Pages

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

94.3 Country Legends


You best believe this is my new favorite radio station. Honestly, I don't know how someone can be from the South and not like Country music. Its a part of our culture. I mean who doesn't love a good tune about lovin', cheatin' and drinkin'? 

Honestly, the fam and I could not figure this station out at first. One week they played mariachi music. The next week it was rock n' roll. Few weeks later, it was country legends and it can stay that way! They play all the classics from Alabama to Willie Nelson to the Oakridge Boys (who have a twitter by the way - who knew?) This station has not changed in my parents car. The other day, my mom sang along to the Oakridge Boys, which honestly is a once in a lifetime experience. If you're in the greater Columbia area, tune into this station and I promise you will not be disappointed. Those of you at 94.3 Country Legends, keep up the good work because you've got something GREAT! 

Until next time,
GES

Monday, August 1, 2011

On the road again..

As I was driving to my new apartment last night, On the Road Again by Willie Nelson started playing on the local country station. While I might not *technically* be on the road, its definitely time for things to get going again and pick back up.

Meaning- its the first of August. 
The start of a new month.
First nights in a new apartment.
The beginning of a new school year. 
Starting my new job. 
and drum roll.....
Yours truly blogging again. 


Now I know I've taken a little bit of a hiatus.. heck I've been M.I.A. in the blogging world. When I first began this blog, I told myself I would keep up with it. Well, I'm going to get better about that. My posts might be long, they might be short but I will always find reasons to blog about something. I am so anxious to be back in classes and to see campus fully alive again. As a matter of fact, I am sitting in good old T-Coop (for my fellow Gamecocks, you know what I mean -- for everyone else, I'm sitting in the library) writing this post because I honestly missed being in the library. That is one phrase that I never thought would I'd hear myself say but that just goes to show how much I love my school and how ready I am for the Fall semester.

*side note: as I'm sitting here a campus tour just walked into the library and I am so so so excited to be giving campus tours again.

Its hard to believe that classes start in 17 days, not like I'm counting down or anything but even that its August already. This summer was definitely a great one. I was able to spend three wonderful months at home with mom, dad and my Skye Terrier (partner in crime) Morgan. I'm already looking forward to my next visit home with my trio.

So get ready y'all, Pretty in Pink is on the road again with a lot of posts coming your way!

Until next time, 
GES


Wednesday, July 20, 2011

i {heart} pasta

Since I have moved back home from college, I have enjoyed making dinner for my family.. both times. Don't get me wrong, I love to cook but there's nothing like mom and dad's cooking (if you've had my parents cooking, then you'll definitely see my point). I have my own dishes that I'm good at but I want to broaden my capabilities beyond my own special pasta recipe. 

I remember going to stay with my aunt at the lake and she made this great amazing pasta with broccoli rabe. (Jojo, you know what I'm talking about :) ) Its pasta with a pancetta cream sauce and we always called it "Pavarotti's Pasta." You might know it as "Pasta Carbonara."  At our house, the t.v. is pre-programmed to the Cooking Channel. Really, it is.. always on channel 232. Giada De Laurentiis from Everyday Italian has her own "Pasta a la Carbonara" recipe, which I made for dinner last night. 

Penne a la Carbonara 

What you need:
1 lb pancetta diced into 1 in cubes (I only used 1/2 lb)
Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper
6 eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, room temperature 
1 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 lb penne pasta
4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (I used fresh basil to garnish instead)

Directions:

First, you want to heat your saute pan. When hot, add the pancetta and saute until it is crispy. This takes about 5-10 minutes. Mine took a little longer to turn out golden brown and crispy because my pancetta was cut a little thicker. 




In your mixing bowl, you want to combine your eggs and heavy whipping cream. Add sea salt and pepper, then your parmesan cheese.






While you're doing these steps, go ahead and cook your pasta. You want it to be al dente. Bring your water to a boil and cook pasta for about 10-12 minutes. Once your pasta is cooked, drain your pasta but it is important that you don't rinse your pasta. You want the pasta to retain its natural starch and remain hot for the next step.


Next, mix in your pancetta. After you have mixed the pasta and pancetta, add the cream mixture. It is important that you mix the cream mixture rather quickly because this allows the eggs to cook. However, you don't want the eggs to cook too much or you will end up with a pasta/scrambled egg creation. 


Garnish with your left over parmesan cheese and a basil leaf. You can use parsley if you wish.








Buon appetito! 


