Christmas 2017 Gift Guide: For the Boys

Crosley CR704D-PA Turntable: My husband recently inherited a bunch of records from his mom but we have no way to play them! We've been talking about getting a record player and this one fits the bill for us. A girlfriend of mine has this particular model and the sound is great! 

YETI Rambler 30oz Stainless Steel Tumbler with Lid: My husband was recently given this as a groomsmen's gift and he uses it every single night and raves about it. The groom had them monogrammed with their initials and the logo of their favorite football team (Redskins) which is such a nice touch. 

Patagonia Better Sweater: I have given this as a gift to every guy in my family and it has been a hit! I have the women's version and I can't say enough good things about it. 

L.L. Bean Personal Organizer: If you have a traveler (man or woman) in your life, I think this hanging toiletries bag is a great gift. My husband has one (not this particular style) and it is his constant traveling companion. I'd like to purchase one for each member of our family to keep us organized when we travel. 

Happy Socks: My husband has received several pairs of fun, printed socks for being in weddings and as Christmas gifts and now he wears them all the time since his office adopted a more relaxed dress code. 

Orvis Men's Manicure Set: My husband travels a lot for work and I think this would be something he would appreciate having with him when he's on the road. 

Under Armour Tech 1/4 Zip Pullover: Another tried and true favorite that I have gifted to the men in my family. Can be worn for working out, running errands or lounging!

Trask Chukka Boot: I think these would make a great gift for the fashion-forward men in your life. Chukkas are a classic style but the navy blue color gives them an updated feel. 

Grill Prep Trays: I saw these last week when I was out buying a gift and the idea is genius. You take the uncooked meat out to the grill on the red tray with the black tray underneath. Then, once your meat is ready to be removed from the grill you switch the trays so the black tray is on top and that's where you put the cooked meat. So easy! I'm getting this for my dad for Christmas. 

#1 Dad Mug: I think this would be a funny and nostalgic gift to give to your dad or husband. A hark back to the past when we gave our parents homemade gifts. I'm going to get one for my husband, I think he'll get a kick out of it! 

Linking up with  Owen,  Emily, and  Brittany!

Monday Musings: Cyber Monday Sales

Bath & Body Works: 40% off and Free Shipping on purchases over $40 with code CYBERMON

Now is the time to stock up on Christmas candles for this year and next! I have 4 in my cart currently!

Top Pick: A classic Christmas scent, Fresh Balsam. 

Tervis: 25% off and Free Shipping

Tervis tumblers were my go to drink holder when I was a teacher. Unbreakable and cute designs! Add a lid for just $1.99 so your child's teacher can easily drink his/her coffee without spillage, plus they really do keep drinks hot or cold for hours.

Top pick: 16 oz #1 Teacher tumbler with lid

Skip Hop: 25-60% off everything plus free shipping on all orders

The  diaper bag I posted about on my baby #2 post is marked down to $40 in the navy and black, while the other colors are 25% off plus free shipping so now is the time to snag it! 

Top Pick: Chelsea Downton Chic Diaper Satchel

Abercrombie & Fitch: 50% off and free shipping on all orders

I have a few of Abercrombie's flannel plaid shirts and they are the best. I size up to a large for a looser fit. 

Top Pick: Plaid Flannel Shirt

DSW: 25% off everything with code HOLIDAY2017

My  favorite black slip-ons that I posted about on Friday are currently 25% off, they come in blush as well which are so cute!

Top Pick: Van's Asher Perforated Slip-on Sneaker

*affiliate links used*

Patagonia Favorites on Sale!

I wore my Re-Tool Snap-T Pullover by Patagonia for a long walk with my family this morning. Patagonia is currently on sale, which is the best time to snag some pieces. Honestly, I buy Patagonia full price because the comfort and quality can't be beat but I do love getting it on sale, too! 

