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Holiday Gift Guide 2017: Cozy Gifts

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2017: COZY GIFTS

There’s just something about this time of year that makes you want to snuggle under a super soft blanket with a mug of hot cocoa in your most comfy pjs and warmest slippers and watch your favorite Christmas movies.

Thus my inspiration for creating a cozy gifts guide.

I’m not going to lie, I want all of these for myself, but they are each great gift ideas for others.

Pajamas

Victoria’s Secret-The Flannel PJ set

Victoria’s Secret-The Thermal PJ set

For many years I’ve gotten Victoria’s Secret pjs, and I have loved them! They are always so cozy and last for a very long time. (Truth time- I’m wearing some right now!) 🙂 But below are my favorite line from Target. They are the softest, most comfy pjs from Target I’ve ever had.

Target-Gilligan & O’Malley

J. Crew-Nightshirt

Robes and Slippers

Victoria’s Secret- Cozy Hooded Short Robe

I love the hood on this robe. And this deep purple color is really beautiful.

Victoria’s Secret-Slipper

These are free with a $50 sleep purchase at Victoria’s Secret. And how cute are they with that little pom pom?

L.L. Bean- Wicked Good Moccasins

I’ve been wearing L. L. bean Moccasins for several years now, and I love them! I love the shearling detail on these.

L.L.. Bean-Wicked Good Shearling-Lined Slides

L.L. Bean Slipper Sock, Cable Knit

These would be so cute with that sleep shirt from J. Crew.

Walmart.com-Chinese Laundry Lacey Slipper

I love that Walmart outsources with other companies on their website. You can’t find cute Chinese Laundry items in store, so when I saw these pop up, I had to click on them. Super cute.

Cozy Throws

Woven Tassel Throw Blanket- Hearth and Hand- Target

Perhaps my favorite thing from the Hearth and Hand line at Target.

Home Goods- Faux Fur Throw

As much as I love the cable knit one from Target, I do love a good faux fur throw. They are so warm and look so chic.

Now excuse me while I go add all of these to my own Christmas list. 🙂

Happy Shopping, y’all!

XO,

Elizabeth

Holiday Gift Guide 2017: Beauty Lover

Happy Holidays! Well, almost…Thanksgiving is just around the corner and Christmas too, so I feel like it’s ok if I say that.

Today I’m sharing with you some incredible gift ideas for the beauty lover in your life.

Because I’ve joined the mission to get safer products into the hands of everyone,the products in my beauty guide are going to come from Beautycounter. And why not give those that you love something that they can feel good about putting on their bodies. Right now Beautycounter has a great Holiday Collection. I’ve mentioned before how easy it is to break these up and give as gifts to different people. Or, hey, maybe you need a gift for yourself. It is holiday party season after all, and who doesn’t need high-performing, long-wearing beauty products to get us through?

I will say that some of these gift sets have sold out, but have no fear! Almost all of them are coming back!! HOORAY! (That’s all listed under each picture on the Beautycounter website.)

I am here to tell you, I wish I had all of them. That Ultimate Nudes Palette is at the top of my list!

And I’ve really been loving liquid eyeliner lately, so I’ve got my eye on the Nude Eye Trio…let’s be honest, I want the Smokey Eye Trio too, but the nude one would get more use. And if we’re being REALLY honest, I want everything.

I’m a makeup girl. I always have been. Blue eyeshadow up to my eyebrows, pink blush, and red lipstick. That was my go-to look when I played in makeup as a kid. I wanted to be like Dolly.

Heck, I still want to be like Dolly. But now it’s more of the look Dolly has here that I’d like to imitate. 🙂 Gorgeous.

Moving on…

Any of these would make great gifts! And again, breaking them up would be so easy. Just a little something for a friend or coworker, babysitter or teacher, mom or mother-in-law, the list can go on. Unfortunately we aren’t able to restock the Holiday Hand Cream Trio. And trust me, you aren’t the only one upset about that. It was favored by everyone.

The Glow & Go Mini Oils is a shop one, share one special. With any purchase of the Glow & Go Mini Oils set Beautycounter will gift a set to a patient at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC)—a trailblazing destination for research, education, and patient care. What a great thing you’re doing! And not only would this make a great gift for yourself 🙂 but you could also break these up as an indulgent gift for your closest girlfriends without breaking the bank!

There are, of course, so many other options at the Beautycounter website if you don’t see something you like here. You can purchase single lip sheers and lip glosses (which I love), and eye shadow duos and all in a great selection of colors for everyone.

That is the mission after all!

