Lavender and Lace

Vintage Blouse, Kimchi Blue Skirt, Hue Tights, Steve Madden Oxfords, J. Crew Brompton Bag, Vintage Levi's Belt, Forever 21 Bracelets, J. Crew Bracelet, Michael Kors Oversized Runway Watch

Button-down blouses are one of the easiest (and cheapest!) items get from thrifting. There are always a plethora of colors, sizes, and patterns to choose from, especially at thrift stores like Salvation Army and Goodwill. I already have a fairly large collection of blouses, so I often come home with a color that I already have. But I don't mind so much, because it probably only cost a few dollars, and one of my sisters will take it off my hands. I love this blouse in particular because of the lace collar detail and covered buttons. And it was a steal at just $2!

Top Three

Our giant pile of Christmas presents!

I can't believe it's December already! This is my absolute favorite time of year. On Sunday night Paul and I stocked up on wrapping paper and Christmas ornaments at Target, then hightailed it home to wrap presents, put up our tree, and drink lots of hot chocolate. The next day we hit up the Philadelphia Premium Outlets and had some great luck at the J. Crew Factory Store, where Black Friday discounts were still in effect. We're now thisclose to finishing our Christmas shopping! Since we hadn't been to the movies in a few weeks we decided to go to a matinee on Wednesday. There are a ton of good movies in theatres right now so it was hard to choose, but we saw Hugo, the Martin Scorcese film based on the children's book The Invention of Hugo Cabret. It was amazing...we both loved every minute of it. Next week I want to see My Week With Marilyn and The Muppets Movie!

 DiBruno Bros. Turkey Corn Chowder, MammaMia Panini, and Dr. Brown's Cream Soda

J. Crew Camp Socks. I want them in every color!

Planning Ahead

Thursday: Forever 21 Top, Forever 21 Skirt, Forever 21 Belt

Friday: Forever 21 Dress, H&M Belt

Saturday: Forever 21 Top, BDG Jeans, Forever 21 Necklace

Sunday: Forever 21 Top, Levi's Jeans, Urban Outfitters Scarf

I work Thursday through Sunday, so every Wednesday night I pick out four outfits to get me through my workweek. I started doing this last year, and it has literally cut the time I take to get ready in half. Before, I would try on everything in my closet and then throw it all on the ground. Needless to say, I was usually late for work and my room was constantly messy. Now I just grab one of my pre-picked outfits, make sure that it's weather appropriate by adding tights and/or a cardigan, and go. I highly recommend this strategy to anyone who has trouble figuring out what to wear in the morning.

Ice Blue

Topshop Dress, Vintage Scarf worn as Belt, Urban Outfitters Clutch, Steve Madden Flats, Michael Kors Oversized Runway Watch, Forever 21 Bracelets

Last year Paul and I spent a few days in NYC right before Christmas. We admired the tree in Rockefeller Plaza, enjoyed an amazing dinner at Mario Batali's Babbo and did plenty of shopping in Soho. Whenever I'm in New York I always make time to stop by Topshop on Broadway and Broome. It's still the only one in the States! While it's not nearly as inexpensive as Forever 21, it's still affordable, so I usually allow myself one or two purchases. This dress was my purchase on that particular trip. I loved everything about it, from the sheer sleeves to the pleating in the neckline to the ice blue color. We'll be going back up to NYC in a few weeks and I can't wait to see what Topshop has to offer this holiday season!

Red Pick-Up Truck

Character Hero Dress, BDG Jean Jacket, H&M belt, Hue tights, Vintage Dexter Boots, Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Clutch, Michael Kors Oversized Runway Watch, Forever 21 Bracelets

Floral will always be my favorite print for Spring and Summer, but plaid is definitely my go to for Fall and Winter. There are so many patterns and colors out there, and when you combine that with cozy flannel fabric you just can't miss. The vast majority of my plaid collection is made up of shirts, so when Paul got me this dress for Christmas last year, I was excited to add it to the mix. The colors are perfect for the holidays, so I'll be getting a lot of wear out of it over the next month!

Jewel Toned Romper

Forever 21 Cardigan, Forever 21 Romper (similar style here), Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Clutch, J. Crew Belt, Forever 21 Bracelets, Michael Kors Oversized Runway Watch, Deena & Ozzy Booties

I had a thing against rompers for a while. It wasn't that I hated them, it was that I hated the way they looked on me. Each and every one I tried on was too short in the torso, which had an extremely unflattering effect. I was about to give up when I tried this romper on at Forever 21. Not only was it floral and jewel toned (my favorite pattern and color combo), it fit me like a glove. I love it so much that I'll even break it out in the dead of winter (with thick tights and boots, of course).

Top Three

Sisterly love: Me, Isabella, Victoria, and Emily

This week has been great so far! On Sunday afternoon Paul's soccer team won their championship game so afterwards we celebrated with all of his teammates at Brauhaus Schmidt's. On Monday I did a bit of shopping downtown then treated myself to lunch at DiBruno Bros on Chestnut Street. On Tuesday I worked Pub & Kitchen's annual Country Delight night (which involved bales of hay, old school country music and fried chicken). On Wednesday I helped my sister Bella pick out four weeks worth of outfits for school and then snuggled up on the couch to watch Home Alone. And on Thursday I feasted!

 My favorite Thanksgiving dish: Mom's stuffing.

 The fun multicolored scarf I thrifted for just $2!