Popping In, Popping Up

Eeeek time has flown by this spring, friends. I have SO many things going on that I can't wait to tell you about oh so soon! It's been a great few months.

In the meantime, I wanted to pass along word of a fun shopping experience, over at ADAC in Buckhead this Wednesday, May 7! Pop-up shops are so fun. This one is timed perfectly for all of the spring and early summer events coming up, too. I also am excited to check out the insides of ADAC in general! That place is super cool.

Anyone want to pop over to this pop-up with me?! :) 

Be Yourself, Together

We are entering into the end of wedding season. I can't believe another one has nearly come and gone! It seems like just yesterday we were walking down the aisle ourselves, and now here we are, five months into married life and heading into the last month or two of wedding mania for 2013.

Fall is a super popular time to get married. The cooler weather and pretty leaves add up to a gorgeous weekend for the party and photos alike. I always thought I might get married in the Fall. Although, the Fall is not an ideal time to get married here in the South. We take our Football Game Days seriously, y'all. So it worked out just fine that we got married in the stunningly gorgeous month of April instead ;)

We have just one more wedding to attend this year -- the wedding of one of our own Best Men, actually. We are so excited to celebrate with him and his fiance, and have already been thinking about all of the great wedding gifts we can give them to help them celebrate together as newlyweds.

When I shop for wedding gifts, I love finding something that fits the couple just so. Most of the time I shop from their Registry, since I know those are things that they really need and want. That's what the Registry is for, after all! Also, I will confess: I always have fun checking out what everyone has registered for. It's like getting a little, secret glimpse into their life-to-come, all via their flatware, china and bedding.

My favorite types of gifts are the ones that combine something "Registry" with a little "bonus" something that says something about them as a couple. Like a set of their rocks glasses paired with pretty cloth cocktail napkins -- the guy can enjoy his evening beverage while the girl enjoys playing hostess with gal pals. We got a fun gift along the same lines; bath towels combined with bubble bath and a book all about love. Utilitarian towels for him; girly relaxation time for me. Hooray! We both win!

This is why I love this year's Target Wedding theme of "Be Yourself, Together," which celebrates the unique qualities each individual brings to a relationship that, when combined, result in something beautiful. The Target Wedding Registry line includes traditional wedding items like vacuums and stand mixers, as well as some fun, non-traditional items to help make that gift extra special.

I went shopping around the store this week for my own Be Yourself, Together gift idea, and had fun pairing up these two items --



Gorgeous Fieldcrest bedding (who doesn't love that line, seriously? I have eyed that brand for YEARS,  am telling you!) with ...

A yoga set! Sleepyhead snoozer meets early morning gym rat. This is such a fun way to look at gift giving, and takes shopping off the registry to a whole new, personalized level. Plus, in this case, who's to say that the snoozer can't appreciate the yoga set as an evening routine, instead? It's not all about sun salutations, after all!

Follow along on Twitter for inspiration on other fun "Be Yourself, Together" gift ideas by searching the hashtag #TargetWedding. And be sure to check out the Target Wedding Catalog for even more fun ideas, and the Target Wedding website as you finish out shopping for these last few 2013 weddings -- or if you, yourself, are on the list to get married next!

Happy Shopping, and Best Wishes!!

Disclosure: I received compensation in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own. I truly love both Target AND weddings :) Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Target.

Holiday Gift Idea: Jolly Nuts

When you have family and friends spread out across the country, it's easy to get stuck on what you can buy and send their way to really show you are thinking about them during the busy holiday season. And even harder, what about that boss or special client? Those are even harder gifts to buy.

Last week I received a wonderful box in the mail from the Jolly Nut Company, a family-based company out of Fort Valley, Georgia. Jolly Nut has combined the perfection of buying local and sending national with their selection of treats. 

