Happy Wednesday, friends! This time each year, I get so excited to use my red Hunter boots to pieces, because they add the perfect festive touch to any outfit! I don't care if it's raining or not, I know I can rely on my red Hunter boots to brighten up any outfit. I also love this pair because Madeline has a matching pair, and y'all know how much I love to coordinate with my baby girl. What's even cuter is that fact that she adores them. If I tell her to go grab her shoes, the first pair she reaches for is her red Hunter boots. She wears them around the house all the time (with nothing but her diaper on at times haha). It's the cutest thing, and of course it has caused me to enjoy mine even more.
I can promise you that Hunter boots make for the perfect Christmas gift! They are both practical and fun as any girl on your list will adore them all year long...any season, rain or shine! I use mine for years on end. They come in just about any color imaginable. My favorite places to shop them are from Hunter, Nordstrom and Zappos.
Also, I certainly get a thrill out of having festive feet. There are SO many adorable pairs of shoes out right now. I love dressing in simplistic outfits and letting my shoes do all of the work, adding some excitement to the look. Here are some of my very favorites (several of these I own) to add a festive touch.
Happy Monday, or CYBER MONDAY, I should say :) If y'all thought the sales were amazing for Black Friday, just wait and see what's in store for Cyber Monday! Many of the sales that I listed on Friday are still going strong, but are even better for today in honor of Cyber Monday. You'll find a detailed list of all the sales, what they entail and the codes needed to access them below.
Y'all know how much I love a LBD, and I am absolutely completely obsessed with this one I'm wearing here! The fit and the material are both amazing. The best part is that it is 60% off for Cyber Monday, making it only $39 (regular price $98). It also comes in a gorgeous red, and you better believe that I snatched it up. I'm also obsessed with these jeweled kitten heels. They are also 60% off for Cyber Monday and are so comfortable! And lastly, can we just talk about this necklace and the way the detail carries on down the back? It is 25% with the code SAVE25 or 35% off (when purchased with another piece) with the code SAVE35 for Cyber Monday. This is the perfect way to add a festive touch to a LBD.
Let me know what goodies y'all snatch up and what gifts get checked off your list with these awesome sales going on through today! Remember that these are the best sales that will be going on before Christmas. Happy shopping :)
It's here, it's here, Black Friday is here! Although the sales have been amazing all week, I think they have hit their all-time best today. Y'all, there are SO many good deals. I think I've checked off about 80% of my Christmas shopping today. I think its safe to say that these sales can make one quite overwhelmed. But thats where I come in to help you! I have spent hours sorting through these sales and have narrowed down my list to the best of the best! Below, you'll find a few collages for her, for him, and for the kids, all packed full of amazing gifts for even more amazing prices. There are links provided for each item below all three collages. Continue scrolling down to the end of this post, and you'll find a compiled list of all the best sales that I'm shopping this weekend, along with what the sale entails + the promo code needed to access the sale.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, sweet friends! If you haven't already noticed from the outfit details I've posted above, everything I'm wearing is on sale!!! The excitement for the shopping I have to do this weekend grew as I was putting this post together. There are so. many. good. deals. I wore this outfit during our trip to Williamsburg, VA last week on a freezing cold day! I had forgotten to pack a coat, so I had to rely on this cozy sweater to keep me warm. With a little help from a thick scarf and my pom-pom beanie, and my fur-lined boots, I stayed pretty cozy :) Like I said, pretty much everything I'm wearing here is on sale! My sweater is knocked down to only $30. My beanie is 20% off, my denim is 25% off, and my Ugg Ava Boots are 46% off, y'all, making them just over $100.
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Now on to what is most important for today, I wish each and every one of you a happy Thanksgiving. I love this day so much for so many reasons. Spending it with my family is always something to be excited about. But I also love to just sit back and think about all I have to be thankful for...from today, from this past week, from the past year, and so on. I love this verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:18...
"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
I recite this one very often, and it really hits home on Thanksgiving. One of my favorite little books to read to Madeline is one called Blessings Everywhere, as it pretty much sums up this verse I've listed above. It talks about looking at the sky, being with friends, and simply how there are blessing everywhere we look. Everywhere we look and in every single situation, there is always something to be thankful for. I am so thankful for the way that the Lord has guided me through every season of life and how there is always beauty to be seen from it. I am so thankful for a family that is so loving and supportive. I am so thankful for my precious daughter and the lessons she teaches me each and every day. There is so much to be thankful for. I also just want to say that I am thankful for each and every one of you who continuously come back to this little space of mine that I enjoy writing so much. Your support, love and encouragement means more to me than you will every know! I am thankful for you!
Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Have fun eating tons of turkey and pecan pie. And don't forget to come back here bright and early tomorrow morning for a roundup of the best Black Friday sales, along with gifts that are on sale for everyone on your list!
And if you're wanting to get a jump start of Black Friday sales today, here is a list of some that have already begun:
Happy Wednesday Friends! I can't believe we are just a day away from Thanksgiving and TWO days away from Black Friday! If you're like me, then you have your lists ready to go and are maybe feeling a little overwhelmed. But don't worry, I will have a HUGE roundup of the best of the best Black Friday deals along with my favorite picks for everyone on your list bright and early on Friday morning. But I just wanted to give a heads up about a few amazing Black Friday sales that have already begun. You can save 30% off purchases of $250+ at Tory Burch with the code THANKS now until Monday, November 28th. You can also currently save 15% off $200+, 20% off $500+ and 25% off $800+ atShopbop with the code GOBIG16 now through Monday, November 28th. Here are my favorite picks from both of these sales as they are a great opportunity to save on some designer staples that rarely ever go on sale.
30% off entire purchase at Kate Spade (code: THANKFUL)
I also want to point out that now through the entire Christmas season, you can easily find all of my gift guides in one convenient place by clicking on the "Shop my Christmas gift guides" image on the top right side bar or by clicking the "Gift Guides" link on the navigation bar at the top my my blog.
And once again, I'll be back bright and early on Black Friday to give you the details on every sale you'll want to know about :)
Happy Monday, Friends! We're back home from a fabulous time in Williamsburg, VA. The drive home yesterday was so long that we didn't get back until pretty late, so we're getting things started a little later today than usual. But today is my birthday, and I'm so excited to share this special Q&A post! Thanks so much to those of you who sent in questions. I hope y'all enjoy 😊
Why did you start blogging?
I have always had a love for fashion for as long as I can remember. I actually started my blog after I grew my Instagram account, which is opposite from the way it usually goes. I began sharing my outfits and cute purchases on my Instagram, which is when I began to gain a following. I had always wanted to start a blog, and after several people who followed my Instagram suggested that I do so and a boost of extra encouragement from Jaclyn, I started this blog. It has grown into so much more than a hobby and has brought me more opportunities, than I could ever imagine. Not to mention, it has allowed me to meet some pretty amazing people and create some special friendships along the way. It has always been and remains a creative outlet for me, which is one of the main reasons I began blogging. It started out as A Preppy State of Mind, but I re-launched it as Something Delightful in the summer of 2015. And this leads me to the next question...
What made you decide to change your blog name?
When I started this blog and gave it the name "A Preppy State of Mind", I never really asked myself if it was a name I could grow with. One of my biggest pieces of advice for someone looking to start a blog is to choose a name that you can not only grow with but can also cover all areas of life and everything you want to blog about. Once I became a mama, I knew that I wanted to incorporate so much more into my blog. My daughter is my life, and I wanted to be able to include her in my blog. My faith also plays a huge part in my life, and I knew that I wanted to incorporate more of that into my blog as well. Psalm 37:4 has always been one of my favorite verses, which is how the word "Delightful" became part of my blog name. I also became important for me to bring out the fact that everyone is different and has their own story, which makes us each unique. But in the craziness of life, there is always something delightful....something unique that sets you apart from everyone else. So while my life may be quite crazy at times, it is also pure bliss being a mama and treasuring so much that the Lord has blessed me with. I always like to say that you will be sure to find "Something Delightful" on this blog :)
What is your advice for someone wanting to start a blog?
I get this question very often and know that it would be great to do a whole post on this. First off, I'd say to start by deciding what you want to blog about whether it is fashion, travel, food, motherhood, faith, all of the above. Then, pick out a blog name that will not only cover everything you blog about but that you can also grow with. When choosing a name, think about what is important to you, what inspires you, and what is unique to you. Make your blog name so...you! My other biggest piece of advice would be to remain consistent. Decide how many days a week you want to post on your blog and what days, if possible (I know that's not always as easy to do, especially as a mama). But I truly believe that consistency is key. And lastly I'd say to enjoy it! Make sure you start it for the right reasons and always think back to those reasons if you start to feel defeated. Don't compare yourself to others...it's such a dangerous trap to fall in. And remember that you are uniquely you and bring something special to the table. It's always important to be honest as well. I know that I love to see more "behind the scenes" stuff than just pretty pictures, which is why I always try include what is going on in my life at the time. This also brings me to my next question...
How do you balance everything?
