Snow Day Shennanigans

We live in South Carolina, a place where snow can be the most exciting thing all winter. I love a good snow day, and I woke up yesterday to several inches of snow, and it was lovely. We didn't have power until about 10 am, so I spent the first part of my morning on the couch under 5,000 blankets. Kyle heated the tea kettle over our gas logs and made us coffee. Literally minutes later our power came back on, but our jerry-rigged coffee was delicious nonetheless.

It was a slow snow day consisting mostly of watching movies, baking cookies, and wrapping Christmas presents. The monogrammed pocket tee above from SpringerMade is going to be the perfect give for my niece! I know she will love it. You still have a few weeks left to use the code EMILYG for 15% off at SpringerMade.

Also, have you watched Dumplin' on Netflix yet? I watched it yesterday per my mom's recommendation, and it was such a cute movie! I definitely recommend watching it if you like feel-good movies.

What are your favorite snow day activities?

High Five for Friday No. 2

Anybody else out there happy it's Friday? We've got snow on the forecast for this weekend, and I've got my fingers crossed that it will actually happen! Here in the south, snow is a big deal, but it's also unpredictable so I guess we'll see!

Here are my five highlights for the week on this chilly Friday!

No.1 - We've been dogsitting a Goldendoodle named Pippa for our friends while they're out of town, and I am in. love. with this dog. She is so big and fluffy, full of personality, and Ollie is going to be so sad when she has to go back home. Good thing they only live 10 minutes away!

No. 2 -  I tried this recipe for healthier thumbprint cookies this week, and I must say, for a healthier option, they are delicious! Have you ever heard of the Trim Healthy Mama way of eating? I've taken a stab at somewhat following their plan this week, and I'm hoping to get the hang of it and make it a consistent way of eating for me and Kyle! I'd love to know if you've ever tried it and saw success!

No. 3 - I've been wearing the JORD watch that I talked about in this post a lot this week, and I really love the casual but stylish touch it's been bringing to all of my outfits. There's still time to enter the giveaway for a $100 credit on their site!

No. 4 - My hair is probably the longest it's ever been, but I've been wanting to chop it to a lob for some time now. I haven't taken the plunge just yet, but this is an inspiration photo that I'm loving. 

No. 5 - I've been loving my Corkcicle water bottle lately. I replaced the standard lid with one of their straw lids, and I now use it all the time! I love that it keeps my water cold for so long, and I love that they have the straw option for people like me who only like to drink water from a straw. I added a cute monogram decal by SpringerMade because #monogramlife.

That's all for today, folks! I hope you have a great weekend, and stay warm! 

The Perfect Holiday Gift | Engraved Wooden Watches

I don't know about you, but I am always on the hunt for the perfect holiday gift to give to the special people in my life. For me, this would be something that I know they will enjoy, but it will also be functional and high quality! Today I'm sharing something that meets all of those qualifications - a wooden watch from JORD!

JORD is the creator of unique men's and women's wooden watches. I've now owned two different styles of watches from JORD, and both of them are high quality and make a statement with their unique design. Back in January of this past year, I reviewed the Frankie dark sandalwood and smoke watch as the perfect date night accessory. I will now be handing my Frankie over to my sister, and I know she will enjoy wearing it!

Spending a bit more money to gift classic statement pieces that you know your loved ones will wear frequently is important. While JORD watches are a more casual watch since they're made from wood, they can easily be dressed up or down depending on what you wear with it. I also love that JORD offers wood watch bands for your Apple watch if that's what you wear on a regular basis, and the bands are priced very reasonably!

What makes a JORD watch THE perfect gift? Their watches can be customized. You can have a note or saying engraved on the back of the watch face. If gifting this to a special someone, you could engrave a reminder that you love them. I opted to have mine engraved with my initials. This option allows you to personalize it making it even more special!

I selected the Cassia - Zebra & Ivory watch because I loved the larger face with the skinny band, and the white and gold accents are beautiful.  It feels very feminine and stylish. I paired it with this fun fringe sweater and camel wool skirt from Loft, and finished off the look with my favorite winter clothing item - a vest! I love how the wood watch really pulls the look together giving it a touch of style and sophistication. Whether you're on the market for men's or women's watches, JORD has you covered!

Now for the good part...

If you're running low on your Christmas gift budget, don't you worry. I am so excited to share that JORD is giving away a $100 credit towards any watch on their website! The contest closes on December 16, 2018, at 11:59pm CST, so be sure to get your entry in soon - click here to enter. Who will you be gifting a JORD wooden watch this holiday season?

XOXO,

Emily

Easy Christmas DIY

Have you started decorating for Christmas yet? Now that Thanksgiving is over, I am ready to embrace Christmas and all of the festivities that come along with this holiday with open arms! 

