Thanksgiving, scarves, lots of fun, etc.

Although W may be struggling to divulge her Thanksgiving details to you since she is currently wallowing in denial, I am having no such trouble. My Thanksgiving was BOMB, and I would like to relive with you, would you like to hear? Well, good.

For Thanksgiving, husband and I went out of town to visit family and we stayed in a hotel, which turned out to be the greatest thing EVER since it made it feel like we were on a fancy vacation even though we were only 90 minutes away from home. On top of that we got upgraded to a suite just because the front desk lady was so nice, and that meant there was a JACUZZI in the MIDDLE of the freaking family room. AMAZE. So, we had bubble baths every day, sometimes twice a day, and I now know for certain that jacuzzi's are somethin to be thankful for.

And of course we ate so much delicious food and went many fun places and did many fun things, and did it all with family which makes it even better. We really sent out Thanksgiving and brought in Christmas with a bang, and I loved it. We made Christmas decorations, we made food, AND we made these scarves, which turned out to be easy easy easy and way cute. You can see one on my INSANELY fashionable sister-in-law J, who we are so pleased to have gracing the blog with her amazing style, here:

Isn't she fabulous?
She is not afraid of colors or patterns or anything, and I LOVE that.

Just think of all the color combos you could make of these scarves and wear pretty much every day. So fun, right?

I hope all of your Thanksgiving's were as good as mine and that you are having fun getting ready for the next one! AND to hopefully add even more joy to someone's holiday season, let us announce the winner of the Shabby Apple necklace giveaway!!

The lucky winner is.... KaraB! who said:

Congratulations Kara! Email us at prettylifeanonymous@gmail.com and we will work out the details.



As for the rest of you, have a great Tuesday!
XO-S.

Denial.

Let's not talk about just how faaaabulous my little Thanksgiving break was. 

Let's not discuss all of the baking and eating and movie watching and game playing.

Let's not even mention the fact that I didn't even crack open my computer, or a textbook, or anything else that I didn't want to crack open if I didn't want to. 

Let's just not do it. It's just too hard on this cold, cruel Monday morning. 

Let's just talk about my outfit, and pretend that this whole 

return to reality thing isn't really happening. Ok? Ok.

Jacket: F21 24.50, Dress: Old Navy 6.99, Cardigan: Target 9.99, 

Belt: F21 2.00, Leggings: Kohls 6.00, Boots: F21 21.99, Scarf: F21 7.99

Yep, it's all gonna be fine. Only 26 short days until Christmas and another break. An even BETTER one. WE. CAN. DO. THIS. And if we can't, there's probably left over pumpkin pie each of our fridges to get us through. Denial after Thanksgiving is the BEST tasting kind. 

Happy Monday!

ox/W. 

PS. Today is the LAST DAY to enter to win this FABULOUS 

necklace from Shabby Apple! Don't miss out! Go here!

A Thanksgiving Tale...and a GIVEAWAY!

So I'll tell you a little Thanksgiving tale. Last night I had a whole lot of homework to do. It was due at 9:00 pm and then my Thanksgiving break would officially begin. I had pretty much put off getting ready for our company to come into town until after all the homework was done, since I thought I would have a whole day until they got here tonight. Meaning, the dishes are piled high along with the garbages, the spare bedroom looks like my closet hurled all over it, and my front room and kitchen table are covered in textbooks, notebooks, laptops, and papers. It wasn't pretty. Actually I wouldn't even classify it as livable for humans. 

So then, my husband gets a voicemail, and it's our company calling to let us know said company is hopping on the plane right now and will see us in a couple hours. HOURS. Because, as it turns out, we thought said company was coming in tonight, but really it was last night. As you can imagine, hysteria ensued. We live a little over an hour away from our airport and the flight was coming in approximately one hour and fourteen minutes after getting the message. Yes, it was legitimate chaos there for a second, and maybe still is, just a little. 

But you know, it's fine, because having the people you love around whether they are late or early is what really matters, not so much having the cleanest house, or the perfect pie crust, or a table-setting like Martha's. It's Thanksgiving, remember? Not stress-yourself-out-over-place-mats-and-centerpieces-and-keeping-the-house-vacuumed-day. 

