Currently Obsessed

Two things thats are my weakness, jewelry and anything nautical. Have you seen Kate Spade's new line? Um... currently obsessed is an understatement. She designs the most charming and exquisite  pieces. Even better, they wont break your budget, some of the smaller pieces run under $100! I love it all, especially the nautical knots and anchors but here are a few other pieces...

Anchors Away Short Link Necklace

$178

Sailors Knot Hinged Bangle

$78

Anchors Away Ring

$48

 Squared Away Statement Necklace

$398

All Aboard Mini Boat Studs

$48

Say Yes Bon Voyage Necklace

$78

All Aboard Studs

$48

Glossy Garden Graduated Necklace 

$328

Valentines Day is coming up...just leave that Kate Spade computer screen up on the boyfriends computer ;) You can find the website here. Good luck!

-Katie

Al Naturale

Okay, Im not one to wear a lot of makeup. Actually, I really only wear it on the weekends and usually never do in the summer, however, when the occasion arises I always rely on the "al naturale" look. A little bit of bronzer over the forehead, cheek bones, nose, chin and neck. , a touch of pink cheeks, a few strokes of mascara and nude lips are my 'go to' for adding a little extra natural glow. Here's how to achieve the look!

Tarte Smooth Operator Illuminating Serum /Bobby Brown Bronzing Powder / Lancome Definicils High Definition Mascara / Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Tipsy Coral / Stila Lip Glaze in Kitten / Tweezerman ProCurl Eyelash Curler/ Sephora Collection Classic Bronzer Brush #44

All of these products can be found at your local Sephora or Ulta! Have a great week!

-Katie

Neutrals

I have found that sometimes, less is more. I have always decorated with bright colors and accent pieces, but recently I have began to love the look of a neutral palette in home decor. Khakis, grays, olives, creams, and whites all bring a clean, crisp look to your home. I especially love the look of burlap, a pop of color from a plant or flowers with green foliage in a living or dining room and also, exposed wood or the look of stainless steal appliances against neutral walls in a kitchen. Here are some examples of how a neutral palette can bring a refreshing look to your home...

The master of the neutral look is Restoration Hardware. For inspiration, look here.

Have a great day!
-Katie

The Slipper

One of my favorite and most classic trends of Fall was the emersion of the "Slipper"

Celebrities and stylists adore the slipper. They come in a classic slipper shape but are available in a variety of colors, appliques, and patterns. Stubbs and Wootten was the original pioneer of the 'slipper shoe' and have recently made a comeback into fashion with celebrity spokesmen, such as Kanye West, Scott Disick, Olivia Palmero, and more to show off their fabulous designs. 

This year one of my favorite presents from Santa was a pair of leopard slippers! They are fabulous and can be worked into your wardrobe many ways. I like to wear them casually as Olivia Palmero has done here...

Stubbs and Wootten slippers such as these below, can run you about $300-$600! But as hot as they are right now, retail companies such as ASOS, J.Crew, and Steve Madden have made similar slippers for a fraction of the price!

ASOS has a ton of different kinds of slippers but here are some that resemble 

Stubbs and Wootten for a lot less...and get this, they're $70! 

ASOS Crest Slipper Shoe

Have a great week!

-Katie

Make a Meal Monday

I love weekends because I actually have time to get to the grocery store and cook new meals. This weekend I made Buffalo Chicken Pizza. This one I particularly loved and it was super easy because it uses rotisserie chicken! We enjoyed it in front of the TV watching Sunday Football but can be made for watching The Bachelor with the girls paired with wine! Heres how....

1 package of homemade or store-bought pizza dough 

( I highly recommend Trader Joe’s pizza crust if you are buying a store bought crust. Also Food Lion has fresh dough for crust at the Deli!)

olive oil

Any Buffalo hot/wing sauce

Hidden Valley ranch dressing ( I used light)

1 large garlic clove

1/2 lb. Mozzarella cheese

1/2 lb. Provolone cheese

1 rotisserie chicken,  shredded

1/3 c. ground hot or sweet Italian sausage (optional)

1 jalapeno, sliced (de-seeded if desired)Kosher salt

fresh cilantro for garnish

30 minutes before making the pizza, place the shredded rotisserie chicken in a bowl (you will probably only need about half of the shredded chicken for one pizza). Drizzle a generous amount of buffalo sauce over the chicken and toss to coat. Cover bowl of marinated chicken with plastic wrap and place in fridge to marinate for at least 30 minutes. Dust pizza dough with flour and set on counter to soften.

