Random Gift Ideas

Sometimes random quirky gifts are the best gifts.  They kind of step outside the box and make you laugh and sometimes are actually really useful!  I rounded up some of my favorites. 

For the Entertainer:

Tequila Shot Glasses and Wood Tray | Slate Cheese Markers | Stainless Shot Glasses | Beer Making Kit | Martini Tools | Wine Breather Carafe

and for that person you just cant decide what to buy!  Nordstrom has you covered!
These smaller ones would make great stocking stuffers too.

Table Tennis | Dominos | Foodie Dice | Deer Blanket | Electric Smores Maker | Coffee Mug | Turn Table | Pillow | Selfie Snap

I love all these State items from Megan Lee Designs as well.  The slate cheese board is my favorite, such a cool hostess gift!  All are under $45 too!
Pillow | Mug | Hoodie | State Cheese Board

Free shipping and returns always. and Nordstrom now price matches, if you see it cheaper they will match it!

thanks to Nordstrom for sponering this post

Black Friday Part 2

FRENCH CONNECTION \\ 40% off site wide with code FC40BF

I finally ordered this dress I had been wanting.  I also ordered the shirt version as well while it was 40% off, I figured I would send back whichever I liked better.  Love the Emerald Green for the holidays.

Alligator Dress | Alligator Blouse

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BANANA REPUBLIC \\ 50% off one item with code BRFIFTY and 40% off everything else with code BRFORTY.

Still love this Diamond Knit Scarf.

These Calf Hair D'Orsay Pumps are gorgeous.  They come in 4 different colors.

|| Calfhair D'Orsay Flats

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BAUBLEBAR \\  15% off 2 items, 25% off 3 items, 35% off 4 items.

I have these statement earrings and have been wearing them often.

|| Space Marquise Earrings

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ANTHROPOLGIE \\ 25% off with code HOLIDAY25

You know I love a pretty cheese board for entertaining and this marble one is awesome.  Would make a great gift.

|| Marble Cheese Board

Also love this plaid tunic.  Looks nice because it is longer and you could wear it with jeans or leggings.

|| Plaid Tunic

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NEIMAN MARCUS \\ Up to 50% off you can take additional 20% off sale.

I love any and all Alexis Bittar Jewelry and these hoops are a steal at 50% off.

|| Alexis Bittar Hoops

The perfect black pumps.

|| Vince Two Tone Pumps

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OLD NAVY \\ Up to 50% off then additional 15% with code GRAVY.

I never find much for me at Old Navy but love it for the kids.  I always love their shoes and you can't beat the price.

How awesome are these Metallic Sneakers??

 Equally awesome the pink glitter T-Straps

and this plaid dress paired with mocs would be so stinking cute.  It is only $13 plus 15% off!

|| Plaid Dress

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PIPERLIME \\ 25% off the site with code IHEARTNYC

Perfect time to buy a Claire V Clutch for the holidays.  I just bought this one and love it!!

|| Claire V Clutch

 

This Rebecca Taylor Blouse is on sale and you can take additional 25% off.  Love the pattern.  Cute with a blazer or leather coat for winter and then great in the spring paired with white jeasn.

|| Rebecca Taylor Blouse

Happy Shopping!!

Black Friday Sales Shop Early!

Happy Thanksgiving Friends.  I hope you all are enjoying a relaxing day filled with family, good food, and lots of love.  

Several stores started their Black Friday Sales Early.  Happy Shopping!

Here are the best:

\\ SHOPBOP

A great time to stock up on basics like jeans, boots, sunglasses.

Since it has rained 4 days straight here I have been living in my black hunter rain boots.  A great investent.

Hunter Rainboots

Also wearing Rag and Bone Skinny Jeans in Kensington Wash, a great everyday pair of jeans that suck you in like no other.  I swear they make my legs look way skinnier than they really are.

