Black Friday

I have never participated in the madness that is black friday and I doubt I ever will. There is nothing that I desire worth waiting in a tent for or worth braving the mall, period. Instead, I plan to be cozy all day and possibly hang out with friends later this eve. Here are a few things that I will be enjoying today instead of mob crowds.

Mulled wine in my jammies.

Savoring the leftovers until I am in a food coma.

Catching up on my favorite shows.

And making sure that my house reeks of the Holidays.

If you do make your way out please be kind, especially to the employees that had go to work at midnight so you can get a deal.

Thanksgiving Outfit Ideas

If you're like me, you prefer to be casual and comfortable for family time over the Holiday weekend. There is nothing worse then constantly pulling at a top or tripping in your barbie heels when you're supposed to be socializing and consuming. Here are a few ideas.

I've been a lover of prep ever since I was wearing a little plaid uniform for school. It worked then and it will work forever. A classic button up under a sweater is such a no brainer and everyone has a few. Pair it with skinnies and some loafers and you will be stylish and comfy after eating and drinking the day away.

This is another preppy look but it has a masculine touch. Blazer and sweater combo with a skirt or jeans  and riding boots is a little more dressy but still leaves you feeling loose and relaxed.

This is a great idea for a more formal affair especially if you'll be meeting up with friends afterward for drinks. I love the modest heels that give you a lift but don't have you wishing you wore flats. No matter what you need up wearing I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!


All Pics from J Crew.

Yes!!

 I have always been a fan of Kate Spade but I am even more so now because she has been making clutches from popular books.... One of which being "Great Expectations." When I first saw this I tried to rationalize spending a lot of money on a clutch but I couldn't, so I waited and hoped for a day that I would either find it on Ebay or it would go on sale. A few nights ago I went on her website and looked for my dream clutch but it was nowhere to be found. I started to panic, thinking that I missed my opportunity but I ended up searching for it on Ebay and found a woman who was selling hers. I immediately jumped at the chance and ended up buying it unused for $30 less then I would have. Thank you luck. Now, I want the wholes series...

Dress Me Up

 I used to hate wearing dresses. I'm not sure of the exact reason why but they always seemed way too girly and I guess I didn't think that I could pull them off. Over the past few years, I have done a lot of trial and error to figure out which dresses are flattering on me and I have evolved into a dress wearer. As the Holidays approach, there are more opportunities to get all dolled up. Here are a few of my fav dresses right now.

I love the color block look and this is especially perfect for winter when you don't want to freeze. By Wal G on Topshop.

I love this vintage dress and I'm not normally a vintage kind of girl. Perhaps I've been watching too much "Boardwalk Empire." Angel mustard splendid dress found on tellheryousawme.com. 

You can't go wrong with lace and this particular dress slightly reminds me of the one from "Pretty Woman" after she cleans up. From Zara.

This dress is really simple but as you can see, you can really dress it up or down. By Kate Spade.

Simply stunning and just the right amount of sexy. From Urban Outfitters. 

Truth Revealed

 I take skincare very seriously but it can be difficult trying to decide on products when there are so many to choose from. I have tried several skincare lines over the past few years but I recently tried Ole Henriksen and it has made a noticeable difference. Most of their products are all natural but I absolutely love their "Truth Revealed" series. My daily regimen is as follows:
1. Purifying Eye Makeup Remover
2. On The Go Cleanser
3. Truth Serum Collegen Booster
4. Truth Is In The Eyes
5. Truth Revealed Super Creme SPF 15
 They can get a little costly but they are only moderately expensive in the realm of skincare. These products are mainly preventative and contain high amounts of vitamin C which is vital for maintaining skins youthful glow.

Voilà

Little did I know when I woke up this morning, that I would see such a bad ass music video as Duran Duran's "Panic Girl." It has all of the elements that one could desire; beautiful supermodels, catchy tune, glamour, fashion. Check it out.

Listen Up

 Getting older gives you the opportunity to look back and if you're me, have a nice chuckle over the things you have done or didn't do. As we get older I do hope that we are getting wiser because otherwise, what is the point? Do you remember feeling invincible? I do. I used to think that I couldn't be touched, that things would somehow just magically fall into place for me because I was special... This was a hard lesson because what it really takes in this world, especially now with the economic uncertainty, is hard work. Hard work, perseverance, dedication, skill, willingness... you get the point. Not everybody gets a handout and proceed accordingly. Only one of the people in my group of friends has actually made it on their own and I mean without mommy and daddy buying them a house or paying for college or giving them startup capital or literally getting them a job. Maybe that isn't helping my point. Perhaps my point should be that you need well connected and wealthy parents. I digress. Wow, this really isn't where I was going with this post but if you are one of the lucky ones that does get a helping hand from whomever, take it and give it your all. 

