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Favorite Outfits of 2018

Happy almost 2019! I will be doing a Year in Review post later this week. But, since I usually post an outfit on Mondays, I thought I would share my favorite outfit I posted during each month of 2018. I think I could sum up my style for the year as a lot of sweaters with skirts in the colder months and a lot of fun dresses in the warmer months. I've mentioned before, but I feel like there is only so much I can say about clothing sometimes. So, let's just get going with the list!

January
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There was a very good chance last January that I was wearing a sweater, skirt, tights, and booties any day for work, church, or any other occasion that required more than jeans.

February
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Another theme that could have been found in my closet last winter is silk tops with jeans.

March
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I have had a shirt dress kick in the spring for the last few years. They are a lot of fun to wear!

April
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Don't you just love when you find a pair of jeans that fit you perfectly? That's how I feel about these white jeans, and I lived in them last spring.

May
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I'll be totally honest, I have not worn this dress again since I took these photos. But once I find the right occasion, this dress will be ready!

June
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I was wearing light dresses like this one all summer long this year!

July
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Pink and navy will always be my favorite colors, but I definitely had a green moment all year in 2018.

August
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I brought this fun dress (now on clearance in solid colors) on a few summer trips, including my best friend's bachelorette weekend!

September
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When I didn't want to wear bright colors because it was "fall" but still 80 degrees out, outfits like this one are my solution.

October
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I got this skirt on sale in September and I didn't get to wear it very much. I can't wait to bring it back out for spring!

November
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I found this leather jacket in New York last fall and it was perfect for the warm fall in Charlotte.

December
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I was all about the holiday wear this year, and this dress will be favorite for years to come!

Thanks for reading!

Fitness Friday XI

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Welcome back to Fitness Friday! 2018 is coming to a close, and I managed to keep up the series since I started it last February, and I'm excited to continue it going into 2019! In case you missed them, here are the posts from November and October. So you probably know how it goes by know, this is my monthly roundup of workouts, food habits, and activewear picks. December has been interesting from a fitness standpoint because it was a very busy time at work, I traveled to Colorado for my best friend's wedding, went right to my parent's house for Christmas, and got sick once I got back to Charlotte. So as I am typing this, I haven't worked out in a full week. I don't think I have gone an entire week without exercise in probably two years. I don't really feel guilty about it, but I miss it. I work out because I enjoy it, not because I think I need to. So here's hoping I feel better within the next few days to get back in a studio!

Workouts
Week of 12/3-12/9
Barre and Interval back to back at AIR Aerial Fitness
Rocket yoga at The Space (free with SweatNET)
F45 Fitness pop-up preview class (free)
Define Sculpt on Obe Fitness
Hot yoga at VIBE5 Yoga and Fitness
Choreography on Obe Fitness

Week of 12/10-12/16
Cycle/Kickboxing at First Wind Cycling and Fitness
Air at AIR Aerial Fitness
HIIT at Ebb & Flow Movement Studio
Barre at AIR Aerial Fitness
Define Sculpt on Obe Fitness

Week of 12/17-12/23
Air at AIR Aerial Fitness
Barre at First Wind Cycling and Fitness
Aerial yoga at AIR Aerial Fitness
Yoga on ClassPass GO app

Week of 12/24-today
Nothing, I took Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off and then got sick when I came back to Charlotte for work

I ended up with 15 workouts in December, which is surprising due to not working out at all this week. But I really went for it the first week of December, partially because my boyfriend was out of town, and I always go to more classes when he travels for work. I had a few home workouts on Obe Fitness and a fun one through SweatNET Charlotte. If you're local to Charlotte, they have some exciting things coming for the new year, and you can join here!

Food
  1. I have no guilt about indulging during the holidays. Between parties with friends, my best friend's wedding weekend, and spending Christmas with my family I enjoyed a lot of cookies, chocolates, and champagne. And quite a bit of dairy, there was a lot of cheese at holiday parties, but I did still limit how much I ate of that for the sake of avoiding my face breaking out. But I did keep up with meal prepping my lunches for work and decently healthy dinners until the week before Christmas.
  2. As you may have guessed from above, I don't really have any new healthy recipes I have tried this month. I did make quite a few cookie recipes and put together some fruit kabobs for my office work party.
  3. Although I can say I have been trying varieties of kombucha. I've mentioned before I love the (local to Charlotte) Lenny Boy kombucha but I have also been trying Health Ade (pomegranate flavor) and Brew Dr. (mint lemonade flavor), and I really like those as well!

Activewear
After Christmas edition, it's all on sale!



Thanks for reading!

