Thursday, November 5, 2026

Lately


I've been wearing shorts on my walks all week!!



A little pre-trick-or-treat snack!



Grilled Cheese and Tomato soup season! Trader Joe's Red Pepper Tomato Soup is my favorite. 
Napkins// Placemats// Bowls


Hope your week is going well and that you enjoyed a nice holiday weekend! My mother-in-law came to stay for the weekend, which is always nice! We had a great trick-or-treat evening as the weather was gorgeous. I went to see a movie with my parents on Sunday, and it was great. 

This week has been very typical, but it's busy season, so I'm basically glued to my phone and computer! I started rolling out the gift guides this week; so far, the first two are the host and hostess guide and the cool girl guide, which my sister curated! More to come next week. 

We have had the most glorious weather. It's been 75 and sunny for days, which is unusual for November in Pittsburgh. I am here for it, though it seems that today is the start of some cooler, less sunny weather. Par for the course. 

This weekend, we don't have any huge plans, but my aunt and uncle are in town, so we are going to have dinner at my parents' with them one night! We also need to tackle a few chores around the house. I'm trying to decide when I want to put up our Christmas tree. I was thinking this weekend, as I love the decorations, but at the same time, it's been so warm and sunny that I'm not really in a Christmas-y mood! 


Red Pants (use code SYD20)
Tried these red pants on. They run big; I'm wearing a size 2. Love the dupioni texture, and they are a touch stretchy, so they're very comfortable! 


Button Down// Pants// Flats// Bag// Sunglasses

Black Sweater (back in stock)// Black jeans on sale under $100// Orange Loafers

Wearing: I've worn mostly casual things all week long! 

You can find me on ShopMy, where I link all of my outfits, favorite finds, home decor, beauty, and more. I’m always updating it with my latest finds! You can also follow me on the LTK app and browse all of my posts here on my website.

Eating: Sweet treats we snagged at Bartram House Bakery. The top left strawberry pastry was incredible! 

Sale: 25% off personalized items at Baublebar. They have a longer lead time, so they always do this sale early so you can order and get items in time for holiday gifting! 

The Sephora sale is open to everyone now! I shared my full makeup routine here, with a few products that are included in the sale. My top 5 picks are this hair-taming wand, this concealer, this eyelash curler, these eye patches, and this thermal barrel iron. 

One of my favorite brands is doing 25% off jackets, coats, and boots! I saw this suede jacket in the store the other day, and it is incredibly stunning. Though, even at 25% off, the price is spendy! For everything else, you can use my code SYD20 for 20% off full-price items. 


Watching: I haven't been to a theater in ages, but Everest: The Other Side was playing in IMAX, and I had to see it. I'm absolutely fascinated by mountaineering, especially the eight-thousanders like Everest. I have no real interest in actually hiking; I don't think I'd enjoy sleeping in a tent, I love a hot shower, and I loathe being cold. So I don't necessarily consume mountaineering content because I want to climb mountains, but I'm so inspired by mountaineers' strength and grit. I've read and watched so much on the topic, I feel like I could talk to a hiker or mountaineer and they might actually think I own hiking boots, ha!! Anyway, the only IMAX in Pittsburgh is at the AMC in Waterfront. I truly think the last time I was in that movie theater, I was 12, but it looks pretty much the same! The documentary was one of the best things I've ever seen. I felt so immersed in the whole thing watching it on the massive screen. The story is a complete and total emotional rollercoaster. It was heartbreaking, gripping, stressful, and thrilling. The cinematography was stunning, and the storytelling was poignant and engaging. I've been thinking about it ever since. It's a heavy story, but if you're interested, I'd recommend it. I don't want to say too much and ruin it, but it was just so moving.

Loving: I just love these little nutcrackers!

Wanting: This little beaded bag is so pretty. I love the navy because I think it would work beautifully in all seasons! This tartan jacket is incredible! This feather top is so fun and gives me 'going out' top vibes. Such a gorgeous jacquard coat! Very into this tote. In my family, I am known as the bull in the china shop, so these socks are making me chuckle. Pretty sure this is the best mascara ever! New J.Crew this week, and I love this fleece jacket, these velvet flats, this scarf, this feather-embellished button-down, and this embellished collared sweater. So into these red pants for the holidays and beyond. Just ordered this velvet top. A fringe purse begging to be taken to a festive fete. These sunglasses look perfectly classic. This sweatshirt + sweatpants lounge set is back in stock. The most comfortable lounge set I've ever worn! This clutch is gorgeous and so unique. Such a fun cardigan to add lots of color to your world this winter! A festive top that would look great with jeans or a skirt! Now this is a fun little mini dress and this is the most fabulous cocktail dress!! A cozy and cute vest. 

