2022 – you were everything to us. 2023 – you’ve got some big shoes to fill.
It’s with HAPPY hearts that Angela & I have decided to take a new route for inourstyleblog. We have been so passionate these last 7 years creating real and true content about our fashion and lifestyle, that we have both agreed it’s been a little tricky to keep up with sometimes. Our lives are crazy, in the most amazing ways!
This isn’t goodbye, it’s just a new great chapter with how we want to approach moving forward.
We want to sincerely thank each and everyone of you for following us for 7 years. We are still so amazed that we both have kept this up so consistently for so long and humbled that we kept you all so interested.
Even though you’ll be seeing us a bit less, we hope that you’ll still continue to follow and enjoy inourstyleblog in a new way 🖤
To new beginnings, to beautiful creations, and endless content! Happy new year followers, we love you!
It’s been a heck of a couple of weeks in my household. From packing up our mini apartment, to the rush of holiday hair, to unpacking our new adventure, it’s been a whirlwind.
I am so excited to share a few sneak peeks of the home while we celebrate and soak in the holiday as a married couple this year.
I wake up every day so beyond grateful for the life Andy and I are creating together.
It’s almost unbelievable that we are a week away from Christmas day! As much as I love Christmas day– and the entire reason for the season, I just love the time leading up to December 25th and I am not really ready for it to be over yet. This weekend my husband and I attended a friend’s holiday house party.
I’m certain most of us have holidays events that call for skirts and dresses. I’ve got plenty of those for the season, so often times it’s the more casual occasions I find myself struggling to dress for. So for this weekend’s outfit, I kept it basic, but fun. This could even be a church outfit if the jeans are swapped for a nice pair of dress slacks. I styled this top to be very Christmas appropriate with pops of red and bow earrings. A great white top is one of the foundation pieces of a great wardrobe. It can be worn for work or play, dressed up or dressed down.. really the options are endless!
The one that I am wearing in particular is made of satin polyester, so it’s a little on the dressier side. I particularly love the satin covered buttons too, to take it up a notch. It’s at a really good price point, the quality is great and fabric is year round. Plus the silhouette with the subtle puff sleeves and shoulders is fun as well as flattering.
Do you have the perfect white blouse? Hope you have a fabulous holiday!
Amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season being in full swing, comes waves of feelings. While most often these can be joyous times, I think at any moment the emphasis on making meaningful memories can quickly turn to stress. I think we are all guilty of losing focus on the true reason for the season once in awhile. I want to teach and model for my son that it is not how much we give or receive, but how much love we put into the giving.
With that in mind, I thought I would create a helpful gift guide for those of you that still have some shopping to complete, while thoughtfully choosing and including items that “give back.”
The purchase of any one of the following items I selected will have proceeds go to a meaningful cause. These gifts are beautiful on their own, but are even more special once the recipient knows the thoughtfulness behind them.
For all of my fellow mamas already ordering from pottery barn kids for Christmas, simply add this sweet little bear ornament to your cart as well. While supplies last, for every ornament purchased, Pottery Barn Kids will donate 50% of the purchase price to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, helping support research and treatment for childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
This organization is so incredibly special. They are an acclaimed Social Enterprise with a Holistic Care Program that cares for women escaping human trafficking and exploitation in Asia. At Starfish Project women and girls experience freedom, establish independence and develop careers. Every piece of jewelry on this site is beautiful. The Perennial Blooms are my favorite, with the dainty pearls. What’s neat about the organizations website is that they tell you what each purchase will equate to in a donation. For instance, the earrings will afford a month of life skills training for a survivor.
If you’ve ever heard a Bombas ad, you know the drill: For every pair of socks you buy, a pair is donated to someone in need. (The company works with overnight shelters and rehabilitation centers to make this possible.) This pack features four Fair Isle–inspired designs made from merino wool that come in a ready-to-gift box. I love!
This “tower of treats” is part of a “season of giving collection”. Each basket, box, and sweet in the selection donates to Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. This holiday season, an estimated 34 million people will face hunger in the U.S. – including more than 9 million children. Now through December 24, for each gift purchased from the collection, 20% of the net proceeds will be donated to Feeding America. For every $1 that this national nonprofit receives, they can provide at least 10 meals.
More socks, you may ask?! In case you missed it: Madewell has partnered with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation on a limited-edition collection adorned with pink detailing, including a little ribbon — a direct reference to the cause it supports. Until the end of 2022, Madewell is giving 50 percent of the purchase price of these socks to the foundation.
Though donating directly is the best way to support the causes near and dear to you, a gift that happens to give back is another course of action. These are basically twofers — a present you can wrap up with a donation built in.
Wishing you all a happy and healthy holiday season! xo
Where to even begin with talking on a day I will truly remember for the rest of my life.
I cannot even begin to thank all the truly talented and amazing vendors who made this day something so special to me.
It’s amazing that this industry and my line of work has made some incredible bonds over the years and has created friendships for a lifetime.
