Friday, November 30, 2012

high note: Great Minds Think Alike


Back in October, my now fiancĂ© and I celebrated our one year anniversary (we weren't engaged yet!). I knew I wanted to give Reed something to commemorate the first year of our relationship. I thought about doing some type of timeline or scrapbook, but after quickly realizing the astonishing amount of pictures and memories that accumulated in just one year, I thought there had to be a better idea!


After a trip to Hobby Lobby for some inspiration, I decided to do a keepsake box! I filled the box with ticket stubs, pictures, and trinkets from our first year together. I also included a few gift cards to some of his favorite places and little surprise notes. My favorite touch was the "message in a bottle" - I teared up while writing because it felt like I was writing out wedding vows.


When I finally finished putting it all together, I got "crafter's remorse" - you know, that sinking feeling you get when you've poured your heart into a special creation for someone else, only to wish that you could keep it for yourself because you love it so much? It hit me though that, more likely than not, this box would be in my possession again one day... ;)

When the time came for me to give Reed his box, I got the best surprise! For part of my gift, he had gone to Hobby Lobby as well, picked out a similar keepsake box, and even used some of the same pictures that I had used for the front of his box! We died laughing that we had thought so similarly, and I was thrilled to have my own box!


I got emotional during our gift exchange, thus the puffy face. It's amazing to think back on this night, realizing then how truly blessed we were to have had such an amazing first year together and how sure we were that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. Just a few weeks later, we made it official...or at least put ourselves on the path to make it official! :) Gosh I love him. 

Monday, November 26, 2012

Winter Neutrals




Scarf: Nordstrom
Top: H&M (recent)
Jeans: Old Navy
Boots: Old Navy
Bag: H&M (recent)
Watch: Michael Kors
I knew I had to figure out a way to keep incorporating mint into my fall wardrobe as the summer came to a close. I'm becoming obsessed with this color! The key to wearing neutrals and pastels during the fall and winter months is layering different knit fabrics. I really like how the mint compliments the neutrals in this outfit. The whole look is bright and fresh, you'd almost think it was for spring.  I could wear a version of this outfit every day for the rest of fall/winter and be perfectly content! 

-Lael

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Plum





Top: Allen B. (JCPenney)
Jeans: Target
Bag: Steven Madden (via Ross)
Heels: Charlotte Russe
Watch: Michael Kors
Bangles: Dillard's & Forever 21
Ring: Charlotte Russe
Sunnies: Simply Vera by Vera Wang (Kohl's)
Lips: MAC, Shanghai Spice

Blouses with sophisticated details are one of my favorite items of clothing! I absolutely love this plum blouse from the Allen B. line at JCPenney. (The Allen B. line is one of my favorites at JCPenney - it tends to be more on the trendy, bolder side compared to some of their other brands.)

At first I thought this blouse fell into the burgundy family, but after a little research, I've concluded that it falls into the "plum" family. Plum colors tend to have more of a purple tint, while the colors burgundy and wine tend to have more of a red tint. The color oxblood, another popular one for this fall, has more of a red-brown tint.

Which is YOUR favorite of fall's "it" color - plum, burgundy, wine, or oxblood? Leave a comment below and let me know!
Thanks for reading!
- Lael

P.S. - I am leaving the country today to go on a mission trip to Lesotho, Africa! I'll be gone for ten days! Check out The Beautiful Dream Society to learn more about the cause my team is supporting! Can't wait to share my experience when I return!