Thanksgiving Inspirtation

Stripes

stripes
stripes
stripes
stripes
stripes

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I find myself getting more excited than ever for the upcoming holiday season. With that comes social gatherings with friends and family alike that are always filled with laughter, reminiscing, and great conversations. To me, the holiday season is one of the best times of the year. I anxiously await it and the dazzling style that comes with it. Once the holidays hit, I like to bring out pieces that incorporate embellishments into them, whether it be actually on the piece or added with some jewelry. This dress from Modcloth reminds me of Thanksgiving with its black and tan stripes. Easy and comfortable for a big family gathering or a smaller intimate one. Add on some statement jewelry to add that little bit of sparkle. The leopard heels from Nine West feel perfect and add a nice pop to the outfit. Finish with a clutch, this embellished one from my mom, in black.  

On a side note, I did a "no makeup" look with this dress. Basically, a look of highlights and contours with subtle mascara and a nude lip. Taylor Swift recently did a magazine cover doing the no makeup look and I thought, why not try it? While I definitely love my go-to, this was a nice change of pace and felt fresh. 

Travel Log

Valley Forge

For the past few years my dad and I have been making a mini vacation out of his seminars for work. He usually goes to the Valley Forge one, to my delight, and we always have a great time. While he's at the seminars, I'll go to the King of Prussia Mall or go down to Valley Forge to walk around. This year, we had the Silver Beaver awards dinner while we were in Valley Forge, so we had to make a trip back up home and then back down in the same day. We always get out to eat once or twice on the trip. This year and last we went to Creed's Seafood and Steak. It has a great atmosphere with cozy seating and a menu to rival any big city. I usually get the Scottish Salmon. Our hotel has the best bistro in it, with booths that have tv's built into the walls. Breakfast and sometimes dinner are a must there. The nice thing about Valley Forge in the beginning of November are the leaves still being on the trees. Up in NEPA, most of the leaves are down and any that are still hanging on have lost their brilliance. I have so many memories of Valley Forge and the general area surrounding it, whether it be from these trips or when I lived there for a few months, this area will always have a special place in my heart.

A Major Award

The Silver Beaver

the silver beaver award

On  Friday November 7th, 2014, my dad was awarded the Silver Beaver for his dedication, hard work, self-sacrifice, and years of service to the Boy Scouts of America. I could not have been more proud of him. It is the highest award one can receive in the council level. The night went by so quickly, but was quite memorable and one I will not forget. I gathered and prepared all of the photos for the slide show that was given during my dad's introduction. Seeing all of the important moments of his life and hearing the lovely talk was inspiring. I was asked to escort my dad and to stand with him while he was presented with the medal, certificate, pin, and square knot. To my surprise, I was also given flowers that were beautiful and smelled divine. I was more than happy to capture the night and also a big thanks to Justin for photographing my dad and I while we were up by the podium!

From the BSA, The Silver Beaver Award is the council-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. Recipients of this award are registered adult leaders who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council. It is given to those who do not actively seek it.

the silver beaver
the silver beaver
the silver beaver
the silver beaver
the silver beaver
the silver beaver
the silver beaver
the silver beaver
the silver beaver
the silver beaver
the silver beaver
the silver beaver
the silver beaver

Neutral Hues

Light Tones

neutral tones
neutral tones
neutral tones
neutral tones
neutral tones
neutral tones
neutral tones
neutral tones

Shop The Look:

Last week's post about shades of gray used the same LC quilted skirt as shown here. I'm so in love with the circle design, quilted texture, and light gray color. As I said before, I'm definitely falling for lighter tones right now in the neutral department. The Elle turtleneck has a nice heavy weight to it, perfect for the chilly Fall and Winter days. The camel coat, one of two that I own, compliments every outfit, no matter the color, texture, or design. That's the great thing about camel, it goes with virtually everything, and looks incredibly elegant while wearing it.

