Thoughtful Valentine's Day Gifts

Let's get real, people. 

Valentine's Day is known as the most cliché holiday of the year. Most cynics (I prefer to call us "realists") think V-day is a socially constructed holiday to push people to spend money they don't have on gifts they don't actually want - think teddy bears or heart shaped balloons. To be honest, I kind of agree with them. Chocolate covered strawberries, though delicious, do not scream "I love you." A bouquet of roses, though kind, do not say "I put a lot of thought into your gift."  Thankfully, it doesn't have to be this way! Maybe my expectations are a tad too high, but if you're going to celebrate a holiday about love, let's tailor it solely to the one you're celebrating, shall we?

If you really want your significant other to know just how much they mean to you, get creative and try one of these ideas instead: 

Write a Heartfelt Letter: I think love letters are the kindest, most romantic thing you can do for another person. It's easy to throw an "I love you" at the end of a Hallmark card and call it a day, but taking the time to truly express what you love about your significant other has incredible value. Let me assure you, putting your heart and soul into a love letter will not soon be forgotten.

Make a Soundtrack: Think back to all the wonderful times you've had together. What songs remind you of those times? Maybe there was a tune playing in the background when you first met, or perhaps you two had a favorite song that completely defined a portion of your relationship. Whatever the case may be, take a stroll down memory lane and put these songs into a playlist for your significant other. Earn bonus points if you write down why each song represents the relationship!

Cook their favorite dessert from scratch: Cooking anything from scratch is a tough mission - everyone knows that. However, there is something incredibly admirable about taking on a difficult, time consuming task to show how much you love a person. Kyle could attempt to make me a homemade butterscotch pie and fail completely, and I would still think it was the sweetest thing ever because he did it knowing it would make me happy. Sure, it would be easy to go out and buy the pie at Publix, but that act isn't nearly as sincere. If you really want to "woo" your loved one, you gotta put in some effort.

Take care of all the chores that week: As a newlywed, I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I am when Kyle takes care of the dishes or vacuums without being prompted to do so. It's very thoughtful to take that burden off your loved one, even if it's only for a few days. It takes a little effort on your end, but it will really reflect how much you care for them! Light their favorite candle for added effect.

A "I listened" gift: This is one of the few "buyable" gifts that I actually support. Spend some time listening to your significant other; I mean really listening. Did they mention a book they had been eyeing? What about a shirt he/she pointed out while you were out shopping last weekend? In my opinion, there is nothing more thoughtful than showing your girl/guy that you listen to everything they tell you - even stuff that may initially strike you as insignificant. Opening a gift that you were sure your husband wouldn't remember is the best feeling.

Coupon Book: If you're looking for something not quite as serious but still thoughtful, try making your own coupon book. The coupons can range from anything such as "You can pick where we eat," "I'll give the dog a bath," or "One free massage." I made one of these for Kyle last year, and he had the best time looking at all the coupons I made especially for him. It's an easy craft project that your significant other will enjoy for the next year (yes, only a year, because I put an expiration date on my coupon book - HA!).


Love you forever. and ever. and ever. and ever.

Anniversary Recap

Happy hump day!


This past weekend, Kyle and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary. We've planned an anniversary cruise for next month (WHOOP WHOOP!), so we decided to keep our weekend celebrations pretty low key. We drove down to Atlantic Station (a trendy little outlet mall in the heart of Atlanta) and spent the day there. We browsed through stores we could never afford, played in Ikea, and enjoyed the scenery/weather.

 

Ruffled Cream Top - Vintage

Old Navy Olive Skinnies- Similar style here (SALE!)

Leopard Loafers - Similar style here

Coach Plaid Bag - Ridiculously old!

