End of Year Sales

After Christmas sales, Holiday Sales, Christmas style, Holiday fashion

Shirt: Charming Charlie (Only $19) | Jeans: Nordstrom (ON SALE) | Boots: Nordstrom | Beanie: Similar | Lipstick: MAC “Ruby Woo”

Oh deer I can’t believe Christmas has come and gone just like that! I hope all of you were able to enjoy some time off with friends and family. This was the first year since I’ve been born that we did not celebrate Christmas morning in our house. We road tripped to my grandparents house and spent the weekend with my mom’s side of the family in East Texas. It was a relaxing, pajama wearing, face stuffing weekend and I loved every minute of it!

Did anyone else get cash or gift cards for Christmas? If you are anything like me, than they are probably burning a big ol’ hole in your pocket. What is money for if not to spend after all? 😉 If you didn’t get everything you were hoping for for Christmas or just want to treat yourself to something nice, end of year sales are the best time to do so! I’ve rounded up a few of the best (and my personal favorite) sale items to help you with your shopping needs below.

Clothing

Shoes

Accessories

After Christmas sales, Holiday Sales, Christmas style, Holiday fashion

After Christmas sales, Holiday Sales, Christmas style, Holiday fashion

After Christmas sales, Holiday Sales, Christmas style, Holiday fashion

After Christmas sales, Holiday Sales, Christmas style, Holiday fashion

Not only is it the best time to shop the sales, it’s also a great time to stock up on Christmas items for next year. This top has been a favorite of mine this year and it is only $19. I wore it on Christmas and several of my family members loved it so much they snatched it up for next year!

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Bell Sleeves + Leather Mini Skirts

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Holiday party look: bell sleeves + leather mini skirts

Holiday party look: bell sleeves + leather mini skirts

Holiday party look: bell sleeves + leather mini skirts

Holiday party look: bell sleeves + leather mini skirts

Holiday party look: bell sleeves + leather mini skirts

Holiday party look: bell sleeves + leather mini skirts

Top: Similar | Skirt: Similar | Booties: Similar | Sunglasses: Nordstrom | Earrings: Kendra Scott | Lipstick: MAC “Diva”

Photography by: Banavenue

With only 2 days until Christmas, the holiday looks are in full effect around here. I tend to jump on new trends and wear them like they are going out of style which is completely the case with all of these bell sleeve tops. I seriously can’t get enough of them! I have about 4 other looks coming to the blog that all have bell sleeves and a lot of them have mini skirts too.

I love adding leather into my wardrobe when the cooler weather hits. Leather mini skirts just up the sass level of an outfit. For a night out, holiday party or New Years Eve, leather mini skirts are a great way to add a fun and festive factor. Go against the norm and try an alternative color to black. My personal favorite for the holiday season, is red or burgundy like this one that I am wearing.

I am off to a Christmas brunch with the ladies in my family. It’s a tradition that we do every year and it’s one of my favorites! After that will be a full day of wrapping presents because I haven’t even started. I brought all of my presents to my parents house so that I can steal mama’s wrapping paper 🙂

If you are looking for the perfect outfit for the holidays, whether it is for Christmas, a holiday party, or New Year’s Eve, I’ve got an entire Holiday Look page to help you get inspired.

Only 2 more sleeps until Santa comes, eek!

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Momma’s Homemade Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate Recipe

One of my favorite guilty pleasures during the holiday season and well after Christmas, is Momma’s homemade hot chocolate. For as long as I can remember I have helped my mom make several batches of this goodness for ourselves and also as gifts to others. To this day I have at least one cup a day if not more! It is the perfect treat to remedy your sweet tooth and also to keep yourself warm. I can’t imagine the holidays without it!

I always venture out at restaurants to try and get my hot chocolate fix but I have yet to find any hot chocolate that competes with Momma’s. Seriously. If you find some, please let me know! You can also ask several of my friends that come over just to have a cup! I finally talked Momma into letting me share her magical recipe with all of you. Would you believe me if I told you it was only 4 ingredients?! Sometimes I can’t even believe it myself!

