Weekend Links: Black Friday Edition

This week has been nothing short of a mess. Taking a couple of days off from blogging was refreshing, even though I really hate doing it!

I decided that this week's edition of Weekend Links would revolve around Black Friday. It used to be just an American thing, but I've noticed that a lot of Canadian stores are also starting to offer great Black Friday deals. This is DEFINITELY the time to get your Holiday shopping done! 

BCBG: 50 Percent Off Holiday Must Haves now until Dec. 1.

Net-A-Porter: Enjoy Up to 50 Percent Off now through Dec. 31. 
TOMS: 25 Percent Off select TOMS styles with code CHEER now through Nov. 30.
Nordstrom: Designer clearance event now through Jan. 6
C Wonder: 40 percent off sitewide now through Dec. 1.
Calvin Klein Outlet: 50 percent off sitewide and free shipping now until Dec. 1.
Kate Spade Saturday: 30 percent off full price items now until Dec. 1 with code DEALME.
DKNY: 20 percent off sweaters and outwear now until Nov 29.
Calvin Klein: 30 percent off specialty handbags now through Nov. 30.
J.Crew Factory: Get 50 percent off everything plus free shipping at J.Crew Factory with code THANKS.
Kate Spade New York: Save up to 75 percent plus $5 ground shipping in the US and $10 in Canada at Kate Spade New York.
Lands' End: Get 40 percent off select categories each day and 30 percent off the remainder of your order at Lands' End through Nov. 30.
Stella and Dot: 25 percent off all sale items now through Nov. 30.
Madewell: 25 percent off sitewide now through Nov. 30 with code GIFTON.

Old Navy: up to 50 percent off sitewide now through Nov. 28. 
Happy Shopping xoxo

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Holiday Gifts for the Hostess

Image via: Occasion Online

Hello! It's been a couple of days since you've last heard from me. In full disclosure, sometimes when I don't feel 100% satisfied with my post - I don't post it. It's just a quality vs. quantity thing for me. 

That being said, I've had a couple of days to gather my thoughts and I'm back with another gift guide! I'm sure that you will be attending at least one party this Holiday season and it's in good taste to bring a gift for the hostess. I put together 50 gift ideas for the hostess on your list!

xoxo

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Hey It's Okay!

I haven't done one of these posts in a while...so here we go! 

1. To purchase three versions of the Taylor Swift album 

2. To wear Bean boots for less than a centimeter of snow

3. To live off of cheese and crackers to avoid cooking
4. To replace water with San Pellegrino 
5. To spend all day with your cat doing cat things
6. To wear second day makeup out in public

xoxo

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Weekend Links

As this post goes up, I will most likely still be in a theater watching Mockingjay!! So exciting! This week has been long and involved a lot of coffee. The end of the semester is looming, which means a heavy workload and minimal sleep. It will all be worth it in the end is what I keep telling myself. I've decided to switch up the way I do this posts - just a little bit - and I'd love to know what you think.

This week on the blog: 

Monogrammed Gift Guide

Cold Weather Essentials

Decorate With Kate Spade

Holiday Gifts For Him

Now on to the links: 

Pentatonix - That's Christmas To Me

Pentatonix is a fantastic a capella group who perform covers of popular songs, and this year they have released a wonderful Christmas album. Most of the songs are covers, but this one - That's Christmas To Me - is an original. The song is beautiful and the video is adorable! Definitely on repeat!

Idina Menzel ft. Michael Buble - Baby It's Cold Outside

I saw this video on Facebook and since then have been unable to close it. The kids are so cute and the song..oh the song! Idina and Michael's voices work so well together! Definitely my favourite rendition of this song! 

Age of Adaline Trailer

I really want to see this movie. The story seems really interesting and I hope some more trailers are released!

Cinderella Trailer

I am SO excited for this movie! Cinderella is one of my favourite Disney movies and this version looks stunning. Even though I know the story of Cinderella, I feel like I don't know what will happen in this movie! Is that strange? I'm always interested to see how older movies come back to life with current technology. 

Pitch Perfect 2 Trailer

Okay - this is the big one. Yesterday, the trailer for Pitch Perfect 2 was released and the internet freaked out. I can't wait to see what happens in this movie and how they try to top the original. You may have also seen some familiar faces from this blog post in the trailer. That's because Pentatonix will be starring in Pitch Perfect 2! Isn't that awesome! I'm so excited to see them. 

Now that we've come full circle - I hope you have an awesome weekend and I'll see you on Monday with a brand new post!

xoxo

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Holiday Gifts for Him

Image via: J. Crew

I'm back with another gift guide! 
Today it's all about the boys - dads, brothers, boyfriends and husbands! I know how hard it can be to shop for men, because oftentimes they'll never come out and say exactly what they want! I've put together a guide of 50 gifts that are sure to impress the guys on your list this year! 

Happy shopping!

xoxo

Decorate with Kate Spade

I've been to a handful of Kate Spade stores, and with every visit I fall more in love with the decor of each store. I was really excited when I got the notification that Kate Spade would be having a secret online store, to sell the prints that they use to decorate the stores. This is a Facebook exclusive deal - but I'm going to share it with you today! There are 12 prints available - so get them before they're gone!

