Bursts of Pink!

I'm a junk food junkie. Through and through. I love snacks, candy, chips, all of it! I especially like jelly beans. 

Jelly beans are often elusive, especially when it's not Easter season! Many years ago, circa my middle school years, I discovered Jelly Belly Cotton Candy pink jelly beans. As soon as I mention "cotton candy" I'm sure most people gag. I actually think cotton candy is a misnomer. Being the self-proclaimed candy connoisseur that I consider myself, I believe that these would much more aptly be named "Pink". 

If you could embody the flavor of pink and yummy, it is this jelly bean! Even my mom agreed with the flavor. I've gotten TONS of my friends and co-workers on board with the Jelly Belly Cotton Candy jelly beans!

My sister, knowing how much I love these jellies, got my a redneck wine glass filled to the BRIM with pink jelly beans! It was one of my favorite gifts. She adorned it with the best pink and green ribbons and raffia and it just screamed "Katie"! I've managed to limit myself to only a few every so often so that they'll last me as long as possibly while I'm here at school.

Does anything say "pink" to you like these jelly beans do for me? What are you favorite candies?

xxKatie

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas 2012!

(This photo is our Christmas card picture this year! I figured you were probably wondering why it's not red and green with a Christmas tree in the background!)

Enjoy your holiday with family, friends, and loved ones! I will be thankful that we are all safe, sound, and snug together for the holiday season this year. It is certainly a time of reflection and relaxation and also important to remember the special reason for the season. 

Let your Christmas overflow with love, happiness, appreciation and a full heart today!

xxKatie

Merry Christmas Eve!

Tonight is when my family does a lot of our celebrating! We'll head to mass around 6, have a late dinner (plus my grandparents now that they've arrived in town!) and head to bed to get snuggely before Santa comes. This is one of the pictures we snagged last year!

We all get a dressed up for Christmas Eve mass and dinner. My Christmas outfit will consist of the following:

Lilly Pulitzer Mallory dress that I snagged on a HUGE sale this summer!

My gold circle monogram necklace

Libby Edelman Booties

Last but not least, my Old Navy ruffle coat (which is now like 1/2 price!!)

Does your family do a big night for Christmas Eve or Christmas or both? What party frock will you be donning for the big day?

xxKatie

Christmas Wardrobe Staples

I wear very similar things most of the time. I stick to shapes I like and colors and textures that I'm used to. That being said, my Christmas outfit is usually along the same lines, although it does differ every year! There are a few holiday staples that you'll want to keep handy as you run from soiree to event to dinner during this Christmas season!

I am starting at the bottom, but these are actually my Christmas shoes this year! I found them at a clearance sale at the beginning of the summer at the most fun accessory store next to the store I work at, and there was one pair left in my size. I took it as fate and snagged them! I've been saving them for something special and Christmas seems perfect. They are Libby Edelman "Nalini" Suede Bootie. Find a pair of shoes that will work with multiple outfits. Stick to black and nude patent or suede!

Finding your frock is always a tough decision! I usually like to go with metallics or jewel tones. This year, my dress is royal blue and emerald (to kick off the color of the year!) but last year I wore a gold shift. I like this strapless one especially if you're on the party circuit (and it's on sale!)

I am still a big fan of my metallic Christmas dress from last year and I always look for more occasions to wear it!

Find a fun and festive statement necklace! I love this BaubleBar gold bib necklace because it can jazz up an LBD or work great with a red or green party dress! (Not on BaubleBar yet? Get your invite today!)

Top off your look with the perfect Christmas color for your nails! Tons of people RAVE about "Bordeaux" as a go-to holiday color, so clearly this is the winner!

Do you have your holiday outfits picked out? Are there certain colors or Christmas items you stick to?

xxKatie

Break O'Clock

As of today, I'm officially on break time!

I am done with the stress of finals (3 finals in 3 days is a WILD ride, let me tell you!) and looking forward to really getting into the merry spirit!

We actually found ourselves in the middle of a cold snap yesterday, and I even had to dig out my rain coat from the chilly drizzle that accompanied the colder temperatures. This is definitely the winter that we're used to--not the very mild stuff we've had all December!

I also wrapped up my internship for the semester working for the American Red Cross. I had a great experience and it was crazy to be leaving my office for the last time! So much has gone on this semester, it really flew by!

I'm going to head home early next week and get a chance to spend time with my family and start decking out house out in pink and green decorations like the ones above I started to put up at work as soon as Thanksgiving was over!

Hope you're getting into the Christmas and holiday mindset as we start to get SO MUCH CLOSER to the big day!!

xxKatie

Giveaway: Invitation Consultants

Christmas Cards are always high on my Mom's holiday to-do list. Both my parents have a list of their people that they want to send cards to and stick to a "schedule" to make sure they all get done and get sent out!