Shop my favorite Patagonia items on sale below:

Five on Friday: Shoe Sales Worth Shopping

Van's Asher Slip-ons// J.Crew Factory Wedges

Ugg Adley Stripe// Jack Rogers Nicola Navajo Sandal

Sperry Saltwater Duck Boot

*affiliate links used*

5 Black Friday Sales I'm Shopping

Is there anything better than online shopping with a cup of coffee? Yes! Online shopping with a cup of coffee when everything is on sale! I try to avoid the "it's on sale therefore I should buy it" trap when big sales like Black Friday come around. So last week I started brainstorming some places I knew I wanted to shop and decided to narrow down my list to five places. We are planning to #optoutside with the babe and the dog on Black Friday so I'm glad a few of these sales started early! Who says you can't shop AND #optoutside this Black Friday??

Below I've listed the five sales I'm shopping: 

Backcountry.com: 20% off one full-price item with code 20MORE + plus free two-shipping with any order over $50. 

I've mentioned on here how much I love Patagonia and this  Los Gatos 1/4 Zip Fleece is no exception. All the reviews say this is the softest, coziest pullover ever and with the sale it comes to just under $80. Not a bad price for Patagonia! Given that I'm anticipating a winter season at home with a newborn, I'm ordering this today. My recommendation is to size up, I'm usually a medium in Patagonia but also own a few larges. I'll be getting this in a large. 

The Land of Nod: 20% off plus free shipping. Ends Monday. 

I order this  A Very Good Year ornament every year (except last year, sadly, it was sold out) so I've already ordered it for this year. Although we don't have any space at all in our tiny row home for a Christmas tree, I still collect ornaments for the day we finally have a Christmas tree again! 

Goodnight Macaroon: 30% off with code BLACKFRIDAY2017

Love  this ribbed cardigan, it seems so soft and cozy for the winter paired with a long-sleeve tee underneath. I love the pockets on the front as well, good for holding all the little knickknacks my toddler asks me to hold for him, ha! With the sale, this sweater comes in at $41! Can't beat that price!

L.L. Bean: 20% off + free shipping with code THANKS20 plus a free $10 gift card for purchases over $50. Ends Tuesday. 

My sister has  this rugby striped pullover and it is SO cute. L.L. Bean has great prices as it is so snagging this on sale is a steal! I love the chambray accent on the white but I'd order the pink and navy myself. I have  this coat and it is the best fall coat! I get so many compliments when I wear it and people often think it's Barbour. 

Madewell: 25% off your purchase with code DONTSTRESS. Ends 11/26. 

If I wasn't still in diaper bag land, I'd snap  this medium transport tote up in a heartbeat. I always tend to purchase my bags in this camel/saddle color because I think it is timeless. I love that this bag has both handles and a crossbody strap, a girl's gotta have options!

Honorable mention goes to  ULTA: Their sale starts at 5pm tomorrow and they are offering tons of great deals! I'll be picking up my  absolute favorite mascara and my favorite shampoo and  conditioner for blondes, both of which will be on super sale! 

*affiliate links used* 

Blush Pink

I wore these blush pink Sam Edelman heels (currently on sale!) out to a friend's baby sprinkle for the the little girl she's having in January and I got so many compliments on these heels! They are so versatile because the color is subtle but still catches your eye, I think you could wear them with any color, really. I love them paired with this camel colored sweater.  Even though this blush pink falls on the lighter side of I think it is a perfect color for fall and there are some great blush pink options out there right now!

I've rounded up some of my blush pink favorites below: 

*affiliate links used* 

Monday Musings: Struggling with Your Own Christmas List

All year long, I see items that I love from clothes to shoes to books to home decor items. Then, Christmas time comes and my mother or mother-in-law start asking for gift ideas I can't think of a thing! One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is finding a gift for my family that I know they will enjoy or something I know they need. I get so excited waiting for them to the open gift. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that there are people on my list that are incredibly hard to shop for so I really appreciate it when people provide me with gift ideas. Obviously, there is joy in finding a gift that they may not expect but I love getting people gifts I know they want. 

