Warm and Bright

Wrap those presents, bake those cookies, curl that hair, plan those outfits! Christmas week is upon us! I promised another holiday outfit and I'm so excited to share today's! You've seen my cozy choice here and my cool and unconventional pick here, so now I want to share my classic look. 

After a month-long shopping spree (one for Shawn, one for me...one for my sister, and one for Julien...) I've been banned from shopping anymore until the holidays are over (boooo.) In search of something I already had in my closet, I looked back through my blog archives to see if there was something I could add a wintery flair to. I found this outfit post and knew it would be just perfect!

I traded my summery scarf for a sparkly statement necklace from Hanuel and added some more sparkle around the ears, wrist. Then, for good measure, I threw on some more sparkle to my hair with these adorable bobby pins from the babes at Ban.do! To top it off, I added a pretty coat I found at Lookbook Store.  I'm obsessed with the slightly oversized lapel and gorgeous camel color. This winter, I'm all about finding great jackets to stay cozy. This one isn't your overly heavy winter coat, so it's perfect for running around for holiday parties and taking advantage of all those after-Christmas sales. I can't wait to show you the next festive jacket - it'll be on the blog tomorrow!

On Julien: Jacket, Vintage Inspired Camel Coat from Lookbook Store c/o. Dress, LOFT (old.) Shoes, Michael Kors (old.) Necklace, Hanuel. Earrings, bracelet, ring, Hanuel c/o. Bobby pins, Ban.do. Lipgloss, Laura Geller - Perked Up Pink.

Girls Day at Mosaic District

Is there really anything better than grabbing a bunch of your girlfriends and going shopping? No. No there is not.

So that's what Tammy, Natalie and Cheralee and I did last weekend at one of my favorite shopping spots, Mosaic District. Mosaic is fairly new, but already has almost all my favorite shops and restaurants. Check out my favorite spots below!

SHOPS:
Anthom // A gorgeous boutique featuring thoughtfully curated clothing and accessories by under-the-radar designers and independent labels from the USA and around the globe. You've seen me wear outfits from Anthom a lot (like here, here and here.)

Take 5 Boutique // When you walk into Take 5, you know you're on a whole 'nother level of style. With eclectic pieces from all around the globe, it's where DC's most fashionable women shop for luxe basics (think wool and leather skirts and Haute Hippie sweaters) and also one-of-a-kind evening wear. 

South Moon Under // I popped in here to shop for gifts and accidentally found a bunch of super cute items for myself. (#sorrynotsorry) They carry so much awesomeness that you just have to see the store for yourself (also told my hubby I needed this for Christmas or else.) 

Federal // My hubby loved every. single. thing. in this store. If you're a last minute shopper, head here first.

Sophie Blake + Erika Schrieber Pop Up// Two of my favorite local fashion babes collide to bring the DC area a chance to try on their amazing pieces. Think edgy earrings and the coolest crop top in town. 

FOR THE FOODIES:
Ah Love Oil & Vinegar // These olive oils make salads worth eating.

Swirl & Sip // Such a fun place to go in search of a special wine (and treats to go with!) They do wine tastings in store so basically it's the best place that ever existed.

CAVA // Basically the chipotle of Mediterranean food. It's so good you'll never ever want to leave.

Dolcezza // Please do not leave Mosaic without going here for coffee/gelato/croissant. Prepare for instagram-worthy awesomeness to ensue. 

Have you been to Mosaic District? If so, what are your favorite places to visit there? (If you haven't, I highly recommend a visit ASAP. Follow along with all their fun happenings with their calendar of events, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, blog and Pinterest!) Photos above taken at Anthom, Sophie Blake + Erika Schrieber pop up and Take 5 Boutique, respectively. 

Holiday Shopping Attire + A Giveaway!

A little about what I wore for a day of holiday shopping:

Pants: I was in search forever for the perfect pair of black jeans and scored these Not Your Daughter's Jeans for $18 at a local consignment shop, Frilly Frocks in Leesburg. #score

Jacket: I love the deep maroon color of this jacket from The Coffee Shop and all the cute details like the toggle clasps and plaid interior. Check out their website and follow their social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest) for cold weather style inspiration!

Cardigan: This is one of my favorite items for winter. It’s such a cute and cozy piece. Free People is like, the master of cozy. Snagged this one at their Bethesda location.

The bag: This SOLSAK bag is quickly becoming my go-to bag. Not only is it completely adorable and versatile, but it has a secret compartment to stash your heels or flats for convenient commutes. I zipped up the handles here and used it as an oversized clutch for an afternoon of Christmas shopping. There’s one day left to win this bag!

