Monday, December 28, 2015

new year's eve menu

I hope that all of you had a very merry Christmas!

Though I'm still trying to recover from all the food I had on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day {so many sweets!}, I wanted to share some ideas for a New Year's Eve menu. My family and I always try to keep some food traditions - noodles for long life and something round for prosperity - so I made sure to keep those in mind when looking for recipes. Don't worry, I'm always looking out!

Enjoy!

New Year's Eve Menu: Stylish Sips // A Style Caddy

New Year's Eve Menu: Sweet & Savory {Desserts & Entrees} // A Style Caddy

Friday, December 18, 2015

chocolate peppermint baked donuts

Chocolate Peppermint Baked Donuts // A Style Caddy

One of my favorite holiday flavor combinations is peppermint and chocolate. I started thinking about making these donuts before Thanksgiving. Seriously! I've been waiting over a month to make these.

And now I'm sharing the recipe with you! You can make these this weekend or next week. It would be a great Christmas morning addition to your breakfast spread! I have it on good authority that these are even better the second day. So make them the night before Christmas so that you don't have to worry about anything on Christmas morning and will have the most delicious chocolate and peppermint donut. Everyone will love you. I promise.

Ingredients:

Chocolate Cake Donuts:
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder {dark cocoa powder works well here}
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup sour cream
1/3 cup milk {I used skim milk}

White Chocolate Glaze:
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
3/4 cup cream

Andes Peppermint Crunch baking chips for sprinkling

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350℉. Grease your donut pan with non-stick baking spray.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
3. Stir in the egg, vanilla extract, melted butter, sour cream, and milk.
4. Transfer the batter to a piping bag or just a Ziploc bag and snip off a corner. Pipe into the donut wells about 2/3 full.
5. Bake the donuts for 13-15 minutes. When you touch the top, it should spring back.
6. Let the donuts cool in the pan for 5-8 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

White Chocolate Glaze:
1. Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl for 45 seconds. Stir and melt in 20 second increments until melted. Note: Don't keep microwaving this until all the white chips are completely melted. You should stir in between because the heat should help melt the remaining chocolate chips. White chocolate seizes much sooner than regular chocolate!
2. Stir in the sifted confectioners' sugar. Another note: I was lazy and didn't do this and it shows. If you want a smooth glaze, you need to sift the sugar.
3. Add in the cream until you get a thick but still pourable glaze. You may not need the full amount.
5. Dip the completely cooled donuts in the glaze. Place back on the cooling rack with parchment paper underneath to catch the excess glaze. Then, sprinkle or place the Andes Peppermint Crunch on top.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Peppermint Baked Donuts // A Style Caddy

Chocolate Peppermint Baked Donuts // A Style Caddy

Chocolate Peppermint Baked Donuts // A Style Caddy

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

louis vuitton bag reveal

Want to know what I did with some of the money I saved from my reverse 52 week money challenge? Well...

I bought my first Louis Vuitton bag!

It might not seem so exciting to you, but I've been thinking about this for nearly two years {!!!} and couldn't wait to actually have this. I made a whole video about it to tell you about why I saved, my pretty awful buying experience at the Louis Vuitton store {sad face}, and show you what I keep in my bag.


Monday, December 14, 2015

reverse 52 week money challenge


In 2014, I decided to try out a savings challenge I had seen on Pinterest. It was the 52 week money challenge, and it seemed simple and easy enough.

All you had to do was deposit a certain amount of money into your savings account each week. On the first week of the year, you put in $1. On the second week, you put in $2 and so on and so forth. While I was able to complete it, I actually found it to be really difficult! At the end of the year, aka the holiday season when spending is at a high, I was depositing $49, $50, $51, and $52 each week. It might seem silly, but it actually stressed me out! Because I was buying Christmas presents, sending out holiday cookies, and doing this challenge, I felt like I was running low on cash pretty often. I knew that if I did it again in 2015, I had to budget my money better or find a different method.

