I didn't intend on taking outfit photos this day. Christian and I went for a walk in the park for a Pokemon Go event (yes, we still play, haha!) and it was a chilly September day. We stumbled upon this pretty area of the park (sometimes these are all cut down so it doesn't look as nice) and I decided to have Christian snap some photos with his phone. 

 

Upon viewing the photos I realized these jeans, although SUPER comfortable, are not the most photogenic. They're a little loose in the wrong places. This sweater and leather jacket combo on the other hand is perfection. I will definitely be re-wearing the top half of this at some point. It's been quite a while since I wore this jacket which is a shame. I used to wear it ALLLLL the time when I first got it in 2012.

 

Giveaway

While Christian and I are still staying extra cautious, many people are starting to get back into old routines, but we should all still take as many precautions as possible. That includes wearing masks and using hand sanitizer after touching public surfaces. Obviously I took my mask off for these photos but whenever we are near people it is always in use.

Today I'm partnering with Nakturnal to give one US-based reader a College Care Pack PPE kit from Get Go Care! It includes 60 packets of moisturizing & hydrating hand sanitizer, 15 high-quality, disposable masks and 5 durable, latex-free, disposable gloves.

Get Go Care, based in Illinois, was founded this year because of the need for PPE among not only essential workers but also students. The products are made in China at an FDA-approved factory.

To enter: Leave a comment stating who you would gift a Get Go PPE Kit to and why!

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Leather Jacket: Theyskens' Theory 'Juno' (Nordstrom Rack, similar), Cashmere Leopard Print Sweater: Nili Lotan 'Abbey' sweater in Shiraz c/o Shopbop, Jeans: J Brand 811 Mid Rise Skinny Leg Jean in Moral (Gilt Groupe), Sneakers: Sperry Rio Aqua Slip-On Sneaker (DSW), Sunglasses: Ray Ban 'Erika' c/o Shopbop

This year has certainly been a test on everyone's ability to stay positive. With the pandemic starting at the beginning of the year, racial tensions increasing and a crazy election season it's sometimes hard to find the good. People are discovering all new ways for self care because of the current stay safe at home and social distancing rules. Many bloggers I follow are exploring their local areas and discovering hidden gems. I am sticking to mostly home activities for the time being.

 *This post includes sponsored links through Nakturnal.*

 

Read a Good Book with a Warm Mug

I've been slacking on this because I've been more focused on movies - see below - but I did just buy Austenland for $3 (yay used books!) and will hopefully finish another book I started months ago.  I think my problem is the book I am trying to finish is a bit on the darker side and I want to be reading something more light and happy. Why not pick up a classic like Little Women, The Princess Bride or Pride and Prejudice? Or perhaps a fun, quick young adult series like Percy Jackson? I've been meaning to do a reread of that and Harry Potter, I better start a list!

 

Park yourself on the couch or a comfy chair, pour a mug of your favorite hot beverage and get lost in a different world. If you're a coffee or tea fanatic, or need gifts for tea lovers, check out Adda Coffee & Tea House! They're based in Pittsburgh but also ship their products. I'm not a huge tea drinker - unless I'm in London - but I've got my eye on some of their other offerings like mugs and a pretty woven tote bag. I ordered a chocolate box with a gift code they sent me! 

 

Go Through Old Vacation Photos

Just because we may not be able to travel the way we used to doesn't mean we can't travel in our minds!  I keep finding myself going through old photo albums (digital and physical) to relive the happy memories. It's almost like being on the trips again! If you don't want to go through your own photos there are plenty of travel blogs you can check out to plan future trips. Some museums are even offering virtual tours so you can experience them from home! Check out this article for museums you can visit from your couch!

Escape with Movies

I did a post early on in the pandemic about what movies I've been watching to lift my spirits. In between watching old favorites I've been working my way through my TCM watchlist which never seems to get any smaller. Every day I check the new movies added to their On Demand offerings so my list is constantly around 50 movies. It's a race to watch them before they expire, which can happen pretty quickly depending on the movie.

