Hellooo and happy Thursday! (It is Thursday right?) Putting the finishing touches on this post from the coffee shop! Had another LONG night with June last night 😬 so I am in need of all the caffeine. She has learned how to roll over onto her tummy and prefers to sleep that way, but then… Two pairs of SUPER comfy work pants, and 8 ways to style them! published first on https://lenacharms.weebly.com/
Halloween is just around the corner and if you’re planning on hosting a party, you’re going to want to take notes today! And if you weren’t on planning to host friends over for a spooky evening, today’s post might just change your mind. I know it swayed me from not liking Halloween to contemplating a full on party in the coming weeks! As in, I may have tentatively invited my neighbors over for a party. This set up is THAT good and easy!
How To Host A Sophisticated Halloween Party
Halloween can go one or two ways I feel like. Bright orange and cheap, or simple, black and modern. Super kitschy holiday decor really drives me bonkers. So I wanted to create an elevated Halloween spread that felt modern and effortless. With the majority of the decor being black and white and a few touches of texture and greenery, it felt modern and sophisticated. This was also really simple to pull together!
Decor Ideas For A Sophisticated Halloween Party
Eucalyptus
I sprayed these with black spray paint to add a live element to the spread but still sticking to black! It may be my favorite thing from the entire look. It was also a really affordable way to add greenery without breaking the bank. $3.99 bunches at Trader Joe’s and this only required about 5 or 6 bunches. 1 can of spray paint is all you need to spray them all.
3D Bats
I discovered these from my friend over at Nicole Hoover. It was exactly what I was looking for. By placing them neatly together in a pattern going up the wall it felt modern and cool without being messy. I purchased two sets of 28 bats from Amazon to create this look. I’d say I used about 75% of them. One set wouldn’t have been enough. They also come with extra stickers so you can reuse them again. Shop the bats here →
Skulls & Skeletons
Sure these are kitschy but since they went with the colors and made things feel a tad spooky, they were a bit necessary. I secretly love the Frenchie skeleton and regret not snapping a pic of Pork next to it. Target & Michaels had great options for these.
Poison Bottles
To add height to the buffet, we added in these mercury glass poison bottles.
Candlesticks
I picked up a few simple candlesticks from Target and added in some dark burgundy almost black candlesticks. There’s something very eery about candles and they simply are a must! And I recommend going to Goodwill to get the candles, they cost me less than $1 each.
Porcelain Pumpkins
I threw in a handful of black porcelain pumpkins from the $1 section at Target. They made it feel like Halloween but not orange and bright. Perfection!
The menu is just as important as the decor! Depending on your party you may be offering more food, less drinks, more drinks, less food. You know what I mean. For this event I’m keeping things simple and offering 2-3 appetizers and a main cocktail.
The Cocktail
I’m a firm believer in having a main cocktail to offer when guests walk in. It makes hosting much easier and less stressful. Plus, you aren’t stocking your bar with a million things. I’ll always have wine in the fridge if they like, and oftentimes people bring things they like anyway. For today’s menu, I made an activated charcoal lemonade refresher. Just a bit of dry ice adds a fog effect that’s so fun! Recipe available here!
The Bites
A variety of easy to grab bites is great for a cocktail party. I did a few easy to bake up appetizers from Harry & David. Plus, a great charcuterie board is a go-to. Buffalo chicken dip is another favorite to make that’s always a crowd-pleaser. And for something sweet, I did my espresso bean brownies (coming to the blog soon!). But really it’s just box mix with chopped up chocolate-covered espresso beans. It’s the easiest trick to spruce up a box mix.
You’ve heard everyone say it. Shit, I’ve even said it. Everyone should experience traveling alone. Go on a solo trip. Find happiness in being alone. Just go for it, have an eat pray love moment. While I believe in all of this, there’s also a part of me that also says, solo travel can be overrated. And you should definitely be doing BOTH.
Here’s why…
Is Solo Travel Worth It?
While traveling solo can be great for learning to be happy and content in your own skin, your own space. And I think learning that being alone is not being lonely is an insanely important lesson to understand. There’s also something that solo travel does not offer.
It can keep you from trying new things.
