OOTD: kate spade Fall Faves Part 4!

This week I will be unveiling for you my last few looks of fall! December begins on Friday, and you know what that means.  From there on out, our lives (or at least mine) will be holiday holiday holiday!

Honestly this one is a look I would bring into the holidays as well.  It's just feathery enough to scream CHRISTMAS PARTY right in your face.  Just how I like things.

Outfit details included below, as always!


-Black Feather Top (mine is old, but you can still get the same style in black and white here!): T & J Designs (based in Chicago!)
-Leopard Print Cigarette Pants: kate spade new york
-Cinda Flats (old, but another great and timeless option HERE): kate spade new york
-Holland Hybrid Smart Watch: kate spade new york
-Set in Stone Hinged Bangle (white): kate spade new york
-Cat Bangle (old): kate spade new york
-Dorothy Coat (old, but here's another great bow coat ON SALE): kate spade new york
-Earmuff with Satin Bow: kate spade new york
-Cameron Street Medium Harmony (customized): kate spade new york

Okay, first let's talk about the elephant in the room - this customized Cameron Street Medium Harmony tote!  I was sort of in the right place at the right time (work) when I found out that Tom Tom and Company (Thomas Ard) would be customizing handbags at the flagship Madison Ave kate spade shop.  He's an amazing artist and I knew I couldn't pass up the chance to have a bag painted by him for no additional charge!  So I ordered the Medium Harmony from afar and chose which version of the leopard design I wanted.  I also got it monogrammed, because they can do that right at the Madison Ave store.  Basically you should follow @tomtomandco on Instagram because 1) his art is amazing and 2) you'll be able to stay updated on the next time he'll be painting on bags.  His Instagram stories give you lots of behind the scenes, like how he dunked the brush in champagne as he was painting these bags!  For extra sparkle, you know.  This bag is now one of my most coveted possessions.  It's just so special and not one is exactly alike!

This top is from T & J Designs, which is a super cool company to support because it's owned by two sisters/bloggers in Chicago.  You may already follow their blogs (@tiffanyish and @redsolesandredwine).  I have for a while, and actually purchased from them before I even knew they owned the shop.  My pink gingham top from this spring was from there as well!

Now who would have thought that leopard pants of any kind would be flattering?  Well, these ones are.  They're v comfortable for "dress pants," and super cute.  If leopard isn't your thing, they also come in black.  If I were to suggest a timeless style of pants to have in your closet, these would be it.

For my winter wear, I opted for the classic kate spade Dorothy coat!  This was one of my grandest purchases last year, and I swear I haven't taken it off since I bought it!  At least during the chilly fall/winter months.  Wear it with a pair of bow earmuffs, and you'll certainly stand out in a crowd!  Whether you like it or not.  I do, clearly.

My accessories for this look were a blend of new and old.  On my wrist were the cat bracelet from last year and the white set in stone bracelet that I wear almost every day.  And the star of the show, the Holland Hybrid Smart Watch.  This is an excellent investment, as it's a beautiful watch that has all the components of a smart watch.  You can track everything through the kate spade app on your phone, but it will still match your look with the classic face!  I want to eventually write an entire post on this watch where I'll include more details about the smart watches.  And then finally, these earrings are some of my faves from the November collection!

Loafers from kate spade are my ultimate faves.  My coworkers and I all swear by them.  They are easy to break in and some of the most comfortable shoes available from kate spade.  Besides glitter Keds, of course!  This pair of Cindas were from last fall, and I love them.  I would highly recommend the Corinas, which I have linked above in the products.

I'm sort of sad autumn is over, since it's my favorite season.  But I'm looking forward to one more fall OOTD post before the holidays hit!  Stay tuned.

My Black Friday Finds + List of the Best Stocking Stuffers of the Weekend!


Happy Small Business Saturday!

Thanksgiving weekend has just about come and gone...  And it was certainly an eventful one (photo from Thursday above)!  The store I work in was THANKFULLY closed on Thanksgiving Day, but I worked the early shift on Black Friday.  I got to the mall at 5:30am and things took off from there.  I actually like to work Black Friday though, it's a long day but it goes by craaaazy fast.  Lots of action!

But at 3pm, I couldn't wait to get out of that mall.  So I decided against checking out the other sales and shopped from the quietness of my computer to get the deals I wanted!
I didn't really buy much this year, but I did purchase what I've been wanting for years.  I obviously didn't completely disregard my signature color...

These ion pink Hunter gloss boots from Nordstrom.  
(They're $89, originally $150, and will be on sale until 11/27!)
I'm going to Portland in February, and I hear it's rainy there.  Plus, I've been wanting a pair forever!  These are packable, which will be great when I travel.

