It’s almost April, and we FINALLY got a little taste of Spring weather over the weekend. Oh man, it was SO nice out on Sunday that I actually pulled out a dress for the first time in a long time. We spent all afternoon sitting outside in the sunshine, and it really had me thinking that spring and summer are seriously right around the corner.
And just in time for Spring, Joie is having their Friends & Family sale. I’ve been seriously LOVING all things Joie lately, and currently you can stock up for the season with 25% off everything with code JOIEFRIENDS. My personal faves? This blue dress is the cutest, these white jeans are actually flattering, and how good are ALL of these sneakers?
So load up your cart because the sale ends tomorrow, and there’s no time like now to give your wardrobe a little spring refresh. Hope everyone has a great week ahead!
Well hello, old friends! It’s been a (long) minute since I’ve updated the old blog, but today it’s good to be back. It’s been a wild couple of weeks around here with a little surgery, closing on a new home, SO much furnishing and decorating, and jumping into becoming an Airbnb host for the first time. Lots to digest, right? Where do I start?
I’ll start with the whole surgery thing. I mentioned it over on this post last week and then completely forgot that I ever said anything. Over the past few years I’ve dealt with ovarian cysts on a regular basis. It was always uncomfortable and slightly painful but nothing too crazy and something that always came and went in waves. A hereditary sitch, not much I could do about it.
Recently though, something changed, and I was experiencing really painful, debilitating flare-ups. The kind that left me curled up in a ball on the floor, unable to stand or crawl into bed without Eric’s help. Something had to give. An ultrasound revealed that I had a cyst on my (hugely swollen) left ovary the size of a tennis ball and a pretty large cyst on my right ovary as well. These were large enough that they weren’t going to go away on their own, so last week, I had them both removed.
Perhaps it seems like a little TMI, but I wanted to share for anyone else going through something similar. The surgery was pretty routine with three small incisions and about two hours under anesthesia, and after a weekend full of sleeping, this week I’m definitely on the mend. (I had high hopes of catching up on blog posts and such while hanging out in bed, but nope – I blame the painkillers and HGTV.) While I’m feeling pretty good this week, I’ve got a bit of lingering nerve pain near one of the incisions that we are still trying to get a handle on. That said, I’ve been hobbling around at a slower pace than normal these days which has made my current home decor project a little…difficult.
Which brings me to the next tidbit of news – we bought a house! Interesting timing, I know, but we are so excited, and I can’t wait to share the full details with you guys so soon. I’m waiting on a couple more furniture and decor deliveries and will have a full blog post up next week, but you can take a sneak peek here. I hope you guys will follow along!
And so here we are – surgery, nonstop rainy forecasts, and a few wild days behind me, I’ve got my sights set on spring and some fun projects ahead. But first? The weekend. Happy almost Friday, friends!
Happy Valentine’s Day, loves! How will you guys be spending this made-up holiday? I kicked off the day by surprising Eric with donuts because an apple fritter is the way to his heart. When he ran out the door and forgot them on the counter, I obviously had no choice but to eat one. Happy Valentine’s Day to me. Self love, ya know? Now I’m working from the couch, layered up in ALL the sweats, coffee in hand, with my two furry Valentines sleeping next to me. My poor Weeze girl is on the mend from a lump removal yesterday, so her sad little stitched face will be snoozing most of the day. And Wilma? Here’s hoping she doesn’t drive us all insane during these cooped-up rainy days.
Today’s look is probably one of my favorite kinds – jeans, soft layers, and pretty much no color. I used to dress in all black all the time, and while I do throw in more color these days, neutrals are still my main jam. You guys already know my love for these jeans, and this sweater / scarf combo has also been in heavy rotation lately. The booties instantly elevate pretty much any look, and if you’re a Marc Fisher fan like me, then take advantage of code LTD924 at checkout for 20% off sitewide or code PREZ19 for an additional 25% off sale styles. No better day to treat yourself, right?
So whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with your significant other, your girlfriends, your work friends, or not celebrating it at all, here’s hoping we all spread a little love today. Happy almost Friday, friends!
Remember way back in this post I mentioned I had done a little traveling during the holiday months? Well today I’m finally sharing one last trip from 2018, and it was a good one for sure. Immediately after this trip to Jackson Hole (about 12 hours after, to be exact), I hopped on a plane to tag along with Kat at the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championships in Aspen, Colorado.
