Lately

Sweatshirt// Sneakers

What. A. Week. Can I have a glass of wine, yet?! I am honestly proud of myself because I got so much work done! This time of year is just nuts for bloggers because of the holiday season (it follows a somewhat similar schedule to retail). Because of that, Thanksgiving can be a time filled with pressure and that is not what Thanksgiving is about! Soooo, I work ahead as much as I possibly can which means working 10-12 hour days (not complaining!). So I'm able to spend the time with the people I love (my sister is coming into town tomorrow for 10 days!!) and not behind my computer screen. I am thankful to have such a flexible schedule.

Tomorrow, I'm having 15 people to my apartment because it is light up night downtown (it's definitely going to be a tight squeeze in 850 sq. feet)! I'm hosting for drinks and heavy apps, so it will be lots of fun (I am going to share the entire hosting process on my instastory if you want to follow along!). Afterward, we will go see the lights and then probably out for drinks and food! Meaning- I am spending a large chunk of tonight DEEP cleaning absolutely everything and tomorrow stocking the refrigerator. I love hosting people and living downtown during this time of year is really fun and special.

My mom is also hosting family (and friend) dinners every night starting Saturday-Tuesday. I'm excited not to have to do any grocery shopping next week, ha! And excited for an excuse to wear a cute, festive outfit each evening! My mom, sister, and I are also getting mani/pedi's next week- one of our favorite things to do together! And then, next Friday it is my high school's 10-year reunion. Lots and lots of fun ahead.

It is crazy to me that Thanksgiving is just one week away. The holiday season is really upon us and I'm so excited to be in celebration mode!

Wearing: This sweatshirt is on sale for just $24. I've been behind my computer a ton lately, so I'm constantly in comfortable clothes like this sweatshirt.

Recommending: To hear of the fires out in California is heart-breaking I can't even imagine the devastation and so close to the holidays, too. This is a reputable article that includes ways we can all help those affected. I made a donation to the Humane  Society of Ventura County to help the animals displaced in the fires as well as a donation to the American Red Cross (you can specifically choose the California wildfires when you donate).

Eating: Oh my goodness, if you are a Trader Joe fan like me, you need to get their apple blossoms which are like mini, individual apple pies (in the dessert freezer section). You heat them up in the microwave and they are SO good. 

Drinking: I shared this on Instastories the other night, but I really like Tom Gore's Cabernet Sauvignon. It's really inexpensive and easy to drink but it tastes like it is much pricier! 

Sale-ing: The Sephora sale starts tomorrow for all of you who are Beauty Insider members! You can see my post with my favorites, here.

Sale-ing II: Club Monaco is offering an extra 30% off sale items (no code needed). This is the time when I tend to shop Club Monaco. Their pieces are super high quality but also have a high price tag so it is really nice when you can score pieces on major sale! 

Watching: I spent the weekend mostly working but did end up getting sucked into The Bodyguard on Netflix. It's a BBC series with only 6 episodes. I finished the entire series within 3 days. It's SO good. It's like Homeland in England and has an interesting twist in the last episode. Definitely worth the watch and easy to binge! 

Listening: I'm pretty old-school when it comes to Christmas music, however, I just love Leslie Odom Jr.'s Christmas album! My two favorites are 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' and 'The Christmas Song'. His voice is so calming and soothing. 

Loving: Did you guys see this floating around the internet/social media? I thought it was hilarious so I texted my mom and her responses had me crying laughing. I have zero skill when it comes to cooking and also don't really have much interest in cooking or baking. So clearly this question did not phase my mom at all, ha!!! 

Wanting: I haven't really been wanting but I have been scouting gifts for everyone on my list and to share with all of you. So here are some things lately! And if you haven't yet seen, I've already published a few gift guides and there are many more to come! Gift Guides live right now: Pajamas, The best at Sephora, Stocking Stuffers. Coming soon: holiday dresses, gifts for the pup, gifts for the coworker, under $100... and more! 

