Fall Trends: Love or Leave it?

Today I'm looking back on the recent fall trends. There are definitely some styles that stick out to me because I really love them and others that I silently cringe at. Here are my thoughts on five recent trends!

Dark Lips // LOVE IT
I'm loving these overly dark lips for the Fall. It makes a great contrast to everyone's end of the year pale skin and completes a darker outfit. I'm definitely digging all of these deep reds! Totally Love!

Belted Scarves // LEAVE IT
I've seen this trend amongst multiple blogs recently and I'm not sure I'm a fan. I understand that scarves are a necessity but these really defeat the point of their purpose of keeping your neck warm. The added bulk to the outfit isn't amazingly flattering either. I'm going to leave this one.

Styled Track Pants // LOVE IT
This trend took a while for me to get behind but now I really like it. This definitely isn't an acceptable work attire but I love the contrast between formal and casual. It's the perfect look for those lazy Saturdays and I'm loving it.

Printed Leggings // LEAVE IT
I have really tried to like this trend but I just can't. First off, these leggings do not flatter any body type, the horizontal stripes on your legs is a big no-no for me. Also, they look like pajama pants. I can get behind these if they're for lounging around the house but I don't think these should be a staple piece of your fall wardrobe. I'm leaving this one.

Sweaters over Maxis // LOVE IT
I really love this trend but I have yet to have the guts to pull it off. There is a difficult line to balance here by keeping a slouchy sweater but one that is just fitted enough to lose the appearance of a sack. I'm all about extending the life of your clothes throughout seasons and this is a great way to get the most out of your closet. Love it!

What are your thoughts on these fall trends?!
Emily

My Go To's + Marley Lilly Houndstooth Plaid

                        

I talk a lot about my "go-to's" on the blog. Those pieces that you know you can throw on when you're running late, they will match with everything and they're going to look great every time. Well here are my top five go-tos, all in one outfit and topped off with this fantastic scarf from Marley Lilly!  

Shirt: {J.Crew} Pants: {Gap} Vest: {LandsEnd} Boots: Pink & Pepper {Similar Here} Scarf: {Marley Lilly}

The Go-Tos:

1. Chambray // I love a good chambray shirt. It's one of the best investments you'll make. It can be worn through all season and gives any outfit a casual yet modern twist. 

2. Black Pants // These are my all-time favorite pants. They are Gap city pants and they are a great mixture between structure and stretch. The slight crop allows me to roll them easily for ankle boots or have them fall right above a great pair of flats. 

3. Vest // I'm a firm believer in a great vest. They keep you warm on breezy days and provide a little pop of color over a simple shirt. A cozy down vest goes a long way and LandsEnd did it right here!

4. Ankle Boots // I bought these Pink & Pepper ankle boots about a year ago and I've gotten so much use out of them! A neutral ankle boot will go with anything, a skirt, a dress or jeans and gives you just enough heel to add height but to still comfortably walk around in all day!

5. Scarf // A handful of scarves are always a great resource to have in your closet and I'm so happy to be adding this one to my collection! This Marley Lilly Scarf is so precious! I love the pink contrast with the classic houndstooth print. This little pop of color easily brightened up my neutral look and helped me bear that December wind! Throw this on top of a chambray shirt, a shirt dress or even a t-shirt on the way to the library! These scarves are a great gift idea! Check out more on the {Marley Lilly site here}!

What are your 5 go-to's in your closet?

Emily

Happy Cyber Monday!

Well guys, if you didn't get enough on Black Friday, Cyber Monday is here to save the day! It's the time to make a dent in your gift list while all the sales continue. Here are some of the great deals going on around the internet today!

