friday link love

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I used to call this post weekly round up but since I've been so lax about posting on Fridays I thought I should shy away from calling it that anymore.  Friday link love will have to do :)

This pin inspired me and made me think I need to add some sequins to my wardrobe. Considering I'm in the middle of a closet purge since I'm moving next week, need could be a stretch. I'll tread lightly but I'm really loving the idea of a champagne sequin blazer for fall. This cropped jacket or this kimono (both under $100!) have caught  my eye.

This video made me lolz. The wife trying to tell the joke is certainly funny but the joke in and of itself is funny too, ammiright?

Ashley posted about this mug this morning. I die.

I was really upset to learn of Joan Rivers passing yesterday and truthfully more sad than I anticipated I would be. Take a minute today to enjoy 20 of her most memorable quotes.

An affordable and simple statement ring.

#fall#blessed

A few weeks old but this is an interesting map of Americas favorite musical artists. A lot of Jay, a lot of Drake and a splash of Daft Punk. Sounds like the soundtrack to a great road trip.

I really love reading about the changing beauty ideals in the fashion and beauty industries.

And to continue to feel good about evolving ideals around body and beauty... I loved reading about the new generation of dance teachers encouraging body love.


Enjoy your weekend, amigas!

xo

weekly round up 6.6

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Isn't this clutch so perfect for summer? I'm still not sure clutch bags are practical for my life but this seems like a reasonable enough price point to test it out ;)

I saw Shanna post this amazing blazer and short suit a few weeks ago and saw it in my size when Aaron and I stopped at the outlets on the way back from the beach last weekend.  I tried to justify buying it because its pretty much the coolest but it just felt too impractical. (So I got these shoes instead.....) I couldn't stop thinking about it and two days later it went on sale again. Again, I tried to justify its practicality and that it was a closet staple until a friend told me "don't try to pretend its a closet staple; its cool and you want it." SOLD.

I bought these sunglasses on Ideeli last week and didn't realize they were rubberized. They look terrible on me and are non-returnable. Anybody have any advice or luck selling on ebay?

I'm turning 28 in a month (cue meltdown) and this could not be more true.

Orange is the New Black returns today. I promised Aaron I wouldn't watch it while he was backpacking this weekend but I'm really regretting that promise.... Have you seen this trailer?

Julia's blog Lemon Stripes has been a favorite of mine for awhile but I have yet to try any of her recipes. I stopped eating meat about a month ago and have been in need of new creative recipies and I can't wait to try her vegan kale caesar this weekend.

Two minute hair styles. Enough said.

Have a good weekend, friends!

XO,

n

weekly round up 5.30

Happy Friday! It was an extra short work week for me since I had both Monday and Tuesday off but I am so exhausted. I am so ready for Friday and a weekend at the beach with Aaron. Hope you have a relaxing weekend ahead of you too!

Number 20, uteplis, is the perfect word for me tomorrow.

I love this simple maxi from Old Navy that can easily be dressed up or dressed down. Hopefully it will still be available during the next one of their 30% off sales because I know better than to pay full price at Old Navy.

A Navy Seal shared 10 life lessons during a commencement speech at the University of Texas at Austin. I need to remember to get over being a sugar cookie some days.

Thank you to Washington Post for this article about work appropriate office wear during warmer weather. I'm a big fan of the open toes OR open heels but not both rule.

An effortless look that actually requires...very little effort. Imagine that!

I need a polished weekender bag for work trips. I'm really loving this one from Everlane but not sure how I feel about spending close to $100 on a twill bag that will inevitably get so dirty.

Enjoy your weekend!

XO, Nicole

weekly round up 5.23

red white and blue cake

Happy Friday! Hope you all have exciting weekend plans for your long weekend! I don't have a whole lot of plans and that is surprisingly thrilling for me. June is going to be pedal to the metal month so a weekend full of nothing sounds ideal.

Memorial day is the unofficial kickoff to summer. Enjoy some summer cocktails this weekend-- responsibly of course!

Hitting the beach this weekend? Lucky you! Be sure to load up on sunscreen!

I wore this hat to the Kentucky Derby but I also found it in this straw color. It may be excessively large but thats what makes me think its the perfect hat for laying out at the pool all day. Try to wear it and not feel fabulous. I dare you.

