2015 Recap + 2016 Resolutions

Oh what a year it has been! I'd have to say that 2015 was definitely one for the books. I graduated from college and received a real slap in the face from reality when I stepped out into the real world. 

This year has had some major ups and downs, but all in all, I'd have to say that it has been great. I was able to focus on my blog a lot more after graduating from college, but it's still been a struggle juggling a full time job and blogging every chance that I can get. I've tried not to let this blog consume my life, but there were times when all I wanted to do was blog and I just didn't have the time. So of course, I have some resolutions that I want to work on in 2016, but we will get to that a bit later! Lets recap on a few of my favorite memories of 2015:

Many of you may be surprised to know that I really like to fish. My boyfriend has a great love for fishing (sometimes I think he loves it more than me), so we've been on many different outings this year to catch some fish. From the ocean to mountainside rivers, we've definitely had some fun!

I was also blessed to spend some time with some good friends this year, as well as make some new friends! I was able to spend my last Spring Break island hopping with some old and new friends, attend my very last Alpha Phi formal, celebrated many birthdays, and even attend the wedding of a lifelong friend!

All in all, I'd definitely have to say that 2015 was fantastic. I would not go back and change a single thing. I was able to learn and grow, but also have fun doing it! Now let's talk about 2016 and what I would love for this year to come.

1. Don't sweat the small stuff. This is a hard one. I had this same resolution last year. I suffer from anxiety, so the small stuff is always on my mind. But this year I really want to learn to control my anxiety. I've started meditating more and find that it really does help me to not focus on the little things.

2. Be more spontaneous. I have a problem with just wanting to sleep after I get off of work. I feel like my life is just a vicious cycle of sleep, work, sleep, with an occasional blog post thrown in somewhere. I want to start doing more this year and be more spontaneous!

3. Focus more on what makes me happy. It really doesn't take much to make me happy, so this shouldn't be a hard resolution to keep. I think more cuddles (if that's even possible), spa days, and beach walks are in my 2016 future. 

4. Travel somewhere completely new. Traveling makes my heart happy - I'm hoping to make this resolution come true! Maybe a working girl's Spring Break trip is in order?

5. Open an online shop. I received a sewing machine for Christmas and although I have no earthly idea how to use it, I'm determined to learn and create a few things to sell online! I think that it will be so fun!

6. Become truly comfortable in my own skin. I am not going to go into specifics about myself, but like many other women that I know, I an so self conscious about my body. This year, I am going to be more confident and comfortable about who I am and how I look. Because let's be real y'all, we're all beautiful people!

7. Eat more wholesome meals and drink more water. This doesn't mean that I'm giving up mexican food because in all seriousness, that would never happen. But I am going to try to eat more well-rounded meals and continue to drink more water and less soda,

8. Run at least three 5K's. I ran my very first 5K in 2015 and it was awful. But I know it was only awful because I did no training and just kind of went for it. This year, I would love to train and run at least three (if not more than three)!

9. Do something totally out of my comfort zone. Blogging has really pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and be myself. I'd love to do something totally crazy and out of my comfort zone - this could be going to a yoga class (I have the worst balance in the world), walking in a charity fashion show, etc. I'm excited to see what 2016 will bring for this resolution!

10. Be a more spiritual person. I wouldn't say that I'm not a spiritual person at all. I talk to God almost every day and thank him for all of the wonderful blessings that he has placed into my life. I would love to find a good church and make Sundays something special again.

I hope you are all as excited about this new year as I am! I can't wait to see what this year holds for all aspects of my life. I know that blogging will be full force for me in 2016 and I'm ecstatic to learn and grow with this passion of mine.

Cheers to another great year! xx

Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale

I love Nordstrom. There is no doubt about it. And when they have a good sale, I just can't help myself. So I thought that I would put together a few of my favorite items from their Half Yearly Sale that they have going on until January 3rd!