*And here’s some insider info- well just a teaser really- stay tuned for some exciting things to come! You won’t want to miss out!*

If you’re new to the whole Beautycounter thing, please read why I joined this company here.

Then head over to my website and peruse the products. And please contact me if you have any questions. I’d love to help you find a way to get safer products into your hands for you and your family.

Happy Shopping, y’all!

XO,

Elizabeth

Want To Be My Neighbor?

WANT TO BE MY NEIGHBOR?

That’s right! You can be my neighbor! The apartment across this gorgeous hall is available for rent. Trust me, you want to see this charmer!

Come On In

I mean, could you just die?! That exposed brick…gets me every time. The hardwoods are just as beautiful as they are in my apartment, and I love the bead board wainscoting. So charming. You can see that it’s an open floor plan into the kitchen which is equally as charming. I’ll show you in a second. Here’s another view of the living area. This is looking at the front door. There’s enough space on either side of the door for a small dining table, much like our side of the building. A hallway to the two bedrooms and bathrooms is to the right and the kitchen to the left.

Let’s have a closer look at the details, shall we? I just love the bead board. It’s such a simple detail, but isn’t it all in the details anyway? That’s what “they” say. And I agree. Come on…. I fall in love with this apartment even more every time I see this brick wall. Such a beautiful part of the history of this building.

Let’s Look At This Kitchen

Who doesn’t love a white kitchen? It’s bright and get’s the BEST afternoon light. You can watch the sunset right through that window.

Plenty of space and great cabinets. Lots of storage here too. Also, to the right of the fridge is the door to the back porch we share.

Here you can see how open it is to the living space. I love this about my apartment too. I can cook dinner and not miss all those Hallmark movies that are always playing on my television this time of year. 🙂
This wine rack built-in is such a cute feature. I love this so much because I need this! Keeps them off the counter, because that’s prime real estate, people. Just off the kitchen there’s a laundry room. It’s very spacious and has folding doors to close it off.

Guest Room

There’s already a bed for you! And look at those windows! What a way to wake up every morning. So much delightful natural light in this apartment. Closet is a good size too. All of my clothes (and shoes…and purses) fit in a closet this exact size.

Master Bedroom and Bathroom

Four glorious windows, y’all. FOUR. The pictures don’t do it justice on how big the room is either. It’s so beautiful. I love the built-ins in the closet. This is a game changer in closet organization and maximizing space.
Large en suite with the cutest linen closet. (My apartment doesn’t have this, and I am jealous!) The guest bathroom looks identical to this bathroom just flipped around. Shower on the right, toilet and vanity on the left. The guest bathroom has those charming cabinets too.

On second thought, maybe I’ll just move across the hall and you can move into mine.

Kidding!

Kind of.

It is truly a hidden gem in this sweet town we live in. If you know anyone that’s looking for a great apartment, I know just the place.

Details

Rent: $1,100 a month-includes all utilities and Dish Network

PET FRIENDLY

Contact Info: 334-382-8740

Thanks for having a look around with me. What are you waiting for? Be my neighbor!

XO,

Elizabeth

My Newest Obsession- Lighting

MY NEWEST OBSESSION- LIGHTING

Just as the title says, I’ve got a new obsession. I never used to really think about lighting so much. Mostly it was an afterthought. When the rest of the room came together I never really thought about changing it. But let’s be honest, most places I’ve lived had ceiling fans and that was just the way it was. Because the south is hot and we need our ceiling fans.

Boob Light

Most places I’ve lived had the dreaded “boob light”. Who invented these? Why did they feel the need to add a “nipple” to the light fixture? Good grief!

I’ve mostly been thinking about changing the lighting in our living, dining, kitchen and hallway-which isn’t terrible, but I found something I love and of course I want to have it.

The main living areas in our apartment are all open to each other, so I’d like for them all to complement each other.

Living Room

This picture is from shortly after we moved in, and some changes have been made like the rug, the curtains, and the artwork, but do you see that boob light? She’s a big one too! It’s a shiny gold/maybe polished brass that I just don’t love. Luckily I have the best landlords (in-laws) in the world, and if I want to change out a light fixture, they’ll pretty much let me. It comes out of my pocket, which is fine if it fits in my budget, so I’m in a great position here to personalize this home to my liking.

Dining Area

Same polished brass/gold-tone base that the one in the living room has. The glass shade is just dated. There’s nothing wrong with it, just looking for something a little more my style.

The Kitchen

This fixture is apparently still available at some stores. I am not looking to change up any wiring or anything, so this one will probably stay the same, but I’m thinking of painting the wood accents black or antique bronze. I’ve not actually run this idea by my in-laws, so I’ll for sure be asking for permission there. I just think I would like it more, and it would complement the other fixtures I like for these open areas.

