A Touch of Southern Grace

 Needless to say like everything else this year, Halloween of 2020 is a little different than past Halloweens {hopefully by next year everything will be back to ‘normal’}. It’s the first Halloweens that involve wearing a mask for a health reason and making sure your group is safely social distance if you are around an unfamiliar group. 

In all honestly I have never been a huge fan of Halloween… when I was little I never much cared for the ‘scary’ costumes and at any age I have never really been a fan of the black and orange color combination. So this year is definitely a good excuse to stay in, pass out candy, relax, and watch a few Halloween movies. 

Fair warning, I am not super into the super scary movies; Double, Double Toil and Trouble featuring the Olsen Twins still scares me in certain parts… I do like a good suspense movie and a horror movie that I already know is going to have an all right ending. Here are a few of my favorite suspense/horror movies to watch for Halloween night!

Hocus Pocus// A Halloween classic since the early 90’s! I know that it has been so overplayed on so many channels this year, but I still completely love the movie. And let’s face facts, is Halloween, Halloween without having a viewing of Hocus Pocus

 I love how stores are already starting to have some awesome sales for the Holiday season, especially since shipping at times can be a little slow and tends to run a bit behind during the holiday season anyways. Last week J. Crew had 50% off their entire site and this week they are having 40% off their fall layers. I don’t know about you all, but I am starting to get spoiled by all the J. Crew sales… 

Fall is my favorite season of the year for many reasons, but fall sweaters, coats, shoes, and accessories is a top reason. I mean, who can resist a classically layered look? For hair ties to coats, and shoes, here are a few of my favorite items that are included in the sale!

Ruffle Popover Top in Flannel

Slim Perfect Long Sleeve T-Shirt

Ruffleneck Sweater

Boyfriend Blazer in Plaid Italian Stretch Wool

Sophie Open-Front Sweater-Blazer in Chevron

Chateau Parka

Lady Coat in Italian Tweed

Lady Coat in Italian Boiled Wool

Hayden Kickout Crop Pant in Black Watch Tartan Bi-Stretch Wool

Hair Scrunchie with Velvet Bow

Colette Bow Pumps in Stewart Tartan

 I always love the fall season, but I honestly feel like I just took down the Christmas decorations…it doesn’t seem like the finish line of 2020 should be in sight yet. I can say that 2020 has been one of the most trying years of my life thus far; some days honestly just feel like a mental hurdle. I am without a doubt ready to welcome 2021! 

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2020 has bought some positives with it, but most of it feels like it has been filled with heartache, failed plans, uncertainty in almost every single aspect of life, puzzle pieces that don’t seem to always fit together, a disturbance in one’s daily life routine for all, and sometimes it feels like life has come to a grinding halt. Maybe 2020 was meant to be a year of reflection on how we can improve on ourselves, lifestyle changes we need to make, how we can become a better community, and so. After all, hindsight is always 20/20, right? 

I know it is said that God doesn’t give you more than you can handle, but sometimes, everything that taken place in the span of 10 months, just really seems like too much. Fall has always been a favorite season of mine. I love how the air smells, how summer gently breaks into fall, the crunch of leaves under foot, a cozy fire at night, sweaters, outerwear, and the changing color of leaves. Another thing I love about fall is all the symbolism that you can find in nature packed into just one season: the fact that change can be beautiful, that sometimes we have to let go in order to transition into something else, how the length of days and nights for a short lived time can represent the importance of balance, and just because something ends, doesn’t mean it is the end of a book, just the end of a chapter with many more to come. 

Here are a few of my favorite fall inspiration items I have found on Pinterest recently. By the way, how cute are the pumpkin cookies!?

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 For year I was strictly a silver and platinum jewelry person, but I completely love the fact that gold jewelry and accessories has made a come back within the past ten years or so. I especially love gold for the fall season {aka the golden hour of the year} it just gives off such a warm touch to any outfit and I love how gold play against the warmer color pallet of the cooler months. Plus, it is nice that that unlike silver, you never have to worry about your gold jewelry looking a little tarnished or dual, and you never have to remove gold jewelry for a workout or a shower! 

Bring on all the gold earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings, scarves, and other accessories for fall! This fall season there are some exceptional gold accessories {there has to be at least a few good things about 2020, right? Why not make gold themed accessories one of them?}. I have been the worst at self-control when it comes to online shopping during the age of Covid. Honestly, sometimes between shopping and exercising and food I feel like I am self-medicating to a certain extent… my closet thanks me, but my bank account does not. 

At the start of Covid, back in March I found myself wearing less jewelry than I normally do and more athleisure {surprised to say this, but I am officially tired of athleisure and started wearing ‘regular’ on a normal basis a few months ago}… I’ve started wearing a bit more jewelry as of late, but regardless of the amount of jewelry and accessories I wear or how I am dressed, I always have my top four accessories must-wears on: earrings, a necklace, ring{s}, and sunglasses for those sunny days!