It was my first time in Aspen and hopefully won’t be my last. The town is beautiful and (to my surprise) pretty laidback, the people we met there could not have been nicer, and the St. Regis Aspen Resort was like a glorious holiday home away from home. Scroll down for a few of my favorite, must-see / eat / do spots in Aspen.
The St. Regis Aspen Resort – This was actually my first time staying at a St. Regis property, and oh man was this a good place to start. (And at Christmas time, no less.) The hotel itself was so beautiful with a plush lounge area for warming up by the fire, a quaint little library area, an outdoor heated pool and jacuzzi with serious views, the most delicious cocoa that I’m still dreaming about, and a beyond adorable and lovable hotel pup named Kitty.
The rooms were ultra plush with big, comfy bedding, tons of closet space, views of snowy Aspen, and a bathroom that was straight out of a design magazine. (I somehow didn’t snap photos of the room, but you can see a couple over on Kat’s recap.) The staff and service were phenomenal, and the location is ideal: ski-in / ski-out for those living their best sporty life and easily walkable to town sights, restaurants, and shops. It was also a super quick shuttle ride from the airport.
Drinks and apps at Mountain Social – After arriving to the hotel, we roamed around getting the lay of the land, snapped a couple of photos, and then settled in on a plush velvet couch at Mountain Social in the hotel lobby for some late afternoon nosh. We split a Caesar salad and the truffle fries because, you know, balance.
Dinner at 7908 Aspen – The welcome dinner on the first evening was just a couple of blocks’ walk from the hotel, and wouldn’t you know I find myself staring at a Southern-influenced menu? The chef at 7908 is whipping up New Orleans favorites like shrimp and grits, gumbo, and gulf red snapper, and everything I tried was delicious. As a table, we decided to split ALL of the vegetable sides with our meals, and I would highly recommend any of them. The carrot soufflé and crispy brussels were killer, and everyone who ordered the fried chicken raved about it.
Remède Spa at St. Regis Aspen – While others on the trip woke up and hit the slopes, Kat and I woke up and hit the spa for what was hands-down one of the best facials of my life. I’m pretty sure if I could make facials from Paige at the St. Regis a regular occurrence, I might just start Benjamin Button-ing. The spa itself is so pretty with ALL the things to accompany your treatment: sauna, steam room, plunge pool, waterfall room, and an oxygen room to help kick any fatigue from the altitude.
Lunch at White House Tavern – I believe someone recommended this place to Kat, and as soon as we walked in I was like, yep – this is the spot. It’s tiny but cozy, and while the salad we shared was meh, the fried chicken sandwich (which is served like sliders) was maybe the best I’ve ever had. So crispy and delicious, and that bread! I’m pretty sure I was telling random strangers that they should hit up White House Tavern after this lunch.
Shopping in Downtown Aspen – After a “light lunch” of fried chicken and a beer (oops), we decided to walk it off and pop into a few shops. The downtown area of Aspen is pretty small, but though she be but little, she is fierce in the shopping department. High end brands like Prada, Gucci, and Ralph Lauren mingle perfectly with smaller favorites like The Little Bird (packed with killer consignments), Forty Five Ten, and Olive LA.
St. Regis Midnight Supper – The Midnight Supper is an exclusive St. Regis dinner ritual that’s been around since the start of the hotel, and I’m so lucky that I got to experience one firsthand. It’s a super swank affair with several courses, wine pairings, beautiful decor, and (in my case) dinner convo with some new friends. Besides my girl Kathleen, I spent the evening chatting with Hallie (check out her blog Hallie Daily) and the fun team from Blade and Bow Whiskey.
Breakfast at The Velvet Buck – This cute little spot is also located inside the St. Regis, and after having their breakfast on our last morning, I was wishing we could’ve stuck around for a few more meals. The Breakfast BLT is seriously where it’s at, and the fresh squeezed Detoxify juice was just what we needed after Midnight Supper-ing and experiencing a bit of Aspen nightlife.
