Fashion

It’s true. I still have pumpkins on my front porch. And some dead mums.

But you know what? It’s just December 1. There are plenty of good Christmas decorating times still to be had. I just need to get motivated to actually, you know, go out and buy a tree and put lights on it and get out all my various ribbons and wreaths. I’m like the Christmas version of Scarlett O’Hara and will think about that tomorrow.

Here are some cute things I found this week:

1. embroidered camo jacket

I have a perfectly good camo jacket that I wear all the time, but this one makes me want another one because mine doesn’t have cute embroidery on it. Plus this is on sale for $69.95 and an additional 40% off at checkout.

2. velvet fern kimono

I bought this earlier this year and then returned it because I felt like it would go on sale. And I was right. It is so gorgeous in person and could easily be dressed up for holiday parties or just worn with jeans and a t-shirt. It’s on sale for $59.95 plus an additional 40% off.

3. gingham and pearls layered necklace

I’m not normally a pearls kind of girl, but this gingham detail is everything. These would make even a basic sweater and jeans look fab. They are on sale for $39.95 and an additional 40% off.

4. milk and honey french terry joggers

I love these joggers from Milk and Honey Tees. They are perfect for everything from running to the grocery store to sitting on your couch reading all the latest news on Harry and Meghan’s wedding plans. They also come in gray and a camo pattern.

5. nike dry training hoodie

I love a good hoodie in the winter time and this one has great reviews. It’s on sale for 25% and now just $56.25. It also comes in black.

6. zella live in space dye leggings

I believe my love of Zella leggings is well-documented. I love this space dye gray version that are on sale for $39.53. (That’s a weird price, but whatever Nordstrom.)

7. marian platform sneaker

I love a slip on sneaker and these are so cute because they’re a little dressier than just your average sneaker. They also come in pink or gold and are $59.95.

8. barefoot dreams essential cardigan

This is a little different from the hooded version because, well, it doesn’t have a hood. But the length is the same and it is so dreamy. Even better? It’s now 20% and on sale for $97.60. I basically wear mine any time I’m in my house, which essentially means this is on my body twenty-three hours a day most days.

9. scout maxi dress in burgundy

I have this dress in black and it so soft and so gorgeous. It’s like wearing an elegant nightgown and looks like you have put so much more effort into being dressed up than you actually have.

10. old navy shawl collar open front cardi

This is a great lightweight cardi to wear around over everything from a t-shirt and jeans to workout clothes. It comes in a few different color options, but I like this navy stripe.

That’s it for today.

Have a good Friday.

Y’all. I so hope you are reading this while you are still in your pjs and thinking about heating up another plate of Thanksgiving leftovers and shopping online instead of fighting crowds in a mall. Unless, of course, you enjoy waiting in line and camping outside of Best Buy. In that case, you do you.

As for me, I’m going the online shopping route. Actually I’m spending my Black Friday watching Caroline play soccer because soccer doesn’t care about your 50% off everything sale.

Here are a few things I found this week that could make great gifts for someone. Or you can send this to your significant other/mom/best friend and say “ANY OF THIS”. Whatever works.

1. free people slouchy ottoman tunic

I have been waiting for this to go on sale, mainly because I love this pink color. But it also comes in mink and black if you aren’t so much a pink kind of girl. It’s now 40% off and $88.80.

2. sweatshirt dress

This sweatshirt dress is so cute and so practical to throw on with a cute pair of sneakers for all the Saturday morning soccer games I attend. It’s 33% off and on sale for $45.90 It also comes in a light gray.

3. krista tunic top

The Nod Boutique has become one of my go to places to find cute, trendy pieces for good prices. I actually have this tunic in a berry color, but I love this light gray. It looks so cute with jeans or leggings and it’s $46.

The Nod has two different Black Friday promotions going on. You can get 15% off your total purchase with the code BLACKFRIDAY15 at checkout OR you can get a free blanket scarf with a $100 or more purchase with the code BFFREESCARF.