You know those words that are pronounced differently in different parts of the country? Tom-ay-to, tom-ah-to? Ant vs. ahhhnt? I usually don't realize how I say these words, but sure enough, I noticed the other day that despite my Jersey blood, I say "pecan" like "puh-cahn." My Georgia friends will love knowing this :)

Either way you say it, roasted nuts make the perfect gift idea for that special aunt or corporate client. Jolly Nut was founded in 1924 and grows their own pecans down on their farmlands. They sent me a sampling of some of their most popular nuts to try out myself:

* Roasted and salted pecans
* Chocolate halves
* Sugar n' spice pecans
* Praline pecans
* Peach pecans
* Sweet and salty pecans

I thought I would be all in control and, you know, open one of the bags at a time to sample. Nope. I was a little ridiculous and opened each bag and tried a few of each right there on the spot. So good! My favorite three were the chocolate halves (my chocolate-loving Grandma would love these), the sweet and salty pecans (tasted like a sugar and spice pretzel from the mall!) and what they said was their most popular product, the roasted and salted pecans. That variety in particular made an excellent post-game treat for us after watching the conference playoff games last weekend, and would be great for any sports lover in your life. The roasted and salty flavors were addicting!

Jolly Nut Co. Bountiful Baskets

Are you interested in Jolly Nuts for your holiday shopping? Head to their website and check out their full selection. They offer a variety of gift baskets and tins as well as huge party packs of their basic pecans that you could have on hand for parties or baking.

Thanks, Jolly Nut, for sharing the goodness! They were all wonderful!

Disclosure: I received product in exchange for this post, but all opinions are my own.

Target and Neiman Marcus

I just scoped out the upcoming Target + Neiman Marcus collection that debuts Saturday in both brand's stores and online. The much-buzzed about holiday collaboration features over 50 limited-edition products from top American designers that range in price from $7.99 to $499.99.

Have you taken a look at the line-up yet? You can find the full round-up here, and below are a few of my favorites. That dress, in paticular, is to-die, and how great would that bar set be for the bachelor in your life?

Like the Missoni and Jason Wu special Target lines of past, expect these items to sell out FAST! Happy Shopping!!

Lela Rose for Target + Neiman Marcus, $99

Altuzarra for Target + Neiman Marcus, Shaker, Glasses and Tray set, $49.99

Prabal Gurung for Target + Neiman Marcus, $79.99

Robert Rodriguez for Target + Neiman Marcus, $79.99

Positive Vibes (and a huge sale)

Hello, all!

I hope you had a marvelous week and Thanksgiving holiday! I was beyond ready for this break and have spent a few nights unplugged up in the big R with my family. We have laughed a lot, eaten a lot and slept a lot, too. We also may have done some worthy Black Friday shopping online! Keep reading for a sneak peek at what I picked up :)

As another Thanksgiving came and went, I realized there was a lot that I am thankful for. Big things and small things ... realizing and remembering these things makes every day life that much better :)

* Family members that are safe and sound and with power up north ... It was so hard to hear that their homes were pitch black and cold for days on end, but the most important thing is that everyone is alright after the hurricane whipped through earlier this month!

* Chilly, lazy weekend days spent outdoors ... As the last fall hues fall from the trees and the cold air moves in to stay, I have loved spending time outside, just looking UP at the clear, blue skies!

* New prospects on the horizon ... I am really excited!! I am starting a new job on Monday and am just so thrilled. I will be joining a full-service marketing agency, and it's pretty much the best early Christmas present EVER! Hit me up offline if you want to hear more :)

* Chais, cozy loungewear, manicures and pedicures ... These are pretty much on my "favorites" list all the time, what can I say? 

* Football games ending in things other than a L ... Thankfully, after a rough season, both Auburn and Georgia Tech have managed to pull a few more W's out of the hat. Here's hoping for at least not a depressing blow-out against both teams today for their in-state rivalry games (gah).

Image Source: summersnowart.com via Merideth on Pinterest

Now ... for some serious shopping!

