Diary

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Yep. It’s officially a new decade.

So far I have spent it like I spent the end of the last decade which is to say I’ve been in my pajamas watching Netflix. Better to start small and then lead up to bigger and better things.

I hope you all had a great Christmas and a good start to a new year. Here are some cute things I found in case you have some Christmas money to spend.

1. cressida wool sweater coat

Anthropologie has a ton of cute stuff on sale right now plus an additional 40% off. This coat is one of my personal favorites and I tend to believe no one does a sweater coat as well as Anthropologie.

This is on sale for $119.95 but an extra 40% off.

2. adidas ultraboost 19 running shoes

I’ve been waiting on these shoes to go on sale because I need new running shoes and these are super comfortable. I know that because of all the times I’ve tried them on and then decided not to pay full price. Of course now that I’ve ordered them, I’m going to have to follow up on my promise to myself to actually run in them. So that’s a bummer.

These are normally $180 but on sale for $120.60. If you don’t like this color combo, you may want to look for them other places online because this version is on sale at a lot of retailers.

3. gibson cozy tunic

This tunic is truly one of the softest things ever and a great length to wear with leggings. It’s on sale for $40.20 and comes in several color options.

4. ugg melrose shearling booties

These are a great alternative to tall Ugg boots if those are too bulky for you. I really like these and they are on sale for $99.90. They also come in black.

5. marisa ribbed tunic

I really like the sleeves on this tunic. It’s on sale for $59.95 plus an additional 40% off.

6. harper swing top

Talulah is one of my favorite online places to shop these days because they have cute clothes and great prices. This top is $36. It also comes in taupe.

7. h&m ribbed sweater

This is a great sweater and just $29.99. It also comes in ivory.

8. colorfulkoala buttery soft leggings

If you have a New Year’s resolution to work out more, then I highly recommend these leggings. They are my new favorites and I wear them when I’m working out and when I’m just doing things like trying to get the lights off my Christmas tree. They are buttery soft, yet flattering.

They are $22.99. For size reference, I wear a small so I would say they are true to size.

9. feiersi off shoulder pullover sweater

I ordered this sweater in a moment of desperation because I bought a new skirt and didn’t have a sweater to go with it. This is the beauty of Amazon Prime. I figured it would be decent enough and then it came in and I was pleasantly surprised by it. I ordered a medium and it can definitely be worn on the shoulder if you prefer that.

It’s $25.99 and comes in several color options.

10. kendra scott lynne hoop earrings

I think these are so pretty if you’re looking for a good pair of hoops. They are $38.98 and normally $78 but 50% off.

That’s it for today.

Have a good Friday.

So it’s finally Friday, which, THANK GOD.

I’ve always felt like the weeks after a week of vacation are the hardest because you’ve had a taste of the good life and then have to go back to being a responsible person who doesn’t stay up until 2:30 a.m. watching The Crown and then googling “Did Queen Elizabeth really go visit her Uncle Edward on his deathbed?”

I’ll be honest. I like vacation much better than the real world.

And these next two weeks are particularly hard because Christmas break is so close that you can feel it and it personally makes me want to do nothing but eat cookies and drink wine and listen to Christmas music. Oh, and I also have big plans to binge watch the new season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel because it’s important to have goals.

Here are some things I decided to feature this week. They are all things I’ve featured before but they are some of my personal favorite things that I own and wear on a regular basis. They might give you some ideas of things to get as Christmas gifts and/or things to wish for.

1. free people penny pull on flares

I know I’ve mentioned these jeans one hundred times but they are just that good. They are so comfortable and universally flattering. Plus they come in various lengths depending on what you need.

I love all the color options and the fact that they are just $78 which is a very reasonable price point for jeans. And Free People has free shipping on everything right now.

2. colorfulkoala high waisted buttery leggings

After trying several different brands of leggings from Amazon, these are a clear cut favorite. They wash and dry like a dream, don’t fade or stretch out and are perfect for actually working out or just wearing around as athleisure.

They come in a ton of color and pattern options and are a steal at $22.99. I like them more than my Lululemon leggings and that’s the highest compliment I can give.

