Bundle up, Buttercup!

I'm gonna' be honest, the only thing I've been doing the past two days is hibernating inside my house.  My mom calls this "laying an egg"-- as in, I'm being such a ridiculous couch potato that it's almost as if I'm a hen, protecting my newly laid eggs.  
Touché, Mom.  Touché.
 This time, however, I have a good reason for hibernating.  It's -30 degreesF with the wind chill where I live.  In fact, it's so cold and the weather is so awful that my office was closed today.  It's really scary out there on the roads and the police are actually telling people to not go out unless it's absolutely necessary.  Crazy, right?!
Is anyone else experiencing crazy weather like this right now?  If you're not, I'm completely envious, but also happy for you.  Please send some of your sunshine this way!

Here are some of the casual looks I've worn lately:

Cropped Aztec sweater c/o Hawthorne Collection (Exact here)//
Seamless cami (Exact here)//
White skinny jeans (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Black riding boots (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Chunky pearl necklace (Exact from eBay; Similar here)//
Watch ℅ Wristology Watches  (Exact here)//
Personalized Hammered Cuff ℅ Bip and Bop (Exact here)// 
Bangle ℅ Bip and Bop (Exact here)

White long sleeve crew neck tee (Exact here)//
Michigan State tee (Exact old; Cute options here, here, here, here)//
Dark-wash skinny jeans (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Grey leg warmers (Exact old; Similar here)//
Hunter Wellies (Exact here)

Red plaid button-up (Exact here; Similar here, here,)//
Dark-wash skinny jeans (Exact old, from Express; Very similar here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Navy blazer (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Brown belt (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Brown riding boots (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Dusty pink scarf c/o Oakleigh Rose Boutique (Exact here)//
Rose gold watch (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)

Striped blouse ℅ Sugar Love Boutique (Exact here)//
Black Seamless cami (Exact here)//
Skinny Dress Pants (Exact old; Similar here, here,  here)//
Ivory blazer (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Black ankle boots (Exact here; Similar here, here)//
Black & white scarf (Exact old; Gorgeous scarf options here, here, here, here, here)//
Necklace & bracelet from eBay

Chevron cardigan c/o Hawthorne Collection (Exact here)//
Seamless cami (Exact here)//
Dark-wash skinny jeans (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Knit scarf (Exact old; Similar here, here)//
Taupe boots (Exact old; Similar here, here)//
Stella & Dot Rebel pendant necklace & Renegade bracelet ℅ Erika Lehman//
Watch ℅ Wristology Watches  (Exact here)

confessions of an introvert.

I often wonder how other people spend their weekends.
Weekends are usually busy for me.  But, on the off chance that I don't have any obligations, I am totally willing to stay in the house the entire weekend.  Like a hermit.  Or a house cat.  Meow.
I guess this makes me an introvert.  But, for the longest time, I was absolutely convinced that I was an extrovert--mostly because I'm pretty outgoing and easily connect with others.  However, after a little digging into the differences between introverts and extroverts, I realized that I am an introvert through and through.  I truly need my personal time to re-calibrate.  And if I don't get at least a little bit of me-time, after a while I start to not feel like myself.  And that is never a good thing!

Thankfully, this weekend was full of me-time.  The only semi-productive things I did were to go to the gym, cook dinner, and to blog.  No complaints here!
     
 Hope you enjoyed your weekend, Loves!  
Here's what I wore to work last week:

Grey cable knit dolman sweater ℅ Catch Bliss Boutique (Exact here)//
Teal pencil skirt (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Tall black boots (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Mint necklace ℅ Wild Butterfly Boutique (Exact here)//
Renegade bracelet ℅ Erika Lehman

Black turtleneck (Exact old; Similar here,  here, here, here)//
Green oversized  knit dolman sleeve knit sweater (Exact old; Cute options (but, different color): here, here, here, here)//
Khaki pencil skirt (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Black high heeled boots (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Tassel necklace ℅ Ameera Noor (Exact here)//
Fox bracelet ℅ Hawthorne Collection (Exact here)