Source: http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/penne-a-la-carbonara-recipe/index.html


I know I have been a little slack with blogging this summer, but check back with me soon! 

Until next time, 
GES

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Extra! Extra!

read. all. about. it.

So its summer and I've come to realize that I can only look at Facebook for so long. Therefore, I decided to get a library card. Now that I have all this free time I can actually read books that I want to read. I've made myself a summer reading list. Here's what made the cut:

Currently Reading:
I just picked this book up today and so far it is a pretty good, easy read. The story is based off of three sisters in Nantucket who learn to overcome their hardships through their love and friendship for each other. More to come on this read. 


Next on my list:
I saw this book on fellow blogger's page, the College Prepster. Fly Away Home is the story of a mother and her two daughters and the relationship they forge when their lives each take unexpected turns. 

I cannot wait to read this book! This is a compilation of all of the best words of wisdom Katie Couric has received during her career. 

I remember seeing the trailer for this film over the holidays and decided that before I see the movie, I want to read the book first. Well now that I actually have time to read, I can't wait to pick up this novel and finally watch the movie!

I also can't wait to start reading the Lowcountry Series by Dorothea Benton Frank. All of her novels are set here, in South Carolina and its so neat to read a novel set in my home state. 

What are you reading this summer?


Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Birthdays! How about Birthday WEEKS!

In my family, birthdays are a big HUGE deal. We tend to celebrate the whole month instead of just one day. Yesterday was my dad's birthday, so he has the entire month of May. 

So to bring this birthday month to a close, this post is all about you, dad! I hope your birthday month was the best one yet! 

This weekends festivities began with a cook out with our close friends who are more like family to us from Mississippi. We have added onto our deck, which is now three levels so we had to break it in! I was able to spend my afternoon in the kitchen baking. My dad's favorite cake is a Black Forest Cake and my grandmother would make it every year for him on his birthday. So this year, I decided to call up grandmother and get this special recipe. 
Here I am with my finished product

A close up of the cake. It was so good! 

On his actual birthday, I got up and took dad to brunch at one of our favorite places, Bojangles. We don't go there too often but you can't beat a Bojangles biscuit and sweet tea for brunch, plus who can't resist being able to start the day off with saying "It's Bo time, y'all!"

Prior to going out to dinner, dad opened his gifts. I gave him a Columbia Performance Fishing Gear white shirt. You can never have enough white shirts and in South Carolina you definitely need a PFG. The fabric is extremely light and has Omni-shade sun protection, which is a lifesaver in this 98 degree sunny heat we've got here at the moment. Its pretty nifty. My mom gave dad a new Citizen Eco Drive watch. Its a nice, brushed silver watch and the neat thing is that it never needs a battery. The watch is powered by the sun and the movement of your arm. How cool is that?

So for dinner, we decided to step it up a notch and head to one of our local favorites, Arizona's steak house. Once it had cooled down we were able to sit outside and enjoy a nice dinner. 

Me and my dad sporting his new Columbia shirt

mom and dad outside the restaurant 

This concludes the birthday month of May.
 Dad, I hope you had a wonderful birthday month because you most definitely deserved it! I love you! :) 

Now we just get to wait until September for my festivities to start! 

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Must Haves for Summer 2011

Its that time of year again, its summer! I know I have been incognito for the past month but it has been quite eventful to say the least. I'm done with school, for a little while at least and am learning to relax again. It's also time for another "Grace's Must Haves" posts. 

Jack Rogers Hamptons Navajo Hi Wedge
I love, more like live in, my Jack Rogers during the summer. But I must say I am in love with these wedge JR's. I have been looking for a pair of wedges to wear with crops and dresses and these would be a perfect addition! 

Vineyard Vines Upper Keys Dress in Vineyard Navy
I've had my eye on this dress for quite a while now and am anxiously awaiting the opening of the brand new Vineyard Vines store at SouthPark Mall in Charlotte, NC.


Lilly Pulitzer Avery Skirt in Hotty Pink Cherry Begonias 
Fun skirts are perfect for the summer, especially when paired with a basic white tee. This skirt would just be so much fun, love it! 

Ray-Ban Small Aviator 
I already have a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers that I absolutely love, but definitely wouldn't mind adding this pair to the collection! 

Tugs: the original sunglass complement in pink seersucker of course
I was never a huge fan of Croakies, they were always too short and I would find myself getting annoyed with them. This product by Tugs seems like a wonderful idea, they are a little bit longer and made of a better fabric. While their website says they don't fit wire rimmed glasses well (such as Aviators), they work better for medium sized glasses, so my Wayfarers should work just fine! They come in a variety of colors and are a great buy at only $12. 

