With Style and a Little Grace: November 2015

A Walk in the Woods

I can't get enough of the stripes and plaid combo. It just looks so cute together. This is the outfit I decided to wear for our Thanksgiving Dinner. Thanksgiving this year was pretty low-key so I kept it comfortable but stylish. This turtleneck was a favorite purchase last year and my Aerie Bonfire scarf is officially my new favorite. It is made of the softest material. I broke out my flare denim for a little 70s vibe.

Well Thanksgiving is officially over and we are in full Christmas mode at the Johnston house. I am finishing up the last of our Christmas decorations tonight and I can't wait to show all the little corners fully decked in a post coming soon. I am watching Christmas movies at night and love it. What is your must watch Christmas movie? I watched Prancer yesterday - um so good!

Tis the season! Thank y'all so much for reading! There are some amazing deals still happening today for Cyber Monday check out my full sales guide right here.

Thanksgiving 2015 + Life Update

- traditional Thanksgiving day picture on the river - this Aerie bonfire scarf is so cozy and I found Henry some of the best button-downs at Brooks Brothers recently - this flannel is so soft

- baked an apple pie - it was yummy but really liquidy not sure what I did wrong but not my best

- Friday lunch with my in-laws at our favorite chinese restaurant China Doll then off to pick up our Christmas trees per our holiday tradition

- stepping up my hot cocoa game with whipped cream and you've been warned once you do this you will never go back - so good - Anthropologie has these limited edition mugs back in -they are my favorite and only $10

- baking my first batch of cheese straws for the holidays - we devoured them and now I need to make more - yummy

- bringing our tree home and setting it up - this one might be my favorite - Holiday pictures of the house coming soon

- getting our tree - snapchat Gracie Johnston

Happy Sunday Loves! I thought I would do a casual post today because between the gift guides, DIYs, and all the holiday inspired posts I have coming up it has been a whirlwind and I just don't feel like I have been able to have a little chat with y'all.

Henry is going to the state championships in Tuscaloosa this week which is so exciting - first time in 20 years - I will be going to cheer him on. We also have our annual Virginia trip next week so I have been trying to get everything Christmas ready because it will be nonstop soon. This is my favorite time of year and I want to make sure I sit back and enjoy all the festivities.

CURRENTLY

I ordered this to organize my bracelets - I'm on a major organization kick - would you want to see some posts about organizing? Let me know - maybe a series in January?

I have been watching Hallmark Christmas movies on the regular - ready for some 25 Days of Christmas.

I have to work-out - like desperate need.

I read pretty girls last week and it kept me up an entire night - serious thriller y'all - I'm on a major scary book trail right now - read it you will love it.

I'm super excited to watch all my favorite you-tubers do Vlogmas - I mean it just gets me in the Christmas spirit. Favorites are Tanya Burr and Zoella - love the Brits y'all!

My Dad and his fiance Suzanne got us a bench for the end of our bed for Christmas and I got to order it early and it's coming in this week - I CAN'T WAIT - I'm so excited - slowly but surely getting us some furniture.

I have really wanted a spike bracelet and I found this super cheap one on Ebay and ordered it. I think it will be a great layering piece.

Hope you had an amazing weekend - Here's to the beginning of December!

Gifts With Gracie | Henry's Favorite Things

Men are always the hardest people to shop for or at least my husband is - they have very specific items that they want/like and usually they get them right when they need them. Or they do the whole - I don't need anything bit - but your GETTING something for Christmas! I sat down with Henry and made a list of his favorite items that he already has and a few items on his Christmas wish-list. He resisted having to do it but loved how his collage turned out - it's totally all his favorite things right in one place. My husband is a hunter, fly fisherman, and he loves his PS4 so if your husband is southern and likes any of these things then this guide might be perfect for him.

My other go-to gifts for Henry include his favorite boxers, the perfect every-day socks, shorts that he lives in, and a great t-shirt. And really anything from Macks or Cabelas for hunting and fishing and we are on point. The Lacrosse socks are the warmest socks for hunting, his RNT duck call was his favorite gift last Christmas, and he loves his ORVIS wallet with this initials.

For my dad and my brother their style is a little different. They are golfers, readers, techies and cooks/cocktail makers. ;) I love these sweaters, this book, this cool gadget, these wine glasses, and these cozy mocassins.

Thank you so much for reading and let me know what the men in your life can't live without!

