Monday, August 31, 2020

A Wardrobe Staple: The Oxford Cloth Shirt







Tinted Lip Balm (in deep)
Shop the Look:

One of the most-worn items in my closet also happens to be a piece of clothing that I have worn for 15+ years. Men, women, young and old, the Ralph Lauren oxford cloth button-down is about as classic as you can get. 

If you haven't tried out this type of shirt, oxford refers to the fabric of the shirt. It's cotton but instead of being a finer weave like poplin, oxford cloth is a bit of a heavier weave. It is naturally wrinkle-resistant just because of the hardy nature of the fabric, and in my opinion, it skews a bit more casual than a crisp poplin button-down.

You can find this type of shirt in a bunch of different brands since it is such a classic, but I've always preferred Ralph Lauren's version. The fabric is high quality, soft, and I love the striped version! 

My #1 styling tip when it comes to this type of shirt is to buy it in multiple sizes. I wear a women's small so that it is more fitted and I can layer it under a sweater. The fitted style definitely looks a little more polished, too.  I also buy it in a men's medium, which is what you see me wearing in the photos above. It has a boyfriend style, more casual fit, and when untucked, it's long enough to wear as a swimsuit coverup. This also looks great with leggings, too. 

I mostly style this classic piece of clothing with white jeans or regular jeans, year-round. I also think it looks great underneath a cable knit cashmere sweater for a polished, slightly dressier outfit! 

Needless to say, this shirt is super versatile. My fiancĂ© has several and usually wears them with jeans or chinos in the colder months, and it also looks great with chino shorts in the summer! 

Saturday, August 29, 2020

Saturday Shopping


Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend! I mentioned this last week, but we got a light fixture for above our dining table and we meant to put it in last week and just never got around to it. So hopefully this weekend is it!! It is supposed to be pretty rainy here all weekend so we are just laying low- nothing too exciting. Scroll through the widget above to see some of the pieces I found from this week. I am just starting to see some great fall items pop up at some of my favorite brands so I am starting to get excited for a new season! 

Friday, August 28, 2020

Where to Find Vince Cashmere On Sale


Shop the Cardigan:

I kind of forget about Ruelala... I used to do a lot of shopping on there in college as the prices were good and they had really good flash sales on brands I love. Their site is a little 'all over the place' now, so it's become harder to navigate through all of the 'stuff' and find the real gems, so I kind of forgot about the site. 

However, I noticed the other day that they have a TON of beautiful Vince cashmere sweaters at very good prices. These photos are from back in June, but I've been wearing this Navy Cashmere Cardigan nonstop- in fact, I'm wearing it as I am writing this! In true Vince form, it's incredible quality, so soft, fits wonderfully, and is just overall a very classic wardrobe staple. As of writing this, the Navy Cashmere Cardigan is fully in stock in all sizes and well under $200! 

Vince is one of my very favorite brands, as you all probably can tell, but at full price, the pieces are so expensive so I love any way to save on a Vince piece! In my search, I also found a ton of Vince pieces at Nordstrom rack. Because these sales can always be spotty with sizes being sold out, I recommend using the filters up at the top to sort everything by size so you can assess what you like best with items that are in stock in your sizes. There is nothing more frustrating than finding something amazing and realizing it's totally out of stock in your size, right?!

Besides Ruelala and Nordstrom Rack, I also found a few on Nordstrom's 'regular' website. This black cashmere and wool cardigan is 60% off (a better price than some of the pieces in the Anniversary Sale)!!

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Lately

This week has flown by! Not really too much to report here other than we had a major water issue here yesterday which ate up most of my day, which was not fun!! I learned a lot of new terms, that's for sure. Glad that is behind us!

This past weekend we had a picnic in Oakland. We got Chikn takeout (seriously best chicken sandwich) and sipped on bubbly. It was the most beautiful night and we were graced with a stunning sunset. It was a lot of fun and a great way to enjoy the wonderful weather! Sorry for the grainy photo, it was starting to get dark so capturing it was tough on an iPhone!

I know a lot of you have DM'd me in the past few weeks about the Wella Fusionplex sale at Ulta that usually happens around now. It's my go-to conditioner and I haven't seen it go on sale but I am checking their website literally daily and if I ever see it go on sale, I will share!! The best way to get these kinds of sale alerts is to follow me on Instagram so you are able to watch my Instastories! It's usually around $45 and I know when they have a sale, it goes down to $13! Fingers crossed it goes on sale soon!