What are some of your Summer 2011 must haves? 

Until next time,
GES 

Monday, April 4, 2011

Did you see the horses?

The Carolina Cup steeplechase is an age old tradition in South Carolina. It is an all day affair. The belles wear their best dresses and of course big hats and the beaus look handsome in their bow ties (and boy did they!). If you're from Camden or grew up going to the races like myself, you take the family silver and china and picnic by the track. As for the collegiate crowd, its one big, fun tailgate. I love the Carolina Cup and it was great seeing all of my friends from other colleges gather together in College Park. There's only 364 more days until I get to do it all again and I can't wait! 

People often joke that they went to Cup and had so much fun that they didn't even see a horse. For those of you who went to Cup, did you see a race? I was determined to see a race before I left the track yesterday. So did I see any races? You bet I did! :) 

John, Myself and Stephen

Katie of Let's Be Preppy and Colleen- two of my best friends

I had to include this picture of Derek and I because his jacket was just so great! Great choice for Cup Derek! 

Me and my good friend Joe, USC Student Body President 

Bailee and Caroline


What are your Carolina Cup memories?



Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Accentuate The Positive

There aren't words to describe just how chaotic this semester has been. When I originally planned my Spring semester schedule, I thought it would be laid back and relaxed with lots of time for hanging out with friends.... but boy was I wrong. In the past few weeks my mind has been in a total whirlwind going in all different directions. In a sense though, I am grateful for each and every thing that has been placed on my plate because I believe that it is all making me a stronger individual and God would never throw something at me that He knew I absolutely could not handle.

I found a great quote on a fellow blogger's page, The College Prepster:
Good things happen to those who wait and work hard in the meantime


When I saw this quote I knew it could not have come at a more appropriate time in the semester. While this semester has been quite the challenging one, I remind myself that no matter how hard the situation might be or how impatient I can get, that if I wait and take the time to not only make "me" happy but also continue to work twice as hard, that everything will be ok.

I have been extremely lucky to have been blessed with some pretty amazing friends. One of my closest friends truly brightened my entire day when he sent me this passage from one of his favorite books:
"I go to seek a Great Perhaps."
- François Rabelais 


He explained to me the search for the "Great Perhaps" is that of an optimistic future. If you know me, you know that I am extremely optimistic and that can sometimes do more harm than good. While I am learning to look at life in a more realistic manner, I will never fully let go of my optimistic view. I'm so thankful for my family and friends who remind me to slow down and enjoy the good things in life when it starts to get just a little crazy.

Are you going to seek your Great Perhaps?

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Paris is never too far away..

"Paris is always a good idea"
-from the movie Sabrina

I've always loved everything French and I have always wanted to go to Paris, especially in the Spring. This weekend, I received my own little piece of Paris to remind me that it is never too far away.

Here is my Eiffel Tower charm that my aunt gave me to go on my charm bracelet so I will always carry a little piece of Paris with me :)


It was so nice to be at home with my family for my Spring Break. Although "home" isn't far away (at all), its still nice to get away from campus and just have quality time. My parents are amazing cooks. They love to experiment with foods from all over the world. Recently, we have been very into Spanish cuisine and making paella. Entertaining is important to my family and we love to provide our family and friends with a total dining "experience."

Our paella, it was SO good!

What types of food do you like to cook?




Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Art & Friendship

I had the opportunity to travel to the quaint town of Augusta, Georgia this past weekend. Having never been to Augusta, I found that it reminded me a lot of the fictional town of Mayberry from The Andy Griffith  show. For my South Carolinian readers, if you've ever been to Camden, double that and you get Augusta. I must admit though, I really kind of liked it!

Growing up in the art world has allowed me to meet some really interesting and talented people in my time.  South Carolina believe it or not has produced some extremely successful artists. One of those artists is Myrtle Beach native, Brian Rutenberg. Brian is represented by museums and galleries across the United States and his primary gallery is the Forum Gallery in New York City. His bodies of work are absolutely mesmerizing. His abstract oil paintings have a way of telling stories of life on the Carolina coast. The neatest thing about his paintings is the way that he applies the paint. There are some areas on the surface that are 4 inches thick of oil paint and rise above the surface. If you are in the Augusta area, you most definitely should venture to the Morris Museum of Art to see Brian's show I Will Tell You A Place: Paintings by Brian Rutenberg on exhibit until May 1, 2011. In the mean time, check out Brian's webpage to see a collection of his works.
http://www.brianrutenbergart.com

Pavillion by Brian Rutenberg 2008-2009 Oil on Linen 
Jerald Melberg Gallery, Charlotte NC


Brian is a dear friend to my family and we had the pleasure of being able to catch up over a nice dinner at a charming restaurant called Frog Hollow in the heart of downtown Augusta, which really comes alive at night.