New Lighting Options

I didn’t think I’d really ever go for anything like this in my own house, but I’m completely in love with this chandelier for my living room. It’s a show-stopper that would be so lovely.

Savoy House Byanca 5 Light Chandelier- Walmart.com

This one would be a little less dramatic but just as pretty. I love a little sparkle, and why not let it be the part that lights up your room?Crystal World Inc. Cornelius 4 Light Antique Brass Chandelier

This is one of my favorite options for the dining area. I love the clean, white drums and the overall sleek lines of the whole fixture. She’s a beauty. It’s the Sea Gull Driscoll 3140403 Chandelier that I found on walmart.com.

I love this globe pendant. It would take me a long time to get tired of this one. Timeless and chic.

Frosted Glass Globe Hailey Pendant- World Market

This is one that simply wouldn’t work with my decor and the direction I’m going for our home, but I do love this piece! Those bubble globes and edison bulbs are spectacular. Someone scoop this one up asap!

This is the flush mount that I like for my hallway. I think the black would look the best in our home, but that white and gold is speaking my language.

Well, there we have it. My newest obsession. Can’t I ever find an obsession that doesn’t cost so much money? Story of my life…Do any of y’all have lighting that you love in your home? Or lighting that you love that’s on your wish list? I didn’t even touch on sconces or lamps. Oh boy! It’s quickly becoming one my very favorite things about home decor. Share some of your favorites with me in the comments. I’d love to see what you love!

XO,

Elizabeth

House For Sale

HOUSE FOR SALE

Happy Saturday, y’all!

Guess what? My family has a house for sale.

It’s a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house with a kitchen, dining room, living room, and den. The dining, living, one of the bedrooms, and hallway have hardwood floors. The den and other two bedrooms have brand new carpet. The backyard is very spacious with a storage house and plenty of room for a trampoline and playsets.

My grandparents and great aunt lived there for about 10 years before they passed away over the course of this past year. The house has been cleaned up and cleaned out and needs some new owners.

Let’s Take a Quick Look Around

This is the dining room looking into the living room. These rooms are on the front of the house and get incredible natural light. We’ve had so many wonderful meals in this room. Many Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, birthday celebrations and Sunday lunches too. The room is quite spacious. Granny had some pretty substantial furniture in there, and there was room for everyone around the table along with her precious furniture.

The living room is also a great size. It gets great light and was a perfect napping spot since it was far enough away from the den with the westerns on the TV Granddaddy liked to watch and is closed off enough from the hustle and bustle of the people in the kitchen.

Just off the living room is a hallway that leads to one of the bedrooms and a bathroom. The bedroom has a sliding-door closet and those pretty wood floors. It gets good natural light with two windows, too.

The bathroom is a full bath with a tub/shower combo. It has lots of shelving (out of frame) for towels, personal care products, etc. It’s a great bathroom. It has an interesting L-shaped design to it that I always kind of loved. Let’s just say people can’t exactly barge in on you in case you forget to lock the door-you have time to shout out first. 🙂

Leading into the dining room is the kitchen. If only I could taste my granny’s cooking again. You know Grandma’s cooking is the best! The room is actually a great size. I know the trend is huge islands and open floor plans, but this kitchen is a functioning space that has held 1-10 people at once. My grandparents also had a little table pushed against the pushed against the wall (out of frame) where they sat with my great aunt to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. There was still tons of room to move around in the kitchen, even with the table.

On the other side of the house, just off the kitchen, is a den, two bedrooms, and another full bath. This is the larger of the other two bedrooms. It has brand new carpet. The sliding door closet is actually a very nice size. My current closet is the same size as this one, and I have plenty of room with some to spare.

This room gets great natural light with that big window. This is another room that is actually really large. My granny loved her furniture. She filled this room with itand still had plenty of room to spare.

This is the third bedroom. It is a little smaller than the one just above, but this one has a walk-in closet. This room did have a full-sized bed, dresser, chest of drawers, and bedside tables.

The second bathroom has a shower but no tub, toilet, sink, and built in cabinets for storage. None of the rooms have an en suite, but all bathrooms are in such close proximity to the bedrooms that it wouldn’t be any inconvenience.

Out back, like I said there is so much space. This is the storage house. It has a brand new door and is up to code. It might need a coat of paint, but that’s not a big job at all. It’s also really spacious. Granddaddy had so many tools from his workshop stored in there plus plenty more. And if you didn’t need any storage space, think about what a fun playhouse or art studio it could be! There you have it. It’s really a sweet house. That front porch is wonderful on those perfect spring and fall days when it feels so good here.