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, people are starting to think about their Christmas shopping and I've already had my mom ask me what I want so I tried to come up with some ideas. I thought it would be fun to share what I have on my own Christmas list and perhaps it will spark a few ideas for some ladies in your life (or your own list!): 

one// two// three

four// five

six// seven

eight// nine// ten

*affiliate links used* 

Sweater Love

Happy Friday, friends! I wanted to share this maternity look with you all because it is so easy and comfortable! My first pregnancy, I was still teaching P.E. thus majority of my wardrobe was maternity work out gear so dressing the bump this time around has been a lot more fun! 

I'm loving open front cardigans right now because while it is chilly here on the east coast, I'm not as cold as everyone else so open front cardigans are the perfect layering piece! Paired with a plaid scarf and these adorable mules, this combo has been my go to lately!

I've linked this sweater plus a few other open front sweaters if you'd like to shop them below:

*affiliate links used*

Thoughts for Thursday: What We're Buying for Baby #2!

California Baby Calendula Body Wash /Shampoo  and Cream: My first son had terrible cradle cap and this is the only brand that worked to get rid of it so I'm stocking up on this from the get go. My formula was pretty simple: wash his hair with the shampoo, brush his hair with a soft bristle brush, and then a touch of cream on his scalp. Worked like a charm! 

Baby Boy Gowns: I had a few of these for J but I honestly never used them because I didn't like the look of them and while the look still isn't my favorite, I think they are a smart investment for time's sake. Plus, there are some adorable prints out there. These are from Target but Spearmint Baby also carries adorable gowns at a bit of higher price point, though. 

Hatch Baby Rest: I plan to use this mostly as a nightlight for myself when the baby finally moves to his own room but is still nursing at night. The Hatch Baby Rest also serves as a sound machine (I prefer to use a fan as a sound machine) and an ok-to-wake signaling device for older kids (this is a super appealing option to me), love that it is multi-functional at a decent price. A bonus feature is that it can be controlled from your phone! 

Skip Hop 'Chelsea' Diaper Bag: I had this diaper bag with my first son and I loved it. Stupidly, I sold it and now with baby #2 on the horizon, I'm regretting that decision. Mainly because I need all the pockets this diaper bag has. This bag kept me super organized because there was a compartment for everything. I'm seriously considering buying it again. 

Zutano Booties: I didn't buy these with my first son until he was 6 months old and I wish I had had them sooner. I'll be buying these in both newborn and 3 months sizes for this baby. They are the best at staying on and keeping baby's feet warm. Plus, they are the cutest! 

DockATot Deluxe: I'm on the fence about buying a DockATot. On the one hand, everyone raves about it but on the other hand, what if this is my last baby? Is it worth spending that much on a baby item I'll only use for a little while? I imagine the resale market would be pretty good but it's still an investment up front. It seems like being able to put this anywhere while I'm downstairs with J would be incredibly useful. Any advice on whether or not to purchase would be appreciated!

UppaBaby Vista Double Stroller: I've already purchased this stroller and goodness is it pretty. This has been my one splurge so far and it seems worth it. This stroller glides like a dream. I'd like a side by side double stroller as well and will look for one used but these city streets require a stacked double stroller and this was the clear winner when I polled my other city mamas. I was able to score a bunch of accessories used from another mom so that is a big help, too. 

BabyBjorn Bouncer Balance: We didn't have a bouncer for J and I'm definitely interested in getting one for this baby. I love that this one by BabyBjorn sits upright as I have a feeling this baby is going to enjoy watching his big brother! 

Pottery Barn Emerson Mini Crib: This is another purchase I am undecided on as of now. We have discussed moving several times but I honestly don't know if that will happen. If we don't move, we'd likely end up having the boys share a room (we only have 2) and I don't think a full size crib would fit so we'd have to get something smaller. If we do decide to move, I'd just get him a regular size crib. For what it's worth, this crib is very pretty and I love the matching furniture that goes with it so I'd consider the full size crib as well. 

