Holiday Mantle Decor

There are so many things that I love about the holidays: the lights, the sense of community, going to my church's Christmas service...I could go on and on. One of the things on this list of many that I wanted to share today is my holiday mantle decor. I believe the fireplace area is a key spot in everyone's home. It's a place where people can gather and spend time with one another during the chilly holiday season. With that being said, I always like to make sure my mantle decorations are just perfect to create more of a festive mood.  

It's hard to find the perfect balance of decorations, but I think I nailed it this year. My style of Christmas decor is more traditional with the reds and greens, but this year I wanted to incorporate more silvers and golds into the mix. The extra shine and glitter just makes everything look more festive (or maybe I just have an obsession with sparkly things!) and I've definitely seen a trend moving towards metallics over the past few holiday seasons. 

I love sitting a wreath on the middle of the mantle because it's something that you wouldn't normally do and it really draws your attention upward from the stockings below. Speaking of stockings, since I personally didn't want hooks hanging from the mantle to hold them, my tip is to use a fireplace screen and hang them from it. To be honest, we rarely use our fireplace, but if you're going to be using yours, you probably want to shy away from this tip. Also, I love pairing little votive candles with larger candle hurricanes on the mantle to bring some other shapes into the overall look. Then I just added a cute snowman and some Christmas signs! I hope this helps if you're looking for a little holiday mantle inspiration! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

xoxo Kendall 

Thanksgiving Hostess Gift Ideas

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

While everyone is already talking about holiday gifts and decorations, all that's on my mind is Thanksgiving! While I try to be thankful everyday, I think it's good that we celebrate a holiday that reminds us of all we have to be grateful for. Plus, who doesn't love eating yummy food in the company of family and friends?! Anyways, when I realized that Thanksgiving is only a week away, I decided it would be perfect to share some of my hostess gift ideas since many people go to others' homes to celebrate. 

I think that your hostess would love any of these gifts! This pumpkin souffle candle smells heavenly   and the See's Candies seasonal pie truffles sound so good!! I also love giving little ring dishes like this one as hostess gifts. You could even pair it with something else like these colorful napkins (which I would use as decorative towels) and put them in a cello bag tied with raffia. I'm all about the presentation! ;) What are you planning to bring as a hostess gift?! Or are you the hostess? 

Thanks for reading! 

xoxo Kendall 

The Princess Skeleton

Happy Halloween loves! Tonight I went all out and decided to dress up, hair, makeup & all! While I shared this look on Instagram, I wanted to share some more of the pictures of this skeleton princess look with you! Did you dress up tonight?! If so, leave a comment and let me know what you were!

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo Kendall 

The Summer Staycation - My Tips

As much as we all would love to go on a huge vacation every Summer, sometimes it just isn't in the cards! Here's the kicker: just because you're not going on a big trip doesn't mean that you can't play tourist in your surrounding cities and have a blast! While I'm throwing around the idea of planning an August weekend getaway, for the past two months of Summer I have embraced the staycation idea and let me tell you, I have made some of the most fun memories! With that being said, I want to give you some tips about how you can make the rest of this August a fun one without spending money on airfare & hotel expenses. 

1. Make a list. To start off, it's best to make a list of the places you want to go & things you want to do. This list can be written down or typed in the notes section of your phone, just put it in a spot where you can easily reference it. I love having a list because after I go someplace I can put a check mark next to it. At the end of Summer it's fun to see all those checks, each with a whole set of memories! 
2. Deciding where to Staycation. Sometimes the trickiest thing is deciding what places to put on your list. If you're having trouble, remember that going someplace can involve doing completely different activities. Think, do I want to try a new restaurant? Do I want to check out the new outdoor shopping mall in a nearby city? Since I live near the coast, I personally love visiting all the coastal towns! Some other ideas may be visiting a famous spot/landmark and being touristy or getting appetizers at a fancy hotel. Just think about your interests and let those guide your decisions as to where to go for the day. You will be surprised with what you come up with. 
3. Take Advantage of the Internet. If you still are having a hard time deciding places to go or things to do, the internet is your best friend! I usually have an idea of what city I want to go to, but have a hard time deciding what to do there. For those struggling with this issue, search "Things to do in ___" on Google or even head to Pinterest!! Just don't get distracted with all those other non-day trip related things you want to re-pin ;) 
4. Dress Appropriately. This may seem kind of obvious, but be cautious with what you decide to wear for a day trip. I can't count the number of times I've regretted wearing a certain article of clothing or wished I had brought a specific item. If you know that you're going to be gone all day (and possibly after dark), make sure to dress accordingly. Bring a jacket or sweater in the car in case it gets cold after dark, an umbrella if there is any sign of rain in the forecast, or a different pair of shoes (you never know when you could randomly decide to eat dinner at a nice restaurant after playing tourist all day!!)...the list could go on and on. 
5. Take Tons of Pictures. Even if your staycation involves going to places you've been before, make sure to document the trips! This way, if your friends come back from a bigger trip and are posting a ton of photos on Instagram, you have something to share too! Just because you didn't go on an expensive tropical getaway doesn't mean that you sat at home and did nothing. Be proud of all the memories you made while being closer to home. Plus, you will love being able to look back on the photos later.