St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship – And now for the main event. The World Snow Polo Championship hosted by the St. Regis was the whole reason for the trip. I’ll be honest. I wasn’t familiar with snow polo before this trip, but now that I know, I’m thinking I’ve been missing out on my new favorite sport for all these years. The match itself is exciting, and watching it from a fully catered, heated tent with the bellowing voice of a polo announcer who’s just as enthused as one would think? It’s the blissfully bougie (and surprisingly un-uptight) event to see…and be seen.
Yurt Village / EMP Winter House – The St. Regis currently has a pop-up yurt village right outside that features the most beautifully decorated (and heated) yurts. It’s exclusive to AmEx card holders and currently taking reservations for dinners. On our last night, Kat and I joined the Blade and Bow Whiskey team (you can find it here) for Blade and Bow hot ciders, pastas, apps, and the MOST amazing Alpine Fondue that I’ll likely never forget. We’re talking the cold weather, cheese-lover’s dream served up in a yurt…with Baked Alaska for desert.
This year we once again found ourselves in the penthouse at the White Buffalo Club. (I highlighted that in this post, and while it sounds and is way bougie, it’s so ideal and actually affordable for a group.) When people ask why we love Jackson so much, it’s really hard to pin it down. This trip, we roamed, we listened to live music, some skied or snowboarded, I once again met up with Erin to snap a few photos, we ate ALL the food, and mostly, had all the laughs. Below are a few tried and true favorites and a couple of new spots that we loved.
Breakfast at Persephone Bakery – The last couple of times that we visited Jackson, we picked up a few delicious pastries from Persephone, but this time, Erin suggested trying the full-on breakfast menu there after we shot a few photos around town. And OH MAN. It’s pretty much a full menu of everything I want to eat for breakfast. I was seriously tempted by the bread pudding French toast, thought hard about the shakshuka, and eventually landed on the Scone Skillet (a gussied-up version of biscuits and gravy) and had no regrets.
Dinner at The Silver Dollar Bar at The Wort Hotel – During our first full day, most members of our group were snowboarding, so when it came time for dinner, we were all pretty beat. (We even had tickets for a concert in Teton Village that night that we opted to skip.) So we picked an old favorite that we stop in once (or several times) every time we visit Jackson. The Silver Dollar Bar is a comfy spot with live music, friendly staff, and hearty food to keep you warm, and we always eat in the bar where it’s casual and cozy. I usually go for the chili, but a friend ordered the beef pot pie which was the table favorite.
Breakfast at Cafe Genevieve – Be still my Southern heart, Cafe Genevieve was just as good as I remembered. It’s seriously the coziest little cafe that feels like you’re in someone’s home, and the menu is packed full of things I want to order. This time we slept in a bit so I was feeling more of a lunch mood. The grilled cheese and tomato soup did not disappoint, and neither did the bloody Mary complete with candied bacon. YUM!
Beer flights at Snake River Brewing – With full bellies and a few free days ahead of us, we set out to explore, and what do you know, after a swing through Town Square, I led our group right over to Snake River Brewing. I remembered that when we visited the year before, there was a wood-burning fire so that we could warm up while having a local brew. This year, the fireplace was empty, but the $15 beer flights (and a giant soft pretzel for me) kept our group happy for a while.
Lunch or afternoon snacks at Bin 22 – This favorite little wine market is only about a block or two from The White Buffalo Club, so obviously we found ourselves back at the Bin…several times. Grab a bottle of wine for the road, or sit down and stay a while with meats, cheeses, and small plates. Eric fell in love with the oxtail soup here this trip, made everyone go back the next day to try it, and has been raving about it ever since. I can’t really speak on the oxtail soup (I didn’t try it, sorry!), but I was super jazzed on the housemade meatball.
Dinner at The Blue Lion – This one was a new one for us. It came highly recommended and is located literally about 10 steps from our door at the White Buffalo Club, so it was a no-brainer for dinner one night. It’s a dinner-only spot situated in an old house and has live acoustic guitar music most nights – basically, it’s cute AF. Most of our group had the lamb or the elk and enjoyed it, and I loved the trout amandine. We would definitely go back here on future trips.