It may seem a little early to start thinking about Christmas {especially since all of the months have seemed to blend together this year. Didn’t we just take down the Christmas decoration…} but since shipping seems to be running a little behind and most probably feel more comfortable online shopping for Holiday gifts this year, it just about that time to start thinking about which gift{s} to give to those special people in your life. Plus, it’s always a good opportunity to treat yourself to a little something special! Below are a few of my favorite gold jewelry and accessories that I have come across recently. 

One// Tiffany Open Heart Pendant

Two// Sarah Flint Hidden Garden Scarf 45

Three// Ferragamo Fantasia Hairclip with Synthetic Pearls

Four// Tory Burch Serif-T Enameled Stackable Bracelet

Five// Pava Cubic Zirconia Stud Earrings

Six// Kate Spade Legacy Logo Spade Flower Studs

Seven// Tory Burch Eleanor Small Convertible Shoulder Bag

Eight// Satin Scrunchie with Bow

Nine// Shashi Katerine Hoop Earrings

Ten// Ray-Ban Oversized Mirrored Original Aviator Sunglasses

Eleven// Tory Burch Logo Stud Earrings

Twelve// Precious Pansy Wrap Ring

Thirteen// S’Well Stainless Steel Bottle 

Fourteen// Adına Reuter 14k Gold Single Diamond Necklace

 I feel like the clock has finally landed on fall. The sky is starting to take on that golden hue at the end of the day, the trees are starting to change colors and, and the weather is finally starting to break into sweater weather season! 

One// Anthropologie 25% Off Everything

I feel like Anthropologie is one of those stores who will have a sale on sale fairly often, but I feel like it’s rare that they have regular priced items on sale. As a fan of Anthropologie I am super excited that the entire store is 25% off. It’s the perfect opportunity to buy a few new holiday items, sweaters, dresses, pants, and basically whatever else your heart desires. P.S. I will have a sale roundup live either tonight or tomorrow

Two// #ShopLocalBookstores

I love Amazon as much as the next person, and as much as I hate to admit it, I even love the Amazon bookstore that’s at my local mall just for convenience sake. But I also love my local bookstore; it’s just so cozy and warm and has that perfect book smell that fills every great bookstore. Even though it is more convenient to order books off of Amazon and such sites, I feel like it is more important than ever that we support our local bookstores, and this video is a great reminder of that

Three// Caramel – Frosted Pound Cake 

Is it too early to start thinking about Thanksgiving deserts? Even if it is we can go ahead and start making caramel flavored deserts, right? This Southern Living recipe looks simply fantastic! Perfect for any fall dinner or occasion 

Four// Blackwatch Daphne Dress by Tuckernuk

I have this dress from last year in navy {the blackwatch is calling my name though…} and I completely love the fit of it! I feel like it runs true to size, and the fit and flow of it just make it perfect for Holiday and winter gatherings.

Five// Sugar Paper LA 2021 Planners

Does anyone else get excited when they see one of their favorite paper goods company release a planner for 2021. First off, I am excited for 2021 {so over 2020} and secondly, I just love planners. These are some of the most beautiful planners I have seen thus far. I love all the different colors and their fabric coverings

 It is almost hard to believe that we are already halfway through the month of October and that it is already time to start think about Christmas presents. For me personally, I feel like men are a thousands times more challenge to gift shop for than for your mom, sister, girl friends, etc. Today Peter Minkoff has put together Birthday gift ideas for the entrepreneur husband. This gift guide can easily translate over for Christmas presents or birthday gift for not only a husband but for your dad, brother{s}, brother-in-law, guy friends, significant other, and so on. Without further delay here is Peter Minkoff Gift Ideas for the entrepreneur in your life!

So, the special day of that special person in your life Is coming up? Well, if your husband is an entrepreneur, choosing a gift can get even more complicated, as entrepreneurs are far from ordinary. It can be hard to figure out the right sign of affection for these special, but often complicated people.

You know that romance for an entrepreneur can mean getting a slightly bigger and handier coffee mug for late-night work, or the new handy gadget, rather than watching the sunset, and “stopping to smell the flowers.” This list will help you get creative and find a perfect present if your husband is an entrepreneur.

A Leather Planner

Entrepreneurs are constantly, busy and their heads are brimming with ideas; it’s a wonder they manage to keep it all straight! Therefore, one of the best, universal, and can't-go-wrong gifts is a fine, well-arranged planner. Entrepreneurs are usually organization freaks, so finding a great planner, and the one that matches their taste, can save their head – and they will love you for it.

Also, a fine leather planner gives off a powerful, boss vibe that will make them feel like number one!

An Automatic Coffee Machine

Coffee and automatic are among the most important words in the life of an entrepreneur. Everything that means saving time and staying awake is an entrepreneur's best friend. Therefore, if your entrepreneur husband is a coffee lover, by giving him an efficient newly released coffee machine, you just might be giving him a new best friend. 