1. Free People 'Drenched in Sequins' Dress - This dress is fabulous! I love that it can be dressed up or down and still look great. This would be a great NYE dress - so if ya live near a Nordstrom, hurry over and grab one before the ball drops tomorrow!

2. Leith Solid Swing Dress - Swing dresses are the perfect addition to any closet. If you're a working girl like me, these are the perfect dresses to throw on for a day at the office. I'm all for a pop of color too - so this dress is definitely a must-have!

3. Eileen Fisher 'Derby' Bootie  - Okay, so I might have a slight bootie obsession - the shoes, of course! I love this color and the style of the low heel. These shoes would be great for a low-key dinner with friends or a day of shopping!

4. Tory Burch 'Raleigh' Leather Flat - When asked if I could spend a day with anyone, I always reply with 'Tory Burch.' I think she is fabulous - I mean come on, you can't be all over Forbes and not be fabulous. I love that the Tory Burch line is really versatile and the items really are what they're priced out to be. 

5. Michael Kors 'Josephine' Wedge - Yes, I know that it's winter. But it's 79 degrees in Wilmington today and I just couldn't resist adding this wedge to the mix. I've been eyeing this wedge for quite some time now - maybe I should just treat myself today.

6. French Connection 'Naughty Brights' Sweater Dress - Although it's so unseasonably warm for December, the weather looks like it may dip down a little bit colder in these upcoming weeks. And I've been loving the sweater dress trend I've seen going on lately! French Connection is a great brand, so I have a feeling this dress will be gone fast!

7. GLAMOROUS V-Neck Sweater Dress - This sweater dress is equally as fabulous as the French Connection dress, and it comes in two colors. So pick your poison! You'll be feeling warm and looking great either way.

I know that I was missing for a few days, but I really wanted to spend some time with my family and close friends during this Holiday season. It's always good to take a little time off for yourself and just relax. I hope you all had a great Holiday and you have a wonderful New Year. 

And as always, happy shopping, friends!

Christmas Pecan Brittle

Hey there, friends! Merry Christmas Eve to ya! I wanted to pop in before I head to my boyfriend's family's place for some Christmas Eve festivities and share my favorite pecan brittle recipe with you all. This is literally the easiest recipe (seriously, you make it in the microwave) and it's so very good!

Christmas Pecan Brittle

1 1/2 cups of pecans, slightly chopped

1 cup of white granulated sugar

1/2 cup of light corn syrup

pinch of salt

1 teaspoon of butter

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1 teaspoon of baking soda

In a 9x9 bowl or casserole dish, combine the pecans, sugar and corn syrup. Cook this in the microwave on high for 2 minutes and 45 seconds (or more, depending on how high your heat is). Stir the mixture. Cook in the microwave for another 2 minutes and 45 seconds. Add vanilla and butter and stir. Then cook the mixture for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Add the baking soda and stir the mixture until foamy. Pour quickly onto a greased cookie sheet and tilt the pan until the mixture is spread evenly. Do not spread the mixture with a spoon, it will only stick to the spoon. Let the mixture cool completely and then begin breaking it into smaller pieces. 

There ya have it, friends! It's seriously that easy. As a bit of advice, just go ahead and grease the cookie sheet before starting to make the mixture. That way you're not scrambling to grease it before pouring the mixture onto it. I purchased these adorable little bags and labels off of groopdealz a month or so ago, and I'm loving how adorable they are! You can make your own labels though and buy similar bags at places like Hobby Lobby or Michaels! They make for the perfect little neighbor gift - who doesn't love a little treat?

