Gift Guide for the Jewelry Lover

1. I'm the girl who loves a big statement accessory. Some days I prefer to be more simple than others, which is why earrings have become my favorite items to wear. I wear my silver J.Crew Factory studs every. single. day. But I love borrowing my sister's Kendra Scott earrings when I want to dress a little more fancy, which is why I listed these pink and black Kendra Scott earrings! 
2. BaubleBar has the best statement earrings out there! The gift set in the picture is sold out, so I linked similar ones here and here. And Target's BaubleBar Sugarfix collection is great because earrings are as good as $10 and $13! 
3. I love a good statement necklace, too! My collection grows continuously. I like to keep them on the cheaper side, so I shop at Target, J.Crew Factory, and Charming Charlie's. This Sugarfix necklace is stunning for the holiday season! I want it for myself, but I also want to gift it to someone. If only I could think of who... ;) 
4. If you need a good bracelet, this one is stunning! I have one similar to this and I wear it all of the time! It's so girly and so perfect! 
5. My #1 item on my Christmas list this year is this Monogram Necklace. You'll see it again when I post my Christmas wishlist, because I just adore it so much! 

Shop all of these items below!

VEST SEASON

White Puffer Vest (similar) The white vest pictured is really old and from Macy's. I still like it and wear it, so I haven't purchased another, but I really do wish to purchase the J Crew Factory one like my black, pink, & herringbone because those really are the best! And bonus! They are all on sale! The Old Navy one is super cheap and actually is a perfect option! 

Pink Puffer Vest (similar) (similar) My bright pink vest is currently not online anymore. I purchased it in September and I'm so glad that I didn't turn it down. (We all know I'd be in tears because I didn't own it...) but my light pink vest is still in stock AND on sale 40% off! Do yourself a favor and get it now! 

I cannot find another navy and white striped vest anywhere! I guess because it was really in style like two years ago (but I still love mine!). I found one striped (and reversible!) vest that is really cute! You can also search Poshmark for the original striped vest for really cheap! :) 

Striped Vest

Fall and Winter Scarf Guide 2017

one, two, three, four, five, six

Scarf season is definitely here for the most of us and I know how hard it can be to find a good scarf with both good quality and style. Last year, I put together a scarf guide and while those styles are still available this season, the exact links and items may not be available. So, I went online and searched some of my favorite stores for some great scarves, and good news: I found some great ones! 

When it comes to finding a scarf you love, you want to be able to choose one (or plenty!) according to YOUR style. Do you like bold patterns or do you prefer simple? Does the color red just sit in your closet and never get worn? If so, don't opt for red in an accessory, because you may never even wear it. Do you hate to wear big bulky scarves, but really like the look of them? The good thing about them is that they can be brought along as a blanket or wrap and don't have to be tied up like a scarf! I'd suggest getting that pattern that you really love (even if it's a tad too bold for you) because people will notice and wish they had that really great "blanket" you're wearing! 

The places that I prefer to shop for scarves are usually Nordstrom, Old Navy, and Target. When shopping Nordstrom, always look for the ones under or around $25. Nordstrom's quality is wonderful and you also get free shipping, so you really are getting a good deal! 

Old Navy offers so many different colors and styles! Plus they are almost always having a sale, so you're not paying much for your cold weather accessories. 

And Target is... well, Target. ;) 
Other options I would suggest are Charming Charlie, H&M, and for a bit more pricey of an option: JCrew Factory. 

One last thing: plaids and leopards are my favorite choices for scarves and blankets (but you could probably tell from the picture..), but that does not mean that you have to keep to those patterns alone! Sure they are great fall/winter looks, but you can most definitely choose bright colors if you love them! 

