Essentials Styling: White Oxford Button Down

I love the white button down so much, I came up with three different outfits using it! More information about the pieces used can be found on Polyvore.


Who doesn't love Sunday Funday?! This outfit is the epitome of fun and girly with the metallic skirt and the glitter pumps. It's perfect for date night or day drinking with the girls.


I love this outfit for work. I chose gray pants because black pants for work can get really dull really quickly. The burgundy accessories complement the gray and give a pop of color without being too over the top for the workplace.


I am absolutely in love with this outfit. I have my own version of it that gets worn, quite possibly, too much. White shirt, jeans, riding boots - easy, comfortable, and adorable. Add a colorful scarf or a fun purse to liven up the outfit!

If I haven't sold y'all on white button downs yet, I don't think I ever will! Let me know how much y'all love them once you wear one this weekend!

xo,
Sara

New Orleans Essentials: White Button Down

If y'all haven't noticed by now, I truly am a fan of classic, simple styles. Nothing embodies this more than a white oxford button down. Perfectly classic and fabulous, white oxfords can be worn anywhere. Date night, work, even a picnic, this style covers all occasions.

This oxford from American Eagle has a great feminine cut and comes in a range of sizes from XXS to XXL. For $30 on sale right now, there's no reason not to have this piece in your closet. 

Another classic oxford comes from Ralph Lauren. I love these since they also come in a variety of colors. The look is a bit more casual than the American Eagle oxford above. These can be found online here, but I highly recommend buying them from a Ralph Lauren Polo outlet store if there is one nearby. Since the closest one to New Orleans is in Gulfport, I recommend making a day trip of it. The outlet mall out there is great, plus there's the beach! The price difference between buying online and at the outlet is about $30-$40 which is a big savings.

I'll be posting a few Polyvore sets styling the American Eagle oxford for various occasions. Come back at noon tomorrow to see them!

xo,
Sara

Things I Love: Online Shopping

Just about every girl I know loves online shopping. If you're anything like me though, you have a hard time committing to buying things online. I immensely hate paying for shipping, so I'll only buy things online if I can get free shipping, or if it's a great deal. The internet is a wonderful place though, and there are tons of deals to be had. These are some of my tips to get the best deal from your online shopping experience.

If I'm not just browsing clothing or shoe websites, and I'm actually looking for a specific product, I use Google Shopping. You can find the best price on an item and take it from there.
Once I find the website that I want to buy from or if I'm on a site already, I check to see if they offer cashback on Ebates.com. Ebates is a fabulous resource if you shop online a lot. They offer you a cashback percentage on certain websites. Go to the website to get more details (and sign up using my referral link, maybe?!)
After, hopefully, finding my website on ebates, I move on to retailmenot.com. This website is my absolute favorite for online shopping. All the coupon codes that are out there for your website are going to be on this site. I'm sure most people know about this site, but I don't know how many really utilize it. I usually won't buy something online without a coupon code I found here.
Once I've gone through all this, I checkout... Then, I anxiously check the mail and tracking information everyday until my purchase gets here!

If you're shopping on Amazon and have a college email address, sign up for Amazon Prime Student! It's well worth it, and once the trial ends, it's only $40 to get full Prime benefits. Amazon doesn't usually do coupon codes, but Amazon Prime gets free 2-day shipping (and as y'all know, I hate paying for shipping.)

There's a lot more websites that I frequent to shop online, like Sephora and Charlotte Russe. These are just some of the basics to cover general purchases.
Obviously, there are a lot more great resources out there for online shopping. What are some of y'all's favorites?

xo,
Sara

Necessary Accessory: Gold Tone Watch

It's officially Autumn on the calendar, and I couldn't be happier! Gold is definitely a fall color, and luckily, gold tones have been back in for quite a while now.

Whether you're still in school or out in the workforce, a gold tone watch is a great accessory to have. They look great with both everyday jeans and business attire. I like thicker watches with basic faces. I tend to stay away from jeweled faces or bands because they are less versatile. Here are my picks in a range of prices:

This watch from New York and Company has the busiest face of the three. That being said, the face of this watch is still simple and has settings for the day of the week. At $23, you can use the money you saved to buy some other matching accessories. 

Of the three watches I've picked, this watch by Anne Klein from Dillard's has my favorite face. I love the simple dashes and the uncluttered look. At $65, this watch is a great jumping off point if you're wanting a watch for a more professional look. 