I decided that the best way to do this challenge is to do it in reverse. So on the first week of the year, I put in $52 into my savings account. That way on the 52nd week of the year, I only had to worry about putting in $1. Even though the year isn't over yet, I've already completed the challenge because I didn't have to put in $202 into my account during the month of December.

I wanted to share my top reasons for doing this challenge with you and how to make it a little bit easier for you.

1. Do the challenge in reverse! Like I said, I found it much easier to start the year adding $52 and ending the year with just $1. It's much easier and less stressful during the holiday season.

2. You'll see a bigger addition to your savings account. I found that doing it backwards also motivated me more. And I think that's because I was seeing a bigger addition of money in my savings account much quicker. Immediate results!

3. Keep track of the dollar amount. I wrote myself a reminder in my planner of how much money I needed to put away each week. This meant that I saw it pretty much every day. I never forgot about it and it was the first thing I did on Friday mornings.

4. Add it directly to your bank account and not to a jar. Maybe the jar method works for you, but I know that adding directly to my savings account at my bank meant that I wouldn't touch the money I put there. Also, I rarely carry cash so making the transfer online is much easier.

5. You will save $1,378 in one year! This is by far the biggest pro about this challenge. In addition to the money I put into my savings at the end of each month, I saved nearly $1,400 more! You can put this money towards something you need or want or keep it there. It's all up to you! You can see what I did with some of my money on Wednesday...

For 2016, I'm debating on whether or not I should do it in reverse again or do the reverse double. That would mean putting in $104 the first week, $102 the second week, etc., and saving double the amount that I did this year.

Let me know if you give this a try or have done it in the past. I'd love to hear about your experience!

Monday, December 7, 2015

fifty gifts under $50

You would think that picking out fifty gifts under $50 is easy, but as I've discovered, it is the complete opposite! Oh my gosh, I had such a hard time creating this gift guide due to a combination of feeling limited to just fifty products and wanting to find gifts for everyone you might have on your list. Everyone from your parents to your best friend to the little kiddies to the home baker. So many people! After spending hours trying to narrow down my selection, I am happy with the range of gifts I picked. And now I can finally share it with you

Happy Gifting!


Friday, November 27, 2015

black friday sales

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! My family and I always have a pretty quiet Thanksgiving day and weekend. It's nice to just relax and not be so busy.

It should come as no surprise then that I don't like shopping in store on Black Friday. I much prefer staying at home and doing all my shopping and gift buying from my comfortable couch. Luckily for me {and you!}, the sales are offered on online orders so there's no need to battle the crowds.

I've rounded up sales from ten stores I love to share with you! Just click on the image to shop the sale!

Happy Shopping!

http://bit.ly/1XkcAu4
http://bit.ly/1Hrb7ez
http://bit.ly/1MYrMo4

http://bit.ly/1O3hq8o
http://bit.ly/1Qfoz4I
http://bit.ly/1MH30td
http://bit.ly/1NWGWuf
http://bit.ly/1Hrbndk
http://bit.ly/1IdxjsI
http://bit.ly/1T8Wa1e

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

favorite five: holiday lipsticks

Makeup is an easy way to dress up your outfit for the holidays. Eyeshadow, blush, liner, lipstick - you can make it as natural or as glamorous as you'd like. I've come to love wearing lipstick and think that everyone looks better with a little color on their lips, even if it's just a swipe of sheer gloss. I wanted to share my favorite holiday and & winter lipsticks for this season before the holiday season gets under way.

Shop the video here on my YouTube page!

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

holiday gift guide: for the cook


Holiday Gift Guide: For the Cook // A Style Caddy
{Shop the image by clicking on the '+' sign!}

I'm a huge Food Network and Cooking Channel fan, and I could spend forever in the kitchen baking up dozens of cookies and lots of cakes so today's gift guide is right up my alley! If I had to choose a favorite, this one would be it! I tried to think of some fun things that any home cook or baker would want and included it here.

