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Black Friday Sales


Happy Thanksgving!! I hope everyone has a great holiday that maybe looks a little more back to normal than last year's. TJ's younger brother got married last weekend, so we've had a lot of time back in NC this week. It is also very exciting to have TJ join my family for Thanksgiving for the first time. I've gotten a head start on my holiday shopping, but I'll definitely be doing some more shopping from all of these sales. I've been doing these sale roundups since I was in college, so this is sort of my own little tradition!

Clothing
Ann Taylor- 50% off
Anthropologie- 30% off
Asos- up to 80% off everything
Banana Republic- 40% off
Belk- up to 60% off select brands
Draper James- 30% off sitewide
Duffield Lane- 30% off everything
Express- 40-50% off everything
Gap- 40% off everything and 50% off "really big deals"
H&M- 30% off everything
J. Crew- 40% off full price and extra 60% off sale
J. Crew Factory- 50% off sitewide and extra 60% off clearance
J McLaughlin- up to 40% off
Kate Spade- up to 50% off
Kate Spade Surprise- up to 75% off
Kiel James Patrick- 25% off
Loft- 50% off
Madewell- up to 50% off
Nordstrom- up to 50% off
Nordstrom Rack- extra 40% off clearance
Old Navy- 50% off everything, styles from $2.50
Ralph Lauren- 40% off orders of $125+
Red Dress Boutique- 25% off sitewide
Trina Turk- 25% off
Tuckernuck- 20% off sitewide, 25% off orders of $500+, 30% off orders of $1000+
Vineyard Vines- up to 60% off

Activewear
Addison Bay- 25% off
Alala- 30% off sitewide, 40% off $750+, 50% off $2000+
Alo Yoga-up to 20% off sitewide and up to 70% off sale
Athleta- 20% off
Bandier- 30% off everything
Carbon 38- 30% off and daily deals
Girlfriend Collective- 30% off everything
lululemon- markdowns, prices as marked
Outdoor Voices- 25% off sitewide
Sweaty Betty- 25% off everything

Jewelry, Bags, and Shoes
Barrington Gifts- 15% off everything, 20% off $250+, 25% off $300+
Baublebar- 30% off everything and $10 deals
Gigi New York- 25% off sitewide
Jack Rogers- up to 80% off
Julie Vos- markdowns and extra 15% off
Kendra Scott- 30% off and up to 25% off fine jewelry
Loren Hope- 20% off and free shipping on orders $50+
Lisi Lerch- 30% off and $5 shipping
Neely and Chloe- up to 40% off
Mark and Graham- up to 50% off and extra 30% off sale
Sarah Flint- $50 off 1 pair, $100 off 2+ pairs, $150 off 3+ pairs, $200 off 4+ pairs
Sam Edelman- 30% off
Susan Shaw- 15% off $60+, 30% off $120+
Tory Burch- 30% off orders $250+, up to 50% off sale styles

Home
Annie Selke- 20% off
Ballard Designs- up to 40% off Black Friday deals and 20% off everything else
Caitlin Wilson Design- 20% off sitewide
Ruggable- 15% off
One Kings Lane- 25% off sitewide
Overstock- up to 70% off
Pottery Barn- up to 70% off
Serena and Lily- 25% off everything 
Wayfair- up to 80% off
Williams-Sonoma- up to 50% off
World Market- markdowns


Thanks for reading!

Wedding Wednesday: Formal Photos


Photo overload alert: just a post full of our wedding formals. I thought today was an appropriate day to share because TJ and I went on our first date 4 years ago this week! I don't have a whole lot to say about them, besides our photographer (Liz Grogan Photography) was amazing. And I'm so happy we have so many great photos to look back on of the best day ever!








This is our Christmas card photo!










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Holiday Style Favorites


Cheers to the return of holiday festivities! After a year without events, I'm more excited than ever for plaid, velvet, and all things sparkly! I've always said it's one of my favorite parts about the holiday season, although this year that might be replaced with decorating a house for the first time. I'll be sharing more on that later. But for now, here are some of my favorite pieces I've been seeing fit for any holiday party!


Thanks for reading!

Wedding Wednesday: Wedding Party Attire and Gifts

Let's get back into wedding content and talk wedding party! How I asked my bridesmaids, what everyone wore, and where we found it all.

The getting ready pajamas were a lot of fun to shop for! Mine were from Katie Kime my bridesmaids from J. Crew Factory.

The bridesmaids dresses were a bit of a process. I first thought I wanted a jade green color, but couldn't find exactly what I wanted. So I shifted to this shade of blue called Larkspur and I really love how they turned out! We first bought them through Brideside. I was able to meet with the Charlotte ladies at their showroom, and those that lived out of town were able to have a try-on box mailed to them. However, as I mentioned in a previous post, Brideside went out of business just a few weeks before the dresses were supposed to arrive. The color I picked included styles from Dessy, that were luckily still available to order directly through their site. We had plenty of time before the wedding, but since Brideside just shut down without notice, my girls each had to each file a credit card dispute to get refunds. Once that was worked out, we placed another order, and they actually came in just in time to deliver them all to my Charlotte friends just days before I moved to Atlanta. I mailed the rest to those who lived in other cities.
Once it was all came together, I really liked having a few different style options of dresses, and the girls all wore neutral heeled sandals and whatever jewelry they wanted.

