Dress.  Short Version of Dress.  Necklace.  Shoes.  Clutch.  Similar Jacket. Similar Hairpiece.  Similar Earrings.

2015 was my husband and my busiest and most exciting year yet. Our wedding in February was the best day of our lives. We were able to witness six other couples marry throughout the year. I launched my website. I met a group of lovely Denver bloggers who have become my friends. And above all else, we continue to pray for the health, safety, and happiness of our loved ones. Each year has its ups and downs, but I like to focus on the positive… Here’s a little recap of my favorite 2015 moments.

2015 began with my mother and I traveling to Chicago once and NYC twice for wedding dress fittings. We finalized wedding preparations for our special day and John and I were married this February in Palm Beach, Florida. After all the hustle and bustle, a honeymoon in St. Barth and Anguilla was most welcome.

Spring was filled with special moments, beginning with a family wedding in Los Angeles. I celebrated my 28th birthday, began (finally!) working on and decorating our home, and celebrated a beautiful wedding with a special couple right here in Denver. I traveled back to the Midwest for my cousin’s graduation and to co-host a best friend’s engagement party.

The fast pace continued through summer, but was wonderful. We ushered in the season with a picturesque wedding in San Diego. We then traveled to Paris for Couture Week as a guest of Chanel; it was the most memorable and incredible trip of my life. In August, we celebrated another wedding in the mountains of Colorado and John’s 30th birthday in a plane on the way to Rome for a family vacation and wedding. I was incredibly excited to launch my fashion and lifestyle website after many weeks of hard work and preparation and I feel so lucky to have my encouraging, positive readers in my life.

Fall offered us a welcome bit of relaxation. I attended New York Fashion Week for the first time… And went to a lovely wedding in Ohio the same week. I co-hosted a baby shower for a best friend’s baby girl in the Midwest (we are anxiously awaiting her arrival right now!) and after that celebration, I was able to come home and put some serious focus and work into both my website and our home. In between the holiday hustle and bustle, J and I spent a relaxing Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve together with our three dogs we love so much.

I want to thank each and every one of you for joining me on this journey so far. I read all your comments and they inspire me and encourage me to create content for you. I am so proud of the little community we’ve become. I wish you a happy and healthy 2016 full of many blessings. I hope you share your 2016 with me… I can’t wait to see what comes our way this year!!

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Coat.  Similar Coat.  Jeans.  Similar Boots.  Hermès Kelly Bag.

One of my favorite things about these classic military-style coats is how versatile they are… They can mix and match with virtually any style and always appear timeless and polished. In these photos I’m wearing them with relatively casual Frye boots – now sold out, but I’ve had my eye on these similar boots for a while.

Pair a military-style coat with a slouchy turtleneck sweater, leggings, and black sneakers for a kind of NYC chic look. Add heeled booties and a ballerina bun for a polished, feminine look.

I’ve linked several military-style coats at various price points in the slide down below… Most are on sale. Just click the arrows to scroll through the images and when you find one you like, simply click to shop.

Sweater.  Skirt (Same Style).  Tights.  Bracelet.  Booties (Similar).

First of all, it’s crazy my dog Lola just turned nine years old. It’s her little doggie birthday and each year this date reminds me of the time my good friend begged me to come with her to “look at puppies”. Sure enough… You put two animal lovers together and at least one of them will go home with a new pet. That day it was me.

This weekend we helped that friend’s boyfriend organize a surprise proposal for her and it was truly magical. She is such a wonderful person and deserves every happiness. I am so grateful for her and her friendship… And I have her to thank for encouraging me to bring my sweet pup home.

Let’s talk outfit. J.Crew Factory (who is having a 50% off sale right now) makes these great little skirts with a comfy-yet-cute elastic waist and pockets. They look amazing with tights and are the perfect solution to the snug skirt problem we all tend to develop over the holidays. This plaid pattern is sold out, but they have some great solids available now.

