Thanksgiving Date

I’ve done just about every kind of Thanksgiving:

I’ve had plenty of traditional turkey dinners at home with immediate and extended family, where I watched (a) my mom freak out about cooking and/or (b) my grandpa fall asleep on the couch in front of a football game.

One year, I went to New York and saw the Macy’s parade and had dinner with some people I had never met before who very generously let me and my friend come over to their tiny apartment.

I’ve had dinner with Kristin’s very large extended family, which, like the Macy’s parade, involves a large cast of characters. I’ve had Thanksgiving at the beach, which included sipping champagne while watching the waves (that was a particularly good one). Last year, I went to a potluck “Friendsgiving.”

That brings us up to date…to this year, when I added yet another variation of Turkey Day to my repertoire: a Thanksgiving date of dinner and a movie! I spent all day with the person I’m most thankful for (I know…gag). We made breakfast and ate it in bed while watching the parade (the Macy’s one, not her family), then got gussied up and went to see a movie, and finished the night with dinner at Cooper’s Hawk Winery (we took pumpkin pie cheesecake to go and I even shared a little of it). So there you have it: a fabulously uncomplicated and fun Thanksgiving, and a great excuse for this outfit. Now, if anyone can think of something new for me to do next year, let me know! Thanks.

Also, don’t think I forgot today is Cyber Monday. Since this blog is more about  my style and my random nonsensical thoughts than it is about shopping tips, I decided not to do a special post for sales alerts. However, I will be posting links with sales and promo codes on the Sarah’s Real Life Facebook page and on Twitter, so you can follow along there if you’d like!

Dress: Target

Belt: J. Crew (similar on sale)

Shoes: Victoria’s Secret, old (similar)

Bag: old (similar)

Sunglasses: Target

Don’t forget to follow me on Bloglovin’…You’ll get to see what I wear next Thanksgiving and every day in between!

Before & After

On Friday, I went to visit yet another pair of friends who just had a baby (yes, that makes 3 in one week), then I headed downtown for dinner with the in-laws, some shopping, and – most importantly – to Circle of Lights! Every year on the day after Thanksgiving, Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis gets blocked off to traffic, and there’s a big show with various Christmas-themed performances. Lights are strung up to the top of the monument, and at the culmination of the show (after Santa shows up, of course), the lights turn on and it looks like a giant Christmas tree. It’s just a fun way to start off the holiday season, although it’s more fun when it’s not frigid outside. This just happened to be a frigid year (yay), so I had to prepare to bundle up. I thought I’d show you my basic look, along with the Arctic Tundra version.

Here’s another side-by-side for ya: the Soldiers and Sailors Monument before and after the lights went on. I would have gotten closer, but as you can see, a couple other people were there. I’m working on getting a private show next year.

Chambray: Madewell (similar)

Vest: LOFT

Jeans: The Limited

Boots: Matisse via DSW (similar)

Necklace: I.N.C. via Macy’s (similar, similar)

Coat: J. Crew (25% off and free shipping w/ code COLOR25 thru 11/25)

Hat: handmade gift (similar)

Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Baby Boom

You’re looking at me standing in the lobby of Union Hospital in Terre Haute, IN, where I went to visit two different friends who had babies this week! I got to see both moms and one baby (the other was in the NICU but is doing fine). I figured a great outfit was appropriate for the occasion since hospitals are pretty much the most fashion-starved places ever. Everyone’s in scrubs or hospital gowns. Normally, there are still regularly dressed people visiting, but the residents of Terre Haute are not exactly the best looking crowd (except for my friends, obviously). Actually, in Terre Haute, scrubs and hospital gowns might be an improvement over the norm.

Still, I’m happy to say that one little girl named Dylan got her first style lesson from me! (I also got her her first copy of Vogue, so she’s all set.) Congrats to all the parents! Better you than me!

Sweater: J. Crew Factory

Skirt: Anthropologie (on sale!)

Boots: Target (on sale!)

Bracelets: Forever 21 and Nordstrom

Tune in later today for the official announcement of the Gems & Jam Giveaway winner!