Pittsburgh: My husband and I were invited to Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's black-tie gala, and I'm so looking forward to it. You can still snag tickets, here! We have so much talent in this city, and it's great to celebrate and support it! Plus, I love any excuse to dress up. I ordered quite a few dresses and am hoping one works out! 

Amazon Rec: It's soup season! These are the soup/cereal bowls we use day to day! 

You can find more of my Amazon favorites, here on my Amazon page where I am constantly updating it with all of my finds and top picks from home, beauty, fashion, and more!

Smelling: I found one of my favorite perfumes of all time on TJ Maxx's website! It's still pricey, but hugely discounted from its full price. I'm shocked to see it on sale! 

Quoting: 'Both fear and faith ask you to believe in something you can't see.' // See more of my favorites, here.

This content may contain affiliate links; when you click the link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no cost to you). 
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Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Gift Guide: For the Cool Girl


If you’re new here, meet my sister, Callie. She’s four years younger than I am. She is trendier and always ahead of the curve. We’re incredibly close, but our personal tastes tend to be different; though as she gets older, we align more in our tastes. 

Callie is into pop culture, travel, makeup, and cooking. She dresses more casually than I do, somehow always knows the it sneaker of the moment, and always knows what's going on in Hollywood. Her home style is an eclectic mix of mid-century, bohemian, and traditional that she pulls together beautifully. She’s creative, honest, and loyal to her core.

One of my favorite stories about her: when we were little, an older group of neighborhood kids popped my blow-up toy ball just to be mean. Callie, who was maybe four years old, marched over and scolded them on my behalf. She’s been sticking up for me ever since.


Callie and her husband just moved across the country from North Carolina to San Francisco earlier this year. I admire Callie for this move, because it was a big one, and somewhat on a whim. It was such fun to visit her earlier this year, and we are planning another trip to California soon! Callie and her husband are high school sweethearts. They have a dog, Bean, and two cats, Hugo and Louis. She is one of the first people I run things by because she is never afraid to tell it like it is. For this guide, I asked her to send me things she personally loves, recommends, or would gift, so everything here comes straight from her list.

I know not everyone shares my taste, and it can be challenging to shop for people whose style differs from your own. So think of this as the 'cool girl' gift guide. Callie-curated, sister-approved! 

Some items of note... 
- Callie tried these Sunglasses on in Sicily and loved them and eventually ordered them once she got home. 

- This is the Handbag Callie got in Florence, and it is so much better in person. It's the perfect size for day and night, and the ponyhair texture really makes it stand out while still being neutral. 

- My mom, sister, and I all want to put these Earrings on our gift guides because we love them so much and wear them weekly. They're under $100, and I think they are one of the best gifts you could give. There are different shapes and sizes. My mom and sister both prefer the oval 10mm CZ, while I wear the round 10mm CZ more often.

Some items of note... 
- I have seen this Personalized Tote everywhere. It's classic, but the color has a bit of a worn look that I don't love. However, my sister got it to take to Italy, and I got a full tour of it while we were waiting in the airport, and it totally grew on me. It's so spacious and truly set up to be such a great travel bag. The quality is also really great.  

- This Hand Soap is specifically made to erase kitchen smells like onion, garlic, and more. 

- My sister works from home, so she dresses very casually day-to-day and loves this Oversized Sweatshirt.

- To quote the text she sent me about this Keyboard for iPad 'it's one of the best things I own.'

2026 Gift Guides:



You can find me on ShopMy, where I link all of my outfits, favorite finds, home decor, beauty, and more. I’m always updating it with my latest finds! You can also follow me on the LTK app and browse all of my posts here on my website.

This content may contain affiliate links; when you click the link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no cost to you).
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Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Classic Holiday Decor


Today, we are talking about Christmas decor. With all the holiday content I have been working on, this week feels like Santa's workshop over here! 

I wanted to share some of the holiday decor I put up in our home. There are lots of photos, so it may seem like a lot, but I truly don't do much- just enough to be festive and add warmth and magic. I don't like that overly cluttered feel that can happen with Christmas decor, so I try to reel myself in even when I see cute things. I also don't like spending a fortune on this kind of thing, so I keep it to a minimum because storing it all is a real pain!

My Christmas decor ethos is to buy it once and never replace it. One of the things I love about holidays is tradition. I want to use the same angel on top of the tree, the same tree skirt, the same dinner plates, etc., forever. It creates a continuity over years and decades and, in my opinion, is a part of the charm and warmth of the season. 

I think slowly collecting is fun. I love that I know that I bought our tree skirt when we first moved into our home and were engaged and got our first tree together. In a way, these things mark time. 