I've mentioned some of the things that I love - my favorite vanilla extract, the stand mixer every cook and baker should have, my frequently used baking set, and a cookbook from Ina Garten. I mean, really, who doesn't love Ina Garten?

Other things that would make great gifts - these gourmet and artisan chocolate bars from Compartés {their flavors are insane!}, a counter stand for your iPad, this gold flatware set, a spiralizer {so popular right now!}, and this hot chocolate set. Anything from Williams-Sonoma would make for a good gift really...

Don't forget to check out this year's other gift guides!

Monday, November 23, 2015

holiday gift guide: for the beauty lover


Holiday Gift Guide: For the Beauty Lover // A Style Caddy
{Click on the '+' sign to go directly to the product page!}

A beauty gift guide is one of my favorites to create every year. I'm a makeup lover so I'm always looking at new releases and gift sets during the holiday season. Seriously, how pretty are all of these things?!

I've included some of my own personal favorites in this guide - Essie nail polish, a set of Smashbox makeup brushes, a NARS palette that includes some of my go-to bronzer and blushes, and an Elizabeth & James rollerball duo to name a few.

There isn't anything here that I wouldn't love to get myself! How could you go wrong with a whole book of false lashes? There is definitely a pair there for every occasion. Or how about a set of five Peter Thomas Roth masks? There's even one with 24k gold!

Other makeup gifts I love to give - this classic Lorac eyeshadow palette {a must for any beauty lover!}, a trio of mini lipsticks perfect for everyday, and a subscription to Birchbox!

Don't forget to check out my other gift guides for more ideas! The last dedicated gift guide will go up tomorrow with one or two more coming next month.

Friday, November 20, 2015

holiday gift guide: for him


Holidy Gift Guide: For Him // A Style Caddy
{Just click on the plus sign to go directly to the product page!}

Does anyone else find shopping for the guys really difficult? I always find myself stuck whenever I try to make a list of what to get. The above are some classics and favorites that will never steer you in the wrong direction - winter essentials, a nice sweater, and a good quality work/travel bag.

I also think these flannel-lined jeans make a great gift. They'd be so useful for those cold and snowy winter days. And how bout that Pocket Dial J. Crew did in collaboration with Jimmy Fallon?

Other gift ideas? Game tickets to their favorite football/basketball/hockey team, a cool pair of sneakers, fun socks, or a Clarisonic just for him.

More gift guides coming your way next week!

Thursday, November 19, 2015

advent calendars

I look forward to purchasing an Advent calendar every holiday season. They've much more sophisticated than what I used to get when I was younger. Hello, beauty advent calendars! Skincare sets? Yup. Yummy chocolates? Count me in. You need to scoop one of these up before they're gone! And trust me, some of them are going quickly. I'm looking at you, Diptyque and Jo Malone...

Christmas & Advent Calendars // A Style Caddy

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

winter & holiday candles

I stocked up on winter and holiday candles recently. This is my favorite time of year to buy candles, probably because I love the holiday season so much. As usual, these are from Bath & Body Works because they have the best deals. I got these when they had their buy one, get one free sale. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming up, they should have a similar sale then so that you can get a good deal on these candles.

Watch to see what my favorite scents for the holidays are! And come back tomorrow for the continuation of holiday gift guides!

Monday, November 16, 2015

holiday gift guide: for her

The holidays are quickly approaching, which means that it's time for holiday gift guides! Let's start out with gifts for the ladies in your life - for your mom, your best friend, your sister. I tried to cover all bases with this "For Her" list, but don't worry! There are more to come with even more gift ideas!

I decided to make this year's gift guides easier for everyone. Minus the black Tieks flats, all you need to do is click on each item and you'll go directly to that page!

Happy shopping!


Friday, November 13, 2015

favorite five: j.crew winter coats

Want to know a secret? One of my favorite places to shop for winter coats is J.Crew. They have a great selection every single year - a combination of stylish, practical, and warm. I recently purchased this puffer coat in gray and am eagerly and impatiently waiting for it to show up on my doorstep! I picked out five other coats that will stand out and are perfect for the cold weather and any occasion.

