Friday Favorites

I am almost convinced that this jacket was designed with me in mind. Cropped, leather, just a hint of edge, and pink. It couldn't get more perfect. I hadn't purchased a Coach handbag in years until last Summer. I have to admit that many of their new designs including this one are extremely appealing to me. A few more of my favorites are below.

Bow Sweatshirt / Leather Crop Jacket / Necklace / Watch / Carryall
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Winter Blues

I really want to be focusing on sundresses, floral prints, and thin layer right now but with single digit temperatures and more snow on the ground than I remember having in recent years Spring still seems very far away. Since I am a little blue about Winter's determination to stick around awhile I used that for the inspiration for this post. Surprisingly blue is a color that is largely absent in my closet. If I were to pick up a few new items this blouse, these shoes, these earrings, and this iPhone case would be at the top of my list. Check out the rest of my favorites including these fun sunglasses below.

The Row Sweater / Cotton Top / Piped Detail Blouse / Leather Panel Sweater / Satchel / Blazer / Pleated Skirt / Trousers / Polka Dot Bra / Chloe Flats / Olympiad Stud Earrings / Crystal Earrings / Sunglasses / Pumps / Clutch / Basket Stitch Sweater / Pencil Skirt / Drape Blouse / Bra / Essie Butler Please / iPhone Case / Necklace / Flats
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Stylish for Less: Coats Under $100

This week my #stylishforless post is four coats under $100. I love all of the coats that I have chosen below and would be very tempted to get one of them, if I hadn't just gotten a new wool peacoat for Christmas. I love my new coat. It is so soft and comfy, plus it really does keep me warm. I know we are already way into winter, but maybe you kept putting off getting a coat for yourself because you thought it would be too expensive and you had all of those Christmas gifts to buy. I also really love this coat and this one. They both cost $84. While I love coats in beautiful colors like the yellow one above and the red one below, I usually tend to stick to the neutrals when it comes to something like this. What about you? Do you go for the bold colors or the neutrals when it comes to coats?

Black Concealed Button Coat $89 - Long Trench Coat $89
Red Long Peacoat $89 - Grey Quilted Biker Coat $99

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Valentine's Day GIft Guide

I have put together a little gift guide for all of the deserving girls in your life for Valentine's Day. Surprising your mom, sister, or best friend with a gift like this sweater, this locket, or this ring would be a great way to show them how much they are appreciated in your life. These heart shaped sunglasses are under $3 so you can purchase a pair for all of the fun-loving, important ladies in your life.

Sequin Heart Sweater / Candle / Marc by Marc Jacobs Locket / Deborah Lippmann It's Raining Men / Miss Dior / Ooh La La Coin Purse / Heart Stack Ring / Coach Ring / Heart Tote / Sunglasses / Cuff / Gold Heart Necklace / Deborah Lippmann I'm Not Edible / Keds / Cardigan
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For The Perfect Night In

My crazy workdays and these frigid temperatures have really made me appreciate staying in whenever possible with a cozy throw and comfy pajamas. There is nothing better than curling up with a book, choosing future recipes to bake, and catching up on favorite tv shows. Two of my current favorites are these slippers (how cute!) and this candle that I have been lighting each evening.

Robe / Hand Cream / Socks / Slippers / Diptyque Candle / Silk Pajama Shirt / Bubble Bath / Pajama Pants / Throw / Homemade With Love Book
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What to Wear: Beating the Cold

This week's #whattowear is about beating the cold. Tracy and I have been enduring cold, snowy weather and I have seen a lot of you posting about the cold weather too. For the most part we have been staying in. The road conditions here have not been that great so traveling really has not been a doable thing. So, if you are stuck at home dressing for the cold is not as much of an issue because you can always snuggle under a blanket by the fire. But if you are going out, make sure you dress warm. Layers are perfect for cold weather. I love that coat below, but I also love this coat. Which one is your favorite?

