Gift Guide Under $50: Work Secret Santa, Stocking Stuffers & More

The first Gift Guide of the 2021 Holiday season is here!!! I like to do the Under $50 gift guide first because I think it's great for anyone who's planning ahead a smaller gift for maybe a work secret Santa, friend group gift exchange, or anything similar where you need to secure a gift earlier in the season. Of course, this gift guide is great for anyone on a budget too, or if you're just shopping for someone who you want to gift-give something under $50!

The gift guides are starting earlier this year due to shipping/product delays as a result of Covid. I am working to get up gift guides earlier this year for you so you have ample time to pick out things for your loved ones before it's too late! Also- thank you for all of the very helpful feedback on my IG story last night with gift guide suggestions. I am excited about creating all of these for you!

November Moodboard (Desktop & iPhone Wallpaper)

For once I actually feel really at peace with the new month... usually, I feel like the previous month just flew by and I am unprepared for the next one. Now that it's November, though, I feel like I'm in a good spot and I am looking forward to spending time with friends and family this month, wearing sweaters, and doing cozy, relaxing things. 

This past weekend was a pretty wild and packed one, which I don't have much of anymore! I loved every minute of it. Joe was in town, we went to the Nets game, we dressed up and went to a Halloween party with my friends on Saturday, and we watched the Halloween parade Sunday night in West Village. We explored a new part of town, ate delicious things, and just had fun! Feeling very grateful and happy with my life as we head into this month celebrating gratitude, thankfulness, and coziness.

Please enjoy this month's mood board and tag me if you make this your desktop or phone wallpaper, it brightens my day more than you know!

This Week's Top 10: Halloween, Shopping & Books!

photo from my shoot with Paige Elizabeth in Central Park last weekend, wearing these tweed shorts and this navy blouse

1. Happy Halloween weekend!! I am so excited about this weekend; Joe is visiting me and we are going to the Nets game tonight, and then a Halloween party tomorrow night! Hopefully, we get a fun photo in our costumes. My costume arrived yesterday and did not look as I hoped it would on me, so I'm quite interested to find out myself what I'll end up wearing tomorrow...

2. This morning I shared my outfit on my IG story- I am wearing this super cute lilac and white check pullover today. I found it on RTR, I couldn't believe it! I got my usual size but I'd recommend sizing down, it's pretty roomy.

3. If you want to try Rent the Runway, you can get 40% off your first shipment if you click here! I have had a membership for years and while I don't use it every month, I always have a great experience when I do. Lately, I've been in a shopping mood, just wanting new things to wear, and so being able to pick out 4 high-end pieces of clothing for just $100 without commitment to them is an amazing deal in my mind. This time I order this coat (so cute), the pullover I mentioned above, this skirt that I might wear for Thanksgiving, and this cute black bag- been needing something like this!

7 Halloween Costume Ideas

Sunday night on Instagram I shared a story asking what you're dressing up as for Halloween! There were some great responses, but also a lot of "I have no idea, please share ideas." I have always been so last minute with Halloween costumes, and this year I can't believe I'm actually somewhat ahead of the game (literally ordered a bunch of stuff last night and today is probably the last day to order if you don't want to pay extra for shipping!). 

This Week's Top 10: all of the fall things

1. The photo above is from Gray Malin's fabulous new Dogs of NYC collection. Read more about the collection here!

2. Last night I had a major "romanticize my life" moment. I went on a walk after work through the West Village to see all of the pretty homes and fall decor, and then I stopped at TJ's on my way home where I picked up a pumpkin, gourd, and a few pumpkin beers! I got home and lit my fall candle and read my book while listening to this fabulous fall jazz playlist. I was really living my fall truth. Everything and more!

3. Need to call out my new fall candle: it's AMAZING. I found it at Target on Sunday and it *sparks joy.* The scent sounds bad (pumpkin & cinnamon) but I promise it took me by very pleasant surprise when I sniffed it at the store! I find sweet-smelling/pumpkin spice/vanilla-type scents just gross in my opinion, and this isn't that- it's just fall and fabulous. And it's super cute! And only $15!