Even better, J. Crew currently has a sale for 25% off your entire purchase with the code SHOPTOIT that you can use on four of these coats!

Favorite Five: J.Crew Winter Coats // A Style Caddy
Belted Zip Trench Coat // It's classic and trendy! I love this slightly edgier take on the timeless wool trench coat.

Favorite Five: J.Crew Winter Coats // A Style Caddy
Double-Cloth Collarless Coat // I love how minimal this coat is! And without a collar, you can show off all of your pretty scarves!

Favorite Five: J.Crew Winter Coats // A Style Caddy
Short Quilted Puffer with Faux-Fur Hood // A short puffer coat is perfect for those cold days in the beginning of winter when the snow and wind don't bother you as much. This one has fleece-lined pockets to keep those hands toasty!

Favorite Five: J.Crew Winter Coats // A Style Caddy
Wool Toggle Coat // I have an older version of this coat and love it! You'll have this one forever.

Favorite Five: J.Crew Winter Coats // A Style Caddy
Nordic Parka // This coat is the warmest of the bunch and water-resistant, making it perfect for cold, snowy, winter days! I love the quilted neon lining and the faux-fur lined hood.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

sephora vib sale purchases

I went a bit crazy at Sephora during their VIB Rouge sale last weekend and picked up some things. I apparently thought I needed more lip products so this makeup haul is a bit lipstick/lip gloss/lip liner heavy. But there are a few other things scattered in there, too! The regular VIB sale starts this Friday and goes through the weekend. If you pick up anything or made some purchases last weekend, I'd love to know!

You can find a full list of products with links on YouTube!

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

october beauty & lifestyle favorites

Another month has come and gone and now it's November. NOVEMBER! The year is flying.

I used a lot of the same products in October so picking out my monthly favorites was a breeze. All of the products I mentioned in the video are listed on YouTube!

Monday, November 2, 2015

milky way apple blondies

Milky Way Apple Blondies // A Style Caddy

... Or what to do with all your extra chocolate Halloween candy. If you ever end up with some extra candy, you need to add it to this blondie recipe. Anything from plain Hershey bars, Milky Ways, Snickers, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, M&Ms - whatever you have on hand will be great! I am just especially partial to this apple, chocolate, and caramel mix. It's like a caramel and chocolate apple that's just so much easier to eat. I can guarantee that it's a recipe that everyone will love! I dare you to try and eat just one...

Ingredients:
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup chopped Granny Smith apples {or any good baking apple}
1 cup chopped Milky Way {about 8-9 fun sized bars}

Directions:
1. After chopping your Milky Way bars, place them in the fridge. This ensures that they don't melt while you prepare everything else!
2. Preheat the oven to 350℉. Spray your 9x13" pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper. Make sure there's a little bit of overhang so that you can easily take out the blondies once they're done baking.
3. In a large bowl, combine the melted butter and sugar. Mix together until well combined.
4. Add in eggs one at a time and mix until combined.
5. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
6. Add you wet ingredients to your dry ingredients and mix together.
7. Fold in your chopped apples and Milky Way pieces.
8. Spread the batter evenly in your baking pan.
9. Bake for 27-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
10. Let cool completely before cutting into squares.

ENJOY!

Milky Way Apple Blondies // A Style Caddy

Milky Way Apple Blondies // A Style Caddy

Milky Way Apple Blondies // A Style Caddy

Milky Way Apple Blondies // A Style Caddy

favorite five: fall nail polishes

One of my favorite things about the fall and winter seasons is the nail polish. Oh, how I love wearing nail polish during this time of the year! I'm so drawn to the deep purples, festive reds, shades of green, and other holiday colors. But before we get ahead of ourselves and start talking about winter nail polishes, let's talk about what I'm loving this fall. I've narrowed it down to my favorite five for the season - check them out below!