Lace Cardigan - Mint Blouse - Camel Military Twill Trench - Billabong Knee Socks - Nude Lace Panel Scarf - ACNE Dark Wash Denim - Michael Kors Watch - Knee High Flat Boots

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What I Wish I Was Wearing

Ok, so I'm not saying that I want to be wearing this outfit at this exact moment in time. I am saying that I wish it were warm enough to wear this outfit! All the snow, cold, and ice have me longing for warmer days of sunshine. I want to be able to wear a tee and denim shorts. I want it to be warm enough for little flats or to go barefoot. I want it to be warm enough for sundresses. What about you? What do you wish you were wearing?

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Chit Chat

I have noticed something about myself that I find very distressing. I am not very kind to myself. Specifically, I have a lot of internal negative self-talk. Last week after some particularly harsh criticisms of myself I realized that if anyone else had said such negative things to me I would be extremely hurt. In fact, that person would not be someone I would ever want to spend time with.

We all understand the importance of kindness but most of us focus on kindness to others. (I recently wrote this post about kindness to others.) Many of us practice a double standard where we are kind to everyone else but we beat ourselves up. With all of our responsibilities and all of the obstacles we face we often forget to take care of ourselves and that tolerance and understanding for ourselves is even more important than that we give outwardly to others. Allowing our inner critic to be cruel, particularly, when it is not offering anything constructive leads to a loss of confidence, motivation, and perspective.

Since I have realized that self care is an important part of stress management and the frequency of my tendency to be so down on myself now anytime I begin having negative self-talk I stop and ask myself if someone I cared about was in my shoes would I be saying the same thing to them. The answer is almost always no. Our confidence takes enough hits from sources beyond our control that we do not need to contribute to it with feelings of negative self worth.

This week let's be a little kinder to ourselves by stopping the negative self-talk. Do not say anything to yourself that you would not say to someone you love. Look for the value in where you are now in life and accept that it is okay to be exactly where you are. Be patient with yourself and look for positive ways to make changes. Realize that mistakes are a part of life and that you deserve to be forgiven for any mistakes you make.

I think that we will find that being more compassionate to ourselves will lead to us living a better quality of life and therefore also affect our ability to contribute to the happiness of others.

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The Sunday Edition

Well, so much for hoping for better weather. Last week we had snow storms, cold temps, and spent most of the week stuck at home. So far it looks like it is going to be the same for this week. More snow storms today. Sure, I like to be able to relax and take it easy at home, but I also like being able to get out and go when I want too. Mr. Cat isn't liking this cold, snowy weather either. He spends his days curled up on a fuzzy blanket on my bed snoring. Yes, my little cat snores. So what do I fill my days with? Window shopping online and reading the blogs of some very amazing people! This weekend you should definitely check out these posts:

Aryn from Driftwood and Daydreams recently posted about Iolani Palace in Hawaii. It looks absolutely beautiful, I would definitely love to be there.

Lake Tahoe is looking very beautiful in a post by Kori over at Blonde Episodes. It's a definite must see blog post.

Liz Secret Rendevous had a beautiful post about the Nurnberg Christmas Market go up yesterday. She had visited it back before Christmas and it looks beautiful!

Ok, so maybe this past week I have really been loving posts about other beautiful destinations because I am stuck at home? But those places look beautiful and Aryn, Kori, and Liz shared some beautiful photos.

Annabelle is definitely rocking out a new Michael Kors bag over at her blog Viva Luxury! I love the bag and I love the color.

Are you looking for a sweet Valentine's Day card? You definitely need to check out Ivana's post about a cute stationery shop she has found. So go check it out at her blog Macarons and Pearls.

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On The Menu: Banana Cake With Vanilla Frosting

I happen to love banana favored items. Last weekend I woke up wanting to bake something and I had four extremely ripe bananas sitting on my counter. I had just finished a loaf of this easy banana bread a few days before so I made the decision that it was time to try a banana cake. This cake was extremely easy to make, super moist, and the frosting made it feel a little decadent. I think this cake would be amazing with morning coffee.

