The Coziest of Cardigans

Hey, y'all!  I'm here with a quick post today to participate in The Blended Blog's Cozy for the Holidays Series.

I recently purchased this cardigan from Old Navy and it seriously is the coziest of cardigans!  Not only is it over-sized and drapey, the material is super soft!  I couldn't recommend it more for those cold, winter mornings when getting dressed feels like a struggle.  I purchased it in a pretty green but it's available in two other color and pattern combinations.  Not only that, but it's less than $20 right now!

I also want to give a quick shout-out to my blogging buddy, Carrie, for gifting me with a discount code so I could purchase my second JORD watch!  JORD's wood watches make for a great conversation piece.  I receive compliments and questions about mine every time I wear them!

And since the blooper in my last post went over so well, I'll leave you with one more!

What I'm Wearing:
Cardigan: Old Navy (exact)
Tee: Old Navy (exact)
Watch: JORD (exact)
Jeans: American Eagle (exact)
Converse: DSW (exact)

And please link-up below with your coziest December looks!

Comfy and Festive

Oh my goodness, friends!  I actually made it to Winter Break!  About a week ago I was on the verge of a meltdown.  You know those moments in life when there is so much going on and none of it seems to be going well?!  All you want to do is curl up under a blanket for a few days but you just have to keep going?!  Well, I've finally made it to my day where I get to stay curled up under that blanket and I couldn't be more thankful.

I know that I'm a lucky one with two glorious weeks off of work while many of you are still putting in the hours this week.  So let's talk about a few ways that you can be festive yet comfy while surviving these last few days of work!

My first recommendation for being comfortable but put-together is a cute dress that feels like a nightgown!  Cue this little number, my most recent gift from Shein!  This dress is made in a beautiful grey, jersey material and couldn't be more comfortable.  Plus, it has adorable button detailing at the neck.  Have I ever mentioned that I'm a sucker for buttons?  I'm wearing my typical size medium and it fits perfectly!  And you aren't even going to believe the price.  I'm serious, go check it out!

A neutral dress is the perfect base for my second tip for looking festive while feeling comfy: colored tights!  These burgundy, fleece-lined tights were so cozy and warm but definitely upped the interest for this outfit.  Have you ever tried fleece-lined tights?

And because everyone loves a good blooper photo, here is me doing some sort of fabulous hair flip!

What I'm Wearing:

Dress: c/o Shein (exact)

Tights: Target (similar)

Ankle Boots: DSW (exact)

Save

Kylie Lip Kit Review

Happy Hump Day, y'all!  I enjoyed a blizzarding snow day on Monday so my last week before Christmas Break is even shorter than anticipated.  That makes me one happy teacher!

And do you know what also makes me happy?  The Blended Blog's Cozy for the Holidays Series!  From my cuddly cat to ginormous blanket scarves, I love all things cozy.

But sometimes cozy doesn't always mean holiday glamour...and I want a little bit of both this time of the year!  My solution to looking glamorous while wrapped-up in a cozy cardigan and scarf?  Rocking a bold lip!  And lately I've been obsessed with the infamous Kylie Lip Kits!

Since a few of my fellow Blended Bloggers also sport Kylie kisses.  We thought we'd do a mini-blog hop today to show you how the different shades look on our different skin tones.  If you are arriving from Deena's blog, it's only fitting since she got me hooked on these lipsticks!

If you are unfamiliar with Kylie Lip Kits, they are lipstick sets sold by Kylie Jenner of Kardashian fame.  The set includes a lipliner and a lipstick that goes on wet but dries matte and lasts all.day.long.

As for my overall review, these lip kits are definitely long lasting!  I apply when I do my face in the morning and I still have a full lip when I wash my face before bedtime.  In fact, I have to scrub the color off and am still left with a tint when I wake up the next morning.

My only complaint is that the matte lipstick is quite drying...although that is the case with most matte lipsticks.  I definitely notice some flaking and pealing throughout the day.  I think that just means I need to invest in a lip scrub.  Does anyone have one they would recommend?  Also as a tip, I applied a bit of Burt's Bees lip balm throughout the day to smooth away the flakes.

The first color I'm featuring is a holiday special called Merry.  It is a deep burgundy-red and works well on my fair, pinkish skin tone.  Make sure that you use the lipliner with this shade (although I recommend the liner for long-lasting wear, anyways) because I did experience a bit of color bleeding around the edges of my lips.

