Things I Love Thursday // 11.07.19

Little Getaways - I had the pleasure of enjoying an abbreviated beach getaway to Isle of Palms, South Carolina this past weekend with my 12 YO, three of her girlfriends, and their moms too! It was a whirlwind of a trip. We arrived to our very cute and amazingly located AirBnB on Friday night and had to scramble back to Charlotte in time for a 2pm soccer game on Sunday --but almost all of the moments in between were so fun! We spent our one full day having a lazy morning, enjoying a late breakfast, walking, playing, and reading on the beach for hours; then we cleaned up, had a delicious dinner out, and wrapped up our late-night with way too many break-and-bake cookies while watching a terrible movie in our pajamas. Perfection.
Fraiser Fir Season - November 1st marks the start of Fraiser Fir Season at the Jones Household and I'll be the first to admit that I might get way too excited about a scented candle --but seriously, THESE candles are worth the hype. I received my first Fraiser Fir a couple years ago from my sweet friend, Megan, and my holidays have been forever improved. To be sure, Thymes candles are pricey but you really don't have to burn them for very long and the (perfectly crafted) scent last long after you've blown them out. Do yourself a solid and pick one up. They also make great hostess gifts!
Hot from the oven chocolate and almond croissants - Chilly weekend mornings sometimes call for special treats and Trader Joe's has you covered with their frozen chocolate and almond croissants. The hardest part about making these simple treats that will delight your family (and any guests visiting over the holidays) is remembering to take them out of the freezer the night before! Let me assure you, your loved ones will be impressed and delighted by you when you pop these out of the oven!
Bittermilk's Smoked Honey Whiskey Sour - We love this cocktail mix so much that you can count on us having a bottle or two at any given time. The Smoked Honey is perfectly festive this time of year. You'll find the flavor to be slightly tart and smokey. If you are hosting a book club, ornament exchange, dinner party, or just enjoying a cozy evening at home, treat yourself to equal parts Bittermilk and your favorite whiskey shaken with ice and served over a fresh highball of ice. Add an orange twist and you've elevated your bartender status to Mixologist-level. #youfancy (Feel free to adjust the amount of mixer if you like stronger or less-sweet cocktails.) One bottle makes an average of 15 cocktails (or maybe 12 in our house).
Deep V-neck Sweater - I saw this sweater at the Gap a few weeks ago and got really excited because I've been wanting to find a soft, cozy v-neck in a light camel/beige color. I tried it in my normal size (medium) and was pretty let-down. It was ridiculously big and looked rather frumpy. It wasn't until I got home that it occurred to me to try it way sized-down. (Go ahead, judge. I wasn't firing on all cylinders, I guess.) Anyhoo... I ordered it in an XS and BINGO: I love it. It's great untucked with a pair of jeans but mostly, I have found myself wearing it tucked into a few of my skirts. The material is thin enough (still so warm and soft) and the hem is "smooth" enough that it totally works tucked into an A-line skirt. Very cute. (Yes, I do say so myself.) The price online is $70. I've never actually paid full price for anything at the Gap because they are constantly running sales. If it's not 40% off on the day you try the link, try again the next day and it probably will be. ;)
Amazon Skirt - Speaking of skirts... this is one example of what I'm talking about with the sweater above. I bought this skirt in black from Amazon over the summer and wore it with t-shirts, tank tops, and sandals or wedges. It has transitioned nicely into fall paired with the Gap sweater, long-sleeved t-shirts, and my chambray button-up --all tucked in. I think the skirt works best with your top tucked. It has an elastic waistband, cute tortoise shell button (non-functional) down the front, and the pockets and pleating are very flattering. It's $18 and so far I have only spot cleaned it. I would not recommend putting it through the dryer. I would recommend picking one up in black and possibly a second color (all of them look very cute)! It comes in "juniors" sizing. The medium fits like a 6.