What to Wear to a Holiday Work Party

|| Dress: kate spade new york (purchase or rent) ] || Coat: J.Crew Factory (H&M one and H&M two) || Heels: kate spade new york (2013) || Earrings: kate spade new york (similar color, different style) || Handbag: kate spade new york (fall/winter 2014) || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

About this time last year, J.Crew released a cotton candy fur coat that was straight out of my dreams. To me, it was still a little pricey, so I thought, be patient and wait until it goes on sale. You can guess what happened. Yeah, that's right, it sold out in a matter of days. I was beyond heartbroken that my dream coat would not be mine. There are many reasons why I love J.Crew Factory, but the main one is this. If you don't get your hands on something from last year, wait around because J.Crew Factory will recreate it and it will be at a more affordable price point. When I saw this coat hit J.Crew Factory online, I knew I had to act quick. I ordered it in two sizes, medium and large, to determine which would fit best. I took the medium and sent back the large.

I am not sure if you experienced sorority recruitment or not. That is truly an experience of putting your conversation skills to the test. I like to think that I am a somewhat friendly and easy person to talk to. I remember one conversation, in particular, a young lady asked me "if you could be any pair of shoes, what would you be and why?" I am telling you if I could be any coat--this would be it! It's bold, darling, feminine, fun and a little extra! I tried it on at home one evening, and Jered was like "woah, that's a lot of coat, honey."

I think that the holidays are an excellent time to make a statement. You don't have to stick to red and green during December. If those colors are not true to you, take a walk on the wild side and dare to be different! I think that this would be a fun holiday party look or great for a winter wedding. I actually paired this dress with a leopard print coat and black heels and wore to an indoor wedding last month. It looked incredible! When you are trying to figure out what to wear to a work holiday party, check the invite. Does it tell you? If not, base your outfit decision based off of how fancy the invitation is. You can also ask your coworkers or look at Facebook photos from years prior. My rule of thumb, don't dress for the club. Wear something you will be comfortable in and not fuss with bra straps or the overall dress length.

This fit and flare floral print dress is the definition of girlie chic. You can either rent it via Rent the Runway or purchase it from kate spade. Right now, it is on sale, but it is still an investment (at least in my eyes). If you are looking for a different take on a little black dress--this would be the way to do it! You could layer a tissue tee black turtleneck and black tights to give it a warmer and sophisticated look.

Best Black Friday Deals for Athletic Wear

|| Top: Vimmia (similar) [c/o Pure Barre Edmond] || Sweatshirt: Alo in charcoal heather [c/o Pure Barre Edmond] || Pants: Alo in black gloss [c/o Pure Barre Edmond] || Shoes: kate spade new york (fall 2016) || Necklace: Baublebar (large monogram in tourtoise shell) || Earrings: Tiffany & Co. || Bracelts: Kendra Scott || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

The next few evenings, I am going to be doing thorough research on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday deals. What does that look like? Creeping on websites, social media and combing through e-newsletters to see who is offering the best deals. This time of year has me feeling like a secret agent, trying to find the best savings in all of the land and world wide web. I will be making my plan of attack in the form of an itinerary and checklist. If you are going to be out with the masses, it is so important to have a plan of attack. I would start by outlining store open times and prioritizing doorbuster deals.

My third home (aka Pure Barre in Edmond) is having a huge Black Friday sale. Doors will open at 6:00 a.m. and the first ten people to enter will receive 35% off new arrivals and an additional 50% off sale rack items. Even if you are not a morning person, this should get your butt out of bed! Who doesn't love cute workout clothes at a fraction of the cost? They will have sale racks with items for $10, $20, $30 and $40 (all arranged by size for your shopping convenience, praise hands). Those prices are better than Old Navy, baby!

If you are local and haven't had the chance to check out Pure Barre, they will also be offering deals on membership. You can purchase an intro month for $79 (usually $99). If you are one of the first 10 to buy this package, you will receive a free pair of sticky socks! This is a great deal to take advantage of, think of it as an early Christmas present for yourself. You will go into the holiday season with a renewed sense of self-confidence and have zero guilt about grabbing an extra cookie here or there. Because let's be real, we are about to go into eating season, my friends!