3. blank nyc leather moto jacket

I looked high and low for the perfect black leather jacket and this is the best one I found for the price. It’s $98 and feels like real leather. I love the gold hardware because it makes it a little more feminine than what Arthur Fonzarelli used to wear.

It also comes in tan.

4. aerie play pocket and cuff leggings

I discovered these last year and now own them in four colors. The gray is still my favorite because it’s the most versatile, but all the colors are pretty. They are the perfect cross between a jogger and a legging. I get them in a medium and they are fitted without being tight and so soft that you won’t believe it.

They are on sale for $29.97.

5. adidas swift run sneakers

I bought these for Caroline two Christmases ago and she ended up abandoning them for my white slip on Vans. I feel like I got the better end of the deal because I still wear these almost every day. They are so comfortable and look so cute with all my athleisure wear and even my jeans with a sweater.

They are $85.

6. h&m hooded knit sweater

I love this hooded sweater. It looks equally great with leggings and sneakers or skinny jeans and tall boots. You can layer it under a pretty winter coat and it dresses it up or you can throw it on with joggers and wear it to the grocery store.

It’s $34.99 and it also comes in beige.

7. wild fable high rise liquid leggings

I featured these a few weeks ago because they are a great bargain alternative to the Spanx faux leather leggings. Do they suck you in as much as the Spanx? Don’t be ridiculous, of course they don’t. But are they on sale for $11.20? YES MA’AM.

I ordered the small and it’s a perfect fit and I’m 5’6″ and they hit right at my ankle. They look equally cute dressed up or dressed down.

8. bp longline turtleneck sweater

This is such a pretty, soft sweater and it looks great with the leggings above.

It comes in several color options, is thin enough to layer under a jacket and is just $39.

9. hometop memory foam slip on slippers

I bought these during the summer because I needed something to wear on my feet at night that wasn’t a sock because it was so dang hot. These are super comfortable and have lasted way longer than I thought they might.

They are just $19.99 and would make a great Christmas gift or stocking stuffer.

10. miranda peasant blouse

This darling blouse is back in stock at Anthropologie and they are offering 30% off right now on sweaters and blouses, which means it’s on sale for $89.60.

11. abercrombie shawl open front cardigan

This is one of my favorite cardigans. I bought it last fall and have worn the heck out of it. I’ve worn it with boots and jeans and I’ve thrown it on over my workout clothese on cold days. It’s so soft, a great length and on sale for $34.

It comes in several color options.

12. the merly jacket

This is one of my wardrobe staples. I really questioned whether a denim jacket could be worth $148, but it has been worth every penny. It’s so soft and broken in that it feels like you’ve had it forever. It’s a nice layer without being stiff or heavy and I love that I can easily wear it over a sweater or a sweatshirt. Plus, you can get 15% off if you sign up for emails from ABLE and you’re supporting women in need. That’s a total win.

That’s it for today.

Have a good Friday.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving with your friends and family. Personally, I have consumed somewhere in the vicinity of quadruple an acceptable calorie count over the last two days and am going to need to put myself on some sort of program.

Today is the beginning (not really because almost everyone started their sales early) of all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale madness. There are tons of good deals to be found which makes it a great time to buy something you’ve been waiting to go on sale and/or to get your Christmas shopping started and/or finished.

Here are some cute things I found.

1. paloma knit tunic

This is such a pretty sweater and I love this red for the holidays. It’s the answer to all your Christmas outfit needs. It’s normally $98 but Anthropologie is offering 30% off everything today with no code needed.

It comes in several color options and also comes in plus sizes.

2. secrets of the heart red floral print maxi dress

I think this is so pretty. You do need to be aware that it has a cutout in the back, however it’s down low so it’s still bra friendly. It’s $59.

3. zesica long sleeve chenille velvet sweater

This sweater has great reviews that say things like it feels like wearing your favorite blanket and it’s just $30.99. It comes in several color options.

Reviews say to size up if you want it to fit like it does on the model.

4. shawl open front cardigan

I bought this last year in the off white color and still wear it all the time. It’s super soft and the perfect weight, plus it’s long enough to wear with leggings.

It’s normally $68 but on sale for $34. Everything at Abercrombie is 50% off with free shipping.