When you travel solo, while you may be getting outside your comfort zone in terms of sitting at a restaurant alone or just being by yourself. How do you really get outside your comfort zone if you’re just doing all the things YOU like? Never push your boundaries to try an activity outside your comfort zone. Or trying a dish on the menu that doesn’t sound like something you’d usually prefer? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve traveled with friends and did activities I never would’ve dreamed of. When you travel with other people you usually (hopefully) are trying an activity that wasn’t your idea, or ordering a dish at a restaurant that you wouldn’t have tried. Maybe you explore a different part of a town that you never heard of because someone told your friend to check it out. While it sucks to stray from your own itinerary that you may have had in mind, it does push you to try new things and experiences. Create new memories you were not planning to create.
I had this a-ha moment when I went on a trip to Sedona with some friends. It was my first time traveling with them and while I’m often the one who plans the bulk of a trip, these gals were in charge. And I sat back and let them do it. When we arrived, we did hikes and trails I never imagined I would do. If I had done that trip solo I would’ve 100% taken the easy way out and just done a leisure hike or two and called it a day. As a matter of fact, I almost bailed on a hike just to be lazy because we already had a really long day. And I’m so glad I didn’t. Because that hike up Cathedral Rock was the most epic thing we did. We had a blast doing it. Made memories for life.
I never would’ve had that experience if I traveled solo.
Don’t get me wrong. If I went to Sedona solo I would’ve had a fabulous time. I would’ve had the most incredible “me” trip of relaxing, strolling around town, good food and early to bed. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Which is why you should do BOTH. But I’m so glad I went with other people so that I can get outside my comfort zone and try activities I never would’ve sought out on my own.
Other Benefits Of Not Traveling Solo
There are also a few other reasons why traveling solo is SO overrated. For one, it’s insanely expensive. Splitting a hotel bill is my most favorite part about traveling with friends. It makes it so much more affordable. Along with splitting taxis and Ubers. It makes a huge difference in the total cost of a trip.
It’s also nice to have someone to eat with so you can try many things on a menu. My favorite part about traveling if you ask me is the food anyway. While dining out you can try many dishes or drinks and not just order one thing. This is my DREAM kind of meal!
And lastly, it’s just nice to have people to experience things with and make those memories. It bonds you. It’s those memorable shared experiences that bond friendships forever. We’ll always laugh about how we slid down Cathedral Rock and almost died that day! Or how we took the wrong turn on a trail that made us laugh at how dumb we were for not seeing the BIG trail sign right in front of our parked car. Those things are more memorable and more enjoyable when you have people to share them with.
But this is still your reminder to travel solo. Because there are incredible benefits of visiting somewhere new (or old) by yourself. This is just your reminder to switch it up. And also make sure you’re exploring new places with new and old friends, too.
When it comes to what I lounge around the house in, I’m super duper particular.
The very last thing I want at the very end of my day is to feel uncomfortable. I will sacrifice style over comfort any time, but luckily this round-up not only includes some of my all time favorites to wear at home, but they just so happen to be stylish too!
Here is a tried, tested and true round-up of my all time favorite loungewear pieces to wear at home.
Sloppy Joe UK
If you follow me on Instagram, chances are you’ve spotted me wearing a Sloppy Joe more than once. I own 3, no 4, maybe even 5 of their Collar 02 and the Classic Square Sweatshirts. This iconic and timeless UK brand is most known for Princess Diana being spotted wearing their sweatshirts. You can read the full story here. Their pieces tend to sell out super quickly so be sure to keep your eye out and/or get on their newsletter for new releases: SloppyJoeUK.
Tory Sport
I know we all have and love our Tory Sport pieces but I apparently have been living under a rock and didn’t discover her Heavyweight Sweatpants until recently. Even Grant says I look great in this super, duper comfortable sweats. I know own 3 pair in white and I am ridiculously obsessed. You can see me wearing them in the below photo with a Lake Pajamas long sleeve on top.
Lake Pajamas
It took me a minute to warm up to the colorful (or at least more colors than I used to wearing) Lake Pajamas sets. I originally purchased them for June. She’s a huge fan of their shorts sets and so I thought I’d give the brand a try. To my pleasant surprise, I’ve become the biggest fan! I have a ton of their matching sets and they’re incredibly soft!