Now, let's talk about this outfit. These Alo leggings are the definition of fashionable athleisure wear! I am not sure I could wear these to work out in since I am so hot natured. However, I have seen some girls wear them to Pure Barre class. These leggings give you that put together edgy cool-girl look with minimal effort. To keep things simple, I paired the pants with an all gray top and sweatshirt (for those colder days) and played with mixing different textures. Since the top is simple, I jazzed it up with a bold monogram necklace and arm party stack. To drive home the leather look, I added one more touch with these kate spade shoes. These are from last fall, but I happened to find mine at Marshalls earlier this fall. They are so cute and still on trend with the leather bow and crushed velvet. This would be an excellent outfit for holiday shopping. You feel confident, comfortable and warm! All that's missing is a gingerbread latte. If you are braving the crowds or shopping from your couch, I hope you find what you are looking for and are able to save a few bucks!

Fall Color Crush: Cabernet

|| Sweater: J.Crew || Jeans: Free People (rent or purchase) || Shoes: J.Crew (I went a half size up) || Earrings: J.Crew (bridesmaids gift) || Watch: kate spade new york (similar style) || Purse: kate spade new york || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

As I am typing this blog post, I can hear the rustling of leaves outside my window. I like to imagine that they are tiny dancers executing the most strenuous ballet of their lives. This is the moment you have been training for, leaves! Lights, camera, action! This is a sure sign that fall is finally here in Oklahoma. Each morning before I get dressed for the day, I check the weather app. The past week has been nothing but delightful. I can finally wear a sweater without turning into a pool of sweat before the day's end. I am kind of hot natured, and it takes a lot for me even to wear a coat. I find that chunky sweats are great for this in-between transition of seasons.

If you happen to be on the lookout for a few new sweaters, J.Crew has a lot of great options (and a few even on sale). This cabernet color is perfect for fall. We see it each season, and honestly, I never get tired of it! This sweater is like your favorite glass of red wine but in clothing form. I also really enjoy the fringe around the sleeves. After each wash, I use a comb to untangle them. If they are all out of whack, you could also use your straightener (or iron if you are into that). Right now, this crewneck sweater is on sale for less than $35!

My favorite thing about this entire outfit has to be these jeans! These vintage flare jeans from Free People have me weak in the knees. Last month, they were an item in my Rent The Runway Unlimited Subscription. Y'all, I found myself reaching for these twice a week. I had no idea that these high-waisted wonders would do so much for my backside! I found myself styling these for the office, date night, brunch, and weekend errands. You can make them edgy and trendy or casual and chic. If renting them is not your jam, I found them on sale for less than $60. The wide legs make them so comfortable to wear. I found them to be true to size. If you are not all legs, you might note that they are a little longer on you.

I love a good handbag. You should also know that I hate paying full-price for anything! I was lucky enough to grab this little lady during a surprise sale two seasons ago. I cannot say enough good things about this bag! The shape and style is so sophisticated and is totally obtainable. To me, the standout is the crosshatched leather. I find it to be much sturdier than others. Sometimes I have an issue with dye transfers on softer leather. There is nothing worse than having your favorite bag turn a horrible shade of deep blue from your dark wash jeans. I know, I have been there too many times. Right now, this bag is still online and is available in ten different colors. The rose gold is screaming my name with a megaphone! If you are looking for a new bag, consider adding this one to your Christmas wish list!

29 Things You Might Not Know About Me

|| Sweater: J.Crew in spice || Skirt: J.Crew || Shoes: J.Crew (I went a half size up) || Earrings: Tiffany & Co.  || Necklace: J.Crew (sold out) || Bracelet: J.Crew (sold out) || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

Saturday I celebrated my 29th birthday. I cannot believe I am so close to 30. My life may not be where I thought it would be at this age, but I am enjoying my journey. Honestly, things have worked out better than I could have ever planned for myself. I know that I have nothing to do that, it's all by God’s good grace. Today I want to share 29 things you might not know about me.