Tonight I did another super easy DIY with these SpringerMade iron-on transfer vinyls. I ordered these red pillow covers for around $12 on Amazon, and I followed the instructions in this video for the application. 

Purchasing throw pillows can get pretty pricey, and this is an affordable alternative to switch out the pillow covers you already have with something a bit more seasonal for less than 20 bucks! I hope this easy DIY inspires you to do this on your own, and don't forget to use the code EMILYG at SpringerMade for 15% off your order! 

2018 Holiday Gift Guide | Shop Small Edition

Tis the season for your Instagram feed to be filled with holiday gift guides. Gift guides can be such a great resource whether you're needing ideas for the beauty lover or your ever so hard to buy for boyfriend or spouse!

My friend Catherine over at SpringerMade recently encouraged her followers to join her in shopping small this season as much as possible. This gave me the idea to put my own spin on a holiday gift guide this year and make it a "Shop Small" edition! I hope you'll join me in supporting these small and local shops this Christmas season!

1. SpringerMade - Catherine is an Army wife, mom, and amazing creative. She can personalize just about anything and is so fun and easy to work with. I've already purchased some Christmas gifts from SpringerMade, and I can't wait to gift them to my family! Since we all love a coupon code,  you can use the code EMILYG for 15% off!

2. Local Stature - This local maker crafts beautiful state signs from wood. These would add such a beautiful and unique touch to your home, and they're the perfect way to commemorate special places in your life!

3.  Stamped and Finch - I've shared all about this beautiful jewelry here, but if you love dainty and meaningful jewelry, you'll fall in love with Stamped and Finch!

4. Modern Forestry - I've owned several candles over the years from Modern Forestry, and I absolutely love their fragrances. If you're looking for an affordable and delicious smelling candle, look no further! I also have some of the wax melts which make really nice but inexpensive holiday or hostess gifts!

5. The Barn at Post Oak - Clearly I have a thing for candles... I just discovered The Barn at Post Oak candles this year, and they are made right here in Simpsonville, South Carolina! I love how they do surprise boxes each month. It's a great way to try out different scents in your home. Morgan is seriously the kindest, and I am thrilled to support this sweet local company!

6. Third Floor North Photography - Giving the gift of photos is such a unique and creative gift idea. If you're wanting to gift anyone in your life with a photo session, I would reach out to my sweet friend Ashley over at Third Floor North Photography. Ashley has done photos for Kyle and me as well as photos for my blog, and her work is so beautiful. She took these photos below, and I am thrilled with how they turned out. This is a great way to support a local small business. Ashley is so sweet and fun and one of my best friends, so I know for a fact you'll love working with her!

7. Olive + Grey - If you are local to Greenville, you can find Olive + Grey products in several local shops. My husband has a couple of their t-shirts, and they are both stylish and high quality. We also have some of the mugs and their Greenville Liberty Bridge sign in our home! If you want to represent Greenville, look no further than Olive + Grey!

8. Salon Adelle - Gifting a service to someone might seem a little different, but it's a creative way to think outside the box and gift someone with a practical gift. I had my hair done at Salon Adelle this past summer, and I absolutely would recommend their services!

9. Organic Tan Face and Body - Organic Tan offers a monthly facial subscription - what a perfect gift! Who doesn't want a little monthly treat to look forward to in addition to beautiful glowing skin?Organic Tan offers so many amazing treatments that all of the women in your life would enjoy. You can read about my lash lift experience here if you're interested in that particular service!

10. Goosefeathers - If you've never been to Goosefeathers in Traveler's Rest, you're missing out. Whether you're shopping for the stylish teen in your life or your thirty-something gal pal, you will be able to find the perfect outfit to gift this Christmas! They offer boho style clothes and fun jewelry that your friends are sure to love.

11. Spectrum Handcrafted - I typically keep my wardrobe pretty basic, but I love to accessorize with bold statement jewelry. I've owned a Spectrum piece for several years now, and I just adore their unique handcrafted jewelry.

12. Milk and Honey Market - Milk and Honey Market offers so many beautiful jewelry pieces while supporting women across the world. I recently picked up a pair of the Camilla Wood Studs, and they are just so beautiful and unique!

13. Verdant Market - I recently found out about Verdant Market through a local craft fair. They not only make beautiful signs for your home, but they also offer workshops so you can make a sign for yourself! Sign you and a friend up for a workshop, and you can check one more person off your shopping list!

14. Mary Kay - I've used several Mary Kay products over the last year or so, and I am impressed with the quality at such a great price point. My sweet friend Jess is a Mary Kay Consultant, and she is as beautiful inside as she is on the outside. If you're on the fence about Mary Kay, Jess can answer all of your questions! They have a great skincare system that you could gift to any woman no matter their age!