Cake Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
4 ripe bananas, mashed
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk

Frosting Ingredients:
4 tablespoons softened butter
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking pan; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar and oil together on medium speed until completely combined. Add both eggs and beat to combine, then add the mashed bananas and vanilla extract and beat until combined. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the buttermilk, mixing until combined. Use a rubber spatula to give the batter one last mix, then pour into the prepared pan.
4. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Set on a wire rack to cool completely.
5. Make frosting. Beat butter until smooth. Add confectioner's sugar and beat until incorporated. Slowly add heavy whipping cream and stir until smooth. Stir in vanilla extract.
6. Spread the frosting over the cooled cake, cut into squares and serve. Leftovers should be covered with plastic wrap or placed in an airtight container and kept at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Happy Weekend

I don't know about you but the last few weeks back at work since the holidays have been rough. My weeks have been jam-packed with to do lists, meetings, appointments, and rushing from one location to another. Next week looks like more of the same. I will likely have to spend one day this weekend getting ready for work next week but I hope to take one day off to just relax, bake, have a decadent brunch, and catch up on my favorite tv. What will you be doing this weekend?

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Friday Favorites

Single digit and below zero temperatures here have left me wanting to cozy up by the fire place like that dog above is. Lots of snow and the cold weather had school called off for me all week. My students still had some assignments to complete at home on the snow days though and I have spent time getting back to them and grading. Being stuck inside because of the cold weather kind of influenced my Friday Favorites post this week. I included the fairy tales and the nail polish to help pass the time. The lip balm is something I definitely need with all of this cold weather. I have been using this lip product. What do you use? Then I included the shoes and the bag because I am in LOVE with them. They are out of my price range, but a girl can dream right?

The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Anderson - Hyperactive Formula X for Sephora - Marc Jacobs Lip Lock - Moisture Balm - Alexander Wang Oxfords - Alexander Wang Bag

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Valentine's Dress Ideas

Valentine's Day is not that far off. Do you have any plans with a special someone? Other than probably hanging out with a few friends I don't have anything special planned. Maybe your plans involve dressing for the occasion? I love all of the dresses below. I think they would make perfect Valentine's date dresses. They are all beautiful. Creams, reds, silvers, golds, and pinks are the colors I think more about when I think of Valentine's Day, so these would be perfect! Which one is your favorite? This one would be my favorite. I think it would be perfect with these heels, this clutch, and these earrings. What do you think?

Black Bow Maxi Dress - Red Sweetheart Neckline Dress - Black and Cream Dress
Silver Embellished Dress - Black Lace Dress - Rose Gold Dress

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Stylish For Less: $20 And Under

If you are like me you spent way too much during the holidays and are now trying to watch your spending. (I am starting to plan this year's vacation and want to save up.) Today's #stylishforless is for guilt free shopping with everything costing $20 or less. A few of my favorites from my finds below include this iPhone case, these earrings, this skirt, this tee, and this baseball cap.

Striped Blazer / Sunglasses / Beanie / Gemstone Necklace / Crystal Petal Drop Earrings / Belt / Sweatshirt / Crossbody Bag / Robe / Denim Shirt / Pave Bracelet / Faux Leather Bracelet / iPad Case / Blue Knit Snood / iPhone Case / Branch Ring / Bralette / Loafers / Thorn and Crystal Necklace / Skirt / Dress / Loose Fitting Trousers / Oversized Sunglasses / Hexagon Bracelet / Chain Ring Set / Slip On Flats / Printed Tee / Tiger Sweater / Tuxedo Jacket / Tube Scarf / Gold Bangle / Shadow Palette / Baseball Cap
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Save Money: Rent College Textbooks

Whether you are a full-time college student, part-time, or taking night classes one way to save some money is to rent your textbooks. This is something that I have only been familiar with for the past year due to my brother starting college last year and renting some of his textbooks. This past summer I even rented the textbook for the summer class that I was taking.
One great website to rent from is Campus Books Rentals. You can save 40-90% off of normal bookstore prices, which can really add up! Shipping is free both when you rent the book and when you return the book. You can treat these rented books just like books you buy. You are able to write and highlight in them!
There are other perks to renting from Campus Books Rentals. One being that for each textbook that you rent a donation goes to Operation Smile. Another great thing is their RentBack program. Through this process you can actually make money by renting the textbooks you own! How fantastic is that?