Long Cardigan
If there’s one thing I absolutely must be wearing at all times when I’m home, it’s this long cozy cardigan. It just feels like the perfect extra cozy layer and I feel weird without it. This one I scored off of Amazon is absolute perfection. The price tag doesn’t make me too nervous about the inevitability of ice cream and red wine being spilled on it.
It’s been the age-old struggle of my closet. If you were to open up my teeny tiny closet and browse through my clothes, you’d see ZERO sweater dresses. ZERO. Where as I’m sure many women love a sweater dress, I for the life of me, can not find any that I love. I’m not sure if it’s that I have broad shoulders and a bigger chest, or just don’t like the look period. But I struggle. And also so desperately want to have them because they look so cozy. I have sweater dress fomo to be honest. They’re such a good alternative for jeans in the winter too. Nothing is more miserable than eating a big dinner in high rise jeans, right?
Every year I go on a fall and winter dress hunt. Which I’ve talked about before. A lot. Because it truly happens each and every fall. I go on a shopping spree of dresses. And usually find nothing. Zero. Between the matronly long sleeve dresses for fall in dark prints, to the oversized unflattering sweater dresses, it’s always a fail.
I noticed three significant things about this dress that I think has totally shifted how I shop for sweater dresses. When I got this dress in and put it on it was like a lightbulb moment. I had been trying for so long to wear what everyone else was wearing. The big oversized sweater dresses. And you know what, I hate them on me. I love them on you, hate them on me. I needed something else and I’m so glad I now have a direction to go in when I shop. Having a checklist in mind when shopping for your closet helps you to buy things you’ll love and wear. And to me, and my tiny closet, that’s super important.
Open Neckline
For one, an open neck. I’m rarely one who finds a turtleneck of any kind flattering on my body. It’s rare to see me in one. I think between my 32DD chest, broad shoulders and short neck (that’s a thing right?), I just think it overwhelms my body. I don’t feel my best in them. This sweater dress is a wrap style so it has a v-neck which is just universally flattering on everyone. They help to elongate your body and draw the eye up to your face. Great for people with broader shoulders and short necks.
Shape
The second thing is the wrap style itself. A cinched waist. Creating shape. I talk about this ALL THE TIME that creating shape and cinching your waist is key. Whether you do it with a belt, or a nice shaped jacket or blazer, creating a waist is always something I try to do with my outfits to make me feel good. And a wrap dress does that instantly. Sure there are other ways to do this, but I think I’m now kind of obsessed with wrap style sweater dresses. There aren’t many out there though. I know this because I instantly did a search the second I fell in love with this dress to buy them ALL up and there were sadly only about two out there.
Fabric Weight And Knit
The last thing I now look for in a sweater dress is one that is not super thick or a crazy big knit. A giant heavy cable knit sweater dress is not going to work for me. This Abercrombie & Fitch wrap sweater dress is a nice thin and compact knit material. It’s also insanely soft. But I noticed that a more body hugging knit was a better look for me.
Once I got this dress I knew I wanted to style it two ways. The first, a casual and edgy look with a denim jacket and Dr Martens. Perfect for those warmer fall days. And second, a suede moto with leopard booties. For winter, I’d wear this with my favorite fleece lined tights and boots. So many ways to style it!
Reese Witherspoon gives us the perfect fall fashion inspiration with this on-set look, styled here in a pretty pink midi pencil skirt, floral button-up shirt, and a must-have denim jacket.
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I haven’t been in the mood to get dressed lately for some reason.
Even with the changing to a new chilly season, I’ve just felt a little stunted and all I want to do is be a lounge lizard at home. The most I’ll get dressed in is a super relaxed pair of my favorite jeans that feel super comfy and right now my favorites are “The Scout” by Joe’s Jeans. Maybe it’s because I know I have a big work trip to New York next week so I’m saving up reserves. Maybe it’s because our house felt a little sick this past week and my resources are drained. Whatever the reason, I’m not mad about it.