Brunch at The Bird – Bird, bird, bird…Bird is the word. Eric and I LOVED stopping into The Bird over the summer, and on this trip, it was a collective group favorite again. We Ubered over to The Bird (it’s a bit out of town) and ended up spending more than a couple of hours watching the snow, catching a couple of games, mimosa-ing, and (duh) eating the dank ass food. For me, the burgers are where it’s at, and with a ton of options to choose from, I’m going with the American cheese, grilled onion, and fried egg covered Slue. Don’t judge me. And once you’re fat, full, and happy, hop in their shuttle for a free ride home.
Sleigh ride through the National Elk Reserve – Jackson is home to a huge National Elk Reserve, and the last time that I ventured into it, we were a little too early for the elk. For this trip, though, we were right on time, so we took a horse-drawn sleigh through the reserve. The whole tour took about an hour, and while it was admittedly a little uneventful at times, we did get to see some pretty big elk up close and personal which made it totally worth the $25 (per person) we spent. Also a side note: bundle up because it’s COLD in the winter.
Drinks and chili at the Rustic Inn – After the sleigh ride we headed across the street to the Rustic for a drink before dinner and mostly to thaw out. The bar slash restaurant area is tiny but so cozy, and the staff that we met was super friendly. The whole inn (resort really) is situated creekside and boasts some pretty sweet creekside rooms and cabins. Eric and I hadn’t even heard about this place before, but we’ve decided we definitely want to try and stay here on a future trip.
Apps at Snake River Grill – I’ve chatted about this place in my previous two Jackson recaps, but good God, Eric and I love Snake River Grill. The main courses are seriously dee-lish, but this time around we stacked up the apps and went IN on the small plates. The steak tartare pizza is Eric’s go-to, and the lobster spring rolls and truffle tagliatelle pasta are new faves of mine.
Drinks and snacks at Roadhouse Brewing Co. – This is a newer spot right on the Town Square that we stopped into before heading to the airport, and the beers that I tried were GOOD. I loved that we could create our own flight of locally-brewed beers, but I will admit that the service here was…bananas…in a bad way. (To be fair, they were brand new, so we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt on that one.)
And just like that, it’s Christmas Eve, y’all. And I’ve got one thing to say about it: WILD. The holidays always seem to fly by, but this year in particular, I’m over here scratching my head wondering where the last month has gone. I’m sure it’s because, as I mentioned in my last post, I’ve spent lots of time traveling over the last month or so (and this year in general).
Warm weather trips, cold weather gear, dressy staples, casual exploring gear – I’ve packed and unpacked a few times this year, and I have to say, I’ve gotten pretty good at it. I am ALL about our hard case luggage from Ricardo Beverly Hills. It’s been tough enough to last through a ton of trips and fits SO. MUCH. STUFF. (Because let’s be real, I’m not always the best at editing down the packing list.)
And when it comes to carry-on luggage or just a bag for short trips or errands around town, I seriously love everything MZ Wallace. My friend Jenn introduced me to the brand years ago, and I’ve now got a few different styles. The fabric is super durable, there are a ton of interior pockets and pouches, and the straps are so comfortable to carry all day long.
The latest bag I’m loving? The Large Metro Tote is seriously so nice. I love the larger size, the zipper closure at the top, and the sleek, easy design. I used this tote on a recent trip home to Louisiana with Weeze and managed to fit a full-sized blanket, my computer, and ALL of the other puppy necessities with room to spare. I put all my purse essentials in the Metro Pouch and used it as a clutch once we got to New Orleans.
If you’ve got travel planned for the new year and want to get organized, check out MZ Wallace to get your act together, girl. Merry Christmas Eve, friends!
But today, I’m so happy to be homeward bound to my best buddy and our TWO pups. Yep, Weeze and her new sister Wilma come home tomorrow, and we couldn’t be more excited. Am I ready for that puppy phase all over again? That would be a definite no, but I guess here goes nothing.
So today I’m sharing a few snaps of my favorite time of year in our home. There’s nothing better than coming downstairs in the morning to Christmas trees (the smell!), lights, stockings, and all that Christmas jazz. I’m especially loving the dining room and our new Christmas dishes that we’ll be using for years to come, and is there anything better than a red-headed pup in her Christmas sweater? I think not. Hope you guys have the best weekend ahead!
Hey guys, it’s me, your long-torsoed, hip-having friend, and today I’ve got a little beef with the fashion industry. More specifically, the knitwear peeps. A few weeks ago, I did a rather LARGE closet clean-out and wanted to ditch the pieces I no longer wear in favor of a couple new classics to update my wardrobe.