Monday Musings: On My Bookshelf

Since my last On My Bookshelf post in early July, I've managed to read 6 more books but I'm still not even half way to my Goodreads challenge of 26 books. I don't believe I've made my goals in all the years I've been setting these challenges but I'll continue to do them because setting them helps me read more often. Reading is the best. 

Here's what I've picked up since July...

The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney: Rating 4/5

I'm drawn to books of this style- each character has alternating chapters and the reader is invited into each character's side/perspective/view etc. of the the plot. I really enjoyed this book and Sweeney's writing is smart and engaging. The Nest follows four adult siblings on the brink of receiving an inheritance they are each counting on for some reason or another until the inheritance is jeopardized by one of the siblings reckless actions. An interesting story of family and how money plays into familial relationships. 

The Children's Crusade by Ann Packer: Rating 3/5

This books is also about four adult siblings! Same set up as The Nest in which each character has his/her own chapter. I struggled to get into this book and I'm not sure why. In the end, I did like the story, very American pastoral and while the writing lends itself to such a story, it wasn't my favorite. Packer does do a wonderful job of transporting the reader to a time when Northern California wasn't synonymous with technology conglomerates. 

The Identicals by Elin Hildebrand: Rating 3.5/5 

The Identicals was my first dive into the world of Elin Hildebrand books, which have a cult following. The Identicals follows the stories of twin sisters, one living on Martha's Vineyard one living on Nantucket. I enjoyed Hildebrand's writing and I loved the descriptions of the each island, as I'd like to visit both Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket one day but the plot is just kind of...ridiculous. An easy beach read, for sure. 

 Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight: Rating 3/5

Reconstructing Amelia is about a mother's quest to find out if her daughter's suicide was really a suicide or a murder. I should note that I'm not really big into mysteries but I enjoy them occasionally and this one will tide me over for awhile. Reconstructing Amelia is pretty run of the mill as far as mysteries go. Save for some racy material, this book could almost be considered young adult. The book has good character development which is a definite plus but the ending is a bit meh. 

Mindful Discipline by Shauna L. Shapiro: Rating 4/5 

Mindful Discipline is guide to raising emotionally intelligent children by describing the five essential elements: unconditional love, space for children to be themselves, mentorship, healthy boundaries, and mis-takes. Like all parenting books, one should cherry-pick the principles and ideas that speak to them as a parent and leave the rest behind. This books falls into the "respectful parenting" category, which is the style I most ascribe to so while this book may not be for everyone, I think it certainly has lots of useful information for all parents. 

The Heirs by Susan Rieger: Rating 4/5

Stylistically, The Heirs follows the same formula as The Nest and The Children's Crusade (told you I like that style, ha) with the alternating chapters. The book tells the story of the five Falkes brothers as well as their mother (whom I thought to be a very well-written character) and a few other characters. Following the death of their father, the Falkes brothers learn their father may have fathered two other children. Each chapter focuses on not only how they are dealing with this knowledge but also gives background to each character. I found the characters likable (though not without flaws) and really enjoyed the writing. 

*affiliate links used in this post*

Five on Friday!

Does anyone else find themselves doing a bit more shopping when their husband is out of town? Guilty as charged over here. We have joint finances so it's not like my purchases are being kept hidden from him but they just seem to ramp up when he's away. I think its because when he's home we're usually watching a show in bed together and I don't really watch tv on my own, so I end up in bed with my laptop. Dangerous. Anyway, here are four pieces I am loving this week (thankfully only bought one of these, but those pumps are in my Zappos cart as we speak)

One// I am in love with these  Sam Edelman pumps in both the  blush and the  camel color. They are both on sale over on Zappos and together the total comes to less than $200. I haven't pulled the trigger on these yet but I am really tempted to do so. I feel like you can't go wrong with a chunky heel pump and these colors! Ah, love them! 