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If you are curious about my tote above it is from Barrington Gifts and they are offering 10% off the site and they never run discounts!  I am carrying the St Anne Diaper Bag in the Axis Print. It is such am awesome tote with so many pockets and it is nylon so easy to wipe down!   They have so many amazing prints to choose from but I love the Axis- you can shop all the other styles it comes in HERE

Use code CYBER10

|| St Anne in Axis

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\\ JCREW  30% off  Full Priced Items and 40% off sale with code HOLIDAY

I stopped in the store yesterday and picked up this blouse in the royal blue because I loved my black one so much.  On sale plus extra 40%.  Also comes in green and white.

Tassel Trim Blouse

 I also picked up this Ikat blouse, I had admired and it and with the discount it comes to $45.

Blurred Ikat Blouse

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Joie is offering 25% off the whole site use code THANKS.

This is my favorite blouse, great for now and into the spring!

Deon B Blouse

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Equipment is also offering 25% off the whole site.  Use code THANKS. You all know I am a huge Equipment fan.  A great time to treat yourself to a gorgeous blouse or dress.

This Aubrey Dress is one of my favorites I own.

Aubrey Dress

Also love the print of this Liam Blouse. 

Liam Blouse

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At Serena and Lily you can take $50 off every $200 you spend with code GETSTARTED.

I am kind of obsessed with this Confetti Piano and Guitar.  I am considering getting it for the kids from Santa.

Confetti Piano | Confetti Guitar

and of course this picture makes me want to order this pink crown as well.

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Sole Society is offering 30% off select shoes.

Keeping with all the plaid obsession this fall, these plaid flats are aweosome and only $40.  I also love the Hounsdtooth print.

Emmie Flats

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Gap is offering 50% off sitewide. Use code BLKFRIDAY.

I bought Frances this deer dress and it is so cute, especially with red tights!

Deer Dress

She will be wearing this for her birthday party Saturday.  I love a neutral dress.

Pleated Dress

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Tory Burch Holiday Event

This is one of my favorite TB purchases, the Cora Dress.  I have it in red but love the navy print as well.  

Cora Dress

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Nordstrom has 40% a pretty great selection.  I linked to some favorites Tuesday but missed these boots.  A really good deal at 40% that is as cheap as Rag and Bone gets

Rag and Bone Grayson Boots

 This is my favorite wash in the Rag and Bone jeans, love the zipper detail and they are 40% off.

Rag and Bone Zipper Jeans

Thanksigivng Outfit Idea

Thanksgiving is two days away!  I have my menu set and most of my grocery shopping done.  I just have a few more things to pick up today and we are set for an amazing feast.  I am always thinking about outfits in my head- been this way since I was young.  I used to write down everything I wore on a calendar so I never repeated an outfit- explains a lot me and my love for fashion right??

This is what I have dreamed up for Thanksgiving.  I like to be comfortable yet still stylish.

I actually wore this outfit already this week and Matt snapped a few pics before I left the house.

TB Cardigan | Joie Marlo Blouse on sale  | Rag and Bone Jeans | TB Robinson Purse | Alor Bracelet | Alor Bracelet | Yosi Samra Flats 

I know purple and brown seems like a weird combo but I was digging it and they seemed Fall appropriate.

  If you need a cardigan I do love the Tory Burch version I am wearing.  I bought a medium for a more over-sized look.  

 Can't say enough great things about this blouse.  It is on sale in a few colors here and did you know Nordstrom now price matches so if you see it for cheaper just call them and they will adjust your price.

Joie Marlo Blouse   (on sale 40% off Here)

I finally decided it was time for a purse update.  I love this Tory Burch one and the fact that you can also carry it as a cross body is an added bonus.  I liked that it was a little more structured than my other purses.  It also comes in a larger version and a more pebbled leather version in some gorgeous fall colors

Tory Burch Mini Robinson Purse

also wearing Alor Bracelets (currently on sale)

Several of the Tory Burch bags were just marked down for the Nordstrom sale.  I love this Cross body.  It is the same color as my purse and I think it is a great neutral color to go with  everything! You can check out all the Tory Burch stuff on sale here.

Amanda Cross body 

also on sale in red here 

You can shop all the different versions of my purse and my outfit below:

thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post!