Play around on the stores' websites. There's still plenty more options to choose from!
Happy shopping! :)

FALL 2016 STYLE GUIDE

one, two, three, four (here, here), 

five, six, seven, eight

one - button downs and flannels are perfect tops to wear in the colder weather. When planning to wear bright or bold accessories, go for a soft, neutral top. And do not be afraid to mix patterns! These days, it is difficult to mess up a pattern mixture! 

two - florals and tortoise are in this season and I could not be any more excited! This necklace has been found at J Crew for a couple of years now, but many places are catching on to the trend and you can get it for a fraction of the cost (seriously, it's only $15 here!). You will be catching all the compliments with this piece!

three - floppy hats... please tell me where we can go wrong with these this season. You can't. 

four - blanket scarves are EVERYWHERE. The problem with this is making sure you are paying a good price for one you will love. As long as you are keeping the price under $25, you are doing great! 

five - my two statement items this fall are floppy hats and handbags. Charming Charlie has so many beautiful and fun bags and the prices are the very best! 

six - ankle boots. Also called, booties. Call them what you will, they are wonderful. You can find them with the heel and without. Bonus: Target has a pair for every occasion. 

seven - my favorite pattern for fall (actually, let's make that every season..) and leopard shoes complete an outfit without even a doubt. You can't go wrong. (I was waiting on class to begin, one day, and there were three of us girls sitting there with leopard shoes. I didn't even know the other girls!) 

eight - last, but not least, vests. My favorite vests are found at J Crew Factory, but the price can be outrageous if you don't hit a sale or have a coupon code and these don't happen weekly, but Old Navy is amazing and has our backs! ;) They offer several colors and fit wonderfully! Definitely a hit! 

 Fall is the perfect time to play dress up. Pick pieces from your own closet and mix and match.Whatever you choose to wear, my advise is to just have fun!

HELLO FEBRUARY

     Again, I have been lacking in keeping up with my blog and for those of you who visit me on here, I am so sorry! (And a big THANK YOU for your support by viewing my blog! You are the best!)

Lately, I have been the busiest that I think I have ever been and I love how life is going this moment! January went by slowly and may I say, boring. But, February has been amazing and it just keeps getting better! Of course, that doesn't surprise me so much because February is my favorite month. Here in Oklahoma, we get a mix of both cold and warm weather, meaning the outfit decisions are endless. But I mostly love February for the fact alone that it is LOVE month! I love love. Hopeless romantic over here! 

Because I have been absent and have not updated my life through my favorite little journal (here of course!), I decided to put together a collab of my favorite pictures on my phone from 2016, including a roundup of Instagram photos. 

 

The Instagram blogger @_whiteafterlaborday constantly puts together the most fun gift exchanges through Instagram and I love to participate in as many as I can! There was no way that I could pass up the Valentine's Day gift exchange and I had so much fun shopping and creating an amazing gift for one beautiful girl. So much chocolate and so much pink! I really do just adore this holiday! I'm sad to see it go, but at least I still have two more days to celebrate!

I took a little shopping trip to Sephora and tried out some new makeup and decided to give the Boscia Green Tea face mask a try. I got amazing results from the mask, but the process of applying it and keeping it on were a bit difficult. The mask felt cooling on my face (which feels amazing!) but the mask itself was slimy and slippery, so it did not want to stay on. My forehead was breaking out for a couple of days before I applied the mask and when I woke up the morning after using this mask, all spots were gone! So, though it was a weird application process, the results were incredible! I'll be trying it again!

Because my sister and I don't get to see each other so often, we try to take overnight trips to spend some time together as often as we can. My mom and I took a trip to visit her one weekend and Lindsey and Nathan took a trip to visit us on a Monday night and I'd have to say that each little visit is wonderful! 

 

I decided to try out the sunglasses exchange called Shop Ditto and oh my goodness, you have to try it! I've only received one pair so far, and I love them so much that I'm not sure that I want to switch them out! The pair I am wearing are Burberry. They fit like a dream and they make me feel like I can conquer anything when I put them on. ;) 

My JCrew Factory vest is my closet staple. I can't go a week without wearing it. (I'm sure you've seen me posting about it more than a girl should, but I just love it!) If you missed out on it this winter, keep your eye out for it for next fall and winter! I'm about 98% sure that it will be back in the fall!

Necklaces are some of my favorite items and I found this one for less than $20 on AliExpress.com. It is stunning and looks expensive, but it is a great price for your wallet! (I've had mine for over a year and the jewels have stayed in great condition, until today, when I fell asleep and somehow knocked a jewel out. :( Hopefully it's an easy fix!) 