Want to know how it works? Check out this video:



This is a paid sponsored post by http://www.campusbookrentals.com/.

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Apartment Love

I am in love with Lauren Mizrahi's small San Francisco apartment. The mix of feminine vintage and modern details combined with all of the natural light from all of the beautiful windows in the apartment have me ready to move in. A few of my favorite details are the zebra rug, the geode, the trunk used as a coffee table, and the gallery wall. Plus, there is no denying that I would love to live in San Francisco.

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Copy Cats

I have shared before that cats are my favorite animal. They are just so cute and adorable. Cats are just so cute from the tips of the ears to the tips of their toes. They have cute little noses and cute little tongues.
My little cat is an absolute sweetheart. His name is Mr. Heffalump Cat or just Mr. Cat or Lump for short. He greets me when I come home from work in the evenings by running over and jumping on my lap as soon as I sit down. He likes to follow me around the house and if I go into a room and shut the door he sits outside the door and waits on me to come back out. When no one else is at home he keeps me company by sitting beside me on the couch. Earlier this year he had to have one of his fang teeth removed because it had become infected, so now he sticks his tongue out a lot, which is just so adorable.

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What To Wear: Midi Skirts

I mentioned how much I love midi skirts last week. For #whattowear today I am sharing one of my favorite ways to style this style of skirt that I would be happy wearing everyday. This midi skirt is only $35 and is also available in red. I love styling midi skirts with slightly oversized sweaters and I added the biker jacket to provide a little structure to the outfit and a little edge to an otherwise feminine silhouette. Oh and I am obsessed with these earrings that I consider a bargain at $45.

Biker Jacket / Cable Knit Sweater / Midi Skirt / Glasses / Necklace / Stick Earrings / Watch / Ankle Strap Heels / Clutch
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Prepping For Valentine's Day

While I wouldn't necessarily call myself a girl who loves Valentine's Day I do greatly appreciate any occasion that calls for celebration. Also honestly I cannot deny my huge love of anything pink, red, or covered in hearts. While Valentine's Day is still a few weeks away it is not to early to begin planning what to wear to fill a little extra special that day. I love this sweater, these shoes, and this bracelet. Some more of my favorites are below.

Cashmere Sweater / Leather Collar Dress / Matches / NARS Lip Gloss / Heart Flats / butter LONDON Snog (one of my favorite colors!) / NARS Tomorrow's Red / Wristlet / Bra / V Neck Dress / Jacquard Skirt / Tote / Sweater / Alice + Olivia Dress / Bright Pink Skirt / Earrings / Arrow Bracelet / Heart Socks
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Chit Chat

This year I have several goals for myself both professional and personal. Some of these goals are short term and I will be able to meet them in a few months, some will take all year, and one or two will take longer than that. Are you currently working on any goals?
One thing that I am going to do more of this year is be grateful for all of the wonderful things in my life. Whether it is something major or the small things that happen in our day to day lives, I want to remember to be grateful and to express my gratitude for all things big or small. Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of the work week, I forget to take a moment to be thankful for the good things that happened.
So this year I want to start a gratitude journey. This isn't something that will take a lot of time or effort on my part. Basically every evening I am going to reflect on my day. In my gratitude journal I will record three things that I am grateful for. It could be that I am grateful that Friday has finally arrived, or I finished the assignment for my night class, or that my students in my classes where very well behaved today. What are your thoughts?

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The Sunday Edition

A posh, sophisticated white dress.

The perfect dainty bracelet.

I would pack this for a beach vacation.

This will help you keep the New Year's resolution of drinking more water. Love mine!

The combination of cheese and pasta make this Four Cheese Baked Skillet Rigatoni a must try.

DIY Gilded Gift Boxes are perfect for gift boxes or storing small trinkets.

Jackie shared some great tips for preparing a guest room.

Also love this post on styling an entryway.

AJ Wears Clothes is a new favorite blog.

Spring Hair Trends to try.

4 Questions Everyone Should Ask Themselves.

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