I love a good gift…I love to see the reaction on someone’s face when they receive something that just makes them feel seen, heard or just plain feel good.  And I especially love to do that for my friends. 

Have you started your holiday gift list yet? Maybe there is that good friend that you would like to give a gift to this year and you are running out of ideas of what to do or where to even start.

You may have that friend that is the hostess with the mostest and her house looks like you are stepping into Restoration Hardware. The  fashionista friend that is always up on the latest and greatest. Then, the friend that is the fitness/self-care guru, the go-getter, the sentimentalist, the artist, the seamless homemaker…and as you can see the list goes on. 

So what I am telling you is, I’ve got you… and just like in years past, I have broken down the friend type into categories. I also tried to include small and local business, but I do have some things from big box stores too.

Enjoy and may the retail Gods be with in ordering and gifting this year. Amen! 

For my Hostess with the Mostess Or Interior Design Guru

I love a good coffee table book. It’s an unexpected gift and something you wouldn’t usually treat yourself to. The book, This is Home is amazing as it teaches you to create a space that fits your personality and lifestyle. Kind of like I do for personal style. Staying true to you! So she helps you figure that out and has real life illustrations along the way to visualize what you can create in your own home. Then, with this beautiful coffee table book, I would add this favorite holiday candle on top, tied with a holiday ribbon. This way your friend can immediately put to use as decorative piece. Then, use the book for years to come.    

If you are not into the coffee table book, then there are your personalized trays and boards. The company,  Two Funny Girls,  has so many fun personalized things to offer for those that like to entertain. I have also ordered cups from them and created a tailgate basket but for the holidays you could easily do a Christmas Lights tour basket filled with hot cocoa cups and all the trimmings or do a holiday entertaining tray and personalized cocktail napkins.

 Now, for the Fashionista but has everything…

How about a one of a kind clutch from Lisi Lerch

OR a fun pair of earrings with a personalized jewelry pouch. A favorite resource, The Navy Knot. has good quality accessory bags at great prices.

For earrings I love  Nickel and Suede

                                    I chose these particular earrings because they are light 
on the lobes and striking in appearance.

I also love this local company called Dear Mushka   I have mentioned them on here before. The pieces are absolutely gorgeous and have a beautiful message behind each piece. Big sale going on now too!

If you are a little intimidated to get jewelry for that fashionable friend, try some chic stationary by A Thing Created that really brings out her personality.

The paper quality is outstanding and of course the style you can’t beat. I personally have notecards from this company and get excited every time I get to use them. Plus, sending a personal note with your name is classic and always in style. So why not treat yourself and your favorite friend to a unique set of cards that really makes her shine. 

The Artist/ Soulful /Spiritual Type

You know that friend that just has it…that spunk, that spirit with a dash of gentleness and grace. She just makes you want to be better and you just want to soak in anytime you get with her. If you have this friend, hopefully one of these gifts will help inspire her even more and make her feel special.

This Acrylic Scripture Card frame by the incredible Anne Neilson Home is a work of art in itself and would look great on a desk or night stand to give your favorite person the encouragement they need for the day.

If your friend likes to make lists, or journal, these awesome one of a kind journal or sketch book by Sarah K Creations is so special and will motivate her even more to be creative.

 Then, if you need even more inspiration, these beautiful daily cards by Crew and Co (who also has great teen gifts) will

pump you up and give you strength when you need it.

For Your Fitness/Self Care Guru…

I have spoiled a few friends with what I am about to share with you… Hummingbird Farms lavender products. I feel like I can be pretty particular with my scents, and this line is spot on with giving you comfort and indulgence. 

My favorite to give is the lavender oil with some cozy Barefoot Dreams socks or any other kind of fuzzy socks.  It can cost you under $50 and it will be the gift that keeps giving. Other products of theirs I love is their lavender spray, spa scrub and essential oil. It truly makes you feel like you are taking a mini spa day when using it. 

Sidenote: I’ve also done a microfiber hair towel wrap with the Hummingbird Farm products. I took the wraps to my local monogram place to get personalized to add that special touch. OR you could just do the hair wrap/towel with a gift card for you and your friend to go get blowout or a spa day. Just a thought and depending on how much you want to spend. 

For your fit and fabulous friend… the Lululemon cross body or wristlet is so fun and again something she may not  gift yourself.    

I also love this cute little speaker by Fashionit U Micro  so they can take on their on the go workouts.