Who are some of your favorite South Carolina artists? 

Monday, March 7, 2011

Just Another Manic Monday....

It's the start of yet another busy week. Don't you just hate those mornings when you are so tired and you keep hitting the snooze button? I've been having a lot of those lately. I feel like my morning hasn't really started until I've had my daily dose of caffeine and during the school semesters its the coffee and Diet Coke that really keep me going. I love coffee, bold with half and half and you can normally catch me with either a Starbucks cup in hand or my monogrammed travel mug (its pink.. of course). My dad taught me to be a connoisseur of coffee and while I do like mochas and caramel macchiatos, coffee is the best just by itself. Although my ultimate drink of choice comes from a local coffee house, called the Immaculate Consumption and it is the Motivator - coffee with two shots of espresso. What makes it even better.. they know us by name and start making our drinks when we walk in the door! 

People have been saying for years that too much coffee is bad for you and that you shouldn't drink it and so on.. but I have news for you! Coffee is actually really good for your health! An article by Kerri-Ann Jennings, the Associate Nutrition Editor at EatingWell Magazine states the top 5 healthy reasons you should not quit consuming coffee.

1. Coffee is heart healthy! 
Drinking 1-3 cups of coffee a day can lower the risk of a stroke and because coffee is high in antioxidants, it can even help to lower your blood pressure.
Did you know? Each serving of coffee has more antioxidants than blueberries

2. Coffee can help decrease chances of Type 2 Diabetes 
The antioxidants found in coffee can help to increase your cells sensitivity to insulin therefore regulating your blood sugar.
Did you know? If you drink 4+ cups of coffee a day, you can lower your chance of Type 2 diabetes

3. Your liver likes it.. a lot
Coffee decreases the likelihood of various liver diseases and can also lower the risk of liver cancer by 43 percent.

4. Its good for your brain
Drinking 1-4 cups is not only good for your heart but also good for your brain and aids in lowering your risk for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

5. Bye bye headaches 
The normal 16 oz cup of coffee ( which is the Grande size from Starbucks ) can relieve you from headaches and even migraines! 

With that said, I'm going to get some coffee :) 


All information came from "5 health reasons to not quit coffee" by Kerri-Ann Jennings 
View the entire article at http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/5-health-reasons-to-not-quit-coffee-2460820/



Sunday, March 6, 2011

Sourire

Spring break is finally here and that makes me one happy girl! 

Want to know what else makes me smile?


My Skye Terrier Morgan



Cupcakes from the one and only Cupcake Cafe in NYC 




Sitting on the USC Horseshoe on a Fall night






Fresh flowers, either peonies (pictured above) or white daises 


"Life is like a mirror, we get the best results when we smile at it."
  ~Author Unknown


What makes you smile?


Wednesday, March 2, 2011

If the shoe fits....

It's the week before spring break, I've had homework for the first time this semester and professors are scheduling exams before our week of relaxation and sunshine (I hope). This week seems to be moving at full speed and its almost half way through?

The week has been off to a pleasant start beginning with the Oscars on Sunday and a viewing of The King's Speech last night, which I highly recommend that everyone go see this film.  It is definitely deserving of an Oscar for Best Picture.

Although this week has been quite busy, I have found time to online shop.. my guilty pleasure.  If the shoe fits, buy it in every color or at least thats what people say, right?  A girl can never have enough shoes, so in this post I'm going to share with you my favorite pairs that are currently adorning my wardrobe and those that will be one day....

"Sometimes we need really special shoes to make the walk more fun."

Is that not the truth? Its amazing how different a pair of shoes can make you feel.





Jack Rogers Navajo Sandals - Platinum
If you know me, then you know that I love my Jack Rogers and I wear them....a lot. Platinum is the best color because it goes with everything. (I mean literally everything)

The Black Pump
The black pump is essential to any girls closet and can instantly transform any outfit. My black pumps are my go to shoes. These are Christian Louboutin's.... they WILL one day be added to my shoe collection. Aren't they great?