Aerie: 40% Off Entire Purchase {Code: GOBBLEUP}
Ann Taylor: 50% Off Entire Purchase {Code: CYBER50}
ASOS: 30% Off {Code: ILOVEMONDAYS}
Banana Republic: 40% Off {Code: CYBER}
BaubleBar: 20% Off {Code: CYBER20}
Gap: 40% Off {Code: CYBER}
J.Crew: 30% Off Everything {Code: HOLIDAY}
J.Crew Factory: 50% Off Everything {Code: YOU'VEGOTSALE}
Kate Spade: 30% Off {Code: CYBER30}
Loft: 50% off Everything {Code: MONDAY}
Madewell: 25% Off {Code: GIFTON}
Old Navy: 40% Off {Code: CYBER40}
Sole Society: 30% Off All Footwear

Happy shopping!
Emily

This Year's Christmas List!

So what's a better time than Black Friday to post my Christmas List. To preface this extensive list, this is much, much more than I would ever expect to be under the tree but it's the list of all the things I've accumulated on my want-list over the past few months. This is definitely the most random list that I've ever had but each item has it's reasons! All product links can be found {at my Polyvore account here}!! Without further ado, and in no particular order, I'll dive right in!

1. Quality leather sandals: With a extended trip to Milan coming up this summer as well as my focus on really investing in shoes these three are next on my shopping list. They each three would be staple shoes that go with any and everything and I'm particularly eyeing those silver Seychelles. The thick heel and the neutral color are a safe bet with a twist.

2. Evelyn Henson Prints: I saw these prints a while ago and I'm loving that her store is extending cities. These map prints of Lexington and Memphis have my heart in a nostalgic way and would be perfect for any room! If only she had an Antwerp print!

3. J.Crew Barrettes: I love J.Crew's hair accessories. I have collected a few tortoise shell hairbands that I use constantly but I'm in need of some barrettes with a currently growing bob and these are perfect!

4. Olay Skin Brush: One of my roommates has a Clarisonic that she absolutely swears by but I see the price to be utterly unreasonable. I've searched around for other brushes that have the same basic function, without moisturizing pads that would do the trick. The Olay brush has great reviews and is only a fraction of the price of the Clarisonic. My face is begging for this under the tree!

5. Compact Point & Shoot Camera: I have a SLR Canon that I invested in during high school and it was one of my best purchases I've ever made. While it's a great camera, the sheer size has it's drawbacks. Especially when traveling abroad this summer, I wished I had a smaller more portable camera for those times that I had a tiny cross body or needed to be able to sneakily take a photo in a no-photozone cathedral! This would be perfect for nights on the town, more active adventures and the ability to throw in a small purse!

6. Small Crossbody: I'm in need of a good-quality purse to carry around with me everywhere. I love these simple structured cross body purses from Kate Spade and Fossil. I'm looking for a bright pink or turqoise color or a neutral gold!

7. Camp Socks: These socks are from LandsEnd and have great reviews but I'm also a fan of my tried and true Camp socks from J.Crew. Who said getting socks for Christmas was such a bad thing? I love these around the house and tucked into boots to be more cozy and warm!

8. Dave Matthews Antwerp Print: This print has all of my favorite things. It's the poster for the DMB concert in Antwerp a few years back and it has so many memorable symbols of the city that I love. What a cool addition this would be to a room!

9. Italian Lessons: Wow, never thought I'd be asking for this but I'm really looking for some Italian lessons. With a summer spent by myself, in a city with a completely foreign language, I need to know some basics. I'm not sure if Rosetta Stone really is the program that I would learn best in but there are some General Italian Lessons in Memphis and some geared specifically for business in Italy. I'm keeping my eye out for some of these and to have these as a gift would be so appreciated!

What is making your list this year?
Emily

This Thanksgiving: 10 Things I'm Oh So Thankful For

Thanksgiving is good for us all. Not just for the acceptable day of an overindulgence of carbs but, more importantly, because it gives us a time to think of all the things we're thankful for. Even if you don't go around the table and formally state these things it's still in the back of your mind. We all need to do this every once in a while. It's easy to take for granted the great things in our life. Here's the list that I've been thinking about the past few days and it came out to a perfect number 10. So in no particular order, here are 10 things that I am oh-so-thankful for during this past year.