I wouldn’t do both the Lulu and speaker. The speaker in itself is fun and fashionable and you could add a list of your favorite songs or create a playlist. 

Finally, the Beauty Product Junkie…

I think we can all appreciate good beauty products when we find them and especially a chic cosmetic bag to store them in.  I love The Daily Edited line and most of their cosmetic bags are 25 percent off. The bag itself is beautiful and makes a statement all on it’s own. 

Depending on your budget you could fill the bag with one of these favorite products.

A good mascara, a face mask that is quick but does the job and a lip gloss that makes you feel beautiful even on those make up free days

Now if you don’t want to do the cosmetic bag, just do one of these products listed above, tie to a fun gossip or Instyle magazine and tell your friend to sit back, relax and enjoy while catching on the latest pop culture.

I hope this holiday guide gives you some gift giving inspiration for your good friend. Stay tuned for my guide for tweens and your favorite men in your life.

 

 

 

 

“Excusez moi?” Let me introduce you to the new “it” shoe. The mule! I know even the name doesn’t sound very fancy but it makes a statement without trying too hard. 

Mules are effortlessly chic! 

For a while we have been rocking the sneakers styling them in unexpected ways like with skirts and dresses. Especially, during our quarantine days, when hosting and joining zoom calls doesn’t require us to dress up in our heels. 

Well, now we are slowly venturing out of our homes,  dining on patios or hosting outdoor get togethers safely six feet apart, why not elevate our casual look with a fun shoe that is comfortable and stylish.

I love how versatile the mule is. You can easily take it day to night, casual to dressy or vice versa. Lately, I have been wearing my favorite mules (similar here) with my cropped or ankle denim and simple top. 

So that takes me to my next point…how you style the mule is key and it also depends on the type of mule. There are so many styles to fit your fancy.  Flats, loafers, open toe and heels… 

If you have a dressier heeled mule like you see in this image, it’s fun to let the shoe take the main role. This model has a rather simple look so her shoes can show off, giving her a feminine yet edgey look. 

I also love the idea of pairing your heeled or loafer style mules (or these) with straight or skinny distressed jeans, add a boxier blouse tucked in or oversize sweater and you have this unexpected classic preppy look.

While jeans are a fun way to style with mules, you can also wear them with skirts and dresses.

So now I have you curious about mule style or maybe you already were thinking about trying it out yourself, the fit is also just as important (if not more) than the style.

When trying on the mule…make sure they fit a little snug (but not too tight) where they would flip off your feet. Mules are made to be comfortable and easy to walk in no matter if they are flat or heeled. If you have a narrow foot (Lord bless you) then look for a narrow option as it will support your toes and the shoe will not slip off.

I have added some of my favorite ones so far within this blog, if you just click on the links it will take you to the source. Here are few more that I am loving and personally can’t wait to add to my closet.

KANDI CAMEL SUEDE

FANNIE-C CHEETAH

Sierra Pump

Have fun with this new shoe trend or rather old but new again and maybe just let it take you out your style box a little.

Here is a similar pair I am wearing in this photo…I have had these for probably 5 years but same designer. I wear them with dresses, skirts, bootcut, skinny and cropped jeans. They are a must have if you like this sort of style.

My oldest daughter is officially a teenager now, which I can’t believe. I don’t feel like I am old enough to have a teenager (although I definitely am).

It’s just crazy how time flies by. You hear it so often. They will be a teenager before you know it! Better soak it in Mama. “Enjoy those littles while you can,” and the sayings go on.

Lately, my oldest and I have been butting heads about her clothes. She is wanting a certain brand of shoes, backpack or style of clothes when she has a closet full of clothes even some with tags on them. While I want her to take ownership in creating her own style (as I tell so many of you), I want her to dress for her and not like everyone else. Ha! Try to tell that to a teenager!

I know that it’s easier for me to say that now, but I remember as a middle schooler just wanting to blend in…to dress like the popular girls. To have the cool jeans and on brand shoes. Back then, it was the Guess jeans and Coca-cola tees. Birkenstocks were also popular (which they are now too). Seems like so much that was popular when I was a kid is coming back. Funny how that works.

So as my big girl continues to grow and mature, my hope is that she will understand the importance of truly embracing who she is …to be her own kind of beautiful and not how she thinks others should see her.

I pray that through these awkward teenage years (and some of these interesting trends they have going right now), that she will see that truly having “style” is about owning yourself and being just that.