I spent a lot of this week browsing for fall clothing/accessories/etc. and I've been pretty disappointed in the selection. I am not surprised as a lot of supply chains and all of that has been disrupted. I am over wearing lounge clothes so I am looking forward to a fall spent in cute sweaters and casual dresses- even if I am the only one to see myself in them!

I'm excited about a new skincare product that I just got earlier this week. I don't want to share it too soon because I want to really make sure I have plenty of days to test it, but just in the few days I have tried it, I am LOVING it. Will share details soon if I continue to love it!

Wearing: I've been living in this Dress. It's inexpensive and SO comfortable. We have had some more very hot days come our way and this is just the easiest to throw on and actually looks pretty cute with a sweater or sweatshirt over top! 

Eating: Did you all see the 10 fall recipes I want to try?! I'm hungry just looking at them. 

Reading: Last year, I bought a gigantic mum from Costco. I was so excited about fall and love the look of mums in the fall. Well, I quickly killed my mum. I am going to try again this year. So I found this article that shares some tips on how to keep mums alive. I think my biggest failure must have been that I kept it in its original pot the entire time. I repotted my basil plant and limelight hydrangea plant immediately when I got them so I think that is a big key for getting plants to thrive. Fingers crossed!! 
Sale: These jeans are one of my favorites and right now they are $10 off (under $100!) I love the lighter wash on them! 

Watching:
 I absolutely cannot wait for a new season of The Crown!! Did you all see the trailer? It comes out in November! 

Loving: This weekend, August 28th – 30th,  Talbots will be donating 10% of net proceeds to our philanthropic partner, Dress for Success.  In addition, for every top purchased, we will donate one new professional top to Dress for Success – up to 5,000 – which means helping 5,000 women, and their families.

Loving II: This 'serene blue' color that Lulu has come out with is SO pretty. I want everything!! 

Wanting: These napkins are SO cute and feel like fall without being too 'themed'!! 

Smelling: I forgot to include this candle in my fall candle roundup, but it is SO good. I just ordered one. It's definitely a little more wintery because of the 'fir' but I can't wait to burn it! 

Quoting: 'There is no failure, you either win or learn.' // See more of my favorites, here. 

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

10 Fall Recipes I Want to Try


I went into Giant Eagle (our local grocer here in Pittsburgh) and they were stocked with all things fall! Pumpkin items, butternut squash, etc. It got me so excited for fall flavors so I started to save some recipes that I definitely want to try in the coming months! 


Pumpkin crunch cake// This seems similar to my go-to cherry crunch recipe. SO easy and the flavors sound incredible. 

Sausage stuffed acorn squash// My dad made something similar for us years ago and it was seriously one of the best things I have ever had!

Cranberry Rosemary One Pan Chicken// YUM! I don't diet, but I do try to cut back on bread/pasta/rice/etc. during the weekdays so I appreciate a recipe heavy on the meat, veggies, and fats. 

French Onion Chicken// French onion soup is one of my most favorite foods ever so I love this take on the traditional soup recipe. 

Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon// YUM! My mom always made this growing up and it is so cozy. The perfect Sunday meal during the fall. 

Butternut Squash and Sausage Stuffed Shells// Ok yum!! I am not a huge stuffed shell person but I think this take on the traditional Italian dish sounds delicious! 

Garlic Spinach Stuffed Spaghetti Squash// I love spaghetti squash SO much and it's one of the few 'healthy' noodle substitutes that my fiancé actually likes, too, so we eat a ton of spaghetti squash! This recipe is dairy-free, so I'm going to take the recipe and use real cheese rather than a dairy-free substitute. We definitely don't do dairy-free in this house, haha!

Brussel Sprout Gratin// Bacon, gruyere cheese, and Brussels! What is not to love? 

Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie// I haven't had sweet potatoes in so long so this recipe is calling my name! 

Cabbage sausage skillet// Cabbage is one of my favorite foods so I am always looking for cabbage-heavy recipes. YUM! 

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

A Fall Favorite Top



Lip Color (in deep)// Flats 
Shop the Look:

I got this Easton Blouse last year and it has easily been one of my most-worn tops during the fall and winter seasons. I ended up also getting it in black, too! With fall arriving soon, I wanted to highlight this silhouette. Also, this year, they took the same faux suede fabric in this beautiful bone color but cut it in a new silhouette! It's a tunic-style and I love it!! 

