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Friday Favorites – November 2nd, 2018

Happy Friday! It was a fun, festivity filled week due to Halloween. This weekend isn’t going to be as relaxing as most but for good reason – it’s the NYC Marathon weekend! Each day this weekend I have at least one marathon related event. On Saturday I get to catch up with Charlie and Zoe while we attend the Lindsey Hein and Paula Radcliffe podcast recording together and then on Sunday I’ll be cheering at mile 7.  But, before the NYC Marathon events, Bo and I are enjoying another date night together. This time we’re going to dinner in Manhattan before seeing the new Broadway play, To Kill A Mockingbird. It’s the first time it’s been produced for Broadway and the play was adaptation was written by Aaron Sorkin and the star is Jeff Daniels!  We’ve been waiting to see this for a few months as the tickets were Bo’s birthday gift this year.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites,. This week’s Friday Favorites is different than most as I’m dedicating this one to the J.Crew 40% off sale. When I asked you guys on Instagram if you wanted a round-up, a resounding 93% of you said YES!

Favorite jeans & pants

  • Classic Wash High Rise Jeans and True Black High Rise Jeans –  These fit me better than any other jean I’ve found and they tend to be half the price of the designer brands carried in most department stores.  After loving my classic, dark pair I just bought a pair of jet black jeans in the same high-rise style,
  • Martie Slim Crop –  This is my new favorite work pant. In fact, I loved my black pair so much that I ordered another pair in navy just a few weeks later. High-waist, slim fit and machine wash make these pants a no-brainer in my book!
  • Edie Full Length Trouser – When I want to wear a more classic, full length pant for work, this is my choice. The cut is very flattering, the material is forgiving and they travel well since they don’t seem to wrinkle easily. When I wore my black pair in Cincinnati last week for meetings, three different people asked me for details!

Dresses/Others

  • Jumpsuit – I wore this non-stop this summer and, rumor has it, if I put a turtleneck or blouse under it, I can easily wear it year-round. While I admittedly haven’t tried this look yet, I’ve seen numerous people wearing jumpsuits this fall!

Favorite Outerwear

  • Cocoon Jacket – Since buying this three years ago, it’s been one of my favorite items. I have a navy and white boucle style, that makes it a bit unique, but the coat is the same cozy, over-sized, warm version available again this year. The pockets are larger than normal, pefect for holding winter gloves or a scarf, and the oversized fit allows it to easily be worn over sweaters and winter layers. I wear a size 6, which is smaller than my normal J.Crew size so I definitely recommend sizing down.
  • Puffed Vest – This is a perfect transitional item this time of year and I wore my off white one yesterday over a cotton turtleneck. Many of my friends have these vests in different colors as they can be worn all winter long in the south and up here they are perfect for fall and spring.
  • Ribbed Beanie with Faux Fur Pom-Pom – I wore this hat non-stop last winter! The poof makes it extra fun and the longer length allows me to cover my ears. Last year this sold out quickly so if you’re thinking about it or want to give it as a gift this holiday season, buy it now!

Favorite Shirts

  • Everyday Chambray shirt – I love wearing this shirt with my leopard skirt or black dress pants for a fun weekday outfit.
  • Drapey Faux-Wrap Top – This top is a perfect day to night piece that I’ve worn both for date nights and meetings alike. I have it in navy but love the deep burgundy and black as well.
  • Slim Fit Perfect Shirt – I have this blouse in two different colors – the essential white and blue and white stripe. According to the label, I’ve had the white one for four years and the blue and white stripe for three years. Each sas It’s been a closet staple since I bought the white one back in 2012, according to th

Sweaters

  • Tippi Sweater – I’ve been adding a new color of this sweater to my closet each year since 2010 as it’s a classic, flattering sweater that comes in new colors every season. This year I added emerald green and burgundy to my wardrobe.
  • Sophie Open Front Sweater Blazer – This relaxed blazer can be worn for work and weekend alike, but my favorite aspect is that it’s long enough to wear with leggings! In fact, I threw it on over a turtleneck earlier this week for a video conference call with the customer.
  • Textured Long Cardigan – As soon as I saw this online I ordered it. The texture and colors make it a bit different than anything I own and I know I’ll wear it throughout the year. I’ll most likely pair it first with a black tissue turtleneck since this will make a perfect professional work-from-home look that is comfortable and chic!

Accessories

  • Layered Pearls – I bought these nine years ago to wear with my rehearsal dinner dress.  When I worked in an office, I wore this an average of once a week but these days I only wear it once a month or so. Regardless, it’s a classic piece of jewelry that has held up well and paid out years ago!

Have a great Friday!

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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ashleyd /

Fall Date Night Outfit

After wearing this outfit on Friday night, I’m certain that this fall date night outfit is one of my new favorites and will become a staple in my rotation.