It’s located on Hillcrest Drive here in Greenville. If you know anyone interested in buying a house, please let us know. There is a For Sale by Owner sign in the yard with contact information on it. But I’d be happy to help you out if you needed a phone number or wanted to schedule a time to come by and see it.

Please share this post on social media to help spread the word. Leave me a comment if you’re interested yourself!

Thanks for stopping by today. Those sweet Grandparents of mine had a great house. I’d love for someone else to come in and make it their own.

I hope y’all enjoy your weekend! Come downtown to Open House at some of the shops downtown today and support our local businesses.

XO,

Elizabeth

Currently Loving- October 2017

CURRENTLY LOVING- OCTOBER 2017

Hi everyone! October is coming to a close and it’s officially holiday season! Hooray! It really is the most wonderful time of the year.

I have to take a minute to talk about that front stoop up there. Isn’t it dreamy? As much as I love the Christmas season and decor, this fall decor is giving me all the feels. It’s from one of my favorite bloggers, Alaina Kaczmarski of The Elizabeth Street Post. I’ll talk more about her later in this post.

But we’re not here to talk about the holidays, we’re here to talk about October. I’d like to share some of the things that came across my path that I loved during this gorgeous month.

Some Cooler Weather

Time for more of those outfits, amiright? About midway through the month it got a little chilly, left for a bit, then on the 28th there was that glorious cold front that came through. It was rainy and cold, and I stayed in and watched Hallmark Christmas movies all day while I worked on Beautycounter business and wrote several blog posts. It was one of those perfect fall days. Only thing that would have made it better was an unnecessary fire in a fireplace I don’t have. Ha! 🙂

I’m a Beautycounter Consultant

That brings me to my second favorite thing about October- Beautycounter. I’ve shared with you some of the products that I’d been using from them before, but this was the month that I signed on to become a consultant. I have a full post on why I joined that I’d love for you to read here. Here are some of my favorite products that I’ve been using from the very beginning of my journey with this wonderful company.

These were the original products that I started with from the brand, and I’ve not turned back. I love them so much, and they’re a safer option for your skin care routine. For more of my favorites read the original post here. You can also check out my right sidebar and choose the Safer Beauty tab to learn more. You can also visit my website with Beautycounter directly right here.

Tip Time

I was listening to Young House Love has a Podcast a while back, and Sherry was saying that one way they keep paper clutter out of their house was to take pictures on your phone of the pages that you like in a magazine and then upload them to a secret Pinterest board so that you don’t have a million magazines lying around your house. And I was like, duh!!! Why didn’t I think of that?! Thanks, Sherry! I just wanted to share that with y’all because it really is that easy! I got rid of SO MANY magazines because I did this and was able to pass the magazines along to friends and the local hospital waiting rooms.

Lighting

As always, I’m trying to find ways to improve my home and make it more “me”. Well, I’ve recently discovered the wonder of the world of lighting. Light fixtures are some of the most brilliant works of art out there. Although, I’m more of a traditionalist when it comes to lighting, there are some really fun and funky options that could totally make your space. Here’s a few that I really love.

Antique Whitewashed Wood Bead Chandelier- World Market

I’ve saved the best for last. The is a photo of one of my very favorite bloggers that lives in one of my very favorite homes I’ve ever seen. Her style is impeccable, and I find myself wanting to copy her decor every time I see a new photo of her home. Look at this chandelier. Look at her whole apartment! It’s seriously one of the most beautiful homes. Remember the front stoop at the top of this post? Same blogger. Her style…ah! I love it! Check out her full home tour here. Trust me, you want to! And then you’ll be mad at me because you’ll immediately want to change everything about your home because her home is perfection.

Music

Every morning when I have my quiet time I listen to instrumental praise music. That’s the name of the Pandora station I listen to, actually. It has introduced me to so many new artists that I wouldn’t have known because I typically don’t listen to instrumental music. But in the mornings with Jesus, it’s nice. This song stopped me in my tracks the first time I heard it, and it still does even though I’ve heard it probably 30 times. I posted about it on my Instagram a while back, but I’m going to share it again here. Have a listen, won’t you?