Black Tie

Tuxedo Style

black tie
black tie
black tie
black tie
black tie
black tie

Shop The Look:

As soon as I laid my eyes on this LC Lauren Conrad dress, I knew I had to have it. First off anything with bows is an absolute must. Add in the tuxedo twist and I'm sold. It's having a little menswear infused into a very lady like ensemble. Perfect for a night out on the town. My bow bag from Forever 21 matches perfectly with the tuxedo theme. Any bag with a black bow on it with will fit the bill. The beret style hat, white with a black bow on it from Modcloth, seems as if it were made especially for the dress. Not only does this outfit have a menswear feel to it, but also a Parisian look too. Anything French in my book is solid gold. Speaking of, I accompanied the outfit with gold jewelry, and finished off with a pair of LC black high heels adorned with a gold bow on them.

Shades of Gray

Monochromatic

shades of gray
shades of gray
shades of gray
shades of gray
shades of gray
shades of gray
shades of gray
shades of gray
shades of gray

Shop The Look:

Lately I've been loving all things in light neutral shades. My favorite a creamy winter white, but who can resist a palate of light gray? You can mix and match this monochromatic look as long as everything stays in the same color family. No one piece of this outfit competes for attention, but rather all blends together to create a beautiful and soft feel. The LC Lauren Conrad quilted skirt flares out perfectly with its circle design and the eye lash sweater feels so soft and comfy. I could stay cuddled up in it for days. The Elle textured sweater almost perfectly matches the other shades of gray in the outfit. I picked out a silver shoulder bag and a darker shade of silver sparkle for my flats with a decorative broach on them. These flats, from DSW, are perfect for the holiday season. Anything that sparkles instantly has that glistening holiday cheer feeling to it.

The Crop Top

Praline Paradise

crop top
crop top
crop top
crop top

Shop The Look:

Crop tops have been everywhere this year from Spring to Summer and now into Fall and Winter, the shrunken top is here to stay, at least for a little while longer. I'm not typically one for trends, I like to stay tried and true to the lady like classics, but I did want to give this style a trip around the block to see what all the hype is about. Personally, I am not a mid-riff shower, so I wanted to pair the LC Lauren Conrad sweater with a higher waisted pant. The praline color blended perfectly with the leopard pants I had. This was a look I wore around the house while tending to some cleaning. This sweater would also look great tucked into a skirt

Miracle Oils

A Radiant Boost

oils
radiant boost oil
radiant boost oil
pur miracle mist

Shop the Products:

As the air starts to cool down and the humidity lessens, one thing that never fails is my skin getting a bit dry. Enter the extraordinary oils that not only replenish the much needed moisture back into the skin, but also protects and repairs the skin to give it that natural glow from within.

Now, there are hundreds of facial oils on the market right now, and many do wondrous things for the skin, but cost a pretty penny. When I found the Sonia Kashuk Radiant Boost Oil, I was beyond thrilled. The price tag, only $14 and can be found at Target. From their website, the oil has, 9 oils including Sweet Almond Oil to soften, Bergamot Essential Oil to purify, BerryFlux Vita to boost skins moisture, Sesame Seed Oil to condition, Evening Primrose Seed Oil to nourish and regenerate, and Black Currant Seed Oil to soothe the skin. Stabilized Retinol protects against photo-aging and reduces lines and wrinkles over time while Para Cress Flower Extract works to improve skins density and firmness and Vitamin E delivers antioxidant properties. I usually mix in a couple drops with my moisturizer and then apply to my face, neck, and chest. I can already see a difference in one weeks use of the product. This is a keeper!

The next beauty buy I found was Pur Minerals Hydrate & Setting Miracle Mist. This can be found at Kohls and is priced at $19. I love using this mist to hydrate my skin throughout the day when I need a little pick me up and also misting it on after applying my makeup. It has a lovely citrus scent and no wonder, since it contains oils from oranges, lemons, and tangerines. From their website the mist has, over 70 essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids. Active ingredient fulvic acid to help soothe and refresh your face, hair and body.