The last update is my hair. I think I like hair appointments a little too much... This time, I went in for a balayage on my red hair. I had no idea how it would turn out, but my lovely friend/hairstylist said it would look beautiful. And of course, she was correct! The colors look brown and blonde (like in this picture) in some lighting, and look red and blonde in brighter lighting. I love it so much! I think next time, I'm going to add some ombre, but right now, I really do love how it turned out! 

I hope that you are having a wonderful beginning of 2016! I have so many ideas for posts to come, including some product reviews, makeup tutorials, and some more life updates. Stay tuned, friends!

xoxo

Style Guide: Blanket Scarves

             

                    

  

Scarves are the perfect accessories for fall and winter. Every girl should own at least one in her closet (if not to style, then to just keep her warm). I purchased the plaid blanket scarf (bottom right) before fall began, but I haven't worn it as much as I should have (it really is an amazing item!) and when I wore it to work, I got so many compliments that I can't refuse to wear it again! It may be bulky, but it really does keep you warm and stylish! (Click here to learn how to wear a blanket scarf. Emily is a fashion genius!)

Finding the right scarf for you can be easy or tricky. Sometimes, you can just google "blanket scarf" (or look on pinterest!) and you'll find one you love. Or if you are like me and research items before you purchase, you go through site after site only to be exhausted afterwards. Lucky for you, I put together a list of cute and comfy scarves for you to purchase without too much stress. :)

Top Left: Nordstrom // Top Right: Express (also here, here, and here) // Plaid Scarf (My Favorite!) (also here) // Yellow Plaid Scarf // Zara Inspired Plaid (I own this one!) (also here and here)

My Christmas Wishlist

Although I love to receive gifts and I very much appreciate every gift I receive, I am a very picky girl when it comes to what I really want for Christmas, which makes shopping for me difficult for my family. (Sorry Mom!) ;) I usually buy things for myself that I can't take my eyes off of, but I don't have the wallet to buy multiple things that I want, so this year, I put together some of the items I have eyed for several months and would love to open on Christmas. 

These are just a few of my favorite looks via Instagram featuring a couple of the items on my wishlist: 

                        
                                                                Lauren                                                    Addi

                       
                                               Lindsay & Whitney                                                Lauren


                       

Katey & Betsy                                                    Rie      

Jewelry: BaubleBar

Converse: Nordstrom

Contour Palette: Tarte

Wedges:Toms

Black Friday Sales

Black Friday is an enjoyable holiday for a lot of people (bloggers especially!) & what kind of blogger would I be if I skipped out on putting together a list of sales for you all to enjoy??

This year, my family decided against going out, but stores have been wonderful with including their Black Friday sales online for all of us homebodies. 

Here are a few awesome deals to shop this weekend: 

Kohl's is always a favorite of mine during the holidays. This year, I need a new pair of riding boots and I adore these Lauren Conrad ones! 

Bath & Body Works is having a Buy 3 Get 3 Free (everything!) sale and why, oh, why would we want to pass this deal up?! 

Nordstrom's sale is 25% off selected items now through Monday. Items included range from so many ferent options. My favorites are the Kendra Scott earrings. 

Other items that are not on sale are still great holiday finds for under $30 including: the white mug with gold heart, initial tray, and  the plaid pj's.

At Anthropology, today only, shop everything for 25% off! My favorite items from there are, of course, the mugs. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know how much I love my black and white initial mug, so you can imagine how much I love the gold one! I ordered this one this morning (and I wish it was here today! It could be used with this freezing Oklahoma weather..) Best part of this deal? these mugs are less than $8! 

Head to your nearest LOFT store for 50% off of (almost) everything! OR shop here for 40% off of (almost) everything! LOFT is my favorite store to shop at. Every time I step in that beautiful store, my wallet is doomed. I went recently and bought this green vest. It is perfect! I now want this purple one, but may have to wait - I already own so many vests.. (But a girl can never have too many, right?)

J Crew Factory is everything 50% off today. I can't stop looking through all of their pretty items. I love the amount of plaid that they have! I'm eyeing this scarf (& it is under $25!)

BaubleBar is another one of my favorite shops. So many pretty jewelry pieces and I want every single one of them! Today their sale is 30% off. I especially love the monogram pieces and the chunky bracelets. 30% off is an incredible deal for this jewelry! 

This initial necklace is only $10 today! (excluded from the discount, but still a steal!) 

