holiday gift guide: for her

'tis the season to give a little to your special someone, and today's post is for the lovely ladies you want to spoil this season. the gifts on here are ones that most women would love to receive and cover a variety of price points. the trick to good gift giving is to give what the person would not necessarily buy for themselves, but isn't so outrageous that they'll never use it. and if you have no clue what her tastes are, opt for something simple, like driving gloves or travel lotions.  here are some of my top picks for the girls:

1.  a little lacy lingerie for your girlfriend or best friend, like these bra and panties separates available at Madewell, are perfectly spicy to offset the sweetness of the season. 
2. leather driving gloves are one of those can't-go-wrong necessities that also can be completely a chic gift. my mom always has cold hands, so an option like this one is classic way to keep her warm and not break the bank.
3. what girl doesn't love a little sparkle? these Lulu Frost for J. Crew earrings are oh-so gorgeous and would glitter perfectly with any new year's eve ensemble.
4. a classic silk blouse is a beautiful wardrobe stable, and this one fits to perfection. 
5. Laura Mercier's stickgloss is a lipstick for girls who don't like lipstick. There are lots of great colors and it's an awesome stocking stuffer!
6.  Splurge item! This Kate Spade wallet is perfect: bright, fun, flirty, and practical. 
7. le petite pâtisserie  quartet smells as good as it sounds, and its a great gift for the girl on the go.
8.  if your lady loves to add to her arm candy stack, this bracelet is a cute and sparkly addition, and now it's on sale for $30!
9. Again, a splurge. But if you live in a cold or slushy climate, these boots will keep her warm and dry all winter.
10. A Jill Bliss journal set has beautiful prints and is a thoughtful gift for the notetaker in your life.
11. Can't go wrong with classic leopard print ballerina flats, just get her size right!
12. A favorite childhood book is an amazing gift, she can use it as a coffee table book now! 

the sexiest night on television

last night was the airing of the annual Victoria's Secret fashion show, and i have to say, it's probably the show i look forward to most this time of year. completely over-the-top, glittery, and just plain sexy, i love every minute of it. this years' show didn't disappoint: the musical acts were good (i especially loved Bruno Mars and his band), the styling of each costume so elaborate and intricate that i poured over images of them after the show, and of course, the models looked phenomenal. the energy and attitude of the show is so fun it's infectious. my favorite part was the opening act of 'circus,' but i thought the pinball set for 'pink ball' was so cute, and 'angels in bloom' was so feminine and gorgeous it was a close runner up. 'silverscreen angels' was reminiscent of old hollywood glam, 'dangerous liasons' was decadent and oozing with sex appeal, and 'calendar girls' was pretty darn adorable.

above i picked my favorite looks from each act, and that was me seriously narrowing the list down. which are your favorites? do look forward to seeing the angels walk the glitter runway each year? and if you missed the show, you can catch a repeat of it tonight on CBS!

all images via here

happy thanksgiving!

this year, i have so much to be thankful for: good family, good friends, good health, and a bright future. Although i am missing some key players this year, i am so excited to spend the time catching up with the loved ones who are here and of course stuffing my face with turkey, mashed potatoes, and my aunt's famous pumpkin cheesecake. 

i hope you all have a wonderful day, no matter what you have planned. now, go enjoy it!

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sweatpants for the win

i just had one of those weekends that was so hectic that if i could just hit the do-over button, i would definitely shut myself in, put on some sweatpants, curl up with a book, and drink bottomless mugs of tea. but, since that wasn't the case, i decided to put my thinking cap on and find a solution for the best of both worlds... a way to rock the sweatpants, in public, without looking like a total slacker. 

see? totally acceptable i think. new cold weather sunday morning wardrobe: found. especially that bag. i couldn't be more obsessed...kate spade totally hit the nail on the head with that cheeky hashtag. the key to being publicly cozy is wearing sweats that are slightly tailored and slim legged so you don't swim in them and look sloppy. also, keep accessories simple but still fun, to show you were capable of putting some effort in when you got ready that morning. a little sparkle nail polish goes a long way!

//hot pink down vest//cat-eye sunnies, so you can get away with minimal makeup//golden arrow earrings/ cozy cable knit sweater/ adorable pompom hat//gold glitter polish//aaaah, the acceptable sweatpants//hangover bag/ /warm winter boots//

frozen petals

i'm a girl who loves everything about fresh flowers: the bright colors, the intoxicating smell, the softness of the petals... i could go on and on. but it seems like every year in fashion as soon as the leaves fall, all things floral disappear. i've tried to make my summertime prints work in the colder months, but for whatever reason those pretty little flowers just look weird when paired with winter boots and a down jacket.

but oh, imagine my joy when i discovered these pants by Citizens of Humanity... a winter floral!!! and they made it in the 'rocket,' a high-rise jean that's oh-so-soft and flattering, making it one of my favorites for the past couple years.

obviously, i sprinted right out and bought myself a pair of these awesome jeans. i've been pairing them with chambray shirts (like the way they were styled on CoH website), but also with chunky sweaters, boots, or high heeled booties. The muted gray-blue of the pants keeps them winter appropriate, but the rose pattern is a fun and flirty nod to the summer months to come. 

below i've posted some of the other great winter floral pants that i've seen since i bought the Citizens. i'm terribly infatuated with the pair by 7 for All Mankind. Which are your favorites? Do you have a favorite way to make florals work in the darker months?

{images via Shopbop}

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LRD

there are certain things that instantly vamp up the va-va-voom factor to any occasion, and with holiday parties about to begin {the ones that don't involve face masks, that is} the little red dress might be the perfect statement maker. 

i don't know about you, but i get a little bored of my go-to LBD, and my pale fall/wintertime skin looks somewhat frightening next to the bright colors of summertime. but a rich red dress compliments in both the cool fall months and the start of the holiday party season. and trust me, it's just about impossible to not feel confident when you're rocking a little red number. throw a cute jacket on, some heeled pumps or booties, a tiny bit of sparkly jewelry, and you're good to go.

anybody else already excited to think about {gasp!} christmas time?? and which of my shopbop finds could you see yourself in?

1. Dolce Vita Hymore Dress
2. BB Dakota Lewiston One Shoulder Dress
3. Free People Floral Mesh Lace Dress
4. Shoshanna Megan Strapless Dress
5. alice + olivia Long Sleeve Goddess Dress
6. Torn by Ronny Kobo Christie Pleated Dress

let them eat {cup}cake{s}

yesterday i turned another year older, and it was totally sweet {literally... dessert is the only food group a girl can eat on her birthday}! i love birthdays and any excuse for a celebration/frosting covered anything, so i pretty much had a smile on my face all day long. i'm not going to lie, i'm pretty stoked on being in my twenties right now, i'm finally feeling like i know who i am as a person, but  i still have so many adventures and so much to learn coming up. 

cheers to another year! 

...now everyone go eat a piece of cake!