1. I am the oldest of four children
2. The Little Mermaid was my favorite childhood film
3. My mom had a denim jacket hand-painted with scenes from The Little Mermaid
4. I still have that jacket, I will hold on to it forever
5. I grew up showing cattle, lambs and pigs
6. I was involved in both 4-H and FFA
7. I went through a phase where I hated pink and only liked all things lime green
8. My first AOL screen name was PeanutBabe56, ironic because I was allergic to peanuts at that time
9. I had a lot of different pen pals throughout childhood
10. I am Facebook friends with a few of them still to this day
11. Throughout Jr. High, I had a Xanga blog
12. Lifeguarding was my first job, I did that for five summers
13. I was a cheerleader, but not until my sophomore year
14. My senior year I was named football homecoming queen
15. When I got that phone call, I thought it was a joke
16. I can play the piano and alto saxophone
17. I wanted to play the drums, but my band teacher convinced me to play the saxophone instead
18. I was drum major my junior and senior year
19. I was not popular in high school at all, I felt extremely out of place
20. I was in a sorority, Alpha Delta Pi
21. I always dressed up for class
22. Except for my freshman year when I was extremely ill had had to take a final. I wore sweatpants and looked like death warmed over.
23. I attended Oklahoma State University for both undergrad and graduate school
24. I have two degrees in agriculture 
25. Eskimo Joes sweet pepper bacon cheese fries are my guilty pleasure
26. I am really big on texture, I hate bananas and all things mushy
27. I own more skirts than pants
28. I own more dresses than pants
29. I am the most confident with a fresh manicure and eyebrow wax

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know me a little better. As much as I am a social person and always posting on social media--I am kind of reserved. I know this might sound crazy, but it takes me a little while to open up to people. I have loved getting to know each and every one of you on my blogging journey. I couldn't do it without you! Cheers to you and another year of dressing well and having fun while doing it!

Ruffle Sweater Weather

|| Sweater: J.Crew in deep moss || Skirt: J.Crew (also avilalbe in midi length) || Shoes: STEVE MADDEN (from a few season ago) || Earrings: kate spade new york (fall 2016) || Necklace: kate spade new york (fall 2016) || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

For better or worse, Oklahoma doesn't get a very long fall season when it comes to weather. The only positive about this is you can wear mini skirts until it decides to cool off. Last year, I purchased this faux-leather pleated mini skirt as a birthday treat to myself. I was so glad to see it back in stores this fall. It looks great with a t-shirt, button-down, cute sweatshirt, turtleneck or sweater. If you read the reviews, you might notice that it runs a little on the smaller size. I would recommend trying on your true size and one size up just so you can find the fit that worst best for you. The only downside to this item is that it's dry clean only. I would recommend taking it in for a cleaning once you are done wearing it for the season.

Last October we made a trip to Napa Valley. It happened to coordinate with my birthday weekend. I was lucky enough to celebrate my champagne birthday in style! If you are planning a trip to wine country anytime soon, you will have to check out my favorite winery recommendations. I wrote a blog post highlighting a few of my favorite places in and around Napa Valley. For one of the days filled with tastings, I paired this skirt with a fun sweatshirt and loafers.

This fall, ruffles seem to be everywhere you look. This sweater is so on trend it hurts! If this deep green is not really your color, you are lucky. It is also available in three other colors and is on sale right now for less than $30. I am telling you, this sweater will not disappoint you! Honestly, for the price, I am considering ordering the neon bouquet sweater as well. I ordered a size medium, and you might notice it is a little large on me. However, the small was too narrow in the arms. My arms are on the muscular side, thanks, Pure Barre! I tell you what, I feel like this is my life story. I am what you would call a smeduim, a combination of small and medium. I am also kind of weird where I like my shirts to be on the longer side. For that reason, I almost always order a size medium.

This outfit screams date night! A little fun fact, my love language is quality time. Jered's love language is also quality time, how crazy is that? I am so thankful that we both share the same one. Right now we are in the season of life where we work a lot, trying to make it up the career ladder. Honestly, we live for the weekends! It is a time where we can unplug, recharge and connect. I don't care we are curled up on the couch watching Netlifx or out on the town having a fancy steak dinner--when I am with him everything in the world feels right.