One more, and DON’T judge ok? I am a big fan of Leslie Odom Jr. He plays Aaron Burr in Hamilton and is starring in the upcoming Murder on the Orient Express. The man has a beautiful voice, and it’s very unique. Last year he came out with a Christmas album, but I didn’t get it for whatever reason. Well, this year he announced he’s re-releasing a deluxe edition of the album. And, well, I caved. And I’m so glad I did! It’s SO GOOD! It was worth the $10 on itunes and will be great to play when I put up the tree. I’m more of a Rat Pack Christmas kind of girl than a Mariah Carey Christmas kind of girl anyway, so Leslie Odom Jr. fits right in with what I like.

Countdown to Christmas

The only other thing I’m loving during October is the Hallmark Channel. The harvest movies were fantastic, of course, and October was the kick-off for Countdown to Christmas. Like I said, it’s the most wonderful time of the year!

I hope everyone has had a lovely October, and I wish you a very Happy November!

XO,

Elizabeth

Leaving my Beauty Mark

Hello my friends. It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged. I guess I’ve been in a creativity rut. Also, work is keeping me pretty busy, so projects have been put on the backburner. I don’t remember there being this much paperwork in Louisiana public schools. Maybe it was because I didn’t really have papers to grade. Who knows? However, school work is taking up a lot of my time, so weekday projects are pretty much non-existent, and when the weekends roll around, we have plans a lot of the time. These sound a lot like excuses, but the truth is, this blog is one of my favorite things I do because it’s just for me. I love this outlet to share things that I love (whether anyone reads it or not), and it just makes me feel good to write. So when I have to put it to the side, I miss it terribly.

So, yes, I blog for me. And I’m so happy that you come back time and time again to read it. But I’ve recently come across something that I’m not only doing for me; I’m doing it for you as well.

Enter Beautycounter

I learned about this company from a random Facebook message from my Beautycounter mentor, Kelly. She reached out to me, probably expecting a negative result since I didn’t live near her anymore. But for whatever reason, I took interest. I started looking into the company and learned that these products are made with safer ingredients than what I’ve been using on my skin for about 31 years. I knew pretty instantly after exploring the Beautycounter website that I wanted to try something. I decided to go with the Charcoal Bar and the Charcoal Mask. I loved them and haven’t looked back yet.

Why Beautycounter?

I’m not one to do something drastic without doing my research, so… I did my research and a lot of it. I started following Beautycounter and its founder, Gregg Renfrew, on social media. I read the tab on the Beautycounter website called Our Story. It’s chock full of information about how Beautycounter got started and why they’re doing what they’re doing. I looked up videos on talks that Gregg did, found some reviews on the products on Youtube. There was surprisingly a wealth of info out there about this relatively new company.

S0, why Beautycounter? I am 31 years old. I have some healthy habits in my life, but I also have plenty of unhealthy ones to counteract them. As I’ve become a 30-something I’ve really started to learn who I am and what I want out of my life. And with that reckoning came a desire for change. It’s a process, as anything is, but I am working on myself to develop a more healthy lifestyle. I know I need to exercise more, eat more veggies, use safer cleaning products, and get my yearly checkups so that I am keeping track of my overall health. Well, Beautycounter seemed like a great addition to a healthier lifestyle. Look, I’m a girly girl. I love makeup and beauty products. And, y’all, this is a fun lifestyle change! I actually feel good about the things that I put on my body every day, and I look forward to acquiring even more safer skincare and beauty products.

Safer Beauty

One of the reasons Beautycounter is so safe is because of The Never List. The Never List is a list of ingredients that are often used in beauty and personal care products but are never used in products at Beautycounter. Follow the link above to see the list.

In the United States, we only have roughly 30 restricted or banned cosmetic ingredients. If we look to our friends in the European Union we will find over 1,400 banned ingredients. The last time congress did any major regulating to the cosmetics industry was in 1938. Almost 80 years ago guys. 80.

This is one of my favorite things about Beautycounter, they are trying to change this. They are in D.C. actually lobbying to get congress to pay attention and make these changes. I am not a mother yet, but I want to be. And I want my future children to have safe personal care products to use. Sure, I want them for myself too, but to know that if I have a daughter, she could have all safe skin care and makeup is a big why for me.

So, I joined the mission to get safer products into the hands of everyone. Mine and yours. I’m still learning about all of the products, but I’m loving every minute of it. I’d love to share with you in person about this amazing company and the potentially life-saving mission of this company. Cancer caused by environmental elements is a real thing. I believe they are trying to make things safer for us so that our risk of cancer due to some of our lifestyle choices is at a lesser risk than it is now. I believe in these products and in the mission of this company.

Like I said, I’d love to tell you more. There’s all sorts of ways we can do that. I can have you over to play in some of the products. I can host you and few of your friends at my house. You can host friends at your house and I’ll bring all of my goodies for you to try. You can learn more about this stand-out company and how you, too, can switch to safer beauty.