4. free people laguna top

I have this top in black and wear it all the time because it is so soft and comfortable. It’s now 40% off just $40.80.

5. j.crew oversize tunic sweatshirt

Oversize? Tunic? Sweatshirt? These are a few of my favorite things all combined in one item. It’s 40% off and now $41.70. It also comes in a dark charcoal

6. bp faux leather leggings

If you are looking for faux leather leggings, then look no further. These are 35% off and just $18.90. I ordered them and will confirm that they run a little large so I’d size down, but they have plenty of stretch and you could wear them to a Christmas party and still feel like you could eat without splitting your faux leather leggings down the seams.

7. free people heart it laces sweater

This is another Free People that I’ve been waiting to go on sale because I love that lace up detail down the side. It’s 40% off and now $88.80. It also comes in pale pink, teal blue and black.

8. fringed lace poncho

How pretty is this? It’s not on sale and $98, but it seems like one of those pieces you could wear for a long time that would make even a simple outfit just a little bit more dressed up.

9. old navy luxe curved-hem tee

I ordered this in a black and white stripe and now I want it in more colors. It is so soft and the perfect length. It’s just $19.99 plus Old Navy is offering an additional 50% off everything at checkout plus free shipping with the code FREESHIP. Which means it might also be a good time to stock up on cute pj pants for everyone on your Christmas list.

10. gap short sleeve sequin dress

This has promise to me. It could be really cute for holiday parties with either tall boots or heels.

11. clare wool tunic

I tried this on earlier this fall but knew I wasn’t going to pay full price for it even though I really loved it. But now it’s on sale for $59.95 plus an extra 25% off all sale at Anthropologie. It is totally worth that price point because it is soft and lightweight and just a great sweater. I happen to love the green but it also comes in black, pale pink, and lavender.

12. gap cable knit duster cardigan

This is so pretty and I love that it could be dressed up or down. It’s normally $128 but everything at Gap is 50% off with the code BLKFRIDAY.

13. moonlight striped poncho

Apparently today is the day for a good poncho. Maybe that’s a sign that I ate too much for Thanksgiving. But this one is unique because it has stripes! Plus, it’s on sale for $49.95 but there’s that extra 25% off all sale at Anthropologie.

14. free people seashore mini

I wasn’t even looking for this but it showed up in my email inbox and, well, look at those sleeves. Also? It’s a tunic. It’s $60 and also comes in gold, berry, rose, ivory and teal.

15. cascading ruffles poncho

Yep. Another poncho. I’m sorry. This one is one size fits all which means it could make a great Christmas gift since there’s no size guesswork involved. It’s on sale for $79.95 plus an extra 25% off. It also comes in wine which would make it perfect for an Aggie game.

That’s it for today. Hope y’all had a great Thanksgiving.

Have a good Friday. Happy shopping!

So here we are at Thanksgiving break. I have no idea how it got here so fast but I need everybody to simmer down with all the Christmas decorations. Let a girl catch her breath and eat some turkey and count her blessings first.

However, that’s not really the way the world works these days because CAPITALISM, which means there are already a plethora of good Christmas sales to be found even though we’re a week away from Black Friday.

Here are a few of my favorites this week:

1. textured cozy chenille cover-up

This had me at the words “cozy” and “chenille”. It’s the perfect thing to wear with everything from jeans to joggers. It comes in a few color options and is 50% off which makes is $34.95.

2. old navy mock neck hi lo sweater

I was drawn to this sweater for this specific color, but it turns out it’s actually really cute. I love the hi lo hemline and it’s a good weight, not heavy or itchy.

3. chunky turtleneck sweater

My friend Jamie pointed out to me a while back that I wear a lot of green. I’d never really thought about it before but now I realize I am always drawn to green, which explains why I love this sweater. It would be perfect with black leggings and boots or booties for a casual Christmas gathering.