Be sure to check out Instagram if you have an account! Today I’ll be drawing a winner for my HRH Collection bracelet giveaway on Instagram (@brittanypillard). Later tonight, a group of bloggers and I will be launching another Instagram giveaway.

Cardigan.  Tank.  Leggings.  Boots (Regular and Wide).  Earrings.  Necklace.  Ring.

I’ve been loving all the tribal print open cardigans this season (like the gray one I recently wore) and I’ve been mixing mine up with slightly Southwestern touches like this jewelry from Jewel of the West. I like their ‘statement’ quality and the way the blue pops against the otherwise neutral palette.

I’ve included some other black and white open cardigan styles down below in the slide… Just click the arrows to scroll through the images and when you see one you like, simply click to shop. I think this style is perfect for throwing on with leggings or skinny jeans. It’s been my go-to for running errands and finishing my Christmas shopping as of late.

Speaking of the holidays, be sure to check out my ‘Holiday’ section under ‘Categories’ above. It’s the one-stop shop for all my gift guides, holiday events, and festive outfits. You can also search my hashtag #tcgholiday on Instagram for all my holiday-related photos. And… I’m doing another little giveaway on Instagram and it goes along with the blue jewelry theme!! Stay tuned!!

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1. Bling Brush Portable Jewelry Cleaner
2. Pink Leopard Print Cosmetic Case
3. Pink Crochet Pompom Beanie
4. Tocca Hand Cream Trio
5. Coconut + Vanilla Bean Lip Scrub
6. Smith & Cult ‘The Graduate’ Nail Polish
7. Kate Spade Gold Stripe Thermal Mug
8. Charlotte Tilbury Mini Lipstick Charm Set
9. Kate Spade ‘Let’s Connect’ Phone Case
10. Marble Portable Phone Charger
11. Diamond-Shaped Drinking Glasses
12. Cubic Zirconia Stud Earrings
13. Kate Spade Sullivan Street Photo Frame
14. Golden-Brown Faux Fur Stole
15. Illume ‘Mercury’ Scented Candle Jar

Blog love: The Novice Native & Semi-Sweet Tooth

This weekend I hosted a little get-together at my home. We made DIY bath products and I had all the trimmings to give them as gifts. We were all in slippers and comfy clothes – it made for the coziest night in.

I got most of the ingredients at either Whole Foods or Sprouts grocery stores. I purchased almost all organic, fair trade products for this project. Since we are giving these as gifts and they will be used on the face and body I think it’s a great idea, but of course not necessary. Most items are food products, so they are safe to apply to the skin. The essential oils can be switched out throughout the seasons – floral oils would be beautiful in the spring, citrus in the summer, and scents like clove and sandalwood in the fall. I’d love to hear about your favorite scent combinations – I want to experiment a bit more with these recipes.

The jars, ribbon, tags, labels, and gift bags all came from Michael’s craft store… Most were 50% off since it’s so close to Christmas. It’s the perfect time to get some for a fun holiday project or to stock up for next year.

Have you tried any of these recipes? If you put together your own DIY party or hot cocoa bar, you have to let me know how it goes!

Creamy Body Butter

1.  Using a double boiler (or a simple metal bowl over a pot of boiling water like we did) melt 2 cups of olive oil, 2 cups of cocoa butter, and 2 cups of shea butter to a liquid consistency.
2. Once melted and combined, put mixture into the fridge for 1 hour or until the liquid has started to appear lighter in color and a bit more solid.
3. Using a hand mixer, whip the liquid mixture until it begins to look creamy. If it’s still too liquid, place in fridge for 20 minute increments until it reaches the desired consistency. Add 12 drops lavender essential oil and 12 drops grapefruit essential oil (we think it would be pretty with peppermint!) and whip with the hand mixer again.
4. Spoon the creamy, whipped body butter into sealed jars or containers. It will thicken and harden over the next 2 days or so. Keep near a steamy shower or pop in the microwave to soften.

