Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all have a wonderful day filled with love, fun, and, of course, delicious food. xo.
(Charlie Brown Thanksgiving via Puppy Dog Tails)

What To Wear To Thanksgiving Dinner

Getting dressed up is one of my favorite things to do. I really love to look my best, and when you look your best you feel pretty nice too. If you have an occasion to get all dolled up for Thanksgiving, I love this dress. You could easily toss on a shawl or a jacket over it, and it's chic but still comfortable. With gold accessories, this is easily a holiday-ready look that could carry you well into New Year's Eve. 

My family is a bit more casual. Although we usually have guests, it's always a very fun and comfortable atmosphere. I love those blue pants. While they mimic the line and stretch of your favorite sweatpants, they are beautifully crafted in crepe. They're perfect for munching on yummy treats without having to be uncomfortable. Paired with a cute sweater and flats, this look is perfect for a more low-key Thanksgiving. 

Dressed Up: Calypso St. Barth dress, Ban.do hair accessories in red, gold, and silver, Modcloth heels, J. Crew necklace, NARS lipstick in "Jungle Red", Topshop clutch

Dressed Down: J. Crew crepe pants, Target sweater, Loeffler Randall flats, Baublebar necklace

Pumpkin Pie Cookies

My favorite part about Thanksgiving is the pumpkin pie. (Honestly, I just really like pie.) There really is just something special about having something seasonal. It feels more like a treat and less everyday.
If you're not a fan of the traditional desserts, I love this adorable recipe from Sweet Sugar Belle. (My favorite part is the fact that she offers different cookie recipes to serve as the base for the frosting.) They're super cute and still honor the tradition. 
(Images and recipe via Sweet Sugar Belle)

Thanksgiving Table

From now until the end of November I will be talking tip top turkey. (Alliteration makes you sound smarter.) Anywho, today I was thinking about the Thanksgiving table. Even though people don't usually go to Grandma's house for her designer napkins, the table is just as important as the food.
Consider it the frame for the art. (Assuming the food is worthy of that title.) I think my favorite is the last one. Thanksgiving is only once a year, so feel free to go nutty with your colors and patterns. The best part is, you don't have time to get bored of it because it's only up for one day. 
(Pumpkin centerpiece via The Daily Basics, turkey placeholder via Architecture Art Designs, table setting via Design*Sponge)

Save the Date

I don't know about you, but I love interesting wedding designs. Everyone always does the same old thing for a save-the-date card. There is nothing more special than a unique design. I think my favorite might be the coded one; super clever and it's a great way to get the guests involved.
Have a wonderful Friday!
(Floral save the date via Lisa Hedge, coded save the date via Martha Stewart Weddings, finger save the date via The House That Lars Built)

Well Suited

Suits have kind of been given a bad rap. It's the '80s, folks. (Power suits?) While they were pretty neat, don't go unearthing your old relics. Please, folks. It's been 30 years. (Time to purge, anyone?)
Welcome to the power suit of 2013. While I am a huge advocate of a dress, there's just something about a monochromatic suit and a killer pair of heels that puts a little "girl power" into all of us. I think my favorite is the red. It's super impactful, and it gives that boost of energy we all need from time to time.
Go get your AquaNet, '80s ladies. (Seriously, though, don't do that.)
(Pink suit via Peony Lim, black suit via Atlantic-Pacific, red suit via Topshop Tumblr)

My Top 5 Winter Hairstyles

1) I love the braided bun look. This is so perfect for keeping your hair out of your eyes (and reducing the risk of the ever-annoying "coat static"), especially on windy days. 

2) This simple-chic bun is ideal for running errands. But, I would venture to say that it would look at home in the office, too.

3) How pretty and feminine is this? I love it because you could dress it up or down. 

Direct My Steps

Sometimes, it's scary to think about the future. The unknown can be a very ominous place. Where do you visualize yourself in ten years? 

Boucherouite Rugs

Boucherouite rugs. Try saying that three times fast. (Boosh-share-wheat)
These colorful rugs are just the prettiest things gracing any floor. They remind me of latch-hooked rugs. Oh yeah, holy throwback Batman. 
Seriously though, these rugs are just so beautifully made. I think my floors are jealous.
(Rugs via Shop Pretty Mommy, room image via Minted)

Five Loves

1) I love me some flamingos!


2) How pretty!

3) Look! She even has pudgy baby feet!

Book Covers

Ever since I can remember I have loved books. At the age of ten I quickly exhausted the children's section of my local library. I don't read books, I devour them. 
The cover of books can be very illustrative of the contents. (Sometimes, but not always.) I picked a few of my favorite book covers. In some cases, you can judge a book by its cover.
(Roald Dahl source, Anna Sewall via August M. Press, Edgar Allan Poe via Emma Lofstrom, J.M. Barrie via Anthropologie)

November Wishlist

Where has the year gone, huh? It literally seems like just yesterday that I was talking about summer and maxi dresses. (And, ice cream, too.) 
I was feeling inspired by the snow that fell yesterday around here. Very little accumulation yet, so I'm not sure if I will be celebrating a white Thanksgiving or not. Oh well. Turkey goes just as well with grass. Also, it's approaching the Christmas and New Year's season so party clothes are a great thing to stock up on. A little sparkle goes a long way.

(1. Baublebar necklace | 2. Modcloth shirt | 3. Alice and Olivia dress | 4. Modcloth clutch)

Rainbow Pancakes

As we are so quickly approaching the Christmas season, I thought a colorful pancake recipe would be perfect. (If this were for breakfast on Christmas morning, you could always use red and green food coloring!)

This makes me want some pancakes for breakfast. Yum yum.

(Video and photo via Oh Joy!)

5 Beauty Woes (and How to Fix Them!)

Let's be honest here. As much as we all hate to admit it, there are things that bug us about beauty. (Unless, of course, I'm the only one in the whole world who hates split ends.) The good news? There are some easy ways to fix them. Here are five of the worst beauty pests in the business, plus some ways to help give them the boot.

We Are So Blessed

I was thinking the other day about blessings. If you've ever watched White Christmas, you know about the song "Count Your Blessings". Sometimes we forget to be thankful for the things in our lives. 
As we approach the Thanksgiving season, let's start looking at our world with different eyes. We have so much to be grateful for. 
(Quote via Peony and Fig Tumblr) 

Pop of Neon

Emily & Meritt for PBteen

Emily and Merrit, stylist extraordinaires, recently did a new collection with PBteen that could easily be at home (no pun intended) in any space. With lots of gold, sparkles, and whimsical shapes, this is definitely one of my favorite designer collaborations yet. 
I love this lamp and this garland. Perfection embodied, folks. 
(Hooks image via Oh Joy!, bedding image via The Glitter Guide, trunk image via The Glitter Guide)

Autumn de Wilde

How beautiful are these sculptures by Autumn de Wilde? I love how each side incorporates something different; reflection or beautiful colors. The landscape really adds a lot, too. I think my favorite picture is the first one. The mirrored sides are just ingenious. 
I wonder if I could get these for my yard.
(Images via Autumn de Wilde Tumblr)

Five Loves

1) They always do. It's not fair.

2) That is one fancy balloon. Nice Karen Walkers, too.

3) Oh yes, fruity pinatas. Yes.

Happy November

It's November already, can you believe it? Pretty soon we'll be eating turkey and watching the parade. This month I'm going to be doing several Thanksgiving posts, from outfit ideas for dinner to different recipes.
Happy November and happy Friday as well. 
(Velvet pumpkins photo via Lone Crow Bungalow)