Our Engagement Story: Part 1
Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
I know y’all don’t see a good recipe much around these parts, but today I bring you one that’s as easy as it is delicious! My roommate Jeff (such a good cook) was making these bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers one night and like a good roommate, he let me try one. And I was hooked! I don’t like super complex recipes and cooking isn’t my favorite activity in the world, but I wanted to give them a shot. These are the perfect little appetizer with a little kick. Whether you need a last minute (unique) Thanksgiving item or something to bring to the holiday work party, these poppers are sure to be a hit. Hope y’all enjoy!
Weekending: Friends-giving
Hello Monday, we meet again. Remember how last week I said I almost got sick, but rested a lot and it went away? Well… the same exact thing happened this weekend, but I got sick for real this time. Ugh. At least it was rainy and gray out yesterday so Ryan & I had a super lazy day and had a yummy dinner cooked for us by his sister. Oh and remember this post when I said my hair dryer hadn’t died just yet? Let’s just say I spoke too soon. It decided to give out on me as I was getting ready Saturday so I guess the odds weren’t in my favor this weekend. Anyways, let’s get to the (very brief) recap!
On Saturday, we headed to our friends Logan & Kevin’s place for our first annual friendsgiving… and I’m happy to say it was a success! Y’all know that I’m not the best in the kitchen, so I was in charge of the easiest item- cranberry sauce! Can’t really mess that up, right? Katie, Logan, and the boys did a great job with the main dishes and there was plenty of delicious food to go around. The guys watched Django while us girls talked about girl stuff and downed spiked cider and wine. Perfect night!
Spiked cider in front of the fire!
My plate full of turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn casserole, green beans, and cranberry sauce!
Logan and her precious baby Rue
I can’t believe Thanksgiving is almost here! That also means a three-day work week and I’m perfectly okay with that. Hope everyone has a great Monday and I’ll see you tomorrow for the holiday linkup.
Gift Guide: For Him
Hey everyone, this is Ryan aka Mr. Medicine & Manicures (I’m not crazy about that title). Kristina thought it would be good to get a man’s perspective for a gift guide so I will be taking over the blog once in a while for a couple weeks. Kristina gets mad because its hard to shop for me since I usually buy what I want on my own. To help you come up with some original ideas, I’ve put together a few things that every guy would like but not necessarily buy on their own.
-CARD CASE-
A card case is a great substitution for a bulky wallet. If you are going for a night out just pack your ID, credit card and a little cash and you are good to go. Here are a few options. I love anything from Tumi because they make such high quality products and this card case is no exception.
-CUFFLINKS-
Cufflinks are a subtle way to add a little personality to your work attire. I reccomend a fun pair for a fancy dinner with friends and one formal pair for when you are telling your boss why you deserve a raise. Remember to dress for the job you want not the job you have.
-FUN SOCKS-
Yet another subtle way to liven up an outfit is with some socks that have a little more character than your standard black or brown. The throwback sports player socks are my favorites. A little know fact, my Dominique Wilkins socks add 12 inches to my vertical.
-TIE BAR-
Nothing can ruin a great shirt/tie combo like having the short end of your tie flapping around. Try this great 3-pack combo that will allow you to coordinate with any outfit. When it comes to tie bars, less is more. You don’t want this to be the focal point of what you are wearing.
-DUFFEL BAG-
Whether it’s a weekend getaway or your daily gym bag, a nice duffel bag is a great go-to. No need to get too fancy here, durability is what you are looking for as this thing tends to get thrown around a lot. If you are looking to splurge, try Will Leather Goods. This made-in-the-USA company makes the best and softest leather belt that I’ve ever owned. I also own a great wallet from them thanks to Kristina.
-SLIPPERS-
No need to try and be too manly to wear slippers. They are great for providing a little extra padding while walking around the house, especially on hardwood floors. My feet are always sore after playing basketball and my slippers provide some much needed relief.
