girl gifting

One of the best things about having sisters - who wear practically the same size as me - is that shopping for Christmas is that much easier. Where I struggle with purchasing clothes for others because I can never figure out their size, it's rarely an issue with us. If I think the shoes are comfortable (in my size), chances are so will my sister.

And with all of the deals popping up over the past few weeks, and which I'm sure will be around for the next few weeks too, there's no harm in adding 2 to my cart*, right?

*This year I have vowed off any in-store shopping. It's all online shopping and packages galore!

Here are some sale items I'm considering (and some not on sale, just because):

giving thanks

If you haven't seen this list yet, you should check it out. It's very timely during this holiday week.

I'm so, so thankful for what I have and what I am able to give. I am continually reminded of the incredible people in my life, the opportunities I've been given, and fabulous things that are to come. Tomorrow we will be hosting a raucous dinner at our home - happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

recap: four week vacation

Your employer has given you four weeks to do whatever you want - outside of work - and you have to take all four weeks at once. So what would you do and where would you go? 

See some gorgeous new places...

make some new friends...

and find some new favorite places...

What a great vacation it was. Two weeks on the west coast, including a beautiful wedding of two of our friends (complete with dolphins in the background - for real), followed by two weeks at home doing everything I don't normally have time to do (like go to the gym). I have a newfound love for kale (thank you, Lovely's Fifty-Fifty of Portland), determined that I need real help when it comes to packing for a vacation (we had to mail ourselves packages - twice - because we didn't have enough room in our suitcases), and decided that I would 100% love to have a job where I could bring Sprout to work with me every day (someday?).

Sidenote: I also added two states to my 50 before 50 list!

2013 holiday gift guide: shop local

one // two // three // four // five

six // seven // eight // nine

Small Business Saturday is coming soon, and this year I'm inspired to give gifts that are meaningful and support small businesses. A personalized dog bowl for my sister's new puppy, monogrammed jewelry dish for my newly married bestie, and an adorable animal print for our friends with a new bundle of joy, all supporting local artists and business ladies, are some of my top picks for this giving season.

Do you make a conscious effort to support small businesses?

beauty favorites under $50

Shop my favorites:

Whether you need stocking stuffers for the girls or a recommendation on a lipstick that won't break your budget, here are some of my favorite beauty items, each under $50.

Do you have a favorite that isn't on my list? 

why I'm avoiding Black Friday 2013

I'm going to tell you a secret:  I love giving gifts. I get all warm and fuzzy inside when I gift something that someone truly loves. But that can wreak havoc on my bank account, because no matter where I am, I tend to see something that reminds me of someone - and BAM - huge credit card bill.

That, my friends, is why I am avoiding Black Friday this year. Rather than grabbing items because they are a good deal (and figuring out who should get them later), I want to give meaningful gifts. Head over to my Pinterest board to see what kind of DIYs I will be tackling this year. The best ones may show up here next year!


image via

2013 holiday gift guide: for a lady who lounges

Are you ready for the holidays? Ready or not, retailers have started a lot earlier this year than last year (or at least it feels that way). You can blame the one fewer week between Thanksgiving and Christmas than we normally have - and enjoy the 2013 gift guides!

This season I'm inspired by Scandal's fabulous loungewear aka popcorn-and-wine clothes that Olivia Pope wears often. Any lady would love a pair of luxe pajamas (or these or these - different price ranges available!) or chic loungewear (love these too). If accessories better suit her, go for elbow-length gloves, jeweled gloves, or a cashmere wrap. And what lady wouldn't love a bottle of your favorite wine alongside some new, red-specific glasses - and the promise of a girls' night.

Sunday sales

With so many sales happening right now, I'm having a hard time not spending too much on purchases I don't really need- so instead, I've already started my Christmas shopping! (And decorating, but we'll save that for another day.)

Old Navy's 30% off site wide sale makes these already-budget-friendly coats even more so (1 and 2). You can also find some great cozy knits that are also budget-friendly. Nordstrom's 40% off sale has these fab shoes and this gorgeous watch for much less than their normal prices. And J.Crew's 25% off sale (when you spend $100) has some great mixed media pieces, like this leather-sleeve top and this sweater. Happy Sunday shopping!

city style linkup

Today I'm linking up with four other Boston bloggers. You can link up with us below!

ruffle and curl // Style-Wire

Style Tab // Notes on Lifestyle by Georgina

Rules for the Modern Girl

outfit: for the birds

It has been a gorgeous Fall so far, but if you have been to Boston in November you know that it can get quite chilly. Enter the sequined sweatshirt:  Comfy enough to wear for a while, but snazzy enough to pair with a faux leather skirt and heels for a more laid-back dressy outfit.

I recently bought this car coat to wear for the in-between seasons, and I cannot get enough of it. I'm waiting for it to get a little colder before I accessorize with elbow-length gloves.

Ann Taylor coat // Zara faux leather skirt (similar here and here) // FC Jeans sequined sweatshirt via ideeli (also like this and this) // Nine West pointed-toe pumps (old, similar here) // Alex + Ani bracelets

Monday notes

I have some fun things in the works, but in the meantime, I'm getting really excited for the holidays. We are hosting Thanksgiving at our house again this year, and then the day after will be a decorating frenzy. Few things get me as excited as decorating for Christmas!

In case you missed it, I'm back from a two-week vacation on the west coast: to Seattle, Portland, Napa, and photos from San Francisco coming soon. I'm spending the day snuggling with my Sprout before I get into cleaning the house and doing other chores.

The Everygirl has some great tips on how to do well at a meeting.

Don't miss Piperlime's 25% off items under $100 sale!

Some items I'm coveting this season: over-the-knee boots, a monogram necklace, elbow-length leather gloves, a dog bed with Sprout's name on it, and much more vacation time.

image via

leopard print in Napa

I can't remember the last Halloween when it was ridiculously sunny and in the high 60s. But that's probably also because I've never spent Halloween in California, where such things are possible. We did two vineyard tours/tastings back to back, which made for a very full afternoon. At one of the vineyards, they let us eat grapes off the vine. Most delicious. things. ever.

(Yes, I always carry bags this big. If it can't fit half my life, I can't use it.)

The scenery was incredible. Occasionally this meant driving up very, very windy roads. I have a thing about heights, so that wasn't cool. But the wine and the view were spectacular once we got to the top.

leopard-print button down (old from J.Crew, similar here) // Banana Republic navy sweater (old, similar here) // Banana Republic jeans // nameplate necklace from Etsy // Ray-Ban sunglasses // Michael Kors watch // JPK bag (this one is another great option)