This & That – November 13

Here we are, back to Monday, friends! That weekend sure flew by, but it was jam packed!  I have a feeling most weekends are going to feel this way since the end of the year always tends to be so busy.  I did pull out our Christmas decor this weekend with the intentions of getting ahead, but in reality, with my snail’s pace of decorating, I think we’ll be right on time! Have you started yet?

WEEKEND

We kicked off the weekend with our annual trip to the Nutcracker Market.  It’s a holiday fair with vendors from all over the country selling Christmas decor, toys, gifts, clothes/accessories, food, you name it!  It gets really crowded and they don’t allow strollers or carts, so it’s mostly for adults and I just love that me and my Mom get that time to hang out together.  And I don’t think Jordan would enjoy the mimosas!

Nutcracker Market mimosas

Then on Saturday, we had a birthday party for James’ friends at Dave & Buster’s.  Do y’all have that where you live? If not, I’m sure there’s something similar with a huge arcade and upstairs is a bowling alley.  Jordan ran around “playing” the driving games, which was the cutest to watch.  But she’s hard to keep up with when she starts running around!

My new cognac boots that I’ve been lusting after arrived and they did not disappoint! I wanted something closed toe and the color on these is so rich and pretty, with the perfect sized heel and little v-cutout in front.  This color will go with so much from blue jeans to black and even grey- can’t wait to show you!

Cognac Booties

Sweater  • Booties •  Jeans (On Sale) • Necklace

We had a rare night out for a fundraising dinner, and my husband decided to wear jeans and a sports coat, so instead of a dress, I wore my black jumpsuit that I’ve worn several times, but I still like it!  I almost chose the bell sleeve jumpsuit, but it was pretty warm out. I wish the tank one photographed better- it’s really cute and comfy on with a tie belt and pockets.

two black jumpsuits

Faux Wrap JumpsuitBell Sleeve Jumpsuit

But I did get a chance to wear the cowl neck poncho I showed you in November Loves. It’s perfectly slouchy with a roomy fit, so you can size down if you want it slimmer.  It looks great alone or layered with a long sleeve top underneath.

grey cowl neck poncho

Cowl Neck Poncho  XSP • Striped Top • Jeans (On Sale)• Similar Booties (On Sale) • Tassel Necklace

And I had to share with you what is possibly the softest sweatshirt everrrr!!! ?  I’m always throwing it on around the house and can even sleep in it- it’s that cozy! It runs big, but comes in petite & lots of colors! ?

purple burnout sweatshirt

Softest Sweatshirt SP • Ring

PULLING OUT THE CHRISTMAS DECOR

Never mind that I’ve still yet to show you the rest of our Fall decor! (bad blogger- but that’ll be up here next week with some new photos of our living room and kitchen!), I’m already getting a jump start on our Christmas decor and pulled out aaaallllll the Christmas bins out of the attic this weekend!  Talk about a big job!  I seem to go slower each year, and I started in early November last year and it made me feel much less rushed!

Growing up, and for most of my adult life, we’ve always had the tradition of putting up our Christmas tree and decor the day after Thanksgiving.  But, I’m beginning to be a convert of early decorating- you get that much longer to enjoy it!  And then we always have lots going on with holiday parties and events and classroom things, so getting the decor up and finished feels great!  When do you start decorating for the holidays?

christmas decor before 2

So, right now the trees are up (all 6 of them!), but only the dining room tree has ornaments on it.  I can’t believe I kinda forgot how attracted to the ornaments toddlers are!  Jordan is all about them!

The next set of pics are from LAST YEAR! I pulled them out to show you (and remind myself!) what we did last year!

Our master sitting room was the first room we decorated and I truly loved it and enjoyed it every single day until the day we took it down!  I’m thinking of decorating it similarly this year since it went so well with our neutral bedroom decor.

And we got a little flocked tree for Jordan’s room at Homegoods and it’s back in place . . . (OMG, look at how little she was then and her short hair!!)

I’m thinking we’ll kinda flip flop color schemes in the dining room and living room this year . . . But actually, last night I realized that about half the lights on our living room tree are dead and the same amount of flock is missing! I flocked it myself and between taking it down and putting it back up- it barely has any left! It’s such a bummer because the tree is only 3 years old! Aren’t they supposed to last longer- the lights at least??  Our first tree lasted 7 or 8 years.  I really don’t want to have to buy a new one, but I tried stringing more lights on our current tree and it still just looks pitiful!  Ahhhhh!!! #firstworldproblemsIknow

At least our WalMart tree in the dining room still looks good!

