And just like that, it’s Christmas Eve, y’all. And I’ve got one thing to say about it: WILD. The holidays always seem to fly by, but this year in particular, I’m over here scratching my head wondering where the last month has gone. I’m sure it’s because, as I mentioned in my last post, I’ve spent lots of time traveling over the last month or so (and this year in general).
Warm weather trips, cold weather gear, dressy staples, casual exploring gear – I’ve packed and unpacked a few times this year, and I have to say, I’ve gotten pretty good at it. I am ALL about our hard case luggage from Ricardo Beverly Hills. It’s been tough enough to last through a ton of trips and fits SO. MUCH. STUFF. (Because let’s be real, I’m not always the best at editing down the packing list.)
And when it comes to carry-on luggage or just a bag for short trips or errands around town, I seriously love everything MZ Wallace. My friend Jenn introduced me to the brand years ago, and I’ve now got a few different styles. The fabric is super durable, there are a ton of interior pockets and pouches, and the straps are so comfortable to carry all day long.
The latest bag I’m loving? The Large Metro Tote is seriously so nice. I love the larger size, the zipper closure at the top, and the sleek, easy design. I used this tote on a recent trip home to Louisiana with Weeze and managed to fit a full-sized blanket, my computer, and ALL of the other puppy necessities with room to spare. I put all my purse essentials in the Metro Pouch and used it as a clutch once we got to New Orleans.
If you’ve got travel planned for the new year and want to get organized, check out MZ Wallace to get your act together, girl. Merry Christmas Eve, friends!
Happy Thanksgiving, friends! And also, happy day after Thanksgiving when it’s perfectly acceptable to throw ALL of the Christmas decorations up all around the house. Who’s ready for some holly, jolly, good tidings? This girl is.
If you caught yesterday’s post, then you know one of my favorite Black Friday sales hit a couple of days ago, and today I’m sharing a full list of the rest that I’m digging. Full disclosure, there are a TON of good sales this week, but don’t let it overwhelm you. Make your gift list, think about some of your favorite retailers, and take a little scroll below for discount codes and all that jazz.
Personally? I’m currently digging all things Madewell and doing some serious Eric-shopping in the Nordstrom men’s sale. Which retailers are you guys most excited to shop this year?
Happy Thanksgiving week, friends! While I’m mentally preparing myself for the food coma ahead (or, let’s be honest – I’ve been in a food coma since arriving in Louisiana on Monday), I’m doing a little deal-loving happy dance over here because the Black Friday sales just seem to hit earlier and earlier every year. And I, for one, am certainly not mad at it. Just shop the sales, eat the bird, and spend a little time with family and friends instead of focusing on that old school Black Friday dash.
And today I’m kicking things off with some tried and true favorites from the Shopbop sale. This is the Black Friday sale I look forward to every year. For the second year in a row, I’ve used the sale to stock up on a few cold weather essentials for our upcoming trip to Jackson Hole. (If you’ve got a cold weather trip coming up, I can’t recommend these Hunter boots, boot socks, shearling inserts, and chunky scarf more.)
It’s a Buy More, Save More sale, so the more you spend, the bigger the percentage off. Just use code MORE18 at checkout. Scroll through to see more of my favorites that are on sale and some brand new goodies that should be arriving to my door any minute now. The anticipation, y’all. Happy shopping, friends!
Happy Thursday, friends! If you’ve been following along on Instagram then you know that Eric and I recently took a weekend trip to Knoxville, Tennessee. It was a quick trip, but we tried to pack it all in. We ate, we drank, we saw so many pretty views – including a “colorblind-less” view for Eric.
Veterans Overlook and Eric’s Colorblind-less view – Our Sunday morning at Veterans Overlook was the coolest part and the entire point of the trip. Tennessee has some of the most beautiful fall foliage that I’ve seen, and Tennessee Tourism has done something really cool so that more people can enjoy it. They’ve installed “Colorblind-Less” Viewfinders at several scenic spots around the state, and fun fact, Eric is colorblind. We drove out to Veterans Overlook on Sunday morning, and although it was super foggy and overcast, we were excited for Eric to try out the viewfinder.