Happy Birthday Frances Moon + Our Thanksgiving Menu

As I sit down to write this post, I can't help but think back to this exact time one year ago.  It was the night before I was getting ready to be induced and I was a nervous wreck.  First of all hospitals in general make me nervous and I was terrified the induction would not work and I would have to have a C Section. But what worried me the most was thinking how will I ever love another child as much as I love Sterling??  I just could not imagine and in the back of mind I thought I will probably always love Sterling the most because he was my first baby and he is my little man.  I also worried how life would be for him with a sibling.  We want to give our children siblings because we know in the long run it will be best for them but I was terrified how he would feel with me splitting my attention between another baby now and just not him.  I could not imagine what life would be like as the mom of two and it scared me. 

Oddly enough the day I was set to be induced I woke up and was so calm.  I felt God's presence and knew in my heart it all would go smoothly.  The labor and delivery was so quick and easy, total opposite of Sterling who I labored 30+ hours with.  The moment that Frances Moon was born she took my breath away.  I just kept thinking I have two kids now.  Birth and meeting your baby for the first time is a true testament to God and miracles.  I tear up sitting here just thinking about the moment Frances entered the world and our lives.   My heart just expanded and I loved her exactly the same way I love Sterling.  It is an even never ending love that is so powerful.  Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed with love for the two of them it takes my breath away and brings a tear to my eye.  They are my world and I understand now how when my parents said they loved us all the same and didn't have favorites they were right.  You love different things about each child but you love them exactly the same.

So happy first birthday Frances Moon.  It was a long journey to get you but God had a sweet plan all along.  You came into our lives and it was like you always belonged with us.  You are the sweetest little girl ever.  You are such a joy and a delight.  When people talk about having easy babies that is what you are.  You rarely cry unless you are hungry or tired and always just go with the flow.  You are always smiling and laughing.  You have such a sweet temperament. You love to eat and you are such a good eater, not picky at all.  You also love to dance, play humpdy dumpdy, and listen to books.  I never in a million years thought I would have a daughter and I thank God everyday he blessed me with you. I love you more than you will ever know. 

Happy First Birthday Sweet Frances Moon.

I have to thank Lucy Cuneo for capturing these special moments of me with my two babies.  She is local photographer and wonderful to work with if you need family pictures.  We decided to do some pictures at the beach near our house in honor of Frances Moon's first birthday.   These pictures are so special to me and I will treasure them forever.

Outfit Details

Frances Moon | Headband | Butterfly Dress | Vest | Mocs

Natalie | Tee Shirt | Jeans | Shoes | Necklace

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Several of you asked what our Thanksgiving Menu would be and here it is:

APPETIZER //  Pomegranite White Cheddar Crispy Sage Cheese Ball

This is gorgeous and sounds amazing.   I don't like to serve too heavy of an app since we are getting ready to eat a huge meal but it is nice to have a little nibble with your cocktail.

TURKEY 

This all Matt.  He takes such pride in his turkey and does an amazing job. I have nothing to do with it.  He brines it for three days and it is the juiciest best turkey ever. This year he is actually doing two smaller turkeys one fried and one roasted.  This is Matt's actual turkey from 2 years ago- perfection.

SIDE ONE \\ WINTER KALE SALAD

Told you guys I was adding this to my menu, I love it.

 SIDE TWO \\ BRUSSELS SPROUTS GRATIN

This is a new recipe I am trying out so I hope it is as good as it looks.

SIDE THREE \\ GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

I do not love this side but it is Matt's favorite so we have it every year.  It is the standard kind with cream of mushroom soup and fried onions on top.

SIDE FOUR \\ TRUFFLED MAC AND CHEESE

Mac and cheese is always a good idea.

SIDE FIVE \\  OYSTER DRESSING

We use Paula Deen's recipe for this and it is really good.  I would love to try a new dressing recipe for fun but this is the other item Matt won't budge on.

DESSERT \\ PUMPKIN TART WITH WHIPPED CREAM AND ALMOND TOFFEE

This is another new recipe but when I saw it in Southern Living I knew it needed to happen.

Happy almost Thanksgiving!