My favourites!

 

Click here to head on over to the secret shop page! 

xoxo

Cold Weather Essentials

It has suddenly gotten super cold outside. I think we have officially skipped the rest of Fall and are in the midst of Winter. We even had snow last week!

Now that it's starting to get below 0, it's time to swap our wardrobes once again. Winter can be a tricky season to dress for since it's necessary to ensure that your outfit will look cute and keep you warm. A lot of items in your closet right now can work for the Winter with some minor additions. When it gets cold, I tend to rely on thick stockings under skirts and dresses, jeans, button ups and a cable knit sweater. You can easily throw a cardigan over a sleeveless dress and Bean Boots are a a great replacement for flats. These items paired with my winter coat and accessories are in heavy rotation throughout the winter. 

Some of my cold weather essentials include:

Pea coat // Parka // Vest // Flannel Button Up // Cable Knit Sweater // Fleece Sweater

Mittens // Flannel Pajamas // Toque // Camp Socks // LL Bean Boots

Scarf // Moccasins

What are your cold weather wardrobe essentials?

xoxo

PS: Here is a guide to Bean Boot shopping!

Monogrammed Gift Guide

Monogrammed gifts a great because they are made just for the person you are giving it to. If you're having a difficult time deciding what to get for someone on your list - consider a monogrammed item. These days you can monogram just about anything, and your recipient is sure to appreciate the personal touch! Because monogrammed gifts are so great - make sure to order them early to beat the rush. Personalization does take time, so it's better to get a head start! 

I've picked out 8 unisex gifts, 11 gifts for him and 11 for her! 

Don't forget to shop early to ensure your gift arrives on time!

xoxo

Edited to add: A lot of people seem confused by monogram etiquette - so I will quickly break it down for you:
Female: FIRST NAME INITIAL, LAST NAME INITIAL, MIDDLE NAME INITIAL. 
Male: FIRST NAME INITIAL, MIDDILE NAME INITIAL, LAST NAME INITIAL. 
Couple: MALE FIRST NAME INITIAL, LAST NAME, FEMALE FIRST NAME INITIAL
The same can work for same-sex couples if the last name is the same. If not, a two letter monogram with each partner's first initial or last initial will work as well! 

Weekend Links

I'm definitely in the Christmas spirit. We had our first snowfall yesterday and since Candian Thanksgiving has come and gone - the only thing to look forward to is Christmas! I'm really excited to keep working on gift guides and other holiday themed posts! They truly are my favourite ones to write!

Here are your weekend links!

The Waiting Game - Kate Spade

Forget Kim Kardashian, I'm certain this video broke the internet....or at least the Kate Spade website. Shortly after its release, the Kate Spade website was down! Anyway, this video is the most adorable thing ever. I love Anna Kendric - she is so fun! If you head over to the Kate Spade website, you can actually shop directly from the video!

Taylor Swift and Greg James Sing Blank Space

I LOVE this! Taylor Swift''s dancing is iconic and she does not disappoint in this video. I would give anything to be her best friend. 

Dogs Get Massages for the First Time

Carrying on with the cute theme - this video of dogs getting massages is just adorable. I didn't know that massage therapy for pets existed, but clearly it's a thing that dogs love! 

Eggnog Cupcakes - Creme de la Crumb

How delicious do these cupcakes look? I really want to try making them this weekend - provided eggnog is out for sale! 

Have a great weekend! 

Kate Spade Holiday Dresses

I am obsessed with the Kate Spade holiday collection. It's everything I hoped for in a holiday collection and more. They went with a 1950's Las Vegas theme for the collection and I think it works really well. 

The photos with Anna Kendrick are perfection - she looks so beautiful! The dresses are so beautiful and are sure to turn heads at the many holiday parties I'm sure you will be attending. Some of the dresses are pretty pricey - but they definitely can be worn to multiple events beyond the holidays!

Shop my favourite dresses from the collection:

So much love!

xoxo

Holiday Gifts for Her

I'm so excited to be bringing you my first gift guide! I love Christmas shopping. It's a great feeling to search and then find the perfect gift for someone on your list. Sometimes it takes me so long to find the perfect gift for someone - so this year I am starting super early.  I will still be pinning ideas to my 'Gift Guide' Pinterest board, while these posts remain specific! Today we're focusing on the ladies in your life! Moms, sisters, best friends - there is something here for all of the women on your list! I put together 50 items that are sure to be loved and appreciated. 

Which items stood out to you?

xoxo

Toms x Target: One for One for All

I'm really excited about this post! Toms has recently paired up with Target to launch apparel and home goods in addition to their iconic shoes. What's great about this collaboration is that for each item that is purchased, either meals, blankets, or shoes will be donated to someone in need! This is really great because we often forget that there are so many people in need of essential items. 

The collection is also super chic!