I don't know if you are in need of an area rug for your home, but if you are, you MUST head to RugsUSA.com right now! They have been running a Black Friday sale all week long, with a majority of their rugs featured at 75% off regular price and free shipping. Amazingness. In the rug industry, free shipping is super clutch because that can really add up. I ordered this beauty off there earlier this week, and can't wait for it to come in.

I think it is going to look perfect in the living room, adding just the pop of color that I have been looking for. Let me know if you find anything that fits your decor needs!

I hope you have a wonderful end to your Thanksgiving holiday weekend!

 

Gift Ideas for the Gifting Challenged

Are you starting your holiday shopping early this year? I just had a twinge of anxiety once I realized I have only gotten two out of the ten+ gifts for the celebrations ahead. Yikes! Looks like my Thanksgiving weekend might be filled with a good deal of e-shopping (forget Black Friday, I prefer online ;) ).

Image Credit: RedEnvelope.com

It's always hard to shop for friends and family members that seem to have everything. What do you get for your BFF that just got married and received gifts all year from that, anyways? And mothers-in-law and bosses at work are a whole other category. I consider myself an expert gifter-in-training (I learned from the best - my mom is genius at this stuff) but even I get stumped sometimes for these types of people.

For those times when you get stuck on what to buy for that special someone, I would recommend two online sites, even if just as a thought-starter. The first is Red Envelope. They are stocked full of gift ideas for anyone in your life. Last year, we got a great bottle opener station personalized for Brad's dad from there. He loved it! All the guys use it when they visit his home and the caps drop right into the container below. Brad and his dad brew beer together, so this was the perfect addition to their brewing set-up. I highly recommend this gift for the brewer or beer-lover in your life. Plus, the opener is attractive and would look great with most decor in most homes (or in the garage by the beer fridge!).

And many, many thanks to Lauren for this find earlier this week! The people behind Williams-Sonoma have recently launched Mark and Graham, a gifting site that features "the artful mingling of typography and design." Monogram lovers? This online store is for you! Here's a quick preview of what the store is all about:



After a quick browse, I am already lusting over the hammered coasters, the vintage pool bar stopper, and the linen satin stitch cocktail napkins.

Image Credit: Mark and Graham

Adorable! I can't wait to dive into this site a bit more as soon as I figure out who is left on my list ;)

Happy (early) shopping!!

Grand Opening: The Container Store Buckhead

Organizing friends, get ready for some visual lust. Last week I had the opportunity to join in with a fabulous group of local bloggers to tour the brandy-new Buckhead location of The Container Store! 

The Container Store, which proudly says that they never close stores, they only move stores to bigger and better locations, is a favorite spot for city dwellers like me. Whether you are living in tight quarters like a condo or apartment, or in a larger home with so much space that you don't know what to do with yourself (I envy you!), The Container Store has you set. No other retailer offers the depth and breadth of storage solutions that The Container Store does.

I was so honored to be invited to the preview event at the new location. The Container Store outdid themelves this time! The new space is gorgeous, and makes you want to run home and tear every piece of clothing out of your closet and start over with a new organizing system in place. I had to literally hold myself back from the displays as we got a tour. My OCD side was in absolute heaven.

Did you know? The Buckhead store location, originally at the intersection of Peachtree and Piedmont, was The Container Store's first store outside of Texas! Our store goes way back, y'all! This new 28,000 sq. foot, two-level store is now at the corner of Peachtree and Wieuca, and takes the place of the Borders that closed many months ago.

I had heard about the go-getter attitudes of the associates at the stores, but was surprised to learn how that comes about. Each full-time salesperson gets more than 263 hours of training in their first year. That is compared to a retail industry average of only seven to ten hours. Wow. These people know what they are talking about!

Clockwise, from top left: The wall of hangers at The Container Store, an Elfa
closet system demo, a flyer announcing the Gift Registry and the wall of wrapping paper

The Container Store is home to more than 120 food storage solutions (seen below on this amazing curved wall at the back end of the store which faces Peachtree Rd.), 700 organized office products, 45 types of laundry hampers, 350 products to organize a traveler, 80 styles of hangers (seriously - see that wall of them above!) and more. This store alone features more than 10,000 multifunctional and innovative products.