Looking for some last minute room reservations for a weekend vacay? Look no further than Airbnb and their last minute deals. Dont

Above all else, don't forget what this weekend is all about. It is not about bbqs and beach vacations; it is a time to honor, recognize and remember the brave men and women who have given their lives for our country. How can you help? First and foremost, thank a veteran for their service. Donate your airline miles to or volunteer with to the Fisher House Foundation -- a foundation that provides military families housing near hospitals when their loved ones are being treated. Send a care package through Operation Gratitude. Donate your time and/or treasure to foundations like the Wounded Warrior Project or Homes for our Troops. Be sure to show your appreciation to those who serve and protect our country not only this weekend but every day.

XO,
N

weekly round up 4.25

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Happy Friday!

I'm working hard to find balance this week- a balance between work, personal , relationships, creative outlets and other blessings life is throwing my way. I'm reminding myself daily that a full plate is a blessing because it means there are so many things in my life that bring me happiness. Rather than focusing on an overwhelming feeling, I've bee trying to focus on feeling fulfilled with the opportunities I'm being afforded right now. The key word here being TRYING... :) In more exciting news, today is one of my best friends birthdays and we're celebrating by going wine tasting tomorrow! I've never been to the Virginia wineries so I'm really looking forward to celebrating and trying new (to me) wine!


If I haven't yet outgrown my love for Disney princesses at 27, I don't know if I ever will. I'm loving these minimalist posters.

This leather trim cardigan is everything.

I mean this guy can seriously dance.

Of course there is the side of me that loves comic book hero's too. Batman being my favorite but thanks to RDJ, IronMan is a close second.

I need a new weekender bag. The one I currently use is just a smidge too big. I'm loving how simple and classic this one is from Sole Society.

In honor of Earth Day this week, check out this incredible pictures taken from space.

A fast casual Taco Bell chain? Be still my heart.

weekly round up 4.11

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Happy Friday! Hope you've had a nice week!

I'm planning on doing some spring cleaning this weekend and hopefully consigning a bunch of clothes. I say hopefully as what usually happens when I consign clothes is that I pull together a bag of clothes, leave it in my closet telling myself I'll get to it eventually and finally 2 months later open it up and convince myself I shouldn't get rid of any of it and hang it all back up. Clearly, I could use some tips on how to efficiently consign. Any words of advice?

The Coachella jealousy struggle is REAL. So I'm seriously considering buying a ticket to Outside Lands to make myself feel better.

People really go ham over the cherry blossoms in DC which I never fully understood because I had never been to the basin to see them in full bloom. Until last night. Oh my goodness they are beautiful. Color me obsessed. Naturally,  I've been reading up on the history and found this article interesting. 

It's outdoor dining and drinking season! Don't mind me, just doing a little happy dance over here!

My favorite panama hat (seen here) was all bent out of shape when I tried it on this week so I'm on a hunt for a new one. This Target option is a nice price but I really like the brown band on this one. I saw this one in real life and was really disappointed by the quality. Any suggestions on where to find a good hat without breaking the bank?

I ordered from District Doughnut this week to surprise Aaron and they were so fantastic and easy to work with! Order doughnuts for all your friends! Let me know if you need my address ;)

I had no idea National Sibling Day was a real thing (I think it was just a hashtag that exploded) but I loved seeing pictures of everyone's siblings. It really made my day! And made me miss these two.

I got these pants on a whim this week and I am ob-sessed. 

A Trader Joes recently opened a few blocks for my house and my heart is so happy. How true is this list of the stages of shopping there?

weekly round up 3.28

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Happy Friday, friends! 

It has been a very full week around here. My mom left on Tuesday so I have naturally been eating my feelings in peeps and other Easter candy. I've been struggling for the past few months feeling a disconnect between my home life in California and my life in DC. I wasn't sure where it came from or why I was feeling that way but there was something dichotomous about my life that I hadn't felt before. I think it just boils down to how homesick I was and how much I needed a visit from my mama. While she was here, rather than do touristy things, we just had a normal week eating, drinking, shopping, going to church, and spending late nights talking. It was the perfect medicine for how I was feeling. I got to share my life here with my mom and feel like I had a bit of home here in DC. Doesn't mom time always just make it better?

In other exciting news-- I got promoted at work this week! It feels really really nice to be recognized for my work and I'm really excited for a new opportunity within the office. I love coming to work everyday and my coworkers are fantastic so growing here makes me really happy!