Friday, October 23, 2015

fall/winter fashion haul

While I'm trying to be better about budgeting my money {especially before the holidays}, I did want to add some new things to my closet for the fall and winter seasons. To be fair, I did and always do the majority of my shopping when things are on sale so I don't think I did too much damage to my bank account. And since I also do the majority of my shopping online, I always use Ebates whenever possible. That way I get some money back and never feel too awful about my purchases.

Anyway...

If you want to see what I've bought in the last few months, make sure to watch the video. I'll have links to all the items on my YouTube page. And please subscribe to my channel after watching!

Monday, October 19, 2015

baked apple cider donuts

Baked Apple Cider Donuts // A Style Caddy

If I were to make a list of my all-time favorite recipes, these baked apple cider donuts would be there. I was beyond excited to make these and was thrilled with the results! Apple cider donuts with a glaze? Or apple cider donuts with a sugar coating? Well, I couldn't decide on whether or not to use a sugar coating or a glaze so I decided to do both. They're both equally delicious, and neither will disappoint. Once you make these, you'll be adding them to your fall must-bake list every year. Trust me, apple cider donuts will be your fall go-to.

Ingredients:

Donuts: {adapted from The Farmer's Daughter}
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs, room temperature
2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup apple cider
1/4 cup buttermilk

Apple Cider Glaze: {adapted from Freutcake}
1 cup apple cider
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar {To be honest, I eyeballed this. Better to start with a 1/2 cup and go from there.}

Sugar Topping:
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 tbsp cinnamon

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350℉. Grease your donut pan with non-stick baking spray.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, light brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
3. In a medium bowl, mix together the softened butter and eggs until fluffy. {It's important that your eggs are at room temperature and that you're unsalted butter is softened at room temperature! Otherwise, the butter will re-solidify when you add the apple cider and buttermilk.} Add the apple cider and buttermilk and mix well.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just blended. Do not overmix!
5. Place your batter into a pastry bag or a ziploc bag. Then, pipe into the prepared donut pan, filling each mold about 3/4 full.
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
7. Cool on a cooling rack before dipping into the glaze and topping with sugar.

Apple Cider Glaze:
1. Bring the apple cider to a simmer in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer until reduced to about 1/2 cup, about 5-8 minutes. Keep an eye on it! Then, transfer to a small bowl.
2. Add the confectioners' sugar and whisk until smooth.
*The amount of confectioners' sugar is dependent on you. I wanted a thicker glaze so I kept adding a tablespoon of confectioners' sugar at a time til I had my desired consistency. And if at any time the glaze becomes too thick for your liking, just add in a tablespoon of apple cider til you get it where you want it.

Sugar Topping:
1. Mix together the light brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon. Top donuts with sugar after dipping in the apple cider glaze.

Baked Apple Cider Donuts // A Style Caddy

Baked Apple Cider Donuts // A Style Caddy

Baked Apple Cider Donuts // A Style Caddy

Baked Apple Cider Donuts // A Style Caddy

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

fall favorites tag

I feel like tag videos on YouTube were all the rage a few years ago. Then they started to dwindle out of popularity. This fall favorites tag has been going around for weeks now, and I knew I had to do it since fall is my favorite season. I tagged a few people - Darcy of A Memory of Us, Jordan from Opal & Violet, Kate of A Lonestar State of Southern, and Jayme of Her Late Night Cravings - but anyone can do this! And if you do it, make sure to let me know!

Monday, October 12, 2015

monday scorecard {vol. 13}

Monday Scorecard {Vol. 13} - Image via The Yellow Cape Cod // A Style Caddy

Ace // Team USA won the Presidents Cup! I stayed up until about 4 AM to watch the final day of singles matches. This year's tournament turned out to be much more exciting than anyone anticipated, I think. And if this clip of Captain Jay Haas getting emotional talking about his son Bill Haas winning the final point for the Americans in the anchor match doesn't bring a tear to your eye... Well, I don't know what to tell you.
Birdie // It's almost tights season, and, if you're anything like me, you end up buying a bunch of new ones every year. This trick is a game changer, life saver, tights saver.

