When it comes to the women in our lives, we are rarely shopping for the same type of woman. Our best friend can be the beauty guru who is wanting the latest eyeshadow palette, or the friend who is always entertaining and can never have too many candles to add to her collection! No matter the bestie, sister, mom or co-worker you’re shopping for, I’ve rounded up some items below from the fashion, beauty, home, and accessories categories to make gifting the women in your life easy!

Gift her something to pamper herself like this Rose Quartz Workout Kit or a Drybar Gift Set for perfect hair no matter where she is! When it comes to beauty, she is sure to love anything that adds a little more me-time to her schedule! Think face masks, bath bombs & if all else fails to meet the standard, a mani-pedi gift card to her favorite salon is an easy go-to she’ll be sure to use!

For the fashionista gal, a pair of shoes is always a good idea! If you know a brand she loves and her shoe size, stick to the basics - a flat or pump that go with anything! I love these Sam Edelman Loafers - they’re perfect for a casual office setting and even weekend wear for a chic, yet practical look. Shopping for a gal who is a little more glam? Go for leopard print or a pump with a feminine touch like these bow heels, also by Sam Edelman.

Shopping for the girl who is always hosting or entertaining? Go the practical route with things she will continuously use like wine glasses or coasters! Ever since I’ve watched Scandal 5 years ago, I wanted the “Olivia Pope” wine glasses that didn’t break the bank and these look so similar! It’s also great to go neutral in color when shopping for someone’s home to ensure whatever you’re buying will match. Agate is a gorgeous and neutral option for most home styles and decor. I love these Agate Coasters and how they add a touch of glam to any room! They also are a great gift for a newly married couple with their last name initial!

Some inexpensive and full proof ideas for any girl are the practical gifts. A notebook or agenda she can use all year long, a new phone case in a fun color or cheeky pom beanie to keep her warm until the temperatures rise back above freezing! Check out my gift guide below for more ideas and happy shopping, y’all!

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Happy Sunday, y’all! We just got back to Chicago from a weekend in Kentucky! It was so nice to spend the weekend in the south and see some of our favorite people for the holiday. I wore this new Shein duster coat to Thanksgiving dinner and it was perfect the for high 40s weather. It comes in two other colors and is so soft! It’s basically a giant fuzzy blanket 🤷🏽‍♀️ They are having a huge Black Friday / Cyber Monday Sale - up to 70% off!

I paired it with my favorite boyfriend jeans and booties for a casual look. It would be great over a dress or over the knee boots! Be sure to check out Shein today and this weekend for amazing Black Friday deals! Up to 70% off everything!! Oh, and use my discount code, 4creativebriefblog20 for another 20% off!

I’ve added some other things below that are on sale this weekend in tomorrow, you don’t want to miss these deals!

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One of my favorite 2018 trends is strong shoulders in tops and jackets. They add a touch of flair to a t-shirt, structure to a top and skirt combo and attention to detail on a would-be simple shirt. This Shein blouse is simple, but elegant with the ruched puff sleeves. The wine color makes it a perfect from day-to-night piece! The best part? It’s on sale for $13!! Use my code “4creativebriefblog20” for an additional 20% off!

It would be great with jeans like I’ve styled it for a casual Thanksgiving look or pair it with a high waisted skirt and over the knee boots for a dressed up look! We’re headed to Kentucky tomorrow for Thanksgiving and I can’t wait to take this top with me for all the gatherings we are going to. I’ll probably pair it with a faux fur vest and dark wash jeans and booties for a nighttime look. The back does have a small keyhole opening, but it is definitely modest enough to meet family members for the first time, a church service or a fancy dinner out!

If you love the shoulder trend I’ve added some great pieces below at a variety of price points and styles! I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving! Thank you so much for reading!

When it comes to shopping for the men in our lives, it can be tough to find something they really love or even need. Why do they make it so difficult?! I basically have to beg Kollin to give me an idea of something he wants. He literally never asks for anything new unless the old something is falling apart so as you can imagine, a gift simply because you thought he’d love it is kind of a weird experience for him ha.

But, when it comes to the guys we love, there are a couple categories that are an easy go-to no matter what your man is like. First, clothing he’ll wear all the time. Whether he is into sports, working out or just lounging watching the game on Sunday, he can always use some sweatshirts, athletic t-shirts or his favorite sports team’s shirt. Kollin is a big Cubs fan so last year I couldn’t find anything I liked for him and just started buying a ton of Cubs items; t-shirts, golf club covers, sweatpants, etc. He loved all of it!

The second category that pleases most men is a watch. No matter their style, having a watch is something they can use for years to come. If you find an inexpensive one, pair it with a watch box so he can keep it safe and display his growing collection.

Lastly, the utility/functionality category is the easiest to fill. A new water bottle he can take to work or on his workout is something he’ll use all the time. A backpack or bag for work is a great option for the guy who is commuting, bringing work home or just likes to take things with him wherever he goes. I gifted Kollin this one when he got into law school and he LOVES it. It is on the pricey side, but comes with a lifetime warranty and is the perfect size for an everyday work bag or even travel personal bag.

I’ve added some more great gifts in a variety of price ranges below and hope this helps find something he will love! Be sure to check back to the blog for more gift guides leading up to Christmas! Thanks so much for reading!

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Happy Sunday, y’all! This weekend was one of the few in the last and next couple of weeks where we are just at home enjoying some down time. As Kollin watches football and I’m catching up on This Is Us, we’re making biscuits and gravy and taking in all the corgi cuddles. Yesterday, we joined some law school friends for brunch at a local spot and it was delicious! The weather a bit warmer than usual so I opted for my new Shein Striped Sweater and over the knee boots. It comes in a bunch of colors, but I thought the white was so chic!