And so, S and I will be off enjoying all our lovely people for the next few days, and this blog is probably going to be a little quiet. However, I'm sure you won't mind since you will probably be off having a great time too. 

BUT WAIT. We would never leave you without a little Thanksgiving treat! The fabulous Shabby Apple is giving away one of their gorgeous vintage-inspired necklaces to one of our readers. The stunning Lost in Wonderland necklace, to be exact, and this baby is just lovely and a $52 value! Take a look: 

Wanna win? Well, OF COURSE you do. Here's how to enter

MANDATORY: You MUST be a follower of this blog and let us know that you are. You must also visit the Shabby Apple Facebook page, "like" them, and leave us a comment letting us know that you did. 

And for bonus entries: 

-Leave a comment about this giveaway on 

the Shabby Apple Facebook page

-Like us on Facebook

-Follow us on Twitter

-Tweet about this giveaway

-Add our blog to your blogroll

-Post a blog about this giveaway

-Post the giveaway link on your Facebook wall

Giveaway will remain open until Tuesday, November 29th.

AND for the next 30 days, Shabby Apple is offering 10% off to PLA readers. Just use the code PRETTYLIFE10OFF at checkout!

Happy entering and HAPPIEST of Thanksgivings!

oxoxox/ W. 

If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right.

Hi everyone, my name is S and I'm an Old Navy addict.

Everyone: Hi S!

Yes, it sounds weird, REAL weird. People aren't usually addicted to places like Old Navy. It's more like bars or cupcake places, or even the mall that they are addicted to, but Old Navy, that there is my drug. And it hurts soooo good. 

You see, retail stores really get me down. I have worked in them, W has worked in them, and their sales usually aren't really sales. They are just selling their clothes for what they should be priced at anyway and masquerading as a sale, or are selling all the old crap they haven't been able to get out the door without saying, "hey! this stuff is on sale!" The one exception to this? Old. Navy. 

You say you don't like Old Navy, or you don't believe me? Just listen. I am on the Old Navy mailing list. This I recommend to each and every one of you. It will bless your life. This weekend I got an email about a sale they were having on coats, so hub and I headed over and you won't BELIEVE the haul we made. I'll break it down. 

Coat #1: Original price= 89.94, Sale price=18.73

Coat #2: Original price= 89.94, Sale price=18.73

Coat #3: Original price= 59.94, Sale price= 12.48

Total spent: $53.24! That is a savings of $189.88. 

Don't believe? I have photographic evidence: 

And I swear to you this sale was LEGIT, because the next day those coats were right back up to original price. Ya, baby. That is a sale. 

I swear to you that most of the time I shop there I get stuff cheaper than I do thrifting. I love it. I am unashamed. And yes, on this, Thanksgiving week, I'll say it: I am thankful for Old Navy. Old Navy, you make me look cute with your cheap cheap clothes. The gratitude I have in my heart for you is overflowing. 

And yes, just about 50% of my outfit today is from O.N., and it was...you guessed it, on sale and CHEAP. Duh. Get on that mailing list, people! Don't make me tell you again. 

Now look and see the deals:

Sweater: H&M 11.00, Top: Old Navy: 6.50, 

Pants: Old Navy 1.50 (SERIOUSLY), Boots: PacSun 14.99

oxox/S. 

Oh ya, and the LUCKY winner of the much coveted

 photography session from Sami Jo photography is....

KelseyannCollapse

I liked Sami Jo's facebook page. Her photography is amazing!

Congratulations Kelsey Ann! Contact us at prettylifeanonymous@gmail.com to claim your prize! Thanks to EVERYONE who entered and made this giveaway a great success!! 

It's your thing.

You know how sometimes you have that one thing that you plan all of your other things around? 

For instance, the pillow that you use to plan how you will decorate a whole room?