Pittsburgh-ing: Light Up Night is tomorrow night. Who else is excited? You can see all of the events and a map of events, here. 

Smelling: Did you guys hear that Aldi is now selling candles that are basically $7 versions of $65 Jo Malone candles? I don't shop at Aldi often, but I'm going to check it out! I love Jo Malone candles and apparently these smell exactly the same. I'll report back! 

Traveling: My next trip is to New York City with my family in two weeks! Right after that, I am headed straight from New York to Florida! 

Quoting: 'Your life isn't yours if you constantly care what others think.' // See more of my favorites, here. 

Berlin Woods Treehouses Review

Today I'm sharing my trip to Berlin Woods Treehouses, which is located in Millersburg, Ohio! This post is very photo-heavy so scroll down to the bottom to read more! 

Plaid Tote// Bean Boots// Ugg Boots (also here)// Wicked Good Slippers

Fun Socks

Blanket// Scarf// Pajamas

Mug/// Ugg Boots (also here)

Monogrammed Champagne Flutes// Plaid Cocktail Napkins// Candle

Sweater// Sweatpants

Plaid Tote// Bean Boots

Plaid Blanket// Plaid Weekender 

A few weekends ago, I packed up the car and headed to Berlin Woods Treehouses. It's located just a little over 2 hours west of Pittsburgh. I had never heard of it until I stumbled upon it in a Google search one day back in July! 

The cabins are considered treehouses because they are on 'stilts' that situate the cabin 30 feet off the ground. The effect is pretty cool because you feel like you are up in the trees. At some points, we could actually feel the slight movement of the treehouse! 

There are a total of 6 treehouses that all sit next to each other in a row (but plenty of space in between). We booked Treehouse #1. Treehouses 1-3 are the big treehouses that sleep up to 6. Treehouses 4-6 are smaller. Quite honestly, I think I would only ever book treehouses 1-3 because they were far cooler in design and architecture than the other 3.  The other 3 looked like a cabin you could find almost anywhere. 

It had 3 decks! The first level deck wrapped entirely around the cabin, the upper deck was just off of the back and the coolest deck was off of the 'crow's nest' at the highest point of the cabin. There was a full eat-in kitchen, 2-full baths, 2 king beds, and 2 single beds. You should know that there are no separate bedrooms. Everything is totally in the open with the exception of doors on the bathrooms. 

Everything was made out of wood which was really cool- it was luxurious and high quality! I think this type of trip would make for a fun getaway. Pretty good for all ages but with children, you'd have to keep a close eye on them considering you are so high off of the ground! 

The area is an Amish town with a few cute general-type stores. We stopped in a few as we were leaving the area and got some cheese (they're known for their cheese) and it was Heavenly! Otherwise, there isn't too much to do in the area, so I wouldn't really recommend an extended stay- a weekend would be perfect! 

It was amazing because we were there the weekend that was peak leaf peeping! But I also think it would be fun during the summertime when you could enjoy the outdoors a bit more. It's pretty affordable, too. For one night it was about $400! 

It was totally different than any cabin experience I have ever had. We watched movies, cooked dinner, and enjoyed coffee on the decks! The TV was great because it was equipped with Netflix, Amazon Video, etc. so you could pretty much watch anything you wanted! Plus, the TV was right by the fire so bring a bottle of bubbly, cozy up by the fire and watch a good movie! 

Since it has a full kitchen, you can bring your own food. I suggest doing this because there aren't too many places to go out for a meal- plus it was fun to cook a meal in the cabin! The kitchen is equipped with everything you need to cook. We ended up making a big Caesar salad and crab stuffed salmon filets. It was delicious. 

There was also ample space for cars at each cabin. You could have easily parked 4 cars in a nicely paved and lit area! The only (small) suggestion I would have would be to bring your own coffee machine. The coffee machine that is in the cabin made horrible coffee and there weren't really any coffee shops close by. Not a huge deal, but if you are a coffee-lover like me, then you'll understand! 