My Pure Barre 20 in 31 Challenge Story

|| Top: Beyond Yoga in heather gray || Jacket: J.Crew || Pants: Beyond Yoga in black-aviator green || Shoes: Nike || Earrings: Tiffany & Co. || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

In July, I wrote a blog post about how to go from Pure Barre to running errands in a jiffy. When the Pure Barre studio opened up close to my house, I had no idea how much it would truly impact me. Last month, there was a challenge in the studio, take 20 classes in 31 days. Immediately I signed up, I wanted to challenge myself. And heck, my Type A personality loves a good sticker chart. Dear lord, I pray that my future children can be bribed by stickers, charts and gold stars, amen.

What I learned from completing my first 20 in 31 challenge:
1. I am way stronger than what I give myself credit for
2. It's okay to take a day off
3. The importance of surrounding myself with supportive people
4. Finding something to reward myself with after the challenge, keeping my eye on the prize (looking at you Beyond Yoga)
5. I am strong and beautiful and that should be celebrated

This past Saturday, we celebrated the end of our challenge with a custom long-sleeved t-shirt (thanks, Pure Bare), mimosas and a retail coupon for us to use at a later date. I will be using mine for another pair of leggings or a sleeveless workout top. Until recently, I had never splurged on workout wear. If you remember, I confessed that all of my favorite workout pants have come from Old Navy and I could never understand how anyone could pay $100 for a pair of workout pants. Well, it is time for me to insert my foot in my mouth. Y'all I have come over to the dark side! A few months ago, I treated myself to a pair of Beyond Yoga Spacedye Long Leggings. I am telling you, these babies are life-changing. They are high waisted and keep everything in place. The best part? You cannot see through them! Bless you, Beyond Yoga for creating a workout legging that feels like wearing nothing at all!

How cute is this little tied up hoodie? To be honest, I am not really into hoodies. I am more of a sweatshirt girl myself. When I felt slinky jersey material, I melted into a puddle of mush. It is so soft you feel like you are cuddling a littler of kittens or puppies (whichever furry friend is your jam). I wear this before/after working out while out and about town or on the weekends paired with high waisted jeans. It is perfect for those rainy days that are made for chilling at coffee shops. Since this hoodie is so lightweight, I paired it with The Downtown Field Jacket. I have had mine for a little while, and I realized it's back in stock.  You will see this jacket all over Instagram from now until December, no joke! J.Crew low key calls it the "cool girl" jacket. Add it to your wishlist and be on the lookout for a good sale, this piece is worth it!

How to Rock Crushed Velvet Like a Pro

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I am trying a little something new today. Let's give it a whirl, what do you say? Last week when I posted the crushed velvet dress on the blog, I received a lot of wonderful comments and DMs on Instagram! It made me so excited to see that you all want to embrace this trend.

One of my friends, Kirby, asked for a post about how to rock crushed velvet like a pro. Hey girl, this post is just for you! Yesterday I was strolling around Anthropologie and man, did they have the crushed velvet goods! Right now, dresses are 25% off, tops are 20% off and bottoms are 15% off. I had a birthday coupon for 15% off, so I decided to stock up on the Blue Volvaco candles. If you remember, that's where I found the most gorgeous flowing kimono.

I have put together eight of my favorite items for you to check out. Adding one of these to your lineup will help you embrace one of falls hottest trends. There are two coats, a pair of pants, a wrap dress, two pairs of shoes, a clutch and a headband. I think my favorite two items are the Floral Velvet Car Coat and the Velvet Quilted Jacket. If you are considering purchasing one of these items, one crucial thing to ask yourself is "do I want an item that is on the dressier side or on the more casual side."

If you need any help or recommendations, feel free to shoot me an email or Instagram DM. I am more than happy to help you find the piece that's right for you!

Bold Berry Ruffle Skirt

|| Top: J.Crew (found with the help of thredUP) || Skirt: J.Crew in vintage berry (also available in bronzed topaz and vintage indigo) || Flats: Target || Earrings: Lisi Lerch in Miss Pink|| Bracelet: mixture of old kate spade new york and J.Crew || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: || Melanie Foster Photography ||

After I finished my masters in 2015, I had a void. I like to think of myself as a lifelong learner. One way I filled that void was finding interesting podcasts to listen to fill my Monday-Friday commute. Side note, I am considering adding a podcast review to my blog lineup (if that's something y'all are interested in). Speaking of entertaining podcasts, I have found a new one! I was recently listening to my new favorite podcast, The Millennial Homemakers, where they were talking all about personal style. They posted the question, what are three words to describe your style? I did some internal reflection and made a list of the words that came to my mind and narrowed it down to three. My style can be summed up as girlie, bold and whimsical. I think that my next closet clean up I will incorporate these words when deciding to keep, sell, recycle or give away a particular article of clothing.