One of the items that caught my eye were the clear shoe boxes. Retailing at $1.69 each when you buy 20 or more, they are totally clear and see-through. You know how you usually have to put a photo or a label on the front of some other "clear" box so you can tell your black stilletos from the dark purple ones? You don't need to do that on these -- you can actually see right through them because they are made of such a high-grade plastic.

 

Another thing I was excited to see -- they now offer a registry! Obviously, this is awesome news for fellow organized brides, but also for recent high school and college grads, new homeowners and new parents (hello, baby food containers!).

Ready to get your OCD on? This brand new addition to the Buckhead shopping area is open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. Parking is available in front of the store by the CVS and Pinkberry. Learn more about The Container Store's principles, community events and celebrations on their blog, What We Stand For.

Disclosure: I was invited to and attended a grand opening luncheon hosted by The Container Store, and received products as part of that event. This post represents my own opinions.

Dressy Casual

With the holiday season right around the corner, I thought we might take a bit and talk dress codes for those shin-digs that will soon be filling up your social calendars. For most of us, there will be some sort of holiday party at work, and then, if you are on Santa's Nice List, also some sort of social gathering with friends. Whether it's a cookie or ornament exchange, a Secret Santa/White Elephant party (my least favorite one, ugh) or a holiday dinner, a girl's gotta look her best while still giving off that holiday cheer vibe! 

Source: stylemepretty.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Last year, I selected some work-appropriate holiday party attire to share with you, but today, I want to focus instead around the whole "dressy casual" phrase. What can that phrase really mean for a real girl with a real budget and a (maybe a little boring, last-season) real wardrobe to choose from? 

First, when I hear the phrase "dressy casual," I immediately think of the age-old classic of dark jeans and a sparkly top. Seriously, it might be the safest go-to that anyone can choose, and you likely already own at least half of the outfit! When paired with a pair of heels, you can go from work during the day directly to the party at night with this look.

I love this sparkly tank option from the Simply Vera line at Kohl's. It's a steal at only $33, and would look fantastic with your favorite pair of dark rinse skinny jeans. Add some blingy earrings and a chunky black bracelet to complete the look.

And look, they even have a holiday ruby-colored version, too! I love that the belt on both of these adds emphasis to your middle, but the flowy structure keeps things safe just in case you eat one too many cookies at the swap :)

I also love the combination of unexpected textures and materials to step things up for a dressy casual event. This combo of chambray plus glitz equals a South Beach holiday party gold mine, if you ask me. Just swap out that lavender scarf for a black one and add some black heels, and you are set for the evening.

Source: wendyslookbook.com via Megan on Pinterest

In the same vein, a basic gray tee can be glammed up with the addition of a sparkly skirt:

Source: glamorouschiclife.tumblr.com via Katherine on Pinterest

I also LOVE this look of a chunky cableknit worn over some sparkle on the bottom! This just screams "winter lodge semiformal" to me, ha!

Source: capecodcollegiate.tumblr.com via Katherine on Pinterest

No sparkly clothes in your closet? I also love stepping up an otherwise pretty casual outfit for a dressier holiday event by adding in some special accessories. An oversized clutch with some shine can do the trick ...

Source: hautemamasfaves.tumblr.com via Katherine on Pinterest

Source: brunchatsaks.blogspot.com via Anne on Pinterest

Or some blingy, oversized costume (or real!) jewelry, of course. Add these to an all-black outfit and your "dressy casual" look for the night is complete.

Source: ssasychic.com via Katherine on Pinterest

Source: instyle.com via Loloma on Pinterest

I hope this helps you look at your own wardrobe with some renewed interest this holiday season! I'd love to feature your dressy casual "looks" as you create them, so snap a shot and send it my way -- I might just feature you right here on the blog! :)

Home Decor Ideas: Zara Home Launches

When I studied abroad in Spain during college, I was an H&M addict. I stopped by their massive stores in Madrid multiple times while there, going on shopping binges you wouldn't think were possible if you then had to find a way to bring everything home with you (here's how: bring an extra duffel bag with you to check all the clothes in for the flight home :)).