As a wardrobe consultant, I experience so many adults trying to dress like someone they are not. Whether that’s for their lifestyle or body type. Creating your own style is a work in progress, but you also have to remember to do you.

What does your life call you to do right now?

Maybe you are a stay at home mom right now, so you just need a few classic pieces to look and feel pulled together – even on those days that you might be dragging because you have been up all night catching up on laundry or cleaning so we don’t wake up to a messy kitchen.  Perhaps you are in a different season and you are going from being a stay at home to now spreading your wings to a new career and you need business attire?

Whatever the case maybe, I hope you embrace it. Don’t let others influence how you should dress, but do make sure you respect yourself enough to get up (even if it’s a zoom meeting these days), and dress well to conquer the day.

I promise you, it will make all the difference in your attitude and how you interact with those around you despite it being virtually or six feet away.

Happy Monday everyone!

I hope you had an awesome weekend. Ours was super hot (hey Tenn. summer), busy, fun, hot (I said that already didn’t I) and just enough down time too. So with that being said, it can sometimes be hard to get motivated to start the week and get my workouts in, after taking a break over the weekend. But what I have found that helps me is having fitness gear that makes me feel great as well as motivated to get moving.

I have recently found some fun tops and leggings on Amazon of all places. I am usually a Target, Athleta or Zella girl but I have been happy with some of these Amazon lately and wanted to share with you.

 This is what I found and they come in all kind of colors. So rack up!  They are also true to size. I will say if you are petite, they may be too long. I am 5’7 and they were just right. I also love the fact that they have a hidden pocket for my phone on walks or just running errands.

Here is another option if you don’t like high rise and want more of an ankle style than a full legging. I bought this bright blue color and it’s been so fun to wear this summer. This style would be perfect on petite frame too.

Now for the tops…This top may seem very simple but I like how unexpected it is in the back. If you don’t like white, they also have other colors to choose from and I love that is is under twenty dollars.

 

I also ordered this style , which has a cool back as well.  I love how it is a little longer so I can cover my bum if I want or tie it at the waist. It is true to size so size up if you want more room. This top comes in other colors like this pretty navy. I love navy in the summer.

 

 

 Finally, I have been loving this yoga mat strap. We have been bringing our own mats to barre and then I also do yoga at my neighbor’s home so this strap has been so great for that. It comes in different color combos. I chose the gray of course, but if you like more color, there is plenty to choose from. The strap is super comfy and so durable. I highly recommend if you are into yoga or belong to a gym requiring you bring your own mat.

 

 

Oh and p.s. these socks are fantastic too. They don’t slip and my girls even love them. Perfect for tennis shoes and slip ons.

Have a great Monday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HI FRIENDS! HAPPY FRIDAY! WHEW! WE MADE IT TO THE WEEKEND!

In the spirit of this hot as all get out summer, I wanted to share my favorite and  must have accessory. The sunhat! Yes, I know, not as exciting as the effortless dress or the perfect top, but it is a definite must have to beat the heat and save your skin.

You may think, I am not really a hat person. Well, maybe reconsider. It will easily elevate your personal style. When you are not having a great hair day, or just not feeling it with your clothes anymore, it’s the perfect option from going drab to fab.

So how do you know what hat is best for you? Well, you always want to make sure the hat is proportion to your body type, complementing your best assets.  You also want to pick the right one for your face shape.

I love this resource and couldn’t have said it better myself.

Once you figure out what you think is your best look, check out my picks from various boutiques to… of course Target.

I love this Panama hat style. Here is another style too.  It’s simple yet effortless. You can wear it around town or on your next vacation. You have probably seen me wear this style a lot on my Instagram page whether it’s in my backyard or on a quick weekend trip nearby. I usually never leave home without a hat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of my hats are a few years old but I am trying to link things that are similar like one of my favorite boutiques in my hometown, like The Fuss has some great options.

Then, there’s the fedora style. I mean this is just a classic and so fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, the oversize hat. It may be too dramatic or over the top for some, but I love it! It seems very old Hollywood and you know what, why the heck not? Be dramatic! Step out of your box. It’s 2020! We are not doing anything expected these days anyway. Here is another style  and here too if  you don’t love the stripe.

So I hope you love this Friday Favorite edition.

I would love to hear from you and even see pictures of you wearing your hats. Tag me or message me. I can’t wait to see you in your favorite new summer accessory.

Have a great weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi again, friends!

Bringing you another Mother’s Day gift guide from more of my go to small businesses.