1. Family // Family is important and I'm lucky to have the family that I do. Being in college really makes me appreciate the time that I spend with my family even more and I'm always thankful for the time to relax around such a supportive and loving group.

2. The Very Best Friends // I'm not sure what I would do without my best friends. I know I would have a lot less blackmail-potential photos and way less embarrassing stories but I wouldn't change it for the world. I'm thankful for my the best friends that have at school, the best roommates that I get to live with daily and the best friends I have that are only a phone call away. These goobers are for life and I'm so appreciative.

 3. Kappa Delta // It may sound cheesy but KD has given me so much more than I would have ever thought. Not only did it give me an extensive collection of t-shirts but it also opened up to me a network of 200 amazing women, introduced me to the above mentioned best friends at school and gave me the opportunity to have a hands on role in leadership. AOT to all of my sisters. I'm so thankful to be apart of this incredible organization.

4. A Happy Home // Thanksgiving is a time that I do reflect on some of the things that I am lucky to have like food on the table and a roof over my head. I am so thankful for a happy home both in Lexington and Memphis where I feel safe, welcomed and loved. A bed is a beautiful thing and shouldn't be taken for granted.

5. Opportunity to Study Abroad // It might sound cliche but studying abroad truly changed my life and I will forever be appreciative of such an amazing opportunity. Not only did I get a chance to learn in Antwerp classrooms my favorite subjects but I learned of my independence, unquenchable curiosity and a passion for travel. I'm thankful for all of the things that made this possible and all of the alterations that this experience had on my outlook on life.

6. My School // To keep it simple: I picked the right one and it's a great feeling to be completely sure of that. The opportunities that Rhodes has opened up to me has been unbelievable and something that I hadn't expected. The chance to live in a soulful city, the ability and financial aid to study abroad, the chance to work at the core of some of the campuses main operations, one-of-a-kind classes with incredible professors and brilliant students have made my 3 years spectacular and I cannot wait for the fourth. I'm so thankful for this beautiful campus and the amazing opportunities that it has offered.

7. A Time to Date Myself // This summer I finally got the chance to focus on solely me and this summer I started a great relationship with myself. I learned the importance of treating myself, taking care of myself and really getting to know who I am. Just like the feeling of knowing I picked the right school, it's even better to know exactly who you are and feel completely you. I'm so appreciative of the opportunity to make my own decisions purely for me and to guiltlessly live out my dreams. I'd urge anyone to take the time to date themselves and I'm appreciative of the chance I've gotten to do this.

8. Road trips // The road trips that I took this summer, besides the big one across the pond, really stuck out in my mind when looking over this year. Whether they were a 30 minute drive to a hike, an hour and a half drive to a concert or a six hour drive to a much needed lake weekend I'm so thankful. The chance to get away and take your mind away from routine is always needed and the soul-searching that also comes along with these drives and mini-vacations is a much appreciated added perk.

9. A Good Pair of Running Shoes, Some Concert Tickets and a Netflix Subscription // These are luxuries that I am so happy to have. I'm happy to know the little indulgences that make me happy and I'm happy to have them in my life. I'm thankful that I found a free therapy in running. I'm thankful for the chance to go to concerts this year with my favorite people and I'm thankful for the mini treat once in a while that is a Netflix binge. I'm lucky to have these luxuries and on Thanksgiving I'm giving them their much needed appreciation on my list. 

10. Emily and Dot // Last but not least, Emily and Dot has made the list. I started E&D at the beginning of this year and it's completely blown me away by, first that I've actually stuck with it, and secondly by what it's grown into. What started out as a way to jot down random thoughts has turned into a daily ritual, a business venture and a way to meet other amazing bloggers in this crazy little universe. I'm so so happy and so very thankful for what Emily and Dot has become and I'm thankful for the readers like you that have made this happen. 

So here's my list and I guarantee I have left many things out but I'm lucky to have the things in my life that I do. We always need time to sit down and reflect upon the things that we're grateful for.

What made your list this year?
Emily