Cole Haan Mariela Peep Toe Pumps
I tried these babies on right before Christmas and fell in love.  Its the perfect summer heel, great for sundresses or jeans and a fun top.


J. Crew Ballet Flats
These are the best shoes to just throw on and go but still look great! 

What are your dream shoes?

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Oh! The places I want to go

In the immortal words of Dr. Seuss:

You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. 
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. 
Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. 
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
- Oh the Places You'll Go!


This has to be one of the best quotes from the entire book! I love to think about this book when I think about traveling. There is this whole, big, great world out there and I want to see it all! This book reminds me that anything is possible, as long as you set your mind to it.

The neat thing about my family is that at the dinner table, you have absolutely positively no idea where the conversation will lead. Our latest dinner conversation was very fun, indeed. 
(It is perfectly acceptable for me to rhyme after quoting Dr. Seuss, right?)

So here it is, my top 5 travel destinations:



Memphis, Tennessee
We've already established that I'm a huge Elvis fan, so Graceland is most definitely on my list but I also want to see Sun Studios, Beale St., etc.  My dad is from Memphis and I've always wanted to see where he grew up.




Savannah, Georgia
I live in the South and have seen so much of this wonderful region but I have never been to Savannah. How crazy is that? The New York Times recently ranked Savannah as one of the top 25 art cities in the country.





Giverny, France
Located right outside of Paris, was the home of my favorite artist, Monet. Seeing his gardens at Giverny, along with his famous Japanese bridge is definitely on my bucket list.



London, England
The National Museum.. Westminster Abbey.. Parliament.. Tower of London.. Harrods. That's just a start.


Rome, Italy
I'm an art history major, Rome is a must see!

Think I forgot a destination, leave me a comment!












Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The Ultimate Soirée

Here's something to think about....
My family and I have this list that we've been adding to for years now.  If you could throw the ultimate cocktail or dinner party, who would you invite? There are no limitations and you can pick anyone from any point in time.

This is my list


Claude Monet
He has been my favorite artist since I was a kid. I have always dreamed of visiting his garden in Giverny and would love to just talk about art with him.



Balanchine
I was a dancer for years and my focus was ballet and lyrical dance.  Balanchine was a legend when it came to choreography and just being able to chat with him about the world of dance would be amazing.
(Maybe he'd give me a lesson or two)



Princess Grace of Monaco
As you know from reading my first post, I was named for Grace Kelly. Not only was she an amazing actress but she was also a philanthropist and established her own foundation, The Princess Grace Foundation, which is dedicated to the education of theater, dance and film.



John Hughes
Creator of the Brat Pack and director of some of my favorite movies. I would love to know what it was like to work with Andy McCarthy, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, and Patrick Dempsey just to name a few.



Coco Chanel
Fashion icon, Chanel paved the way for women's fashion. Her feminine designs reinvented what it mean to be classy and elegant.
"In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different." -Coco Chanel



Elvis Presley
Actor, singer.. Elvis did it all and I am one of the biggest Elvis fans you might ever meet. He could definitely provide the entertainment for the evening!



Josh Duhamel
He just seems like he would be fun to have at the ultimate cocktail party! Plus, just look at him.. need I say more? :)

My list is eclectic.. to say the least, but it would most definitely be a good time with such great company. So, who makes the cut on your list?





Sunday, February 20, 2011

Pink, green.... and da Vinci

Today was yet another gorgeous day in South Carolina. I was finally able to pull out my brand new Lilly Pulitzer shorts! I ordered these back in January when we had snow on the ground and have been looking at them for weeks now waiting for spring to get here so I could finally wear them, let me tell you I was so excited to wear this outfit today! It was the perfect sunny day outfit.. pink and green patchwork shorts and my pink cardigan AND I was able to pull my beloved Jack Rogers out today as well.. it was just an all around great day! 

So I'm an Art History major with a minor in Business Management with my ultimate goal being to work in a gallery or museum. I get a lot of mixed responses when someone asks me what I'm studying in school.. to be honest one of my co-workers looked at me one day and said "So.. are you doing that until you figure out what you really want to do or is it, like, for real?" Another person looked at me and said "Oh ok, so like Charlotte on Sex and the City." I had never thought about that but they had a point, I mean Charlotte and I have the same style and career goal, so that was a pretty darn good comparison.