This outfit is a simple way to style a fall piece in a more warm-weather way. The first official day of fall is September 22nd and we don't really get tons of cooler weather here in Pittsburgh until right around then. This is the type of outfit I like to wear in early and mid-September as it blends in fall textures but you're not too hot and you don't need to accessorize with things like booties or scarves yet! 

I know I have gotten a lot of DM's of those of you who live in warmer climates, like southern states where you all have hot weather into October and even November, so this is also a good outfit for situations like that, too!

The Easton Blouse runs true to size. I'm wearing a size small. If anything, size down as it is meant to fit loosely/generously. There are a bunch of different fabrics but my current favorite one has to be the Antelope print! I know a bunch of you are all still working from home and will be for the rest of the year and this is a great work from home top because it's truly SO comfortable because of the generous fit and swing-style but still looks polished and put together!

And these White Jeans are a favorite and one of my most-worn pairs. I wrote an entire blog post about them, here

Monday, August 24, 2020

Wedgwood Blue Inspired Tablescape


Wedgwood Blue Inspired Tablescape

Wedgwood Blue Inspired Tablescape

Wedgwood Blue Inspired Tablescape

Wedgwood Blue Inspired Tablescape

Wedgwood Blue Inspired Tablescape

Wedgwood Blue Inspired Tablescape

Wedgwood Blue Inspired Tablescape

Wedgwood Blue Inspired Tablescape
Blue Chargers// Henry Napkins (custom made)
Wedgwood Jasperware (mostly eBay and thrifted over the years)

I got these napkins custom made and I am so obsessed with them. Around the same time, I got this beautiful blue tablecloth that I scored on sale so I wanted to do a tablescape where I could incorporate both items! I'm not 100% yet ready to give in to fall tablescapes but I do think that this can truly be a seasonless table! 

I was inspired by the color of the tablecloth. It's definitely the perfect Wedgwood blue, so I thought it was the perfect excuse to play around with my jasperware collection. I love collecting jasperware and have been collecting for years. It's just so beautiful and unique!

The 'dining' area is something that we are planning on focusing on next... I want to get a new, larger dining table and we need chairs!! We have the space for a larger table and I also plan on hosting more than 6, which is what our table comfortably seats. We can squeeze in 8 if we have to, but it's not ideal. I also don't love the rug we have there. It's fine, but I have been looking for a while now for something I love to replace it! 

We did, however, get a beautiful ceiling medallion and new light fixture so I'm hoping we can get that installed this weekend or next! 

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Saturday Shopping



I truly can't believe we only have about a week left in August! Time is flying by. We had cooler temperatures this week and it has me beyond ready to break out the sweaters and fall candles! I found a lot of great items through my browsing this week that I am excited to share with all of you!


Friday, August 21, 2020

Amazon Summer Event


Amazon Summer Event


Chamberlain Group myQ Smart Garage Door Opener

Chamberlain Group myQ Smart Garage Door Opener

Thank you to Amazon for sponsoring this post! As always, all opinions are my own.

I am so proud of all we have accomplished around our home since March. We added new pieces of furniture, hung a few TVs, moved some furniture around, painted our bathroom, hung art, and so much more! 

Our most recent project is that we just installed our Chamberlain Group myQ Smart Garage Door Opener which is included in Amazon's summer event! It is a wireless and wi-fi enabled garage hub that we can control from our phones. 

Back in February, I accidentally locked my fiancĂ© out of the house. Whoops. He had left the house and left the front door unlocked because he wasn't going to be out long. While he was gone, I realized the front door was unlocked so I locked it. I then went to take a nap. My fiancĂ© couldn't get a hold of me because I was asleep, and my phone was on silent and he hadn't taken the house keys! He wasn't really sure what to do at first. 

Finally, to wake me up, he opened the Amazon Alexa app on his phone so he could 'drop-in' in the bedroom (where we have an Echo) and he was able to talk to me to wake me up ('drop-in' is like an intercom). Honestly, I was impressed he thought to do that, I wouldn't have thought of it if I were in his shoes!! 

After that little mishap, we realized we needed a way to access our house should we ever forget our keys...or lock each other out, haha!! We have garage door buttons in our car, but no way to open the garage door if we don't have the clickers.

Now you know why we got the Chamberlain Group myQ Smart Garage Door Opener. Here is what it does and why we love it...