Gifts with Gracie | Black Friday Sales + Gift Guide for Her

I hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving! I'm still full and feel like I need to run 10 miles #totallyworthit. The sales are in full swing and I wanted to do a little gift guide for all the ladies and a round-up of all the amazing sales currently happening, because there are some good ones y'all! It's time to break out the jingle juice and eggnog and let the Christmas shopping begin! I am going to be wearing my new Christmas pjs all weekend and doing some serious decorating around here - follow me on snapchat Gracie Johnston - for all the holiday madness.

Don't forget my previous gift guides

Early Bird Deals and Steals

Stocking Stuffers under $30

Gifts for your BFF under $50

My Christmas Wish-List

Hostess Gifts

My top sales round up - happy shopping!

Macys - 20% off with code THANKS and free shipping on orders over $50
J.Crew - 30% off your purchase with code HOLIDAY including items that never go on sale plus 40% off sale
J.Crew Factory - 50% off entire site - seriously great gifts

Anthropologie - 25% off entire site with code SHOPTOIT

ASOS - up to 60% off casual with code BLESSED

Shopbop - up to 25% off with code GOBIG15 - spend $250 save 15% $500 get 20%, and $1000 get 25% off

Tory Burch - Spend $250 get 30% off with code THANKS + FREE SHIPPING

Baublebar - 20% off everything with code THX

Express - 50% off everything

Gap - 50% off everything with code GAPFRIDAY

Neiman Marcus - up to 40% off regularly priced items and 25% off in kids

Victoria's Secret - $20 off $125 - buy one bra get one 50% off with code DOUBLEUP and FREE SHIPPING

Urban Outfitters - 30% off sale

Old Navy - 30% off everything - 40% off $100 + with code EARLYBIRD

NORDSTROM - Up to 60% off sale + price matching

Rebecca Minkoff - 25% off all orders + free shipping

Madewell - 25% off with code Calmdown through 11/29

Banana Republic - 40% off with code BRFRIENDS + 50% off sweaters

Ann Taylor - 50% off everything with code CELEBRATE

Amazon - 30% off select clothing, accessories, shoes, and jewelry with code 30BLACKFRI

Let me know what is on your must-have Christmas list and what you are getting from the amazing sales!

Giving Thanks

Giving Thanks - every morning I try to give myself a few minutes to reflect before I start my day. I find myself making a list of all the things that I am thankful for in my life. This is always especially helpful on those blah days because you get through about two things and you realize you have absolutely nothing to be down in the dumps about. I am so blessed and today of all days is really the perfect time to reflect on those blessings - surrounded by your loved ones.

I am thankful for so much this year! I am thankful for my amazing husband and our sweet fur-baby Charlie. I love our life together and the journey we are on. I am thankful for my amazing family and my insanely fabulous group of girlfriends. As far apart as we are - we remain so close to each other and that is the most amazing and irreplaceable bond. We are all healthy and happy. Last but not least I am always thankful for this blog and for all of you who read it.This little page brings me so much joy and I enjoy growing it and continuing to evolve and change with it. I just love blogging so much and connecting with all the fabulous people in the blogosphere.

As I reflect on this year I can't believe how close we are to the end of it. I am looking forward to making this last month amazing! I hope your stuffing your face and relaxing on the couch - maybe watching your first Christmas movie of the season.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! Thank you so much for reading!

Everything is coming up Roses

When I walked out to take photos in this outfit Henrys first reaction was the look he normally gives me for my more out of the box outfits and then he said can't you just wear black tights or would that not be "fashion bloggy enough" #divaphotographer. He got a nice look in return for that - although some part of this outfit oddly reminds me of Mary Poppins and I don't hate it!

I will admit I have owned these tights since college and always have a hard time finding the perfect pieces to complement them. They have so much going on that I made them the focal point of my outfit and I kept everything else really simple. I love the texture and pattern that they bring to this outfit - it just adds such a rich holiday feel.

I love fun patterned tights for the holiday season - do y'all? I am currently searching for the perfect metallic polka dot - super cute options linked below. Fun tights are a great way to add some holiday pizzazz to any look and if you can't step it up a little during the holidays when can you?

I have linked a ton of adorable tights options that I would love to add to my collection!

I am officially getting ready for Thanksgiving with tons of cooking today - can't wait y'all!

Be on the look-out for tons of Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale Guides coming - if you missed it check out my guide to the early sales here. So many good ones y'all!

Thank you so much for reading!!

Gifts with Gracie | Early Bird Deals and Steals

I'm back ladies because as you know this is a HUGE week for shopping the biggest sales! I really try to get most of my shopping done during this time and maybe a few sneaky treats for myself - I know you do it too! There are some really great sales already happening so I have rounded up a few of my favorite items that I am sure the ladies in your life OR YOU would love!