Okay, here are a few of my favorite products. Like I said before, I started with the charcoal bar.

My Favorite Products

My skin is very oily and acne-prone, and I have big pores, so anything with charcoal has always been recommended to me. I couldn’t get just one thing so I decided to try the Charcoal Mask as well.

I ordered these two products way back in March and I’m still using the same tube of the mask and am just now finishing up my second charcoal bar. These products last so long because a little goes a long way.

I ended up diving into the cosmetics side of the brand with the Tint Skin Foundation. It is extremely high-performing and long-wearing.

This makeup is very comparable to a high end brand of makeup that I was wearing before. It was honestly a no-brainer for me to repurchase this makeup after I fell in love with it and knew that it was so much safer.

Here’s a few more products that I love and use daily.

This concealer is everything. It hides all imperfections and is in this wonderful pen, which I didn’t like at first, but now I think it’s genius! This sunscreen is a face stick. I have such fair skin, and though I knew I needed sunscreen on my face everyday, I hated how thick and goopy it made my skin feel. And then I had to put makeup on top of it. I just wasn’t feeling it. This is amazing. I know I’m getting great sun protection, and I’m not getting the sticky feeling I normally get from other sunscreens I’ve used. Bonus- it smells a little like Tootsie Rolls. 🙂 Double bonus- It’s a safe sunscreen!This is the volumizing mascara. I honestly wasn’t so sure about this because I had found my holy grail mascara a long time ago. And anytime I strayed from it to try the next best thing, I always came crawling back. But then I tried Beautycounter. And I literally threw the other stuff away. This performed better than the other mascara and it’s safer for me.
Last, and not really last but last on this list, is the Lip Conditioner Peppermint Balm. It’s cooling, hydrating, and feels great. Also, you know, with lip products, we are constantly licking our lips, drinking our coffee and eating and transferring our lipstick all in the process. Turns out, we actually consume our lip products. Yes, like eat them. Of course we’re unaware that we’re doing this, but we are, and a lot of the ingredients in our lipsticks are toxic. So, I feel better knowing that my lip products that I wear from Beautycounter are safer for me to actually wear and sometimes consume. I sure hope you’ve stuck around until now. Please feel free to message me, leave a comment here on this post, join my Facebook group, and visit my website to learn even more and to shop with me. You can also check out the right sidebar right here on my blog. It’s a page labeled Safer Beauty, and you’ll always find a direct link to my website there without having to search for this post.

I can’t wait to introduce you to these truly wonderful products that you’re sure to love.

XO,

Elizabeth

Currently Loving- September 2017

CURRENTLY LOVING- SEPTEMBER 2017

Hi friends! Anyone else feel like September just kind of blurred by? I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that October is, like, tomorrow. But it is, so I’m here to share some of my favorite things about September. I do, however, love October. It’s officially time for slightly cooler nights, lots of actual pumpkins (not just pumpkin spice), and things start changing colors…those beautiful colors. I digress…In no particular order here are some of my September favorites:

Walmart Finds

I’ve told y’all about the website Bauble Bar before and how much I love their jewelry. I just don’t really love their price tag. It’s not outrageous or anything, but I love a deal. That website inspired me to make these earrings instead of paying nearly $40 for them.

Well, a while back I found these for $32. And these for $34.

Cute, right? Well, I follow this Instagram account called WhoaWaitWalmart. And they posted this picture.And in case you can’t read that price, it says $4.00!! AND just this week they put on their Instastories that they are all marked down to $2.00! Bummer for those of us who live in Greenville because they didn’t get any of this cuteness, but I did find them in Montgomery at the Walmart on Chantilly. Here’s what I got. Don’t these look almost identical to the Bauble Bar ones? I paid the full $4, but still! I’m pretty bad at math, but that’s an eighth of the price right? I’m counting it as a win.

I’ll never quit black and white stripes. And how fun for Halloween?I convinced myself I just needed one more pair so I could have game day earrings.

Now that they’re $2.00, I want to go back and get all the others I wanted. Anybody know how to grow a money tree? Because if you go back and look at that picture of all the earrings, how could you say no to any of them? So much goodness!

