cronut

{ What I Wore to coffee: Le Tote dress // hat ℅ Surfdome (sold out, almost identical option) // Freebird boots ℅ Zappos // purse ℅ Gigi New York }

All Photos | Kate Davis Photography

Giving thanks for the upcoming weekend, long coffees with friends, & cronuts!

I recently discovered this delectable treat in Nashville & must agree, it is worth the hype! (in fact, I had one of each flavor… all in one sitting!)

Nashvillians, Lady Boy Donuts is now selling cronuts at Pinewood Social during weekend brunch. Follow Lady Boy Donuts on Instagram to find out when they drop off a fresh delivery (they go FAST!)

get more

In 2014, I'm not making any resolutions, but trying to change some mindsets instead. Including shopping local & supporting businesses that give back. I had great fun planning this photoshoot featuring some of my favorite Nashville businesses that not only produce beautiful goods, but operate with the understanding that blessings are better when multiplied through giving back. Conscious consumerism. Shop local, support global.

Today, I'm focusing on fashionABLE - the brand behind these gorgeous scarves.

{ What I Wore: fashionABLE scarf (borrowed) // J.Crew field jacket (similar 1 // 2 // 3) & socks // Old Navy rockstar skinny jeans // Nisolo tote & chukka boots (borrowed) // hat ℅ Surfdome // borrowed sweater, but crushing on this one! }

More on the jewelry & shoes featured in coming "conscious consumerism" posts.

The fashionABLE mission is to create sustainable business for Africans so they aren't dependent upon charity, but instead earn the dignity of a job, with a primary focus on empowering women. Statistics show that when a woman is empowered, she will have a life-changing impact on her family, community & herself.

When you purchase a fashionABLE scarf (or their new leather goods collection), you help create sustainable business in Africa. fashionABLE is committed to long-term solutions to fighting poverty. That means that your purchase of a scarf creates jobs, so that the women are not dependent upon charity, but instead are a vital part of a developing economy.

More than just giving back to the communities, fashionABLE works with women to help them start small business cooperatives, in addition to requiring their partners to employ women with fair wages & fair hiring practices.

Shop all the gorgeous scarves here (swear you can't want just ONE!) And they now have stylish & functional leather goods too… including a clutch, iPad sleeve & wallet.

This post wouldn't have been possible without some wonderful partners. Thank you to fashionABLE, Nisolo & Fringe & Lace for lending items.  Zipporah Photography for capturing all the little details. Jordan Duncan for working as our fashionABLE liaison & shoot stylist.

stylist

Is anyone still here? I know I can't be the only one wanting to put on my flannel PJs & curl up with family around the fireplace/Christmas tree/kitchen table/[insert your family tradition here]

Things might be a little quiet around here for the next week or so, but I want to make sure that I tell you all THANKS!

Thank you for making this whole area of the internet a wonderful place for me to come everyday. Thank you for the interactions on social media. And most recently, all of your lovely words about my new life chapter. 2014 is looking to be a year filled with many "firsts". Your friendship is a lovely Christmas present!

{ What I Wore: hat ℅ Surf Dome // Forever21 vest // J.Crew tee // skirt ℅ Gentle Fawn // necklace ℅ GroopDealz // super old shoes }

{Get the Look}
cranberry fedora {$55} + stripe tee {splurge $50 // save $16} + skirt {exact, $20} + vest {$40} + tassel necklace {$10} + shoes {$40}

All photos thanks to Zipporah Photography.

This is another one of the outfits that the lovely Shelby styled for me. Seriously, can I have a stylist come play in my closet with me everyday?!

This outfit came about because I told Shelby that I wanted to take some of the items that I had been wearing "preppy" & give them a boho twist. Well, lady friend hit this nail right on the head. I love it! Thoughts?