H is for Harrell; That’s Good Enough for Me

Don’t be fooled: the fact that Tommy Hilfiger made this sweater does not mean the “H” signifies Tommy’s surname. Nope, it stands for Harrell, which is why I wear it with pride.

You see, I’ve never understood the interest in sporting brand name merch for the sake of wearing the name. Don’t get me wrong…I’m certain Louis Vuitton makes excellent quality bags. But if I had the money to buy an LV bag, it certainly wouldn’t be the monogram bag. Unless your name is Lilac Von Trapp, I don’t know why you’d want to have a bunch of LV’s on your arm all the time. (P.S. Lilac Von Trapp is an awesome name…I might name my child Lilac Von Trapp. And by child, I mean my next cat. And you better believe the feline Lilac Von Trapp will have an LV carrier case. Biggest diva at the vet’s office. But I digress…)

The point is: How lucky was I to find a whole table full of sweaters made just for me? Harrell pride.

Sweater: Tommy Hilfiger, old

Gingham shirt: J. Crew

Jeans: Express “barely boot”

Shoes: Cole Haan (similar)

Bracelets: Stephan & Co. via Nordstrom (white, black)

Coat: Victoria’s Secret (similar, similar shorter)

There’s not much time left to enter the Gems & Jam giveaway for a chance to win $20 worth of fabulous vintageness! Entries are low so your chances of winning are high!

Use Your Noggin

Fun fact about me: I usually don’t do hats. Most hats look funny on me, or they’re too small for my big head. You might think I’m joking, but it’s true – my head is deceptively large. I hide it well under all my hair. So when I find a hat that fits and doesn’t look stupid, I obviously have to get it.

Then I face the next challenge: when can I even wear a hat? On Saturday I decided that a class field trip to the art museum and a subsequent lunch date would be hat-appropriate activities. Coincidentally, that’s exactly what was on my schedule for Saturday, so it all worked out.

Hat: Target, old (similar)

Jacket: Express

Pants: LOFT

Shoes: Sperry Top Sider

I’m Not Tired of You Yet

I hope you guys aren’t tired of seeing this boys’ polo, because I am so not done wearing it. I just love it. So comfy, great fit, and it’s striped! I’m a sucker for anything striped. Or with bows. Or leopard print. Or mint. OK, I’m just a sucker.

I wore this for a day at the mall, but don’t worry. The majority of the time was spent sitting at Starbucks working on a paper that’s due Sunday night (11 pages down, 9 to go). The rest of the time was spent doing a little Christmas shopping. Pretty soon I’ll be knee-deep in finals and I won’t be able to think about Christmas until it’s too late to get everything done. Oy. I know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel is really freakin’ long and curvy so I can’t quite see it yet.

Shirt: J. Crew boys’ department (similar for grownups)

Sweater: Isaac Mizrahi for Target, old (similar)

Jeans: Seven

Boots: Target

Necklace: I.N.C. (similar, similar)

Watch: Anne Klein (similar)

Bracelet: Stephan & Co. via Nordstrom

Earrings: Kate Spade

A week from today, the winner of the Gems and Jam Giveaway will be announced. It could be you! But only if you enter, dummy. Do it here.

Play Laceball

The Nordstrom fairy brought me some gifts this week, including this baseball jacket and these bracelets! Such a nice little fairy. I actually saw this stuff in-store but I ordered it online so I could get a visit from the fairy. Or because I like to give myself a little time after I see stuff I like to talk it over with my closet. “Closet, do you think you could be friends with a lace jacket and some cool spikey bracelets?” My closet said yes. So here we are.

Seriously though, I thought this jacket was so cool. I like that it’s sporty in structure but completely unsporty in material. Which is appropriate, because I myself might appear to be fit and athletic, yet I have absolutely no skill at any sport.

I have a funny story about my baseball skills, actually. I remember in middle school gym class when we had to play baseball (or wiffle ball, whatever it was) for the first time. I went up to bat and couldn’t hit a ball to save my life. Then the gym teacher asked if I was left-handed. I’m not. He said that was the problem…I was facing the wrong way! So I turned around and hit right-handed.