Hopefully you found these tips helpful! Thanks for reading & have a fun staycation!

xoxo Kendall 

Father's Day Gifts - 2015

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

...

As a woman sometimes it's hard to pick out gifts for guys. They can be so picky! Plus, guys tend to be more honest when they don't like something, which can make gift shopping difficult. Luckily, all of the gifts I've picked out here for Father's Day have been guy approved (by my own Dad of course)! Whether he's techy, sporty, or stylish, there is a gift here for your dad! 

Happy Thursday! Thanks for reading! 

xoxo Kendall Lynn 

Sugarfina - My Latest Obsession!

Calling all you candy addicts out there!! Yesterday I was strolling through Old Town Pasadena when I came across Sugarfina! To start, I will just say that this place really redefines a candy store! Its open layout with white walls and touches of tiffany blue were enough to draw me in and once inside, I didn't want to leave! 

This place is a perfectionist's dream. From how the cubes of candy are placed on the shelves to their cute packaging, I was in visual heaven! I could go on and on about just how beautiful this store is, but lets be real, the candy is really what you're interested in. 

While I only tried a few of the numerous varieties Sugarfina sells, each of them was so delightful. In the end, I purchased the Champagne Bears (which are to die for), but I have a feeling I will be going back very soon to get some more candy, including the yummy Super Sour Hearts!! There really is a candy there for everyone and after seeing the pictures of the store, you will understand why its so hard to choose! Also, I have to say that I was extremely impressed by the customer service! All the employees were so nice, helpful, and patient as I asked question after question about the different candies. What's even better is that Sugarfina gives you individually wrapped samples to assist in the candy selection process! 

I may just have to go eat some of those Champagne Bears now ;) Happy Sunday! 

xoxo Kendall Lynn 

5 Affordable Easter Basket Ideas

Hi everyone! Lately I have been trying to eat less candy and with that mindset I was thinking of how many Easter baskets only consist of candy! While sweet treats are always acceptable, I decided to come up with five affordable ideas that could be put into Easter baskets on Sunday!

1. Essie Nail Polish - The bright colors of these are perfect for Spring, so including them in an Easter basket is a must! Plus, you can pick out certain colors for specific people. The colors I chose from left to right are Mint Candy Apple, Off the Shoulder, Cute as a Button, and Cruise Control.

2. EOS Lip Balm - These have been around for a while now, but I still think they are super cute and with their egg-like resemblance, they are another item that are cute for Easter! The ones pictured are Strawberry Sorbet (the pink one) and Summer Fruit (the red one). 

3. NYX Butter Glosses - For being drugstore products, the NYX Butter Glosses are amazing! They come in a variety of shades ranging from lighter ones to darker ones and I haven't tried one yet that is not super pigmented! Below are some from top to bottom in the shades Angel Food Cake, Creme Brûlée, and Tiramisu.

4. Colorful Headbands - While I can't remember what brand these are, any pastel colored headbands are a pretty addition to an Easter basket. Any brand will work!

5. Patterned Socks - Obsessed!! That is how I feel about these cute socks! Though you can get socks like these from a variety of places, I always find mine at Forever 21. They are only $1.50 a pair!

Hope this helps everyone! 

xo Kendall 

LA Day - The Grove

Happy Friday beauties! Today I went to the Grove in Los Angeles for a little shopping outing and wanted to share some pictures with you all. If you are ever in the area, I would definitely suggest stopping by there!

While it did rain a little, that didn't stop me from shopping around and strolling through the cute Farmer's Market! 

Don't miss out on Dylan's Candy Bar!! 

For a flashback to my childhood, I also went into the American Girl doll Store! It's so cute!

Also, this outfit is one of my favorites! Definitely something anyone can recreate! 

Perfect sunset to end a wonderful day...

Love you all!

Friday Finds!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day!! I know that these Friday Finds are being posted here a few days after, but I have been so busy!

I've decided that I want to try to do more "Friday Finds" posts, but what I consider a find doesn't necessarily have to be a item that can be purchased! By that, I mean that sometimes my finds are cute little places that I photograph or cute arrangements of things that could serve as an inspiration to all of you (like how succulents are arranged, etc). I hope you all enjoy!

To start off, I picked up these two products from LUSH Cosmetics! I'm still trying them, but really like them so far! I'm considering doing a blog post on them if they become favorites.

While in Anthropologie, I took some pics! I absolutely love the color organization here (if I am feeling really inspired, maybe I will organize my own closet like this!). Also these books had the "K" and "L" initials so of course I had to include those here. They would look super cute in everyone's office! 

Also, I thought this washi tape was so cute that I bought these two! (necklace came from a different store)

Hope everyone is having a good weekend! Love you all!