15. Carrie Elle Planners - This would be the perfect gift for all of the busy ladies in your life. I have a Carrie Elle planner, and let me just say if you're looking for a quality and beautiful planner, look no further!

I'd love to have you join me in supporting your own local businesses and small shops!

XOXO,

Emily

Virgin Cranberry Mojito

With all of the upcoming holidays on the horizon, I wanted to share a mocktail recipe that is perfect for entertaining guests, and everyone can drink it - even the kids!

My love for mocktails started a few years ago when my husband and I went on our honeymoon cruise to the Caribbean. My husband and I don't drink alcohol, but the beverage package that we purchased on the ship included whatever soda and mocktails we wanted. We loved getting to try all of the different drink creations that they can make!  Our favorite drink hands down was a virgin mojito.

Mocktails are so easy to make, but they add a bit of sophistication to your party, and you can customize them fairly easily! I created this virgin cranberry mojito by combining some of the basic components and flavors of a mojito with a little holiday twist!

Here is what you'll need:

1. Fresh Mint 
2. 2 Limes 
3. Cranberry Juice 
4. Seltzer Water 
5. Sugar 

I'm going to walk you through how I made these, but for the record, I didn't measure any of the ingredients exactly. 

I started by adding a few fresh mint leaves to the bottom of these adorable monogrammed highball glasses by SpringerMade. 

I added ice and a spoonful of sugar (add more or less depending on how sweet you like it). You will also squeeze one whole lime into each glass. 

Fill the cup about halfway with cranberry juice. This would be a great point to customize this however you'd like! I've made it with grapefruit juice, and we love it that way too! 

Top it off with a bit of seltzer water and give it a stir. 

Voila! You have a super fancy holiday drink that tastes amazing and is made with just five simple ingredients. 

If you give this recipe a try, let me know what you think! You can pick up your own monogrammed glasses from SpringerMade at 15% off by using the code EMILYG at checkout! 

XOXO,

Emily 

Menu Monday

Happy Monday, friends! Today I'm linking up with my friend Jessica over at The Road Jess Traveled. Jessica and I have been friends for years, and I don't think I know a more genuinely kind and caring person. She lives in New York City, and she blogs about a variety of things from city living to travel to her favorite nail polish. I know you will enjoy her posts!  Each Monday, Jess shares the recipes she's making for the week in her blog series called "Menu Monday." I love to read these weekly posts of hers. I almost feel like a fraud posting this because I know good and well that I probably won't stick to my schedule, and if you saw my post on Instagram yesterday, you know that I'm no stranger to kitchen fails. So while I'm not a menu-planning genius or fabulous cook by any means, I thought it would be fun to join her today by creating a Menu Monday post as well!

Sunday - Crockpot Chili - I usually use my mom's recipe because her chili is so delicious! My family eats chili over macaroni noodles, and I've converted Kyle to a chili mac lover as well. Try it next time you have chili!

Monday - Leftover/whatever you can find night - We both go to separate discipleship groups on Monday evenings, and we typically don't have time for me to cook a full meal. We will most likely eat leftovers, breakfast, or grab a pizza.

Tuesday - Instant Pot Sweedish Meatballs - I have been wanting to use my Instant Pot more often. My husband got this for me last Christmas, and I haven't really taken the time to get used to using it, but I'm wanting to be more intentional about testing it out!

Wednesday - OTE

Thursday - Poppyseed chicken with rice and broccoli - This recipe looks delicious! I think my mom used to make something similar, and I look forward to trying out this recipe this week.

Friday - Tacos with homemade guac - Tacos have been a favorite meal of ours since we got married. They're so easy and so tasty! I don't do anything fancy. For the guac, I usually just mash up avocados and add salsa, salt, garlic, lime, etc. until it tastes just right!

Saturday - Zuppa Toscana - Yum! Need I say more?


Meal planning isn't easy, and I am so thankful for people like Jess who make it easier by sharing their meal plan for the week! Be sure to check out her Menu Monday post today and follow her over on Instagram!

What are you making this week?

High Five for Friday #1

Christa Rene Photography

Happy Friday and happy fall! Fridays are my favorite because it means it's the weekend, and we get a little break from our routine work days. I'm starting this new Friday series where I will be sharing 5 things I either love, want to try, or have recently discovered and want to share! So let's high five for Friday, shall we?

1. The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is life. It's incredibly hydrating, smells delicious, and lasts for so long! If you're on the market for a good lip balm, try this. I use it in the morning, before bed, or just when my lips feel like they need a big gulp of water!