As I'm sitting in my Art History lecture class this past week, we had just started discussing the High Renaissance. When we got to Da Vinci's The Last Supper, we were talking about the context of the piece. This fresco is taking place right when Christ is telling the apostles that one of them will betray him.  Well, my professor points to one of the apostles, referring James the Greater, and says "Ok class, so here is an example of the first OMG moment ever recorded." I mean da Vinci was an incredible man, he thought of ideas that were way beyond his time, but who would have ever thought we would give him credit for documenting the first OMG moment? Interesting.

The Last Supper Leonardo da Vinci
(James the Greater is the second on the right from Christ)


I've really been enjoying writing my blog and giving my readers a little bit of insight into my world. As you can tell I write about everything under the sun from Lilly Pulitzer to the High Renaissance. The great thing about blogging is that you can literally blog about anything. I'm really interested to hear what y'all have to say about my posts and am even open to suggestions on what my readers would like to see me post next! 

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Why hello again world, I'm back!

So the weather in South Carolina at the moment is absolutely wonderful.  Today close to 80 degrees and full of sunshine.. might I mention that its February? As I walked across campus today there were tons of students just lounging on the Horseshoe enjoying the beautiful weather.  That has to be one of the hundreds of reasons I love living in the South and being a USC student.  Although I spent my Valentine's Day weekend sick from all of the constant weather changes.. so not good for your sinuses!


Lately, everything seems to be happening and changing so fast.. we're already half way through February and I keep wondering where the time has gone.  Everything around me lately seems to be moving so incredibly fast.. it makes me think, wouldn't it be great if life had a pause and rewind button! I turn to music a lot to help me put things in perspective or just reflect on what is on my mind. Tonight, "Never Grow Up" by Taylor Swift is a great choice and brought me to tears, good tears though.. that made me realize just how important it is to appreciate what and who I have. That is something I think all people tend to forget when life gets tough. When things are difficult if we forget the important things and people especially, we'll be left with nothing.

On a brighter note, I think it is important to approach each day with a positive attitude and a smile. Someone once said "Remember to be happy because you never know who is falling in love with your smile." I think that's just so cute but so true. People notice your emotions and your body language and they'll remember that.. I'd rather someone remember me being the bubbly sometimes quixotic girl than the unhappy, mad at the world kind of girl.

So tonight I'm enjoying a wonderful dark chocolate and sea salt bar (sounds strange I know but its SO good) in my new spa shea moisturizing socks (or as my dad would say my "blogging" socks) listening to music, its a total relaxation night! 

That's all for tonight, check back with me tomorrow and we'll see what adventures the weekend has in store! 

Sunday, February 13, 2011

What Would I Do Without You? My Winter Must Haves

In South Carolina we have the most strange winter season anyone could imagine. Somedays it is just down right cold and a few days later it feels like spring. To be honest, I'm ready for a little bit warmer weather, not to mention I just bought a really great pair of Lilly Pulitzer shorts that I can't wait to wear! So here they are, my winter must haves:

Patagonia Fleece Jacket
I don't have this exact jacket but mine is from a few years ago and one of the best investments. Its the perfect everyday fleece jacket, just throw it on and go! The neat thing about mine is that its reversible so its good in rain or shine. This is the Retro X jacket, its about time for a new Patagonia so this one might have to be my next investment.
Ray Ban's New Wayfarer 
Ok, so these are a year round must have for me. I always have my Ray Bans with me and the New Wayfarer are a little bit smaller frame wise than the original, which is perfect for me because I'm a smaller girl. The great thing about these glasses in particular is that they will NEVER go out of style. They are a timeless classic and I will be wearing mine 20 years from now. 


Cowboy Boots
These boots were made for walking. I love love love my cowboy boots. I have these pictured above, the cutouts add a girly touch and the heel is the perfect height. I have gotten my money's worth out of these and they are a great addition to a lot of my outfits. 

Pashmina Scarf
So I have this scarf in almost all colors. If you know me, you'll see me in one of my pashminas a few days out of the week. They are great and can add a little something extra to all of your outfits. They aren't too heavy and are great to wear from early fall to early spring. 

Of course all wardrobes have the essentials to go with your must haves. Jeans are a daily staple of mine, bootcut and skinny of course. My white and black solid long sleeve tee's go great with my pashminas. When I'm not in my cowboy boots, ballet flats are a go to item.  Basic sweaters are perfect for South Carolina weather and you can never go wrong with a good cashmere sweater. Can't wait to share with you my must haves for Spring! :)