4. adidas flashback sneakers

I like these because they’re a great mix of retro and modern. I’d wear them with everything from jeans to going to workout. They also come in pink, maroon and olive green.

5. kolby brushed scarf

Listen. I would need a scarf like this probably one day out of the entire Texas winter, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love it. It just looks so cozy and makes me want to plan a trip somewhere cold just so I could wear it and not feel like I want to die. It comes in several color options.

6. vans old skool sneaker

What? Glitter Vans? Please and thank you. I love my white Old Skool Vans and I wear them anytime that Caroline hasn’t stolen them out of my closet, but this glitter is just a whole other level.

7. ruffled metallic top

I nearly bought this top earlier in the fall because I knew it would be perfect for the holiday season. It’s much prettier in person I think. It’s $78 plus an additional 20% off with no code needed at checkout. You could dress it up with velvet jeans or these sateen five pocket leggings from Loft that are on sale for $39.50.

8. sleeveless coatigan

There aren’t many of these left because they’re on sale for $49.99 with an extra 40% off at checkout with no code needed at checkout. But I love the idea of wearing this open over a plaid button down shirt with jeans and boots. Or you could wear it over all black for a dressier look.

9. gemma velvet driving slippers

Last year I nearly bought the Ugg version of these but never took the plunge. And now my indecisiveness paid off because this is the Target version that are just $19.99. I haven’t seen them in person yet but they have all five star reviews and I figure that has to count for something.

They also come in chestnut, pale pink, and black here if that’s more your style but I think I love the gray. And I feel like $19.99 takes the pressure off my fear of ruining them when I wear them to drive Caroline to school on a cold, rainy morning.

These are theugg ansley water resistant slippers in case you’re interested. They are really pretty but significantly more expensive.

10. the scarlett blouse

This is another top that would be great for the Christmas holidays with everything from jeans to black pants. I love the sleeves and the fact that it’s crushed velvet.

That’s it for today.

Have a great Friday.

Not only is it already November, but I am excited to report that the weather has finally decided to cooperate and recognize that maybe November isn’t the time that any of us want to deal with our car thermometers announcing that it’s 92 degrees outside. I’ve even worn boots the last three days in a row and so that feels like a victory.

Needless to say, they are not the Sam Edelman camellia boots that are still sold out at Nordstrom, but I’m not giving up hope yet. I just know there is someone out there who will decide they don’t want a pair of size 8.5 golden caramel boots after all and return them to Nordstrom. A girl has to have a dream after all.

Speaking of dreams, there is an excerpt about chasing your dreams from Church of the Small Things in Propel magazine. You can find it here if you’re interested in reading it. And I was also a guest on the Mom Struggling Well podcast last week and you can listen to that interview here.

In other Church of the Small Things news, you may remember this darling t-shirt featuring a quote from Mother Teresa that Milk and Honey Tees designed to help us all remember that it’s the small things that matter most.

This Milk and Honey small things t-shirt will be available for order until November 15th. If you happen to think a cute t-shirt and a copy of Church of the Small Things might make a nice little Christmas gift for someone in your life, you can find the t-shirt here and there are still a few signed copies of the book with bonus content available here online at Barnes & Noble or in your local Barnes & Noble bookstore.

Now for some cute things I’ve found this week:

1. j.crew long sleeve ruffle front top

I am so drawn to everything red right now. I’m sure it’s because Christmas is right around the corner, but this is the perfect shirt to add a festive touch to a pair of jeans. Or you could dress it up with a pair of velvet jeans and heels. It also comes in black.

2. philosophy metallic stars sweater

I love stars and I love sweaters. So, basically, this is the perfect sweater. I think it’s another piece that could be paired with jeans or dressed up for a holiday party. It’s on sale for $89 plus an additional discount depending on whatever Last Call is currently offering. It was an additional 50% last I checked but that might change by the time this post goes live.

