anthropologie giveaway

Feeling like Monday totally sneaked up on us after spending all of yesterday brunching and baseball-game watching. But it's a short week with the Labor Day holiday ahead so I can handle it!

I finally picked up a new Capri Blue candle at Anthropologie last week after going six months or so without one (the horror). It's the best scent, and as fall looms and cozy nights in become more common, a necessary fixture on my coffee table. I stopped in to the store around 3PM on my way home from an appointment and was surprised by how many people were browsing the racks and sifting through table displays at such a random time on a Thursday. But for good reason—it's the time of year to get your home and wardrobe prepped for colder weather and Anthro's holding all the right cards. Shop clothing, shoes & accessories and house & home new arrivals, or my own wish list below!

And because the assortment is so awesome but sometimes a little pricey, I wanted to give you the chance to win a gift card to soften the blow. I understand how important it is to have that Capri Blue candle at all times! 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Prize: $200 Anthropologie Gift Card

Co-hosts: Put A Little Umbrella In It ♥ Mae Amor ♥Jenn's Blah Blah Blog ♥ Erika is Little ♥ Mommy on the Money ♥ Ashley Brooke ♥ Stripes N Vibes ♥ Style Tab ♥ Sweet Haute ♥ The Mommyhood Mentor ♥ Prescribed To Fashion ♥ The Closet by Christie ♥ Jo's Glam Fashion Book

Giveaway organized by: Oh My Gosh Beck!

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter form to enter daily. Giveaway ends 9/11 and is open worldwide. Winner will be notified via email.

Are you a blogger who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your blog? Click here to find out how you can join a totally awesome group of bloggers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

found. boden mid rise zip ankle skimmer.

I was in the best mood on Tuesday thanks to an early morning workout (nothing like running/rocking out to Silento while Chris Cuomo talks Trump in the background!!) that nothing could bring down, despite my own inadvertent attempts: bad jeans, flat hair and awkward jewelry (silver! what the hell?!).

As I sat at my desk thinking about holiday taglines and Christmas-y copy—and trying to ignore the aforementioned fails—the moto jeans I spotted last week in Boden's new catalog sneakily slipped into my consciousness. They look really effortless, and you know that "super stretch fabric" has to be as comfy as an old t-shirt. I love distressed details, and the subtle finish on these wouldn't make me feel like a hoodrat wearing them to work. The crowning feature is the chic knee panelling, giving the classic jeans just a HINT of biker-chick badass-ness that is the perfect contrast to a sweet cardigan or sophisticated blouse. I need to trade my bad Tuesday jeans for them ASAP—the darker wash means they'll look good through the coming colder months.

Click through below for similar styles! This pair is a steal!

P.S. Are we friends on Instagram? The snaps are a candid look at my life in Minneapolis—and earlier this week, I posted a little preview of an upcoming outfit! Check it out and say hi!

end-of-summer entertaining

While the weather this week is certainly fall-like, I'm in denial that it's back-to-school time! Classes at the University of Iowa—my alma mater—kicked off yesterday, which makes me reminisce. It honestly feels like another life that I walked along College Street, through the ped mall and past Panchero's to EPB and Adler for lectures. Where did the summer (and five years) go?!

If you're hitting the books this semester, The Container Store is the holy grail for all things dorm, storage, bath, lockers & lunches. That's a no-brainer. But for my fellow young professionals for whom academia is a fading memory, this time of year is about last-blast bashes before summer sputters out, and, of course, sprucing up the apartment for the guests. These endeavors may not require the classic plastic bins that are the face of TCS, but still, a certain degree of organization that the tidy retailer recognizes—and nails.

Below, shop a handful of products I plan to pick up in preparation for some end-of-season celebrating. If you're also in the mood to party, use code TCSLOVE now through Saturday, 8/29, to take 15% off your next online or in-store purchase! Shop all here.