This outfit is a perfect example of girlie and bold style working together. When I saw this skirt online, I knew this vintage berry was for me! Being a wool blend, it's the perfect weight to transition into fall and winter. I also love that elastic pull-on skirts are not just for summer!  The length is ideal for the office or for date night, and the ruffles give it a playful feel.

In college, I discovered I had a gift of creeping on social media. Let's not lie to ourselves, we all know we have been guilty of falling down this rabbit hole from time to time. I have put this to use when finding a sold-out item of clothing that I didn't get my hands on. This button-down from J.Crew is a prime example of that. I combed through thredUP like a crazy girl stalking her recruitment crush on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Not gonna lie, I was totally guilty of that at one point in my life.

I know that some people might find these backless loafer mules obnoxious, but my Hello Kitty pink obsessed heart is overflowing with joy! These have been flying out of the shoe section at Target; you might be lucky to find them online. If not, you might want to call your best friend who lives near a Target, I am sure you can sweet talk her into helping you find these. Hey, isn't that what Vinmo is for? These pink mules can drive home a head-to-toe pink outfit or be the bold pop of color with an all-black lineup. You can dress them for work or for a casual weekend trip to brunch. If you end up getting them, I would love to see how you style them, tag me in your #ootd post.

The Coolest 90s Dress of 2017

|| Dress: Lila Velvet Dress [c/o Shop Stevie with Ashley Bragg] || Jean Jacket: Gap (fall 2003, similar style, different wash) || Emoji Pins: Pintrill x Madewell (fall 2016) || Heels: Target || Earrings: kate spade new york (similar color, different style) || Necklace: Tiffany & Co. (gift from Jered a few years ago) || Ring: Tiffany & Co. || Photos: Melanie Foster Photography ||

Last week I had a chance to share with you that gorgeous floral kimono with crushed velvet details. If you remember, I mentioned that a fun crushed velvet look was coming soon to the blog. Well, buckle up, because here she is! Say hello to the Lila Velvet Dress from Shop Stevie. I have never heard of this brand until recently. My Shop Stevie rep is a friend I have made via Pure Barre. How fun is that? Who knew I could bond with someone over fashion while getting my sweat on. Thanks for introducing me to this fantastic dress, Ashley! Bottom line, the world is way smaller than you think, it's so important to be kind to everyone. It reminds me of my favorite Pinterest quote, “throw kindness around like confetti.”

Back to crushed velvet dresses! Oh how I wish I could go back in time and take more photos of my fashion choices as a tiny human. Y'all, if I had a dollar for every crushed velvet dress I wore in the winter, I would be rolling in the dough! If you are lucky, I might share an old family Christmas photo where I happen to be wearing an emerald green boat neck crushed velvet dress. I must say, the dress I am wearing here is much more fun! Why? Because it has pockets and is short sleeved; I am way too hot natured to wear anything with long sleeves until it's below 50 degrees outside.

When it came to styling this dress, I wanted to toss it back to the 90's because it reminded me of childhood so much. What screams Cory loves Topanga vibes more than a jean jacket? Too bad I didn't happen to have a scrunchie, which would have made it like a total jump back in time. Living in Pawhuska, our shopping was very limited. One of my favorite things to do was make trips to Bartlesville to hit up the mall. My favorite store until college was Gap. This jean jacket has been in my life since 2003 if I remember correctly. If you happen to be in high school and reading this, know that it's okay to hang on to a few things. I thank my lucky stars that I held on to this jean jacket!

Last year for my birthday, my friend Azure gave me two of these adorable emoji pins (the hair flip girl and champagne bottle). I added a few more to my collection to give my jean jacket a little personality. As you can see, most of them are related to food, I have no shame. To tie everything together, I added on this pink ice cream cone necklace. Jered gave me this necklace a few years ago, isn't it fun? For shoes, I chose the fabulous black mules that I have been wearing all spring and summer long from Target. Got to go, watching Boy Meets World on Hulu.