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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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Friday Favorites – October 19th, 2018

Happy Friday!  I’m thrilled to report that unlike last week, this week everyone is healthy and has had a great week. While it’s been a healthy week in our home, it’s been a really long work week. There are a lot of changes and things in motion with my team but it’s all good. Today, I will be joining a team meeting virtually for eight hours via FaceTime. Our team is experimenting with different remote conferencing options and this week I’ve had a few great one on one meetings leveraging FaceTime instead of our other computer conferencing capabilities.  While I usually do my best to join these full-day meetings in person, between Bo’s work travel and my half marathon tomorrow morning, a trip to Arkansas wasn’t in the cards this week.  In between this week’s non-stop meetings and conference calls, I’ve had the opportunity to get really excited for tomorrow’s half marathon. Picking up my bib at the expo made it all feel very real. The last time I ran a half marathon I was seven weeks pregnant with Katie and tomorrow, she’ll be sixteen months old! A lot has happened during those 23 months in between, but luckily, my love of running is still alive and well. I have a lot of things I want to share with you guys today, including the thing lots of you have asked me for – more fashion.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, including recipes, articles, posts and of course, clothing items, that I’m loving this week.

  • Today Brooks launched their special NYC Marathon Pop Art Ghost 11 shoes. I was able to get a sneak peek earlier this week when Brooks sent me a pair to take for a test run. The vibrant pop art highlights some of NYC most iconic images including Statue of Liberty, an apple and skyscrapers. I have a feeling these are going to sell out quickly so head over to their website today to snag a pair for yourself!
  • I used to “runmute” or run commute home on an almost daily basis when we lived in Manhattan and Geneva. Charlie’s running backpack blog post highlighting the best backpacks for run commuters is a terrific resource for anyone who wants to do this but needs a trusted backpack that won’t chafe and will hold their gear!
  • Not only do I think this Fall Spiced Pumpkin Chili sounds and looks delicious, but I also love that Brittney’s recipe uses pantry staples versus hard-to-find spices or rare ingredients. I’m hoping to make this on Sunday so we can enjoy it next week as well as have a stash in the freezer. Did you know that when Bo and I cook on Sunday we typically double whichever recipe we are making so we can have leftovers in the freezer?
  • I love reading Cup of Jo not only because she’s the coolest mom around, who I tend to see on a daily basis since she lives a few blocks away, but also because I find myself inspired by her posts. Her Ode to Potluck has inspired me to send out an email/text to a few of my girlfriends in hopes of hosting a few potlucks here in the future. Having a potluck here means I don’t have to find a babysitter AND we don’t have to be rushed out of a restaurant or deal with reservations or over-priced wine.
  • I still haven’t baked pumpkin muffins this season and this morning I realized that I not only have multiple cans of pumpkin in the pantry but also two over-ripe bananas on the counter. After some searching I found this delicious Pumpkin Banana Muffin recipe that brings together moist banana bread with the warm, fall flavors of cinnamon and pumpkin.
  • When I shared a picture of our dinner Tuesday night, everyone asked for the chili recipe. This White Chicken Chili recipe has been a favorite of ours for years and I swear the leftovers are even better. The recipe isn’t what we consider a weeknight recipe since the chopping, but if you make a large batch during the weekend you can enjoy it throughout the week by quickly reheating it and pairing it with a simple side salad.
  • Okay, now it’s time for a fall Fashion round-up including these J.Crew items that I’ve been wearing non-stop since fall weather arrived in New York.
    • Since buying the Cocoon Coat (40% off) 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.
    • The quilted vest (25% off) 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.
    • JCrew’s tall high-rise jeans fit (25% off) 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,
    • I love wearing this chambray shirt (25% off) with black dress pants or my leopard skirt for a fun weekday outfit.
    • The tissue turtleneck (25% off) if a great base layer beginning now, when worn alone or with a light vest or jacket, and can be worn throughout the winter under sweaters. I own six of them in different colors but my black and white stripe one is definitely my favorite.
    • This relaxed sweater blazer (25% off) 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 think i’ll wear it for today’s conference call with a tissue turtleneck and leggings!
    • I’ve been adding a new color of the tippi sweater (25% off) 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.
    • The martie slim pant (25% off) 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!

Okay, I know this was a long post but I hope it’s a fun way to kick off your Friday! Have a great weekend friends!

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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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