Striped blouse ℅ Sugar Love Boutique (Exact here)//
Black Seamless cami (Exact here)//
Skinny Dress Pants (Exact old; Similar here, here,  here)//
Ivory blazer (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Black ankle boots (Exact here; Similar here, here)//
Black & white scarf (Exact old; Gorgeous scarf options here, here, here, here, here)//
Necklace & bracelet from eBay

Black turtleneck (Exact old; Similar here,  here, here, here)//
Red cardi (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here, here)//
Black & White Floral Skirt (Exact old; Similar here,  here, here)//
Wide stretch belt (Exact old; Similar (just turn the buckle to your back) here, here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//

Black round-toe pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Chunky pearl necklace (Exact from eBay; Similar here)//
Gold watch (Similar here, here, here) 

Black long sleeved dress ℅ Sugar Love Boutique (Exact here)//
Houndstooth jacket (Exact old; Fab metallic option here; Other cute options here, here, here)//
Chunky pearl necklace (Exact from eBay; Similar here)//
Tassel necklace worn as belt ℅ Hawthorne Collection//Black ankle boots (Exact here; Similar here, here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)

Avery Lane $40 Gift Card Giveaway!!

Even though I lust over all things fashion, I am sometimes very slow in picking up trends.  In fact, I usually start getting into them just as they are on their way out.  I guess part of this is because I like to make sure that I REALLY like something before I claim it as "my style".  

There is one trend, however, that I may have picked up on time: elbow patch cardigans and sweaters.  I LOVE them!  And Avery Lane Boutique has elbow patch cardis and sweaters galore!  Actually, they have tons of adorable pieces--and one lucky gal will win a $40 gift card to this fabulous boutique!  Just use the Rafflecopter app below to enter.

(Remember, the more points you complete using the app, the more times your name will be entered into the drawing.)

I just know you girls are gonna' ADORE their stuff!  

Good luck, ladies!

And thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway, Casey!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The small print: Giveaway ends on Saturday, January 25th, and is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be announced on Facebook and must claim prize within 48 hours. If prize is left unclaimed within this time, a new winner will be chosen.

holiday smorgasbord.

After a nice, long, holiday break I'm back at it-- 

Here's to surviving the polar vortex and getting back to the daily grind!  Hope you had an amazing holiday season! :)

P.S.  Have you been craving any gorgeous pieces from Wild Butterfly Boutique?  Use code "HELLOGORGEOUS25" to get 25% off your order!

Fair Isle sweater (Exact here; Cute options here, here,  here)//
Red skinny jeans (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Black riding boots (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Earrings ℅ Ali Oesch Jewelry (Exact here)// 
Personalized Hammered Cuff ℅ Bip and Bop (Exact here)// 
Bangle ℅ Bip and Bop (Exact here)//
"Be Present" bracelet c/o Ali Oesch Jewelry (Exact here)

Dress ℅ Flourish Boutique (Exact here)//
Faux fur snood (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Ivory blazer (Exact old; Cute options here, here, here//
Gold cap-toe pointy pumps (Exact old, via JCPenney; Similar here, here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Earrings ℅ Ali Oesch Jewelry (Exact here)//
"Be Present" bracelet c/o Ali Oesch Jewelry (Exact here)

Red plaid button-up (Exact here; Similar here, here,)//
Caramel knit sweater (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
White skinny jeans (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Riding boots (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Personalized Hammered Cuff ℅ Bip and Bop (Exact here)// 
Bangle ℅ Bip and Bop (Exact here)//
"Love" monogram necklace, long chevron necklace, & anchor ring ℅ Wild Butterfly Boutique (Exact here, here, and here)//
Midi rings ℅ Ali Oesch jewelry

Oversized color block sweater ℅ Catch Bliss Boutique (Exact here)// 
Grey scarf (Similar here, here, here)//
Boyfriend jeans (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Riding boots (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Rose gold watch (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
"Be Present" bracelet c/o Ali Oesch Jewelry (Exact here)//
Earrings ℅ Ali Oesch Jewelry (Exact here)

How to Make Snow Ice Cream!

You may have noticed very few outfit/instagram pics from me in the past week.  That's because I was extreeeemely busy soaking up the sun in LA; where J & I visited my side of the family and had a great time watching our alma mater win the Rose Bowl (GO GREEN!!).  Now I'm wondering if maybe I should have stayed in LA, because I came back to snowpocalypse 2014!  It has snowed well over 20 inches here, and conditions are so bad that my workplace has been closed for the past two days.  CRAZY! 