Bundle Up

There's a chill in the air

vest
vest
vest
vest
vest

Shop the Look:

Happy November everyone! Where has this year gone?? Time seems to fly by and with that the cooler weather season is coming upon us. Now that we are officially in November, I think it is the perfect time to start thinking about those cozy little accessories like scarves, gloves, and hats. Not that I particularly look forward to it, but it is best to be prepared. One look I love is a bright red anything with creamy winter white. Here I bundled up in a  Woolrich red puffer vest and accessorized it with a winter white sweater from Banana Republic, hat, gloves, and a circle scarf all from Mark. LC Lauren Conrad riding boots finish off the relaxed look with some creamy white boot socks.

Celadon Green

Grace Kelly, Tippi Hedren, and Edith Head

vintage green
vintage green
vintage green
vintage green
vintage green
vintage green
vintage green
vintage green
twisted bun
vintage green
vintage green
vintage green
vintage green
vintage green
vintage green

Shop The Look:

It need not be said how much I truly adore this vintage inspired outfit. My heart expands two sizes just thinking about it. The look started with the skirt from Modcloth. As soon as I saw the skirt I knew I had to have it. Grace Kelly and Tippi Hedren instantly came to my mind from the wonderful creations of Edith Head while working with Alfred Hitchcock. The skirt is a sea-glass green soft wool blend with a matching belt. This midi style screams 1950s and is quite the eye catcher. To compliment the look I had in mind, I choose a chiffon green blouse with pearls attached from LC Lauren Conrad. The pearls add just the right amount of sophistication and glamor to the outfit. The jewelry was all about gold and pearls to keep the vintage vibe and also to replicate the specific image I had in my mind of the two leading ladies who inspired this look. To finish off the outfit, nude heels from LC and a brown top handle hand bag, which reminded me of Miss Hedren's ensemble. On a side note, what a beautiful Fall day it was to capture this lovely outfit. The air was warm and the leaves seemed to glow in the golden sunshine. Who's with me in not wanting Fall to end!

Hitchcock’s very own Edna Mode, Edith Head, created the green suit. It’s based on her own design for Grace Kelly as Lisa Fremont in Rear Window (1954) – a celadon green I-line suit worn with white halterneck blouse. The Rear Window fabric is completely different, shantung silk instead of wool, and the ensemble is comprised of a two piece jacket and skirt instead of a dress and jacket. The similarities come from Head’s insistence on simplicity; like The Birds’ suit it ages so well because there is little to date it. Hedren’s suit is shorter and boxier than Kelly’s, superficially ‘Chanel like’, though in fact most resembles couturier Digby Morton’s early work (circa 1950s), except in a less luxuriant fabric
— Clothes On Film

Travel Log

Washington DC October

I have to say, this most recent Washington DC trip was a real treat for me. I had a wonderful engagement shoot to do and straight afterwards left to travel down to DC Saturday night. This was the first time I traveled by myself into a big city and boy did it make me feel invigorated and alive! The only other time I traveled out of state by myself was to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, which is a completely different atmosphere. My relatives were gracious enough to let me stay in their condo again while I was visiting the city. Needless to say when I arrived I decided to have a nice glass of wine out on the deck and watch the night come alive on the city streets below. This is one of my favorite past times while in DC.

My dad was actually in Washington as well with the boy scouts on their Traveling Camporee. I met up with my friend Mike the next day and we walked into town to meet up with my dad and spend the day together. We visited the American History Museum, which I absolutely loved. So many memento's of Americana to see. To name a few, The Ruby Slippers, Archie Bunkers Chair, The First Ladies Gowns, Presidential History, Julia Child's kitchen, the list goes on. Afterwards Mike and I dropped my dad off and then had a lovely dinner before he had to leave. I decided that I wanted to see a movie, Dracula Untold, so we walked to the theater before he caught the next metro train.

