Hi, friends! I'm so excited to be working with Nordstrom for today's blog post. This is a huge dream come true for me and I just want to say a huge thank you to ALL of YOU for your sweet support!Y'all know I do the majority of my shopping at Nordstrom, mostly because I can find goodies for my entire family all in one place. But the customer service and customer experience found at Nordstrom just can't be beat! I love that I can order online and always have free shipping and returns. This busy momma needs all the help I can get in the time saving department. Insert praise hands emoji here. :-)If you're anything like me, you are kind of itching for all things Spring. The reality is, most of us are going to be stuck in Winter for a solid two more months before it'll be time to bust out the Spring clothes. This is where transitional styles come in. Some people call it a capsule wardrobe, I just think of these items as things that aren't limited to being worn only one time a year.Finding transitional items not only stretches your dollar, but it also stretches your options when outfit planning year round. These are wear now AND later pieces!
I love this flowy peplum tee because it works with skinny jeans but would also work with cut off shorts when it gets warmer. You can style it under a utility vest, denim jacket, button down top, or just with a cute necklace. Honestly it's cute enough to wear all by itself. It fits true to size. I'm wearing a small. Oh! And it also comes in the prettiest forest green.These skinny jeans have been a new FAV of mine! I love the crop fit and the raw hem. The wash is perfect for a dark skinny. They run a wee bit large so I'd suggest sizing down one size from your normal size. I'm wearing a size 26 for reference.
This cardigan comes in ivory and grey, is really light weight, and I love the blouson detail on the sleeve. So sweet! I know it may be breaking some "rules" but I love a cardigan with a cami, cut off shorts, and booties in the Spring and Summer time. This one will be perfect for that!I purchased these bow slides last year and OH my goodness am I glad I did! They are so dreamy. Obviously comfy because this is me we're talking about but I also get compliments on them everywhere I go. They're neutral little show stoppers that (you guessed it!) I wear all year long.Thanks again so much for stopping by the blog today, y'all! You guys are the sweetest squad around and I'm so thankful for each and every one of you![showshopthepostwidget id="2999351"]Today's blog post was sponsored by Nordstrom. All thoughts and opinions shared are my own.[showboutiquewidget id="683760"]
JEEP Holiday and Stone Mountain Christmas
Today's post is sponsored by JEEP. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Hey, friends!Last week we had the pleasure of getting to tootle around town in the all-new 2018 Jeep Compass. Since Matt was off work, he did most of the driving and LOVED it. He really loved the Apple Play for the convenience of having his phone completely in sync with the car. I could tell that the voice command really cut down on any distractions while driving so it also ends up being a safety feature. The heated steering wheel was very convenient since it was SO cold over the weekend! The heated seats were my favorite feature because AGAIN SO COLD! I could also easily control how heated I wanted my seat to get, which was really nice. The touch screen dashboard monitor allowed me to help with navigation and music as well. Now how do I get one of those in my car?!
We had plenty of room for both girl's car seats and they loved the view out their window. Rowen exclaimed at one point in our drive "Mommy! I have such a great view in this car!" There was plenty of legroom in the passenger seat and the overall comfort of the seats I felt was top notch. The car is a very smooth ride and we were so lucky to get to drive it around for a few days!
Part of the fun JEEP had in store for us included a trip to Stone Mountain Christmas. We were pretty excited to go because it had been years since we'd been able to make the trip over there. We went early afternoon for the sake of nap schedules, but I'd highly recommend taking your kids in the evening time because the village all lit up is breathtaking. They have a beautiful Snow Angel that lights the village and a ton of shows that play all during the day. We took the girls to the 4D Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer show and they loved it. We also took them on the Christmas Sing a long train! At night, the train takes you through tons of lights around the mountain and tells the Christmas story. So sweet! They stayed entertained the whole time. There are plenty of spots for hot cocoa and snacks and lots of seating if the kiddos get tired.
We are really so grateful to have had such a fun opportunity to get a MAJOR ride upgrade for a few days. If you've been looking into a JEEP Compass for your next car, I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have!Thanks so much for reading, sweet friends! Happy weekend!
Christmas Home Tour
Hi, Friends!It's finally time to welcome each one of you into my house for a little Christmas Home Tour! When you've lived in the same place for nine years, it's easy to get in a bit of a rut with decorations, but this year I decided to simplify everything and just put out what I really love.I love making my porch happy because we spend a lot of time out here year round. We added lights to the swing to make it even more fun!
These slides are ultra comfortable and so fun to have around Christmas time. The girl's jammies are under $20 for the set and also come in a red and white stripe option.
Girls Pajama Sets // My grey sweater // My jeans // My red tassel slides
Red Hunter Boots // Grey pillow // Home Sweet Home Sign
I love having a festive and functional entryway. This bench is where the girls sit every morning to put on shoes and get coats from the hooks. I also envision them here in the future, wrapped up in a blanket reading a good book.