For dinner, we went to our absolute favorite burger joint, The Vortex. Guys, if you haven't been there and you don't have to cross the ocean to get to Atlanta, get in your car and go - NOW. Seriously, it's that good. One of the things I love most about The Vortex is their interesting menu choices. For our appetizer, we ordered a Mac 'N' Cheesy-Changa. Basically, it was a chimichanga filled with pork, mac and cheese, and "cheesy-cheese goo." Oh, the deliciousness (aka, holy calories). But hey, it was our anniversary. We're allowed to indulge every once in a while, right? I had the Yokohama-Mama burger for my entree (a teriyaki glazed burger with a pineapple on top) and it was just as amazing. Far warning though - It is a BAR, and you have to be 21 to get in. Oh, and the menu is rife with hilarious but wildly inappropriate commentary. You've been warned.

Our celebration was simple, but it fit our personalities to a "T" and we had a great time! 


How was your weekend?

Love you forever,

A Pop of Red

Hooray for Thursday!

This week has gone by SO fast! I love waking up feeling like it's Tuesday and realizing you're almost done with your work week. As if this week couldn't get any better, on January 18th, Kyle and I will be celebrating our one year wedding anniversary. I can't believe how fast a year has flown by. People always tell me your first year of marriage is the hardest, but I think it was the best year of my life. We will probably celebrate by going down to Atlanta for a nice dinner and some exploring - we're saving the real celebration for our anniversary cruise next month. :)

ANYWAY, enough of the sappy stuff - The outfit below was something I paired together for an afternoon out with my hubs. It was FREEZING out, so I knew a warm, cuddly scarf was a must. The downside of those kinds of scarfs though is feeling like the rest of my outfit was drowning in it. I needed a pop of color to outshine the scarf, and my red cowboy boots were just the ticket! I actually got lots of compliments on this look, and I felt warm and stylish all day long.

Gap Polka Dot Boyfriend Blouse - Similar style here (ON SALE!)
Rampage Walden Red Boots - Peep them here (ON SALE!)
Levi's 535 Leggings - Similar style here (Style "Indigo Affection" ON SALE!)
Loose-Knit Fringe Scarf - Similar style here (ON CLEARANCE!)

Staples and Statements

Thank God it's Friday Night

 

& I just-just-just-just-juuuuuuuusttttt

 

 

GOT PAID.

 

 



{Yes, that was an Nsync reference.}

 

Side Note- How did we not catch on that Lance Bass was gay back then?! Shame on us.

 

 

I don't know about y'all, but I am SO excited for the weekend! The first week back from Christmas vacation is always the hardest, so when the weekend finally rolls around, I am one happy camper.

 

Kyle and I usually keep the weekends pretty simple - dinner at one of our favorite spots, movie marathons at home, long walks with our dog, late night coffee, book store visits - that's about it! While some may say that's boring, we always have a great time. We pretty much grew out of our "partying college ways" errr, in college. Now we're content to be old people. Don't hate!

 

For the weekend (and pretty much every other day of the week), I like to keep my looks cute and comfortable. A good staple piece, some eye catching accessories, and a wedge boot have basically been my uniform for the duration of winter.  The look below totally incompasses my style preferences!

 

 

Old Navy Terry Fleece Dress - Similar style here

Rue 21 Red Rose Statement Necklace - Similar style here

Kate Spade Cedar Street Colorblock Shoulder Bag - Similar style here

New Direction Black Wedge Boots - Similar style here (ON SALE!)

 

 

Oh and just so everyone's clear - I will never, ever EVER post stuff on this blog that the average woman can't afford. I'm not going to play it off that I have a ton of money to blow on material goods, because I don't. I'd rather have my house paid off! When I show you similar pieces to what I'm wearing, rest assured that nine times out of ten it will be well within your budget (except for purses - because I am a complete sucker for them). Not encouraging bad spending behavior over here!

Love you forever and ever,

 

Cozy Christmas

Happy Saturday, everyone!


How was everyone's Christmas? Mine was lovely, but busy, busy, BUSY! Since Kyle and I just got married, we are still getting adjusted to sharing Christmas with both of our families. Traditions changed in a lot of ways, but we (and our families, thankfully) took it in stride and still had a great time! For Christmas day celebrations, I was beyond over getting dressed up for parties. For my look that day, I chose something that was both stylish and comfortable. It worked like a charm and I got lots of compliments (while feeling like I was still in my pajamas!)