 

Now that Fall is almost here I'm looking forward to curling up on the couch with a blanket, hot chocolate and my favorite Halloween movies! Check out this old post for my must-watch Halloween movies.

 

Music Therapy

On busy work days where I can't even partly pay attention to a movie I'll turn my iTunes on shuffle and listen to music. I'm more of an oldies fan myself so you won't find any new artists on my list.  Unless you count John Mayer as new. It's mostly The Eagles, James Taylor, Billy Joel, The Beatles, etc. It's so fun to sing along while I work and forget all my problems.

 

Music can be helpful in more than just lifting your spirits. Incadence, a new company founded in 2019, provides music therapy through video calls, perfect for sessions during quarantine. Music therapy provides individualized treatments to help treat individuals with disabilities, injuries, illnesses, anxieties or to improve general well being.

 

GIVEAWAY: Incadence have offered one of my readers in the USA a free music therapy session. To enter, follow Incadence on Facebook and comment on this post with how music therapy could help you or a loved one! In my case I'd love it to help me fall asleep at night, I have such trouble turning my mind off! Confirm you've completed both parts of your entry in the form at the bottom of this post.
 

*I have not tried the company myself but have been offered a free session and gift card in exchange for hosting this giveaway for you all!*

 

Find New Recipes to Bake or Cook

If you follow me on Instagram you'll know that I have been spending my weekends trying new recipes and perfecting old favorites. You can check out Part 1 and Part 2 of my baking adventures. (More to come once I get a few more recipes under my belt.) If I'm feeling really fancy and want to splurge I'll use some of our grocery budget to buy a week of Blue Apron meals. Have you found a hidden talent for cooking or baking?

Gardening

To go along with cooking, many people have started their own gardens as a way to keep entertained and avoid the grocery store. We are on our second year of having a garden. And when I say we, I mean Christian. He's the brains behind the operation, I just cook the few things we're able to grow. He really enjoys getting off his computer and tending to our peppers, lettuce, herbs and more. Although he wishes we could get rid of the squirrels!

 

 

Go For A Walk, Hike or Bike Ride

We haven't been doing this as much as I'd like (aka not at all unless I make Christian take my photos at the local park) but getting some fresh air and Vitamin C is super important. You could even do a socially distanced walk or hike with friends to keep in touch safely.

 

Play Games

My husband is a HUGE gamer so he always wants me to join in on the fun. I have a few games I played before I met him that he bought for me to play on the Nintendo Switch. He also introduced me to Animal Crossing, which he has been obsessed with since he was younger. They released it on the Switch right at the beginning of quarantine so we've been playing it quite a bit. It's a fun way to escape reality by entering a world we created. We've even played with my sister and his Mom with online play!

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Another outfit worn just for a quick trip to the grocery store for some non-perishable items. Christian and I tag team with one of us in charge of the list and one in charge of actually touching the items. We've got quite the system to make sure we're safe and efficient. Hopefully soon things won't be this way but for now we are taking all precautions. 

As we're nearing the 6 month mark of trying to stay distant from others it is more important than ever to stay connected in a safe way. A fun way to do that is sending packages or letters to friends and family to keep in touch and let them know you're thinking of them. CarePackages.com is offering a care package to one of my lucky readers!

All you have to do to enter is follow CarePackages4Everyone on Instagram and leave a comment on this blog post with your favorite care package on their website. Once you complete those 2 entries, 2 bonus entries will show up!

NOTE: Sometimes Blogger doesn't like if you comment from your phone with just a Name/URL, if you don't see your comment try on a computer or log into a Google account to comment.

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*This giveaway is a partnership with Nakturnal. Opinions are my own*

For the friend who's trying to stay healthy I'd go for the Organic Treats care package! They even have nut-free and vegan options. (I might have to get the Chocolate Passion for myself.)