Christmas Tree decor

And the rose gold tree in my office is a feminine favorite!  The boys can’t complain about too much pink in there!

James has a small tree in his room with all kinds of special ornaments on it, but I didn’t get a good picture of it last year.  His tree is actually always the very first tree to go up because he loves it so much.  It’s so funny because as we’re digging through the Christmas bins seeing what’s in there, he’s always asking, “can I put that in my room??”  I tell him sure, but he’s running out of room in there!

So, the Christmas decor 2017 is still in progress, but I’ll be sure to update you along the way!

WHAT TO WEAR ON THANKSGIVING – LEGGINGS

Last week, I shared four Thanksgiving friendly outfits, but I couldn’t leave you without some leggings options! I know many of you look forward to wearing yours for lounging around comfortably and eating all day!  The best pair of leggings have an extra comfortable wide waistband, are totally opaque, and machine wash extremely well.  The run TTS and the XS fit me great, with a little extra length that doesn’t bother me since I usually wear my leggings with tall boots. I’ve had mine for a couple of years now and they’re still like new.

With leggings, you want a top that covers you both in the front and the back and I found 8 that do the trick! And then some!

Tops To Wear With Leggings- that cover your front and back

1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8

1 • Cashmere Blend Tunic (On Sale) – This one is super soft because it’s a cashmere blend with a shirttail hem that skims your body, so it won’t overwhelm you.  Some reviewers said it pills, but most people said it wasn’t anything a sweater shaver couldn’t handle.  It comes in 16 gorgeous colors and also stripes!

2 • V-Neck Tunic – You can’t tell from the front, but this tunic has a darkling keyhole back, and the longer length is great for you taller ladies.  It does come in petite though.

3 • V-Neck Layered Tunic – I love the ease of a layered-look top that does the layering for you all in one! Grey and white is one of my favorite color combos, so I’m especially drawn to this one.  It runs big, so size down- and it does come in petite.

4 •  Open Shoulder Tunic – For all my #teamcoldshoulder friends, this top ties at the shoulder to show a bit of skin.  It’s a cute touch, right?!

5 • Free People Pullover – This tunic is a must have in your closet for cozy comfort.  Sizing is XS/S and M/L, so the XS/S is big on me, but I still like it.  I’m crazy for this this new color, terracotta for Fall.  I didn’t accessorize the top, but a long pendant necklace would be perfect.

 Free People Pullover • Wide Waistband Leggings • Similar Knee High Boots

6 • Cozy Knit Tunic – I have a feeling you will be as comfy as if you were wearing pj’s in this tunic with your leggings!  That pink is so pretty too, but it comes in 4 more colors with a roomy fit.

7 • High/Low Tunic – This comfy cowl neck tunic has a slight hi/low hem with slimmer drop shoulders and a loose cowl neck.  It’s under $50, comes in 4 colors, and is machine washable.  You don’t have to always wear black boots with black leggings- your brown and camel boots work too!  I pulled in more of the camel color with this leopard scarf (under $20) and added a tassel necklace for a fun accessory.

tops to wear with leggings

High/Low Tunic • Wide Waistband Leggings • Knee High Boots • Tassel Necklace • Similar Leopard Scarf

8 • Marble Turtleneck Sweater  (On Sale) – If it’s cold where you live, you’ll be extra warm in this marbled, cable knit sweater!  It looks so snuggly!

Then, because it’s so warm here in the south, I wanted to show you how cute a sweater tank looks with leggings! Isn’t this cowl neck top with the big buttons on the side cute?!  And you can always add a long sleeve top underneath for another layer of warmth.

Sweater Tank (On Sale) • Wide Waistband Leggings • Similar Knee High Boots

I showed you lots of solids, but how about adding some color and pattern with stripes?!  This knit sweater mixes pink, red, grey and black, so it’s perfect for both Fall and Winter. I typically size down one in this brand, so I’m wearing XXS here. I like this striped sweater with black, grey or tan boots. Any of them would work!