Monday morning was all about relaxing on the deck with my tea and oatmeal. I was driving over to Arlington to meet up with my dad and visit. The last time I was in Arlington was 2005 and that was specifically to see the Kennedy grave site. This time we explored more of the cemetery, but of course spent the most time at the Kennedy grave. This was the last day of the camporee for my dad so he came back to the condo to stay an extra night. We got back and sat on the deck for a while and then went out to dinner at Del Frisco's in the City Center complex. Let me tell you, we both agreed we had never had a better meal in our lives. The steak was to die for. We had home made donuts and cappuccino after for dessert. The whole meal was exquisite. Not only that, but right out of the window was a beautiful DC lit up at night. That was one magical dinner to remember.

Tuesday we got some breakfast in China town and then walked down into DC taking pictures along the way of course. Our eventual destination was the Bureau of Engraving, a place my dad has always wanted to see. The next tour was about an hour away when we did get there, so we sat on a bench near the Washington Monument. It was a gorgeous day to be outside. Once we took the tour we made our way over to the boy scout monument, had lunch, and decided on visiting Ford's Theater since my dad had never been there. Once we got back to the condo, I showed my dad the roof top, and then said good-bye to my favorite city. This was certainly a trip for the record books. I had so much fun being able to catch up with Mike, explore DC with my dad, and also be on my own for a bit in the city.

Sparkle and Shine

Getting Ready for the Holidays

sparkle and shine
sparkle and shine
sparkle and shine
sparkle and shine
sparkle and shine
sparkle and shine
sparkle and shine

I adore anything that has sparkle or shine to it. The luxe detail brings one thing to mind for me, the holiday season, which is getting closer as we speak. Excited yet? I know I sure am. The outfit is perfect for any upcoming holiday events and will be sure to get you noticed. I went for a neutral gray palette with some silver sparkles and metallic shoes. Silver belles anyone? The gorgeous chiffon skirt, which you may notice is the same one from my Mint To Be post, only in a different color. The luxe sparkly sweater and metallic shoes lend that holiday vibe that I am so looking forward to. The I Love Lucy clutch was a gift from my grandmother when she visited the I Love Lucy museum a few years back. She loves the show, as do I, and this was the perfect gift.

Shop The Look:

Snake Charmer

And Cigarette Pants

Like everything in fashion your clothes must always give you the feeling that they are very easy to wear
— Christian Dior
snake charmer
snake charmer
snake charmer
snake charmer
snake charmer
snake charmer
snake charmer

As Dior said, your clothes must always give the feeling that they are very easy to wear. This outfit, comprised of a cable knit sweater, cigarette pants, fawn heels, and a cinched snake belt are extremely comfortable and easy to wear. A fantastic office outfit I might add. Cigarette pants, or slim-fit pants, are my essential go-to fit. Nothing else looks good on me except these. The tight fit of the straight leg and opening at the bottom compliment my figure since my hips are on the narrower side. These are great for anyone with a "boyish" figure meaning your waist and hips are generally close in size. Now for the details of the outfit. The sweater has lace inserts toward the top that lend to the prettiest lady like effect. The gold snake belt simply dazzles against any color and helps liven up any outfit. It's a fun detail to add interest and keep the waist line visible. It can also be used as a regular pant belt or ever as a necklace or bracelet. The versatility make it worth its weight in gold. I love the green clutch with gold accents and how its a nice day time size to carry all a woman's essentials in.

Shop The Look:

Good Eats

Applesauce Puffs

applesauce puffs

These little bites of delight are super easy to make and are so light and airy they simply melt in your mouth. A huge hit around my house, and made with ingredients usually kept within the house, this is a win-win situation all around. I made these for one of my dinner nights with my dad and lets just say I kept getting requests for seconds and thirds. Great for Fall and they taste like a cinnamon sugar donut! What's not to love?

