Glam Sweatshirts

For my birthday I asked Elliott not to send my gifts out because I will be home early in December. I know he puts a lot of time and effort into shopping and I want to give him the satisfaction of watching me open them. The perfect boyfriend that he is, he sent me a sneak preview gift- a gorgeous beaded sweatshirt from J.Crew. This is a trend that I really love. It takes me back to my days when I had a Beadazzler and used to put studs all over everything. This is just way more chic!

I know it will look great with jeans and boots for a casual weekend look, but I always like to check the J.Crew website to see how they have styled it. I was totally inspired to wear it professionally to school with a skirt and tights. I love when you can wear one thing in so many ways!

Justin Timberlake

Tonight I am finally having my real birthday celebration with my bestie Ally. We are going to the Justin Timberlake concert. I have been trying to plan something to wear that is fun, wintry (as I can get in LA) and looks cool without trying. I was dying to get those leather leggings into my weekend rotation, but it didn't happen so they will have to come out on a Tuesday!

Wisdom

Thank you Rue La La for this little nugget.

Leather Leggings

Sometimes when I see a trend I am not too sure about I won't just jump right in and embrace it. I need to Pinterest and people watch so I can see how people are wearing it. I have felt kind of iffy about leather leggings for awhile. I wasn't really sure if they would look very good on me or if they were a piece I wanted to invest in for my wardrobe. What changed my mind was when I saw this amazing post from Gal Meets Glam where she wore the leggings here. This is such a cool casual look, yet it is also so chic. It also doesn't hurt that I have been wanting this hat from J.Crew so badly. I am still trying to find a less expensive option for that piece too!

Simply Vera by Vera Wang Faux Leather Leggings, $27, Kohls.com

When I saw these leggings online at Kohl's I could not resist going to see them in person. It was love at first sight. The faux leather looks and feels great and they were super comfortable. I can't wait to pair them with tunics, button downs and blazers and big comfy sweaters. The price was great too because I hate to invest in a piece that I think may just be a passing trend. I know these were a great buy and are going to be in serious rotation for going out for dinner or drinks on the weekend.

Here are some other cute ways to wear leather leggings!

Happy Birthday to Us!

I love sharing my birthday month with Kiran and Kendall. We had a great birthday Potluck with way, way too much cake! Thank you to Josh for taking these great pictures of us!

Beauty

As the holiday season approaches and party and get together invitations come rolling in, it is important to make sure you have the right products to get you through the season. I have learned that whether you want to save or splurge there are great items at every price point to do the job that you need.

Color Club On the Rocks Nail Polish, $6, Birchbox.com

I love this nail color from Color Club so much that I put it on immediately after finding it in my Birchbox. The color is subtle but fun, great for parties but also can work for daily wear in between! The Color Club nail polish goes on smoothly and dries quickly. It is sold out on Birchbox.com right now, but hopefully they get some more in soon!

Suave Rosemary and Mint Shampoo, $3, Target

I love this shampoo (and the conditioner too!). The smell is great and really fills the shower when you are lathering up. It makes me feel calm and relaxed. It is so cheap but works as great as any other expensive products I have tried. I often get shampoos and conditioners to try in my Birchbox, but even though I like some of them, this drugstore find is truly my favorite!

e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primer, $6, eyeslipsface.com

This face primer is a super find. The price point is excellent and it allows smooth application of my makeup and keeps it in place all day. I think the Smashbox primers are amazing, but at $42 a pop, those can get pricy to maintain very quickly. This low-priced option does exactly what it aims to and doesn't empty my wallet. Love it!

2 for 1

Starbucks is celebrating the return of the holiday red cups and their specialty drinks with happy hour for the next 3 days. From now until the 17th, from 2-5pm, you can buy one holiday and drink and get one free. My personal favorite is the gingerbread latte. Tastes just like a freshly made cookie! Enjoy!

Things I Am Excited For

November is pretty much my favorite month of the year. I absolutely love late fall- the weather, the clothes, the return of the red cups at Starbucks. It also happens to be the month of my birth and the month of my favorite holiday- Thanksgiving! It's a no stress holiday. The main focus is eating, not gift giving or decking the halls. You just find some comfy pants and enjoy the mashed potatoes.

The next few weeks are going to be hectic to say the least. Clinical exams to complete, oral pathology and prosth exams and more interviews. Aside from all the chaos there are a quite a few things to look forward to and I can't wait to enjoy them all.

...November Birthdays...
For years I was the only one in my friend group with a November birthday, but now most of my closest dental school friends share my birth month. It makes for pretty much a month long of celebrations. Between meeting up for drinks, theme parties and pot lucks, my social calendar is pretty full this month and I couldn't be happier.

Brian and Mike's 80s Birthday Bash

...Killer Sales...
Black Friday and the weeks before offers some of the best shopping of the year. Today I scored a new Michael Kors iPhone case for $10 at DSW. J.Crew Factory was offering an extra 25% off for cardholders. ASOS has been sending emails for clearance items up to 70% off. If there is something you have been lusting over, now is the time to get it. I used to get up super early to get the Black Friday sales, but now the savings goes on all month long and there is no need to wake early from your post-Thanksgiving Tryptophan coma.

...Interviews at Home...
I am getting an extra 48 hours of time at home because I have a few GPR interviews. Even though it is just 12 days before Christmas break begins, I am super happy to get some pre-holiday time with my boyfriend and family, celebrate my (belated) birthday at home and get some real pizza in early December. I have been thinking of having my birthday dinner with my boy at Union League Cafe in New Haven. I love going to my old favorites, but sometimes it's good to branch out and try something new.

...Courtney Loves Dallas...
I am super excited for the premiere of Courtney Kerr's new show on Bravo. Her style is impeccable and I am pretty sure if I lived in Texas we would be besties. Her wit, honesty and closet make her my absolute favorite blogger out there and I can't wait to be able to tune in on Thursdays and catch her antics and get style tips from every episode.

Blogger Courtney Kerr, whatcourtneywore.com

The Perfect Blazer

I fell in love with a beautiful hunter green blazer the other day at J.Crew but with a $278 price tag I knew it would not be mine unless it went on serious after-Christmas sale. Today I went to Factory armed with my 20% off birthday month coupon and found a perfect compromise. With a price point $100 less, 30% off sale, my coupon and a $50 gift card from a gift I had to return over the summer, I finally chose a perfect camel colored school boy blazer that I know will be a staple in my wardrobe all fall and winter. I love that certain items will just stay classic forever. This is definitely one of them. The wheels are already spinning in my head thinking of how I can style it for Christmas. I also cannot wait to pair it with a crisp white button down, jeans and flats for running around with friends when it finally gets cool in California.

Thanks Factory for making my blazer dreams come true!