Starting now, I'm going to try to do a better job of showing you how I wore things before, a new year's resolution if you will (my use of tags should help too, those can be found at the very bottom of each post)

fur vest previously worn here // see orange skirt re-mixed here // stripe shirt last seen here // these shoes have been around the block here // I've worn this hat soooo much this Fall, see all the ways here

all the statements

{ What I Wore: hat ℅ Surf Dome // ASOS leopard jacket // oversized sweater ℅ Front Row Shop // Windsor Store leggings // Steve Madden boots (similar) // purse ℅ Yes Walker // necklace ℅ iSanctuary }

{Get the Look for Less}
hat {$47.50} + leopard jacket {$95} + camel sweater {$42} + liquid leather-look leggings {$36.90} + over the knee boots {$62} + black cross body purse {$25} + statement necklace {$42}

Ok, so apparently this outfit is a culmination of all the "statement" pieces I am drawn to these days:

statement jacket - check

statement hat - check

statement boots - check

and statement necklace - check

(pretty sure a sweater this oversized could be considered a "statement" too - like a "hi I stole this from my boyfriend" kind of statement)

But the necklace is more than just a stunning piece, it is a statement of support. 

Since 2007 iSanctuary has been employing & supporting the survivors of human trafficking through the sale of products handmade by the survivors themselves, in both the US & India. 

(the "i" stands for International)

Their shop promotes "purchases with a purpose" - an idea of conscious consumerism that has been heavy on my mind this season especially.

Why not give two-fold during this season of spreading love?

Ok, just one more statement - today I have the great pleasure of co-hosting the Spotlight of the Week link-up with Elle & Jacqueline. This week we are spotlighting Statement Jewelry… so pile on your bling, & link up after the page break -->

wrap it up

{ What I Wore: burgundy red Esprit fedora hat c/o Surfdome (similar here) // "Keeping it Cozy" sweater c/o Fringe & Lace // J.Crew tank // "Emerald City" necklace c/o Fringe & Lace // Denizen bootcut jeans c/o People Style Watch StyleHunters // "All in One" clutch c/o Gigi New York // Charlotte Russe wedge booties } 

stack 'em up, all bracelets Fringe & Lace.

Well what do you know, I haven't managed to fall off the "Take One, Pass It On" challenge wagon yet.

In fact I even took 2 items from yesterday's outfit & styled them up today. Boo-yeah! 

In news more exciting than how I may or may not be competent enough to dress myself, I have an exciting announcement to make! You are looking at the newest contributor over on Fringe & Lace, an online shop featuring everything you will want to add to your closet, all for under $100! I have talked about my darling friend Natalie's online boutique before & I'm beyond excited that she has invited me to be a member of her team. 

What do we have cooking? Well, to start with, a weekly feature where I will style up a Fringe & Lace item TWO ways. You just saw the first way I wore this fab open front sweater, but you will have to head on over to the Fringe & Lace blog to peep my other outfit (it involved liquid leather... go on, click it!)

Thank you for always being supportive of the new endeavors I take on, very excited about what the future holds!

Take One

{ What I Wore: burgundy red Esprit fedora hat c/o Surfdome (similar here) // J.Crew blouse // DaisyGem necklace // Citizens of Humanity "Dylan" boyfriend jeans (similar 1 // 2 // 3) // "All in One" clutch c/o Gigi New York // BCBG Generation heels via TJ Maxx }

Check out more great clothing & accessories from Surfdome {here} 

Well, I am on day 2 of the "Take One, Pass it On" challenge & already failing. But in my defense some pretty crazy things happened. For the challenge I am supposed to take one item from my previous outfit & transform it into a new look. But right after I took yesterday's pictures, I bent over to pick up Doug's poop, & the butt cheek of my pants ripped open. Not just a little bit, like a whole lotta bit. Nothing quite like running down your alley holding a bag of poop, tripod, pug & the butt of your pants closed. As if my neighbors already thought I was crazy... suspicions confirmed. 

So I took those pants & passed them onto the trash pile (let's be honest, my so called "mending pile" should just be the trash, because I haven't attempted to put a dent in it in months).

Never have I been so proud to own 2 pairs of near identical boyfriend jeans (yay for all the money I wasted saved while working for a boutique in college). So moving on, just imagine that these are the same jeans. To get over the other pair, I am personally pretending they are one in the same. We each mourn in our own ways really.

In happier news, my huge mug is currently gracing the home page of the fabulous jewelry shop DaisyGem & what that means for you is this:

Score $5 off my favorite necklace, featured in this outfit, with code "JESS5" or get 15% off your entire order using code "HERE15"

Have you mourned the loss of a favorite article of clothing recently?

P.S. Please take just a second to vote for me in the OnlineShoes competition {here}

It is oh so close & I am OH SO competitive ;) I just dare you to play me in Apples to Apples!