The pretty bunch of herbs at the farmers market that all of the fancy farmers market people are buying that you have no freaking clue how to use but you buy them anyways because you want to be fancy too, so now you have to plan your whole dinner around them?

That haircut you got to look like Jennifer Aniston that you really can't pull off but you did it anyways, so now you gotta really step up your getting ready-ness so that you can complete the Jennifer Aniston package? {You know you did it}

Well, I did it with a headband. A WAY cute one I found at a little Christmas gift show that W and I went to a few weeks ago. It is precious. And my outfit would have made little sense without it. But as a package, it worked. Look and see: 

Headband:

Outfit: 

Headband: Gift Show 2.50, Coat: ROSS 24.99, Top: Kohls (free with coupon), 

Skirt: Thrited 4.00, Boots: GoJane 16.99, Tights: 4.99 TJMaxx

Here's to finding the thing that makes all your other things work together to make an even better thing! And thanks for reading our posts, guys. We're nerds, and you sure are good to us. 

Happy THANKSGIVING WEEK. It's gonna be a good one. 

oxox/S. 

Five Things Friday {Thankfulness Edition pt. 2}

Thanksgiving is less than one week away and I am feeling extra thankful, so here goes another Thankfulness Edition of Five Things Friday:

1. So many loved ones (family and friends). Can't image life without them since mine are EXTRA good. 

2. THE HUNGER GAMES TRAILER. I have watched it at least once a day this whole week.Those books, and now this trailer has filled a void in my life that I didn't know was there, and that I am thankful for. It will be SO good, guys. SO. GOOD.

3. Pinterest. The ultimate blessing and curse. I find myself subconsciously typing that URL into my browser far too often, but I sure am thankful for the creativity and thrift it inspires in me.

4. I belong to this church. And I could not be more thankful for it's influence in my life and the message of peace and hope it gives to the world and to me. It's really something. Have you ever watched these videos about our faith? I think I have seen all of them and think they are the greatest. This is probably one of the most popular out there, because Brandon Flowers is awwwwesome.

5. Service Opportunities. And we've got 2 to tell you about. The first is over at Mindy Marie's blog. This amazing lady is currently holding an auction on her blog for a family VERY much in need. Read about what she is doing here, see what we donated for her auction here, and while your there take a look at all of the other fabulous things she is auctioning off, and bid on a couple, wontcha?

Next, we were recently told about an amazing organization that helps save premature infants in intensive care through breast milk donation. Helping Hands Milk Bank is in need of healthy moms who can donate their excess milk. For every ounce donated, $1 is contributed to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, in support of breast cancer research. Donated milk is used to manufacturer nutritional products made by Prolacta Bioscience. Breast-feeding mother or not, you can help by spreading the word to find those mothers who can donate. To apply or for more information, visit www.HelpingHandsbank.com.

Helping others makes us even MORE thankful for what we've got. And we've got A LOT. 

Have a fab weekend!

XO-S&W

You're the Bomb.

Things that are the bomb:

-When people say "For your FYI." I don't know why, but this just brings me pleasure. 

-The day before a big snow storm when it is sooo weirdly warm, like today. Nevermind the snowy carnage that is sure to ensue tomorrow, today it is nice and balmy. Denial is the name of the game in snow country, folks. 

-This book. I DIE. And I have a copy on my Kindle, but I liked it so much that I bought a hard copy just so that it would be easier to lend to my non-Kindle people and then I could talk to them about it. SO good. 

-The sound of a Diet Coke opening. 

-Space heater under my desk. It's like a hug for your feets. 

-Food shaped like things. Tis the season ya'll, and I am super onboard with vegi trays in the shape of turkeys and bread in the shape of candy canes. Bring it. 

-People who still say "that's the bomb!" They are my kindred. 

-Bomber jackets. Just about the easiest thing in the world to throw on and bring sass to an outfit. Like this one, for instance: 

Jacket: ROSS 14.99, Shirt: Gap 9.99, Scarf: ROSS 7.99, Jeans: Gap 14.99, Shoes: TOMS

Wanna be the bomb too? 