Back to the outfit - I bought these sandals on our honeymoon in September and this was the first time I wore them out in public. They were a lot lighter when I bought them and the girl at the store told me to  leave them in the sun to naturally tan the leather (so it would match the pair on display.) I left them sitting in a sunny window for a few weeks and voila, instant tan on my sandals. In the past my natural colored pairs did this over time but it was fun to do it upfront. They'll keep getting darker over time too.

Floral Camisole: eight sixty, Shorts: Madewell Camp Shorts c/o Shopbop, Sandals: Ancient Greek Sandals X Gas Bijoux 'Stephanie Charms' (bought in Santorini), Necklace: Shashi Princess Leia Necklace c/o Shopbop, Sunglasses: Gucci Aviators (bought in Italy), Mask: Made by Mom

I wore this on the 4th of July in Tennessee but never got around to taking photos of it so I decided to wear it again and take pictures! I don't wear this romper often, but it's such a fun piece!

Have you tried out rompers yet or are you still resisting because you think they aren't flattering? I think that if you find a style of romper that works for you, whether it be printed romper (my DKNY romper is also printed) or one with an long sleeves you will be converted! I had to try a ton of rompers before I found one that I liked. Mixology has an amazing selection of rompers, many on sale! Luckily for you, I have a $25 gift card to help you get started on your romper obsession!

Romper: Greylin (Gilt), Sandals: Ancient Greek Sandals 'Athena' (Gilt), Sunglasses: Gucci


Enter the giveaway below! I will be picking a winner at random in 10 days!

Note: There is an $8.99 flat shipping rate for all orders under $75, free shipping for orders above $75 for the contiguous 48 United States. All international shipping will be shipped through USPS. The prize does not include shipping or any potential customs on international orders.

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This Summer has been all about neutrals for me, it's strange that I have been wearing mostly navy all season long with bits of red and black thrown in.  I guess it's like the saying goes, if it's not broke, don't fix it!  On this particular day I left my house without any jewelry on, not even my usual rings, it was a crazy morning. Luckily for me, when I got to my parents house I had a package from Serendipity and Grace waiting for me with this fun bracelet and necklace! A fortunate stroke of serendipity, if you'll pardon the pun!

Tee: Everlane Shorts: Zara, Sandals: Ancient Greek Sandals 'Alethea' (also here, here & here),   Bracelet c/o Serendipity and Grace, Necklace c/o Serendipity and Grace


Serendipity and Grace have also offered to give away a piece of their jewelry to one lucky winner in the United States! You'll be able to choose any piece you'd like from the S&G Jewelry collection. Use the widget below to enter!
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The long Winter is finally over and we can start wearing skirts and dresses without freezing to death, but, what about our sun-deprived legs that haven't seen the light in months? Many women, myself included, feel self conscious during Spring and the beginning of Summer when our legs are less than tan. Now, thanks to Hanes you can slip the perfect shade of bronze on every morning to make your legs look tan. Who needs all those crazy lotions and dangerous tanning beds when you can just put on a pair of tights?

To help me transition my winter legs into summer, Hanes sent me a pair of their Sunkissed Ultra Sheer tights to style.  The tights come in five shades you can find the perfect match for your skin tone and, for just the right fit, the Sunkissed sheer comes in control top or a smoothing top.  I chose the medium bronze shade for my skin.  The slight shine and sheerness makes them look more like your skin, unlike traditional panty hose which can look fake. See the photo below for a comparison, can't even tell I have tights on, can you? 
I will definitely be wearing these in the coming weeks if the weather stays chilly like this, I had been worrying about what I would do for my cousin's wedding the first week of June, but now I know I'll be wearing these! My mom had been toying with the idea of getting a spray tan for her legs, but she went out and got a pair of Hanes for herself.