Two// This  Italian cashmere tunic from J.Crew will absolutely not fit me in my current state at 25 weeks pregnant but it is one of the prettiest tunics I have ever seen. I won't be purchasing this but if you aren't pregnant, you definitely should! I'm loving the  periwinkle color as well. 

Three//Have you heard of The Find Auctions on Instagram ( @thefindauctions)? I have followed them for quite some time but have never bought anything until yesterday. I've been wanting a sweater dress for the upcoming holidays but the ones I had my eye on have all sold out! This came up on my feed and it's only $42 so I figured I'd give it a shot. I'll report back once it arrives. 

Four//How fun are these  Loren Hope Tori Studs? I'm a sucker for festive earrings and these are perfect for Christmas. Think they look so lovely next to that gorgeous kelly/hunter green. 

Christmas 2017 Gift Guide: Little Ones

Welcome to the first gift guide of the holiday season here on Charm City Chic! Gift guides can certainly be overwhelming but they can also serve as a source of inspiration if you're in need of a gift! Today I'll be covering gifts for the little ones in your life, a few of these I have for my own son and a few of these I'm planning to purchase for him for Christmas. I'm linking up Owen from the Davis Duo, Emily from Three Boys and a Girl, and Brittany from Life as the Mrs. Looking forward to seeing what others put on their gift guides! 

Micro Kicboard Scooter: I just purchased one of these for my 2 year old son, definitely a good gift for little ones who are on the move and don't want to be still!

Micro Kickboard Helmet: Obviously. Safety first! 

Melissa and Doug Monster Bowling Set: I think this a great gift for the toddlers in your life because toddlers like to throw things and knock things over. This is being added to my son's Christmas list for sure. 

Bashful Elephant Jellycat: Jellycats are simply the best! Perfect gift for the new baby in your life. 

Manhattan Toy Company Winkel Toy: My son LOVED this toy as an infant he would move it around in his hands and look at all the different colors. 

Patagonia Baby Retro-X Vest: A very practical gift for the outdoorsy family. I have the RetroX jacket version and it is one of the warmest jackets I own. I'm contemplating the vest for my son for these in between days and because he runs really hot. You can score this vest for 30% off and free shipping on Moosejaw.com! 

Patagonia Baby Furry Friends Hat: Animal ears on baby hats, need I say more?

Melissa and Doug Classic Bead Maze: We have one of these from Ikea and it has just recently became a popular toy in our house, it keeps him busy for awhile!

Land of Nod Santa's Snacks Plate: I think this is geared a little more towards the parents in your life but I think this plate is adorable and such a fun way to add tradition to the holidays!

Lakeshore Color Discovery Boxes: My son is obsessed with pointing out the different colors he sees (and taking things in and out of their place, ha) so this color sorting toy set is definitely on his Christmas list!

Happy Shopping! 

Color Crush: Red

For obvious reasons, I always find myself drawn to red this time of year. It's not a color I wear very often the rest of the year so when the holidays roll around, it feels fresh and festive to add red to my wardrobe! A few red pieces I have my eye on:

Free People Ottoman Slouchy Tunic: I've seen this sweater on a few bloggers and it seems universally flattering and perfect for this time of year. I really can't get enough slouchy sweaters, especially given that I am pregnant and this sweater seems like it will work for me now and after the baby arrives. 

Clare V. Croc Embossed Leather Wallet Clutch: If adding bright red to your closet makes you cringe, this little wallet clutch will do the trick to add a little pop to your ensemble!

Patagonia Retro Pile Fleece Hoody: You really can't go wrong when making a Patagonia purchase. Their items are such high quality and last forever. My Patagonia addiction is out of control but if I was in the market for a fleece jacket, this would be at the top of my list! 

Badgley Mischka 'Gorgeous' Crystal Embellished Pumps: How over the top fun are these heels? Definitely perfect for holiday parties and anytime you want to be extra fancy! These are currently on sale for $158!