Holiday homemade 4 ingredient hot chocolate

Holiday homemade 4 ingredient hot chocolate

1 (8 quart) box of powdered milk

1 lb. box of Nestles Nesquick

1 (6 oz.) jar of hazelnut Coffee Mate

1 cup of powdered sugar

*This makes about 40 single cup servings*

Optional: peppermint sticks, mini marshmallows, mini chocolate chips

Make it boozy: Original Bailey’s or Salted Caramel Bailey’s 

Pour your powdered milk, Nesquick, Coffee Mate and powdered sugar into a container. Mix thoroughly and you are ready to serve. Serve 1/3 cup mixture to 2/3 cup hot water. Stir with a spoon. Garnish with your choice of a peppermint stick, mini marshmallows or mini chocolate chips.

If you are gifting the hot chocolate pour mixture into your small container so that it fills the container up about 2/3. You can find similar containers on Amazon here or I picked these up at my local Dollar Tree. Mason jars are also a cute alternative and can be used year round. Once you have poured in your mixture, fill the remaining 1/3 with mini marshmallows. Finish off your hot chocolate container with a bow to attach your peppermint sticks.

Step 1

Holiday homemade 4 ingredient hot chocolate

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Holiday homemade 4 ingredient hot chocolate

Step 3

Holiday homemade 4 ingredient hot chocolate

And if you want to make your cup a little boozy, our family’s favorite way to serve it is with Bailey’s! We go back and forth between original Bailey’s and Salted Caramel Bailey’s but you can’t go wrong with either one:)

Holiday Hot Chocolate Simple Gift Idea
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Holiday Shopping at River Oaks Shopping Center

Holiday shopping style: Plaid skirt + turtleneck + OTK boots

Holiday shopping style: Plaid skirt + turtleneck + OTK boots

Holiday shopping style: Plaid skirt + turtleneck + OTK boots

Holiday shopping style: Plaid skirt + turtleneck + OTK boots

Holiday shopping style: Plaid skirt + turtleneck + OTK boots

Holiday shopping style: Plaid skirt + turtleneck + OTK boots

Holiday shopping style: Plaid skirt + turtleneck + OTK boots

Holiday shopping style: Plaid skirt + turtleneck + OTK boots

Holiday shopping style: Plaid skirt + turtleneck + OTK boots

Holiday shopping style: Plaid skirt + turtleneck + OTK boots

Skirt: Similar | Shirt: Nordstrom | Boots: Nordstrom | Purse: Goodnight Macaroon | Sunglasses: Prada

Now that the countdown to Christmas is in the single digits, all of us last minute shoppers are kicking it into gear. You would think that with all of these gift guides and holiday inspiration that I would have my Christmas shopping done but sadly that is not the case. It wouldn’t be Christmas without a 24th hour shopping trip on Christmas Eve for this girl 😉

Christmas shopping is one of my favorite times of the year so I usually try to make an entire day out of it. So while not all of my shopping is done, I was able to knock a few people off of my list this weekend at River Oaks Shopping Center. I specifically love going here because it truly is a one stop shop for everyone on my list. See some of my favorite places to shop for each person below.

The corporate gal: Ann Taylor, White House|Black Market, GAP

The active one: RYDE, Evolve Fitness Studio, Pure Barre

For Mom: Talbots, J. McLaughlin, Sur la Table, Chico’s

For Dad: Sunglass Hut, Jos A. Bank, Barnes & Noble, Luke’s Locker, V’s Barbershop

Spa gifts: Nail-tique, International Derma Spa, Full Blown Dry Bar

The food lover: Americas, Brasserie 19, Macaroon by Patisse, La Griglia Restaurant

Depending on how successful shopping goes, I almost always reward myself with California Pizza Kitchen and/or Nail-tique for a pampering session. After all the giving season isn’t just for everyone else. You deserve a little pampering too!

So if you are anything like me and have yet to finish up your holiday shopping, River Oaks Shopping Center is a great alternative to battling the massive crowds elsewhere. Cheers to checking everyone off of your list and Merry Christmas, friends!