And his immediate response? “Wow.” For the first time, he saw a huge fall landscape that was, in his words, more vivid, more colorful. He would look in, look up, look in, and look up again. He also turned the viewfinder on me and decided, thankfully, that he still liked what he saw. Could’ve really ruined the trip! All jokes aside, thank you to Tennessee Tourism for such an amazing time in Knoxville. We are so grateful to have gotten to explore a little bit of Tennessee and love that Eric got to have a little glimpse into a colorblind-less fall. Read on for a few more favorite spots from the trip.
The Tennesseean Hotel– After a full day of travel, this hotel was surely a sight for sore eyes and has since become one of my favorite places I’ve stayed. I knew the hotel would be beautiful from the photos I saw beforehand, but the comfort and pleasant experience was seriously on another level. From the beyond friendly staff, comfortable rooms stocked with Molton Brown shower goodies and Illy espresso, the coziest lounge for relaxing with lunch and a cocktail, and the best location that was an easy walk to Market Square, it really became our little home away from home. It was the place we couldn’t wait to get back to at the end of the day, and when we make it back to Knoxville, I wouldn’t think of staying anywhere else.
Knox Brew Tours – Eric and I had no idea that Knoxville had such a fun and interesting beer scene happening, but I came across a suggestion for Knox Brew Tours and decided to buy tickets. And we are so happy that we did. We met at a local beer shop that was a quick walk from The Tennesseean Hotel, and for 45 bucks we hopped on the brew bus for tours and full tastings at four local breweries. We enjoyed tasting the craft beers but also learned a bunch from our tour guide Ace and our driver Queso. It’s a must and is also how we discovered the next must-see stop on my list.
Pretentious Glass Co. – One of the stops on the Knox Brew Tours bus was Pretentious Beer Co., a really cute little brewery with fun decor, a great outdoor space, and a door connecting it to Pretentious Glass Co. where you can watch glassblowers creating the most unique and beautiful glassware. We could’ve stayed and watched all day (had to jump back on the bus), but we did purchase and ship home some goodies that we can’t wait to receive.
Breakfast and lunch at The Drawing Room in The Tennesseean Hotel – The lounge at The Tennesseean Hotel was seriously the best. Big, comfy chairs, cozy couches, friendly staff, and some seriously yummy food. We had breakfast here one morning and lunch with a side of football the next. The low country boil (basically a seafood stew dish), fig and prosciutto flatbread, and burrata were all so good.
Three Rivers Rambler Train Ride – The Three Rivers Rambler is a train ride that takes you right along the Tennessee River. We hopped on the 7:15 train, and to be honest, I’d definitely recommend booking one of the earlier departures so you can take in the scenery before it’s too dark. Other than that, it was a pretty cool experience and is a really great option for families with kiddos.
BBQ at Sweet P’s Downtown Dive – From now on, whenever someone asks about the best BBQ I’ve ever had, I can easily say Sweet P’s in Knoxville, Tennessee. This place came highly recommended (for good reason), so Eric and I stopped in for a late dinner after the Three Rivers Rambler. And we are SO glad that we did. We tried the dry-rubbed ribs, the garlic hot wings, mac and cheese, and cole slaw, and it all looked so good, I accidentally took zero photos. The ribs were crazy good, and the mac and cheese alone might be enough to get me back to Knoxville.
Breakfast at Sugar Mama’s– Y’all, this place was serious Southern deliciousness. We randomly stopped in and were so happy to find the cutest little spot with $1 mimosas, homemade pastries, lots of beers on tap, and biscuits galore. Oh, and the pulled pork tacos loaded with mac and cheese, jalepenos, and pimento cheese? A little bit life-changing. Sadly, the day that we visited was actually the day that Sugar Mama’s closed its doors, but I’m still mentioning it here because the owners are in the process of opening a bigger location somewhere soon in Knoxville. Fingers crossed it’s open when you go.