5. zesica sherpa fleece pullover

I ordered this a month ago and finally got it in this week. The good news is it looks like it’s currently shipping much faster than that. But here’s what I will tell you, it is so soft inside and out and unbelievably warm. It’s going to be my friend for a lot of soccer games this winter.

It’s $35.99 and comes in several colorway options.

6. dreamers cowlneck sweater

This is one of my favorite sweaters from last year. It’s a great length and weight. It’s warm without being bulky and is the perfect weight to wear under a jacket.

It’s 40% off and on sale for just $27. It comes in several color options.

7. feliz navidad graphic t-shirt

This is a great tee for the Christmas season and could even be paired with a sequin skirt or dressy pants. Or it would be cute worn under a tartan plaid flannel with jeans.

It’s 60% off and just $15.50 plus free shipping with code YAYDEALS at checkout.

8. old navy flannel tunic plaid shirt

Maybe you were wondering where to find a tartan plaid flannel. Well, wonder no more. Here’s a great one at Old Navy that’s normally $29.99 but everything at Old Navy is 50% off with no code needed at checkout.

9. loft velvet ruffle shell

This velvet shell is pretty enough to wear on its own, but would also look great under a jacket or sweater. It’s $54.50 but 50% off with code FRIYAY at checkout.

10. kendra scott hammered hoop earrings

These are such a great basic hoop earring and would make a great Christmas present. They are $40 plus 20% off everything at Kendra Scott right now. And they come in other metal color options.

That’s it for today.

Have a good Friday.

Well based on the fact that I have four packages of cranberries in my fridge right now, it must be Thanksgiving week. And why do I have four packages of cranberries? Because I am stocking up so I can make this cranberry-jalapeno cream cheese dip over the next month or so of holiday celebrations.

I discovered it last year right at the end of the Christmas season when cranberries are increasingly hard to come by and I don’t want you to make that same mistake. Stock up on the cranberries while you can. And if you want a non-cream cheese option to make up for all the cream of mushroom soup and Cheez Whiz based foods you may eat over the next month, this cranberry jalapeno salsa is also a total winner.

Finally, if you missed our Big Boo Podcast with part one of our annual Christmas gift guide, you can find it and all the links here.

Now here are some cute things I found this week:

1. crisanta mock neck blouse

I love a retro-ish top and this one totally fits the bill. It’s not on sale yet so it’s $118 but this is one of those Anthro tops that might be worth full price because it makes an outfit.

2. chenille cable knit crew neck sweater

I went in Nordstrom Rack the other day looking for a pair of jeans that I didn’t end up finding, but I did find a lot of other cute things including this chenille sweater for $42.97.

Frankly, I’m not sure why we’re making sweaters out of anything other than chenille now that we know about it.

3. faux fur trim printed coat

This is another Rack find. It’s $59.97 and totally looks like something that would be three times the price at Anthropologie.

4. love token printed sweater

And yet another Rack find. This is $69.97 and would be so cute with jeans and booties. It’s super soft and a great length.

5. canterbury plaid hooded coat

Finally, this plaid sweater coat is at Rack and just $29.97. The bottom line is you need to either get online and look at all the great stuff at Nordstrom Rack or you need to get yourself to your local Rack if that’s an option. They have tons of great stuff right now that would also make great Christmas gifts.

6. universal thread cassie faux leather wedge booties

These booties are identical to the Sorel version that are twice the price. These are $39.99. They also come in black and are actually really comfortable. I know because I tried them on in the store and had to tell myself I didn’t need them because I love them.

7. cashmere camouflage scarf

I found this thanks to my new online friend Cattle Baron in Cashmere. She is a great person to follow on Instagram for general funniness and gift ideas.
This camo scarf is just $6.99 and would look so great with an all black outfit and the wedge booties up above.

8. prettygarden fuzzy fleece sherpa pullover

I bought this fleece for myself way back in August before I could even imagine getting to wear it. And now that I’ve worn it, I have to say it is true love. It’s so soft and super cute with jeans or leggings. I bought the medium so it’s just a little oversized.

It’s $26.99 and comes in other color combinations.

9. camo sweatshirt

I bought this sweatshirt a couple of months ago and have gotten a ton of wear out of it. It’s lightweight, super comfortable and looks great with jeans or leggings.

