Happy {Christmas Time} Weekend

Since it's finally December, I feel like I can finally start celebrating the holiday season.

What does that entail? Finally buying a real Christmas tree and fresh garland for the house. Adorning my doors with wreaths hung by metallic ribbons. Cooking up Christmas treats to distribute to friends, just for the heck of it. Checking names off my Christmas list. Perfecting my Christmas playlist. Beginning the search for the New Years Eve outfit. Oh I'm so excited I can hardly stand it.
A few ideas for your first Christmas-y weekend:

• Beautiful and simple wreath ideas here and here
• A fabulous start to your Christmas playlist here
• The beginning inspiration for my New Years Eve attire here
• A do-gooder gift guide here

Also, don't forget to enter the giveaway for the Shabby Apply charm bangle here!

Happy Friday, lovelies!

xoxo

On My Radar: Holiday 2011

Now, I realize I may be a little premature in shopping around in the holiday sections of my favorite designers, but I've been listening to Christmas music for a few days now, so let's just go ahead and say 'tis the season.

The invitations will begin coming in any day now, so why wouldn't we start shopping around to put a few things on our radar before the mad dash to the cocktail dresses ensues? As always, these options are lots of class with a touch of sass. Follow the jump for my favorite options!

Happy {Lovely} Weekend

These weeks just keep getting shorter, my loves, but I won't complain that Friday is on our doorstep yet again. There's a nip in the air here finally, beckoning lots of wintry activities to take place on the weekend.

On my bucket list? Cozying up in the bookshop on the hunt for new winter reads (perhaps this, this, or this). Getting my hand on some chalkboard paint to try my hand at these. Putting on my new wool floppy hat and testing it out around town. Toss it all in with a few glasses of wine with friends, my first stab at a Pure Barre class, and a complimentary Paul Mitchell awapuhi wild ginger keratriplex treatment and blow out, and I've got myself a weekend, friends.

A few things for your weekend:

• Currently sporting this on my toes which makes for a pleasant surprise each time I pull off my boots- give it a whirl.
• Seriously, can someone find me one of these dressed like that? Yes, that link went to the right place. 
• Time to download your Christmas tunes, right? My two favorites here and here.
• This looks like a festive fall treat.
• Cozy up with one of my biggest blog crushes here. 

Happy weekend, lovelies!

xoxo

Tuesday Treat

Dashing in ever so quickly today just to show you this treat.

Now I will tell you that it is only $49.80. Do you want it? Me too (cough, parents- see ya Thanksgiving).
Back to writing my articles. Happy Tuesday to ya!

Happy {Jam-Packed} Weekend

Hi lovelies. Friday again, can you believe it? What's your weekend looking like? I hope mine is a lot like this:

The weather here is still incredibly lovely- blue skies, crisp temps, and just the slightest nod to winter with an early, early sunset over the water.
My close friend and bride-to-be friend Kristie is in town scoping out ceremony and reception locations, so I'll be monopolizing as much of her time as is politely possible. I'll also be galavanting around this festival before grabbing a blanket to lay under the stars for this festival tomorrow. That is, of course, amongst making time for the Alabama vs. LSU game tomorrow night. I'm from the South- did you really think I was missing that? But clearly I'm rooting for Bama. I think that's pretty self-explanatory (sorry Tiger fans).
A few things on my radar for the weekend:

• Super loving this idea for our tailgate party tomorrow. Or any party. Period.
• Put me in this outfit asap s'il vous plait. 
• The sweetest words.
• A trend I'm dying to try.

Cheers to the weekend, friends- have a great one!

xoxo

Elements

Monday morning, this Mississippi girl (who technically doesn't own a heavy jacket and only wears gloves because of their cute factor) woke up to this:

I know all you winter weather-ers are  laughing right about now. 

Eight glorious inches of fluffy, only-belongs-on-top-of-a-mountain snow. We honestly didn't know what to do with ourselves. So, we did this:

Then cranked up our fire, started some coffee, made a pallet on the floor, and bonded with these Mad Men for about five hours:

We're on day two of our snow day here in Oxford, as the fluffy goodness doesn't look like its going anywhere soon. Our sweet little city has closed down, as the unexpected winter storm left everyone unprepared, and I don't mind it one bit, because it's the perfect excuse to put together every single outfit around my new black Hunter boots. 

But in the meantime, my brain is on pause as I'm soaking up the excuse to do nothing, and hoping you have the opportunity to do the same.

Happy {First December} Weekend

It's finally starting to look like winter around here. Our Mississippi skies are turning a lovely shade of grey and the temperature is finally dipping below sixty. We won't get the blustery winds of winter until mid-January or so (and snow, forget it!), but for that I am thankful. I am quite content with my boots, scarf, and a jacket combo, thankyouverymuch. It's funny the appreciation I've begun to have for the Great State, and the South in general. A region rich in culture and tradition, with a great appreciation for all things natural and rustic while somehow remaining utterly charming throughout time. I won't be cliche here and talk about the beautiful girls who can climb on top a horse or shoot their brother's gun, or the guys who are never without a collared shirt and their manners. But I will say, Christmas in the South is like Christmas on steroids, with the most distinct type of love and tradition and family and style. So on this first December weekend, I hope you're as happy where you are as I am, and wishing you all the best. 

xoxo

A few {southern} links of love:

Christmas gifts from all across the great South here

Beautiful cedar wreath chandelier here

The most southern restaurant ever here (dying to try)

Put this outside staple on my Christmas list this year, along with this holiday perfect look

Holiday Season Day #1

Well hello there December, nice of you to sneak up on us like you did. It almost feels like a Friday, I'm so giddy about the first day of my second-favorite month (the first is June- if you read here often, you know that and why, and if you don't, well... it is.) One of my roommates is the true Christmas Queen (cough, Ann Clark), and I joined forces with her to Christmas-up our house before Thanksgiving even turned the corner. But for me, it's not just the Christmas season that gets my energy level up- it's the Holiday season December brings. Because New Years Eve just happens to race in a close second to Christmas day (I'll hold off on singing those praises until I can pay some special attention to Christmas for a while). So today, on December 1st, I'll be mentally preparing myself (read: distracting myself) for all the joys of the season: family and friends with lots of love to share, gift-giving... a favorite past time of mine, seasonal holiday decor, Christmas tunes, sparkly and sequined holiday wear, parties and dinners and cocktails galore, the birth of a Son to save, and the celebration surrounding that.
So, needless to say, I'll be one happy girl, and one excited writer, for the next few weeks.
And to kick-off our holiday-filled December, a little look at Kate Spade's Holiday 2010 Campaign, which is just enough to wake-up your festive bones this morning:

Happy First of December, xoxo