Rose-Lavender Bath Bombs

1. Mix 1 cup citric acid, 2 cups baking soda, 20 drops rose essential oil and 15 drops lavender essential oil in a large bowl. You can add food coloring to this mixture, but remember… Food coloring can stain bathtubs, so be careful.
2. Spritz the mixture with 100% pure witch hazel and quickly mix together with hands. Continue spritzing the witch hazel and mixing in until the mixture feels damp and sticks together when you squeeze it.
3. Once damp, press the mixture firmly into molds. Overfilling doesn’t hurt. Once full, let the mixture sit for a minute or two, then carefully tap the mixture out onto paper towel. Let the bath bombs sit and dry for at least 1 hour before packaging them up.

Peppermint Sugar Scrub

1. Mix 8 cups white sugar, 4 cups coconut oil, 8 drops green food coloring, and 80 drops peppermint essential oil into a large bowl and mix together.
2. Spoon sugar scrub into sealed jars or containers.

Red Sweater.  Blanket Scarf.  Sequin Skirt (Similar).  Boots (Regular and Wide-Calf).  “Cruella” Lip Color.

Miranda L. Sober Photography

Just sharing a little holiday outfit I love. An outfit that’s warm but festive enough for your holiday parties. Start with bright sweater, a sparkly skirt, and and a cozy blanket scarf. Add a little lash and a red lip. This skirt looks incredible with a classic denim shirt as well.

I double checked and you can still get all of the items I linked above before your Christmas festivities. (Here’s another skirt option with free 3-day shipping if you order soon!) The blanket scarf I’m wearing is under $30 and I think it would make a great gift or stocking stuffer.

I hope you’re all enjoying these last ten days before Christmas! I seemed to have picked up a bit of a cold, so I’m finishing my Christmas shopping from the sofa today with extra hot tea and a holiday movie or two. What’s your favorite Christmas movie?

Miranda L. Sober Photography

BootayBag Website

Just wanted to share this fun concept with you ladies… Because if you’re like me, you have a few pairs of seriously ugly panties in your closet. Am I right?? And don’t we all feel better and more confident when we have some pretty little things underneath?! Well, BootayBag has solved the problem!

You sign up with BootayBag and they send you two pretty pairs of panties a month. You can choose between thongs, no thongs, or a mixture of both so it’s really customizable based on your preferences. And then… Just like that, two lovely pairs of panties show up at your doorstep every month.

I loved the styles and color selections they sent me… Both were lacy and feminine; exactly the style of panties I would choose for myself in a shop or online.

BootayBag subscriptions are $12/month or $132 for the entire year which includes one month free. This would make a great Christmas gift! Let me know if you subscribe and what you think of your first pairs of pretties!

Red Coat (Similar).  Turtleneck Sweater Dress.  Sheer Hose.  Boots (Regular and Wide-Calf).  Necklace.  Chanel Classic Flap Bag (Similar Here and Here).

Miranda L. Sober Photography

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks. Dressed in holiday style. In the air there is a feeling of Christmas. – “Silver Bells”

I found this cherry-red coat at Intermix last year in between wedding dress fittings with my mom. Each time I wear it, it reminds me of our adventures in Chicago and NYC during the holiday season… Rushing around, but full of Christmas cheer. I had been looking for a red coat for so long and was pleasantly surprised when I saw this in a shop window. I highly recommend having a tailored red coat like this one in your closet. Red coats look beautiful with neutral clothing and lend a pop of vibrance to any outfit.

And speaking of neutrals… This turtleneck sweater dress with the leather trim is my latest favorite. The leather adds a luxe touch and these colors are so beautiful together. I was surprised at how flattering this dress is on the body… There is a light, stretchy lining underneath that smooths everything perfectly. This dress would look lovely for holiday events and activities, but is such a classic style I’m sure I’ll be wearing it for years to come.

Do you have all your holiday shopping done yet? Any incredible holiday shop windows you’ve seen lately?

Also… Don’t forget… I draw the winner of my Christian Louboutin Lipstick Giveaway on Sunday! Enter if you haven’t yet; I love sending pretty little packages to you guys.