Exploring Market Square – This is a pretty idyllic town square that kind of looks like something out of a movie. The Market Square area has a beautiful park area, restaurants, and cute local shops. We roamed around, found the birthplace of the SEC (#winning), and stopped into Woodruff’s Downtown Grill & Brewery for one last beer sampler before heading to the airport.
xoxo
Above photos thanks to Alaina Rene Photo; Below photos from Eric and me
I know what you’re thinking – another day, another jeans and sneakers get-up. And to be fair, I’ve worn the hell out of these jeans around here lately. (See this post and this one.) But when I came across these photos from New Orleans that somehow slipped my mind, I just had to share this faux suede jacket.
In lightweight versions or something a little heavier, it’s hard to beat a little faux suede jacket for fall. It’s the best throw on and go jacket with your favorite denim or layered over a lightweight sweater dress. Sadly this Lysse pretty is sold out (similar color here though), but I’m rounding up a few more options below, in so many price points, fits, and colors. In particular, I’m loving this one (under $60!), this two-tone, and this reversible one.
Remember this little metallic skirt from this post? Well I promised myself I wouldn’t let it sit unworn in my closet forever, so today I’m taking her for a spin with a slouchy little sweater and those favorite sneakers again. And will probably be re-wearing it for dinner tonight at the Red O. Yep, dinner, because this year we are skipping Halloween.
You can call me a Halloween scrooge, but trick-or-treating in our neighborhood is seriously aggressive. There is a house that was built to look like a castle that throws the biggest haunted house in the city and invites everyone in, so we get tons and tons of families passing through. Last year we went through 750 candy bars by 7:30 and got yelled at by two disgruntled mothers for running out. I’m not even kidding.
So this year I bought the usual giant mound of expensive candy, thought about Weeze losing her mind with every single “trick-or-treat”, and figured this year we could use a break. Candy was returned, dinner reservations were made, and we’re taking our little hot dog to hang with her best doggo pal. I know, I know – are we totally lame? I don’t care, and I’m sure we’ll be back in the treat-giving action next year. But maybe if you’re hitting the streets with your kids tonight, try not to yell at people for running out of candy. I don’t know, just a thought.
If you ask me what my least favorite trend of the moment would be, my answer is hands-down, without a doubt the whole “dad sneaker” thing. I mean what in the world are we thinking, fashion friends? It’s gonna be a big fat NO from me, dawg, and while we’re at it, I’ll go ahead and throw in the Kardashian-esque horrendous bike shorts and tiny 90’s sunglasses that are flattering on literally no one’s faces. More power to you if you’re into these things, but I’m just unapologetically NOT here for it.
Now something I can get behind? Sneakers of so many styles and colors – just not the dad variety. I’ve been on board the sneaker train for a while, but last fall is when I really kicked most of my booties to the curb in favor of my favorite comfy kicks. I’m obsessed with this athletic-inspired pair, can’t get enough of this comfy grey pair, and have worn these leopard sneaks more times than I could ever count.
And I’ve already started adding to the collection this season starting with the metallic leopard sneakers above. Y’all, these are fur-lined and seriously feel like walking on a cushy cloud. I can’t recommend these enough for pairing with jeans, jogggers, my favorite faux leather leggings, or even this gold skirt. (That look is coming to the blog soon.) I also just recently purchased this pair that I L-O-V-E.
So today I’m rounding up a few more favorite pairs of the moment because when it comes to sneaker love, I just can’t get enough. Hope everyone is having a great week!
Happy Friday, friends. October is here and I’m HERE for it. And next week, there’s a particular day that I’m definitely here for. My friends over at Suja reminded me that Wednesday, October 10th is World Mental Health Day, and I can’t support it more.
In this world, there is literally no cause or day I can get behind more, and I shared a little bit of my heart last year in this post. I miss my brother a ton and always aim to celebrate his memory. Today I also want to celebrate and spread a little love to those going through the rough time right now, or maybe, those who could just use a little self-love.
Life is crazy. The work grind, the mortgage or rent cycle, balancing relationships, car issues, this problem and that. Sometimes I think we all need to take a little time for ourselves. You’ve probably seen people posting about “Self-Love Sundays” or something similar, and while it may seem a little cliche, it’s something we should all get behind.
