high/low...nubby sweaters

seems like a good weekend for this sweater, but then i also like this one for $1,350.06 less.

either one, really. ah, sweater weather...

have a cozy weekend.

tiny treasures...baby it's cold outside

i had a really hard time deciding on just one tiny treasure this week, because i have a few that i want to share. so i chose two since they could also come in handy as stocking stuffers and yankee swaps, and i'll save the rest for next week. gotta ration, you know?

the first is a blanket-soft scarf from old navy. given my obsession with yellow this year, i got it in the punchy yellow which doesn't seem to be online but was in abundance in-store. warm but not too warm, long but not bulky, i think it's the perfect foil for a black or brown coat, especially in the solid colors it comes in.

and then...lots of people i know grew up on carmex, but i wasn't one of them. for those people, "carmex" is like the generic term for lip balm, like pampers for diapers or kleenex for tissues. now i get why. i bought this three-pack and stashed one in my makeup bag, one on my nightstand and one on the ottoman in my living room, so i'm never far from chap relief. in this season, it's crucial. the unexpected bonus is that the sheer shine looks really pretty, and of course natural.

bundle up and soothe your lips girlies...it's cold!

images: top, scarf, carmex

a neutral position

recently, i've found myself drawn to a different kind of neutral. don't get me wrong - i still adore the browns and tans and taupes of my design youth, but i'm feeling a gravitational pull to color stories that blend those brown hues with gray tones as well. i think it's the mix of warm and cool that makes it so alluring.

doesn't the gray add an extra something? it changes the whole feel of warm neutrals to a moody, unexpected cool. love that.



top photo from west elm, serving pieces from crate and barrel, bag from old navy

in the bag

old navy is really pleasing me with accessories as of late. first it was these great duffels, then the terrifically beautiful scarves and crossbody totes i wrote about here. add to that the bucket bags and straw totes i wrote about on shefinds, and i'm basically a bag hoarder.

but there's more. i seriously love these graphic rope totes. i feel like they're pretty much perfect for a wide array of summertime activities - they're great for the beach, obvi, but they're also good daytime totes for daytrips or parties where you need to pack a little more than usual - a towel, a change of clothes, a large bowl of pasta salad...anything, really. i also love them because they're a nice alternative to a leather or otherwise heavy commuting carryall.

love!

summer blues

kind of obsessed with this palette for a summer vacation wardrobe right now. i love that jewel toney place where blue and green meet with shots of vibrant pink or orange.

3rd image courtesy of saks, all others from old navy

nothing old about it

good morning friends. i feel it's my civic duty to share with you some of the loveliness that is old navy right now.

first order of business...floral print sarongs. i am obsessed with the yellow one above. i think it would be summer perfection with this lightweight coral hoodie on top, don't you?

truly, i love all the colorways the sarong comes in, but that yellow...it just has my number (see here for yellow obsession).

and they are downright nailing the lightweight scarf situation - love the metallic thread and pom pom details!









and look at this update on the crossbody tote style - you can control the strap length with the cute bow -- major improvement!




every single item above...under $20. LOVE.

all images from old navy

tiny treasures...flipping

look at these YES PLEASE adorable flip flops from old navy (the known mecca of cheap, fun flip flops). such a great way to rock a peace sign.

and if you're partial to hearts, there's that too. love!

and peace!

luckily, you don't have to choose that preciously, because for $5, you get 2 pairs. still the best deal around.

here are some other especially cute ones this year. (and then of course there are all the solids)

all photos from old navy

honey gift files...sweet dreams

it's easy to forget that the longest, coldest part of the winter is after the holidays are over and done, and without all the cheer and togetherness to warm them up. so it's always nice to give gifts that help our loved ones to keep cozy throughout those months.

my favorite way to buy pajamas for myself and as gifts is to get a few pieces in complementary colors that are interchangable with each other and make for several possible combinations. last winter, i bought myself a set of red pajamas and a set of black, and then a robe and slippers in black and white, and a sleepshirt in red and white. what i love is that whatever combination i go for matches, and that's a really nice, sort of fancy feeling, even while i'm at my most casual. upon making that purchase, i really discovered the unique pleasure and comfort of something like this - it's one of those things that adds specialness to an everyday routine.

here are some of my favorite picks for this season. they all come in several different colors and patterns, so click around and check out all your options.

from gap body:

from lane bryant (plus size):

from old navy plus:







from old navy:






old navy has so many (and such well-priced) options that i couldn't resist a second color scheme:








from gap maternity:

from natori:

from bath and body works:

i love these mukluk slippers from victoria's secret, which i think are great on their own as a gift and most of them are on sale for around $20:

,
this cashmere lounge set and robes from arlotta through bare necessities would make an amazingly luxe gift -- like, celeb-quality luxe:


from avenue (plus size):










from restoration hardware, i love these foot duvets (great deal at $16) and both the cashmere and plush robes (monogrammable):

and look at these his and hers long johns from red envelope...adorable. i think if i were to opt for these, i'd totally opt for mr. and mrs. embroidery. would be especially cute for a newly married pair.

with so many potential colors and prints, it's fun to pick out the components of a pajama gift, and even more fun to open up a gift that gives warmth every night of the winter.