Whew it's Friday!

This has been one of my faster weeks so far this semester and all I can say is that I am more than happy that it is finally Friday. T.G.I.F. is a real thing! Today is going to be packed with classes, group projects and meetings but it's good knowing the weekend is right around the corner. Just a few more hours! 

Happy Friday everyone!

Emily

My Holiday Survival Kit + Man Crates

It's getting to be that time of year again! Whew this year has really flown by! Nonetheless it's time to get in the spirit and prepare yourself for this holiday season! It seems that each year, the holidays start earlier and earlier! Radio stations are already playing Christmas music and stockings are already being sold in stores. Whew that seems a little soon but with Thanksgiving right around the corner, it's time to start thinking about these things! 

The holiday season is full of dinners, parties and gift-giving gatherings! My Holiday Survival Kit is full of all the things that I need for these occasions! All of these items serve dual purposes during this festive time so let's start at the top!

Scarves // For me, scarves serve a dual purpose. First off, they are a great way to accessorize a simple black dress for a holiday gathering or dress up a pair of jeans for less formal occasions. Secondly, scarves are such an easy gift! A nice scarf is one of my favorite gifts to get. They are something that I love having but wouldn't personally pay to have myself. If you're struggling to find a gift for your best friend stop by J.Crew and she'll be thrilled!

Bottle of Wine // With holiday party invitations coming in the mail as we speak, go ahead and stock up on a few bottles of red wine. Bring a bottle over for dinner as a simple thank you. Additionally, this is a super easy last minute gift for a friend. Tie a ribbon around it and attach a card and you're good to go! 

Red Lipstick // Holiday parties call for red lips! Get in the winter mood with a darker shade than you typically wear! A bold red lipstick is also a great stocking stuffer!

Riding Boots // While these are a big-ticket item as a gift they're a great piece to have during this season. They are a classic touch with a cozy sweater dress but also the perfect boots to tuck jeans into and pick out your next Christmas tree!

Holiday Cards // As you know, I'm a sucker for stationary and Rifle Paper Co. is always my go-to. Attach one of these one-of-a-kind whimsical cards to spruce up your wrapping paper or send one of these to your family members in another state!

If someone sent me this Holiday Survival Kit I would be a happy camper! Now you know what to give your girl friends for gifts this season however, what do you do for the guys in your life?! In comes, Man Crates! This is one of the best ideas I've seen in a while! {Check out their website here!} Man Crates sends your guy a themed gift basket of your choosing however, here's the catch - he has to open it with a crowbar! How awesome is that?! Pick any theme from Poker, to GrillMaster, to Whiskey Barware, to the Clean Shave Crate! This idea is fantastic and perfect for those guys that are impossible to buy for! Head over to their website and pick out your favorite crate for you dad, brother or significant other!

What's in your Holiday Survival Kit?

Emily

We Need to Fail.

To be completely honest and simply blunt, you know what really sucks? Failure. It might be an inconceivably low score on a test, a mercy-ruled loss in a finals game or a lost club election. No matter what it is, failure is never an easy pill to swallow. It can hurt ten times harder than a sock in the stomach and, no matter the degree, it will always be a pivotal moment. Failure pushes us towards a crossroads where we have to make a decision: What are you going to do next? Do you drop your favorite class or do you study your butt off for the next test? Do you pack your bags or do you start practicing tomorrow for next year's championship?

Yes, failure can feel pretty crappy but here's the thing: we need failure.  If failure doesn't hurt, then you're not trying hard enough. If you haven't experienced this devastating failure then how do you know if you've truly found your passion? If you're not experiencing this punch-in-the-stomach kind of failure then you're not going for enough. Nothing worth fighting for ever came easy and, even though it hurts, we do need it every once in a while. Failure humbles us when we're rolling on a string of successes, it reminds us of the risks we're taking and, ultimately, why we're taking them.

Although failure can ruin a good week and plant you on your bed with a bottle of wine and a tub of Ben and Jerry's, we need this it. Failure is a stepping stone to success. It's not the end of your dreams. We need to fail before we can win. We need to fail to measure our successes but also to measure our passion and our drive. We need failure to knock us on our butts every once in a while purely to remind us that we can pick ourselves back up. "Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing our enthusiasm". Success comes from channeling your emotions after failure into motivation and determination in order to brave the next challenge. Failure shouldn't be fatal, it should be fuel. We can't fully appreciate our successes without failure and we can never achieve full success without a few bumps in the road. It may be hard, but it's worth it and we are better for it.

What do you think about this? Have you ever had a time that failure aided your success?
Emily

Spring Shoe Shopping in November?!

Fall sales are the best and right now, Nordstrom is having a {killer shoe sale}. They have dozens of cute suede booties, leather flats and winter boots that have me drooling. Don't get me wrong, I'm eyeing all of these fall transition pieces however what I really have my eyes on are the sandals. Yes, you heard me right. Fall sales are the best time in the year to get sandals at their cheapest price. Obviously you won't be able to enjoy these babies as soon as they arrive in the mail but it's the time to invest in your spring wardrobe and really get the biggest bang out of your buck! While scouring the sales racks of Nordstrom, online that is, I came across so many spring shoes that I need in my closet! Here are some of my picks!

What do you think about spring shoe shopping in November?!

Emily

                    

A Recipe For: Friendsgiving

{Photo from A Beautiful Mess}

The concept of "Friendsgiving" is something that I've seen buzzing around the internet lately and I really love it! Thanksgiving will always be one of my favorite holidays. Food, family and football - I mean it doesn't get much better than that! Being a college student, I am always ready to hop in the car and take the trek back home for this festive fall holiday but with all of my roommates back in different states with our families we never get to celebrate together! Luckily, Friendsgiving picks up right where Thanksgiving ends! It let's you spend time together, eating and talking about all that you're thankful for with, well, your friends!

So how do you do Friendsgiving? Here's my recipe!

Step 1: Invitations // Send out some DIY printed invitations in the mail or just shoot an e-card with a talking turkey! Make sure all of your friends are on the list and be prepared for a packed dinner table!

Step 2: Potluck // As the host you are responsible for the turkey of course however let your friends bring the rest! In the invitations, divide up the food by alphabetical order to make sure that your cranberry sauce, baked apples or stuffing is not left out! Also, don't forget the apple pie!

Step 3: Decorate // Set the scene! Friendsgiving banners, leafy centerpieces and chalkboard seating markers add a nice and festive touch to your friendly feast!

Step 4: Give Thanks // Once all your guests have arrived and everyone is seated be sure to give thanks! Go around the table and have this happy discussion with your friends. This is what makes it so great!

Step 5: Eat // Need I say more?


** This post is part of the MM Linkup with Corbin and Laura Leigh from The Classy South and Louella! Check out the other bloggers that were part of the Linkup through this link! **

Dig into the food and enjoy this Friendsgiving! Plan a time before everyone is with their families and spread this holiday to all of the important people in your life. What do you think of Friendsgiving?!
Emily