I remember spending hours going through my closet last year. I could barely open my closet but, at six months postpartum, I felt as if I had nothing to wear. For hours I went through my clothes, trying things on and then putting them into a few piles: keep, donate, or sell.  At that point I was still carrying 15 pounds of baby weight and had come to terms with my new curves. I parted ways with many of my favorite pieces of clothing, never thinking they would fit again.

Fast forward to this fall and I opened my closet feeling once again as if I didn’t own any clothing. The clothes I kept last year were loose and baggy. Luckily, I took this as a sign to take advantage of a few sales by investing in a few pieces of clothing.  Now that I’m almost 35 years old, I believe that quality is more important than quantity.  Last night, I paired three of my new purchases together for a relaxed, Brooklyn date night outfit.

Since so many of you messaged me on Instagram, asking for details, I wanted to share a bit more details behind last nights outfit. I’ve always loved sharing my favorite clothes with you guys and now that I finally feel good in clothes again, it only seems appropriate to kick off my favorite season with a fashion post.

First of all, let’s have a quick chat about the most amazing bakery that we discovered last night. After a delicious, albeit fast, dinner at Fausto, we werne’t ready for the evening to end. Instead of heading home, we meandered a few blocks in search of a sweet treat. Since we’re currently binge watching Madam Secretary, we wanted to grab a sweet treat to enjoy back home. As soon as we walked into Little Cupcake Bakeshop, we both knew we’d entered our new favorite bakery. Even though we’ve lived in Brooklyn for three years, until last night we hadn’t found a bakery that we loved. Well needless to say, after tasting their buttercream frosting and their s’mores bar, we are both smitten. I’ve already requested a cake from here for my birthday!

Fall Date Night Outfit

But now, for the outfit details. You know when you put on an outfit, totally unsure if it will come together, only to see yourself in the mirror and love it? That is exactly how I felt Friday evening when I was getting ready for date night. I knew that the 60 degree temperatures meant it was cool enough to take my new fleece top for a spin but couldn’t figure out how to style it. I went to the Dudley Stephens Instagram page for some inspiration before settling on this look. The outfit is comfortable but is still chic and put together enough to wear to the office or out to dinner.

Top: Dudley Stephens Cobble Hill Turtleneck in Lightweight Fleece (Wearing a size L)

Pants: Spanx Faux Leather Legging (Wearing a size L)

Shoes: J.Crew Factory Zoe Calf Hair Leopard Flats (Wearing a size 10.5)

This is my second pair of Spanx leggings and I love the look and feel of the faux leather style. The high waistband and heavier material holds everything in but they are 100x more comfortable than the Spanx I remember trying to wear under formal dresses when I was in college. The material inside is soft and the fabric has enough give that it’s tight without making me feel like I can’t breathe. For reference, I wear a size 8 or 10 pant and wear a large in these. They have a 29 inch inseam but due to the stretch, I find that they are plenty long on my legs which typically require a Long or Tall pant. While there are many lookalike faux leather leggings out there, this is an example of when I believe in quality over quantity. My last pair lasted two years and only had to be retired after I accidentally put them in the dryer. Also, if you can be patient, they are typically included in Macy’s, Nordstrom or Shopbop sales!

I’m a huge fan of the leopard trend this season, especially in shoes. I found these 40% off at the JCrew Factory outlet in Vermont a few weeks ago and since then I’ve worn them at least 2-3 times per week. I would recommend ordering a half size larger and wearing a Bandaid on the back of each heel the first time you wear them, until they’ve broken in. I made the mistake of sprinting through both JFK and Minneapolis airports my first time wearing them and have the blister scars to prove it.  A colleague said that anytime she gets new shoes she wears either a bandaid or blister patch on the back of her heels and this ensures that shoes can be broken in pain-free. Brilliant! After that initial shock the shoes have been very comfortable and the flat heel and padding makes them comfortable.

Last but not least, the top I’m wearing is my favorite purchase this season. After seeing many of the bloggers I follow on Instagram as well as a few local moms rave about Dudley Stephens fleece tops, I clicked over to their website and did some research. Initially, I was shocked by the $158 price point for the Cobble Hill tunic. But, then I realized that the top seemed so versatile that I could wear it for everything from playground dates to video conference calls for work. The brand was started by two sisters three years ago after they wished their zip fleeces had a bit more style. That is exactly what this fleece gives you. As soon as I put it on I felt put together, chic and, most importantly, cozy. The stand up collar gives the top a finished look and the a-line silhouette is flattering. I ordered the lightweight fleece as I hope to wear this throughout the fall and winter in my home office, which tends to be warmer than most, as well as out and about in both Brooklyn and Savannah.  For some this is an investment piece or perfect item for the birthday or holiday wish list. I’ve already added two of their shorter style, the Park Slope,to my birthday and Christmas wish list as I can tell that I’m going to reach for this on a daily basis.