-  we can open and close the garage door from anywhere with our phones. Whether you lock yourself out of your house or you forget to close the garage door, you can open and close the garage door regardless of your proximity to your house.

- You get alerts if the garage door opens or closes and the app keeps a documented history of this.

- It works with all major brands of garage door openers made after 1993.

- You can invite 3 'guests' to be able to control the garage, too.

- You can also set it so the door automatically closes. So if you often forget to close your garage door, you can set it to close at, say, 9pm, so you can always have peace of mind that it is closed! 

- SO easy to set up. Seriously, it took us all of 15 minutes. 

-  You can also get free in-garage delivery with Key by Amazon. Prime members in select areas can opt-in with the myQ smart garage hub to get Amazon packages securely delivered right inside their garage. Love this because our packages can stay out of the rain and be kept safe until we get home. 

Delta Faucet Trinsic VoiceIQ Single-Handle Touch Kitchen Sink Faucet with Pull Down Sprayer, Alexa and Google Assistant Voice Activated

Delta Faucet Trinsic VoiceIQ Single-Handle Touch Kitchen Sink Faucet with Pull Down Sprayer, Alexa and Google Assistant Voice Activated


Here's what it does and why we love it... 

-It's SO chic. I'm usually a traditionalist when it comes to decor but there is something so sleek and chic about this faucet. 

-  The voice activation can turn the water on and off, pour specific amounts, and even warm-up using a device like an Amazon Echo. 

- A very timely feature is the hand wash feature that provides the proper timing for lathering, scrubbing, and rinsing your hands. This might be fun/helpful for those who have small children and need a handwashing reminder!

- We were able to easily install it ourselves. We were so glad it was easy and that we didn't have to hire anyone to do it!

Echo Show 8 -HD smart display with Alexa

Echo Show 8 -HD smart display with Alexa

Echo Show 8 -HD smart display with Alexa
With this Amazon partnership, I was also sent an Echo Show 8 -HD smart display with Alexa. We have had an Echo show in our kitchen since we moved into our house 16 months ago and so we are already big fans. I can easily pull up recipes, play Amazon Prime video, see who is at the door with our Ring doorbell, and more.

I use it a lot to find my phone in the house because I usually misplace it! My fiancĂ© and I like to play Jeopardy on it while we are making dinner and we use all of our echos around the house as intercoms. Plus, we can use our Echo show to control our new Delta faucet. We put our new Echo Show 8 in my office since I don't have a TV in there I have been loving playing things while I work. Plus, it has such a nice speaker for music!

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Lately


I can't believe we are almost to the weekend already! This week has gone so quickly and I really don't know why! We did have 'cooler' temps this week and it made me truly joyous. Seriously, yesterday was truly the most perfect weather ever- sunny skies, a cool breeze... just perfect and it put me in the best mood!! Henry and I were able to go on so many walks without dying from the heat!! In the early mornings, I even wore a sweatshirt. Can you tell how happy this makes me?!

One other random thing that also made me happy this week is that I washed literally every single thing on our bed- the mattress cover, sheets, blankets, duvet, duvet cover, pillowcases, pillows, etc. etc. I usually clean different parts of the bedding on slightly different timelines, so whenever I have the time to run the washing machine from morning to night (no seriously, it takes ALL day), I relish it! I laughed at myself when I got into bed one night at how happy clean bedding makes me. It is truly the little things!!!

This week we also had a food truck stop into our neighborhood. I've shared this before but I just love it. It's a great way to socialize with neighbors an easy way to support a local business. Someone took charge of the whole thing in our neighborhood and so now we have a schedule of food trucks that come every other Wednesday evening (for 2 hours) and we have a schedule of trucks well into the fall season. We've had a great variety of things like tacos, hoagies, lobster, hot dogs, ice cream, pizza, BBQ, etc. I definitely recommend setting up something like this in your neighborhood!

Wearing: I definitely haven't shared these navy and white Striped Lounge Pants with you all enough yet!!! They are seriously the best and under $30. SO soft and they are quite thin so I don't get too hot wearing them now but can layer like you see above, come fall. They run true to size, if anything a little big!

Eating: This Mediterranean quinoa salad sounds so fresh, light, and delicious! I plan on soaking up alllll of the fresh fruits and vegetables of summer for the next few weeks. That is surely a part of the summer I love!! 
Drinking: If you follow me on Instagram then you know Topo Chico is my latest obsession. It's sparkling mineral water and it's incredible. The bubbles are fine and there are tons of them. It's hard/weird to explain but it's just so refreshing and so delicious. You can find them at Whole Foods! 


