holiday season mindset

photos by felicia lasala

the outfit: sweater (c/o) | leggings (c/o) similar + similar

lip color | bandana (old- similar)

Now that it's November, our minds are starting to get into holiday gear. Thoughts of holiday plans, invitations, family time, meal planning, decorating, and gift giving are beginning to come to mind. We are of course very excited, as the holidays are such a special time to give thanks, count our blessings, give, love, celebrate, and enjoy. It also seems to be a time though when overspending, over-indulging, stress, super busy calendars, and tiredness are too common. That being said, we invite you to join us as we make a conscious-effort to not get swept up in the "madness" and not fall into the "more, more, more" trap that seems to go hand-in-hand with the holiday season. Instead, we want to take one day at a time, keep healthy habits going strong, spend within our means, commit to plans wisely, and take time to rest and savor the season. Doing so will free up time to do what really matters- spend precious quality time with loved ones // xo melissa

shop the look:

keeping it casual

When I think of dressing for fall and winter weather, comfort, warmth, and casual are three words that come to mind. Thankfully, there so many outfit combinations that make for a cute and put together look, but are still comfortable, warm, and casual. For me, this outfit is a major winner when it comes to fall layers and a typical day-to-day look for a weekday or weekend. Going out and getting dressed up is fun of course, but for the day to day wear, casual is where it’s at! Vests are probably one of my favorite wardrobe items because they add a cool, effortless layer and are so versatile. Below are the links to this look, plus similar options. xo

images by felicia lasala

THE OUTFIT: vest (here, too) c/o | leggings (similar + similar) c/o 

sweater c/o | sunnies  c/o | shoes| lip color | bag c/o

SHOP: 

melissa's minimal makeup routine

Keeping my makeup minimal, simple, natural looking, and safe is something that I am always striving for. I currently have a quick and easy everyday routine that is working really well, so I wanted to share it with you. Details on the products that I use are below // xo melissa

--

concealer- it's taken me a while to find a blemish + under-eye concealer that worked well, but wasn't packed with harmful ingredients + wouldn't cause my chin/nose to break out. I finally came across this one from bareMinerals and it's awesome. The formula is light enough that it doesn't clog my pores, but it still covers blemishes and under-eye circles.

mascara- this mascara from bareMinerals is my current go-to for day and night. It lengthens, looks natural, and doesn't smudge or run.

brow- I use this everyday and cannot imagine my brows without glossier's boy brow. Brows still look still look very natural after filling them in with this product, which is so important. No one wants fake looking brows!

powder- I don't use this daily, but when I want more of a "finished" look I lightly brush on this powder from beautycounter.

bronzer- volition sent me and Lauren a few of their products to test out and I immediately fell in love with this creamy bronzer. It blends right in and gives my skin a natural, healthy glow. c/o

SHOP

currently loving

[so many cool vintage pieces, so little time // via an antique store in florence Italy]

F R I D A Y. It never gets old, does it? Below is our currently loving list for this week, including everything from the coziest blanket from pottery barn to Lo's favorite pair of madewell jeans.

my five

the coziest oversized hoodie from abercrombie

my favorite pair of jeans for the fall and winter

indian healing clay that you mix with apple cider vinegar for the best mud mask

a super cozy, faux fur blanket for cold nights and slow mornings

pretty pillows from restoration hardware

lo's five

the pens that I use for everything, including underlining when reading books

I can't even describe my love for these jeans, but they do run a size big

noise canceling headphones are a must when traveling

this book has changed my life! I am going to re-read it when I am done

my favorite mid day snack - it is a roasted whole with no sugar

// happy weekend //

suede skirt + bell sleeves

Do you guys ever get wardrobe anxiety? I am talking about the fear that your wardrobe isn't good enough- not fashionable enough, cool enough, organized enough, or perfectly curated enough. I definitely get caught up in this silly, made-up pressure situation, and lately I have been praying hard over it. Clothes, wardrobe, fashion, and personal style are all gifts that are supposed to be enjoyed, loved, and celebrated- not stressed over! After many thoughts and prayers about this matter, I have been focusing less on the fantasy that my wardrobe needs to be and should be perfect- not only is that totally unrealistic, but that goal takes the joy out of what I actually do have in my closet.A mantra that has been helping me lately is "appreciate more, accumulate less". I find myself repeating this phrase whenever I get the panicked thoughts of "Oh, I need this" or "Oh, if only I had that". Instead of striving for false perfection, I am making it a conscious decision to love and enjoy each and every piece in my closet. This includes being more creative with what I have, mixing and matching, and "shopping my closet" instead of shopping online. It's definitely a journey of growth and appreciation, and it's already resulting in a more grateful heart day by day. Amen to that!Details + links to Lo's cute fall look are at the bottom of this post // xo melissaimages by felicia lasala

