Wednesday, October 10, 2018

OOTD: Apple Picking



Fall in the Midwest simply can't be beat. I love when all of the leaves begin to change and the weather becomes cooler. One of my favorite fall traditions is going apple picking at Honey Hill Apple Orchard in Waterman, IL. We've been going to this orchard for a while now and I just love it! Although it's quite the drive from the city I made the trip out this year with my bestie Maureen to pick apples, get apple cider donuts, and pick up an apple pie! 


What I love about Honey Hill is that they also have pumpkins, gords, and other things perfect for the fall season! I didn't pick up a pumpkin because I could not have carried it all that way, but they had some great pumpkins to choose from! 


But, the main attraction at Honey Hill is the apple picking of course! I've always loved picking for apples and tasting all the different varieties. The nice thing about going to an apple orchard is there are apples you just can't find in a grocery store. My advice is to stay away from basic apples, as I call them, like red delicious and golden delicious and try new apples you may not have had before! 


As for the perfect apple picking outfit, I always go for a total fall look. Which always includes some sort of plaid! In this case I turned to a buffalo plaid ruffle button down from Draper James. Draper James is my go-to brand for adorable button down tops with a twist. I love the details in the this one, from the gold buttons to the little ruffle it can't be beat. 



On this day it was actually pretty chilly outside! So, my trusty Barbour Beadnell jacket was the way to go for a day in the low 60's high 50's. I got some questions on my Instagram post on which Barbour jacket this was so now you know! The Beadnell is the most classic ladies jacket Barbour has. This thing never goes on sale or out of style might I add. If you're looking for a classic Barbour jacket to invest in I would highly suggest the Beadnell! I have it in olive and navy which are personally my favorite colors it comes in. But you can also opt for a sage or black option. 

The Beadnell is the perfect jacket for a day in the low 60s. It kept me warm but also wasn't to heavy for the weather. If it was a warmer day I would have gone for a quilted vest over a wax jacket. 

In case you didn't know I work for Barbour! I love answering followers questions on the product and what I suggest style wise and fit. So, if you ever have any Barbour questions I'd love to answer them! 


Shoes at a pumpkin patch or apple orchard are super important! Be sure to wear boots or sneakers so you a comfortable walking around. I always wear my L.L. Bean Boots! I love these things. They are great to protect your ankles from any grass or pumpkin vines on the ground. Also, it doesn't really matter if they get dirty! Layer your Bean Boots with chunky socks like the J. Crew camp socks to complete the look. 

 

I paired everything together with my go-to pair of J. Crew toothpick jeans. I love these jeans for my petite self, they actually fit my leg length with no tailoring required!




Where it's from: 
Shirt: Draper James
Jeans: J. Crew 
Boots: L.L. Bean 
Socks: J. Crew 
Jacket: Barbour 
Location: Honey Hill Orchard, Waterman, IL


What are your favorite fall activities? My favorite is for sure apple picking, can you tell? Let me know in the comments below! 
XOXO 
Miranda

Friday, October 5, 2018

OOTD: Oui Oui



I don't know what it is about fall but I am just channeling my inner Parisian this season. I've always been a fan of berets as accessories, and this fall it's no different. Luckily they are "on trend" but I would probably wear them either way. Especially since I am a crazy Frenchie mom now. #noshame


Also, pro tip: apple cider donuts make the perfect accessory as well. I love the apple cider donuts from my local apple orchard. The best donuts are homemade for sure!! 


I wore this look for a lazy Sunday hanging out at home and taking the pup to the local pet boutique. This sweater was my favorite from last years Nordstrom sale. I bought one at the sale then found two more at Nordstrom Rack later in the season. Be sure to check your Nordstrom Rack in the next few months for leftover Anniversary product, with even better discounts. Pretty sure I paid under $20 for these sweaters at the Rack! 


The sleeve detail is super fun, but I will say makes eating a little more challenging. But, this is what we do for fashion people. 


My beret is also a last year Nordstrom find, but they have a similar hat currently. Berets are the perfect way to fashionable cover up any bad hair day. So, skip the dry shampoo and go with the hat ladies. Plus, it just makes any outfit a little bit cuter, and gives you a French vibe. 


My other accessories are rather simple for this look. I've loved just wearing a pair of pearl studs and my trusty KJP pearl chocker necklace. It's an easy combo that goes with any outfit. 


I can't get through this post without mentioning my NEW boots! I picked these Cole Haan boots up at the Anniversary Sale and was so happy I found them. I've been on the hunt for a pair of classic riding boot style tall brown leather boots. Let me tell you, it's a much harder shoe to find then one would think. I had to retire my Michael Kors boots from years ago after multiple heel replacements and many many adventures. They were just to gross looking to continue wearing for another season. So, I found these gorgeous beauties and I am in love! Not only are the comfortable, but they are classic and simple. They have a stretchy section in the back which adds to the comfort level. 