If you're truly committed to buying a watch, this Marc by Marc Jacobs watch is my pick. My original instinct was to look at the Michael Kors watches, but the busy faces turned me off of those. I love the simplicity of the watch as a whole, and the use of the letters as number ticks. 

My personal watch is a mix of gold and silver tones, but I really wish it was all gold! If I were buying again, I'd choose the Anne Klein watch. Maybe I'll style it with this week's Essential piece on Friday!

xo,
Sara

Necessary Accessory: Phone Wristlet

I like simple solutions for carrying my stuff. The instant I have a bag bigger than a clutch, it's automatically full and super heavy. These wristlets are such a great solution to carry important cards, money, and your phone. If you're carrying a purse, they're super easy to just throw into it and still keep everything together. I just got a fun printed one from the Lilly Pulitzer Sorority Collection, but if you're not into prints or sororities, I've picked out a few in different price ranges.

This Michael Kors wristlet keeps your phone, cards and money inside. The leather is actually a dark green which I love with the gold hardware. This style also comes in three other colors. This is the most expensive of the three at $88. 

This Vera Bradley wristlet is the middle price point at $44. There's an outside pocket for your phone, and the inner zippered compartment for cards and money. I also love that Vera Bradley did a solid black in addition to all the typical patterns. 

This wristlet from Target is the cheapest of the three at $7. The pattern is fun without being too crazy to use every day. There's the outside flap compartment to hold your phone and a snapped compartment to hold the rest. 

They make a lot of different types specifically for iPhones, and they aren't hard to find. Luckily for my Android phone and I, these are made for general smart phone use. Hopefully, I've helped out someone else with my same situation! 

xo,

Sara

Essentials Styling: Navy Blazer

I took to Polyvore to give y'all styling ideas for navy blazers. All of these are basic pieces that when put together make a really cute casual outfit. Enjoy!

Navy Blazer

Mango jumper sweater
mango.com

Old Navy short shorts
oldnavy.gap.com

Flat sandals
topshop.com

Gold jewelry
baublebar.com

Stud earrings
windsorstore.com



What would y'all style the blazer with? Let me know in the comments!

xo,
Sara

New Orleans Essentials: Navy Blazer

I'm in the mood for fall even if the weather isn't. Navy blazers are great year round, but I especially love them as a fall piece. I tend to go for pieces that can be dressed up or down, and these blazers definitely fit the bill. I picked navy because it's a great neutral without being as dressy as black typically is. All the blazers that are out right now seem to be either plain black or brightly colored which doesn't really translate to fall all that well.

This navy blazer from Forever 21 is perfect for a more casual style. The ruched three-quarter length sleeves are perfect for New Orleans fall.

This blazer is from Macy's. I love the one button closure and the pocket flap detail. This one also has a couple more sizing options as opposed to the Forever 21 blazer. 

Navy blazers are super Southern and overall American, just ask Ralph Lauren. The Team USA Olympic blazer is on sale for only $270. If it makes me feel like Missy Franklin, it's totally worth it! 

Also, come back tomorrow to see how I would style a navy blazer! 

xo,

Sara

NOLA Home Cooking: Crawfish Corn Bisque

Now that it's after Labor Day and unofficially fall, I give you my favorite fall recipe, crawfish corn bisque. My mom just made this last week, and I'm pretty sure it took a whole two days for it to disappear. Which, with the amount that this recipe makes and only 3 people in my house, is saying a lot.

This recipe makes a lot, but it's easy to halve if you don't want to make that much. However, making a lot is totally worth it because the leftovers are still just as good.

Ingredients:
3 packages 12. oz frozen crawfish tails
2 sticks of butter
2 onions, chopped
1.5 bunches green onions, chopped
4 cans cream of potato soup
1 can mushroom soup
4 cans cream style corn
2 cans of corn kernels, drained
1-2 tbsp liquid crab boil (depending on how spicy you want it)
5 cups half and half

Directions:
Saute the onions and green onions in butter for about 15 minutes. Add crawfish and crab boil, saute for 5 minutes. Add all the soups and cook for 15 minutes. Next, add all the corn and cook for 15 minutes. Finally, add the half and half and cook for about 10 minutes.

Lots of ingredients, but easy to cook! Let me know if you try it (so I can come over and eat some!)

xo,
Sara