Watching:
 I have been watching very little TV lately- still on an OC kick but other than that, we are literally show-less!! I feel like I've watched everything under the sun, so hopefully, I find a new show soon...or even a really good movie... I feel like I haven't seen a truly great movie in a while, too! 


Listening: I just started my fall playlist and it's really good so far!! You can check it out above or if you have Spotify, here 

Wanting: Obsessed with these Sarah Flint Natalie flats. I have these flats in nude and absolutely love them. They are beyond comfortable but this pink jacquard print is just stunning and so special! I'm also thinking about ordering these cashmere socks... which is such a random purchase but my feet get so cold at night! I just went through all of my socks and got rid of a bunch that were old and tattered and all of the pairs I didn't like/don't wear and that felt so good! 

Quoting: 'What is done in love is done well.'- Vincent Van Gogh // See more of my favorites, here. 

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2020: Top 3 Favorites


Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2020: Top 3 Favorites

Top 3 Picks:

You've already heard my thoughts on the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale this year, and while I was underwhelmed, I definitely think there are a few gems and 'good deals'. Today is the first day of public access which means anyone can shop the sale now! 

My Content About The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Thus Far:


If I could pick just three pieces from the sale, they would be... 

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2020 vince cashmere

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2020 vince cashmere

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2020 vince cashmere
I've had my Vince cashmere cardigan for years now. I bought it in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and it's been one of my most-worn pieces of clothing over the years. It's pricey even when on sale, but in my opinion, it is so worth it. It should last you for many years as it is not only well made but classic in style. It's cozy and comfortable and can be worn with so many different outfits from dressed up to dressed down!

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2020 cz studs
These are under $30 and I've shared them a ton because I think they're a great deal. They're 2ct. faux diamond studs. So it's like a carat in each ear, which, in my opinion, is the 'perfect', classic, everyday size. I have basically these exact earrings that are real diamonds and I love them but I do worry about losing them. These look so beautiful so real that I don't mind wearing the 'faux' version over my real ones. They're beautiful but I also won't be devastated if I lose one. I also think this is such a good gift to give for bridesmaids or buy a few now to have on hand for gifts during the holidays. At full price, they are $46 so you are saving about $20! 

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2020 rag and bone cate jeans
I love these jeans so much that they got their own blog post so head over there if you want to learn more, but basically they're the best. These jeans are in stock as of writing this but also available on Rag and Bone's site here if the sizes sell out. You also get an extra 15% off if it is your first purchase and you sign up for their emails. 

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Pre-Fall Wish List

Pre-Fall Wish List
Shop the Post:

I haven't done a wish list for quite a while so today is the day! There's not too much I have had my eye on lately but there are a handful of items. Some are splurges and some are saves! I'm excited to see more fall items come out as we had our first dose of 'cooler' temperatures this weekend and I LOVED it!! 

Cashmere Cardigan// Ok I have had my eye on this since the beginning of the year. It's pricey and definitely an investment piece. But, it's such a classic and it is ALWAYS sold out! I keep checking back to see if it ever comes back in stock in my size.

Pheasant Monogram Napkins// Ok how cute are these for a fall tablescape?! I have a weird love for pheasants!

Gold Swizzle Sticks// These are inexpensive and something I am going to order to add to our 'bar'. With being at home so much and making more cocktails at home, I've had fun adding in little things here and there for fun!

Leopard Booties// Ok I LOVE these. I have debated on whether or not to get leopard booties and I think this is the year I will take the plunge. They're just fun and a good way to break up an all black outfit.

De-puffing Face Mask// I have been seeing this everywhere on Instagram. Once I looked it up, I read the reviews. There are SO many glowing reviews so I had to get it for myself to see if it is worth all the hype. This face mask is supposed to de-puff and it apparently works pretty immediately. I will report back once I try it out!

Gucci Princetown Mules// I wear my black Princetown mules all of the time. I love them so much and if you are considering them, check out my review, here. I've been wanting another color for quite some time and I'm debating on the light blush color or the darker brown. Both great neutrals, indeed!

Blush Pink Headband// I've been very into headbands lately. I feel like they add a little 'something' to an otherwise simple outfit.