Okay this is definitely a tricky question because there is simply no science to this. Let me just say that it takes a whole lot of prayer and determination. I always remember that I am a mama and God blessed me with a precious little girl to raise and care for. Being a single mom isn't always easy, but there is always so much beauty in it. I start every day out with prayer and ask the Lord for wisdom for the day. I have gotten into a routine to where I wake up super early, way before Madeline does, to work on school or my blog. I work on assignments, posts, emails, etc. before she wakes up. I like to give her my 100%, if possible, throughout the day, so I try to only work on things while she's sleeping. Being a full time student and doing it all from home can be quite the challenge. And then running my blog is quite time consuming as well. I really should do a whole post on this and how I schedule everything out throughout the week. But let me just say that a lot of determination plays into everything. I am determined to get out of bed early every morning and get busy. I love my blog and want to continue it for as long as I can. I want my degree in HIA and am driven to work on my assignments, watch lectures, study for tests, etc. And more than anything, I want to succeed for Madeline. I want to be the example for her and provide for her. I want to show her to never give up. SO even though I may be sleep deprived (sleep is usually what I cut out of my schedule, unfortunately), I am determined to get busy every day. And with a lot of help from the Lord, I manage to figure it all out somehow :)
What do you love to do most with Madeline?
This one is pretty difficult to answer, because there is so much I enjoy doing with her. She has the cutest little personality and quite a bit of sass, which plays into everything we do. I love reading to her. She absolutely loves to be outside playing, which we do a lot of. She loves animals. And she lovessss to dance! It is the cutest thing. A song will come on the radio and you can see her dancing while strapped into her car seat haha. She loves to play ball, especially basketball. But at the same time she's such a girly girl and loves anything that I have. For instance, if I have boots on, she wants to put her boots on. It is the cutest thing! She is starting to say (or at least attempt) everything that I say now, which is so cute! It seems like she's saying a new word every day. So I could go on and on with this question. But being Madeline's mama is my favorite part of life and there's so much that I enjoy doing with her.
How do you get your waves with short hair?
I also get this question a ton! I need to get a hair tutorial together but haven't had the opportunity to do it yet. But I have found that is is best to fix my short hair when it's wet and not to let it air dry. I spray this Bumble & Bumble Surf Foam Spray (seriously the best for short hair!) and dry it with a hair dryer (this is the one I use). Then I let that set while I do my makeup. Next, I spray a little heat protectant over my hair and use this curling wand to curl it. It is a little pricey but seriously worth every penny! It comes with three different extensions, but I use the one inch straight barrel to get the waves on my short hair. After I curl it in sections, I let is set for about thirty minutes (or at least ten if I'm pressed for time) and gently separate the curls. Then I finish it off with this spray and this spray (I alternate the two since one it pricey). It takes some practice, but I promise I will get a video up with a tutorial before long.
If you could only shop at one store the rest of your life, where would it be?
Hands down Nordstrom. First of all, the customer service is awesome. I also love that there is such a wide price range to shop. I always try to stick to under $100 items, and that is so easy to do at Nordstrom. Also, I love that they price match. Lastly, they carry so many brands...even J.Crew, so I can get pretty much everything I need from there if I could only shop there for the rest of my life. They have everything I need, stuff for Madeline, beauty products, etc.
What is something unique about yourself?
Hmm, I'm not too sure about this one. I have a really random phobia. I'm deathly afraid of birds! For as long as I can remember, I have had a fear of birds and I don't know why or what started it. But I about have a heart attack if one gets close to me. I can hardly even look at pictures of them!
What camera do you use to take your pictures?
I'm currently using a Nikon D5100 body with a 100mm lens. I really don't know much about cameras at all. My Mama is a rockstar and my biggest supporter as she takes all of my blog photos! She has really figured it all out :) However, I am about to invest in a new camera body and a few new lenses! So, if y'all have any recommendations, please share!! I'm looking into a Nikon D7100, but would love to hear if any of you recommend something different. I do want to stay with a Nikon, though.
How do you stay on a healthy routine?
This one is also tricky to answer as, once again, there is no science to it. I would say to start by finding something to motivate yourself with. This started for me when I invested in a Fitbit. I was able to track my steps and compete with friends in weekly races which was so much fun! Then in no time, the baby weight started falling off! I was really motivated at this point and just kept going. Now I love to eat healthy (however, sweet are my weakness!), have completely cut out fast food (with the exception of Chick-Fil-A as I feel that you can pick healthy options there), and enjoy walking! Walking is such a stress relief for me, and Madeline loves to be outside, so we grab the stroller and head out for some fresh air.
Well, there you have it! If you made it to the end of this text-heavy post then congrats! I hope y'all enjoyed this post and thanks so much for stopping by.
