fun and festive for the holidays

december is one of my favorite months

of the year! i cannot get enough of the holiday

lights, decor, and festivities (not to mention the 

delicious treats and baked goods that frequent

our office kitchen). spending time with family and

friends during the holiday season is of 

great importance, too. something about this

time of year feels, well, extra special.

the past few weekends have been filled

with parties, babysitting commitments,

and of course, last minute holiday shopping.

putting together fun, yet festive looks for these

events was at the top of my 'to do' list. 

well, maybe not right at the top, but i hoped

to find a few different pieces to mix and match

 for various occasions.

velvet and faux fur are prominent 

this time of year, and i could not wait to

style both. after all, you're allowed to dress

a bit more boldly than normal during

the holidays. grab all your velvet, faux fur,

and sequined items for the holidays!

i paired my velvet skirt with a blouse

(one i frequently wear to work), vest, and 

comfortable wedges. standing for extended periods

 and walking from one event to the next 

requires cute and comfortable footwear (sadly, no

heels for me). gold jewelry and a statement

clutch completed my look.

i have also worn this skirt with a lace

top, an oversized sweater (for a more casual

vibe), and a fitted cream blouse. the possibilities

are seemingly endless, as the skirt

is a neutral color, and this particular skirt

has proven to be a wardrobe staple.

photos by jenn from hello rigby

velvet skirt: nordstrom rack (similar here), 

flats: nine west, blouse: loft (similar here),

vest: target (exact here -- on sale!), ring: lucky brand.

clutch and bracelets: charming charlie

can you believe christmas is next weekend?

the holiday season always seems to sneak up on me.

i have a few last minute gifts to pick up

but otherwise feel ready. i cannot wait to wear

this velvet skirt to our christmas eve dinner!

xoxo.

holiday party ready (on a budget)

holiday party season has arrived.

every invite is seemingly accompanied

by an ever-growing price tag and shopping list.

whether you're attending a black-tie dinner or ugly 

sweater gathering, purchasing a different

outfit for each event is expensive.

if you're like me, wearing the same blouse

or dress to multiple parties sounds less than

ideal. how can you dress (and shop) 

during the holiday season while adhering

to your budget?

i have put together a few simple tips!

disclosure: a special thank you to value village for graciously providing

me with the gift certificate used to purchase items featured in this post. as per usual,

all opinions are my own!

mix and match!

your statement clutch or faux fur vest

can be paired with a variety of skirt, 

pant, or dress options. a black vest, for example,

can be worn with a sweater and pants (as i did

in today's post), or over your favorite

long-sleeved dress.

thrift, thrift, thrift!

shopping at department stores

and local boutiques is greatly enjoyable,

but often comes at a cost (a high cost, too).

thrifting is a wonderful and budget-friendly 

alternative. grab your girlfriends and hit

your local value village.

wear a non-traditional piece!

your black ruffle shorts, metallic skirt,

or office pants? not items that necessarily

denote 'holiday party.' however, 

these non-traditional pieces can be styled

in a way that looks and feels festive.

pair longer, ruffle (or printed) shorts with

a dressy blouse, or wear opaque tights

and a sweater with your metallic skirt.

you can also easily dress up (and make festive)

your work essentials, such as black

pants. add heels, a scarf or necktie, and

faux fur vest to instantly make your

pants look glam.

take advantage of holiday sales

(and don't be afraid to scour the clearance rack)!

if thrift shopping is not your favorite

(don't be afraid to try!), check the sale rack at

your favorite stores. seasonal tops, dresses, and shoes

are typically on sale, and many 

retailers will continue to mark down prices.

now may be the perfect time to purchase

classic, staple items (such as black 

heels or a faux leather jacket) at a reduced cost.

my outfit breakdown:

sweater (topshop thrifted) -- $10

faux fur vest (old, macy's) -- $40

pants (zara) -- $29

ring (thrifted) -- $2

heels (karen kane thrifted) -- $8

purse (target thrifted) -- $6

total -- $113 (the average dress costs

between $100-300 at most department stores)

photos by karya schanilec photography

is your calendar also filling up with

parties and other holiday-related events?

i love this time of year and enjoy

keeping busy. it's time to put together more

festive outfits #merrythriftmas

xoxo.

my top cyber monday picks

we celebrated thanksgiving, enjoyed far
too much pie (and later braved the gym crowds),
hunted for the best black friday deals, and now,
cyber monday is here! grab a cup of coffee
and cozy blanket, as i share my 25-favorite
fall and winter items, perfect to gift
or purchase if you want to treat yo' self.

did you brave the mall on black friday?

i went briefly (or as brief as one can be
when sandwiched amongst 1289819031
fellow shoppers) and then came home to finish
my shopping online. who can turn down
free shipping while shopping from
the comfort of your couch?!

happy cyber monday, everyone!
i found this forbes article, predicting how much
consumers (on average) will spend on cyber
monday, particularly intriguing.
which deals/retailers are you most excited
to shop?
xoxo.