Chuck Bass the Frenchie had to make an appearance in this post! I will say he's pretty good at posing for photos, for the most part. He is my dog after all! 


Where it's from: 
Sweater: Nordstrom (old) 
Beret: Nordstrom 
Necklace: KJP 



How do you channel your inner French girl for style? Let me know in the comments! 
XOXO 
Miranda

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Holiday Cards & Party Invites with Basic Invite


The holiday season is quickly approaching... Yay! If it was socially acceptable I would be thinking about Christmas and Thanksgiving in August. I am much more of a fall and winter girl then a summer girl. There is something about the holiday season that makes me so happy. I'm not sure if it is all of the decorations, flavors, or shopping but it's simply the most wonderful time of the year. Sorry to be cheesy, but it's so true! I can't wait for all of the things that come with the holiday season. From the scents, spending time with families, to priceless traditions. 

One of my favorite holiday traditions was helping my mom pick out the photos for our Christmas cards. For as long as I can remember we always sent out Christmas cards with the best family photo of the year on the front. With Basic Invite it is so easy to create customized cards for your holiday needs. 



From elegant thanksgiving dinner invitationspersonalized halloween birthday party invitations, to holiday party invitation templates there are endless options available at Basic Invite no matter what your occasion may be.


I created this adorable Christmas card with Chuck's photo on the front. Yes, I am on that crazy dog mom level *no shame*. They have quite a few templates to showcase your cute furry friend! This is the template I used, but I also love this one


As for family cards I love classic holiday templates that feature true Christmas colors and designs. There were way to many to choose from, but I love this holly design! For a chic holiday invite I'm loving this design. If only I was hosting a Christmas soiree... 

 

Creating my cards with Basic Invite was super easy and simple. With what seems like endless color options you can completely customize your card with the colors of your choosing. So, if you like a template, but not the colors, you can change them to be whatever you like! That's one of the reasons I love Basic Invite. So many options, so little time. After you've customized your card you can select one of 40 different envelope colors. If you're like me you love for everything to match and coordinate. Basic Invite let's you do that with all of the options available! With over 500 Christmas card and holiday card designs, including foiled options, the possibilities are endless. 


They also make sending your cards to family and friends super simple with their address capturing service. Basic Invite lets you share a link via social media to ask your friends and family for their mailing addresses. These addresses are then stored and can be used during the design process. I'm always loosing peoples addresses so this feature is super helpful! Not to mention Basic Invite offers free recipient address printing on all Christmas card orders. 

If you're feeling unsure about your design or the paper Basic Invite is one of the few card building sites that offers free samples. This way you can know exactly what you are getting before you order! 

Right now Basic Invite is offering 30% off with the coupon code holi30

Do you send out holiday or Christmas cards? Let me know your traditions in the comments! 
XOXO 
Miranda 

*this post was sponsored by Basic Invite, all opinions are my own* 
Thank you to brand like Basic Invite for supporting Sew Cute Style

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Dose of Disney: Disney Handbag Wishlist



It's day 2 of the #FallIntoDisneyStyle challenge and today is all about Disney handbags! I love adding a bit of Disney style through my purses. From Danielle Nicole to Loungefly to Dooney & Bourke there are so many bag designers that create eye catching Disney style bags. Today I'm sharing a few of my current favorites, which a lot of them are on sale! Check the links above to shop some super cute bags to add a dose of Disney to your style! 

As for this bag, it's my favorite Danielle Nicole bag featuring a Beauty and the Beast rose! This bag is so versatile it can be worn with super Disney looks like this one, or with an everyday outfit! My mo even borrowed it for a wedding we went to last month. It went perfect with her blush pink dress. 

What is your favorite Disney bag? Let me know in the comments! 
XOXO
Miranda 

Monday, September 3, 2018

My Fall Essentials


Fall is by far my favorite season. Let's be honest I'd rather be wearing a Barbour jacket in 60 degree weather then be sweating my a$$ off in 90 degree weather in the summer. I'm also so over summer clothes. When it comes to creating looks I'm all about the layers and summer doesn't quite allow for that. 

So, today I wanted to share my fall essentials with you all for this season. 