I love free fonts! Have any suggestions for a good font organizer?

I have been listening to these songs non-stop this week. Don't like country music? I literally have no idea what you listen to during the summer when you're tailgating/tanning by the pool/picnicking/doing anything outside with drinks. Seriously, clue me in.

I can't believe DailyCandy is shutting its online doors on April 4. A very sad day!

SALE ALERT: Gap is 40% off everything in stores from 3/27-3/31 and 30% off online with the code FLASH. Get to shopping friends!

To celebrate my promotion, I might gift myself these sunglasses I've been obsessing about for awhile. Is it worth it?

A behind the scenes look on Queen Bey's world tour with her wardrobe stylist.

I'm thinking I might get a pair of birkenstocks for the summer. I mean MKA were recently spotted wearing them....

Have a great weekend!

XO
N

weekly round up 3.14

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TGIMFF.

It has just been one of those weeks where I am SO ready for Friday! Aaron comes back on Sunday (woohoo!) and my mama comes next Wednesday (woohoo!) so I'm even more excited for this week to be over. My high of the week was definitely booking my plane ticket for the Kentucky Derby!  I work on a project at work that is sending a group to the Kentucky Derby and I'm going to be the host for the trip. So pretty much I'm going to the Kentucky Derby for work. Big hats and mint juleps, here I come! I need to start dress shopping ASAP. My low of the week was getting slapped across the face by this brutal wind we had this week. I literally felt like Patti Stanger walking to the bus stop-- my face was frozen!

Have you heard of NextIssue? A coworker recommended it and I can't wait to try it out! I'm such a magazine junkie that it is perfect for me!

One of my dear friends from high school that I reconnected recently is contributing for LaurenConrad.com! I'm so proud of her! Check out her healthy trail mix recipes!

I've been loving Meahan's Blogger 101 series. A must read for anyone blogging!

Ah, a killer statement necklace. I'm dead. Literally. 

I'm pretty into this jacket from Old Navy and its super affordable and 15% off today with the code ONSAVENOW. I think I just convinced myself I need to buy it.

I found Ali's round up of Revlon Just Bitten colors this week and it was SO helpful. I've heard really good things but wasn't sure which color would work for me. I'm going to try to pick up honey and cherish this weekend to try out.

Drunk in Love through emojiis- Someone had way too much time on their hands but I'm glad they did!

My mom sent me this buzzfeed article of Real Housewives gifs. My stomach hurt from laughing!

Hope you have a good weekend!

XO Nicole

weekly round up 3.7

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Happy Friday, Friends!

I have found myself in a bit of a rut lately and questioning how hard work pays off. I felt like I hadn't seen any "rewards" for my hard work and hustle at work/the gym/home and consequently felt less and less motivated to keep working at it. Until I started thinking about how I measured success and what "rewards" really meant to me. Perhaps I was setting myself up to fail in the first place by measuring success in unattainable ways or worse-- ways that actually weren't so important to me. I've always been pretty intrinsically motivated so working hard should be the reward in and of itself. And just like that, with a new perspective, I've seen doors open this week, opportunities present themselves and hustling really pay off. It's been a good week. I hope yours was too!

Some life rules about GSD from the ever-chic Jenna Lyons. 

Isn't this bag a beat? Surprising it is from Target, huh? Very Kate Spade-esque.

An interesting idea around why Leonardo has yet to win an Oscar

I love a hot pink clutch for spring!

I started using this Pond's BB+ Cream and I am obsessed. It is silky smooth, goes on evenly, gives great coverage and lasts! It's definitely worth trying if you're not in love with your current BB cream.

I've been looking for copper mugs so that I can work on perfecting a Dark and Stormy recipe.

Thanks for featuring one of my outfits, Amber! Very flattered!

This is what American- themed parties look like around the world. Should we be embarrassed?

Have a great weekend!