My little office nook is one of my favorite spots in the whole house! It's a good thing since I spend so much time here. I love the simplicity of just adding the wreath to this otherwise neutral space. This one is very affordable and can be used year round.
Office Chair // Gold lamp // Boxwood wreath
Gather sign // Rug // 4 Pillow // Garland is Hobby Lobby and only available in stores but similar is HERE
Christmas Tree // White Play Table
Mirror // Sink // Wall faucet // Wallpaper // Sconces
We decided to get a real tree in the living room this year because I just can't live without the smell! Moving the flocked tree into the kitchen has been my favorite change we made this year. Looking over the counter to this view every day is just so much fun! We've also really enjoyed having the girl's table down here. It's just the perfect little spot for them to eat and play.
Hot cocoa or cider is a must for nightly Christmas movie viewing so having it readily available makes it even more enjoyable. Setting up your own little "station" is so easy but I guarantee every one in your fam will love it!
Glass goblets // Bowls // Plates
Here's a little peek into the girl's room!
White iron beds // Bed spreads // Gold dot sheets //Floral wallpaper // Curtain panels
Our laundry closet is hidden behind these pretty sliding barn doors that my dad built for us. I love the way these sweet cotton wreaths look with a little pop of red!
Cotton Wreaths// Red and White Stripe RibbonThank you so much for stopping by, sweet friends! If you have any questions about anything we used in our home, let me know! Hope you're already having a happy Christmas season!
We Wish You A Cozy Christmas
Do you know what's better than cozy pajamas, a warm blanket, a roaring fire, and the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree? Nothing. Nothing is better than that!I know it's a busy time of year but some of the sweetest moments we experience happen when we slow down and just relax. So here I am with all the relaxation accessories you could possibly need!Let's start with some pajama sets. The red and white stripe pants are SUPER soft and cozy. They are fleece and currently on major sale! Also come in grey. My pajamas run a little small so I'd recommend sizing up.[showboutiquewidget id="669868"]When it comes to blankets, the bigger and softer, the better! I typically lean toward the oversized plush ones that I can get lost in. The blue one is my very favorite and the one I always use at my mom's house.[showboutiquewidget id="669869"]There's nothing worse than cold feet, here are a few suggestions to keep your tootsies toasty all winter long. The pink pom slippers have been a favorite of mine so far this year. I'm wearing them right this very minute.[showboutiquewidget id="669870"]You can't get cozy without something warm to drink. Here are a few fun mugs that also make great stocking stuffers![showboutiquewidget id="669875"]Thanks for reading, sweet friends! Hope you have a cozy Christmas!
Christmas In New York
Hi, friends! We just returned from the dreamiest long weekend in New York and I'm so excited to share our itinerary with you. My sister, Anna, planned everything to a tee and I wouldn't have changed a thing! She also has a blog post on seeing New York in a weekend so you can check that out here.We woke up early on Thursday morning so we could take a 7:30 am flight out of Atlanta. We arrived at LGA about 9:20. We located our bags and called a Lyft to pick us up. We ended up using Lyft or Taxis the entire time we were in the city. Using the taxi service was more convenient because you could just find one cruising and rarely had to wait. If you're traveling with a lot of luggage (like us!), you'll want to be sure you get a mid-sized car to accommodate.
I absolutely love this luggage and would also highly recommend this leather overnight bag I got right before we left! Everything is linked at the bottom of the post for you.We had the car take us straight to the hotel and we went ahead and checked in early. Our room wasn't quite ready but they did store our bags for us so we could go ahead and start exploring. We didn't waste a minute before heading to Rockefeller Center to see the tree! It just happened to be on our way to Melt Shop, where we had lunch. I recommend the classic grilled cheese and tomato soup. SO yummy and the perfect thing to warm your soul after walking outside in the cold.After lunch we headed to Bryant Park to walk around the Christmas Open Air Market. There are a ton of sweet little shops with unique items and there are also pop up snack shops. Our favorite is the Doughnuttery. They have the most amazing cinnamon sugar donuts! The New York Public Library is right next to Bryant Park so we walked around there for a bit before heading back to our hotel to unpack.
We stayed at The Lotte New York Palace and I honestly wouldn't want to stay anywhere else. The location is perfect. It's within walking distance to just about every iconic Christmas spot in the city. The rooms are beautiful and the staff is so helpful. You might even get lucky and run into a celebrity while you're there. We may or may not have walked past Brett Eldridge in the workout room and Taylor Swift stayed in one of their suites just a few weeks before we were there!
After we got settled into our hotel, we headed to Washington Square Park, grabbed coffeee at Stumptown (so good!), and then headed to dinner at John's Pizza. We asked a local where the BEST place was for New York pizza, and he told us to go to Johns. It did not disappoint! Truly the most delicious pizza I've ever had. I wore this sweet ruffle top, which is kind of perfect for Christmas time!
