The Tencel Tunic

What a whirlwind. This long holiday weekend, that is. Leading up to Thanksgiving, we all had that feeling of, "I can't believe it's here again...it feels like we were just going for ice cream in our shorts."  But then, without our opinion or consent, it's here and gone again, giving us almost no time to truly reflect on all the work that goes INTO it...so that's what I'm doing now. 

Thinking about all the little details that make the holiday so memorable: Shopping for flowers the day before at Trader Joes and trading prep stories with other customers. Taking my time to set the table so it feels warm and inviting for the Family. Cleaning every inch of the house. Making my favorite spiked cranberry punch (seriously, this is THE party drink). Preparing all the food and watching it disappear so quickly. Quickly, that seems to be the theme of all holidays we look forward to but what a wonderful one it was.

Despite how busy I was, I still managed to eat my weight in stuffing, desserts and pizza this weekend. Not to mention, the 3 different birthday cakes that preceded a few days before. Everyone keeps saying, "It's only your birthday once a year" and "Well, it's Thanksgiving, so"... but this is just the beginning, guys. 

There's 5 more weeks of sweet tooth indulgences and sugar overkills so with that in mind, I, 1) plan to ramp up my work outs and 2) have been living in cozy, loose sweaters and tunics that leave more room for belly goodies. I am not lying when I say this J. Jill tunic is my new absolute favorite piece of clothing. I actually try to figure out who of my Family and friends has seen me in it lately to determine if I can get away with wearing it yet AGAIN in the same week. It's from their Tencel collection which I learned is basically a cotton alternative made from natural fibers and it's absolutely amazing. I HIGHLY recommend trying this piece first because it looks good with sweat pants OR dressed up with nice pants AND it's on sale. 

Time to purchase a tencel tunic for putting up that tinsel! ;)
Wearing:
Top: c/o J. Jill Pants: Old Navy (similar) Boots: Sperry (very similar) Jacket: Target (similar) Bag: Old Navy (similar) Sunnies: LOFT Hat: Old (similar)

Winter Wonderland

I typically cringe when the forecast calls for snow but when it’s a rare Sunday that we have nowhere to be, it’s a whole different feeling. There’s no rush hour mess or a list of of errands to be ran, so it’s easy to remember how you felt about snow as a kid – beautiful and even magical while it silently coats your surroundings. Just stand outside, ankle deep in the fresh blanket, listening to the sound of stillness...No cars, no shoveling (just yet)…only large, stick-out-your-tongue kind of flakes, softly touching the ground. A real life winter wonderland.

It’s so peaceful, making it the perfect setting for a walk with my best four-legged friend...especially since we know there's a warm fire waiting for us at home! I don’t know about your dog but this guy thrives in the white stuff – the minute he's outside, he buries his face deep down and shakes it off, followed by running (more like prancing) around the yard. The joy is so visible in his face...it's as if he's been waiting for this exact moment. Perhaps we can all follow this lead...instead of constant complaining about the dreaded winter, maybe we should just take a moment to prance in it once in awhile ;)

P.S. I've fallen deeply in love with these sunnies. I realize the advantage of shopping on DITTO is the option to rent a new pair whenever you want but I can't seem to let these go. Aviators have always been my favorite style and the colored mirror lenses are so much fun, especially against a bright white background like this. It's the perfect pop of color...so in the classic words of Casper, "Can I keep you?"

If you're interested in falling for this pair or trying other designer frames, use our code SISTERSMARIE to get your first pair free! No obligation after your first pair...You can just try it out once to see what you think.

Wearing:

Sweater: Old Navy Leather leggings: Express Boots: Sperry Hat: Purchased in Ireland (similar under $15!) Necklace: T+J Designs (love this layered look too!) Sunnies: Ray-ban via DITTO  Lipcolor: Too Faced "tutu"

Winter Weekend Essentials

When packing for a winter weekend at the lake house, there are a few items I can't leave home without. We usually have a good mix of downtime and activities on the schedule so I like to bring pieces that can be used for both...whether we're going sledding and making indoor s'mores or sitting by the fire (competitively) playing 2048, I like to be comfortable but stylish at the same time. 

7 things to pack for the weekend:

1. A cozy sweater you can dress up or down

2. A blanket scarf for chilly nights

3. Leggings (to go with the cozy sweater, of course)

4. A beanie that goes with everything (and masks your bad hair on day 3)
5. Winter-proof boots...This Sperry pair has been on my wishlist for months, they are perfect!
6. A travel bag for books, magazines and my computer (complete with a shoe compartment)
7. A good pair of sunglasses...I like the way the colored lenses stand out against the snow

What are your weekend wear essentials?

Wearing:
Sweater: Old Navy Scarf: Target (almost identical under $20) Leggings: JC Penney (similar) Boots: Sperry Bag: Sole Society Hat: Purchased in Ireland (similar) Necklace: LOFT Sunnies/Gloves: Old Navy