H&M wasn't immediately in the Atlanta area when I returned, but I kept an open eye for it along with Zara, another favorite of mine while across the pond. I knew their high fashion designs and low price points made them stores to frequent as much as possible for any Betty-in-training. Sure enough, once Zara opened at Lenox Mall and H&M opened in Atlantic Station, I was making a bee-line over there ASAP to check out their American lines.

Zara makes news this week with the launch of their new home line, Zara Home. This home decor and design shop launched today and features items with a West Elm and Anthropologie feel but at a Target price point. For example, this trendy Dora Vase is a mere $35. This would look so chic filled with flowers!

Look at these paisley pillows, too. If I owned a dark gray couch, these would be on it in a hot minute.

A lot of the Zara items have metallic accents, which I really love for a high rise loft or condo as much as I do for a fun house in the 'burbs. This basket could hold magazines by the bed or doggie toys by a door as well as it could a throw blanket by the couch:

Zara Home breaks out their catalog by room of the house, which makes shopping easy ... or helpful if you are like me and need to restrict yourself to shopping for certain items rather than go hog-wild! This linen tablecloth, found under the "Basics - Tableware" section, reminds me of something I'd see in a Restoration Hardware catalog ... if they made table linens, that is.

 
So does this pub stool, a steal in comparison to Restoration though, at just $99. Love it!

Check out the full line over at ZaraHome.com. What do you think? Spot any items that are must-haves for your own home?

* Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this post. I was just impressed with what I saw in stock!

Globally Inspired

Part of what I have come to love about writing this blog is that I am often told about all sorts of cool local things that I get to pass along to you all to enjoy, too! This one is no exception.

Credit: SEEN Global

I heard about SEEN Global a month or so ago and have been following along with them ever since. This local Atlanta accessories company appealed to my fashionista side with their cool, travel-inspired lines, and when I learned that their products are all fair trade, I knew they were going to see success.

Credit: SEEN Global

SEEN Global's mission is to infuse culturally inspired accessories into everyday fashion, while highlighting the talent and tradition of international artisans. The ethnic and tribal designs are fresh and unique, and everything is handmade, which means one-of-a-kind collectables in your jewelry box. While I love traditional jewelry (you will never see me without my two rings, for example, and I often throw on a good pair of pearls), I love jazzing up an outfit with statement jewelry, and SEEN Global's lines are just what I look for -- something unique that you won't see anywhere else.

Here's a little information about SEEN Global's newest line, the Vintage Sari Bracelets by Green Sewn:

Credit: SEEN Global

The latest addition to the SEEN Global collection is a line of vintage sari bracelets handmade from the softest, prettiest vintage saris in New Delhi, India. These new sari bracelets are chic and unique! Each bracelet is one-of-a kind, as the fabrics are cut from different parts of the sari and then hand woven into a bracelet. Hand dipped 14k gold chains or tiny crystals add a fashionable flair to each bracelet, so take your pick! 

Credit: SEEN Global

Credit: SEEN Global

I think this idea is so cool. Saris are the traditional dress of Indian women, and I have seen so many gorgeous ones at the weddings and events of some of my Indian friends. They are usually made out of silk, and the colors, patterns and textures are amazing. What a fun way to combine culture with a fashion statement piece! 

"These vintage sari bracelets are the perfect way to infuse culture into fashion, which is what SEEN Global is all about!”

~ SEEN Global’s owner and buyer, Natalie 

Lucky for us, we can shop these new sari bracelets online and get $5 off any order of $25 or more through August 31. Just use the promo code GLOBALGAL. 

Thanks, SEEN, for keeping us in the know about the latest and greatest in global fashion!

Disclosure: I was provided information for this post but was not compensated in any way.