XO Nicole

weekly round up 2.21

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Hi Friends! So happy it's Friday! Even though it's been a short week, it has felt SO long. Yesterday was just not my day. You know those days where you just can't catch a break? That was yesterday for me. So I figured I'd go to the gym for a nice run to decompress. So I start blasting my new favorite song, tried not to dance too much, and not even two minutes into my run, my jacket that was tied around my waist fell off. NBD, right? Wrong. It got caught in the belt, forced the treadmill to come to a screeching halt and I just BARELY didn't eat shit. Literally, the only reason I didn't land straight on my face was because I got tangled in my earbud cords and caught myself on the arms of the treadmill. Super graceful of me, I know. It took three different people to help get my jacket out, which ripped none the less, and two other people asked me if I was okay. One of them even said "I heard you fall". Lord only knows what that means. Oh and on my way out, I had to tell the front desk attendant that I broke the treadmill. So yea go ahead and tell everybody, I'm the man. Yes I am, yes I am, yes I am. Moooooooving on...

How adorable is this little etsy shop? So dainty and delicate!

One of my favorite Bachelor recaps this season thus far. Someone please help me find a turquoise kimono! And if you're wondering, I'm still in 2nd place in my Bachelor Bracket. I picked Andi to win so fingers crossed! Although I think shes too normal/nice/SMART for Juan Pablo so we'll see.

My student assistant has some seriously adorable personal style and finds the best budget deals. She's been carrying this purse and I think I have to get one for myself! I wish the green wasn't sold out!

I ordered these flats this week and I'm really excited to wear them this spring! Spring just needs to hurry up a bit....

Oh you know since I'm such a big runner now (ha) I need to start doing all this reading. I won't lie to you though, I've already downloaded the first one on my ipad. Oh and I never finished (or even started for that matter) the book that Aaron and I decided to read together in February. Looks like someone's got a lot of reading to do this weekend.

A Delta Delta Delta sister won gold this week at the Olympics! Pretty exciting! I'm not as engaged with my sorority as I could/should be but it really made me smile this week to learn Merly Davis was a ΔΔΔ sister.

Trends that make me go hmmm..... the leather baseball cap. I just can't hop on board with that one.

Hope you have a great weekend! I'm off to the Kings of Leon concert tonight which should be fun albeit a bit random :)

Catch ya Monday!

xo Nicole

PS-Linking up with Lauren and Lauren today!

weekly round up 2.7

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This week has been one of those weeks that flew by and I'm not really sure what I have to show for myself. Way to work on that resolution to be more present, Nicole! There's always next week.. This weekend should be pretty low key. I'm excited to brunch with a friend (and hear about her trip to LA and dining at SUR), hopefully seeing Dallas Buyers Club and of course, working on my Valentine's Day cards! Hope you have a great weekend too!

Aaron and I are heading back to California in April for his fraternity's anniversary formal. Which basically means its just a reunion for us and our best friends who are so conveniently married to each other. Instead of looking at plane tickets this week, I thought about what to wear. I'm leaning towards this jumper...

Pantone announced its fall 2014 colors this week. *le swoon* I'm so excited about royal blue, cognac and cypress.

I don't normally peruse the AARP blog but saw this article on Pinterest and thought it was super interesting. Hope you will too -regardless of your age! I think we can all benefit from her tips.

Anthropologie is having a major sale right now and I think I have to have this vegan leather shift. It's currently sitting on my think about it for two weeks list. I hope it makes the cut because (right now) I'm in love.
leather shift

One of my favorite commercials from Sunday's Superbowl...

Force yourself to take a break!

Need some advice about blush? TBD do the rescue!

xo

Linking up with Lauren and Lauren today!

weekly round up 1.31

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Did this week just fly by or what? I moved yesterday (which went super smoothly thanks to the best movers ever, Bookstore Movers) but I am confident that I am one of the top five worst packers in the world. I started off packing efficiently and was labeling each box and noting what was in each suitcase to stay organized. And then on Monday, all hell broke loose and there was no method to my madness anymore. That meant I was able to finish packing quickly by throwing everything in random boxes but now I don't know where ANYthing is. I was opening box after box after box this morning trying to find a blazer for work. I am very much looking forward to finishing unpacking tonight and getting all settled in. Oh and I'm looking forward to decorating! Good thing I moved to a place literally half a block from Target :) :)

I love this idea of Pantone Food pairings.

Right now my hair is longer than its been for quite some time. I'm fighting the urge to chop it off and I think learning how to blow it out will help me love it long (at least for a little bit).

Ah, the power of makeup.

Isn't this shoulder bag (in orange) just everything??

I want to go on vacation. Bad.

 Two of my favorite things in one video: dance and fashion.

Stuck trying to decide what to get your man for Valentine's day? Here are some ideas! 