One of my favorite things about this outfit is that the core pieces are mostly stuff I've had for years! I love taking an old piece of clothing and totally transforming it by adding unique layers. The red sweater I borrowed stole from my mom's closet, the tunic I bought for my first "big kid job" at age 17, and the flats I spotted at a consignment shop back in college. Kyle always calls me a hoarder for never getting rid of my old clothes,  but this is exactly why I keep them!

Red sweater - vintage 

Patterned Tunic - oldie but goodie

Woven Necklace - similar style here

Faux Leather Leggings - similar style here

Tory Burch Reva Ballet Flats - Peep them here

Kate Spade Cedar Street Color Block shoulder bag - Similar style here

Hope everyone had a relaxing, fun holiday!

Give Thanks

So I know that November is the signature month to express your thankfulness, but as 2014 comes to a close, I can't help but feel overwhelmed with appreciation in the here and NOW!

Working with high school students (many who experience stuff that I couldn't even fathom), really teaches you to appreciate the life you've been given. When I think about my husband, my family, my best friends, and my life in general, my problems start to get smaller and smaller. You know what I mean?

Here are the things I am most thankful for this season:

My Husband (who has the patience of Gandhi - seriously).
Anyone who has spent more than twenty minutes in the same room with me can tell you that I am a handful. I'm moody, I have high expectations, and I feel the need to be treated like a princess at all times. Essentially, I'm a brat. Despite all of this, my husband chooses to love me unconditionally and treat me like I'm made of gold. He supports all my wild endeavors, hugs me tight on my bad days, and maintains patience when I spend hours in Ulta. Can you say dream guy?

Another Christmas with my Gran
My grandmother is the most independent woman I have ever met. She was widowed at a young age and never remarried, and I always admired her ability to take care of herself without any man present. As she grows older, unfortunately, Gran has developed dementia. She's losing that independent streak; really, she's losing herself. It's tough for anyone to watch, but I try to hold on to who she was before all this stuff started happening. In my mind, she's still this sassy, independent, outspoken, can't walk into a store without leaving with five new friends, type of woman who I am so blessed to have in my life for another Christmas.

My Best Friends
You know those people who say it's better to have a few great friends rather than a ton of acquaintances? I totally abide by that. My two best friends, Kerri & Hannah, have been in my life since middle school. We've gone through just about everything together - break ups, cheerleading, church, college, engagements, marriage, "big girl jobs," and more. And despite me moving to a completely different state, our periods are still in sync. SO BAM, BESTIES. (Yes, I just went there).

All the Old Ornaments on my Christmas Tree
Growing up, my mom insisted that I pick out an ornament for myself every Christmas. She took me to Hallmark, brought me to the ornament section, and instructed me to find the best one in the store. I never really understood her antics, to be honest. What was the deal with her obsession with ornaments? When it came time to move into my own house, she boxed up all the ornaments I had chosen over the years and gave them to me. Now, for my first Christmas as a full fledged adult, my Christmas tree is adorned with all these wonderful decorations - some that I chose when I was only five years old. Looking at those ornaments is my own way of looking back at the old Bailey - when I was five, thirteen, eighteen, etc. It's a beautiful tradition in my family and something I fully intend to do with my own children someday.

My Crazy-Wacky-Loving Family
I know a lot of people say this, but y'all, I really do have an awesome family. They are hilarious, loving, thoughtful, and just all around amazing people. Despite moving four hours away, my mom and dad make it a priority to keep up with my life, and it means a lot to have their support in everything I do. I always look forward to our Christmas traditions together, and even though they're being tweaked a little this year, I'm still so excited to spend time with everyone! This past year, I was fortunate enough to become a part of a second family - the Sansings. They accepted me and loved on me from the first moment I met them and have made me feel nothing but welcomed ever since. You always hear about horror stories where the husband's family doesn't get along with the wife, and I got the exact opposite. How awesome is that?!

What are you thankful for this season?

Peace, Love and Peppermint Mocha,