Ginger Hair

In case you don’t know this about me, I go through an annual period where I want to dye my hair red. I’ve done it once, and I didn’t realize how much upkeep it is to be a ginger. It faded so quickly, and I got nervous and let it grow out to a weird color before I dyed it blonde again. Well, it usually happens around fall. (Must be all those awesome Pinterest photos.) But I always chicken out. I get too nervous that I’ll look ridiculous or that I won’t be able to keep it up. Also, I want one of the more expensive processes to be done, so where’s that money tree again? Anyway, here’s what I want to do this time. Come follow me on Pinterest for more pointless red hair inspirtation. 🙂 Isn’t it so gorgeous? Initially, I think it isn’t that drastic of a change, and yet as I’m writing this post I’m totally thinking, I could NEVER! But it’s SOOOOO pretty! I don’t know what my obsession is. I just love it. One day I’m going to do it and never look back. 🙂 Also, anyone watching Making the Team with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders? I have loved this show since it started. Kelli is cutthroat, and I love her! This beauty right up there is Stephanie. In this season, her hair is so gorgeous. Every time they show her, I say out loud how much I love her hair color. Maybe I’ll do it over Thanksgiving break so I have a week to get used to it. (Who am I kidding? I’ll be saying this again next September.)

Beachin’

Paul and I went to the beach recently with my parents and brother. It was a quick trip but much needed and definitely enjoyed. We were in Gulf Shores, and though we’ve been there countless times, we found new restaurants and had a great time. If you’re going soon, you should visit Fisher’s Dockside and pretty much order anything. It doesn’t disappoint.

Fashion Week

Fashion week has been happening all over the world recently, and I pulled together a few of my favorite looks from some great designers.

Oscar de la Renta

Carolina Herrera

See that silver dress above? Well, it looks stunning on the red carpet, but Sarah Paulson wore it to the Emmys earlier this month, and I really didn’t like it. Perhaps it’s the styling differences, but I loved it in the show. Here it is at the Emmys. Alberta Ferretti

Now for some fashion funnies

I’m not knocking fashion as an art, but I’d never wear those glasses nor the purple swim cap dress. And it sort of looks like the 80’s are back at Gucci. Hmm…Fun to look at, and laugh at, at least.

Broadway Under the Stars

If you’ve never gotten the chance to go to Broadway Under the Stars at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, you are missing out on life! The Montgomery Symphony Orchestra comes to play music from Broadway shows past and present. They played Hamilton, y’all! It was the most perfect weather, and we had a wonderful spot complete with three little girls in front of us who ballet danced to nearly the whole thing. Next year, you must go! It’s outside on the grounds, hence “under the stars”. And the moon was full and enormous. It was practically magical.

And I just love this building and always have to take its picture.

Also, we carried a picnic dinner from Jason’s Deli. I got the Caprese Panini, and all I can say is, how have I never eaten here before? Holy crap it’s good! And bonus, if you dine in, you get a complimentary ice cream cone for dessert. #winning

Sean on the Porch

If you’ve never heard of Sean of the South, then click his name and go read his latest post. You won’t be able to stop at just one. He’s a magician with words. It’s unbelievable how good he is at telling stories. He’s a good ol’ southern boy who loves his wife, mama, and dog. He writes feel good stories, sad stories, love stories, and everything else in between. He recently came to Greenville to speak and play some guitar out at Nanny’s Fine Dining. It was a true pleasure to hear him tell stories in person. He’s just as good at that as he is at putting them on paper. Promise me you’ll go check him out. Just go ahead and sign up for them to come to your email every morning, ok?

September was pretty good to me. I’ve clearly had a busy one. How was your September? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Have a great weekend, y’all!

Elizabeth

Fall Recipe- Pumpkin Oatmeal

PUMPKIN OATMEAL

I’m still on a fall food kick, and I’ve found another yummy one. Pumpkin Oatmeal, y’all! I am a fan of oatmeal in bursts. Sometimes I get really into it, and I’ll stay into it for a few weeks or so, but then I don’t want it for about six months.

I was in one of those six month stretches when I came across this recipe on Pinterest. (Seriously, what did we do before Pinterest?) I’m a sucker for just about anything with pumpkin, so I decided to give it a go.

The Recipe

As is my pattern, I cannot take credit for this recipe, so I’d like to link to the original post where I found it. Click here to go to Damn Delicious. Yep, that’s the name of her site. Ha! Well, the oatmeal was just that, so her content lives up to her site name.

I cooked the oatmeal (Old Fashioned Oats) in almond milk, and once it was done (ten-ish minutes), I added canned pumpkin, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Something about cinnamon screams fall and simply warms my heart.

Your kitchen will begin to smell like some serious fall goodness, and you’ll want to eat the entire pot even though it makes about four servings.

Let’s Eat!

Chungah, the author of Damn Delicious, serves hers with pecans on top. (YUM!) But I didn’t have any pecans, and it didn’t make that much of a difference to me to have them, so I omitted them this time.

