holiday style for less

inspiration picture source

vest from ruche

skirt from h&m

turtleneck from target

shoes from pac sun

inspiration picture source

sweater from target

black pants from asos

boots from nine west

shirt from old navy

trench coat from target

With the holidays pretty much right around the corner I've been trying to recreate a few lovely, high-end looks but with a much lower price tag. Holidays are the perfect reason to dress up a little bit while staying comfortable and warm (depending on what climate you live in). 

Most importantly, I strongly believe in always incorporating pieces from my existing wardrobe into new looks. These two looks are so easily put together and you'll most likely have most of the pieces in your closet already. What a money saver!

Have you planned out your holiday outfits already? Do you like to stay comfy and cozy or do you step up your game and go for the glitz and glam? 

the best boots you'll ever wear and free ad space

sweater: urban outfitters, shirt: cotton on, scarf: h&m, leggings: ae, boots: sorel

ok, first up: this is not a sponsored post. just a little honest promotion for a company that has really surprised me this season. the sorel conquest carly boots I am wearing here, are seriously my most favorite pair of boots to date! not only are they comfy (if you order a size up!) and keep my toes toasty but they also look amazing :) i absolutely love the lace up detail and the contrast of the leather with the rubber shoe. 

ever since they arrived at my house I've been pretty much wearing them nonstop. i'm pretty sure they will come to germany with me as well. don't you hate traveling in the winter when you want to pack all of your heavy coats and boots only to end up with a bag that's way too heavy?

sorel has really surprised me with their selection of crazy fashionable yet useful footwear this season. 

i wish I could afford a few more pairs such as these, these and these. 

something else that is completely off topic: did you notice a few new faces over there to your right in the sidebar? please go check out a few of these wonderful blogs and say hi!

i decided to swap all of my december ads and there are definitely still a few more spots open. so if you think we would be a good match, send me an email (askforge@gmail.com) and let's talk about a swap :) you can also find my sponsor page right here. 

the two top spots (200x300px) are available to businesses only, contact me for more info on that. 

and lastly, I've added a ton of clothing to my @theforgeshop instagram account. check it out and follow along because I'll be adding more. 

out of those skinny jeans

jeans: f21, shirt: american eagle, sweater: aerie, necklace: c/o outfit additions, bracelet: fossil, booties: bought in germany

i've been wearing almost exclusively skinny jeans lately and when i realized it, I felt like such a bore. i mean, i love my skinnies and I think that they definitely work to my advantage considering my body type. plus, with the colder weather I tend to wear boots a lot which kind of requires some really tight pants. there is nothing worse than jeans that bunch up at your knees when tucked into boots. 

so, in order to get out of my skinny jean rut and also because, let's admit it, some days I really don't feel like squeezing into anything tighter than my husbands sweat pants, I pulled out the "almost as comfy as your husband's sweatpants" version of wide leg denim. 

i am also totally loving all of the comfy high-lo sweaters right now because they allow you to have a great shirt peeking through underneath but keep your back covered. i am so picky when it comes to how sweaters fit that i honestly don't have very many at all. 

oh, and i'm also trying to figure out the deep side part hair thing... it's definitely something I need to get used to but I think I kind of like it. it hides some of that extra forehead space i was blessed with ;) 

what do you think? 

ps: head on over to pink on the cheek today where I am giving away a nautical inspired necklace :)) 

cyber monday deals and 50% off ads!

i'm not a big fan of black friday for various reasons, which I won't go into detail about, but I do love me a good cyber monday deal. shopping right from the comfort of my own couch and delivery right to my door step is what i'm talking about :)

so i thought i'd share a few deals you can get in on this cyber monday from some of my favorite small businesses. don't forget to support small and handmade businesses this christmas season and buy from these wonderfully talented individuals who put so much effort into the creation of their products, real customer service and keeping jobs here at home.

happy shopping :)

first of all, a little shameless self promotion: I am offering 50% off for all ads on this blog.

Just click here to get to the sponsor page and use code CYBERMONDAY50 

this is a cyber monday only deal and won't work tomorrow so get them while they last :)
I would love to have some new faces to promote around here.
If you have any questions about sponsorship just send me an email.

outfit additions is offering a buy more save more deal.
spend $25 and get $5 off, spend $50 and get $15 off, spend $75 and get $30 off (ends 11/26 midnight)
Plus, as always there is free shipping and returns.

i absolutely love my hammered spiked bib necklace from them. it's such great quality, nice and heavy and you can actually make the spikes stick out or lay flat. it works with a casual outfit and I can't wait to wear it with a nice dress during the holidays.

they recently added a lot of new pieces that I just adore like that gold and black statement necklace above with the matching earrings.

brittany at love stitched has a discounted section in her etsy shop and is also offering mustache earrings for $4.25 on groopdealz.

nat at take the cannoli is offering a 15% discount to her shop with code FRUITCAKE.

save 20% site wide at shabby apple by clicking through the ad above and entering code JOYFULSEASON at checkout.