Jack Rogers Sallie Chelsea Rainboot: I have almost bought these rainboots at least 3 times over the past year but because I already have two pairs of rainboots, I've resisted. BUT! They are currently on sale for less than $40 so now might be time for me to get them! Plus, these can only serve to make rainy days less depressing! 

Monday Musings: Dealing with Photo Anxiety

Raise your hand if you're like me and every so often think, "I should do something about all those photos on my phone, computer, external hard drive, etc"? I was listening to Gretchen Rubin's podcast Happier (Episode 136) this week and one of the topic discussed was photo anxiety. Anxiety related to taking, storing, organizing, and.. doing something with all these photos. I'm sure I'm not alone in this being a source of stress. Not only do I have an overwhelming number of photos but I have ton on an old computer that is on it's last legs that I need to move.

So what to do? This is something that stresses me out yet at the same time, feels somewhat trivial to be worrying about all the time so I've decided to take some steps to get this under control. Two of these I've already implemented and the last two I am working on!

1. Back-up photos frequently. We've all had that moment of panic when something happens to our phone and the threat of losing all of your photos is real. This happened to me last fall and I panicked because I hadn't backed up any photos since my son was born and was at risk of losing all of those photos. I now back up to iCloud and Google Photos. I also use Dropbox for photo storage, though it is not my favorite way to back up photos, it is still useful and gives me even more peace of mind. 

2. Move photos from old computer to an external hard drive. Anyone remember Picasa? Google's photo storage before Google Photos? I was meticulously organized when I used Picasa but when that went defunct, I failed to move my photos. So now I have tons of photos on an old computer (stored in Picasa) that I can't access. Earlier this summer, I decided I would spend 30 minutes once a week, moving photos from that computer to an external hard drive. I still have plenty of photos to move but I am pleased with what I've been able to accomplish by dedicating even a little time each week to the effort. An external hard drive is also a wise choice when trying to free up space on your computer or phone. 

3. Make photo books. This is obvious but good grief there are so many choices. Shutterfly confuses me and makes my head hurt. I'm considering the option where they do all of the work for you. The photo books available on Google Photos are easy but they are so boring! I've looked into Montage and Chatbooks but those both seem expensive. This has been the hardest part of the photo management process for me and I still haven't decided which way to go. My goal is to pick one by the end of this week, as I want to get started on this project before the craziness of the holidays. 

4. Frame and hang photos. This also seems like an obvious thing to do with some of my photos. They're not all frameworthy but there are several that I'd love to display in my home and yet.. I don't do it! I've used Framebridge for gifts and have been very happy with the service and they make it so easy. I even have a gift certificate from last Christmas that I can use toward making this a reality. Going to do this by the end of the week, too. 

on

Thoughts for Thursday: Fall & Thanksgiving Decor

I feel like Halloween is the kick-off to the holiday season and now that it's behind us, it's time to focus on the rest of the holiday season. I, personally, am all for the Christmas creep as Christmas is my favorite holiday of all. However, last year I decided that instead of heading right into Christmas, I'd make a concerted effort to decorate for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving decor is hard. Most of it is really hokey and can look cheap but I've managed to find some decor that is pleasing to the eye but still expresses the sentiment of the season! One piece of decor I always buy for the holidays are dish towels. When I lived in a tiny one bedroom apartment it didn't allow for a lot of seasonal decor due to storage space but I could always find room for a few holiday dish towels!

 The decor below is from Pier1 (on sale!) and Target.  Most of my Thanksgiving/Fall decor is from Kohl's but I had trouble finding decent stuff on their website so I'd suggest stopping into your local store. 

Gold Thankful Stemless Wine Glasses // Give Thanks Gifting Trey

Copper Pumpkin Salad Servers // Thankful Lumbar Pillow

Harvest Mix Table Scatter // Pumpkin Print Kitchen Towel

Linking up with Natalie and Annie for Thoughts for Thursday!