I have such a potty mouth.  I NEED this sweater.

I want to be friends with Meryl Streep and 50 Cent!

Have a good weekend! Seeeeee yas Monday!

xo

PS-Linking up with Lauren and Lauren today!

weekly round up 1.17

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TGIF, friends! Aaron and I headed to Philadelphia this weekend and I can't wait! I've never been before so I'm really excited to do touristy things and check out some new (to me) restaurants. And a lower sales tax means some shopping will likely occur. Sorry in advance, Aaron! So happy we're headed on a little getaway this weekend; we could use a mini vacay and it will be nice to get out of the city for the weekend.

My mini trip this weekend got me thinking about other weekend vacays. Good thing the New Yorker has already compiled them all for me. Or I can read about them online here!

I started using Kenra25 hairspray after reading how much Kate loves hers. You guys, there is NO reason it should have taken me so long to try it. It is seriously the best hair spray and I have officially converted. It's only a few dollars more than L'Oreal Elnett (my previous go-to) and its just so much better. You gotta believe me.

Are you an at home barista? I'm not but I do love me a good cup of coffee. Some helpful tips to brewing a great cup at home via the Washington Post.

I'm trying not to get too excited for spring (its still a few months away!) but I am day dreaming of floral prints and pastels. Tell me these Ivanka Trump heels aren't a total must have (and are on sale)! And in this print too! 

Only recently have I started preparing fish at home and I'm so excited to try Liz's salmon and salad recipe this week. Doesn't it look delicious? All of her recipes do!

I am too obsessed with these little heart clips for your shoes! Perfect for Valentine's Day!

Hope you enjoy your long weekend!

xo

N

weekly round up 1.10

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This week has been my first full week back in DC and at work since the holidays (well even before the holidays considering how sick I was the week before Christmas!) and it has felt really nice to get back in the routine. I left San Francisco pretty homesick and eager to find routine again -my band-aid for feeling homesick- amongst a lot of personal change. I've been writing in my gratitude journal daily and I had an ah-ha moment. I really love what I do- both professionally and personally. Routine isn't a band-aid anymore, routine is doing what I love doing over and over.  Maybe its the new year, maybe its something in the water, but I just feel like a little rain cloud I was living under for a bit has moved on. Isn't that so corny? Be glad I didn't use a quote about a rainbow...

I recently discovered Jessica's blog My Style Vita and it quickly became one of my favorites and a daily read. This week she shared her home tour and my goodness she has the cutest home and a real eye for decor. Check out the full tour at Style Me Pretty. I think her kitchen and dining room is my favorite.

Every so often, I try to convince myself I could be a vegetarian. On days I'm feeling especially bold, I'm confident I could go vegan. Spoiler alert: I love cheese WAY too much to ever be vegan. In an attempt to pacify my vegetarian dreams, I try to have a meatless dinner at twice a week. I can't wait to try this Marinated Sesame Tofu recipe from Emma over at A Beautiful Mess.

I'm getting a little sick of the X number of  things you have to do/be/try/live for before or while your X age lists all over social media. You know which ones I'm talking about right? The thought catalog lists about what your 20s are for or all the life lessons you should learn. Learn that 'ish your darn self. Or don't learn it. Do what YOU please. I was all high and mighty about it until I read this 20 Things Women Should No Longer Apologize For and loved it. Whoops.

I loved my American Girl doll growing up (Samantha for the win!) and was interested to see how much it was worth now. Apparently not much more than I (read: my grandma) spent on it in the first place. 

Speaking of American Girl dolls, have you seen The Cast of HBO's Girls as American Girl Dolls? Nailed it.

I grabbed this lace peplum top in white from the J.Crew clearance sale this week. I love it!

Have any exciting weekend plans? I'm thinking mine will be filled with a lot of football playoffs with Aaron.

Hope you had a great one whatever you're up to!

xo

PS- I'm linking up with Lauren and Lauren this week!

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It's finally Friday! I am SO ready for vacation and to be home in SF for the holidays. I'm headed out in less than 48 hours! I've actually been feeling pretty under the weather this week so this weeks roundup will be brief. I have to get back to the couch and my Bravo marathon :)

Virgin America is my airline of choice which is great because there are so many direct from DC options. Can't wait to see their new safety video on my flight.