Here are a couple of little bombers I dug up all for $30 or under: 

Pink: F21 29.80, Tan: Delias 24.50, Grey: JCPenney 29.99, Black: Charlotte Russe 29.99

I now challenge you to go and tell someone they are the bomb. It will surely make their day. Saying "you GO girl!" will also suffice. Happy Thursday. 

oxox/W.

I've got a lot on my mind right now.

Aside from Breaking Dawn coming out this week (guilty pleasure, ya baby), and Thanksgiving, AND my birthday next week, and wanting to put up my Christmas decorations so freaking bad, I also got a new job, finally, and I am beyond excited about it. Things are lookin up around here. Let me tell you a little about it.

I am working as an independent contractor instructional designer (whatever that means, right? Just know that I am very important) for a university and I get to work from home which is the bomb, and the pay is good, and the work is great and in my field, and it's really somewhat of a Christmas miracle (cue Karen Carpenter singing here), and I could not be happier about it. The only thing is that I do fear what it means for the blog since working from home means I am never required to get dressed. All I can say is thank goodness for W who forces me to get out and get dressed every now and then, and I always get dressed for church every Sunday, and with the holidays coming up and all the socializing that comes along with that, I will be getting dressed a lot in the near future.

So I will go ahead and guarantee at least one outfit per week and I think that is satisfactory. You're welcome. Here's one for this week:

{sweater: Old Navy 11.99, shirt: Old Navy 6.49,
jeans: Charlotte Russe $5, boots: Pacsun $14.99}

I hope you all have a real fine day and don't forget to enter our giveaway for a free photoshoot with Sami Jo!

XO-S.

My Apologies... and a Giveaway!

Guys, are we in a fight? 

I know we really left you in a lurch there for a couple of days, but it's not you, it's me. And I really mean that. You see, S and I had a FABULOUS looooong girls weekend with our Momma resulting in S shirking her five things Friday responsibilities, and then yesterday I was soooo bogged down with homework and work that I never posted myself. Can you ever forgive us? 

What about if we bribe you with a freaking amazing giveaway? I know that bribery is an effective tactic to make me happy when I am ticked off, especially if pretty things are involved, which they DEFINITELY are in this case. Just look and see:

That's right friends! The fabulous Sami Jo Photography is giving away a 90-minute portrait session to a lucky reader! Sami Jo Photography specializes in portraits for families, couples, and lots more! And Sami Jo herself is wildly talented, adorable, and specializes in taking pictures that are fresh, unique, and timeless. Here is just a tiny taste of her lovely work:

Gorgeous, right?? Can you just imagine giving one of these beauties of you or your sweetheart or family to Grandma or Mom on Christmas? That is gift-giving perfection, right there. 

TO ENTER: You must be a follower of our blog and leave us a comment letting us know that you are. You must also visit Sami Jo Photography and tell us which recent session of hers is your favorite in the comments!

And for bonus entries:

-Like Sami Jo Photography on Facebook

-Leave a comment about this giveaway on Sami Jo Photography's Facebook page

-Like us on Facebook

-Follow us on Twitter

-Tweet about this giveaway

-Add our blog to your blogroll

-Post a blog about this giveaway

-Post the giveaway link on your Facebook wall

Make sure you leave a separate comment for every entry you make! 

Giveaway will remain open until Tuesday, November 22nd! 

*The Fine Print: Winner of this giveaway must redeem portrait session before 2012. Session can be for up to 6 people. Sami Jo is willing to travel for your session from Cache Valley to SLC, so the winner must be willing to have their session done within that demographic area. Thanks!

...

AND the winner of the Christmas Card giveaway from Kourtnee Fisher Designs is: 

Dcpierce2Collapse

I like you on Facebook already!

CONGRATULATIONS Dcpierce2! Contact us a prettylifeanonymous@gmail.com to claim your prize! THANKS to all who entered!!!

Sick in the Head.

I feel SO good today. 