-SKIN CARE-
Girls, you may have to push your man on this one, but once they try a quality product they can be persuaded to keep it up. Men do get better with age but I’m not trying to speed up that process anytime soon.
-RANDOM GOODIES-
I received a sample cologne pack last year and loved it. I got to try out 12 different colognes and figure out which one I liked the best and then had a card to buy the one I wanted. This was perfect because once I try more than one kind in a store, they all blend together so I was very confident when I went with the Yves Saint Laurent bottle and I still love it.
Holiday Lace
BB Dakota lace top (similar here & here) // Paige coated denim
Express clutch (like this one too) // Black pumps // Bracelets: BaubleBar, Gorjana
Lips: Stila in Beso // Nails: Sally Hansen Haute Chocolate
You may remember this outfit from a post on Insta (like many…way too many weeks ago) and I’m f i n a l l y getting around to posting it. Better late than never, right? I wore it when Ryan came to visit me in Raleigh for a fun date night- I definitely dressed up more than usual, but when you live in scrubs like I did during that rotation, it makes you want to get dolled up a little more.
I recently got this top from RueLaLa for only $7, thanks to a random $25 credit they gave me. #steal. Y’all already know I love me some BB Dakota and this top is a new favorite! Yes, it’s last year’s style but lucky for you, I’ve found some fun lace alternatives (both under $20!). Wouldn’t this be the perfect ensemble for a fun holiday party? It’s dressy, but without the dress! I’m loving the emerald color and the delicate lace detail and I decided to add some leopard for a little “pop”. I think this clutch from Express is a great alternative to the oh-so-popular Clare V. version– and at a fraction of the price! Getting dressed up for the holidays gets me so excited… how about y’all?!?
Favorite Things // My Christmas Wish-List
Today, I’m linking up with Zelle and Elise for the first week of the “these are a few of my favorite things” holiday linkup party! Today is all about Christmas wish lists and I came up with a few items that I wouldn’t mind finding wrapped under the tree! Honestly, I don’t have any “have-to-have” items this year (well, other than a black handbag) so I’d be happy with whatever Santa brings, but I’ll go ahead and take you through my list!
I currently only own two watches and would love to keep the collection growing. I tried on this Kate Spade watch at Nordstrom the other week and it just looked so great on my wrist. I love the leather strap with the pop of gold- classy and chic!
My hair dryer isn’t broken, but I know it doesn’t work quite as well as it used to. I definitely notice a difference when I use my roommates because it takes much less time to dry my hair. Any recommendations on a good quality dryer under $50 are welcome!
I got a sample of the Cartier Zeste de Soleil perfume and it smells ah-mazing! I also love the scent of the new Daisy Dream by Marc Jacobs (and it comes in a rollerball!). What girl doesn’t love new perfume?
I have been wanting some new gloves for a while and these leather tech gloves are a must (since the pairs I own aren’t “textable”). I love the two-toned look of these from Nordstrom.
My top item on the list would have to be a black Tory Burch bag (Santa, I’ve been really good this year!). I saw the Thea fold-over clutch the other day and fell in love. It has a short chain for when you want to be hands free and also a removable strap if you want to use it as a crossbody. Basically, it’s the perfect black clutch. However, I have also been eyeing the Mini Robinson tote… decisions decisions!
I don’t have any shoes that I would wear in the rain or snow so I wouldn’t mind to get a pair of Hunter boots. They look especially cute with the little knitted boot socks! From what I hear, the “packable” ones are lighter and more comfortable. Any advice?
I love mostly everything by Kendra Scott and have been eyeing one of these Rayne necklaces for a while. I actually just got one in my RocksBox yesterday, but am still lusting over the turquoise one!
Phew… that wasn’t too long was it? Hopefully Santa (who takes the form of multiple people this time of year) is reading this post in case he needs any ideas. I would love to hear what your must-have items are for this holiday season and please let me know if there are any gift guides you’d like me to put together. Have a great Tuesday 🙂
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