I try to ship most of my gifts to save room in my suitcase. But that means I need to wrap them all once I get home! I love the idea of an easy DIY wrapping paper like this, this or this option.

Speaking of DIY and last minute, I've rounded up a few (seemingly) easy DIY gifts in case you still have a few gifts on your list. Just don't DIY a gift for the person who is the queen of the DIYs. You know who that person is in your life. Just get them a gift card and call it a day.

DIY cinnamon candle

Custom bowls and spices

Etched votive candle

Wooden bowls 

Teacup planters

Sequin hanger

Beaded necklace

Instagram coasters

Peppermint sugar scrub

Homemade lip balm

As I love all things sparkle, I am OB-SESSED with this clutch from Kate Spade. 

My skin has been SO dry this winter, more so than any other winter, and I tried this lotion in my Birchbox. It is amazing and a must for anyone with dry skin like me!

ALSO, next week I'm taking a little break from blogland to enjoy every minute of being home with my family. BUT I will be sharing little bits and pieces via instgram, twitter and facebook so follow along there if you will :)

Travel safely, be merry and have a blessed holiday with your loved ones!

xoxoxo

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My lady friends and I celebrated the holidays with our annual $5 favorite things exchange (more details to come!) last night. It was super fun but man, did I need coffee this morning. Oh and breakfast sammy from Starbucks. Yep, one of those mornings. One of my favorite gifts was a woozie!

It has been an excellent week for us Queen Bey fans. A new album?! Woooop! My old officemate (who spent a lot of time listening to my Beyonce pandora station) shared this with me this week and I'm totally obsessed. My new favorite tumbler for suresies.

My obsession with sequins continues (le duh) and when my roommate was trying to find the perfect hard case clutch for her holiday work party, I sent her this one from Factory. It arrived this week and it is awesome in real life. I had to have it. And so did my other roommate so we both ordered one. So now all three of us have the same clutch... And might all be going to the same holiday party.

Have you seen this Buzzfeed video of a little girl signing to her deaf parents during her holiday concert? It is so sweet and hilarious all at the same time. This girl is an adorable riot!

After seeing this post from Stephanie Sterjovski, I'm pretty into these faux leather leggings from Topshop at Nordstrom. I'm trying to wait my two weeks before purchasing but I don't know if I can hold out. I want to wear them when I'm home in SF during the holidays!

I loved this advice from The Evergirl on how to dazzle at a meeting. If you're a young professional or early in your career, check it out. It's good advice!

I have to give a shout out to J.Crew Factory and Birchbox customer service this week. Such pleasant experiences! I had to return a a gift I'm giving from Factory because it was defective and she overnighted me a new one to ensure it will get here on time. Birchbox always has great customer service but during the holidays, its extra refreshing. I know customer service agents are inundated around the holidays so I'm extra appreciative for their good spirits. Thanks Nicole and Yvonne!

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TGIF. I can't say it enough. It has been a pretty lousy week around these parts so I'm more than ready for a low key weekend and hopefully some champagne. You know I love me some champs. (Side note: I once made a New Years Resolution that I was only going to drink champagne. That didn't work out too well.)

I seriously can't get enough of Jimmy Fallon's Lip Sync Battles or celebrities reading mean tweets. Have you seen this buzzfeed round up?

A girlfriend sent this to me this list of 8 things that every happy woman should have. It just made me so happy. I hope it makes you happy too.

Did you see that Amazon launched a luxury beauty category? Now you can literally find anything you need on Amazon.

My obsession with all things pumpkin continues. It is has been rainy and cold here so this soup recipe is perfect for this weather.

It has of course been a long time since I've been in Middle School but this fathers essay about his daughters homework is a long(er) but really interesting read.

Speaking of good reads, one of my best friends from SF gave me this book to read after someone passed it on to her. It has become a Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants book for us. I'm almost finished and will pass it on to one my friends out here in DC. Go check it out -its an easy read that is light and funny.

Have a good weekend, friends!

xo
Nicole

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Happy Friday, Friends!

DC has had a bit of a ghost town air to it this week because of the government shutdown. I work in higher ed and Aaron is considered an essential government employee (thank goodness!) so we've been watching this all from the sidelines. We did however have plans to go camping this weekend but because of the shutdown, the state park we planned to stay at is closed. Oh darn....