You can shop the collection here! It launches November 16th!

xoxo

This Is Another Taylor Swift post

I'm sorry. I really am. But when I love something....I just love it. The video for Blank Space came out yesterday and I have watched it at least 20 times. I'd have to say that this is Taylor's best music video. Each frame looks like an editorial from a magazine! I'm obsessed with her outfits, the gatsby-esque theme and the leading man is not so bad either!

Don't you love it? Blank Space is definitely one of my favourite songs on 1989 and the video just makes me love it even more!

xoxo

Holiday Shopping Inspiration

I'm so excited to start getting my gift shopping for the holidays started! I am known to procrastinate on my shopping, so I have a super organized list ready! There are some people on my list who are super hard to shop for, so I started pinning gift ideas to a secret Pinterest board. I then thought that other people might be having the same problem, so I decided to make a public gift guide board. I will still be putting together specific gift guides - but in the mean time check out my Pinterest board! 

Here are some of my hoilday wishlist items:

xoxo

Weekend Links

This week has been awful. Just really, really terrible. I don't want to use my blog as a forum for complaining so we're just going to jump right into the weekend links!

Amy Poehler answers the Proust Questionnaire
This is a great interview that Amy Poehler did with Vanity Fair. Her answers are both witty and hilarious! A really nice pick-me-up!

Into The Woods trailer
I'm so excited for this movie! Meryl Streep looks fantastic, and I know she will be great in this film!

1989 Medley - Superfruit
As you know, I am super obsessed with Taylor Swift's new album 1989. I am also obsessed with Pentatonix so I was super excited to see this mashup of the 1989 songs performed by Scott and Mitch! I love the way the songs blend into each other! 

1989 Aerobic Tape - Shake it Off

This is another Taylor Swift related video - but it's honestly the best. Somehow the moves in this aerobics video taped in 1989 PERFECTLY match the beat of Shake it Off. I. Can't. Stop. Watching. 

Have a great weekend!

xoxo

Nordstrom Clearance Sale

Nordstrom is having a great sale right now! You can save up to 40% on a bunch of items online and in store! This is another great opportunity to get ahead on Christmas shopping! There is a wide variety of items on sale - so I'm sure you'll find someone for everyone! 

My picks from the sale:

Happy shopping!

xoxo

My Favourite Cold Weather Recipe!

It's starting to get cold outside, which makes it harder for me to leave my bed and crave comfort food. I love comfort food because it's easy to make, super filling and just delicious. It may not be the healthiest thing around - but it's great for those times when you just want to curl up with Netflix or a book! 

My all time favourite cold weather recipe is macaroni and cheese. I love it because you can customize it in many different ways! I, however, love this recipe by Martha Stewart. It's my go-to macaroni and cheese recipe! 

Ingredients:

6 slices good-quality white bread, crusts removed, torn into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for dish
5 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 1/2 cups (about 18 ounces) grated sharp white cheddar
2 cups (about 8 ounces) grated Gruyere or 1 1/4 cups (about 5 ounces) grated pecorino Romano
1 pound elbow macaroni

Instructions:

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish; set aside. Place bread pieces in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Pour butter into the bowl with bread, and toss. Set the breadcrumbs aside. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, heat milk. Melt remaining 6 tablespoons butter in a high-sided skillet over medium heat. When butter bubbles, add flour. Cook, stirring, 1 minute.

2. Slowly pour hot milk into flour-butter mixture while whisking. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick.

3. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cups cheddar, and 1 1/2 cups Gruyere or 1 cup pecorino Romano. Set cheese sauce aside.

4. Fill a large saucepan with water. Bring to a boil. Add macaroni; cook 2 to 3 fewer minutes than manufacturer's directions, until outside of pasta is cooked and inside is underdone. (Different brands of macaroni cook at different rates; be sure to read the instructions.) Transfer the macaroni to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well. Stir macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce.

5. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 cups cheddar and 1/2 cup Gruyere or 1/4 cup pecorino Romano; scatter breadcrumbs over the top. Bake until browned on top, about 30 minutes. Transfer dish to a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes; serve.

I hope you try this recipe because it's awesome!

What are your go-to cold weather recipes?

xoxo 

5 Books To Read Right Now!

Even though I completed my reading challenge, I've still been trying to get some reading in here and there. Leisure reading is a great break from reading textbooks and a perfect commuting activity (unless you are driving...) There are some really great books out right now that I think everyone should read! 

Yes Please - Amy Poehler 

Grace's Guide - Grace Helbig

Little Humans - Brandon Stanton 

The Art of Thinking Clearly - Rolf Dobelli 

Not That Kind Of Girl - Lena Dunham 

What books are on your to-read list?

xoxo

Kate Spade Surprise Sale

Kate Spade is having another awesome surprise sale! If you want to get a head start on Christmas shopping, definitely take advantage of this sale! 

Some of my favourite items: 

Wink Necklace

Two to Tango tee

Crepe Dress

Midi Wrap Dress

Holly Street Jeanne 

Cedar Street Perforated Maise 

Shop now until Wednesday! 

xoxo