What awesome finds did you buy this Black Friday? I'd love to know! :)

Gifts for the Girly Girl

We all know a girly girl or two and with all of the pretty items out there in the shopping malls, how is a gifter to know what to get their girly friends? Well, lucky for you, most girls who adore all of the girly things are actually very easy to shop for! The colors you will want to look for while shopping for these girls are typically white, gold (or silver), and whatever the favorite color of the girl's is (mine is pink). White, gold, and silver basically scream glam which is what these girls adore. 

Scents might be a bit difficult to choose (especially if you she is sensitive to scents like I am) but usually when a girl really wants a perfume, she'll hint at it often. And if she doesn't, just go for the one with the cute packaging. The girly girls love beauty just as much as fashion (if not more!) so stores like Ulta or Sephora are great places to shop! And girls love just about all of the products there, so just have fun while shopping for some lipsticks or nail polishes (another great tip would be to look for colors that you know she likes). If you buy her something she already has, bonus for her because she'll most likely be glad to have multiple in something she loves!

Scarf: Nordstrom  Candle: Bath & Body Works (Sign up for emails for sales. These often go on sale for 2 for $24!)  Perfumes: Gucci Bamboo, Ralph Lauren Romance, Michael Kors  Lipstick: "Snob"  Necklaces: Forever 21 (here, here)  Gloves: Forever 21  Eyelash Curler & Mascara: Tarte  Blush and Bronzer Duo: NARS ($24!)  Tumbler: Nordstrom  

Christmas Gift Guide

It can get pretty difficult for us women to know what it is exactly that we want for the holidays, especially these days where we see outfit after outfit on Instagram and inwardly wish we had that perfect item that so & so wore and not know which item to add to our lists. That is why I put together a holiday gift guide! Just a little bit of help to know which items to hint at to our mothers, sisters, and girlfriends to gift us for Christmas (or for ourselves to gift ourselves... I'm plenty guilty of that myself!) ;)

These items weren't only picked out for you to put on your Christmas list, but to help direct you in an idea of what you might look out for as you do some preparation shopping. Things to look out for include: colors - do you want the colors in your wardrobe to coordinate or do you prefer a wide range of colors? 

Items - Are you wishing for clothes this Christmas? Or maybe accessories (scarves, jewelry, hats, or purses)? One of my favorite gift item is a coffee mug or tumbler. Most people love their coffee or tea (& it's winter so hot chocolate is common this season - bonus!). My family loves to exchange pajamas (I'm planning a post dedicated to holiday pj's soon!) and blankets/throws are always nice to have as well! 

During the holidays, I especially love the colors red, black, white, green, and definitely GOLD. Throw some gold glitter on just about anything and you've won my heart. Stores get the memo that these colors are beautiful together, so it's not too difficult to find great items. I love J Crew Factory, LOFT, Gap, and New York & Company. These stores usually have sales that help with the high price tags (sign up for emails or download the free app RetailMeNot for amazing discounts!). My ultimate favorite places to shop (the ones that really take all of my money) are Target and TJ Maxx. Those two stores alone are enough to give everyone on my list a gift.. or two! ;) 

Plaid Skirts: J Crew Factory

Red & Black Buffalo PJ's: J Crew Factory

Vest: J Crew Factory

Gold & White Striped Tumbler: Kate Spade

Gold & White Polka Dot Planner: Kate Spade

Gold Glitter Earrings: Kate Spade

Monogrammed Coffee Mug: Starbucks (Mug) 

Brush and Bow etsy (Monogram)

Gold Initial Mug: Anthropologie ($10!)

Mini Fall Wishlist

My Mini Fall Wishlist 

With today being the first day of fall, I decided to put together a mini post for a few items I have my eyes on for this season. 

There are many beautiful items that I am hoping to buy this fall, but some are a bit pricey for this college girl, so I am posting some less expensive items that you may love as well! (All of these items are even less than $50!) 

 

           

 


Earrings: Nickel & Suede 
Leopard Flats: Target 
Paisley Leggings: White Plum
Grey High-Low Tank: Old Navy 
White Long sleeve: Old Navy 
Red and Black Button Down: Gap 
Boyfriend Jeans: Nordstrom 
Green and Grey Jacket: Target 
Blush: Cargo in Los Cabos