Overall, it was such a fun experience and I totally recommend it to anyone and everyone, especially Pittsburghers or Clevelanders because it's a quick and easy drive!

Olay Whips Fragrance-Free Review

In August, I had the privilege of visiting Olay's research and development labs at the Procter & Gamble headquarters in Cincinnati, OH. Being a blogger, I get to experience a lot of really cool things but this experience tops the list. 

We spent a full day with the Olay team and Dr. Frauke Neuser, Olay's principal scientist. The skincare knowledge that I gained during that day was truly incredible. I have always been a fan and a believer of the Olay brand, but I can confidently say that Olay is one of the best skincare brands on the market. I say that not only because I have learned so much about the brand, but also simply from my use of Olay products over the years! 

I'm 28-years old and my biggest concern is preventing signs of aging such as sun spots, fine lines, and ultimately wrinkles. I've been using Olay Regenerist Whip with SPF 25 for over a year now. I use it every morning. It protects my skin from sun damage as well as dries quickly and creates a smooth base for makeup. Even if I'm not wearing makeup that day, it makes my skin have a matte finish!

During our visit to the Olay labs, we got to learn our skin's age. Mine was 26 which made me really please and also confirmed that my skincare regimen is truly working and shows that a regimen is worth it! 

Olay just launched my favorite moisturizing and anti-aging product, Olay Regenerist Whips, but now it is available in fragrance-free. This is a great option for those who might be sensitive to scent. That includes me- I am so sensitive to every scent so skincare products without scents are always welcomed in my regimen. According to Olay's research, 40% of women look for products that are fragrance-free! 

Olay Regenerist Whips fragrance-free is very hydrating, it is lightweight, dries quickly on skin, and diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. One of the 'hero' ingredients is niacinamide (B3). The benefits of choosing a product with niacinamide are amazing. It improves the appearance of pores, uneven skin tone, fine lines, and more. It's like the 'do all' in the skincare world. One jar of Olay Regenerist Whip fragrance-free contains as much niacinamide as 50 cups of kale! On top of everything, you get the protection of SPF 25 (UVA/UVB protection) from their Total Effects formula. 

As the holiday season is upon us, I think this would make such a great thing to pick up for yourself to help your skin look its best this season. I also think it would make such a great gift/stocking stuffer. I have now given Olay Total Effects with SPF 25 fragrance-free to several of my girlfriends, my mom, my grammie, and they all have loved it. 

You can find Olay products and specifically Olay Regenerist Whips with SPF 25 fragrance-free at a Walgreens near you!  Thank you to Olay for sponsoring this post an thank you for supporting the brands that I truly love and believe in. All opinions are my own!

Gift Guide: Pajama Lover

Pajama Top// Pajama Bottom// Slippers

I might be the biggest lover of pajamas ever. Even better when they match. They're a little luxury and for me, they make me feel put together even when I'm lounging. They're also great if you are on a trip where you are lounging with others so you don't look so sloppy. 

Every year on Christmas Eve, my mom, sister, and I wear matching pajamas (last year's pic!). I'm not sure how long it has been a tradition but it has been for a very long time. It's actually really fun because each pajama set reminds us of a certain Christmas. This year, we are also doing a family trip to New York City, so we are going to wear our pajamas then, too!

Besides that, I think pajama sets make a great gift for anyone on your list. You can really never have enough pajamas and I think a lot of people don't buy themselves nice pajamas so it's a bit of a luxury! 

This year I am rounding up a ton of pajamas. I've included all price points and lots of different retailers. I tried to keep most sets under $100! This year, we are leaning toward this gorgeous blackwatch plaid set! And I think we want my dad to match, too, in these pajama bottoms!

Is this something you do with your family? It's a really easy tradition and great for families or any ages and great for big or small families!