Striped Sweater (On Sale) XXS • Wide Waistband Leggings • Knee High Boots • Tassel Necklace

This grandpa-style sweater is anything but old-looking with the v-neck and cold shoulder! I should’ve put my tassel necklace back on- would look great with this!

Cold Shoulder Sweater XSP • Wide Waistband Leggings • Similar Knee High Boots

GREY JEANS

I also promised you a few more ways to wear your new favorite grey jeans- okay they’re my new favorite, but some of you let me know you tried them and love them too!  These are that super inexpensive pair of jeans I first found in my lastest Dressing Room hunt.  They were a happy surprise find because they fit so well with a comfortable mid-rise and the quality is nice too- not too thin or scratchy!

I have two colors to share that I think look so pretty with grey- pink and lilac!  Don’t worry, those colors won’t scream Spring in a heavier weight, and especially if you add a scarf. The first look is the soft pink pullover with grey booties and anchored with a grey/tan plaid scarf.   Even though the scarf doesn’t have pink in it, the grey/tan combo compliments it.

How to wear grey jeans - pink sweater and plaid scarf

Grey Jeans 0 ($15) • V-Neck Sweater XXS •  Booties (20% Off) • Scarf

Next up is this gorgeous shade of purple in a cowl neck bubble sweater and I changed up the booties for grey over-the-knee boots.  The thicker, long sweater can handle those boots! I really like how the white pendant necklace goes with this look.

How to wear grey jeans - lilac sweater and grey OTK boots

Grey Jeans 0 ($15) • Lilac Sweater • Grey OTK Boots (On Sale)• Necklace 

Finally, it’s a monochrome grey outfit with the grey jeans, grey peplum top and boots, but with a kick of color in the faux leather jacket.  I wish it photographed better- it’s a rich oxblood color in person, and just so cool.  It runs small though, so size up.  I’m wearing XS here, but need a Small. I like how the peplum top peeks out from the shrunken jacket- softens the look up a bit!  Love this for a night out!

grey jeans outfit with faux leather jacket

Faux Leather Jacket (On Sale) • Peplum Top • Grey Jeans 0 ($15) • Necklace 

WATCHING & READING

I’m all about those Holiday Baking Championship episodes on the Food Network Channel! I get so into them and love to see what the contestants create and how the judges like them.  Do y’all watch?? It just gets me in the holiday spirit- so of course I’ve been drinking hot cocoa on repeat already!  I’ve been out of my special Ghirardelli mix, so I used what we have in the fridge – the Simply Hershey – and it’s really yummy!

On my Kindle, I’ve been reading L’art de la Simplicite, How to Live More with Less– which I sought out because I enjoyed Marie Kondo’s, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up so much.  I found L’art de la Simplicite too extreme in the first part of the book, but I’m enjoying the latter part that deals more with mindfulness and the care we give our bodies.  I’m on that part now.  Are you reading anything good now? 

I better let y’all go, I’ve been rambling on and on and I know it’s Monday! Lots to do!  Have a great week, friends!

 

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Meet Megan

Hi! I’m Megan, mom to a thoughtful teenager and spunky young girl. We call Houston home and recently moved into our dream home. I traded my lawyer hat to become a full-time blogger in 2010. I love sharing my passion for affordable fashion, home decor, organization, & fitness to help inspire you to take care of you!

14 Comments

  1. I was also watching Foodnetworks Holiday Baking Championship….Problem is that I just want to eat when watching those shows.

  2. I need to make a trip to the Nutcracker Market one year! It looks like so much fun! And I love that you have so many Christmas trees around your house! I’m totally on board with decorating early 🙂

  3. Love all of the Christmas decor — I am totally in the mood to decorate early this year, but we’re having my daughter’s birthday party at the house on 12/2 and I feel like it can’t be all decorated or it will kind of clash with the theme. HA!

  4. Thank you so much for recommending the grey jeans from Old Navy. The fit is terrific and the price can’t be beat!

  5. Just ordered The Joy of Less on the recommendation of a friend. Please share how you are making your simply hershey hot chocolate, stove? microwave? etc

  6. Love your decorating! As for the tree with lights out, this happened to us last year after the tree was fully decorated! We got a “Light Keeper Pro” and within 10 minutes all the lights were working. Just saw it at Home Depot today, but I think it’s also available at other hardware stores and Walmart. Definitely worth the $20!

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