Ingredients:

  • 2 c. Bisquick
  • 3/4 c. sugar (divided)
  • 3 t. cinnamon (divided)
  • 1/2 c. applesauce
  • 1/4 c. milk
  • 1 egg
  • 2 T. oil
  • 5 T. melted butter

 

Directions:

  1. Combine Bisquick, 1/4c. sugar and 1 t. cinnamon.
  2. Stir in applesauce, milk, egg and oil until well mixed.
  3. Fill greases muffin pan 2/3 full.
  4. Back at 400 for 10 min.
  5. In a bowl mix 1/2 c. sugar with 2 t. cinnamon.
  6. Dip hot puffs in bowl of melted butter and then in bowl of cinnamon sugar.

 

Layering

And a little hat action too

layers
hats and layers
fall hats
layers
fall hats

Cool mornings and warm afternoons mean one thing, layering. My go to layering look is a buttons down, light sweater, and either skirt or blue jeans. Here I opted for a skirt while the weather is still nice. Black bow heels and an oxblood bag tie the Fall colors all together. Want to try something new? Try a hat! I'm all for vintage hats and love how this one has that vintage feel to it. I also wanted to keep my waist visible so I threw on a pretty bronze colored belt. This look would be great for an informal Thanksgiving dinner.

Shop The Look:

Hounds Tooth

Check Mate

houndstooth
houndstooth
houndstooth
houndstooth
houndstooth
houndstooth

Fall is my favorite season and I simply cannot say that enough it seems. I love to throw on a light weight sweater with a skirt and stroll around town while getting my errands done. A favorite pattern of mine to break out once Fall hits is hounds tooth, characterized by a broken check pattern, usually in black and white. There is nothing more chic than classic black and white. You cannot go wrong with it. Throw on some black heels with a black hand bag and you're good to go. Both my shoes and bag have a bow on them. A nice little detail to keep things girly.

Shop The Look:

Black and Tan

Cozy Chic

fall outfit
fall outfit

On a warm Fall afternoon, I cozied up in a tan plaid scarf and my LC Lauren Conrad blazer. I'm also completely in love with my new LC riding boots, perfect for the Fall and Winter months. If you live in the North Eastern part of the country, then you know how important a good pair of boots are! I love the black and white stripe look for an ever fabulously chic look. A classic that will never go out of style. Toss on some black pants and you're good to go!

fall outfit
fall outfit

Miracle Gel Polish

Miracle Gel to the Rescue!

sally hansen miracle gel polish

I always find myself painting my nails every other day due to chipping. Most likely the culprit of this is the hot water I use to scrub the dishes with. No dishwasher for this girl! I recently read your newly painted nails need at least twelve hours to set before any hot water should touch them. While I try to do that, it simply is not feesable with all of the dishes or even taking a hot shower. Enter the new product from Sally Hansen called Miracle Gel. This does not require a light to set the gel, an absolute major plus, and only has a two step system. Basically, a color polish of your choice, and then the gel top coat. Supposedly, this should last one full week before any signs of chipping occur. I was able to go about four days before I saw a chip, but that's a big improvement over one day. Looks like I've found a new go-to polish.

sally hansen miracle gel polish

Flower Power

Flower Arranging Tips

The earth laughs in flowers
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
arranging flowers

Nothing beats having fresh flowers in your home. The bright colors and fragrant smells remind me of what such beauty there is in this world. Bringing fresh flowers into your home will no doubt brighten up your mood. While filling your home with fresh flowers can be costly, one trick I've learned is to buy bunches of inexpensive flowers, separate them all out, and then make my own small arrangements in pretty vases. So now you have the small arrangements chosen for each vase. Another trick I've learned is to take clear tape and make a grid pattern at the opening home of the vase. Think like a tic-tac-toe game. After creating the grid and cutting the stems to the appropriate length, place each flower within each little square until you can no longer see the clear tape. This way the flowers stay upright and do not fall over. Think outside of the box too with your vases. Why not try a bowl (cut the stems short for this), a teacup, or even a mason jar?