La Parisienne

Sweater: J.Crew, Chambray: J.Crew, Pants: J.Crew, Heels: Kenzie, Bag: Dooney & Bourke 

As crazy as I am about these pants, I'm equally enamored with the fancy Parisian lady on my sweater. J.Crew calls her "La Parisienne." With her fluffy hat, pink lipstick, striped gloves and green tights, she's my kind of gal. I think she would appreciate a bag of sweets from Knokes as much as I do. Oui!

PS. Don't forget I have a special private shopping link with Stella and Dot this month! Click here for more info!

Guest Blogger - Moiology

Today is a first for me - I have a guest blogger! I couldn't be happier to have Sasha from Moiology gracing my blog today. I adore Sasha's style and beautiful photography, and I'm sure you will too. We recently decided to do a little blog swap, so I hope you enjoy!

Hi guys! I'm Sasha from Moiology. I blog about my personal style and food. I currently work for Google as one of their Japanese analyst and as a part-time freelance food photographer. I hope to virtually meet all of you soon!

1. How would you describe your style?

-- I'm a chameloen. My style constantly evolves. I like mixing feminine and preppy pieces with boyish or edgier items.

2. Who are your fashion icons?

-- Caroline Issa, Taylor Tomasi Hill, Olsen twins, and Olivia Palermo

3. Where do you go for fashion inspiration?

-- Blogs, magazines, pinterest, instagram, and mannequins at J.Crew.

4. What are the top three places you shop?

-- Zara, J.Crew and H&M.

5. What is your favorite food?

-- I'm from Japan, so naturally I love anything Japanese. Right now I'm going through a Thai phase. I love Massaman curry. But my love for food knows no bounds. I go through phases like this quite often!

Prep

Cable sweater, plaid pants, pearls and bows, polished heels... If that's not preppy I don't know what is. Sometimes I feel like I should try to be "cooler" or more edgy or something with my clothes. But I just always feel better and more "me" in something like this, and I think you have to be yourself. That's why they call it personal style I guess!

Sweater: H&M (very similar), Pants: Gap (love these), Trench: J.Crew, Heels: Target, Necklace: Vintage, Bracelet: Forever21 (similar), Bag: Louis Vuitton

This was the start of truly freezing blog photos. The wind was whipping and it was bitterly cold out. I was on my way to see one of my dearest friends, Kristina, compete in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant. She was so beautiful, her dress was perfection and she could not have performed more flawlessly. So it was a bit of a heartbreak when she ended up winning first runner up... so close. Still a huge accomplishment (you wouldn't believe the competition) but of course we want our girl to win! I can't say enough about how gorgeous she obviously is on the outside, but truly even more so on the inside. She's one of the sweetest, kindest and most genuine girls I know and she handled everything incredibly gracefully. So inspiring. Love you Stiney Weenie!

Kristina is so loved! Once an MVC, always an MVC.

A Little Coco

I saw this little cardi at Forever 21 and instantly thought, "Chanel." The pearl buttons, black and white palette and ladylike style all just shouted Coco at me. The price tag, of course, would suggest otherwise. Long live a cheap thrill!

Sweater: Forever21 ( or similar), Top: J.Crew, Jeans: Joe Fresh (similar), Shoes: Target, Bracelet: c/o Peppermint Lollipops, Sunglasses: Target

A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.

-Coco Chanel 

Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving! This is my favorite day of the year. I love cooking and I love the food, I love spending time with my family and I love taking time to be thankful. I read a book a while back called The Power, and it really stuck with me. It clarified for me the importance of constant and intentional gratitude and positivity, and of giving out love for everything around you. Having that kind of attitude, or at least attempting it, can really change your life.

And now, to give thanks.
(Disclaimer: It's about to get a little mushy up in here. Just saying.)

For my husband Dusty, who is my whole world. I love him more than I could ever put into words in a little blog. He is the greatest gift God has ever given me.

For my incredible family who I love so much - my parents, Dusty of course, my sister Vanessa and brother in law Robert, and my twin brother Austin. Plus all my extended family and in-laws. For all of their support, generosity and years and years of laughs and fun times. My sweet baby niece Carolyn was just a little jelly bean in her mama's belly in this photo (look at my sister glowing), but she has brought so much joy and happiness to our family. 

She is truly the sweetest and most angelic baby I've ever met. We all just love and adore and dote on her so much.

For my friends, most of whom I've known since I was a kid. They aren't all in this photo of course, but I'm so thankful for such fun, funny and beautiful friends, inside and out.

I don't think any "thing" can ever compare to the actual people in our lives, but a few more things I'm grateful for:

Our house. I still sometimes can't believe the fact that I'm not a kid anymore - married, full time job, homeowner. I dreamed of what my first house would be like for years, and I couldn't have dreamed up a more perfect home for us. I love it so much, no wonder I'm a homebody.

My job. I'm lucky enough to work in my family's wedding accessories company, and lucky enough to love what I do. I get to work with my favorite people, make pretty things and speak with happy brides every day. Of course every job has stresses (hello, off-season in the wedding industry) but after the taste of Nursing that I got (I graduated from nursing school and was a licensed RN) I really can't complain.

I also am thankful for the support of everyone who reads my blog! All your comments, likes, messages, and support in person means more than I can say! Seriously, you are the best.

Have a very very happy Thanksgiving!

Take a Bow

Sweater: Forever21, Blouse: (worn underneath, Similar) J.Crew, Jeans: Forever21, Shoes: Aldo (Similar), Bag: J.Crew, Necklace: J.Crew (in stores or try this one), Ring: Forever21

Not the best lighting, not the best backdrop. (Hey there, little Chevy.) But a cozy polka dotted sweater, shiny gold oxfords and precious bow accessories felt blog-worthy all the same, and I was in a hurry. (Off to the Christmas Tour of Homes I told you about.) One day when my DSLR camera dreams come true I will adjust my settings and blur out ugly backgrounds to my heart's content. For now, just try not to look at the dumpster.