J.Crew Factory 50% off entire site

J.Crew 30% off with code GET SHOPPING

Shopbop 15% off, 20% off, and 25% off with code GOBIG15 at checkout

ASOS 60% off great winter items

NORDSTROM tons of new markdowns

Old Navy 30% off with code EARLYBIRD and 40% off over $100

Anthropologie 25% off dresses and free shipping ends today

Happy Shopping y'all and let me know if there are certain gift guides you might want to see!

DIY Advent Calendar

Happy Tuesday y'all! It's a short week and I start my Thanksgiving Holiday tomorrow - I can't wait! I think this year is the earliest I have been in the holiday spirit and I am truly loving it - it just really feels like that special time of year. Anyone else?

Since we will be getting our tree this weekend and starting our Christmas decorating I wanted to go ahead and put up this super easy and fun DIY Advent Calendar. I haven't had an Advent calendar in years and I have been watching all of these fun Vlogmas videos on You-Tube recently -see my faves here and here - and they all have Advent calendars. It put me on the hunt to find the perfect easy and cheap DIY version. I saw several cute options on Pinterest and decided to do a paper bag style. I think I spent a total of $20 not including the candy/goodies to go inside. You might have some of the items you need on hand.

I found these adorable printables of the Christmas story to include in each bag with a special goodie. You can just add candy or maybe a fun Christmas surprise or gift. Spend as little or as much as you wish. This is great for families because I know kids will look forward to opening every single day and you can talk about the meaning of Christmas as well.

YOU NEED

PAPER BAGS

STENCIL

METALLIC SHARPIE

CHRISTMAS TREATS

PRINTER FOR PRINTABLES

I do think I might want to add some stenciling or something additional to them - if I do I will definitely post an update. Let me know if you like this idea and might do something like this for your Christmas.

Hope your having an amazing Thanksgiving week and as always thank y'all so much for reading!

Gifts with Gracie | My Christmas Wishes

Everywhere you turn all my favorite bloggers are breaking out their gift guides and I am loving it! Last week I really started getting into the holiday spirit and my dad visited us over the weekend and it was so nice to catch up and it really started to feel like the holidays! Spending time with friends and family - that is what it's all about! My family always starts a little Christmas Gift Guide e-mail this time of year where we send each other a few items we really want - I have rounded up all the items on my personal wish-list for 2015.

Check out my previous wish-lists here and here - a few items from last year made it to this years list. What is on your Christmas wish-list? I am really working on getting some items for my home right now and a few great items for my beauty routine.

It's Thanksgiving Week!! Yay - thank y'all for reading!

Friday Five

- the holiday season is just around the corner and the sweet treats are already killing me but the donuts were delicious

- a candle that smells like Christmas trees as a gift from my mom

- breaking out my favorite Christmas movies just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday next week

- scoping out my must have pieces for BlackFriday and Cyber Monday + my new favorite Ruby Blue Boutique baubles

- more adorable sweet treats for my DIY Advent calendar next week that I just had to break out early - I mean how cute are those bears

Happy Friday Friends! This week hasn't been too crazy and I have really been in the spirit and so excited for the upcoming holidays. My dad is coming to visit us this weekend so I am really looking forward to some family time and I can't wait to see all of my family over the next few weeks.

Don't forget to check out all my gift guides below and my full wish-list later today!

Stocking Stuffers under $30

Gifts for your BFF under $50

Hostess Gifts

Thank you so much for reading!

A Festive Plaid Skirt

I am almost embarrassed at how many times I have used the words festive in my daily life recently - but then I remember how excited I am about the holidays and I say festive 25 more times because thats my festive prerogative. If it makes me happy - I'm just going to roll with it.

I stumbled upon this plaid skirt during one of my daily cyber stalks of J.Crew's website and I was instantly obsessed. I am all about classic American style recently or I've always been but the older I get the more my wardrobe gravitates towards it.

Anyways, I scooped it up and I will be living in it for the remainder of the holiday season - or the beginning of it for all you normal people who haven't been watching Hallmark Christmas movies all month (snapchat: GracieJohnston for some laughs). I plan on dressing it up with tights for another fun holiday look bonus it's currently 50% off - grab it before it's gone. My cable knit was purchased from J.Crew last year and was one of my best purchases. A great cream cable knit goes with everything. I know I said that about a cream blouse yesterday - but basics ladies are a necessity. ;)