My mom's dress was from Teri John, and we got bow ties that matched the bridesmaids dresses for my dad and (a mini one for) our ring bearer also from Dessy.

The guys rented their tuxes from Men's Wearhouse and TJ purchased the bow ties as part of their gifts from there as well. I can't say we had the best customer experience at our local store in Georgia, but it was convenient for the guys all to visit different locations. It all worked out fine, however we had a close call with one of the groomsmen forgetting his jacket at the store. Of course he did not realize until it was time to leave for the church. But I never knew, because he went back and got it just in time!

Our whole crew, I was so glad to have all of them there with us!
My side was all friends (from a big range of college, high school, blogging, work, and fitness) and my brother's girlfriend. TJ's side was his 2 brothers, my brother, and some college friends.

On to the gifts!
I asked my bridesmaids with these cards I bought from Etsy mailed with a piece of jewelry I made for them and a bottle of nail polish. One of them might have gotten lost in the mail, and another had the nail polish explode ruining the rest of the gift...but it was still fun to put them together!

During my bridesmaids luncheon the day before the wedding, I gave them all tote bags I painted with a color I thought they wore often and their initials. I also made one for myself, my mom, and my mother-in-law and I used mine all summer long. I got the tote bags from the Walmart site and they came in packs of 6.

I bought my mom this embroidered handkerchief and this engraved bangle in rose gold to go with the accents on her dress, both from Etsy! I thought a lot of the typical father of the bride gifts were really cheesy. So I got my dad a few things sort of unrelated to the wedding, but related to his favorite hobbies.

TJ made these collegiate plaques for his groomsmen with his laser cutter! It worked out perfectly that his groomsmen (and both of our dads, which he also made them for) all went to either NC State or Clemson. He also presented the gifts with a stand to display them.


Thanks for reading!

Fall Decor

I've always said I'm never a big fan of fall...mostly because I just love summer. It also means we are one step closer to winter. However, I have enjoyed decorating the house for fall! After a few DIY projects and painting our living room (with Benjamin Moore's White Dove) I'm excited to share some of it! I made this tassel ghost garland by following this tutorial and made the bows with a ribbon from Michael's.

I loved combining the textures in these pumpkins on the mantle. My mom made the velvet ones with real pumpkin stems, and I found the knit ones (with cinnamon stick stems) at a local antique store.

I was not sure what to do with this blue and white piece that I picked up last year. It was actually first used to hold the cards at our wedding, but I wasn't quite sure how to make use of it again. However, I really liked how these gourds fit in it!

My console table got a little seasonal update! These mini pumpkins fit right into a little blue and white bowl (that I also wasn't sure what to do with) and hanging the preserved boxwood wreath with the same ribbon I used on the mantle garland.

I re-purposed the small amount of fall decor I used to have in my Charlotte apartment in the guest room/my office. I found the hot pink pumpkins (with glittery stems) at an antique store last year!

The other side of the room with mini pumpkins from Target.

I got a little too eager to decorate the front steps and bought my mums a little too early. I was also pleasantly surprised by the yellow/orange mums growing in these pots left by the previous homeowners. So they unfortunately are the only ones left, but we enjoyed the white and purple ones while they lasted!


Thanks for reading!

Wedding Wednesday: My Dress and Accessories


I think it's about time I share all about my wedding dress and accessories! I'll start with the obvious, my dress! I mentioned in my bridal portraits post that it is by Eddy K bought at Elizabella's Bridal Boutique in Greensboro. It was actually the only store I went to! I only tried on 6 or 7 dresses before I decided this was it. I thought I wanted something on the simpler side with a full skirt, but I tried to have an open mind. I tried on a few form fitting styles, a super full ballgown, and some heavily embellished styles. But I ended up with just about exactly what I had pictured! Although I did think I wanted a higher neckline, this style had a mesh insert in a lower cut, that we filled with fabric from when it was hemmed. I really loved the pleated detail in the a-line skirt. I thought it was just enough volume without being too much.

One of my favorite parts of the dress was the buttons going all the way down the back. I also loved how the silk gave a bit of shine to the whole dress. The only embellishment on the dress was this belt (also from Elizabella's) which was sewn on in alterations, done by BB's Alterations in Greensboro. They've altered all of my high school dance dresses, and many pairs of pants. So I of course trusted them with my wedding dress!

My cathedral length pearl detailed veil was also from Elizabella's. I loved how it looked walking down the aisle and in the photos after.

On to the accessories, my mom had this handkerchief embroidered with my new monogram. I'm not sure where she got it from, but it was definitely put to good use! You can sort of see in this photo I wore my favorite pearl ring on my right hand. It was a gift for my 25th birthday and I wear it almost every day!

My shoes were from Bella Belle and my earrings are Loren Hope! Although the shoes are available in a higher height (and flats!), I went with a low heel and were comfortable for most of the day. I ended up wearing them almost 12 hours, and just had a little discomfort near the balls of my feet toward the end of the night. I plan on trying to re-wear them (probably the earrings too) on our anniversaries!

This rosary was both my something borrowed and blue! It has been in my family for years, and I carried it in the pocket of my dress (yeah, it had them!).

This gold crucifix belonged to my grandmother, and it was wrapped around my bouquet as my something old. My mom and I also thought it was a small way in how she could be part of the big day.


Thanks for reading!