3. j.crew city coat

I have been in love with this coat since I first saw it. It comes in a bunch of different colors but this bright green just has my heart. And it’s at J.Crew Factory so it’s significantly less expensive than it is at J.Crew. Now if I could just trust that the weather will get cold enough for me to actually need it in my life…

4. treasure and bond drape cardigan

I love the drape of this sweater and how easy it is to throw on over a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Or even with a cute dress. It also comes in burgundy and black and is $69. This would make a great Christmas gift because the sizing is pretty simple.

5. bp side tie sweater

I believe the side tie must be the new cold shoulder and hallelujah to that. I can get on board a side tie train. And I think this is so cute and just $49.

6. luxe velvet leggings

If there is one piece that your wardrobe needs for the holidays, then I think it’s some velvet. I happen to love these velvet leggings because you can pair them with a sweater like the one with stars above and have a cute, comfortable dressy outfit for a holiday get together.

These are $49 and also come in dark silver.

I also love these AG super skinny velvet leggings and they fit like a dream, but are significantly more expensive. They are for the person who’s ready to make a real velvet commitment. I happen to love them in the dark green color.

And these spanx velvet leggings are a great in between option as far as price goes. Spanx leggings always fit great and I’m sure these are no exception. I love them in the black, but they also come in a dark navy and a dark gray.

7. heart it laces sweater

This sweater is my new favorite for several reasons. It has “lustrous chenille yarns” according to the description which means it’s soft and not itchy. It has a v-neck which makes it universally flattering and a little dressier than just a crew neck sweater and it has darling laces up the side. It would be perfect with velvet leggings. It also comes in black or a pale pink depending on your color preference. I’m not sure how I’ll decide because I love all three colors.

8. sherpa luxe pullover

My friends and I refer to things like this as our “Cozy Sues”. It’s an article of clothing that you must have on your body on a cold, rainy day. If ever there was a Cozy Sue, this is it. It’s like wearing a blanket. This comes in mocha, gray or honey colored. I don’t really know how you could go wrong and this is a perfect Christmas gift. Those of you with teenage girls to buy for? This is a winner. Caroline would live in this all winter long.

9. cutout ruffle yoke blouse

Clearly I am drawn to a red blouse right now. This one is $49.50 with an additional 50% off with no code needed. It comes in red or an equally pretty periwinkle color. This is a great top to wear casually or to the office, but could easily be dressed up for a party.

10. lace bell sleeve top

Speaking of parties, this lace top is perfect. It’s actually navy, not black, but I kind of like the unexpected navy. It would look so pretty paired with dark gray. It’s $59.50 plus 40% off with code HAPPY at checkout.

That’s it for today.

Have a good Friday.

So after all the excitement and the angst and the late nights, the Houston Astros are the World Champions and I’m pretty excited about that.

In fact, it caused me to go through some old photo albums yesterday and find this gem.

Awkward pose? Check.

Bad haircut? Check.

But clearly feeling good about myself in the moment? Check.

And just in case you’d like a Houston Astros shirt of your very own to commemorate this historical moment, I happen to really like this one.

Houston Astros World Champion t-shirt

Here are a few cute things I found this week:

1. skye dress

Anthropologie had a dress very similar to this one that was about three times the price. I love everything about this and I think you could absolutely wear it with black leggings.

2. sole society faux leather hobo bag

This is a great bag that also comes in black. I love the tassel detail. It’s now 40% and just $41.96.

3. belted waffle woven coat

This soft pink color is so pretty and can work as a great neutral with black, gray or blue jeans. It’s 40% off and now $89.90.

4. gold cork leather earrings

I have some gold Nickel and Suede earring that I love, but I saw my friend Angie wearing these last Saturday at my book signing and feel that I need them in my life. They’re a great wear with everything pair of earrings that are different than just the standard gold.

5. free people nordic nights button down

I think maybe I featured this a few weeks ago, but I still really love it so I’m showing it again. Plus it has great reviews. It also comes in dusty rose.