Bonus tip: Talking about efficiency, just about any gadget that saves some time can be a great gift, for example, noise-canceling headphones, a portable charger, smartwatch, iRobot, and others. Because you can rely on sites like Shoppster, finding a perfect type of gadget should be a piece of cake.

His Own Business Card Design

Using your refined knowledge of your significant other and applying it creatively to creating a great marketing piece with his name and occupation might just blow him away. Creating a business card design for your ambitious loved one is an extremely original gift idea that will make him admire your creativity and ingenuity.

A Stylish Necktie

A necktie that will make your entrepreneur man look like a boss is also a can’t miss. The relationship between clothing and the first impression is a popular topic among businessmen nowadays, so a perfect mesh of his clothing style and working style can create a perfect gift! 

A Fancy Photo Display  

Choosing a warm photo of you together, and putting it on a neat photo display for his office is a great way to combine the two things that he loves most, you and his work. This might seem like a modest touch of change for his environment, but it can be a humble and gentle sign of love that will warm up his everyday work atmosphere and make it just a tad cozier.

A Chef's Knife

This might seem like a pretty unconventional gift, but every cook knows that smooth, priceless feeling of using a new knife for the first time. If one of your husband’s hobbies is cooking, then he will love a slick, sharp knife. As cooking is a passion, there is also a passion for collecting and using well-crafted cooking equipment. 

A Great Wallet

A good wallet is always a gift that comes in handy, and especially when you are familiar with the recipient’s taste. In addition, a wallet is a symbol of money. Finding a beautiful wallet can get a little costly, but it is a great investment – because it will make him feel like a million bucks!

In Conclusion

Giving a gift to your significant other means expressing your love for them in the tiniest form. It’s a delicate way of saying “I love you”, “I want you to prosper”, “I know you so well, therefore I know how much you will love this”, and so on. Have all this in mind, along with your desired message when you choose a gift for your entrepreneur. And remember, the best way for loving and expressing love is being completely unselfish and deeply understanding the needs of others.

 About a month ago I was invited to be a brand ambassador for Sarah Flint. In my short time of being affiliated with the company I have completely fallen in love with Sarah Flint shoes, scarves, stationery, their product packaging, Sarah Flint herself, and basically the entire company as a whole.  

I have been invited to join ambassador programs before, but this is the first one that has ever really appealed to me. Just the fact alone that Sarah is a young female founder drew me. In the scheme of things Sarah Flint hasn’t been around that long, but in the short amount of time she has managed to build a rebuttal name, make beautiful quality shoes that are priced at only half the makeup as her competitors, and has managed to build an A-List cliental on top of everything else. When Cindy Crawford, Meghan Markle, and Amal Clooney wear a shoe, they are definitely worth taking not of, at least in my opinion. 

The first thing that appealed to me about the Sarah Flint company when I was still considering becoming an ambassador for them was how beautifully their shoes were designed and I love the material that is used. When I dove a little deeper it was also very appealing to me that Sarah no only puts a generous amount of thought into the outward appearance of her shoe design, but also how to make them more comfort for everyday and even special occasion wear. Sarah Flint’s shoe toe boxes are a little wider to make everyday and special occasion high heel wear much more comfortable, and she even goes the extra mile to incorporate rubber padding into the design of her heels to absorb shock and make the experience of wearing a beautiful shoe even more enjoyable. I especially love how her flats and other shoes seem to mold to your feet over time. 

I am also thrilled when ever I get the chance to help represent a quality brand of any kind, but especially a female-founded one. I love when females are able to chart their own way in an area that they are especially passionate about and set a great example and help make a little more headway for the next generation of women.   

If you have not had the chance to shop around on the Sarah Flint website, I highly recommend you do. Even after my time as a Sarah Flint Ambassador is over, her shoes will forever be a wardrobe staple for me. After all, how often do you come across a brand who not only makes beautiful shoes but heels you can wear literally all day long? For me, this is the first time I have ever found that combination in a shoe company. If this is your first time placing an order with Sarah Flint be sure to use my code, BALAURENK50, to receive $50 off your first Sarah Flint purchase!

 Shopbop is honestly one of mine, if not my most favorite store to shop online. They seriously have anything and everything from at every price point imaginable. Currently Shopbop is having one of the best sales of the season {in my opinion} and it is just such a great opportunity to stock up on a few classic items, treat yourself to that new handbag or cashmere sweater you’ve been tempted to buy, and even a great chance to get a jump start on your Christmas shopping… Here are a few of my favorite items that are included in the sale! Receive 15% off orders of $200 or more, 20% off orders of $500 or more, and 25% off orders of $800 or more with code: FALL20

One// Theory Karenia Cashmere Turtleneck

I have fair skin so I have always had to wear sunscreen, but I used to only wear it during the summer months; it wasn’t till I was a little older that I realized just how important it is to wear sunscreen every time you are out in the sun for an extended period of time. Today Emma Collins is sharing all about the importance of wearing sunscreen!

If you are someone who travels and works outside, sunscreen is a must-wear. Sun is a proven carcinogen and can adversely affect your skin.