Before I blast you with photos, I just want acknowledge all the people that made this day a dream come true for us —
Photographer: Samantha Hopkins // Videographer: Hannah Forrest // Officiant: Judge John J. Trucilla // White Pantsuit: Bridal Elegance // Navy Pantsuit: Mizzen+Main // Hair: Sarah Lauer // MUA: Katelyn Pace // STA: Michelle Black // Macrame: Amy Snyder // Florist: Allburn Florist // Reception: Gem City Diner // Golf Course: Whispering Woods
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The moment it was becoming real to me 🥹 so blessed Kate was able to create her magic and I almost ruined it all by crying because it was perfect.The Elizabeth James feelsThe two most important people in my life. They have made me believe what true love looks like and should be. They have always supported me in ways I can never repay or express to them that they mean the world to me. I am the woman I am, because of these two. My other half. One of my favorite parts of the day. Private Vows / First Look with my soon to be husband. Below I’m sharing our vows for the first time. “I vow to love you like our parents taught us to love”WE DID THE DAMN THING. Our support system we are forever grateful for. Our brother, Mike made this as part of our reception! It was hands down the best accessory of the night and a huge hit 👏🏻The three most talented friends who agreed to sing a few songs for us. Crying all over again. Thank you – Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Blakely
As we prepare to move out of our apartment, I rounded up all items I purchased during the holiday shopping season!
I refuse to ever pay things full price. My mama always taught me that the clearance racks are your best friends.
There’s always something so exciting about redecorating a new space. I’m so excited to see it all come together, Arna girl adjusting to her new surroundings, and truly just hosting some amazing get togethers
Today is a fun travel guide because I’m sharing a quick little weekend getaway gem! My husband and I had been planning and looking forward to a trip to Geneva, Ohio and it did not disappoint.
For Erie locals, you are going to love this spot because it’s only a 45 minute drive- from Cleveland, it’s only about an hour and Pittsburgh just 2 hours! We headed there on Friday afternoon and stayed two nights until Sunday. It’s totally doable in only one day since the area is small, but if you wanted to spend the entire weekend like we did, or even part of a week, you could also do that because there is a lot to do and see.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the area, Geneva, Ohio is situated on Lake Erie and is considered part of the Ohio Wine Country.
Our trip began with check-in to our storybook cottage at Vineyard Woods on Friday afternoon. Vineyard Woods is home to adorable cottages and villas situated in the woods on the property of a vineyard. They have mostly small cottages that sleep 2, but also have larger accommodations, as well.
My expectations were exceeded when we stepped foot into the most pristine and clean little cabin with anything and everything we could need for our stay.
The proprietors never missed a detail- from the decor, to the toiletries and snacks and supplies in the kitchenette. We enjoyed the fresh brewed coffee with the locally provided coffee grounds in the morning. They even have an adorable outdoor fire pit area which we will have to take advantage of during our next stay. We had restful nights of sleep and we loved the oversized bathroom and the cozy sitting area.
On Friday night made reservations and enjoyed a lovely dinner at The Lakehouse Inn’s restaurant, Crosswinds. As the name suggests, the Inn and the restaurant are situated right on Lake Erie with the most beautiful views. We had arrived after sunset, but when we returned the next day I could tell this area in Geneva has impressive views of sunrise and sunset over the water. During the warmer months, you can sit outside and enjoy the views with a glass of wine in hand! This is a great spot for a date night or celebration.
The food was delicious and fresh, as they are a farm-to-table restaurant. We enjoyed their homemade bread with garlic balsamic to start. I ordered the butternut squash ravioli and my husband had a blue cheese coulette. They also make their own wine and my husband had a glass of their cabernet that was delicious and perfectly dry, so he left with a bottle. I ordered a seasonal cocktail.
Something we did twice on this trip that I plan to implement more often is ordering dessert (and wine) to take home to enjoy later. I chose the lemon cake and my husband brought home their Creme brûlée cheesecake. It was so nice to indulge in something sweet in the comfort of my pajamas and slippers.
The next morning after waking up refreshed and enjoying some time in our cottage sipping coffee, we ventured into town for breakfast.
We headed to Scribbler’s Coffee and both ordered more coffee, breakfast sandwiches, and a sticky bun to share.
These were all SO good. It is the cutest little spot that you could cozy up with a cup of coffee and a good book. Scribbler’s is in the heart of the town and looks like it could be Stars Hollow- there are so many cute little shops around.
I wanted to be sure to visit one that caught my eye called Catherine’s Christmas. As you can probably imagine it was rooms and rooms of floor to ceiling Christmas decor. We had to leave with an ornament to commemorate our trip.
We also headed into “downtown” Geneva to explore, which is quite small and quaint to be considered downtown. It reminded us a lot of downtown North East, PA. Especially with all of the hints of grapes and wine everywhere.
I took my husband into his first ever antique store and it was an experience for him for sure! I enjoyed looking at all of the random and beautiful dinnerware and ceramic collections in the cabinets.
Next on our agenda was a couple’s massage at the Spa at the Lakehouse Inn. We enjoyed the most relaxing 60 minutes we’ve had in a long time and left feeling rejuvenated and tension free. That is another new decision we hope to continue from this getaway- prioritizing self care and booking semi-regular relaxation massages. It was so good for our bodies and our restless minds.