Once the dough is ready to be handled, stretch it out onto a large baking stone or baking sheet and brush the dough and edges of the crust with olive oil. Crush one clove of garlic onto the crust and spread with your fingers evenly.

Pour out some ranch dressing onto the pizza crust. Spread over crust with a pastry brush evenly. Then drizzle some buffalo sauce over the pizza crust and spread with a brush over the ranch dressing evenly.

Sprinkle a layer of the mixed cheese over the ranch/buffalo sauce and remove marinated chicken from the refrigerator and spread evenly over the cheese. 

Then add crumbled sausage (optional) then fresh jalepenos and another layer of cheese.

Sprinkle some chopped fresh cilantro leaves over the top of the pizza (optional). Then sprinkle a pinch of kosher salt around the outer edge of the crust.   Bake the pizza in the oven at 400° F for 18 – 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown and crispy.  Serve hot off of the stone!  Enjoy!!

It was soooo good!

Happy Monday!

-Katie

Packing Light

We all know its hard to 'pack light', actually its universally impossible for any female to pack light. It's always "Maybe Ill need this", "What if I will be in the mood to wear this?", "What if it rains?" "This is new, I should bring this", and before you know it, you have three suitcases waiting to be lugged around. Think we would learn our lesson, right? 

Wrong. Even achieving the task of packing lighter can make us feel uneasy and unprepared. Ladies, I have found the golden ticket. I found myself packing 3 bags to visit Chip in Raleigh for ONE weekend, but I am proud to say I have dwindled down from three colossally crammed bags to one pretty petite duffle. This right here is my packing bible...

The variations and combinations are endless! 

Bon Voyage!

-Katie

The Yuck

Well I have contracted some kind of stomach bug so I will be spending my Friday in bed in comfy clothes, watching movies. I will post again soon, but for today, this is about how I'm feeling.

If only I could have a breakfast like that. I may be almost 22, but I still want my Momma to come bring me crackers and ginger ale in bed. Have a great weekend y'all!

-Katie

Wine Wednesday

Its Wine Wednesday and I cant wait to get home and have a glass of wine and watch Modern Family! Today, Mom and I went shopping for some outdoor furniture for her back porch at her new beach house! Having a coastal home is bound to bring you a lot of company, which means a lot of entertaining. I have fallen in love with the look of a chic bar cart. They're a perfect way to decoratively display and are a place for people to gather and make cocktails. Adding an array of shapes, sizes and colors of bottles, serving glasses and cocktail napkins make for a beautiful arrangement. Don't hide those bottles in the cabinet anymore, bring them out to play! 

Here is a helpful way to learn how to stock your bar...

and for my favorite...the bar carts!

added games such as ping-pong here, make for fun entertainment!

 love the use of an antique dresser in place of a bar cart!

The lamp and pictures here complete the look!

look how beautifully the colors go together here!

gold always makes for a alluring extra touch!

Society Social has nailed the art of the bar cart, however, bar carts and their accessories can run you a hefty dollar ($300-$500)! While Mom and I were out today we ran across a beautiful white whicker bar cart at a local chic refinished furniture boutique. It had a top that even detached for a serving tray, it was just as chic and was less than $100! My advice is to check locally before shelling out the big bucks! Now go have yourself a glass of wine!

-Katie

Stack it up!

During fashion week, models on the runway sported sleek and simple bangles but this season, the more the better. Variety is a must for the "stacked bracelet trend" and it is important to layer watches, bracelets, beaded to braided, chain link, covered in rhinestones, studs, spikes, or rope. The summer-camp friendship bracelets are even back. The more you stack, the bigger the statement so jazz up a boring outfit with your very own stack! Stylists advise that if you need to add a watch to the mix, make sure it features a large face -- otherwise it will get buried beneath your twine, chains and charms! Here are some photos of stacks to inspire yours...

My opinion on this trend is the more the better. Be creative!

-Katie