 All of that aside here are a few things that I wish I would have listened to when I was younger but keep in mind that it is never too late.

1. Wear sunscreen. This is such a simple thing to do and only in the past few years have I been doing it. No one likes wrinkles and we are all searching for that fountain of youth but until it arrives use sunscreen. Take care of your skin. You'll thank yourself later.

2. Tanning is stupid. I was one of those girls that pretty much tanned every day in high school and even continued into my early twenties. Yeah. I knew it was bad for me but I didn't care because I couldn't see what it was actually doing. There are so many lotions and spray tans available that tanning isn't necessary anymore. 

3. Smoking will kill you. So here is something that I struggle with daily because I am an occasional smoker. I wish I could go back in time and tell myself that it isn't cool to smoke and that it will be the hardest thing you ever try to quit. I could punch myself for ever picking up that first cancer stick. Now they have the vapor cigarettes which are supposed to be better for you so I might try those out as a way to finally break the chain but take my advice and don't ever start. A man I work with never smoked a day in his life until he married a smoker at 28. His wife quit a few years later but he continues to smoke to this day. IDIOT! There is no excuse to start smoking that late in life. 

4. Don't waste (a lot of) money on trends. I went through my closest last week and got rid of all of the crap I haven't worn in a year and took it to goodwill. When I go shopping now, I look for the things that will never go out of style. I still like to follow trends and read about what the latest look is but when it comes to buying things, I make sure that it is something I will wear for years to come. I'm not implying that you shouldn't buy things that you love but I get very annoyed going through my clothes to find things that were not only expensive but that I wouldn't be caught in now. 

5. School is so important. I was one of those kids that hated school. I hated it so much that I would convince my mom of illnesses that I had in order to stay home. It's amazes me how I would actually be sick when I went to the doctor a few times. Consider that mind over matter. Then I went to high school and I started liking school again because of boys and parties. Trust me when I tell you that you will have plenty of opportunities to party and waste time on boys later in life but it can't be your priority while you're learning. I went to college but didn't graduate and I am regretting it so much now. Yes, I could go back but I should have finished when I was younger. 

Thanks Mom and Dad

 My parents gave me one of the greatest gifts that a person can have; manners. From the time I could speak I was taught to say "may I," "please," and "thank you" as part of everyday vocabulary.  A friend of mine told me that they could tell that I was raised "right," now I can't really say that is completely accurate but I will say that I was raised to have manners. I worked in the restaurant industry for almost a decade and it always shocked me how rude people were, not only to each other but to complete strangers. Stranger that were serving them! It seems like common knowledge that if someone does something for you, you would in return say "thank you." But this rarely the case.
 I'm sorry can be a tough one too. There is a whole lot of ego wrapped up in it but when genuine,  it can solve many things. So say it if you need to and mean it. The worst apologies are the ones you can tell are fake.
 I like to watch people interacting on dates. I try to notice if the man will open the door and pay for the bill. For anyone that is wondering, yes, a man should open the door and pay for their evening out. I understand that women want independence but some things shouldn't change. I went through a horrible feminist phase where I would insist on paying and hated the door being opened for me. (I have arms!) But that is ridiculous, I think women have let men get lazy. I'm not inferring that the man should do everything but he should do something! It's a sign of respect and it should be demanded. Make her feel special!!!
 At the end of the day it's about trying to be a good person. I know this can be very difficult at times considering we are all selfish assholes but just try baby steps.

Manners by Kate Spade. Check it out.

Great Expectations

 I read Great Expectations in eighth grade and fell in love with the book. Then I saw the movie with Gwyneth Paltrow years later and although it didn't exactly follow the book, it was tragically beautiful. I watched it whenever possible and took note of Estella's fashion. I loved the use of green throughout to symbolize jealous and infatuation. His eyes, her dress.... Although she was rotten to the core during most of the movie, her style was effortless. It was after this movie that I wanted to own a long black duster. It's too bad that she makes it look sleek and I just looked like I wanted to be in the Matrix! The scene where they kiss in the rain gets me every time.