6. bp raw edge v-neck tee

I love these raw edge v-neck tees because they are good on their own and perfect for layering under sweaters and jackets if the weather ever actually gets colder. They are just $17 and come in a ton of color options.

7. tie bell sleeve sweater

This may be my favorite of all the bell sleeve sweaters that are out there. It comes in lots of color options.

8. a new day flounce sleeve cardigan

This cute cardigan is just $29.95 at Target and also comes in black.

9. buffalo check hooded coat with faux fur trim

I am officially in love with this coat because I am basically powerless against a buffalo check. The only reason I’m not buying it immediately is because I’m afraid it would grow old and die in my closet since I don’t believe it will ever be cold enough to wear it. If we get to January and it turns out that I’m wrong, I’ll buy it when it goes on sale.

But if I lived where the weather is actually cold? SOLD.

10. free people flared sleeve blazer

Free People makes a great blazer and this one is no exception. I love that you could dress it up or just wear it with jeans. It comes in several pretty colors, but I think I like the black the best.

That’s it for today.

Have a good Friday.

Some weeks you are glad it’s Friday and other weeks you feel like if it wasn’t Friday then you might just go hide in your closet until Friday arrives. This has been one of those weeks. It didn’t help matters that I stayed up way too late on Wednesday night watching the Astros for all eleven innings of Game 2 of the World Series, but at least it turned out to be worth it.

Here are some cute things I found this week:

1. polka dot tunic

I keep looking at this tunic and trying to decide if I need it. It’s on sale for $49.95 plus an extra 25% right now at Anthropologie.

2. tie sleeve sweater dress

Is this practical? Maybe not. But how pretty would it look with a great pair of tall suede boots? It also comes in charcoal gray and burgundy if you are afraid of the white.

3. plaid cotton blend shirt

This comes in several color options, but I’m partial to this red. It would look great with everything from jeans to black pants.

4. scout maxi dress

I actually ordered this and love it. It also comes in navy, but I decided on the black. It’s super comfortable and a great way to look dressed up while feeling like you’re wearing your pajamas.

5. cozy chic lite coastal hooded cardigan

Speaking of pajamas, these are back in stock at Nordstrom and worth every penny. I’m wearing mine right now. In fact, I wear it basically any time I am at home. It is the softest thing ever and even comes in some new colors. This is a perfect Christmas gift for anyone on your list who deserves a little something special this year.

6. gap ribbed open front cardigan

I had been looking for a long black cardigan to throw on over a t-shirt and with jeans. This one is perfect. It’s not too heavy, it’s a weave that won’t pill over time and it’s the perfect length. It comes in charcoal gray and black.

7. textured cowl neck tunic sweater

I love this because you could wear it to the office or just around. And it’s now just $40 with no code needed at checkout.

8. bianca two-piece jumpsuit

I love a jumpsuit. It’s true. I don’t currently own one, but this one might be what I’ve been looking for. You could dress it up or down and I love the ruffles.

9. francia bootie

Last week someone asked me why I feature booties when I’ve admitted that I don’t personally care for them. That’s a good question. Let me clarify. I don’t care for them personally, yet I still wear them on occasion because no other shoe will do. And many people love a good bootie. These are tempting even me because I kind of think I may need a black pair. They are 20% off and on sale for $119.20 but Nordstrom has a lot of booties on sale right now if you’re in the market for a pair.

10. sole society pamella flat

Look at these. They are fancy. They also come in a glacier blue and merlot, but I would totally do the leopard print because go big or go home. But that little rhinestone detail is calling out my name. Except I don’t wear flats. I like them on other people, but they never work out for me. Stay tuned for the upcoming Lifetime movie featuring my struggle.

That’s it for today.

Have a good Friday.

And, if you’re in Houston, I’d love to see you at Blue Willow Bookstore on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. I’ll be signing books and taking predictions on the Astros and the Aggies and probably asking people where they bought their purse or their shoes or what color lipstick they’re wearing because these are the things I like to know.