The second color I'm wearing is Posie K.  It is a berry hue and is my favorite of the two I own.  If you've got fair skin and blue eyes, this color is for you (although I would imagine it's flattering on so many different colorings)!  I also received the gloss in this shade so that I can wear the color matte or shiny!  The top photo is the matte and the bottom is the gloss.

Ok, what do you think?  Have I sold you yet?  If you still need some convincing, hop on over to Sarah's blog to see her favorite Kylie colors!

Bright Holiday Baubles and Religious Christmas Cards

One holiday tradition I enjoy every year is receiving Christmas cards from my loved ones around the world!  But up until this year, I stuck with receiving greetings as opposed to sending them.  Why? Because it seemed that most holiday cards come from families with lots of smiling kiddos as opposed to celebrating single gals.  But no longer!  I've decided that since I, too, live a fun and fulfilled life, I will also be the spreading holiday cheer!

My Holiday Home Tour

Joyeux Noël and welcome to my warm and cozy holiday home!  Christmas is absolutely the most wonderful time of the year, in my book, and I love decorating my apartment to make it a festive representation of my style and love for the holidays.

I am so excited to be participating in a blog hop with my friends at The Blended Blog today so that we can share our holiday homes with you!  If you are coming from Andrea's post, welcome!  She is such a sweet and genuine homemaker, I'm sure her decorations are fabulous!

I wanted the feel of my holiday home to be warm and white with pops of bright and festive fun!  A neutral, yarn-inspired wreath will welcome you in and eclectic, brightly colored baubles can be found throughout my apartment.

My new, rose gold tree is definitely the centerpiece of the décor!  As soon as I saw it, I knew that it was absolutely my perfect tree and I am oh so in love with it's feminine sparkle!  A knitted tree skirt and bright wrapping paper add to the colorful ambiance.

Blogging Besties: Throwback

The Blogging Besties series is the brain child of Alex @ The Cheerful Closet and Whitney @ Whitney à la Mode. In 2015 the series expanded to include Maricel @ My Closet Catelogue and me, Selah @ A Bibliophile's Style. It's based on the idea of "take one, pass it on," but we're passing on an element from another blogger's outfit. It's a fun challenge that inspires us to be creative!

---

Last week, Maricel looked cozy in fall layers:

The prompts she gave me were "camel, plaid or a throwback look".

I decided to do a throwback look (from February 2014), that just happens to incorporate plaid:

I love adding feminine details to my typical plaid shirt and skinny jeans combo. In both of these looks, I've paired plaid flannel with lace, and added an antique locket.

 

As we are taking the rest of December off, in January Whitney can choose from: feminine details, black & navy, or an antique accessory.

Previous Editions of Blogging Besties

Cozy at Home

An evening blog post!  What's going on around here?!  A crazy, busy life is what's going on!

This is my absolute, favorite time of the year but it is oh so hard to slow down enough to enjoy it, am I right?  So tonight I'm going to kick back and relax with a glass of something bubbly, my cuddly cat and your company!  Because this blog is something that brings happiness to my life and should be enjoyed, even amidst the craziest of schedules.

And tonight's topic should make a relaxing night in just a bit more cozy!  Why, do you ask?  Because the focus of The Blended Blog's Wednesday link-ups this month is Cozy for the Holidays!

For this first Wednesday of the month, I decided to feature a cozy outfit that I would wear while relaxing around the house.  I actually wore this for a small Thanksgiving meal spent with my parents but it would also be perfect for a day of holiday baking or enjoying your favorite Christmas movies.

I know that I've mentioned LuLaRoe bunches of times around here and tonight I'm adding one more shout-out.  This brand has become my go-to for comfy, cozy outfits!  You can find more information about LuLaRoe here!

For this post, I'm wearing a pair of LuLaRoe's super-soft leggings and one of their Irma tunics.  In terms of sizing, I typically wear size 8 pants and the One Size leggings are a perfect fit.  Definitely size-down in the drapey Irma, though.  I normally wear a medium but can take a small (or even an extra small) in this top!

A chunky cardigan and fuzzy Ugg boots made for the perfect cozy outfit to enjoy family time and a quick visit to Michigan's main Christmas tree!  Did you know that my parents live just blocks from the capital?

What I'm Wearing:
Leggings: LuLaRoe
Irma Tunic: LuLaRoe
Cardigan: LOFT Outlet (similar, similar)
Uggs: Gift (exact)

And while you're here, don't forget to link-up your favorite December Cozy look below!