1| Fridge Binz Wine Holder 2 | Herringbone Bamboo Trays 3 | Chalkboard Place Card Holder Stands

4 | Glass Refrigerator Pitchers 5 | Microfiber Filament Duster 6 | Lotus Acrylic Bowls 

7 | Weekly Glass Magnetic Dry Erase Board—plan grocery and errand runs before the event
8 | Converge POP Charging Station—juice everyone's phones before going out later!

9 | Marble Artisan Journal—list-making doesn't get more elegant 10 | Giara Water Bottle—filled with water or flowers, these are a pretty way to decorate the table—I'd use one color for a consistent look. 11 | Fridge Binz Soda Can Organizer 12 | Glass Slant Jar—pour Swedish Fish and M&Ms into a few of these for an easy dessert bar 13 | Stackable Square Glass Containers—fill with pistachios or cashews for pre-dinner snacking

found. billy ella matralia booties

The shoes at Boden and Anthro really speak to me (and the writer in me loves Boden even more for its copy-heavy catalog!). With clothes, I like simple black sweaters and skinny cigarette pants, but am all about a bit of boho flair, eccentric color and playful details in footwear. These painted floral booties with a side zip and 3" wrapped heel are a PRIME example of that preference. How great would they be with body-hugging jeans, a loose white tee & chunky gold jewelry?? Perfect for the urban cowgirl.

While on the topic, here's a peek at more Boden & Anthro beauties I'm saving for: Halsey Booties | Leopard Joni Boots | Rose Gold T-bar Flats | Embellished Slippers | Velvet Verlan Heels—you better not get them before I do!! ;)

Yesterday the Marketing department at my day job served up (a pretty fancy!) lunch, drinks & general merriment at Lake Minnetonka. It was finally sunny after a streak of rainy days, and playing volleyball to the tune of Ja Rule, Party in the USA, Kenny Chesney and Return of the Mack was a hoot and a half. Afterwards I headed to a neighborhood hang for some live music which was a nice way to wind down after all the shenanigans. This weekend, one of my high school BFFs is going to be in town, and we're planning to spend Saturday at the Loring Park festival—local beer samples and Walk the Moon (fo free!) is my idea of summertime happiness. Have a great weekend!

fall fashion jackets

The weather has kiiiiiiiind of been cramping my style this week. Sunday night, my sister and I lasted about 10 minutes (barely a beer + a basket of cheese curds) before a downpour forced us, fast-walking and jeans-soaked, from the Borough block party. On Monday, I really wanted to run outside after work, so I DID, despite the sprinkles, making it almost the full three miles without stopping for the first time this summer (ha!)—nothing like some rain to up your stamina. And last night, I was all set to head to the Northeast Night Market—food, entertainment & artists at Bauhaus—but there was a 100% chance of thunderstorms and the event was rescheduled. Ugh.

With all the rain, the temperature has dropped dramatically, which has me thinking about my fall wish list—specifically, some cute jackets that can actually be part of an outfit, rather than just a layer needed to get from car to cubicle. Here are some I'm eyeing to wear now in the A/C-on-high office, and later as fall officially arrives!

denim | leather | quilted

shawl collar | capelet | bomber | asymmetrical

Also, some mid-week motivation before I go: I wanted to attend the Create + Cultivate conference in Chicago last weekend, but didn't want to pay the $250 entrance fee. I think it's important to invest in workshops, events & networks that feed your hobby/business/pleasure, it just wasn't a good time for me. But this little recap made me feel like I was still reaping some of the speakers' wisdom (thanks, Blair!). 

Taking a cue from DooBop founder Jodie Patterson, I made a list of my own "touch points" in an effort to be more conscious of each day and what makes me feel fulfilled. It's a really helpful practice when lots of things feel undetermined, unsettled, and up in the air—which I think is VERY representative of life in your twenties. Try it out and worry less about planning/scripting/molding a future that may or may not be, and focus on feeling accomplished in the here and now. After all, baby steps now are what build into bigger, future successes. 

Hope your week is rolling right along! Fingers crossed for some end-of-the-week sunshine! :)