So sit back and relax in your favorite pjs and add to cart or send a little “hint hint ” in the subject line to your husband or kid.

Since we are all more homebodies these days, why not add a little something to give your home that extra pizazz. Something that will brighten your mood or make you smile every time you walk into a room as we can all use that right now.

Lindsay, of Lindsay Letters and Co. says “Art matters – what you surround yourself with every day matters. As someone who struggles with anxiety, I know the positive impact art can have first-hand, and I can say with confidence that what you put on the four walls you stare at most can be a real game-changer.” Amen to that!

I have followed Lindsay on Instagram for some time as I have been a huge fan of her style of art work. I have also admired her amazing strength and unwavering faith from afar. Especially now as she and her family are walking through a hard time but in this difficult season, they have shown so many people, including myself, what it means to trust, to hold tight, and believe because “you will never regret having faith.”  You can follow Lindsay and her family here.

Now back to Lindsay’s art. I purchased a few of her pieces at Christmas as a gift for me and my family. Prints that spoke to me and really reflected us. Here are some of the pieces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While they may not be your style, she has many more beautiful prints, lettered art and even calendars you can choose from. I also love that when you receive the artwork, they give you all the tools that you need to hang it. So treat yourself to some happy this Mother’s Day!

On that same note of making your home happy and something that you can all enjoy, check out Rooted and Grounded. Just like Lindsay Letters and Co., Rooted and Grounded also creates inspirational home decor that truly reminds you of your roots and of your truth. I purchased a sign for my guest room and my girls’ playroom and it really just makes the rooms complete. If you are not really a sign kind of person, they also have beautiful pillows and even some fun tees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another place I have loved ordering from is The Navy Knot. I gave these personalized indoor outdoor rugs to some of my family members this Christmas and they seemed to really like them. I have also purchased beach towels and drawstring bags for my friends’ kids. It really is a great shop to stop by for just about any kind of personalized gift. Think graduation, baby or wedding gifts in the coming months.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, after all that online shopping, I think we all deserve a little sweet treat, don’t you? I love Christie Cookies! I love to give them and I love to indulge in them. They are absolutely delicious! Like just come out of the oven good! They also have brownies too. You can even create a combo of cookies and brownies in a beautiful tin and add coffee or milk too. Any person that receives these yummy goodies, will be so delighted you thought of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So that’s it! I hope you have enjoyed hearing about these businesses. I also hope you will follow them on social media and perhaps even support them by buying a little something from their shops.

Have a great weekend!

I know Mother’s Day can bring bittersweet feelings for some. I know it can’t be easy if you have lost your mom or even grandmother. Moms, Grandmothers and Aunts definitely hold a special place in my heart!  They deserve to be honored, especially on this day.

My hope and prayer is that you Mamas out there feel celebrated and loved by your family. I know it hasn’t been easy with this quarantine life but hopefully we will all look back on this and see how strong we were, and maybe even discovered something new about our kids or spouse and appreciated it.

So as you are quarantined, you can still do online shopping to support some of these small businesses. Here is a this list of what I love to give Moms on their special day or maybe treat myself here and there.

1. Personalized Stationery:  I know you may think, wow, really, stationery, just what I wanted. Well, these three brands, SoHospitality Co., AThing Created and Hourglass Design Co. are my favorite and my go to for all things paper.  They offer unique designs and excellent quality paper. Both a must for writing thank you or your to-do lists. Just click on the photos and it will take you directly to the website. 

 

For the classic lady in your life…

 

 

 

 

 

For the sassy fashionista…

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the simple and effortless lady…

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Pampering Skincare products: Every mama deserves to feel spoiled on Mother’s Day and best way to do that is with Hummingbird Farms unique collection of bath and body products. I absolutely love their lavender spray and oils (my girls too), their luxurious hand lotion, super hydrating, their sea salt scrub (hello mani at home) and all the soaps. They smell like you have just stepped out of a spa.

 

 

 

3. Stylish Accessories:  We can always add a little style to our day even when we are sitting at home in just a t-shirt and joggers. So treat yourself or a mom friend to some fun earrings by All Things New   or a necklace from Dear Muska. Each one of these ladies are small business owners with a big heart and deeply rooted in their faith. So I hope you will check them out. These are also great stops for birthdays and graduation gifts.