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas Eve and an even more wonderful Christmas tomorrow! I want to leave you with one of my favorite Christmas passages:

Piko + Frye

Piko Dress | Tartan Blanket Scarf | Phillip Frye Boots

Piko brand is one of my absolute favorites. I own multiple shirts and sweaters because they pair great with anything and they're so comfortable. I decided that I could totally branch out from the shirts and grab a dress - so I snagged this black dress during Black Friday! I've said this before in past posts, but I own way too many black dresses. But the fabulous thing about this dress in particular is that I can wear it to work, out to dinner, or just to hang out. It's comfortable but looks presentable! I decided to pair this dress with a big chunky tartan blanket scarf to add that extra 'umph' to the outfit. I finished it off with my Frye boots and voila! You've got a simple yet stylish outfit. Piko sells out quickly most places during the Holiday season - but so many different boutiques sell their items. You'll be bound to find something that you like somewhere!

Happy shopping, friends!

Kate Spade 25% Off Sale

Kate Spade is magical. Not just magical, spectacular. You get a Kate Spade in your hands and you feel like you could rule the world. You own the place. You don't care what anyone thinks because you've got your Kate Spade bag, wallet, earrings... you get where I'm going? Anyways, this fabulous brand is having a 25% off of all sale items sale today. That's a sale on top of a sale. Just use the code 'THRILL' at checkout and boom - you're good to go. How great is that?! I've attached a few of my favorite items from said sale. Check them out!

Grey Street Cooper

I'm obsessing over this bucket bag. These bags are definitely in right now and the light blue one is to die for.

Colorblock Bow Gloves

Everyone needs a good pair of gloves. Extra points if they're as adorable as these!

Bow Neck Wool Coat

Seriously swooning over this coat. I've been looking for a new winter coat. A girl can definitely dream... right?

Embellished Cupcake Dress

Can't you just picture yourself in this dress at your upcoming Christmas party? I can! So hurry up before it's gone!

Ingrada Heels

I've been eyeing these heels for quite some time. I just need to give in and buy them. Ugh, if only I were done shopping for everyone else's Christmas gifts!

Friendship Spirit Charm Bangle

This is the perfect Christmas gift for your best friend. Or for yourself. I mean, purchasing yourself a BFF charm bracelet wouldn't be weird, right? I'm just obsessing over the champagne (or sparkling grape juice if you wanna call it that) charm. It's perfect!

This fabulous sale lasts through January 6th, 2016. So no rush... unless you're totally eyeing that one item that is sure to sell out fast. Come to think of it, that's probably all of the items on sale, so hurry up and shop away my friends!

15 Coworker Gifts under $50!

Coworkers can be tricky to buy for sometimes. Especially if you're a recent college grad like me and you haven't been with a company long enough to have established super close relationships. Don't get me wrong, I love my coworkers! But in any situation, buying gifts for someone you may not have known for very long or may not know a lot about can be a bit difficult. I've found 15 gifts under $50 to make your coworker gift search just a little bit easier. You'll be sure to be a favorite during Secret Santa this year and for the years to follow!

1. Marble Journal - Oh my goodness, this notebook is fantastic! I've been really into the marble phone cases lately, but I'm too much of a klutz to use a phone case that won't protect my phone. This is a great gift for that coworker that loves to take copious amounts of notes at every meeting. Stylin' and profilin' - am I right?

2. Pizza Ornament - I have this dream that one day I will have a Christmas tree devoted to two of my favorite things in life - Jesus and pizza. This ornament would be the first step in making this dream tree a reality. But in terms of coworker gifts - I know that all of my coworkers love pizza! We're always ordering pizzas or going out to lunch at the pizza place down the street. This gift is great and super inexpensive!

3. Portable Phone Charger - I'm not sure about y'all's coworkers, but mine are forever popping around the office asking if anyone has a phone charger. This gift is stylish and useful, and in my opinion, those are the best gifts to receive.

4. Dark Chocolate Sea-Salt Caramels - I love sea salt caramels. We have a Kilwin's here in Wilmington and it's great! But they do have an online presence and you can purchase all of the chocolate that your heart desires. Chocolate is always a good gift - I mean really, who doesn't love chocolate?

5. Kate Spade Thermal Mug - This gift is great for the coworker who has multiple cups of coffee per day. Kate Spade makes great mugs - thermal or not. I personally like thermals more because they keep your coffee warm for a longer period of time. And I'm one to let it sit there while I work and forget about it for 10 minutes or so at a time!