I have had the same headache for 3 days straight and tried everything to get rid of it. EVERYTHING. Drugs, things with lavender in them, pressure points, all of it. Last night when I laid down I decided that if I woke up today and the headache was still there, I would have no choice but to cut my head off. I knew it would be pretty gross, sure, but it probably would have saved me lots of time getting ready in the morning, and no more headaches. PLUS, I am a headless fashion blogger after all, so just think of the time I would save on cropping pictures?

However, today when my alarm went off and I didn't feel any pounding at the base of my skull I KNEW it was going to be a good day. The sun is shining, the leaves are yellow, I still have a head and everything. Such a good day. 

Wanna see a few of those leaves? I just happen to be wearing clothes next to some: 

Dress: ROSS 8.99, Cardigan: F21 7.99, Leggings: ROSS 4.99,

 Belt: Thrifted 1.00, Boots: MakeMeChic: 19.99

Hope you have a fabulous day too!

oxox/W. 

PS. And get to entering our giveaway, missy! We ALL know you have been procrastinating getting your Christmas cards ready. Let us help: 

Holiday Giveaway! {and its reeeeal festive}

Guys, it snowed like a banshee this weekend. That got me thinking about one thing...how much I need a garage. I freaking HATE scraping my car. It makes me swear. A lot. 

Ok, I guess the snow got me thinking about 2 things. The other one? CHRISTMAS. And it's gonna come quicker than we think. That is why today's giveaway could not be more perfect. Because NOW is the time to get thinking about your Christmas cards, and here at PLA, we have the MOST fabulous designer to help you out. Look and see: 

Absolutely adorable, right? People will open up those envelopes and gasp with delight when they see your fab cards. And they will be jealous of you. And maybe not want to be friends with you anymore. But who cares!? It's their own fault that your Christmas cards were WAY better than their's.

Anyways, like I was saying, the cards at Kourtnee Fisher designs are the cutest you are gonna find ANYWHERE, and even if you don't win today's giveaway they are SUPER affordable for Christmas cards, baby and wedding announcements, and lots more. Go here now and see for yourself. I recommend sitting down when you look, you may experience a weakness in the knees if you don't.

Now, the important stuff. You wanna win a design for yourself, dontcha? Well, today is your luckiest day. Here's how:

To enter you must be a follower of this blog and leave us a comment that you are. You must also visit Kourtnee Fisher designs and leave a comment telling us which card you would choose if you won.

And for bonus entries:

-Like us on Facebook

-Follow us on Twitter

-Tweet about this giveaway

-Add our blog to your blogroll

-Post a blog about this giveaway

-Post the giveaway link on your Facebook wall

Make sure you leave a comment for EVERY entry! 

Giveaway will stay open until Monday, November 14th. 

GOOD LUCK!

...

AND...the winner of the custom ruffle top from Bennair is....

Camille BeckstrandCollapse

I like Bennair on Facebook!

CONGRATULATIONS CAMILLE! You're gonna be looking CUTE! Email us at prettylifeanonymous@gmail.com to claim your prize!!

Thanks to ALL who entered! oxox/W & S

I've got lots to be happy about today.

The snow has been making an appearance here, as I think we have mentioned, and I have kind of been in mourning about it, as you will see in my outfit pics. Gray skies make me sad. But, in the snow's defense, it has fallen beautifully without making the roads scary, it does make the holiday season feel official, and I don't totally hate bundling up at this point in the season. Of course, if you ask me how I feel about it in 2 months, my answer will be completely different. 

But, here is my idea. When you feel sad about the weather, or anything really, put on black from head to toe, make it sassy with a bow belt, zebra tights, and wedge booties, or whatever you have on hand, and just let the sadness run its course. It helps. It really really does. 

 

{dress; thrifted $8, cardigan: Maurices $19.99, booties: MakeMeChic.com $26, tights: ROSS $4.99}

On the happy side, I am having a shopping trip with W and mom on Friday, Thanksgiving is coming, Christmas music is playing continuously on FM 100.3 (judge me for listening), my birthday is around the corner, and the Christmas spirit is filling my world. Lots to be happy about, right?

Have a great day! And enter the awesome Kourtnee Fisher Design Giveaway!

XO-S.