 

 

 

4. Fun tees to go with your accessories:  Hey we are not going anywhere for a while so why not let your mama or mama friend enjoy a soft tee that makes a statement by Milk and Honey Tees. Their tees are so soft and so stylish that you can easily pair with a skirt, distressed shorts, boyfriend jeans or joggers styled with jean jacket. These are some of my favs…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. An inspiring and laugh out loud book:  While we are in self-isolation, why not read a book that will inspire you, encourage you and laugh out loud with you. With On the Bright Side (which we all need these days) by Melanie Shankle and Jen Hatmaker’s Fierce, Free and Full of Fire  it will set you free and set you on fire. You will feel as if you just got back from the best girls’ night conversation with your best friend or a girlfriend getaway that left you feeling positive and ready to tackle the world!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Hey Hey PJ Day! Pj day is my girls’ favorite day! They love to lounge in their pjs all day but who doesn’t it! I hope you can do that on your special day with some of these pjs from Habit, a local boutique in Nashville and they also have a location in Franklin. Habit has some of the yummiest pjs that you will not want to get out of.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, if you are still reading this, I wish you the best day ever!

Happy Mother’s Day to you and yours! Make sure you take some time for you.  You deserve it!

 

Tis the season of checking your list and checking it twice…or three or four times in my case at least! I am at the point where I am emailing myself reminders because I end up losing the list that I started or just wake up in the middle of the night in a panic that I forgot someone or perhaps just with this brilliant gift idea for that special someone.

When I shop, I like to shop smart, efficiently and thoughtfully too. So with it being Cyber Monday, I always like to take advantage of a good deal and what better way to start than with my favorite store, Target! So regardless that this is not my usual Target Tuesday, we shall pretend it is Tuesday on this Monday morning and proceed to adding to our “Red cart” for all those special people on your list.

I have tried to include some ideas for almost everyone on your list including your fur babies.

So grab yourself your favorite beverage, get comfortable and let’s get going on a quick little shopping spree.

First up, for the little lady that seems to have everything or is absolutely impossible to buy for. You know you have one in your family or in your friend group. It’s okay. I have got you covered. I either own these, have used these and have gifted these so trust me, you can’t go wrong.

Here we go!

Simple, classic, gold hoop earrings here  and here.  These two are a must have in your accessory arsenal and are a guarantee of no return. They look good on everyone, long hair or short hair. I have short hair. They are also light weight which is always a must when I am shopping for earrings. So grabbed these for a friend, a mom or sassy teacher, put in a cute jewelry bag or organizer or you could even tie to a gift card to buy more. I promise this gift recipient will be so happy when she opens these and will find herself wearing them almost every day. I know I do.

Everyone loves a good smelling seasonal candle. I have this Holiday Spruce one burning now. It smells so warm and cozy. You will just want to curl up in a blanket and watch your favorite Christmas movie while this is burning. So for that hard to buy for friend, teacher, the neighbor or for even for a hostess gift, grab these to have on hand. They are just the right size! Add a festive ribbon and a thoughtful card of course and you are ready to go!

Need another great gift for those hard to buy for? I love these Opal House light weight throws. They are so pretty and just the right amount of weight to use all year round.  I would even get this for that tweener in your life or for the first time away college student. You could even go to your local monogram place to get it personalized to make it even more special for them.

Need some more ideas for those teenagers or college kids in your life? Grab some of these lounge wear options like this cozy cardigans here or these fun leopard print joggers. It’s great for when they are home for the holidays. They are not only cozy, but they look good instead of a cruddy tee and short shorts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Need some kid friendly ideas? My girls love to get slippers like these or these fun socks.

They also enjoy anything they can lounge on to watch movies or play Uno like this bed rest pillow.  Now I am sensing a theme with this post. Yes, we love to be home and cozy

Speaking of being home, I am tickled to see that the old school Lite Brite is coming back. All the little pieces might be a pain, but maybe if you keep in a contained place, it won’t be so bad.  I can’t wait to see what my girls create with this fun old school activity and it will be great on those cold snowy days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On those not so snowy days, we have enjoyed this cornhole game over and over again. It’s lasted us for at least four years now. It’s fun to bring out for cookouts or even birthday parties. It’s also easy to store as it folds up and is lightweight enough to take to tailgates if you want. So a fun gift for any active family.

 

 

 

 

Now for some fun stocking stuffers and our little fur friends gifts ideas…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope some of these ideas gave you some inspiration to find just the right gift for that someone that is left on your list or to get you started. I will continue to post more ideas, not just from Target but some from local businesses and companies that give back with each purchase you make.

Thanks so much for stopping by and lots of luck with your shopping list!