefit with a little wine tasting spot and now they have one! We actually sat outside on little couches with heaters and had a tasting on this trip, and it was lovely. Would definitely go back!
photos by Christian Barnes
slippers, also love these | boots | leggings – comes in 4 colors | crop top (intended to be worn underneath tops and dresses but I wore it as a top) | scarf – comes in 10 colors, also love this one | ruffled cape – comes in 5 colors
I hope this was helpful to some of you planning to head to the mountains!
And I definitely plan to pull this outfit back out over Thanksgiving weekend. Bloomingdale’s has so many cozy pieces right now, I want to stock up on layers for some cold weather trips ahead. Talk about comfy layers!