Silk Reflections Sunkissed Ultra Sheer Tight c/o Hanes Hosiery, Skirt: Alberto Makali (Village Vogue Boutique), Sweater: French Connection  c/o Marshalls, Shoes: Guess (Marshalls), Necklace c/o by boe,
Watch: Skagen (Rue La La), Rings: vintage, Brilliant Imports & Mom's


Also, Hanes is offering a pair of tights to two lucky readers, so just enter using the widget below and two winners will be selected in a week!
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P.S. The skirt above came with a vest, so I figured I'd show you the outfit with the vest, even though it looks crazy. Ha ha. Would be fun for a themed party though, so I'll hold on to it.


*Disclosure: I received the tights photographed above free for the purpose of this post, but all opinions are my own.

For the past few weeks I've been using a new-to-me site, Groopdealz, which is a sample-sale type website for local artists and etsy shops. The shop offers a deal on an item with a 30-90% savings. Each Monday GroopDealz adds a total of 20 of these deals and they will run for 24 hours. Once the 24 hours are up that deal will be gone. Each day new items are added. The site is a great way to shop and save when it comes to women's fashion apparel, women’s accessories, home goods and kids items. It’s always fun to see what the site has on any day.

I picked up this great skirt for $16.99 (regular $39.99) and the necklace for $9 (regular $18.99), steals in my opinion!  There are so many great options each day. I also love all their home pieces and the just for fun section.



Also, to sweeten the deal, Groopdealz is providing a $50 gift certificate for J.Crew to one of my readers who signs up for their newsletter to see all the new deals! There are two mandatory entries and the rest are bonus. The giveaway is open to the US and Canada.
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* Disclosure: I have received free products or value from GroopDealz. All opinions are my own.

Here is my Christmas Day outfit! I wore a bit of green on Christmas Eve so I decided the day should be in the red family. A few days before Christmas I got an early gift from Blue Nile, this gorgeous branch necklace, currently on back order. It is so dainty and pretty, just my style. Luckily, they sent me two so I can share the love and give one of you your own! Use the giveaway widget below the photos to enter! You can also use BNHH10 for 10% off.

Blazer: Etro (Roundabout Resale), Tee: H&M, Leather Skirt: Coco's $10n sale, Booties: Alexander Wang (The Outnet), Watch: Skagen (Rue La La), Rings: vintage, Brilliant Imports snake ring & Mom', Necklace c/o Blue Nile


Enter to win a Blue Nile Branch Necklace, ending next Monday:
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* Disclosure: I have received free products from Blue Nile for the purpose of this post

Today I'm featuring a great company, Ricefield Collective, it was started with with the aim of offering job opportunities to women in the Philippine's that have no steady source of income. The goal of the collective is to use handknitting as a way of maintaining the sustainability of life in Ifugao by training its villagers to make high-quality knitted items and other handicrafts.  You can read the full story over at their website.

They are having a presale right now where you can purchase hand knitted hats and cowls before the full web site and winter collection is launched in October!  I have my eye on this hat and cowl set in Navy and the spiral slouchy hats in a variety of colors!


Now the fun part! Ricefield Collective have offered up one of their great hats for a giveaway, I'm jealous, I want to win it for myself! To enter you must live in the US/Canada and be a follower of the blog.  Use the widget below to enter.  You will win your choice of color in the Upward Beanie!

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A couple weeks ago Diamond Candles emailed to ask if I would be interested in reviewing one of their awesome candles.  They are a unique candle company and they have real rings worth $10, $100, $1,000, or $5,000 in every single earth friendly, all natural soy candle they make.  I chose the Orchid Meadow Candle; it had such a nice fresh scent, I really enjoyed it.

I think this is such a great idea for a company, you get what you expect from a candle (great scent and long lasting!) and a ring. How does it get any better than that?  I really enjoyed the suspense of waiting for the ring to be uncovered. Even my cousin (who is a boy) was amused by the process.


Now comes the fun part, you can enter to win a Diamond Candle of your choice! Use the form below and make sure to leave a comment to let me know you've entered!

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