Olivia Pope and all her glorious style is back (thank goodness)! And boy is Scandal bringing the dramz. Had I participated in this drinking game, it would have been a brutal morning for me this morning. 

Speaking of glorious style, Revenge is back and so is the Possesnitista's recaps of outfits from each episode. I seriously can't get enough of Emily's style. And this first episode did not disappoint. 

(Have I told you how much I love bad TV?)

A and I decided to stay in our apartment a bit longer since we couldn't find a place we loved more to move into. I'm getting an itch to decorate and am so pleased to come across this everygirl article with tips to save on decorating. A HomeGoods just opened in Georgetown so I know I'll be checking that out too.

I love all things pumpkin so I love discovering new recipes for the fall. Pumpkin Hot Chocolate with almond milk? I'm sold. 

Am I late to the game on this JCrew dupe from Kohls? It's 15% off this weekend with the code LEAVES. Woop!

I'm feeling inspired by Emily's tutorial for fall florals and how to put together a professional looking bouquet. I'm thinking I'll make an attempt this weekend. Wish me luck!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Thanks so much for reading! It really does mean a lot!

xo

Nicole

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It has been a doozy of a week friends. My biggest event for work starts next Thursday (it's the kickoff event for a weekend of events) and of course this is the week I get sick. Woof.  I rarely get sick but when I do, it kicks my butt and makes me majorly  home sick. This picture is the view from 2 blocks from my home in SF and it makes my heart totally swoon.

As my infatuation with animal graphic sweaters continues, I've added this sweater from BR and this sweater from ModCloth to my think about it for 2 weeks before you buy list.

While I was home sick, I watched a LOT of Bravo and luckily, a Real Housewives of Atlanta marathon was on. I really only love that show for Nene.... and her gifs. And her gifs really spoke me to this week as I tried to throw back Sudafed during the day and NyQuil at night. I was pretty loopy this week.

Being at home, I naturally spent a LOT of time on Buzzfeed. About died when I saw this article. #nailedit. Oh and my heart melted 41 times here. 

I pretty much have to have this sequin jacket Stesha is rocking and this polka dotted shirt so I can layer like my favorite Victoria. 

I'm sponsoring Fizz and Frosting this month and I literally do not have the words to describe how fantastic Lauren is to work with. She is a DOLL and I never ever ever use that word but there's just no other way to describe her. She is easy and professional to work with, so kind, got to know me and my blog, and her readers are so loyal and make the sponsorship so.worth.it. Looking to sponsor a blog? Sponsor Fizz and Frosting now. DO IT.

Alright, I'm out! Have a good weekend, errrrrbody!

weekly roundup -labor day sales

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Thinking of shopping this weekend? Be sure to check out some of these sales and some of my favorite deals (scroll over the item to see the link).The key is to really be on the look out for transition pieces. Don't get caught up in summer pieces at hugely discounted prices - you won't get much more use out of them and I can almost guarantee next summer, when you can wear them, you'll have a 100 new things in stores you'll want instead.

25% off sale items at Stella and Dot - I'm a huge fan of this necklace, this ring, and this adorable bangle

Get an extra 30% off at Madewell with the code BYESUMMER. These pants, this dress and this little peplum top could easily make the transition to fall.

Up to 40% off selected styles at the Gap- these camo pants are on sale if that's your thing (I can't get on board with that trend but if you can pull 'em off, more power to ya!). A great sheath dress on sale is a must buy -you'll get use of this all year long. And I'm thiiiiiiiiis close to breaking my spending freeze to pick up this dress to rock with booties until its cold enough to wear tights and riding boots.

30% off at Old Navy with the code spree (35% off if you use your Old Navy/Gap/BR Card)- stock up on chambrays at reduced prices because that trends not going anywhere. Love this dress for work in the fall and this bag is a great alternative to my madewell favorite.

40% off your purchase at Banana Republic with the code BRweekend (grab that blazer you've been lusting over!) If you need a suit for work, now is the time. I wear this blazer regularly for work and play and this striped one is great.

40-50% off almost everything online and in stores at J. Crew Factory- these pants are a staple in my office, I'm a sucked for anything with hearts, and this will make a great layering piece!

50% off select items at Loft and an extra 50% off at Sale items- if you've been waiting to jump on this jump suit trend (see what I did there) buy it at a sale price here. Wear this skirt, these pants and layer with this shirt for fall in the office.

linking up with Style Elixir today!