This tank: Literally the softest thing I own. Yes, it was kind of expensive (around $50) but Iately, I’ve been all about luxe basics, especially from Anthom. It's not online yet, but you can pick one up at their Mosaic District location. 

The scarf: Twice as Warm, a DC-based warm accessories company, is one of my favorites - they are basically the TOMS for scarves and hats. For every piece you buy, they donate a warm item to someone in need within the DC area. I bought a few awesome pieces as Christmas gifts this year!

Jacket, The Coffee Shop c/o. Pants, Not Your Daughter’s Jeans. Boyfriend cardigan, Free People Bethesda c/o. Tank, Anthom. Scarf, Twice as Warm c/o. Boots, Luxury Rebel. Bag, SOLSAK c/o (win one here!) Ring, Elaine B Jewelry.

Cozy Holiday

This is the year of comfy. Never before have I seen so many oversized sweaters, adorable jackets and chunky knit scarves all around me. People in the DC area have experienced a cold like no other in years past and they’re not letting it happen again.

As the time for holiday parties has come around, I’ve been looking for versatile pieces that are cute and cozy to celebrate in. Something that’s warm but also impossibly chic at the same time, you know? Like I want to have my cake and eat it too (#sorrynotsorry!) Luckily, Piperlime is on the same page. This Soft Joie cardigan is literally the piece of my dreams. It’s soft but also totally adorable. I've worn this about, oh, 12,399, 234 times since it arrived in the mail. 

I also love wearing velvet for the holidays. I think this black Daniel Rainn tank top would have also been adorable with a pair of oxblood or dark green velvet pants…but since I don’t have either, I threw it over a grey silk shift dress to give the whole look some texture. And since I’ve been into keeping my toes warm, I was only semi-reluctant slipping out of my ugg slippers into these boots when I left the house. 

What are your favorite holiday styles? Are you going for cozy looks like me?! Stay tuned for more pretty holiday looks this week!

Save 25% off this sweater and tank on 12/16 with code: SHOP25 over on Piperlime.com!

On Julien: Soft Joie cardigan (on sale!) and Daniel Rainn Velvet Burnout Top c/o Piperlime (use code SHOP25 on 12/16 for 25% off!) Shift dress worn as skirt, J.CREW (old.) Boots, Luxury Rebel. Tights, c/o Hanes Hosiery. Necklace and earrings, c/o Rachelle Celine. Bag, Coach (old.) Ring, Elaine B Jewelry.

Special thanks to my sweet hubby for being such a great photographer braving the cold to shoot my photos. I'm eternally grateful for his support, patience and mad photo skills. Love you, honey! 

My Hair Cuttery Look

Most days my hair is spent swept up in a quick pony or thrown up into a sock bun (my fave) but to be honest, I just don’t want to deal with the huge mess it’s become. And maybe it’s the winter blues, but I’ve been feeling so UGH about my hair lately anyway. So when Hair Cuttery reached out offered to pamper me for a blow dry and style before a girls shopping day at Mosaic District, I literally couldn’t google their locations fast enough. With one only 3 minutes from our new place (SCORE) I happily obliged and set up the appointment. 

To be honest, I didn’t even know Hair Cuttery did blowouts…I figured they probably did styling for events, like updos, but when I found out they could give me some beachy waves, I was in.

I just want you to take a good look at the before. Look at that face. That is the face of an messy-haired girl who desperately needs a bit of help. And look at the HAIR (#iliterallywokeuplikethis) - it’s so long and awful looking. I don’t typically check it out from the back so it was kind of a shock. Could anyone make that mess look any better? I could only hope.

Luckily, Katelyn (from the Purcellville location) knew what she was doing…and she was able to give me some tips along the way! Basically, she used a 1.5 inch curler then brushed through with her fingers afterwards to create that romantic wave. She recommended I grab the It's a 10 Miracle Leave in Product spray for my tangly mane and I am officially obsessed. It makes my hair super soft. 

When she finished my ‘do, I was literally amazed. I shouldn’t have acted so surprised but I had totally forgotten my hair could look this good! Hair in my latest posts have been haphazardly curled or maybe not done at all and I was literally floored. AND she didn’t even mention the thousands of split ends I have. Bless her.

I thought $40 for a shampoo/blowdry/curl was reasonable given that other blow dry salons charge the same. And having it be so convenient to me was definitely a plus. I’ll be back for sure! To find the location nearest you, check out their website.

* Disclosure: I have received compensation and a free salon service from Hair Cuttery. All opinions shared are my own.