Sometimes we all need to check out. To do a little something just for ourselves. For me? It’s a long bath, doing ALL the treatments to my face, taking my pup for a walk around Balboa Island, and my favorite, taking a little time to unplug. How much does Instagram mess with my head and make me a crazy person? A ton. (Thanks, algorithm.) So on October 10th, I’ll be taking a little unplug day. No blog post, no Instagram posts, and maybe a long bath. (Go, me!)
I really can’t think of a better reason to unplug, take a second, and give myself a much-needed day off. And I wish the same to you! Let’s take a day to focus on ourselves, reach out to the family and friends who need us, and maybe give a stranger a smile. You never know who needs it. Can we all just try to be nicer to each other? I think we can. Happy weekend, friends.
Happy half-week, friends! Today I’m excited to share one of my favorite sales with you guys. Shopbop, one of my favorite retailers for both (affordable) shopping and (high end) inspiration, is having one of their only sales of the year. Pick your faves, and receive 20-25% off your entire purchase (some brands excluded, depending how much you spend) with code STOCKUP18.
Now admittedly, I took these photos thinking my beloved Spanx leggings would be included, but sadly they are not. (Side note, whether they’re on sale or full-priced, you will never regret them. I have a few pairs and wear them ALL the time.)
If you’ve had your eye on something new for fall or maybe something from the sale section, now’s the time, sister. Personally, I grabbed this jacket for an upcoming wine-tasting trip, this sweater for those brutal Southern California winters (I kid), this tee for wearing eight days in a row with said Spanx leggings, and a few other things. I’ve got my fingers and toes crossed that the pieces I picked are as good as I think they’ll be, but I’m not stressing. Shopbop has free (fast) shipping and free returns, so we’re good, girls.
And whether you choose to shop the sale or not, hoping you enjoy a few photos above with my main girl, Weeze. Great rest of the week, y’all.
Whoo-Wheeeee. Currently writing this blog post from a million miles in the sky as I’m heading home from two days in New York City. Two days. It was a super short trip, but wouldn’t you know it, the Big Fat Apple left me feeling all kinds of inspired? It’s been two years since I last attended fashion week, and by default, two years since I last visited New York. While I don’t really miss the hustle and bustle of that particular week in the city, I do miss the inspiration from it.
I bought this skirt thinking that it was perfect for a dinner night in New Orleans, and it definitely was. (Bee-Tee-Dubs – these photos were taken in New Orleans, not New York. I took zero photos in New York and I’m 100% Coolio with that. I shopped instead. Why are NYC Zara stores so much better than the ones in Southern California?) But I digress. So I bought the skirt, loved it, wore it, and thought – I can’t wait for the next time I can wear it.
Then I got to New York City and changed my thought to, What am I waiting for? The women in New York I swear just kill it. They’re commuting by buses, trains, and good old fashioned footwork, and some of these gals could be running right off a runway. I saw a girl yesterday hopping on a bus in a pleated metallic maxi skirt, a graphic tee, sneakers and a leather tote with all of the things. It was raining and humid and sticky and just freaking gross, but she had taken that pretty maxi skirt and made it rainy day, bus-hopping, city appropriate. So chic.
Which brings me back to this new favorite metallic skirt. I love it dressed up (blouse + heels), dressed down (graphic tee + sneakers), or somewhere in between like the look above. And now I can’t wait to get home and pull out more favorites from my closet. What are some things in your wardrobe you’ve been “saving” for a special occasion that you could just pull out now? Finally splurged on that lust-worthy handbag? Don’t let it sit on a shelf, girl!
(Oh, and apparently I’ll be wearing these sock booties all fall long, so hopefully you don’t mind?)
Here’s hoping everyone has a great weekend ahead, guys!
Lou & Grey sweater (40% off); plaid scarf; Madewell jeans; Marc Fisher sneakers; Ricardo Beverly Hills suitcase; MZ Wallace Tote and pouch; Quay sunglasses
Madewell jeans; Lou & Grey sweater (40% off); MZ Wallace pouch; Marc Fisher OTK boots; Quay sunglasses
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Lunch at The Drawing Room at The Tennesseean Hotel