We usually have a photo of some sort and add our little greeting. I'm not exactly sure which picture it is, but I'm excited to see Christmas 2012's choice! Last year's was preppy pink and green and will always have a special place in my heart--it was TOO cute!

On that note (stationery pun...wink wink) this giveaway comes at a great time! We are giving away $30 to Invitation Consultants that you can use for stationery of your choice, Christmas or holiday cards, and anything that fits your bill on their site!

Using the Rafflecopter widget, feel free to enter! Woo hoo! Happy Giveaway Monday!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xxKatie

An Ode to My Favorite Boots

Now that football has ended and we're slowly creeping toward colder temperatures, it's about time I finally said thank you to my favorite boots.

I have had my Frye Billy Pull-On boots for about two years and they still look brand new. Finally having broken them in, I wear them all the time!

If you're looking for an awesome Christmas gift for someone, or if you need another great item to add to your own list, I highly suggest these boots! They are a little pricey, but I know that they are going to last me way longer than most of my other shoes and you are absolutely getting what you pay for. 

They are great for Gameday, but I often wear them with jeans, especially as it gets colder. I don't have very many shoes that manage to look cute with black dresses and still keep me warm when I need them to. Am I right?!

Recently Frye added a new color, Charcoal, that I am OBSESSED with:

I love the more distressed look of the charcoal color and it's different than most boot color options that you see out there!

What are you favorite boots? Are you asking for some for Christmas? (If not, snag a pair ASAP or add these to your list!!)

xxKatie

Giveaway: Capitol Letters Makeup Bag

What's perfect for the girl who has everything? Something to put it all in!

A great choice for a girly gift is a makeup bag!

Capitol Letters on Etsy is giving away a makeup bag to a lucky winner!

Not only is this a great gift, but a good makeup bag is a holiday essential for anyone traveling. Do you spend Thanksgiving with your maternal grandparents and Christmas with your dad's parents? Do you go from coast to coast? Do you fly or drive? 

SO MUCH TRAVELING around this time of the year! That's certainly one major thing I've learned since traveling a lot to and fro college and home!

I love the fun, whimsical details on the bags too!

In order to qualify for this week's Giveaway Monday giveaway just use this Rafflecopter widget:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Giveaway Monday!

Safe travels to anyone heading home or to their Thanksgiving destination if you're leaving today!

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: Valentine's Day

February 13 by letsbepreppy featuring black ballerina flats

I love my Elsa Pintucks that I got for Christmas! It's the PERFECT Valentine's Day top! ...too bad I wore it yesterday! I worked for a few hours and I wanted to have a fabulous pink Valentine's shirt on for my shift! It was perfect. It's been so chilly these past few days here at school that a silk shirt may not be the warmest option but it was still a good pink choice! I think for Valentine's I'm going to wear something like this:

December 18 by letsbepreppy featuring animal earrings

I will, at the very least, be incorporating this dress into my look and maybe even adding my pink blazer HOWEVER, that could easily take it over the top! I've scheduled all my posts for this week since it's a crazy one (sorry in advance for all my economics tweets--we have a HUGE test Thursday--first of the semester!) so I'll be sure to update my Polyvore with the most up to date outfit choices!

Tonight I'm going to cheer on Miss Colleen (she just uploaded a BUNDLE of photos from my birthday and we just LOVED this one!) in a wonderful dating game show tonight! Isn't she so great for putting herself out there like that?! Here's to junior year... (#htjy). Anyway, those are our big Valentine's plans!

What are y'all doing for the big night? Have a great outfit? Let me know!! Happy Valentine's Day to you and all your Valentines!

xxKatie

Christmas Shoes

Everyone's heard the very sad Christmas song, "Christmas Shoes"...but this is MUCH happier! For me this year, it was the Christmas of Shoes. I got a bunch ranging from dressy to outdoorsy:

BCBGeneration Tedolie

Enzo Angiolini Elaya Pumps (These I actually got myself to wear on Christmas Eve)

Jack Rogers Collegiate Colors Navajo

L.L. Bean Duck Boots

Jack Rogers Platinum Navajo

Did you have a "theme" to your Christmas? Were there any similarities in your gifties?

xxKatie

There are Macys coupons available for shoes.

Christmas Eve!

I got such a kick out of the Santa and Siri Apple iPhone commercial about Christmas Eve!

This was an old Christmas card from our family! My mom always crafts up cards to send out and this one was from many a year ago. We made that sand/snowlady at our beach house in Bethany Beach! I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas Eve that is safe and happy! Today is a great day to be thankful for health, family, being together, friends and everything else that we're privileged enough to have!

Merry Merry Christmas Eve y'all!!

xxKatie