Birdie // I love this easy and simple fall table setting!

Birdie // Really love this faux shearling coat! I need to remember to break out mine this season.

Par // Adam Scott seems like a funny guy. Who knew? {If you don't follow golf, he's from Australia. Hence the costume.}

Par // The 2015-2015 golf season starts this Thursday! Shortest turn around of any sport, I tell ya.
Bogey // Can you believe it's already the middle of October? I love fall and I just want time to slow down!

Happy Monday! And for all of you who also have the day off, enjoy the long weekend!

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

september beauty & lifestyle favorites

As much as I love this time of the year, it's still crazy to think that it's already October! The year is just flying by. I'm testing out a new camera in this video and a different background so please let me know if you like it!

Let me know what you loved during the month of September! And don't forget to {please!} subscribe to my YouTube channel!

Happy Wednesday!

Monday, October 5, 2015

monday scorecard {vol. 12}

Monday Scorecard {Vol. 12} // A Style Caddy

Eagle // I love s'mores. I know most people love them in the summer, but I actually consider them more of a fall treat. This s'mores custard cake looks delicious!

Birdie // Have you seen the new Olivia Palermo and BaubleBar collab? Everything is beautiful. And I mean ev-ery-thing. It's vintage meets modern and I want it all, especially this necklace and this ring.

Birdie // I love these GIFs of Disney princesses with more realistic bodies. We all know they're portrayed as being ridiculously thin in the movies so it's nice to see someone draw them up with more realistic proportions.

Birdie // I want to make this pinecone garland and hang it up in my apartment. It would be great for fall and winter decor!

Bogey // Jim Furyk had to pull out of the President's Cup because of a wrist injury. Disappointing, but he'll still be attending and helping out the US team as an assistant captain.

Friday, October 2, 2015

favorite five: ikea pieces

Say hello to the newest series here on A Style Caddy! I've had this idea in my mind for my YouTube channel for awhile now and thought that I should carry it over onto my blog. I share my monthly favorites {September video is coming next Wednesday!} but have always wanted to talk about my all-time favorite things. I've been keeping a list in my notebook of everything from books to makeup to coffee spots - you name it, I've got favorites. Five of them to be exact.

I've never really shared anything related to home decor on my blog so I wanted to start with that first. A lot of the furniture in my apartment {aka all of it} comes from Ikea. I live in a studio in New York City where rent is high, especially when you're living alone. Ikea has great affordable pieces when you're on a budget. And a huge plus - they'll last you years! So here it goes, my five favorite things from Ikea...

Favorite Five: Ikea Pieces {Alex Drawer} // A Style Caddy
Alex Nine Drawer Unit // If you watch beauty videos on YouTube, this might look familiar. It really is the most perfect thing to hold makeup, jewelry, hair accessories, curling irons - anything really. It's super sturdy and has deep drawers.

Favorite Five: Ikea Pieces {Billy Bookcase} // A Style Caddy
Billy Bookcase // I have four of these in my current apartment in various heights. It's honestly the best thing I've found to display shoes, store baking tools, and, of course, show off your book collection.

Favorite Five: Ikea Pieces {Hemnes Shoe Cabinet} // A Style Caddy
Hemnes Shoe Cabinet // This shoe cabinet saves so much floor space. It also works great to store things like cleaning products.

Favorite Five: Ikea Pieces {Kallax Shelving Unit} // A Style Caddy
Kallax Shelving Unit // I currently use this 4x4 unit and love it. It's easy to put together and holds everything from books, movies, and clothes. Adding home decor like a vase in one of the units looks great, too. And you can use the top as a side table. Double use - yes!

Favorite Five: Ikea Pieces {Stocksund Chair} // A Style Caddy
Stocksund Chair // Oh my gosh, I love this chair so much! I traded in my couch for this chair to open up my apartment a bit more and have more space, and it was the best decision. This chair comes in a variety of colors, but I really love this beige shade to keep everything clean and light in my apartment. It's super comfy, too. So comfy that I've fallen asleep in it many times. Oops...