It’s only $21.99 and comes in several camo color options.

10. chenille pom pom beanie

I needed a few more warm beanies to get me through the upcoming school soccer season when the temperatures will usually be somewhere between freezing and freezing and raining at the same time.

I got this one in this week and it’s my new favorite. I’m telling you that chenille is a wonder fabric and sorely underused in my opinion. This is so soft, warm and just feels like a hug on your head but not in a weird way.

It’s $14.99 and comes in several color options.

That’s it for today. I’m going to go ahead and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving now.

And have a good Friday.

In what feels like a commentary on my entire week, I’ve spent the last five hours starting to finish this post and then getting distracted. In fact, in this time period I have baked a strawberry cake, made taco soup, helped Caroline with her hair and had two glasses of wine.

All that to say, I was probably a little better five hours ago than I am now.

But a cold front has blown through complete with rain, we have no real plans for the weekend and Alabama is playing LSU on Saturday. All in all, my excitement level is about a fifteen on a scale of 1 to 10.

And I also found some cute things this week that I really love and could make great Christmas gifts if you’re the kind of person who has started thinking about Christmas shopping.

1. classic soft knit poncho shawl wrap

I love a poncho. And I also happen to think a poncho makes the perfect Thanksgiving outfit because you can wear it with stretchy leggings and eat all you want while basically wearing a blanket.

This one is just $24.99 and comes in several color options, although I happen to like this one best and can totally picture it over all black with tall boots. It would also make a nice Christmas gift because one size fits all.

2. chelsea 28 turtleneck sweater

This is such a great basic and it’s on sale for $47.40. It comes in several color options and is long enough to wear with leggings. It would also look great under a jacket or blazer.

3. colorfulkoala high waisted leggings

I know I’ve featured these before but I continue to love these leggings. I have this green camo pair, a gray camo and a solid black. They are the leggings I reach for over and over again because they are so comfortable.

Best of all they are just $29.99.

4. chelsea28 mock neck body-con dress

In case you’re in the market for a great basic black dress, this one is just $79. I love that it has the ruching on the side because it gives the figure flattering effect of a body-con dress but it also forgiving for the tummy area for those of us who like our wine and/or our pasta.

You could dress this up for a holiday party or just keep it simple for more somber occasions like work.

5. standing tall taupe boots

Remember last year when I found my Sam Edelman boots back in stock at Nordstrom Rack and it was a miracle? I still love those boots so much.

These are really similar and they are just $66 which is a bargain for a great pair of boots. I wear mine all the time because they are a great neutral and go with almost any outfit. They also come in a chestnut color if that’s more your thing.

6. h&m patterned oversized sweater

Okay, I love a winter white outfit. This oversized sweater would look so pretty over a pair of white skinny jeans with the taupe boots up above. Or you could just throw it on with leggings for a more casual look.

It’s just $34.99.

7. rosalie necklace set

This necklace set is on sale for $49.95 plus an extra 25% off all sale. It would make a great Christmas gift for someone or you could add it to your own wishlist.

8. loft plaid tweed long blazer

Tweed oversize blazers are a big trend right now and this one would look equally great dressed up for the office or just with jeans and booties. You could wear it with a velvet cami underneath and leather leggings for a holiday party.

It’s $150 but 40% off with the code FESTIVE at checkout along with everything at Loft right now.

9. halogen baylee platform slip on sneakers

I love my leopard print slip on sneakers and these are really similar. They are $89.95 and have a great platform heel that gives you a little more height. I’ve found they go with so many things in my closet and I wear them all the time.

They also come in snakeskin and some solid colors here.

10. wild fable high rise liquid leggings

Maybe you remember that I have long been on the search for a great pair of faux leather leggings. I even ordered some off Amazon that were listed as “novelty costume leggings” in my desperation. But the search is over because these are so good and they are just $16.

They aren’t as compressive or thick as Spanx leggings and they may not last me past this season, but they fit like a dream and are so comfortable and cute. I ordered the small for size reference and normally wear a 4-6 or 27 in pants and jeans. They fit perfectly.

That’s it for today.

Have a good Friday.