2. My sister-in-law shared this soup recipe with me this week, and I look forward to making it this fall and winter! Doesn't it look so delicious?

3. I've been trying out this Maskcara highlight for the past few days as a way to smooth out my skin.  A makeup artist I follow on Instagram, Julia, uses these products, and I really love the idea of simplifying my beauty products and routine. If you're unfamiliar with Maskcara products, the majority are cream based, and you purchase tins that fit into a pallet. The point is that you apply different creams in different shades to give your face dimension. If you want to know more, I hope to do a review in the near future, but for now, go follow sweet Julia for her amazing tutorials!

4. I am still loving my Carrie Elle planner! Carrie posts her planner on Insta stories sometimes, and I am so inspired to be as creative as she is with my planning! You can find my full review of the perpetual planner here if you are interested. If you're in the market for a planner for the new year, I highly recommend purchasing from Carrie Elle!

5. I'm not one to celebrate Christmas before Thanksgiving, but I did just order this pencil tree last night for our den. We don't have a ton of extra space, so I thought this would be perfect! For only $50, it looks like a really nice tree and has pretty good reviews!

Monogram Tee

I love fall! I love to see the trees change to all shades of burgundy and yellow. I could eat a freshly picked apple every day, and the more pumpkin flavored things I eat, the better. Of course, with fall comes cooler temps as well, and that's one thing I'll never be mad about. I love crisp, cool air, and dressing for cool weather is my absolute favorite! 

I mentioned before in this post that I'm not much of a t-shirt wearer. But if I am wearing a t-shirt, there's a good chance it's long sleeve and monogrammed. I am loving this Springer Made monogrammed t-shirt for fall. I like to throw it on with my Beija Flor denim, Patagonia vest, and a cute pair of flats for a super casual look. 

I know I'll be picking up one of these long sleeve tees for my niece for Christmas gifts because it doesn't matter what age you are - these tees make a perfect gift for anyone!

 Are you a casual style kind of girl? How would you style a t-shirt like this? Let me know in the comments!

P.S. Use the code EMILYG on the Springer Made website to snag your shirt at 15% off! 

XOXO, 

Emily

Lash Lift Review

We're about to get up close and personal today - with my lashes, that is!

If you read the title, you might be wondering, "What in the world is a lash lift?" I just recently learned about lash lifts in the past year or so, and let me just give you a little spoiler alert - they're amazing!

I love the look of lash extensions and the convenience that comes along with them, but the costand having to get them done every few weeks has kept me from trying them out. I may go for them someday, but for now I decided to stick with my natural lashes. However I did want to see if a lash lift would step up my lash game! I first heard about lash lifts from my favorite blogger Kate over at The Small Things Blog. She's talked about her experience with lash lifts and how much she loves and recommends having it done. I've loved and listened to her beauty advice for years, so I was thrilled to try a lash lift out for myself!

I don't have super long or full lashes naturally. I would describe my lashes as short and stubby, and I usually have to layer several coats of mascara to get my eyes to pop. Don't go into your lash lift process thinking you'll have 5 times fuller lashes with a falsies effect. If that's what you're looking for, go for some lash extensions. A lash lift and tint is simply like a perm for your lashes that helps them hold a curl and darkens them to give a mascara effect.

I went to my local salon Organic Tan and Body for the lash lift service. I've been following the owner Lindsey and the salon on Instagram for a while now, and I've seen other locals talk about how great their services are! Everyone there was fabulous to work with, and my esthetician was so kind and chatted with me which helped make the process much more enjoyable for me! The lash lift takes about 30 minutes, and I'm not the most patient person, so I always enjoy something to distract me and to keep my attention.

Organic Tan and Body offers so many services including a facial membership for just $59 a month! I've also heard great things about their spray tans, lash extensions, and facials! If you are local to Greenville, I highly recommend checking them out.

Let's get back to the lash lift, shall we? I want to share some photos with you, not because I wan't you to see every nook, cranny, and flaw on my face, but because I want you to be able to see the drastic difference that the last lift made!

These photos were taken before the lash lift while I had several layers of mascara on.

These next photos are of my bare natural lashes prior to the lash lift. You can see that while I have a decent amount of lashes, I don't have much length or curl.

These are my lashes post lash lift! I mean, look at that! These are 100% my natural lashes. Just by perming the hairs to curl upwards, my lashes look significantly longer! The lift can last for about a month, so this is totally worth it in my opinion if you are wanting to step up your lash game!

Overall, I'd rate my lash lift experience with Organic Tan and Body a five star experience! From knowledgeable staff, quality work, and a relaxing salon atmosphere, I can guarantee that you won't be disappointed by any service that you book with them!

Now go get you a lash lift, girl!

XOXO,

Emily