and this year, i am especially thankful

the holiday season is in full swing!

it feels like there is a gathering, brunch, or

commitment of some sort every weekend from

now through the new year (just in case

you missed it, i recently shared a few ways in 

which i practice self-care during the busy holiday 

season on my blog here).

 don't get me wrong, i enjoy keeping busy. 

during this time, however, i find it particularly 

important to take a step back and reflect on the many 

blessings in my life: my family, friends,

a loving boyfriend, a job that keeps me 

busy, yet challenges me, and most recently, 

the opportunity to return to school (to name a few).

i must admit, clothes, shoes, and

jewelry also hold a special place in my heart

(as does a well-organized closet), but i digress.

i am grateful for cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice

creamer (the dairy-free version), rain-free fall days

(the colors on the trees in seattle during this time are

out of this world), and so much more!

of course, blogging also makes me

very happy, and for that, i am thankful.

i have been creating content for diary of this girl

for six years. this little blog has come

a long way, and i am eager to continue writing,

creating new outfits and style tips, and of

course, sharing my everyday happenings with you.

thank you for coming back!

we were fortunate to spend the thanksgiving

holiday with my aunt and uncle, cousins,

grandma, and our adorable pups. i ate far

too much stuffing and chocolate pie, but that's okay.

how did you celebrate? is anyone else

craving more stuffing and green bean casserole?

photos by brittany from coco & blush

dress: madewell (via crossroads),

sweater, bag, and boots: borrowed from coco & blush,

ring: lucky brand

while i didn't wear this outfit for 

thanksgiving dinner, i think it would have been a 

great option. pair it with a sweater or

cozy jacket! i had every intention of dressing up,

but instead opted for jeans and a loose-fitting blouse

(a girl's gotta have room for dessert).

as the weather continues to cool off, however,

i plan to style this plaid dress with dark

tights or layer a turtleneck underneath;

the options are seemingly endless!

i hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving.

and again, i am thankful for you!

xoxo.

what to wear: fourth of july style

fourth of july is just around the corner, 

which means summer is officially here! hello 

farmers markets, blooming flowers (and subsequent allergies), 

pink lemonade, and all things summer-style. 

i have said this before, but i am a sunshine

and warm weather girl at heart. while spring and fall are

beautiful in seattle, summertime has a special place in

my heart. perhaps i am meant to live in california

where the summer temperatures stick around much longer

than they do in the pacific northwest ;)

i will be spending the fourth at lake chelan. 

for those of you not from here, it is

a two+ hour drive from the city in north-central

washington, with a large (beautiful) lake, several wineries, 

and numerous coffee shops and restaurants. i plan to

 spend the majority of the weekend lake-side with my new 

kristin hannah novel. i have my one piece

swimsuit and a few pairs of denim shorts ready to go!

disclosure: today i'm partnering with endless knot, a local seattle

boutique. they graciously lent me the overalls pictured here.

wearing red, white, and blue is one of my 

favorite combinations. i particularly enjoy wearing these 

colors during the summer months (not just

 on the fourth of july). they pair well together, 

allowing you to look patriotic, yet chic. this year, i wanted 

to style something fun, yet festive and different from my

usual repertoire. i am typically drawn to graphic 

t-shirts and skirts, or a holiday-inspired blouse and denim shorts.

fortunately, local boutique,

endless knot, came to the rescue once again!

they have numerous red, white, and blue options.

i am currently lusting after this dress, 

this tank, and these culottes. 

don't worry, these items, as well as my

red and white striped overalls, can be 

worn on the fourth of july, but on other occasions 

as well. swap the white blouse for a black top

or graphic t-shirt to create an edgier look. 

for cooler temperatures, layer a blouse and denim 

jacket. instead of blue sunglasses, try a tortoise 

or other printed pair. the options are seemingly endless!

what do you have planned for the long weekend?

unfortunately, we will be driving home from

lake chelan on the fourth of july -- returning in time for work 

and the weekday grind. 

the city often has a special fireworks presentation

 earlier in the weekend. i am incredibly excited to spend 

time away from my usual routine while enjoying sunshine,

lounging at the lake, and hopefully visiting a few

of the local wineries. as we will be in the car on the fourth,

i will have to wear my patriotic attire and consume as many 

s'mores as possible before the weekend ends ;)

photos by karya schanilec photography

overalls: c/o endless knot, blouse: topshop,

sunglasses: madewell, rings: target,

purse: dooney & bourke (thrifted via seattle goodwill),

mules: dolce vita (via target; exact here)

do you have a favorite outfit or style

combination to wear on the fourth of july? i am always

looking for new things to try! it was fun to style

something new, and i cannot recommend these adorable

overalls enough. i linked a few additional options

below if you need to stock up on other red, white, 

and blue clothing pieces or accessories.

t-shirt / denim shorts / bandana

jumpsuit / slip-on sneaker / sweatshirt

i hope you have a wonderful holiday!
xoxo.