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My Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks

As you most likely know, one of the biggest sales of the year started this week. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is now open for their credit cardholders and in pre-sale mode for others, like me, who will wait until next week to shop when it opens to the public. I will be the first to admit that this sale can be very overwhelming. I personally use to avoid it. But, these days, I head over to the site and spend time researching my favorite brands like Patagonia, Barbour, Diptyque, JCrew and other classics and go-to gifts for friends and family.  Most years, I end up buying ten items – four or five classics and then a few new discoveries.

For those of you who aren’t card holders, I recommend heading to the website this weekend and spending some time reviewing the sale items. Once you find things you want, just add them to your wish list so you on July 20th, when the sale opens, you can quickly snag them.

Here are the items I’ve added to this year’s wish list:

  • Diptyque Candle Set – This year I have put two of these on my wish list, one to enjoy throughout the year and one to use as small gifts for friends throughout the year. I pair one of these candles with a bottle of wine for a perfect birthday gift or surprise during a tough week.
  • JCrew Vintage Pajama Set – I’ve fallen in love with pajama sets recently and this set seems like it’ll be perfect year-round. I added the hydrangea pair to my wish list.
  • JCrew Ruffle Tee– This dressed up tee would be perfectly paired with white jeans in summer or a dark pair of skinny pants and heels for the office.
  • Natori Feathers Bra – I fell in love with this bra right before getting pregnant with Katie as it is comfortable, flattering, a little bit fun and can be worn under everything from sweaters to tank tops. I am typically a 36A and find that in Natori brand, I have to go up a cup size. I added pink lemonade and dark grey to my wish list.
  • Hunter Tall Boots – I’ve had my Hunter Tall boots for eight years and they are ready to be replaced. They are a great, classic item to have in your closet for rainy days, regardless the season. Their classic colors rarely go on sale so this is a great time to buy!
  • Supergoop 50 Spray  – Bo and I have become very serious about protecting our skin after this year’s annual dermatolgist visit. Unfortunately skin cancer and melanoma runs in both of our families and therefore before we head out for the day, we spray ourselves head-to-toe in sunscreen. This is a great option to use as it’s includes less scary chemicals than others, applies easily and is water resistant.
  • Barefoot Dreams Circle Cardigan Last year this sold out before I could buy it! This year, I’m hoping that I’ll be able to snag this super soft, flattering cardigan on the 20th as I really want the charcoal or light silver.  I feel like it will be the perfect item to wear while I work from home, travel or run errands especially when paired with black leggings and tall boots.
  • Spanx Faux Leather Leggings– Speaking of leggings, I bought these during the 2015 Anniversary Sale and wore them non-stop that fall and winter. Unfortunately, they were put in the dryer and shrunk an unfortunate death. I’ve been waiting for this year’s sale to buy a new pair. They are a perfect closet essential as they are flattering, can easily be dressed up or down, and the high waist makes them very comfortable.
  • Zella Live In High Waist Leggings – I only discovered these last year and agree with each and every one of the rave reviews. It’s hard to go wrong when 3,800 other shoppers rave about a pair of leggings especially when they are only $36! These flattering and comfortable leggings are such a great deal that I’m looking forward to getting a second pair. I recently purged my workout and lounge wear, donating and getting rid of 10-year old, stretched out leggings and instead of going to Lululemon and spending over $100 to replace them, I’m buying these!
  • Vince Camuto Scuba Sheath Dress – Even though my role typically requires business casual attire, it is always important to have one or two essential dresses in my closet that can be worn for important business meetings. I love this dress because the thicker material resists wrinkles and is flattering. The pattern makes it a bit different yet the length makes it perfect for date night or work.

A few great items for baby and children:

  • See Kai Run shoes – Katie absolutely loves these shoes! She doesn’t kick them off like others and they have a snug enough fit that they help with her walking attempts versus hindering. We went ahead and ordered two pair of these for Fall and Winter since she’s quickly outgrowing her current pair.
  • Babymoov Anti UV Tent – We bought this tent when Katie was two months old to use down in Savannah. It is so compact that we brought it back up here and actually used it to block Katie from the television when we enjoyed the NCAA National Championship game. Now this tent lives on our glassed-in back porch unless she’s playing in the backyard or going to the beach. While it’s a bit tricky to figure out how to properly fold it, once you have the hang of it you can take it anywhere since it’s so compact! It’s packed in our car for our week at the beach as it will provide a shaded place for Katie to play.
  • Aden + Anais Swaddling Cloths – These were a necessity during the first few months of Katie’s life and now we always keep them in her stroller to use for everything from an on the go burp cloth, clean up spills, or provide a clean spot at the park. This brand tended to be softer than any other and was a bit larger, which was a welcome benefit as we tried to master the art of swaddling.

 

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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