New Year's Eve Sequin Dress








 Photos by Deeana Kourtney Photography

Similar sequin dress here, here, and here | Velvet ankle booties | Similar earrings | Stila lip color | Similar bag

I like to think that finding off-season styles for incredible deals is a special skill of mine. I mentioned in a recent post, I found a velvet skirt during the summer for $9. I also found this sequin dress around the same time for $17! I actually already wore this dress for Halloween this year when I went as a fish. These sequins are also reversible, so part of the dress can be flipped from silver to black. There are several very similar versions out there now, and it is perfect for ringing in 2019! Sequins may be a little overdone for NYE, but I don't care, they're so much fun! I usually wear some sequins for either New Year's or my birthday, but that's only a week later. Regardless of which occasion, I like to either start the next calendar year or my next age year with a little sparkle.




Thanks for reading!

After Christmas Sales


Clothing and Accessories
Ann Taylor- 40% off full price styles and extra 60% off sale styles
Anthropologie- extra 30% off sale styles
Asos- up to 50% off
Banana Republic- 40% off regular price styles and extra 60% off sale styles
Boden- up to 50% off
Draper James- extra 40% off sale items
Express- 50% off everything
Forever 21- 50% off select outerwear and accessories
Franceca's- buy one get one 60% off
Gap- 40% off
H&M- 20% off purchase of $100+
J. Crew- extra 50% off final sale styles
J. Crew Factory- 40% off new arrivals and extra 60% off clearance
Kendra Scott- up to 50% off
Loft- markdowns $20 and under
Madewell- extra 40% off sale styles
Modcloth- extra 30% off sale styles
Nasty Gal- up to 80% off
Old Navy- up to 75% off
Ralph Lauren- extra 40% off select sale styles
Shopbop- up to 70% off
Topshop- up to 70% off
Urban Outfitters- 40% off sale styles

Department Stores
Lord and Taylor- up to 50% off select styles
Macy's- extra 20% or 15% off select departments
Neiman Marcus Last Call- extra 30-80% off everything
Nordstrom- up to 50% off
Nordstrom Rack- extra 25% off clearance
Saks Off Fifth- extra 40% off select styles

Shoes and Bags
Gigi New York- 50% off past favorites
Kate Spade- extra 40% off sale styles
Sam Edelman- 15% off $60+, 20% off $100+, 25% off $150+, or 30% off $200+
Sole Society- up to 60% off select styles
Steve Madden- 30% off for members
Tory Burch- up to 60% off and extra 25% off sale styles

Activewear
Alo Yoga- 30-70% off
Athleta- up to 60% off
Bandier- extra 20% off sale styles
Carbon 38- extra 30% off sale styles
Finish Line- up to 50% off
K-Deer- extra 20% off sale styles
Nike- extra 25% off sale styles

Beauty
BareMinerals- extra 40% off clearance
Benefit Cosmetics- 25% off skincare
Origins- 25% off holiday items
Sigma Beauty- 30% off holiday boxes

Thanks for reading!

Last Minute Gift Ideas Under $25

Tassel/pom pom fob ($8) | Glass frame ($24) | Statement earrings ($16.50) | Matte lip set ($12) | Monogram journal ($18) | Apple candle ($10) | Nail polish set ($17) | Frenchie oven mitt ($14) |  Elephant corkscrew ($14) | Silk bandana ($10) | Coffee press ($15)

Can you believe Christmas is only 1 week away?! I am so excited! I typically work until Christmas Eve, but tomorrow I am heading to Colorado for my best friend's wedding!! With that being said, my Christmas shopping has been done for weeks. But if yours is not done yet, here a few last minute gifts all under $25! I think some of these options would be great to finishing touch for a gift for a good friend,  maybe one last thing for your mom, or some quick coworker gifts.



Thanks for reading!

What to Wear to A Family Holiday Party










Photos by Deeana Kourtney Photography

Similar plaid top here | Velvet skirt (no longer available in red, similar here and here) | Similar earrings here and here | Navy tights | Navy booties | Similar bag | Stila lip color

I can't stop, won't stop with the holiday looks! I found this velvet skirt back over the summer on major clearance for only $9. I have already worn this it for Thanksgiving with a solid navy sweater, and for a holiday work event with a black sweater and black tights. But it's even more festive with this old favorite Christmas plaid flannel! Which is back this year in a bell sleeve top. I think this would be a great look for a family or friend party during the next week!




Thanks for reading!

How I Decorate My Studio Apartment for Christmas


 Plaid mug

My apartment is officially ready for Christmas! I shared a few photos of it two seasons ago, so I thought it was time for an update. I added some fun pillows this year, and a gold sequin runner on my TV stand. And I forgot to take a photo, but I found a fun wreath for my door when I went to the Southern Christmas Show. I also already got my gifts wrapped, which I think adds a little more to my tree. I sort of keep everything decor related to the living room area. I live in a studio, but the layout is not the typical big square. It is hard to describe, but it is more divided into a living room/kitchen area, and the bathroom, bedroom, and closet are separated. So here are some details showing how I decorated it. I don't have much space, but I always have so much fun putting it all together!

I found this "pencil" tree from Michael's

Sequin pillows | Velvet pillows | Similar Christmas pillow



I also found these mini trees from Michael's









Thanks for reading!