What I should be doing during this time is cleaning up the house and doing laundry.  But, obviously, that would be too responsible of me. Instead, what I have been doing is taking naps and making ice cream out of snow.  

...When in Rome…! 

My friend Katie posted a similar snow ice cream recipe today (thanks, Katie!!!) and in an attempt to break up my naps, I decided to give it a go.  I tweaked the recipe a bit, and to my surprise, it's actually REALLY delicious!  Who knew?! 

So, if you're snowed in and want to eat something yummy and relatively healthy, make yourself a bowl of snow ice cream!  You can add even more pizazz to your version with different toppings like hot fudge, m&ms, and whipped cream.  Have fun & stay warm!

(Check out the original recipe from Country Drawers Blog here!)

 ***It goes without saying that you'll want to use only fresh, untouched, snow!***  

Bip and Bop $100 Gift Card Giveaway!!-CLOSED.

I became familiar with a gorgeous Etsy shop named 'Bip and Bop' a few short months ago.  I was blown away by their beautiful dainty pieces and the number of items that could be personalized-- one more unique than the other!

I was even more impressed to find out that famous bloggers like Cara Loren wear their pieces.  Oh, and did I mention that Bip and Bop was just mentioned in Tori Spelling's must-have holiday list for 2013?!  How cool!

So, I am beyond excited to host a $100 gift card giveaway to this fabulous boutique!!  I just know you girls will fall head over heels in love with their pieces.  Go ahead, take a look at Bip and Bop's amazing pieces here, and use the Rafflecopter app below to enter the giveaway.

(Remember, the more points you complete using the app, the more times your name will be entered into the drawing.)

Good luck, ladies!!

And thanks bunches for the fabulous giveaway, Nicole!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The small print: Giveaway ends on Friday January 3rd and is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be announced on Facebook and must claim prize within 48 hours. If prize is left unclaimed within this time, a new winner will be chosen.

'Twas the week before Christmas.

Only 3 more days until Christmas!  Are you ladies ready?  

I am not!  Most of the people on my Christmas list are shopped for.  However, I have nothing wrapped (honestly, I haven't even purchased the wrapping paper yet!), and I haven't sent the things that I wanted to send out in the mail.  
My procrastination is mostly because I've been completely swamped at work and wrapping Christmas presents has been at the very bottom of my list of To-Dos.  

So, I guess I better get to it! ;)

Merry almost-Christmas, Loves!! <3  

Top ℅ Flourish Boutique (Exact here)//
White skirt (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Black peplum jacket (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Black round-toe pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
"Be Present" bracelet c/o Ali Oesch Jewelry (Exact here)// 
Necklace from eBay

Oversized color block sweater ℅ Catch Bliss Boutique (Exact here)// 

Grey scarf (Similar here, here)//

White skinny jeans (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//

Riding boots (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//

Earrings ℅ Ali Oesch Jewelry (Exact here)// 

Tortoise bracelet c/o Sira & Mara (Exact here)// 

Personalized Hammered Cuff ℅ Bip and Bop (Exact here)// 

Bangle ℅ Bip and Bop (Exact here)

Gingham button-up (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//

Fox sweater (Exact old; Other adorable animal sweaters here, here, here)//
Striped skirt ℅ Catch Bliss Boutique (Exact old)//

Black opaque tights (Exact here)//

Black round-toe pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)// 

Small ivory bubble necklace ℅ Flourish Boutique 

Green plaid button-up (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//

Black and white polka dot sweater (Exact old; Very similar here, here, here)//

Mustard yellow pencil skirt (Exact old; Similar here here, here, here)//

Riding boots (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)// 

Clover necklace ℅ Ali Oesch Jewelry (Exact here)// 

Stella & Dot Rebel pendant necklace ℅ Erika Lehman// 

Personalized Hammered Cuff ℅ Bip and Bop (Exact here)// 

Bangle ℅ Bip and Bop (Exact here)// 

Watch c/o Wristology Watches  (Exact here)