So I did the clean-out, sold a few things, and hit the mall (#mallrat) thinking I’d like to grab a couple of new sweaters, a pair of jeans, and maybe a new cold-weather scarf or two. (What can I say, I’m a scarf hoarder.) The jeans were a no-brainer – hello, Madewell. (THIS is my current favorite pair, and right now you can score 25% off your entire purchase.) And the scarves are always screaming my name at Zara. But the sweaters. Ohhh, that sweater hunt.
Now I’m not much a complainer usually because life is too good to waste away complaining, but I feel like this sweater season and last and maybe even the one before that it’s been nearly impossible to find sweaters with a longer length. At around 5’8″, I was walking around wondering if I’m some kind of Amazon woman or something.
Whether I’m wearing the old faithful Spanx leggings or skinny jeans, I just always find that a longer sweater is so much more flattering and lengthening – no cropped knits over here, fool. (Actually, just one cropped sweater. I did buy this one because it’s so dang cute and was begging to be worn with these joggers. It was actually my Thanksgiving look.)
So anywho, I roamed around the mall, tried on all the ill-fitting, too short sweaters and almost called it a day before I found this one. It’s seriously soft, the perfect length for tall gals with leggings or jeans, and comes in nine colors. (So I’m thinking, how many of the nine do I need?) It’s also under $100 and makes for the perfectly cozy holiday gift. Because I’m not the only one who still has a ton of holiday shopping to do, right?
Happy Thanksgiving, friends! And also, happy day after Thanksgiving when it’s perfectly acceptable to throw ALL of the Christmas decorations up all around the house. Who’s ready for some holly, jolly, good tidings? This girl is.
If you caught yesterday’s post, then you know one of my favorite Black Friday sales hit a couple of days ago, and today I’m sharing a full list of the rest that I’m digging. Full disclosure, there are a TON of good sales this week, but don’t let it overwhelm you. Make your gift list, think about some of your favorite retailers, and take a little scroll below for discount codes and all that jazz.
Personally? I’m currently digging all things Madewell and doing some serious Eric-shopping in the Nordstrom men’s sale. Which retailers are you guys most excited to shop this year?
I’ve chatted about it here before, but finding a pair of high rise skinnies that is actually high enough has been a challenge in recent years. I have no idea if it’s because I have a super long torso or if I’m just being really picky, but the struggle has been real. After trying on a gazillion pairs, I’ve found a couple that I love, and today I’m adding these Mott & Bow skinnies to the mix.
You guys, they’re good. The denim is buttery soft, and after a full day of wearing ’em, you don’t get the saggy, stretched-out look that I hate. The rise is the perfect, comfy, won’t move high rise, and they’re available in a TON of washes. Mott & Bow’s goal is simple – premium denim without the premium price – these will run you right over $100.
I’m wearing my usual size here, but if you’re not sure what size to order, they’ll send you a second try-on size absolutely free. (Choose your size and a second size, and they’ll ship both along with a return shipping label – just return the ones you don’t want to keep.) So genius, right? The high rise skinnies are my main jam, but Mott & Bow also makes a mid-rise skinny, a slim boyfriend, a pretty sweet mom jean, and a full line of men’s denim.
And so today I’m styling my favorite Jane pair two ways for fall and seriously can’t recommend them enough. What will you wear yours with? (Hint: everything.)
Joie snake print skirt, blouse, and sock booties
Joie dress; cabi sandals
Joie jeans, sweatshirt, sneakers
Joie white jeans and pink sweater; Beek by Two Birds sandals; Ferragamo handbag; Quay sunglasses
Joie leather pants, blouse, ankle strap heels
Joie shorts, sweater, pearl studded sneakers
Joie snake print dress; Marc Fisher booties; Chanel handbag (look for less here)
Joie lounge pants and sweater; Beek by Two Birds sandals; Quay sunglasses
St. Regis Midnight Supper
Lunch at 
Hanging with the hilarious Hallie behind 
Pearl sweater dress sold out – 
Flights at 
A couple of weeks ago, Eric and I and a few friends headed back to one of our favorite spots on the planet: Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Eric had been to this magical place before, but 