Barbour Jacket | This is kind of a no brainer but Barbour jackets and clothing in general is a major part of my fall wardrobe. Whenever I leave the house for work I try and rep Barbour. So, wearing Barbour button downs with a pair of skinny jeans with a jacket is kind of my fall uniform. Be prepared to see a lot of Barbour in my fall OOTD posts! *get excited* You can see one pictured above. This is a lightweight wax style that I wore on my trip to Edinburgh. Whether you are a college student or a young professional I can assure you there is a cool Barbour jacket that works into your lifestyle. 

Cozy but stylish sweaters | I'm such a sweater girl. Living in Chicago and the Midwest my entire life sweaters are essential. I picked up some great sweaters from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale, but I will be re-wearing some of my favorites form last year. Plus of course rocking new Barbour sweaters for the season. 

Riding boots | My go-to boot is a riding boot and I recently replaced my old Michael Kors with a new pair from Cole Haan. They are classic and go with everything, enough said. 

A great skinny jean | Two jeans that are my go-to are Paige jeans plus the J. Crew toothpick skinny jean. Both of these are super flattering and great for petite gals like myself. 

Stylish sneakers | Cole Haan's Zerogrands are my absolute favorite shoe of all time. They are not only comfortable, bust stylish. I wear these while traveling, exploring, and for work. These are the perfect shoes for girls or guys on the go. 

Fall is the perfect time to experiment with your style! Try new layering techniques, color, and accessories to get your perfect fall style. Let me know your favorite fall essentials in the comments! 
XOXO 
Miranda 

Monday, August 27, 2018

Sew Cute in Chicago vol. 4

Another week in Chicago calls for another installment in my Sew Cute in Chicago series. This week I tried a few new places and went back to some old ones. It's really been my goal to repeat restaurants as little as possible. With so many options in Chicago I want to try everything! And of course see all of the Instagram worthy spots in the city because duh, do you even know me? 


Broken English Taco Pub | First up is Broken English Taco Pub in Lincoln Park. I've been wanting to try this place as it has the most adorable decor. With multiple locations in Chicago you can find one that is closest to what you may be doing. Adorable pinatas hung from the ceiling with adorable neon signs that had fun taco sayings. 


As for the food we got the 6 taco meal as it was cheaper then buying tacos individually per person. They have larger options if you are will a big group. I tried the fried chicken and carne asada tacos. They were both delicious! Surprisingly I preferred the fried chicken taco. I love trying different and unique tacos that are a little bit out of the ordinary basic beef, chicken, or something like that!


No taco meal is complete without a margarita! I opted for the frozen original because I am more of a frozen girl. But, beware these were pretty strong! For my lightweight self at least. Then to top it off for dessert we ordered the churros because why not. Also, very tasty and the perfect end to the meal. 



Zia's Lago Vista | Boozy brunches, what more could you ask for! I went to Zia's Lago Vista with a friend for brunch and it was quite tasty. The best part was $12 endless mimosas. To say we were tipsy afterwards would be a very fair statement. For brunch I picked the bananas foster french toast with bacon. Yum! If it is a nice day I suggest sitting out on the patio, it was quite lovely and a great people/ dog watching. 


Parlor Pizza Bar Wicker Park | Pizza Parlor is always a good idea. I brought a friend here for Sunday lunch and it didn't disappoint. One of my favorite pizza spots in the city. It's a great atmosphere and they have good food, a perfect combo. 


Big Start Taco | Then another favorite of ours is Big Start taco in Wicker Park. My boyfriend and I decided to go out to eat during the week and decided to run to Big Star for some tacos. They have a sit down area, or a walk up window where you can order to go. When the sit down restaurant is busy we opt for the quick walk up window. Either way you do it you can get fabulous tacos! 

That's all for this installment of Sew Cute in Chicago! What should I try next? Let me know in the comments! 
XOXO 
Miranda 

Friday, August 24, 2018

OOTD: Summer White


White jeans have been my jam all summer long. Until this summer I never really wore white jeans. I got this pair from a collaboration I did with JCPenny a while back. The rips are a little out of my comfort zone, but I kind of like them for a more casual look. My whole look is actually from JCPenny!


I haven't been to JCPenny in so long. But, I loved the outfit I ended up creating with them for the collaboration. These jeans paired with a little chambray top. Top it off with a little ruffle slide and we're in business. 


I kept my accessories simple with just a little statement earring from Target's Sugarfix Baublebar collection. These earrings are super affordable and super trendy. Matter of fact my whole outfit is super affordable. JCPenny is always having sales and you can get things 40-60% off! 


Where it's from: 
Top: JCPenny 
Shoes: JCPenny 
White Jeans: JCPenny 
Earrings: Target 
Sunglasses: Ray Bans 
Location: Port Orleans Riverside Resort


What is your favorite way to style white jeans? Let me know in the comments! 
XOXO 
Miranda