Our Christmas

01. | + | 02. Christmas decor.

03. Matt making friends (with our cousin's son).  |  04. More decor.

05. Christmas flowers from Matt.  |  06. A favorite Christmas present.

07. | + |  08. Gorgeous Christmas tablescape.

09. Dinner. | 10. Dessert.

11. After-Christmas mani/pedi with the sisters. | 12. Stacks + a kelly green coat.

Hope your Christmas was wonderful!

Merry Merry

We're packing up and heading to Annapolis to visit with my family over the holidays! 

I'll be taking a blogging break, but I'll see you in 2012.

Have a very merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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Gallery Wall

I've been collecting art and frames for a future gallery wall for our apartment. I still can't decide which route I want to take -- black and white? Color? Here are some recent images I've pinned for inspiration.

I'm loving Etsy as an artwork resource (love this shop) and I've recently found Society6 which has really affordable pieces (obsessed with this and this).

Any gallery wall advice? What are some other inexpensive artwork resources? Any Etsy favorites?

images via Pinterest

Weekend

Hope you're getting your decorating and shopping done, and your gifts wrapped. 

Happy last weekend before Christmas!

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Outfit/Room J. Crew Edition

I love the gallery of inspiration House & Home put together of J. Crew looks paired with matching rooms. View the entire gallery here.

Also: I'm guest posting over at Jessie's blog today. 

If I had a style twin, it'd be Jessie. Today is her birthday, so I've done a special birthday party post for her. Be sure to check it out!

Chocolate

Currently inspired by rich, brown shades.

Get the look:

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1. Chair
2. Dress
3. Shopper
4. Gloves
5. Throw
6. Ring
7. Scrub
8. Polish
9. Clip
10. Shorts

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Wishlist/Gift Guide

A wish list of sorts, or a gift guide for any girly girl.

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1. Karen Walker Number one in crazy tort

2. Missoni Home Kandi ikat-print down-filled cushion

3. West Avenue Jewelry Classic monogram 

4. Butter London 3 free laquer nail polish in Teddy Girl 

5. Cambridge Satchel Fluoro satchel

6. J. Crew Sequin-striped fine-knit sweater

7. Kate Spade New York St. Kitts Exeter Road accent plate

8. Kartel Louis ghost chair

9. Clairsonic Mia sonic skin cleansing system

10. Rondo Gold cutlery

Also: I am over at {av}'s blog today, sharing our long distance story. She is such a sweet girl with a fabulous blog, be sure to pop over and say hi!

Winter Wardrobe Staples | Guest Post!

I'm so happy to have my first ever guest post on the blog today! Liz from Sequins and Stripes is sharing a few favorite items from her closet. Liz is an up and coming stylist and I love her girly, preppy sense of style. Enjoy!

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Hi + Happy Holiday Season! I'm Liz from the fashion and style blog Sequins and Stripes and I am thrilled to be taking over Natalie's blog today and sharing some of my {personal} winter fashion favorites with you. The month of December doesn't have a lot of boundaries when it comes to fashion, considering the amount of holiday parties, festive decorations, and twinkling lights, it is hard to not want to dress in sequins every day until Christmas. However, since I live in Chicago and the temperatures will remain in the 30's for the next few months, sequins are definitely not ideal. So, here are a few of my current winter staples...

Lately, I am loving tartan plaid, wool skirts, silk collared blouses {with feminine details like gold buttons!}, dressy polka dots, fair isle, leopard print, and bold accessories. I tend to stick to the classic and more timeless pieces, with added details like bows, sequins, polka dots, prints, etc. I prefer to dress up rather than dress down, so my basics are typically a cozy sweater, paired with jeans and riding boots {I have these Frye boots and I loooove them!}. I have this J.Crew sequin skirt from a few years ago and continue to receive the sweetest compliments, it is always a holiday staple. 

My J.Crew Tartan plaid shirt and Fair Isle sweater have become my new favorites for winter, I love them paired together and separately. 

Polka dot blouses {on my wish list: I love this one from Madewell} always seem festive to me, but I find myself wearing them throughout the year. The silky fabric seems polished and airy at the same time. I have + love this leopard print shift dress to pair with black tights and patent black pumps or flats, a style and silhouette that won't go out of style anytime soon {it has pockets, too!} 

When it comes to dressing up, I usually lean towards a metallic dress to get me through the night. I love that there is not much of a thought process when wearing a dress, just add a pair of tights {for warmth here in Chicago!}, a great/comfortable heel, and some sparkly jewelry. If you're looking for a holiday dress, I am especially loving this,this, this, and this. All of these paired with a fabulous necklace {I love this, this, this, and this}.

A huge thank you to Natalie for having me today! It was so much fun giving you a glimpse into my closet and a look at my favorite things. I hope you all enjoy a lovely Christmas season and don't forget to stop by Sequins and Stripes to find daily inspiration for a styled life.

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Cape

Love this idea: Take a long, wide scarf and tie it around your shoulders to make a cape. Perfect if you love the cape trend, but don't want to spend the moolah.

Have a wonderful weekend!

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