I don't need much this year. One thing I don't have is a nativity. I hope to get one at some point, but haven't found exactly what I'm looking for yet. It's one of those 'I'll know it when I see it' kind of things. This is my dream nativity. There is a heavy emphasis on the word 'dream' as that is where it will only ever happen, ha! 

I love this blue and white one, but I feel like this one looks much more like the one my parents have and what we grew up with. My mom actually made her nativity in her 20s in a ceramic class!

I also have my eye on these adorable 3.5' Nutcrackers. 

Our tree skirt is from L.L. Bean, but they no longer make it. I think this tree skirt is a great alternative! 


Wreath// Monogrammed Sash
The monogrammed sash is meant to be a bow for a newborn swaddle, but it's the perfect length and size for a wreath and less costly than many wreath sashes out there. I don't think the Etsy shop carries the exact plaid any longer, but they have some cute options. 


Spode Christmas is one of my favorite things. It signifies the holiday season for me, and I have loved collecting the pieces over the years. If you are starting off, go for some mugs, some dinner plates, and the champagne flutes! 
Christmas Tree Dinner Plates// Tablecloth

Stemless Wine Glass

Mug

Coasters

Mug
Our family friends gifted us dinner plates, mugs, and salad plates from the 'Twas collection for our wedding, which is so pretty and whimsical. I think of them each year as I pull out the pieces!

Needlepoint Pillow




This book is so special. In a primarily digital world, I love this tangible memory book. I give this as a housewarming and wedding gift. It's like a scrapbook with a set of pages per holiday season. You can fill up to 25 years in this one book. I love filling ours in each year. 

Mini Tree// Similar Ornaments

Wine Glasses

Christmas Hand Towels

Candle



You can find me on ShopMy, where I link all of my outfits, favorite finds, home decor, beauty, and more. I’m always updating it with my latest finds! You can also follow me on the LTK app and browse all of my posts here on my website.

This content may contain affiliate links; when you click the link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no cost to you).
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Monday, November 2, 2026

Gift Guide 2026: Host and Hostess

Discover the best host and hostess gifts, from thoughtful little luxuries to elegant entertaining essentials. Perfect for holiday parties, dinners, and more.

Happy first day of gift guides! I’m getting most of this year’s guides up before the Cyber Week deals begin around November 20-ish. A wordier intro to today's gift guide, but in future guides, we will get straight to the point, I promise!! 

Here’s the plan: today kicks off with the Host + Hostess Gift Guide. There will be 11 total gift guides, and I'll have 7 of them live before Cyber Week. I'm bringing back Wednesday posts just for November so I can fit it all in! I’ll still be sharing my usual Thursday Lately and Friday Weekend Wish List posts.
 
I always like to start with the host and hostess gifts. Whether you're attending Thanksgiving, a holiday party, spending a weekend at someone's home, or gathering for a dinner, a thoughtful gift is always a gracious gesture. I also keep a few of these items on hand as they make generous neighbor gifts or small tokens of thanks (for example, when someone helps out with Henry).

I actually have a designated gift shelf where I store things like this, so I’m never scrambling for last-minute presents. It makes the holiday season and the rest of the year feel more organized and stress-free. I learned this tip from my mom and have been doing it my entire adult life. It's saved me many a time! 

I put a lot of thought and care into each guide and am very selective about what I include. These gift guides are one of my favorite things to create all year, and I spend months leading up to today editing and perfecting these lists. I am not just tossing random things on these guides. While there are many great items out there, I keep in mind that these are gifts, and some great items can be a little odd to give, such as a bra, underwear, or foundation, which are best given when you really know someone personally. 

I don’t accept sponsorships for gift guides on my website, so when you shop through my links, it truly means more than you know. If you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you), and your support helps me keep creating these guides each year. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for trusting me with your holiday gifting! 

I'll be sharing my gift guides on my ShopMy page, in case you'd like to refer back to them there. I've also added 'shelves,' which are essentially categorized folders where I save products that I find throughout the week. For example, I recently created a jewelry folder, a cozy lounge folder, a party/cocktail/black tie folder, and more!

I included a lot in today's guide. I personally think of host/hostess gifts under $50, so I included mostly under-$50 items, but I also included a few higher-priced gifts, since I tend to gift something a bit more substantial when I am a house guest versus a dinner party guest. 

Some items of note...

- One of the easiest gifts to grab, and thankfully under $30 (though, depending on what brands you buy), is this Sourdough Bread + French Butter + Jam + Holiday Spreaders Set. Who doesn't love waking up the next day to all of the fixings for a delicious piece of toast?! The butter is some of the best I've ever had. You can find it at Whole Foods. Bonne Maman is my go-to for jams, and my personal favorite is the four fruits. I always snag a loaf of sourdough at Whole Foods, but it's even more special if you bake your own! 

