Superbowl Snacking

Two party necessities you can't go wrong with: Chalkboard presentation and simple snacks. Whether you're a fan of football, (occasional) clever advertising, or a halftime show that is sure to be a water cooler topic on Monday, the Superbowl is worth watching...and let's be honest, it's the perfect excuse for a true #SundayFunday. 

Because this is every guy's favorite holiday, it's important not to overdo it on the complexity of the appetizers. Our men are sadly not in favor of our favorites like Hummus or Quinoa, so don't try to get TOO crafty. Include a solid mix of salty snacks with a few lighter options so there's something for everyone. This year. we're sticking to a classic; Meat, cheese and crackers, presented in the (semi) shape of a football, obviously. The Hormel party trays basically make this zero effort which is perfect for a weekend that's booked solid. 

Throw in some Skinny Pop and carrots with Greek yogurt dip for healthy snacking...

What are you serving this Sunday? 

Rocked it & Swapped it

Stripes or plaid, distressed or dark, anything goes with a neutral base and being that we're smack dab in the middle of winter, a little variety in our clothing goes a long way. Thank God over sized clothing is acceptable these days because we could live in this Old Navy poncho all season long. 

Dress it up with gold accessories (and an epic braid) like Lisa or keep it casual with combat boots and a weekend bag like myself.

Shop the look:

Splurge || Save

Embellished Sweatshirt Gone Prep

I recently purchased this embellished sweatshirt on the Piperlime website during their big end of year sale. When it arrived, it was more of a crop top style then I had expected. The only solution, prep it up a bit with layers! 

By adding a basic white collar tee under, it definitely changed the style of the outfit, but in a great way. I added distressed denim, cut-out boots, and minimal jewelry to finish the look off. 

 

And below is how all us fashion bloggers actually feel during our winter photo shoots! I had snow in my shoes, it was windy & CURRENTLY snowing, plus my eyes were watering.

In the end...you get some honest photos like this one! ;)

Top: Piperlime // Collar Top: Express // Jeans: Old Navy // Shoes: c/o Just Fab // Bag: c/o Shop Lately (swap w/ Kaitlyn) Beaded Bracelets: Infinite Warrior // Watch: Movado // Ring: c/o Silver Speck

What's your solution to a top that might be a bit short on you?
Do you like my winter style?

Staying Natural Up North

\

Winter in Wisconsin checklist:

Flannel: Check

Distressed Denim: Check

Warm Boots: Check

Easy Hair: Check

No Makeup: Check
If only we could check this off our list...

Up north, style is spelled c-o-m-f-o-r-t...not that we needed another reason to enjoy sneaking away for a weekend, but that one certainly tops our list. As much as we look forward to playing dress up, it can feel so good to let your makeup bag take a breather and spend quality time with the sheepskin of your Uggs. 

Whether we're heading to our favorite spot for coffee or even going out to dinner, there is no pressure to look any other way than natural. This weekend, I spent most of the day like this until Lisa and I headed off to our photo shoot for Lake & Country Magazine (more to come on that!) and it felt glorious!

Wrap: Swap w/Lisa (similar) | Tank + Sunnies: Target | Jeans: Old Navy | Bag: c/o Shoplately | Boots: Ugg

What are you favorite comfort pieces?

Plaid PINspiration

Women (and men) alike are all about plaid this season and we are no exception, as some of our favorite daily accessories include plaid flats and blanket scarves. Can we talk about how handsome men are in plaid flannel (especially when paired with leather or shearling and 5 o'clock shadow..."hey girl," are you drooling yet?) 

For your weekly outfit Pinspiration, check out some of these plaid combos:

Shop these items and more on Because I Shop Too Much & Because They Grow Too Fast

What are your favorite go-to plaid items this season?

Blog of the Month: Convey The Moment

As fashion and lifestyle bloggers, you run into a LOT of pretty gals and Eleni is no exception, but more than her beautiful appearance (and lust-worthy closet!), we love her beautiful spirit and positive outlook on life. Her blog urges you to "make good choices and speak kind words," and in today's world, that's really all we can ask of each other. It's a simple request and this year, simplicity is fist on our to-do list so we're adopting this mantra and running with it.

Read a little bit more about Eleni: "I am a 20 something year old, fashion obsessed, stay at home nurse. I am vegan – mostly because of my beliefs surrounding the treatment of animals, but also the health benefits. I live for travel, yoga and quality time with my husband, girlfriends and yorkies. My ultimate passion is inspiring others to find expressions of themselves while becoming better humans."

Here are some of our favorite looks from Convey the Moment 

(It was hard to choose...her style is amazing!) 

Who are your favorite fashion and lifestyle bloggers? What draws you to their content?

Rocked it & Swapped it

When it comes to winter fashion, sometimes it's hard to find ways to stay stylish while piling on the layers. Our solution, add a great print bag. I recently got this one on Sole Society and have been wearing it non-stop. It's the perfect size for everyday wear plus I can fit my notebook and organizer in it so that's a plus. It for sure made my cold weather look pop in this outfit post.  

I loaded it up for a weekend up at the lake house and Kaitlyn & I swapped it for the day while up north. When she styled it, she layered her look to perfection. I love the green, the stripe tank under, and the tribal print just made a great match. 

What do you think of our styling choices?

Do you have a great print bag that you wear during the cold months?

Making Note of the Little Things

Now that we are 3 weeks into 2015, I am still feeling inspired and motivated by the fresh start - Much like Hallie, I don't really believe in making resolutions as much as I do setting reasonable goals, both personal and professional, that I may not have gotten to the previous year. There's no reason to punish yourself if you miss the mark or even change your mind...that's what a blank slate is for. 

I am an obsessive list maker - I have post-it notes all over my desk at work, notepad lists in my phone, email reminders sent to myself, etc. It's what helps me stay organized and feel on top of my game but this year, I am looking to do a more personal kind of note taking. We encounter so many memorable moments, even in our day to day lives, and not even compulsive Instagramming will ensure that you remember the fine details and that's most important to me. So, I am looking to actually KEEP a journal (and not just for a week!) of the little things that make an impact. 

Example: One night last week I set out to jot down a few notes about our Christmas holiday and ended up with 9.5 pages. Guess it was a good one? ;) 

Sweater: Swap w/Lisa | Long-sleeved top: Forever 21 | Jeans: LOFT | Boots: Shopbop (similar) 

Bag: Sole Society | Necklace: Forever 21 | Mug: Starbucks | Journal & Pen: Z Gallerie

What are your goals this year? How do you stick to them?

Everyday Wear, Winter Style

Some days I DO put my hair up in a ponytail. I know, I know, but it was "day three hair" so I didn't have too many options. ;) I even sometimes put on the simplest of outfits but then jazz them up a bit to make it more me.

What is easier then a cozy knit and skinny jeans? It's comfortable, warm, and quite functional for everyday wear. By adding cute plaid flats, some great jewelry, and a winter white coat, I feel like I made the outfit more put together. It's was also nice to sparkle on an otherwise gloomy winter day.

Knit: Swap w/ Kaitlyn // Jacket & Denim: Express // Shoes: c/o Sole Society // Bag: Because I Shop too Much // Necklace: T+J Designs // Sunnies: Prada // Stackable Rings: Shop Jules // Emerald Ring: Jared 

What does your everyday wear look like?

Do you ever jazz up a super basic outfit to feel like you are more dressed up then you actually are?