Mandy at Love Squirrels is offering free shipping with code CMFREESHIP.

One of my favorites, Gage Huntley Designs is offering 40% off everything in the store.
All items are discounted already so there is no discount code needed.
They have some super cute and cheap bracelets that would make for wonderful stocking stuffers!

Amy at The Charming Blog is offering 20% off in her shop Charming Life Studio with code CHARMINGHOLIDAY.

She also recently launched the Charming Holiday online mag which can be found here. It features a great collection of gift ideas and shops including a ton of discounts. Make sure to check it out!

chunky sweater and flares

Sweater: Urban Outfitters, Jeans: Gold Sign, Shoes: Gap 

i spent a very, very large amount of time editing pictures today, trying to get this blurb photo book done that I've been trying to get done for way too long. i don't know what I was thinking when I decided that it wouldn't be a big deal to try and cram the entire last year in photos into this book...

looks like tomorrow will be much like today :/ but hey, it'll all be worth it when I hold that book in my hands!

so, since I can't sit in this desk chair for another second I will just shut up and leave you with an outfit post :) 

i've got my fur to keep me warm

leather jacket: mango, scarf: target, denim: american eagle, shoes: buffalo

this could easily turn into another one of those posts where I confess my never ending love for the target. you know, like pretty much every other woman/blogger out there. luckily, we won't go there. 

pheew!

ok, nice try but now seriously, have you seen the amazing winter weather accessories like this furry scarf and amazing cable knit sweaters? or how about the new nate berkus line? a little pricier than i'd expected but beautiful nonetheless.

i won't even mention any of the wonderful finds in the toddlers clothing section... 

ahhh target. you and I we have a beautiful thing going on. 

500 Follower Giveaway!!!

Friends, today i want to say thanks. I am so happy i surpassed the 500 follower mark :) and to celebrate I am hosting a nice big giveaway for you all!!!
I am very grateful to all of the lovely ladies who are generously sponsoring these giveaways and hope know you will go visit their blogs/shops and leave them some love :)

There are so many fabulous prizes to win you will want to enter all of them!
Please make sure to complete the mandatory entries and unlock some bonus entries for an even better chance at winning.
I would also love and be very grateful for anyone of you willing to give a little shout-out about this giveaway through your blogs or social media.

Thanks a bunch and Good Luck!!!
You're the best readers ever :)

First up we have 3 Head Wraps from Haley at Bloom by HaleyAnne. 

3 wraps means 3 winners :) 

Go check out her Etsy shop here.

US residents 18 or older only! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The lovely Christin and Mel at Spread The Love are offering one of their 2013 Dutch Calendars up for grabs.  This is an actual print and not a digital file :) 

You can also follow their blog Turtle Bunny Love.

US residents 18 or older only! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So I am extremely jealous that I can't win this Handpainted Driftwood Jewelry Holder from Ashley at ThisFictitious myself!! How absolutely gorgeous is it? Ashley's shop is brand new and I want everything in it. Go check it out here or follow her blog here! 

US and Canada residents 18 or older only! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Next we have $30 to Gage Huntley Designs. Check out Amanda's website and fall in love with just about everything she creates.
Thank you for giving my readers another great chance at winning some GHD swag Amanda!

US and Canada residents 18 or older only! 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

One of my favorite girls, Mandy at This Girl's Life is kind enough to give away this unique Wooden Bead Bracelet from her etsy shop Love Squirrels.

US residents 18 or older only! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The adorable Lissa at the Looking Glass wants you to be one of her featured ad (200x300) sponsors for an entire month. That's some great exposure for your blog or business!!

Open to everyone 18 or older :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lovely Amy at The Charming Blog and Charming Life Studio is giving away any 8x10 print from her shop as well as $15 worth of ad space on her blog.

US and Canada residents 18 or older only! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And lastly you can win $30 to Outfit Additions for some awesome jewelry and accessories of your choice. Visit them here.
This giveaway will end this Friday at midnight EST so don't wait :)

Open to US residents 18 or older only!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



All giveaways (except for Outfit Additions) end at midnight EST on Sunday November 11th.
Winners will be notified via email and will have 48h to claim their prize or a new winner will be selected. For full terms&conditions please see rafflecopter widgets.