I’ve also styled it with jeans and black booties for a more work appropriate look or you could style it with a vest and riding boots for a more preppy vibe. It comes in one size, but fits oversized. It is more cropped than I expected which can make the sleeves a little short if you’re pretty tall, but I’m 5’6 and it hit just above my wrists. Use my code: 4creativebriefblog20 for 20% off your order!

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend and has a great start to the week tomorrow. Thanks so much for reading!

Thank you so much to Shein for the sweater. It’s brand like yours that make The Creative Brief possible. All opinions are my own.

Happy Friday, y’all! I hope you had a productive and great week, time for the weekend! I always forget how nice it is to just unwind and spend some time alone with the one you love most until I’m in the moment of enjoying it. With both of us now in the workforce and working a bunch, we have to remind ourselves that we come first. The best idea we had all week? Straight from work dinner and drinks date night  🙌🏻 We both work in downtown Chicago and are surrounded by amazing restaurants at every turn. One of our favorite date night activities is walking around and eating at Eataly, an Italian market with several restaurants and experiences inside. If you are in Chicago or visiting soon it is a must go-to!

Since it’s so close to my office we walked over and enjoyed a night of wine, pasta, raclette and all. the. carbs.  😍 The temperatures have dipped into the 40s and 50s these past couple weeks so I’ve been pulling out my sweaters and was so excited to wear this Shein Turtleneck Sweater for the first time! 

Its super comfy, warm, the perfect gray color and a bit oversized, making it really versatile. I paired it with jeans and my favorite loafers for a laid back and chic look. You can use code 4creativebriefblog20 for 20% off your order!

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Thanks so much for reading and I hope y’all have an amazing weekend! Off to a glass of rosé & catching up on Keeping Up with the Kardashians!

Thank you so much to Shein for the sweater. It’s brand like yours that make The Creative Brief possible. All opinions are my own.

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Photography has been a huge part of Kollin and I’s engagement since the beginning. He surprised me with a photographer when he proposed to capture the proposal and my reaction during the surprise party he planned after and they are some of my favorite pictures from the day as they captured the memories perfectly and took us straight back to those emotions we were feeling.

When looking for a wedding photographer I couldn’t find what I was looking for. I searched website after website, talked to friends and families about who they suggested and while everyone was very talented, there was something missing still. I started searching the hashtag #kentuckywedding on Instagram and came across Drake and Eliza Photography.

I immediately fell in love with their ability to capture the smallest moments and make them the focal point of their perspective for the entire shoot. Moments that some people may not even think to capture or pictures of people truly feeling and expressing an emotion purely. I knew we found what we were looking for and couldn’t wait to chat with them.

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After a few emails, we set up a Facetime (they are in KY) and met Drake. Drake and Eliza are a husband and wife team and we loved the fact that they experienced their wedding day and know exactly what couples are looking for since they’ve been in their shoes together. We talked about our vision for the day, how we met, what was important to us the day of and more about their perspective on photography.

Needless to say, we couldn’t agree more on everything and we set up our engagement shoot!

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I loved the idea of our engagement shoot taking place in Louisville, KY, where we are both from and met. We chose a park that I used to go to as a kid and thought it captured the southern feel we were looking for without it being too rustic. The shoot was so much fun and Eliza made us feel so comfortable. We laughed, jumped and tried our serious faces but ended up laughing even harder!  

After about 15 minutes Kollin and I got comfortable with “ignoring the camera” as Eliza would say and we just got cuddly for the rest of the shoot as she captured our special moments and giggles. 

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My best advice for engagement shoots and finding the right photographer? Think about emotion rather than a shot list. A lot of photographers asked us what shots we wanted to capture, the group photos we wanted and how their style reflected what most couples are looking for. What I loved about Drake and Eliza, was their intention and thought behind the shots and entire day. I think it is evident from our pictures that they truly capture the couple they are shooting and we could not be happier with the results!

When deciding what we wanted to wear I knew I wanted something classic that would necessarily show the year or decade if you will. Seeing wedding photos from the 80s makes me cringe thinking about what ours will look like 30 years from now! Given that, Kollin wanted to wear a suit, but chose to stick a bit more casual and go tieless. His only complaint was that it was so hot and all the layers was tough with the heat. For my dress, I found it on Lulu’s a few weeks before the shoot and loved the clean lines and low back. The color was neutral and the style was easy enough to match the vibe of the shoot, but still elegant enough to contrast the natural environment. I added some look a likes below and some other options I think would be great for a similar vibe of engagement shoot!

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This last picture was after the shoot and Kollin and I were walking back to the car when we realized we still had an hour until our dinner reservation. We walked by the swings and he ran toward them and hopped on. We then decided we wanted to act like 8 years olds and see who could swing the highest. Eliza was thoughtful as usual and captured the whole thing before heading out. When we saw the gallery of images we got so excited seeing that surprise at the end!

What started as a funny daily text between a friend and I, organically turned into me capturing my Shein looks via the mirror in elevators. We always share what we are wearing to work each morning and then it just became a thing! When thinking about this blog post I thought it could be a good round up of some Shein looks, with a discount code to shop them!

You can use code: 4creativebriefblog20 for an extra 20% off your order starting October 1st through the end of the year! Shop some of my looks below, most of which are already on sale! Happy shopping loves!

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Thank you to Shein for sponsoring this post. It’s brands like yours that make The Creative Brief possible. All opinions are my own.