Side note: I’ve been lusting over this mini Goyard bag for months and finally pulled the trigger on what is quickly turning out to be one of my favorite new investments. Also, you’ve probably noticed that I can’t stop wearing these New Balance sneakers. They are hands down my current favorites. They go with everything!
An online store I definitely don’t shop at enough, but always seem to find great things, is Mango. I was so surprised how many of you don’t shop here! I feel like a few years ago I had a really good order from them and ever since, I’ve been hooked. And when I shared my most recent haul on my IG Stories a few weeks ago, I was super surprised how many readers said they’ve never shopped there! So this is your reminder to start checking Mango for new closet favorites.
Mango Sizing Review
I’d compare Mango’s sizing to Abercrombie. I tend to fall usually in a medium, but depending on the fit and style, I may do a small. I find that jackets and coats I’m always a small. But for things like skirts and dresses and sometimes blouses, a medium is just a bit more comfortable. When it comes to sizing for me, my chest and rib cage is usually where I need to size up. So keeping that in mind, I find that anything that’s super fitted around the chest needs a medium. Or a button up. But if it’s a flowy dress or something, a small can usually do the trick.
Denim and shoes are something I have not yet tried so can’t speak to that. I’m going to hopefully try some in my next order and see how it goes and report back!
There are two major reasons why I love shopping at Mango. The first is that it’s somewhat trendy pieces but they’re not over the top. It doesn’t feel insane, but they’re just trendy enough that they feel fresh and new. But they also have tons of great basics as well. You can shop for your special occasions, lounge and even 9-5 looks. And the other reason why I love shopping here is that they offer free shipping on orders over $50 and free returns on all orders. Since there are no stores nearby (I really think I’ve only seen a Mango in New York and in Europe) free returns are key. This also means I tend to just always buy two sizes to find my perfect fit and not have to deal with exchanges and waiting.
And the third great reason is the price. It’s really a good deal and not insanely overpriced. Sure coats are pricier, but that’s expected. But overall, many pieces are at or under $100 which is a good price point for me personally. I also find that they do some really good sales. Often you’ll see a good 30% off sale every so often. And things go fast, so this is when I recommend signing up for emails and buying multiple sizes if you’re unsure.
Mango also offers clothing for men, teen and kids. You can shop for the entire family!
When things are good at Mango, they tend to sell out fast. So this is another reason why I always just buy two sizes on anything I’m not sure about. It helps to ensure I get the pieces I want.
There’s also a Mango OUTLET! I didn’t know about this until recently and it’s pretty damn good. The prices are so so good.
Clearly I have a thing for Mango dresses. What I find fascinating about the below is how old all of these pieces are besides the dark floral dress with Dr Martens, is that they’re MANY years old. The orange maxi, a personal go-to anytime I need to feel pretty and put together in the spring or summer. It’s my favorite dress to pack for warm weather vacations. And this white midi dress was a random buy that I wasn’t sure about until it arrived. I don’t wear it often enough and this is my reminder to pull it out again asap. I’ve worn it in the summer, but also here for a late fall trip to Charleston. Paired it with booties and a utility jacket. And again with sneakers. It’s really so versatile. Sadly these are all super old. But just have to show how Mango is truly a brand that lasts in my closet for years.
This striped button front dress I think is what got me obsessed with button front dresses. It’s another favorite for spring and summer and pairs perfectly with heels or sandals. You can tell how old it is, look how long my hair was in this post! And this fun leopard orange shirt dress was another weird purchase but turns out to be a favorite. I style it two ways in this post.
For basics, I have a handful of cotton tanks from their basics collection and they’re great. Held up well and are pieces I grab often. This pretty floral mini dress is also one I recently picked up and is great to style for fall and into winter.
Hellooo and happy Thursday! (It is Thursday right?) Putting the finishing touches on this post from the coffee shop! Had another LONG night with June last night 😬 so I am in need of all the caffeine. She has learned how to roll over onto her tummy and prefers to sleep that way, but then…
Is there anyone who LOVES doing dishes? If you don’t, you are going to LOVE this trick. 
…a brain dump of the first 10 random things that come to mind! 
Jean Boehm 