Black Friday (Weekend) Haul!

Black Friday is a crazy time that I usually try to avoid, but after realizing that many of the same deals are still available the weekend after Black Friday, I always try to at least browse the racks on the Saturday after Black Friday. This year, I wasn't too impressed with the deals I found but there were a couple of gems that I'm excited to share! 

IMG_0673.jpg

Bath & Body Works

Somehow, Bath & Body Works never gets old! I've been using their lotions and body sprays since high school and have recently become obsessed with their candles and wallflowers as well. I guess it's a natural shift since I've started living on my own and love walking into an apartment that smells like lemons/sweet pea/cherry blossoms. I also love lighting candles in the winter so I picked up some of their three wick candles, on sale at $12 each. Twisted peppermint is my absolute favorite!

IMG_0678.jpg

Charming Charlie's

I always find time to stop by Charming Charlie's because I have an unhealthy attachment to scarves and statement necklaces. What I love about Charming Charlie's is that it's organized by color which makes it incredibly easy to find accessories that go with a specific outfit. I can never pass up an opportunity to add more cute scarves to my collection so I picked up these two classic little pashminas that were 2 for $10! 

H&M

My personal style preferences have changed drastically in the last year or two and I was looking to update my wardrobe because I am loving the oversized sweater + ankle boots look this season! I headed over to H&M to look for oversized sweaters but was a little disappointed to find that most of their oversized sweaters were at least $35 if not $40 or $50!  While I'm willing to pay for a good quality sweater, I usually expect my H&M shopping trips to be somewhat of a bargain, especially given the Black Friday weekend! I still caved and got this cozy gray sweater for $35 because I couldn’t resist it's charm! 

Nordstrom Rack

And last but not least - my favorite find of the weekend - these gorgeous red Hunter boots for $87 from Nordstrom Rack! This is actually the second pair of Hunter boots I've owned (I gave the original pair to a friend) and I am loving these flexible boots so much more than the original ones I had that couldn't fold. I'll be reviewing these boots and sharing my experiences with Hunter boots in another post soon so keep an eye out if you're thinking about buying Hunter boots! 

I wasn't too impressed with the in-person deals on Black Friday this year and didn't find quite as many gems as I'd hoped, but I definitely got to knock out some of my Christmas list with Cyber Monday! Did you get any good deals this year? Got any suggestions for where I should be searching for the best holiday deals? I'd love to hear from you!

5 Thanksgiving Survival Tips

Sometimes the holidays can be an incredibly stressful time - from traveling long hours to dealing with difficult family members - so I thought I would share some Thanksgiving survival tips that I've picked up over the years!

1. Audiobooks/Overdrive books

Thanksgiving = traveling = boredom.  Whether you're traveling via plane or car, traveling is exhausting and usually entails hours spent trapped in a seat. As someone who travels by car during the holidays, I use audiobooks (sometimes I forget and still call them books-on-tape- #nerdalert #grandmastatus) to survive the long hours spent driving. Through my library back home, I checkout free digital audiobooks through an app called Overdrive - it is literally the best app discovery I've ever made! I find that listening to audiobooks keeps me more awake while driving and makes the hours go by more quickly. This Thanksgiving, I'll be listening to Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella - 5/5 stars for the Shopaholic series if you want a good laugh and love British accents

2. Pack Simply

I have a tendency to overpack - especially when it comes to visiting home during the holidays. I think I'm going to need so much stuff when in reality, I spend most of my holiday weekends in pajamas since my family really doesn't care what I'm wearing. To try to simplify things, I go as minimalist as possible and select pieces that really can't go wrong. This year, I'm packing combos of sweaters/scarves/leggings (my favorite leggings are these crazy warm ones I impulsively bought off Amazon last year) because this is a tried and true combination for me that is not only comfy but also sufficiently cozy looking for the holiday season! If your tried and true style combination is jeans and a sweatshirt or dresses with tights - whatever it may be - it's always handy to have outfits with you that you know are flattering and don't require any extra planning on your part. This helps me stress less and focus more on the important things :) 

3. Group App Games

I'm that annoying family member that tries to rally my entire family into playing a board game with me instead of having us all stare at our phones! An easy way I've found to get my family engaged quickly is to play group games on my phone - my favorite is Ellen DeGeneres' Heads Up. It's simple and a hoot when people get really into the game. With some of my girl cousins, I'll also pull out phone games like truth or dare - not only does it bring back some hilarious memories from when we used to play it back in our teen years, it's also a fantastic way to start up some really thought-provoking discussions.

4. Knitting

This one might sound a little bit weird - but let me explain myself. You know how everyone has that one boring aunt/cousin/grandmother who you love with all of your heart but just can't manage to have an engaging conversation with? As much as you truly want to care about your grandma's flourishing tomato garden, it just isn't the most entertaining thing in the world. That's where knitting comes in. I always feel horrible about being on my phone if I'm having a conversation because I want to make eye contact with the person and show them that I'm listening, so knitting has become my alternate strategy. It's perfect because it provides just enough entertainment and satisfaction that it allows me to continue any boring conversation. It's also great because even if you're knitting, most people are aware and know that you are able to listen to them despite being simultaneously engaged in the process of making a scarf. Plus, it's the perfect hobby for the fall season so it's a win-win all around for my Thanksgiving weekend :) 

5. Let It Go

*Cue Elsa* Normally I'm a bit fitness-tracker obsessed. It's not even because I exercise that much - I just have a compulsive habit of tracking my attempts at maintaining a healthy lifestyle. When it comes to the holidays though, I just let. it. all. go! Life is way too short to be worrying about how many pounds you're going to gain from eating that turkey or how much exercise you're going to have to put in to work off those buttery mashed potatoes. What other time during the year is it perfectly socially acceptable (in fact, encouraged) to eat 3 times your weight in delicious foods?! Answer: Never. 

 

Do you use any of these survival strategies for the holidays? I would love to hear from you! Wishing everyone safe and happy travels this Thanksgiving :) 

Yoga with Ruby

I'm still in the beginning stages of my yoga journey but whenever I do break out the mat, my pudgy cat Ruby is always trying to get in on the action. I'm not sure if she likes the material of the mat (I use this one from lululemon: Towel Mat) or if she just likes hanging out with me, but it makes for a difficult - yet adorable - yoga session.

Anyway - these photos were just too cute not to share! Do your pets join in on your yoga routines? I'd love to see your photos!

love, ella