Since it had gotten chillier, we went back to the hotel to change into warmer clothes and then ordered our tickets for the Top Of The Rock. We did the Sun and Stars option so we could go back the next day while the sun was out. Highly recommend this option.We had a good nights sleep that night and woke up ready for a full day of exploring Friday morning. The day started with a walk to Sarahbeths at Central Park South. Our table wasn't quite ready, which gave us plenty of time to walk around the outside of The Plaza. You just can't beat the ambiance in Sarahbeths! The food is also amazing. Two of us ordered the green eggs and the other two ordered the fat and fluffy French toast so we could have a sweet and savory breakfast.
The restaurant is located right outside the park so it's the perfect day to meander! A few of our favorite places to see are The Gapstow Bridge, The Bow Bridge, and the Bethesda Terrace. This was our first year to find Bow Bridge. If you make it to Bethesda, just keep walking to the left of the lake and you'll find it. 
I wore this pretty statement necklace at least three times on this trip. It just instantly makes an outfit feel fab. This coat was a great one to bring because it's not bulky but will definitely still keep you warm!
We did enough walking around the park to justify a trip to Laduree for macarons. I enjoyed the Madison Avenue location because of how sweet the store front is! My favorite flavors are rose, chocolate, and vanilla. You just can't go wrong with any flavor and I haven't tasted anything like these before.
These super affordable pink loafers were just as comfortable as my nikes for walking around the city.After a quick change of clothes, we headed to Top Of The Rock before our passes ran out. This was my first time seeing the view during the day and it was just stunning! I loved the way this metallic skirt looked in the setting sunlight.
Dinner Friday night was at Carmines, which is a wonderful spot for Italian food. The portions are HUGE so you'll definitely want to choose one dish and split. We had so much left over! We got banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery to go and ended the day by eating dessert snuggled up in our beds.
The next day we woke up and went to The Real Real to tour their showroom. It was so much fun! They have an incredible selection of designer clothes and accessories for a fraction of the retail price. Since we were already in SOHO, we decided to shop around a bit more. We ate a yummy lunch at Shake Shack near the Flatiron building. Even though it's an outdoor seating only area, they do have heaters hanging over the tables. So it's not too bad and totally worth it to eat the most amazing burger and fries ever. Yes, we have Shake Shack in Atlanta but somehow it always tastes better in NYC!
Saturday evening we had dinner reservation at The Polo Bar and it was such a fun experience. This is a spot that's super difficult to get reservations so Anna had to call exactly 30 days before to get us one. It was worth it to experience the ambiance and the food was amazing too. We paired off and split the steak and holy WOW it was so good! Since we ended up having to wait a while for our table, they also brought us a selection of desserts. If you have enough room after dinner, I'd highly recommend the bananas foster cheesecake. It'll change your life.I got a lot of wear out of this fur vest. It's linked below and also comes in a white option and is fully stocked.
Sunday morning, we got fueled up with coffee and then took a car to Brooklyn for the morning. We took a few photos in DUMBO and then walked across the bridge. That was all we had time for in Brooklyn since we had tea planned for the afternoon. We went back to the hotel to change and then took a car to The Plaza for afternoon tea.
This was our best experience at The Plaza! We have enjoyed our experience in the past but something about this time felt especially magical. The food served with the tea is definitely enough to take care of lunch for the day so keep that in mind when planning your time. We explored The Plaza a bit after lunch and then did a little shopping on Fifth Avenue before heading back to the hotel to get ready for dinner.
Our dinner reservation that night was at Fig and Olive, which was a new spot for us to try. The ambience was really fun and laid back. Since we had just enjoyed lunch at The Plaza, we decided to split a few appetizers for dinner. We had the cheese board and split a selection of crostini. We enjoyed this so much! It was a lighter dinner but perfect for the day we'd had.The last morning of our trip, we spent packing and organizing. If you saw how many coats I brought, you can imagine how creative my packing situation was! We took our bags downstairs and checked out early so we could do a bit more sight seeing before heading to the airport. The hotel held our bags for us and we went off for breakfast at The Smith. We took a car because it was such a chilly morning and it's more than half an hour walk to get there. I would recommend the pancakes at The Smith but the breakfast potatoes and grits are also amazing!
We quickly picked up coffee and then went back for a little more shopping on Fifth Avenue. Before we headed to the airport, we grabbed a quick lunch at The Plaza Food Hall, which is a great spot with lots of options to eat. We all got sushi and then Doughnuttery for dessert, obviously.It was finally time to head back to the hotel to get our bags and go to the airport. Our flight departed at 5, which gave us plenty of time to enjoy the day in the city without getting home too terribly late.That was our trip! We had such a magical time and I am already looking forward to going back next Christmas! If you have any questions about our trip, please leave me a comment!Thanks for reading, friends! Here's a list of everything I wore while on the trip:[showboutiquewidget id="669501"]