OUTFIT DETAILS:

top (c/o) | skirt (c\o) | shoes (c/o) (similar) | sunnies (c/o)

SHOP THE LOOK:

avocado toast with honey

The day that I thought to randomly drizzle honey over my avocado toast was the day that everything changed for the better. At first I was skeptical, but it turned out to be a very sweet surprise! Somehow the avocado, pepper, and honey work together in perfect harmony and make for a wonderfully savory and naturally sweet breakfast treat.  Have you ever tried avocado toast with honey? Let me know your initial thoughts in the comments below // xo melissa

travel tips + bomber look

Happy friday, friends! What do you guys have going on this weekend? Lo is currently in Dallas with her family as her twin sister, Britt, gets ready to welcome her sweet babe into the world- beyond exciting! This past week I went to NYC for work and this weekend Hamilton and I are headed to Deep Creek for my dear friend’s wedding weekend. With all of this travel that Lo and I both have going on this week, it got us thinking about packing and outfit planning. Below are a few tips before your next trip and we would love to hear any packing advice that you have in the comments section. Scroll to the bottom for links to Lo’s super cool, travel friendly outfit // xo melissa

Less is best

I tend to abide by this policy in my home, too. Clutter drives me absolutely crazy, so having fewer things makes it much easier for everything to have a place. Same goes for packing! I always find that I am happier when I don’t have a ton of stuff to pack up and unpack. I used to think that options helped, but I am no longer a believer in that philosophy. All options do are weigh me down and confuse me!

Make a list and stick to it

As you prepare for a trip, make a list of things you need. Also, check the weather and plan outfits accordingly. Once you have a list of items, stick to it! I used to suffer from making last minute changes- literally pulling things out and stuffing things in moments before walking out the door- and it never ended well. Thankfully I have cured myself of this bad habit and traveling has been much more peaceful ever since. 

Pack versatile items

If you pack items that can be worn more than once, and possibly more than one way, you will end up packing less. This is a pretty simple tip and it really helps keep the total amount of things packed to a minimum.

Only items that you love make the cut

If you don’t absolutely love wearing an item, do not bring it on a trip! Only items that you love wearing and feel great in belong in the suitcase.

Comfort

Comfort is always important, but extra important when traveling. This is especially true when it comes to shoes. If they aren’t comfy for walking pretty far distances, they don’t make the cut.

Don’t be afraid to re-wear

Sometimes I get weird about re-wearing an item on a trip, but this fear is really so silly! Re-wearing something that you love and that makes sense for the trip is a great thing to do. Re-wear with confidence, my friend.

THE OUTFIT

bomber + similar option| tank (c/o) | jeans (c/o) | boots (c/o) | sunnies (c/o) | lip color

photos by felicia lasala

SHOP SIMILAR ITEMS

carrot soup made with coconut milk

This creamy carrot soup with coconut milk has been on repeat at the farm for the past month. It's so tasty, simple, flavorful, full of good ingredients, totally comforting, and the perfect soup for a fall evening. I found the recipe from this food blog and am so thankful that I did! Head on over to wholesomelicious for ingredients + directions. Be sure to add cilantro on top too, if you like it! It adds a nice little bite. The soup is also extra good if served with warm, fresh, crusty bread. #YUM // xo melissa

our bedding: serena and lily.

Our sweet friends and family in Dallas held the most special engagement party for Jase and I about three years ago, and there was one piece of advice that my best friend's mom imparted to me as a wife-to-be. I will never forget it. She said to always make your home a sanctuary and restful place for your husband; it should always be an atmosphere that brings peace and comfort after a long and possibly stressful work day.Decorating our first home together has been everything from a test of patience (it's a long process) to one of the most rewarding experiences. It was exciting yet nerve racking to create the vision for our home - it is such a big and permanent type of project that messing up or choosing the wrong piece is yikes! From trial and error, I have learned so much from what piece of furniture to start with in the design process to watching how my interior style has evolved over the last two years - it is fun to already become inspired for the interior of the next home in our future!Enter the master bedroom. This room can be a tough cookie, right? It has to be the perfect mix of masculine and feminine. I had to let go of my desire to have pretty, feminine Bella Notte pillows and a velvet throw. Exit any floral patterns. So I came to a conclusion: neutrals and white is a clean way to create comfort. It's cozy + the simple palette creates an easy foundation to add in different throw colors and patterns as the seasons change.I have my list of top favorite online interior shops, and my first stop is always Serena and Lily. It never fails to deliver and inspire. This last month, we decided to get a new set of bedding. There is truly nothing like it! Not to mention, we might have a slight obsession with this duvet cover - one is in our master; one is in the upstairs guest! We also can't live without puffy shams and pillows! Everyone wants a bed that feels like a cloud, right? See below for our entire set of bedding.

items c/o serena & lily