After the massages it was time to head back to the cottage to get ready and head out for our wine tours. The area is chock full of wineries-and though we aren’t wine connoisseurs in the least, we love trying new wines. I’m a sweet white wine drinker, and my husband likes reds. Opposites attract I guess!
Unfortunately, while visiting, it was freezing and raining, but, I would love to return in the warmer weather when everything is either in bloom in the spring and summer or during the peak of fall and we could enjoy the outdoor spaces of each location. They all had such beautiful outdoor areas! I think we were about 2 weeks late to get to enjoy the fall foliage in the area, but I imagine it would be quite beautiful.
While we were there, we visited 4 wineries: Debonné, Ferrante’s, Laurentia, and M Cellars. If you are looking to visit more wineries, you can find all of the info, here. I actually had no idea that this specific area was home to so many wineries until we were researching our trip. In the past, the Geneva area has been known for making sweet, ice wine, but in more recent years, this has changed and there are some wonderful vineyards that create all sorts of different wines.
I’m going to share the vineyards in order of my preference, but we really loved them all as they were all so different.
This one was our favorite! The interior is adorable with lots of space at the bar for tastings. There is also lots of seating space if you want to have a seat with friends and enjoy a bottle of wine. They had live music while we were there which made the atmosphere so much fun! My favorite wine was the Amelia, and I left with a bottle to bring home to continue to enjoy. I was truly impressed by the quality and quantity of wine here. They had so many different wines to choose from and even two bubbly options.
Laurentia was the place to be! There were so many people there (for good reason) while we were there so I suggest getting there on the earlier side to snag a table. Laurentia has an upscale log cabin vibe. Besides the wine, the food was delicious and our table had a view of the vineyard and beautiful pond on the property.
Debonné is somewhere I would really love to come back during the warmer months because they appeared to have so much outdoor seating. We got there before dinner but they have a full restaurant, too! Their ice wine was good, but not my favorite.
Debonne also brews their own beer. We liked the vibe here because it was casual and unpretentious, and with their popcorn machine it reminded us of our favorite hometown tavern, The Plymouth. One of the great things about all of these vineyards was that they were all so affordable.
It was around dinner time when we made it to our fourth and final stop. Ferrante’s has less of a winery atmosphere and is more-so a restaurant which ultimately we were grateful for. It was busy but we only had to wait about 20 minutes for our table to be ready. During that time we were able to peruse their wine shop. Other people there were also getting wine flights as they waited for their tables which would have been appealing to us had we not already drank quite a bit of wine at our other stops from earlier.
Dinner was delicious Italian food, which I loved. I ordered the creamy pesto penne and my husband got a chicken parmesan dish. The meals were just what we needed to soak up all of the wine we had consumed. We carried on the tradition and took cannolis to go for dessert later.
Excited to get back home to Charlie and Alice, we woke up early on Sunday morning (to the first snow of the season) without even setting our alarms.
After packing up, we found one last stop for breakfast that was open for us at 7 am called Mary’s Diner. It was a very cute 50’s era inspired diner, complete with checkered flooring, a juke box and Coca Cola memorabilia. The food was, of course, great- it was greasy diner goodness on plate!
This trip was truly perfect for our couple’s getaway but we saw a lot of friend groups out at the wineries for bachelorette and birthday parties. It would also be fun to get a few couples together for the weekend. We had seen some groups of people that rented party buses so they were able to get from vineyard to vineyard together!
All in all, I highly recommend the trip to Geneva, Ohio. There is so much to do and we had so much fun and enjoyed our time together exploring a new place. We can’t wait to plan our next trip back to enjoy it again, hopefully during a different season for a slightly different experience at each location.
All opinions and reviews expressed are my own and this trip was not sponsored.
I’ve gathered some of my favorite shoes that’ll work perfectly in the upcoming months 🤍
I know my feet take a beating this time of year, especially with being on my feet 12 hours a day. All of these I can wear to work with no pressure or pain after a long day.
I’ve gathered some of my favorite shoes that’ll work perfectly in the upcoming months 🤍
I know my feet take a beating this time of year, especially with being on my feet 12 hours a day. All of these I can wear to work with no pressure or pain after a long day.
I unpacked this paisley dress along with the rest of my fall/winter wardrobe and it felt like shopping in my own closet! I forgot about some of the items that had sat in storage during their off season and it was exciting to see them all again. I thought maybe I would be a little sad to pack away summer, but now I’m looking forward to putting together cozy outfits.
I have posted about this dress previously when discussing fall florals. I love the colors and the print of this dress. The flirty flouncy fit is so fun too! Since it’s a few years old I can’t find the exact dress online anymore, but I did find some very similar pieces and linked them in the LIKEtoKNOW.it app for you to shop! Click here:https://liketk.it/3TIrM
Did you know that Allie and I started our blog 7 years ago?! We have posted once per week, every single week since November 1st 2015. That equates to well over 300 blog posts to date, which is pretty incredible to me!
Aside from enjoying the beautiful weather this weekend, we attended a friend’s engagement party, so the paisley dress got a night out! So here I am with another bathroom selfie this week.Looking forward to a weekend away with this guy next weekend. I can’t wait to share and tell you all about it soon! xo
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