6. Mini Labo Gel Cool Bento Box - Going out to lunch is always great, but lately I've been trying to bring my lunch and save a little bit of money. These little guys are adorable! They're great for if you don't have a refrigerator at the office - just pop the lid in the freezer over night and it will keep your lunch cold until you're ready to eat.

7. Personality Desk Signs - These desk signs are awesome! They're a fabulous gift for the goofy coworker. They're a great desk accessory, but an even better conversation piece. Grab one of these for your boss and I'm sure he'll get a good crack out of it!

8. Tear Off E-Card 2016 Calendar - We all have that sarcastic coworker. It's a given. It's like a rule of business that every office have one sarcastic employee. This is the perfect gift for that person. I get a kick out of these e-cards every time I see them!

9. Adult Mandalas Coloring Book - Call me crazy, but I think these coloring books are great! Coloring doesn't just have to be for kids - I actually find it quite soothing when I'm super stressed out. These would definitely be a unique gift that your coworker will remember!

10. Monogrammed Wine Stopper - This is the perfect gift for the coworker that loves to go home and unwind with a glass of wine everyone once in a while (or every night, I'm not here to judge)! This is a super inexpensive and classy gift.

11. Tito Chihuahua Taco Holder - I saw these babies on Pinterest and immediately fell in love. These little guys are hilarious! Who doesn't love tacos? If you don't love tacos, you need to reevaluate your life. Like come on. But if by chance your coworker is like the 0.0005% of people in the world that doesn't like tacos, they could always be used for pitas?

12. Kate Spade New York Large Agenda - Everyone who juggles a career and having a life outside of that career needs an agenda. I bought the Kate Spade 2015 agenda and have been using it all year and it's great. Super simplistic and great to look at. Another option would be the Lilly Pulitzer agenda line - they have a great 12-month agenda that I'm dying for!

13. Pineapple Personalized Notepad - This is another great gift for that note-take or list maker in the office! This website has so many different styles, so this gift is great for women and men. I know at my work, we go through notepads like crazy, so this gift will definitely get use!

14. Turquoise Desk Accessories - These desk accessories will add a pop of color to any office space! These are great for your super organized coworker - and even your super unorganized coworker... maybe they'll take the him (; either way - a fun gift to give or receive!

15. Personalized Business Card Holder - These card holders are so classy - I wouldn't mind having one on my desk! They're very professional and stylish - a great gift for that coworker that you may not know so well.

The Softest Sweater

I've always been a sweater fan - cream colored sweaters to be exact. I don't know what it is about them, maybe it's the simplicity and the ability to pair with them with just about anything in your wardrobe. I've counted five of them in my closet so far - one of which was purchased this past weekend. I'm not lying when I say that I am most certainly obsessed with this sweater. If only the weather in Wilmington would cool down a bit so I could show it off!

Madewell Sweater | Blanket Scarf | Jeans (similar) | Booties (similar)

This sweater is hands down my absolute favorite sweater on this Earth. It's so soft and the pom pom details are everything. This sweater was purchased from Madewell. I've always been a fan of Madewell's vests (like the reversible one I featured here), so this is my first sweater purchase and I definitely have no regrets. Oh and surprise! The jeans and booties combo is back - I told you it would be! I get most of my jeans from American Eagle, just because I've found they they fit my tiny legs the best. Bevello carries a line of Paige jeans that are great as well, but a bit more on the expensive side. These boots are great - would you believe me if I said they are a couple of years old? My sorority big passed them down to me and I wear them all the time. But like I said, the jeans and booties combo is kind of my thing. Also, if you don't own a blanket scarf, you need to pull yourself out from that rock you've been living under and get yourself one. This one was purchased at a local Raleigh boutique, but you can literally find them anywhere. I love this one and this one too - They make for great Christmas presents!

Stay classy, friends!