But you should for sure drizzle on a little maple syrup before serving the oatmeal for just a hint of sweetness. So tasty!

Then pour yourself a coffee with your favorite pumpkin spice creamer and you’ve got yourself a bona fide fall breakfast.

It keeps well in the fridge and warms up pretty well in the microwave. I recommend pouring a bit more almond milk over it before microwaving since it can dry out the longer it sits in the fridge.

Don’t forget to head over to Damn Delicious to get this DELICOUS recipe. I hope you get a chance to make it and enjoy it as much as I do.

Happy Wednesday, friends! See you soon with some September favorites. (There’s quite a few!) 🙂 Have a great rest of the week.

XO,

Elizabeth

Emmy Awards Fashion Favorites 2017

EMMY AWARDS FASHION FAVORITES

Happy Fashion Friday, friends!

I know the Emmy Awards were last Sunday, but I keep seeing these wonderful pictures of the beautiful gowns that were strutted down the red carpet, and I have to share my favorites. Here they are in order of my most favorite to my least favorite.

Millie Bobby Brown in Calvin Klein by Appointment

She is my best dressed, hands down. I thought she looked stunning. Gorgeous, classic, and conservative (she’s only 13). Her simple hair and minimal makeup were the perfect styling, and I even loved the shoe pairing. Two thumbs way up!

Nicole Kidman in Calvin Klein by Appointment

The tea length dress was very popular on the red carpet last Sunday, and though I didn’t love all of those dresses, this one was beautiful. I love the bit of sparkle. I love the deep V, but loved even more that it wasn’t all cleavage. The color looks amazing against her fair skin, and the pink shoe is a fun way to add a little something extra. She rarely gets it wrong on the red carpet and this was no exception.

Thandie Newton in Jason Wu

She always looks so beautiful on a red carpet. But she usually does something very fashion-y. This look is so gorgeous. I think this color is perfect on her. I love her hair and makeup, too. She knocked it out of the park with this look.

Felicity Huffman in Tony Ward

Now that’s a red carpet moment! I just love everything about this. The color, her hair, and let’s not overlook the fact that her body is killer and the dress makes her look 8 feet tall. So beautiful.

Mandy Moore in Carolina Herrera

Okay, so I know people said she looked a bit like an Oreo, and I’ll give them something because the still shot of this dress is NOTHING compared to when she walked. It was a beautiful, flowing bit of nothing that resembled an Oreo. She looks fabulous. And that pink lip…Perfection!

Anna Chlumsky in Sachin and Babi

This dress looks like liquid silver poured over her body (well, the bottom half). I love how it’s mirror-like and totally picking up the red from the carpet. I really like the ombre to gold around the shoulders. Just a beautiful dress. It was even better on television. I would have rather seen her hair not so slicked back, but she looks incredible.

Claire Foy in Oscar de la Renta

And so continues my obsession with the designs of Mr. de la Renta. I know he’s been gone a few years, but the clothes with his name sewn into them NEVER disappoint me. (It’s one of my favorite Instagram feeds.) 🙂 I loved that it was a jumpsuit, and that half-cape-train-thing is very chic. It was just something unexpected that I really liked.

Ellie Kemper in Jenny Packham

I love the top half of this dress. The navy color and the beading is bananas, but why couldn’t they line it all the way to the ground? That would have probably put her at number two. I love the color of the dress with her hair color. And she’s just flat out beautiful! Though, I would have liked it to be a tad different, it’s still one of my favorite looks.

Zoe Kravitz in Dior Couture

I know this one isn’t for everyone. But I loved the rainbow skirt on this one. I feel like this one isn’t just a dress for an event. I feel like she was trying to make a fashion statement. Some people have said she maybe looks a little like a bird, but I think it’s so unique and just so dang pretty. I love the rainbow with the black bodice, and I’m kind of liking her darker hair. Pretty.

Jessica Biel in Ralph and Russo

Yes, this is my least favorite. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lovely gown. I love that it’s drapey at the top, and I love the train. But can someone please tell me why they covered up this pretty, shiny, sparkly goodness with gauzy badness? It would have been SOOOO much better had it been all silver and ALL sparkly. That being said, I really do like the dress. And you just don’t get much better looking than Jessica Biel.

Well, y’all, that’s it! Hope this brought some pretty to your Friday!

Wait! One more. I love Stranger Things and can’t wait for it to come back this Halloween, and the boys of the show looked very dapper. I love how their own personal style is displayed for each young man.

Have a great weekend!

XO,

Elizabeth