Polo Collar Sweater// I have been seeing this style all over lately. I feel like it's a very late 80's/early 90's trend as I can definitely recall my mom having lots of sweaters like this. I definitely want to try this style out for fall as I think it can still be a wardrobe basic.

Nike Sneakers// I LOVE my Nike Joyrides. I got the dual run before and these are the fly knit that I want to try. They are beyond comfortable and super cushioned so they are great for high impact workouts.

Striped Tee// I need another striped tee like I need a hole in the head, but I just love this color and the classic cut. 

Pearl Cardigan// I almost bought this sweater last year... the only thing that held me off is that the cuffs are slightly 'distressed'. I'm really not sure why that is. But, I love the look otherwise. 

Ribbed Pullover// This is only $20 and the flat lay photo doesn't scream 'cute' but if you click through and look at it on the model, it is SO cute. I ordered this and am waiting for it to arrive. It comes in other colors so if I love it enough, I will definitely order another color. This definitely has a 'lululemon' look to it, don't you think?

Navy Tie Dye Crewneck Sweatshirt// I want this!! The fabric is SO soft and I'm not really into tie dye but I really like this navy! I would plan to wear this with navy leggings and sneakers in the fall!

Monogrammed Clear Pouch// I have one of these in a spring print and LOVE it so much. This makes such a great gift and I love some of the new fall prints that are coming out!

Monday, August 17, 2020

How I Do Seasonal Home Decor

As we head towards fall, I always reflect on seasonal decor. It's easy to get caught up in the season or holiday when you are in a store like Pottery Barn or Target and end up buying things that don't really work in your home or items that just end up cluttering your space.

I've mentioned this in the past, but I am not super into seasonal home decor and decorating for holidays in my own home. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing it when I am out and about or in other's homes, but at my home, I find that too much seasonal decor can become too busy and has a cluttered/tacky feel.

That's not to say that I don't do anything at all! I have very small touches that I will do throughout the year depending on the holiday or season. The things I do fall into a few categories:

- Florals/greenery
- Scents
- Swapping out colors/textures
- Lighting

I definitely do 'more' during the Christmas season but still think I keep it to a minimum. I ran across the photos above in my phone and wanted to share them with all of you because I feel that it perfectly illustrates the 'small touches' that I'm talking about!

This little ginger jar sits atop the bar cabinet. I switch it out ever so slightly each season/holiday. It's not a huge change but it's something little and subtle. It doesn't really add too much or take away from anything else... subtle!! Florals, in general, are such an easy way to incorporate a season! 

Other things that I do when seasons change are swap out scents. You all read about my favorite fall candles but I also use diffusers in all of the bathrooms in our home, too! I think smell is such an easy way to create a 'seasonal' vibe! 

I also like to add ribbon/bows to items like you can see in the above photos...must be the bit of Grandmmillenial in me! I think it's fun and another really easy, subtle way to hint at the season or the holiday. I LOVE plaid and velvet for Christmas so this is where I really get into the ribbon. 

I also like to swap out pillows or throws for another easy change. I loathe throw pillows that say things, so rather than something like that, I opt for colors and textures. So right now, since it is still summer, I have navy blue and white throw pillows that have a woven/textured look. In the fall/winter, I'll swap those out for a brown woold Ralph Lauren houndstooth fabric and hunting Ralph Lauren navy fabric pillows. I don't do too much swapping when it comes to throws, but do love a tartan throw during the Christmas season!


Another slight change that doesn't scream seasonal, but rather just adds more warmth is that I plan to swap out the runner rug in my kitchen! I got a new one back in late March that is gorgeous (from Ballard Designs). It really has brightened up the kitchen and makes it feel summery! I plan on using that runner from April-ish to September-ish and then October-March, I think I'll use the more traditional red runner rug that I have had for years (no link, sorry!!).  They're two very different looks, but the red adds 'coziness' that I crave in the fall and winter and the blue adds the light and brightness that I prefer in the warmer months.

With fall almost here, I personally crave a cozy feeling, and to accomplish this, in the evenings, I always make sure that the house is lit with lamps rather than overhead lighting. Lamplight, in my opinion, is much warmer and cozier! We have lamps in our basement, in our kitchen, and even in the bathroom! I will do a blog post on lighting eventually because I think this is something Nancy Meyers does SO well in her films. I think a huge reason her films feel so cozy and familiar is that she uses lamplight in so many scenes- she is a fan of the kitchen lamp! 
 

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