GOOD LUCK!!!

a sweater love affair

 

sweater: old navy (last year), t-shirt: made it here, pants: unionbay, socks: sockdreams.com, boots: timberland

i have a serious love affair with this sweater. it started when we met in the clearance section of old navy last winter, went through a brief little break-up for a few months because it got sweaty and now we have officially rekindled our love with more passion than ever before.

ok that was ridiculous I know! you didn't stop me though...

i am currently listening to what is supposedly this awful frankenstorm but in all honesty, it's not that scary at all. maybe i will regret typing these words when sandy rips me out of bed at 3 am? we will see...

and to add to today's randomness: we bought a new washer on sunday and for some reason jason couldn't be more excited about it. seriously, all his idea and now he keeps interrupting my important thoughts here with details from the owner's manual. the thing isn't even here yet.

our current machine is a trusty 1981 maytag top loader, which I will be kind of sad to give up for this high-tech, 274 button, flashing lights and melodies playing front loader. i am serious about this one. 

buuuut I am looking forward to sparkly clean, bright whites and hopefully kick those messy toddler induced stains in the butt. 

i also learned that my husband has never seen or heard of the movie the last unicorn!! yeah!

so now i am seriously rethinking this whole marriage thing...

haha j/k! 

ok, that's all for my randomness today. you are welcome :) 

giveaway: outfit additions

it is giveaway time folks! a generous $30 gift certificate to outfit additions will go to one lucky reader out there :)

all you need to do is follow these easy steps:

you have to be a legal US resident at least 18 years or older with a valid US shipping address. 

for your main entry:
visit outfit additions and leave a comment on this post letting us know which item you like best + follow The Forge via GFC (you have to do both to be eligible to win!) 

this will unlock a bunch of other ways you can enter for a higher chance of winning :) 

also, the 25% off code has been extended through the end of the giveaway :)) use code FORGE25 at checkout! 

good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway




terms&conditions

it that shall not be named

jacket: jcrew, shirt: ae, denim: ae, boots: ralph lauren

you may be asking yourself if you've possibly seen me wear this before. maybe.

no? great :) 

yes? well, I guess that would have been as part of a post I did for lovestitched last week. 

unfortunately the "nasty sickness I don't really want to remember or experience ever again" bug hit us all over the past weekend and as much as I have been dreaming about actually getting dressed and trying to look decent, it just hasn't happened yet. 

i am so glad that chubby little babe of mine ended up with the lightest case of the unspeakable because mama and dada where in no good shape to take care of his recuperated and fully energized little self properly. not kidding - i couldn't stand up for more than a minute at a time on sunday. 

it's times like these I am truly thankful for a mother in law that braved the threat of contamination to come over and give us the much needed break we needed. 

thank you j's mom, we love you!!! 

ps: the 25% off coupon code for outfit additions FORGE25 ends at midnight EST tonight so don't miss out on this great offer :)) 

outfit additions - we all need them!

links: bead bracelet, drop earrings, spike necklace, hoop earrings, turquoise bangle, pink bangle, ivory bangle, color drop necklace

so, I don't know about you, but whenever I find a pretty piece of sparkly jewelry that is simple, versatile, the perfect addition to my outfit and on top of that affordable I feel like doing a happy dance.
usually I will just do that happy dance once I get home though, you know, just to keep the stares to a minimum.

however, with my newest sponsor outfit additions I can shop for all of that pretty and sparkly jewelry right from my computer, which means all the happy dances I want and maybe a few stares from my guys or the dogs... i can handle that!

outfit additions is a fairly new business which offers a large but not huge and overwhelming selection of jewelry as well as gorgeous silk belts and wallets. their pieces are simple and very versatile, which is important to me when it comes to jewelry. a lot of their necklaces can be layered and you won't have a hard time finding matching earrings or bracelets. as you can tell I am very much into gold these days and they didn't let me down with their selection either.

earrings start at only $9 ($6.75 with the discount!) and most everything else is well under $50.

shipping and returns are always free and they offer a 45 day no hassle money back guarantee!
whenever I shop online I catch myself changing my mind on a purchase a lot when I realize shipping isn't free, so free shipping and returns is a big plus in my book :)

check out my favorites and take advantage of the generous 25% discount code outfit additions is offering for the next 48 hours.

simply use code FORGE25 at checkout :) happy shopping!

sweater weather

sweater: gap, jeans: ae, shirt: ae, belt: h&m, socks: sockdreams.com, boots: timberland 

yes, you guessed it: i wore this picking out pumpkins at the farm.

i was happy to get out these boots from last year and get them a tad more worn in. i love nicely worn in boots but it always takes forever to get them to that point. 

the weather was also just the right temperature to wear a thick wool sweater instead of a coat. 

it's like that part of fall always seems to come to an end much faster than i'd like and then it's back to covering up with several layers and a heavy coat on top. 

we are back from toronto tonight and I can't wait to share all about the trip :)