(I got it during yesterday's Black Friday 50% off sale, but it's still 40% off now and a great price.)
It's cool that Express has a petite line, for people under 5'4" like me!  ...We have short arms.

So hopefully I'm happy with these items when they arrive!

I also wanted to give you a couple examples of some great deals to take advantage of TODAY under $40!  Perfect stocking stuffers.  All of these items are still on sale right now, but I wouldn't wait too long.  Next thing you know, they'll be back to regular price.


S'Well 17oz Water Bottle: $26.25 (from $35) at Nordstrom
Runs on Coffee Ornament: $18.75 (from $25) at Nordstrom
Voluspa Mini Candle Gift Set: $26.60 (from $38) at Anthropologie
Sugar Cookie Measuring Cups:  $22.40 (from $32) at Anthropologie
Signature Spade Mini Studs:  $22.40 (from $32) at kate spade
Santa Suit Thermal Mug: $12.60 (from $18) at kate spade
"Shiraz" Tee: $21.90 (from $36.50) at J Crew
Ribbon-Wrapped Hoop Earrings: $14.70 (from $24.50) at J Crew
Chill-y Crew Socks: $5.97 (from $9.95) at Aerie
Mary Caroline Bangle Bracelet (rose gold): $36 (from $45) at Kendra Scott

I'm also hosting a promotion on my Etsy Shop, MidwestMermaidArt!  20% off your purchase of $20 or more.  I have tons of Christmas goodies, as well as other items!  Use the code THANKFUL4U at checkout to redeem discount.  Valid on everything in my shop except custom graduation caps.
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90s Themed 25th Birthday Party Recap!

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air: 1990
Rugrats: 1991
Friends: 1994
All That: 1994
It Takes Two (Mary-Kate and Ashley): 1995
Clueless: 1995
Spice Girls' first album "Spice": 1996
NSYNC's first album "NSYNC": 1997
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (book): 1997
The Parent Trap: 1998
Sex & the City: 1998
Britney's first album "Baby One More Time": 1999

What do Lisa Frank, the Game Boy color, and Angelica Pickles' Cynthia doll all have in common?  They made their claim to fame in the 90s, of course!  And so did I.  A lot of my very favorite things came out of the 90s.  Since I was turning 25, I knew I had to incorporate them all into the decor of my birthday party.  

On Saturday, we were channeling vibes from a quarter of a century ago...

Read on for links to what I used for decor as well as lots of photos from the event!


We started out at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, which is HUGE by the way.  Not to mention beautiful.  And they have a canine concierge.  Oh, what's that you ask?  It's a dog who hangs out at the hotel answering questions.  Well maybe not the second part.  Her name is Millie and she's a mini golden doodle and THE CUTEST THING EVER.  We started our night by decking out the room the 90s way.  I didn't want it to be cliche neon 90s, so I chose a color scheme of maroon, blush pink, rose gold, and gold.

How I decorated:
-I printed out a bunch of iconic images to use as both decor and photo shoot props!  A Spice Girls group photo here...a photo of Elizabeth James and Nick Parker torn in half a la The Parent Trap over there...
-I got my rose gold 2 and 5 balloons and the gold confetti balloons from Amazon.  The pink marble ones were from the Five Below store.  Sorry, the leopard ones were extras from work!
-The Rosé All Day book, the Sex and the City book, and the new kate spade coffee table book called SHE were used for ambience!
-These Rosé All Day napkins
-This Old AF cake topper
-Blush pink table runner from Mrs. Freund & Co.

Outfit:
-This Original 1992 tee
-90s inspired skirt from Forever 21 (old, similar HERE)
-Harry Potter glasses ring from Alex & Ani
-kate spade Langley Boots
-kate spade Wine & Dine Watch

Drink:
-I called it, "The One with the Rosé," as a nod to the way that Friends episodes are named!
-Basically it was a Friends themed bar area!
-Recipe HERE, and it was delicious.
-Gotta sugar the glass rims.

Treats:
-Cake recipe is from Cake By Courtney and it's the "Everything but the Kitchen Sink" cake!
-Cookies are our recipe, decorated with 1992 and the Scorpio symbol!

Afterwards, we moved on over to Swig, which is one of my favorite restaurants in my ABSOLUTE favorite area of Milwaukee, the Third Ward.  I wrote one of my first Female Foodie reviews on Swig!

We stayed in the Third Ward for a while, stopping at the Outsider and a few other places before moving onto Cathedral Square.  I had the best drink everrrrrrr at the Outsider on their new fall cocktail menu, called "At This Time of Year."  Go try it.  Don't taste the garnish though.

Let me know if you need more ideas to throw your own 90s bash ;)


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