Discount Alert!

Peppermint Lollipops (remember the chain link bracelets?) is having a huge Black Friday Sale starting Thursday, November 22nd through Sunday, November 25th. Get 30% off all items in her shop with the coupon code BLACKFRIDAY30

Stitched + Adorned is running a 30% off discount code from November 21st through November 26th. The code is givethanks30

Great opportunities for deals on Christmas gifts or to buy something for yourself for your holiday parties! Happy shopping!

Red Soles & Sequins

Last summer Dusty and I were bumming around in Stillwater and we popped into a little clothing boutique. I saw these sequined leggings on the sale rack, and I was like... should I? Dusty had long since gone outside to escape, as men do, so I couldn't ask his opinion. They were reduced to such a great price that I decided I couldn't pass them up. I mean, sequin leggings. I think this will be my Thanksgiving outfit since its festive and comfortable stretchy.

Sweater: H&M, Leggings: Local boutique, Shoes: Christian Louboutin, Bag: Louis Vuitton

The shoes are another item that require a bit of explanation. They used to be ivory and they were supposed to be my wedding shoes. I bought them in a frenzy of bridal excitement in Chicago directly after purchasing my wedding dress, when it seemed like the most logical thing to do next. Believe me, under no other circumstances would I own such extravagant shoes. 

So they were sitting in their beautiful tissue lined box for months, just waiting for the big day. I took them out a few weeks before my wedding for my first fitting, and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that one of the shoes had dicolored. I don't know how or why, but the ivory satin on one of them had faded to a strange grayish color. Obviously I flipped, and long story short I tried to have them fixed and they turned into this buttercream color. As much as I tried to persuade myself, I really didn't want to wear buttercream shoes on my wedding day. I ended up wearing really sweet little Kate Spades that I did love and were way more comfortable. So thats the saga of the unworn wedding Louboutins.

I didn't think I would ever wear them at all but when I was planning this outfit I was like, what shoes go with sequin leggings... And I happened to glance at these beautiful, extravagant, unworn red soled beauties, and I was like, 

oh yeah. 

Weekender

Happy weekend, friends! I'm a deer hunting widow this weekend so I spent the day shopping solo. Which is sometimes the best way to do it, I find. I had some great coupons and great success at Gap, and then had a little fun in J.Crew. Shout out to Aaron at the Mall of America J.Crew. He's helped me quite a few times and he's so so great. He makes me love shopping there even more than I already do!

I finally got the J.Crew green bow cords! And a few other things I'm also quite happy about. If you've been following me for awhile you know I've had my eye on these pants foreverrrr. I could not get them out of my head. Look for them in a post soon and then, well, often. I'm gonna wear the sh*t out of these :)

Throwing in a few recently instagrammed outfits

Also, Classy Pam is featuring me in her My Fav Blogger series this week! Hop over here to check it out.

Tomorrow is one of my favorite days of the year - The Hudson Christmas Tour of Homes. Every year five or six gorgeous houses in town, old ones and new ones, are decorated top to bottom, literally down to the laundry rooms, for Christmas. A lot of the shops in town donate stuff, so the displays are really over the top amazing. Then the houses are open for tours. My mom, sister, auntie and I go every year and we just love it. And we always shop and and have a nice lunch out too. Perfect girls day. I can't wait!

I hope you are having a lovely weekend too! xoxo

Fair Isle

Dress: c/o Stitched + Adorned, Tights: Target, Boots: Cio Bella via DSW (similar), Bag: Dooney & Bourke

I love cozy Fair Isle sweaters, so I was drawn right to this sweet and soft dress from Stitched + Adorned. Knit dresses with tights and boots are one of my go-to outfits for fall and winter. I will add a cardi or jacket as the weather continues to get colder, but I was thrilled with the 50 degree temps yesterday!

Don't forget to enter the Stitched + Adorned giveaway, and visit Stitched + Adorned online. This dress is still available!

Stitched + Adorned Giveawayn (Closed)

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to the winner, Meredith!

I have another great giveaway for you today! This week Stitched + Adorned will be giving away one item on their website to a lucky Lily Says Go reader. Winners choice, anything on the site! 

Stitched + Adorned is an adorable online shop filled with cute, affordable clothes and accessories. In fact nothing on the site is over $50! Here are a few of my picks:

How to enter:

1. Must be a follower of LilySaysGO via Google Friend Connect (very easy, just click on the little blue button on the right)

2. Like Stitched + Adorned on Facebook

3. Leave a comment below and be sure to include your email address

For Extra Entries: 

-Follow Lily Says Go on Facebook

-Follow Lily Says Go on Bloglovin

-Follow me on Instagram (elleseabee)

(One extra entry for each, tell me in the comments which ones you did)

The giveaway is open through November 20. It is open to the US only. Good luck! In the meantime be sure to check out all the cute stuff on the Stitched + Adorned website!

Also check here to see if you won the gold chain link bracelet from last week!

Red + Red + Red

When in doubt, throw on a few pieces in the same color and add a coordinating lipstick. Matchy-matchy used to be a no-no, but since I believe that fashion rules have gone the way of the dinosaur, I actually really like it. If only I'd had time for a red mani...

Sweater: H&M (similar), Shirt: Gap (similar), Jeans: LOFT, Shoes: Seychelles (cute option), Bag: J.Crew,  Locket: J.Crew (very old, gift from Dusty), Lips: Lancome Corset

Today is the last day to enter my bracelet giveaway! I will announce the winner tomorrow, along with another great giveaway!