- One of my girlfriends is an incredible baker, and she loves to share her baked goods with so many. These 'from the kitchen' Custom Gift Tags were so fun to give to her a few Christmases ago! 

- The Coffee Table Book is merely a placeholder to inspire. I am a big believer that you can never have too many coffee table books. I was once really stumped on what to get someone I didn't know very well. I knew they loved motorcycles, though, and wouldn't you know it, I found a beautiful Harley-Davidson motorcycle coffee table book! I also love gifting a newlywed couple a coffee table book of their honeymoon, and I write a note inside! 

- The Balsamic Vinegar that's worth every penny and then some. We discovered this in Rome a few years ago and have been loyal fans ever since. When I was in Florence in September, I snagged some, but luckily, you don't have to go to Italy to get it. I am sharing the white label, which is one of their least costly options. For balsamic, this brand is pricey, but it's just soooo much better than anything else. If you want to spend a little more, the red label is incredible (called 3 gold medals), and it is what I typically buy for our house. Though the white label is fantastic, too. I picked up the aged version in Florence, which is very expensive, but in Italy, it's much less, and the aged version is so good, but not something I'd use daily. 
Some items of note...

- I love gummy candy, and as far as candy goes, this Candy Mix Gift Box is a bit of a splurge, but for under $20, you can make someone who loves gummy candy really happy, because this really is the best!

- These Nutcracker Taper Candles are under $20! I've seen them in person, and they are SO cute. If you want to take it a step further, a pair of candlestick holders would be the perfect add-on! 

- We stayed at the Inn at Perry Cabin a few years ago for Valentine's Day, and on every table in their dining room were these fabulous porcelain Votive Holders. It turns out they come in so many beautiful patterns. I included a beautiful lattice design, but they have everything from sailboats to dogs, and more. 

- I love to give the Family Christmas Book as a wedding gift, housewarming gift, or baby shower gift. It's unique and something you might not buy for yourself. The book gives you two pages to write notes about your holiday and then paste in a photo or two. I put in our holiday card, too. We have done this for 7 years in our own book, and looking back is so fun and special. 

- I think this Scented Tassel is such a fun concept to place in a powder bathroom or closet. You could tie it onto a bottle of wine or olive oil, too. I think this Frame Ornament is adorable and another great one to place on a bottle. 

Discover the best host and hostess gifts, from thoughtful little luxuries to elegant entertaining essentials. Perfect for holiday parties, dinners, and more.
Some items of note...

- I love tea and love to try different teas and brands. This Tea Gift Set is from one of my favorite tea brands, Harney and Sons and has so many of my favorites! 

- Back in March, I popped into the cutest little shop in Naples, and there was a dog waste bag holder that was called a 'Barkin'. It looks like a designer bag we know and love. I bought it immediately, and that is what is hanging on Henry's leash. I can't find the exact one that I bought, but this Dog Waste Bag Holder is adorable. It's a cheeky little gift for the dog + fashion lover. 

- I ordered this Sponge, after my sister and cousin have been raving about it. I'm a big Scrub Daddy loyalist, but they both swear up and down that this is the best sponge!! I always think a sponge is a silly little gift, and adding a little tray, like this Blue and White Catchall, makes it giftable. If I host many people and have a lot of cleanup, I usually replace my sponge the next day, so I think it's useful, thoughtful, and, best of all, very inexpensive. You can even do a sponge with a mini bottle of dish soap, wrap it in cellophane, tie it with a big bow and pretty gift tag, and you have yourself an under-$10 gift. Half the time, it's all about presentation! 

- These Martini Olives are the best to ever exist. They are so meaty and firm, and the brine is so salty and flavorful. My girlfriend turned me onto these, and I've never looked back. A very inexpensive little gift to give on its own- this is perfect for someone who loves a martini, and maybe you visit their home often and just want to give them a little something. But add in some cute Cocktail Picks and/or a bottle of vodka or gin, and it's a more substantial gift. 

- My sister and I love these soap bricks; I particularly think this Fig Soap Brick is the best one. I usually don't like bar soap, but this is so luxurious. It doesn't come with anything to lay it on in the shower, and you don't have to have something, but I checked the dimensions of the soap brick, and this little  Lucite Tray should fit the soap perfectly and keep the shower tidier  

- These Tassels  are a fun little thing to dress up a bottle of wine, olive oil, or gift! You can add them to furniture pulls, lamp switches, or even a handbag. 


You can find me on ShopMy, where I link all of my outfits, favorite finds, home decor, beauty, and more. I’m always updating it with my latest finds! You can also follow me on the LTK app and browse all of my posts here on my website.

This content may contain affiliate links; when you click the link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no cost to you).
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