My Cozy Winter Essentials

Hat: Michael Kors via Bloomingdales; Scarf: Aerie: Sweater: The Loft; Coat: Express via Marshall's: Jeans: The Gap; Shoes: Marshall's

With the blistering cold weather outside, how nice does it sound to snuggle up on your couch with a soft, warm blanket, drinking your favorite cup of hot tea?  As wonderful as this is, we still have to go on with our everyday activities, which involves stepping outside and fighting against the cold. That is why it is so necessary to invest in a few really warm pieces that make you excited to be outside and pretend that "the cold doesn't bother you anyway."

I have to say that before I received this scarf from my sister as Christmas gift, I was not a huge fan of wearing scarves, because I always found them uncomfortable or suffocating for some reason. However, the second I took this gem out of the box, I haven't stopped wearing it since. It is the most comfortable thing I have ever lay my hands on, not to mention the warmth that it provides you with.  I would wear it with every outfit if I could, just because I love it so much. My mom has even borrowed it a few times and really wants one for herself. Unfortunately, The scarf is now sold out online and in most stores. I hope Aerie re-stocks them so you can all get one and experience it for yourselves. This hat is another very cozy accessory, that I find myself unable to leave the house without. To complete the look, I threw on my fuzzy  black coat that is perfect for this time of year.

A Pop of Stripe

Dress: French connection via TJ Maxx;Vest:Calvin Klein via TJ Maxx; Boots: Tommy Hilfiger

When discussing a particular outfit, I am sure that you have come across the term "pop of color" at some point. It is a phrase that is commonly used to describe a seemingly monochromatic outfit, with the addition of one singular piece containing a color that stands out, or "pops out", if you will.

With that being said, the same can hold true for a print/pattern contained in a particular piece within your outfit. That is where my title for this post comes in- "A Pop of Stripe." Being that the primary color in this particular outfit is black, I wanted to add an element to liven it up a bit, so that it wasn't too boring for my taste. Since I do not wear stripes too often, I wanted to keep the remainder of the outfit fairly simple,  instead of mixing and matching prints/patterns, which some people like to play around with.

So, next time you are picking out your outfit for the day, choose a pop of print or pattern in order to add some excitement to your look!

Post-Holiday Season

 Pajamas: Ralph Lauren via Macy's, Mug: Anthropologie, Earrings:Giani Bernini via Macy's

If you love the holiday season just as much as I do, you must know the slight sadness that comes right after it is over.  The entire month of December is always so exciting for me and much anticipated the 11 months prior to which. The second I see the festive window displays at every retail store in NYC, my whole mood is turned around.  Everyone just seems to be in a jollier mood and suddenly, some (not all), of your worries fade away. This season only comes once a year and it never fails to fly by, so I have learned to cherish it and enjoy it as much as possible-even after it is over.

We can all agree that the week after Christmas is a pretty fun time as well, because it is when we get to use our new gifts. I always like to take this time to relax as much as possible, and to really sneak in those last seconds of the holiday season as I can. What better way to do this than to slip on your new comfy pair of pajamas, sip a warm cup of tea, and read a new book under the still lit tree? The answer is..it doesn't get much better than this!