There you have it! My top five furniture pieces from Ikea. Hope you liked this first post in this new series!

Happy Friday!

Monday, September 28, 2015

monday scorecard {vol. 11}

Monday Scorecard {Vol. 11} // A Style Caddy

Hello! Sorry for the lack of Monday updates. I let life and work and other things get in the way for a bit. I'm working on that whole life/blog balance thing, I promise. But here we are! Another Monday, another scorecard.

Eagle // Have you seen Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran's duet of "Drunk in Love" at the Global Citizen Festival? It's a must-see - so good! He originally sang the song on Ryan Seacrest's radio show and it was wonderful. I'm so glad that this happened.

Birdie // I'm not a pumpkin spice girl. I've never liked anything pumpkin so I always felt king of left out of the whole Starbucks #PSL craze. But this year, they've released a new fall drink and it is so tasty and perfect for this time of year - the toasted graham latte. It's not too sweet and has a great cinnamon aftertaste. I highly recommend!

Birdie // I am loving Essie's fall 2015 collection. With the Band is my favorite from the release. It's the perfect brick red for the season!
Birdie // Have you heard the song "Cake by the Ocean" by DNCE? I've literally been listening to it on repeat every single day. It's so catchy and one of those songs that makes you want to dance. Not kidding, I caught myself dancing in my chair at work the other day and I'm not even embarrassed about it.

Par // What are your thoughts on lace up flats? They're so trendy right now, but I can't seem to find a pair that I like. I've had my eye on this green pair and this black leather pair. As someone with wider calves, I think they just draw attention to it and it doesn't look so great. Thoughts? Recommendations?

Par // Um, you guys. How insanely good does this Salted Caramel Apple Snickers Cake look? Let's all make this ASAP.

Bogey // I know so many people love him, but I'm kind of disappointed that Jordan Spieth ended up winning the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup this year. I was really hoping for a Jason Day win after the injuries and things he's had to endure this season. But good for Spieth. Must be nice to have made over $22 million on the golf course alone in 2015. On to next season...

Happy Monday!

Saturday, September 19, 2015

favorite fall candles

The fall season is quickly approaching. Are you excited? Because I sure am. I've already started burning fall candles to get in the spirit of changing leaves and cooler temperatures. And lucky for all of you, Bath & Body Works is having a 2 for $24 sale on their three-wick candles. Their fall scents are some of my favorites so I filmed a quick video of my recent candle haul to share with you. Make sure to stock up on their large candles before the sale is over!

And let me know what your favorite scents and candles are for the fall!



PS. Don't forget to sign up for Ebates to get money back on your online purchases, including those from Bath & Body Works!

Saturday, September 5, 2015

my favorite labor day sales


Happy Saturday, friends! I'm currently in Massachusetts watching the Deutsche Bank Championship, the second leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Still, I wanted to share some of my favorite Labor Day sales to shop this weekend. It's a great time to buy some fall pieces before the season starts!

There's up to 40% off EVERYTHING at Gap! This pair of flared jeans and these high-rise black jeans are calling my name! I also really love this button-front denim skirt and this lace pullover.

J. Crew is 30% off your order of $125+ with the code GETSHOPPING. I recently picked up this sequin shift dress for a wedding but can't wait to wear it with a chambray top and sneakers for a casual look. I also love this navy flounce dress, this buffalo plaid vest, and these fun poppy red suede d'Orsay flats. I can always count on J. Crew for pretty sweaters and great work skirts and love this embellished pocket cardigan, this eyelet midi skirt, and this houndstooth mini.

J. Crew Factory is also having a great sale - 50% off EVERYTHING! I love this sequin striped tee, this flared leather mini skirt, and this wool plaid scarf.