*Thank you River Oaks Shopping Center for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Holiday Party Ready with Elaine Turner

Holiday party ready, holiday style, holiday fashion, Elaine Turner holiday wear

Holiday party ready, holiday style, holiday fashion, Elaine Turner holiday wear

Holiday party ready, holiday style, holiday fashion, Elaine Turner holiday wear

Holiday party ready, holiday style, holiday fashion, Elaine Turner holiday wear

Holiday party ready, holiday style, holiday fashion, Elaine Turner holiday wear

Holiday party ready, holiday style, holiday fashion, Elaine Turner holiday wear

Holiday party ready, holiday style, holiday fashion, Elaine Turner holiday wear

Holiday party ready, holiday style, holiday fashion, Elaine Turner holiday wear

Holiday party ready, holiday style, holiday fashion, Elaine Turner holiday wear

Holiday party ready, holiday style, holiday fashion, Elaine Turner holiday wear

Holiday party ready, holiday style, holiday fashion, Elaine Turner holiday wear

Holiday party ready, holiday style, holiday fashion, Elaine Turner holiday wear

Holiday party ready, holiday style, holiday fashion, Elaine Turner holiday wear

Holiday party ready, holiday style, holiday fashion, Elaine Turner holiday wear

My outfit (all Elaine Turner) // Jacket | Top | Leggings: Bloomingdales | Shoes | Clutch

Margret’s Outfit (all Elaine Turner) // Dress | Booties | Purse | Bracelet

How are we already in the second week of December?! I have yet to even start my Christmas shopping (last minute shopper all the way) yet somehow I’ve managed to plan out all of my holiday event wear! As soon as Thanksgiving is over, I love to start planning out outfits for the remainder of the year. Holiday parties are my favorite! Between Thanksgiving and New Years is when everyone starts to bring out the sequins, leather, suede and bows galore.

The holidays can be hectic which is why having your wardrobe ready for any party, planned or unplanned, can come in handy. I have partnered up with Margret from Style The Girl to share a few tips on how to get holiday party ready.

  1. Classic Outerwear

    You’d be surprised that even though we are in the coldest part of the year, something that is most commonly forgotten about is outerwear when it comes to holiday fashion. Outerwear doesn’t have to just be thought of as a means to get you from point A to point B. With so many cute options out there, find a piece of neutral outwear that you can wear to complete your outfit. I am loving this suede statement jacket especially because after the holidays are over it will easily transition to more casual outfits such as jeans and booties.   

  2. Add a bold material

    Like I said, leather is a fun material to introduce during the holidays. My personal favorite is in legging form. If you are going to a party that is not cocktail attire but still want that “wow factor”, leather leggings will do just that. It is important to find leggings that are going to be appropriate and classy. A thicker material will not only keep you warmer but will also hide any imperfections. My go-tos are these two-tone leather leggings that have both leather and suede in them.                                                                                                      

  3. Statement Accessories

    I am a firm believer that accessories can make or break an outfit. They can also easily take an outfit from drab to fab! The easiest way to make a statement with your accessories is when your outfit is a solid color. For instance, the majority of both Margret and I’s outfits are black. Because of this we both opted for fun bags and shoes. Bags, shoes and accessories are where you can play with patterns and colors. My jaguar clutch tied my entire outfit together by having both of my clothing colors in it.                                                            

Be sure to checkout Margret’s blog for her top 3 holiday fashion tips as they are completely different than mine and just as helpful 🙂 For more of your holiday needs, Elaine Turner is the perfect one stop shop. In fact, Margret and I are dressed head to toe in Elaine Turner. Before working with them I had only seen their purses but they offer so much more than that. Outerwear, clothing, shoes, and jewelry are just a few of what they have to offer! To help get you in the holiday spirit, Elaine Turner is currently running a promotion for 30% all of their bags and accessories with code SANTASFAV. We have also teamed up with them to bring you the final day of Christmas Giveaways and I might be bias but I think we saved the best for last!

GIVEAWAY

Continuing on with the 12 Days of Christmas giveaways, we teamed up with Elaine Turner to give away a Annabella clutch (a $200 value). The winner will be able to select their color choice. Follow the below directions to enter and be on the lookout for an Instagram post later today explaining how to gain extra entries as well.

1. Comment on this blog post

2. Follow me on Instagram here

3. Follow Margret on Instagram here

*Thank you Elaine Turner for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Photography by: Banavenue

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