Made no difference whatsoever.

Lace baseball jacket: MOD.lusive via Nordstrom

Jeans: American Eagle

Loafers: Target, old (similar here and here)

Bracelets: both Stephan & Co. via Nordstrom (same here and here)

You know what lace makes me think of? Vintage. You know what vintage makes me think of? The Gems & Jam Giveaway that you still need to enter. Get on it!

Orange You Glad I’m Wearing More Yellow?

This yellow jacket is by far one of my favorite things in my wardrobe. And yet…It’s one of those pieces that makes such a statement and can only be worn in so many ways that I don’t bust it out very often. So when I do wear it, the day feels special. And also mustardy.

Also, some of you that follow me on Twitter saw that I splurged on a certain fancy beauty item last week (and Instagrammed it, of course, because if it’s not on Instagram, it didn’t happen)…The lucky new product gracing my face is an Yves Saint Laurent Gloss Stain in an awesome orangey-red shade. I had read nothing but glowing reviews of this product in magazines, but I never know how much to trust magazines…they could be sponsored or something. I don’t know. But I had a 20% off coupon for Sephora so I decided to go for it. So, you want to know my unsponsored thoughts? I thought so…

The picture below (and the ones above, for that matter) were taken around 4:30pm. The last time I had touched up my lips was after lunch, 12:30 or so. Since then I had eaten a granola bar, a medium fries from Wendy’s, and a Diet Coke. (I like to snack, OK?) The point is, this stuff sticks! It’s part gloss, part stain, so the gloss does rub off on your coffee cup, but the stain sticks around for awhile. For me, it’s a great combo because I like to use something glossy on my lips so they don’t feel dry, but I also hate it when I get through a meal or a drink and I’m left with just a red outline around my lips. You know what I’m talking about. Tacky. Basically, this stuff is the best of both worlds!

So Santa, if you’re listening, I wouldn’t mind another color.

Most awesome jacket ever: I.N.C. (Macy’s), old…sorry! but see some other great mustard options here, here, and here

Jeans: Seven

Boots: Madden Girl (similar here and here)

Lips: YSL Glossy Stain No. 8 Orange de Chine

Don’t forget to enter the Gems and Jam Giveaway if you haven’t yet! It’s seriously easy. All I ask is one follow and one comment and you’re ready to win $20 of vintage awesomeness.

The Bee’s Knees

I really love the look of socks peeking out above knee-high boots, especially with bare legs and a skirt. But if we’re being practical (and we are for once), there really is a small temperature range where this combo is wearable. Too hot, and you have swamp calves. Too cold, and you get frost bite only on your knees, which I imagine being more awkward than just having straight up frost bite everywhere.

But lucky for me and my lucky knees, this past Saturday had a high in the upper 60s, and I was comfortable wearing this on my field trip to the apple orchard even as the sun went down. Success! And I was having a great hair day. DOUBLE SUCCESS!

Sweater: Target, old (similar)

Skirt: Webster Miami for Target (similar)

Boots: Matisse, old (similar)

Watch: Anne Klein (similar)

Oh! And if you didn’t catch it yesterday, my very first (and very awesome) giveaway is going on now. See yesterday’s post to enter for a chance to win $20 worth of super cute and unique vintage jewelry, accessories, and housewares from Gems and Jam.

A Visitor

Thursday was one of those study-at-Starbucks-then-drink-margaritas-and-do-laundry days, and this is what I wore. Oh, do other people not have those kinds of days? How unfortunate. Unfortunate for whom? I’m not sure. But I am sure that it was dark by the time I got home, hence the romantic lighting.

But you know what happens when I take photos indoors? I get visitors…

EVERYONE IS SO HAPPY TO HAVE THEIR PICTURE TAKEN! (Anyone who says cats can’t make facial expressions needs to see this and then hang his or her head in shame.)

Trench: Andrew Marc via TJ Maxx (similar here and here)

Tee: Simply Vera Vera Wang, old

Sweater: J. Crew

Pearl Necklace: Givenchy via Nordstrom