It's 30% off orders of $150+ at Lands' End with the code LEAF. I love Lands' End sweaters, especially this cable turtleneck, this classic cotton turtleneck, and this v-neck cardigan. It's also one of my go-to places for outerwear and I love the piping on this quilted parka and this city anorak.

You can get 30% off new fall arrivals at Loft! I love these silky joggers, this easy shirtdress, this striped tee, and this berry hi-lo sweater. Also, how fun are their horoscopes?

For all my fellow beauty lovers out there, Sigma is 20% off all individual brushes with the code LABORDAY20. They've been one of my go-to places for great quality and inexpensive brushes for years now. I love their tapered blending brush {I have 3!}, this large fluff brush for highlighters, this eyeshadow brush, and this duo fibre brush for lighter application of intense blushes.


PS. If you're shopping online, don't forget to use Ebates to get cash back on nearly everything you buy online! You will not regret signing up for it {it's free} when you get your first payment back - I promise!

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

august beauty & lifestyle favorites

Monthly favorites videos are my favorite ones to film. Combine that with the fact that a new month has started and it should come as no surprise that I have a new one for you today! I talk about everything from makeup to my favorite phone cases and the song I can't stop listening to.

Let me know what you loved during the month of August and please subscribe to my YouTube channel!

Happy Wednesday!

Monday, August 31, 2015

monday scorecard {vol. 10}

Monday Scorecard {Vol. 10} // A Style Caddy
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Can you believe that it's the last day of August? The year if flying by! I'm actually just a little bit jealous of all those who are starting school, especially those in college. It's been eight years since my first day at Syracuse and I always miss it majorly right around this time.

To cheer myself - and you! - up, here are some fun things from the weekend!

Ace // Brian Harman had not one, but two hole in ones during Sunday's round at The Barclays. Two in one round! That doesn't happen very often. Some luck he had yesterday.

Eagle // Jason Day won his third tournament in four starts yesterday. He is on a roll! And it's a good time for it, too, since the FedEx Cup playoffs have just started. He's currently at the top of the leaderboard, but that could all change since the winner of any tournament during the playoffs gets 2,000 points.

Birdie // Have you seen the Olivia Palermo x Ciaté London collaboration? If you haven't, you need to. Everything is gorgeous, especially these nail polishes.

Birdie // This YouTube channel came up as a recommendation to me last week, and I am so glad it did. Ever since graduating from college, I've tried to be careful with my money and save as much as I can. Canna Campbell has a TON of advice on how to budget, pay off debts, and what to invest in. She's very knowledgeable and all of her tips and tricks are helpful!

Par // I am always struggling to come up with lunches to take to work that aren't boring and lacking in flavor. Here are five that solve that problem and are healthy and filling.

Happy Monday!

Friday, August 28, 2015

fall shoe trends: block heels

Fall Shoe Trends: Block Heels // A Style Caddy

Happy Friday!

I know so many people love summer, but I am not one of those. I'm already counting down the days until fall officially starts. Since I've had the upcoming season on my mind so much lately, I thought I'd start sharing some of my favorite fall fashion and beauty trends for this year.

I'm not really much of a high heel girl. If a heel is over 3 1/2 - 4 inches, I find them so hard to walk in and will most definitely trade them in for flats. But this year, I've been noticing a huge trend in shoes that is especially popular for the fall. Block heels.

Oh my gosh, now that I've discovered the greatness of a chunky block heel, I am never turning back. I have more pairs on my fall shoes wish list than I have space in my apartment. I recently bought this pair from ASOS and love them so much that I decided that I needed to share my love for these shoes with you. 

Block heels are much more sturdy than a skinny stiletto so it's much easier to walk in a higher heel. Because they're so chic and comfortable, they're a great transition shoe option for after-work plans. Platforms are an added bonus and look great with flowy midi dresses like this beachy one for the last days of summer and this one in a fun print for fall. I also love them with jeans, especially flared and boot cut styles, for a more retro 1970s look.

You can shop this post plus a few more here!

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