PANTONE NOT PANETTONE

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Happy Friday!  Today, I was feeling some inspo from the Pantone Color(s) of the Year: Serenity and Rose Quartz! No, not panettone, the dry Italian sweet bread they always have in the gourmet foods section at Marshall’s. Pantone is the international authority on color and forecasts color trends. All the maroons and oxbloods you’ve seen this year? 2015’s color was Marsala. This is the first time there’s been two colors, that’s why it’ll be so interesting to see how designers and consumers alike adopt them. Personally, I love Rose Quartz because I view blushy pinks as neutrals. The same can’t be said for Serenity, it’s just not my fave. It reminds me of the dentist or a bad bathroom remodel in 1983. However, I saw a serenity-hued KitchenAid mixer yesterday, so maybe it’ll take off and I’ll be shocked. Pantone took a unique stance this year, stating the two colors represent social issues and changes. Some say they just want to shill more licensed lipstick at Sephora. Regardless, if you’re looking to take these tints for a test drive, do it with accessories and shoes. Less commitment, y’all (well I guess that Valentino is commitment, but we can make an exception).

Also, hop on over to my Instagram! I’m celebrating the holidays (and hitting 2,000 insta followers! what!) by giving away a pair of Kendra Scott drusy studs. Give me a follow and like this picture to enter! For extra entries, tag a friend in the comments on Instagram and/or subscribe for 10th and James updates (look at the column on the right!). Contest closes Monday at midnight, winner announced Tuesday! Good luck!

Emily

GIFT GUIDE: FOR THE BEAUTY LOVER

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Happy Friday! Here’s a lil gift idea selection for the beauty guru in your life. Whether it be a coworker or your best friend, there’s definitely something for everyone (and every price range). Most of the products work for all skin types, as I tried to feature universally flattering colors/formulas. Don’t go trying to gift someone with foundation y’all. When it comes to beauty, it’s always nice to give someone something they wouldn’t otherwise buy for themselves. This explains the over-the-top Peter Thomas Roth gold face masks. I hope this guide provides some gift inspiration even if you just treat yourself!

Emily

HOLIDAY OUTFIT INSPO

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Hi friends! I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving! So, recently, I’ve been gravitating towards a certain aesthetic when planning several outfits for Christmas/holiday get-togethers this month. I’ve featured this plaid midi skirt from Kate Spade before, and I just can’t get enough. I also love it in cream, as seen on that precious little secretary-style shift dress. One of these pieces just has to make in into my holiday wardrobe, and the odds are certainly in my favor as they’re both currently on sale! Using the inspiration from these pieces, I put together a little image map of items that fit the look. If you live closer to the North Pole, like me, you’ll also need a great pair of tights, so go for the mat opaque 80 from Wolford. They are the Cadillac of tights and you have to just bite the bullet and invest. I like the idea of having a few key pieces and then mixing and matching with classic black basics and gold jewelry. That’s my holiday outfit approach. I know, what a concept, groundbreaking. Anyway, I hope you can draw some inspo for your holiday looks too! Tomorrow I’ll be back with another gift guide, have a great Thursday y’all!

Emily

PRODUCT REVIEW: URBAN DECAY EYESHADOW PRIMER POTION

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Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Happy Monday! I recently featured this product in a #weeklywishlist and just had to give it a whirl. In a word, I’m obsessed. I once had a beauty counter girl tell me that I didn’t need eyeshadow primer and to just use my foundation. This was seriously years ago, but for some reason I let it stick with me, and never really considered using a primer on my lids. Now, this wasn’t a huge problem in my life because on an everyday basis, I didn’t wear much eyeshadow. I’m lazy and (until very recently) by midday, my eye makeup would look like it had had a wild night out. This primer, from Urban Decay, eliminates all creasing, smudginess, and provides the perfect canvas for both eyeshadow and liner alike! Even after a full day of wear, eyeshadow looks fresh. You can even use any of the three shades on their own for a natural, even look. This product will be especially useful during the holiday season, which comes with darker, shimmery eye palettes. I picked mine up in the anti-aging version because, I mean, gotta start somewhere. Maybe it’ll even prevent an eye-lift in 20 years, who knows?
Emily

GIFT GUIDE: FOR THE HOSTESS

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Happy Tuesday! Today, I’m back with the first of several holiday gift guides! I know, one holiday at a time, but this little selection can serve you for your Thanksgiving get togethers as well. Actually, these would work for your NYE soirees too, so wow, what a one-stop-shop! Thank me later. All of these items are pretty reasonably priced, so depending on how much you like your host/hostess want to spend, you can put together several of these little treasures. Or just show up to the party with another average bottle of wine, whatever you’re in to.

Emily

GLAMBOXES

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GLAMbox Petite

Hi, happy Monday! I hope y’all had a relaxing weekend! Today, I thought I’d share how I store all of my makeup/skincare products: GLAMboxes. If it looks familiar, that’s because it’s the same lucite organizer found in every Kardashian “glam room” ever. Never thought my girl Kim K and I would ever have too much in common, but look at that!

I’ve had mine for several months now, and I love it. The notion of ever going back to a normal makeup bag actually gives me anxiety. GLAMboxes are made of high quality acrylic lucite, so they’re basically like a piece of furniture on your vanity. Each one comes with a sliding divider, an “x” divider, and a brush holder. You can choose between two sizes, and if you want a full or partial lid. I chose the full lid, but I like keeping perfumes and other little things on top, so the lid is folded behind. I’ve seen other organizers for a lot less, but nothing compares to the quality of a GLAMbox. I don’t have to worry about it cracking or discoloring, plus it’s just way more aesthetically pleasing than the plastic boxes on sale at Homegoods. Just being real, y’all. It’s also pretty heavy, so when I pull out a drawer, I’m not dragging the entire thing across the counter. This is definitely something I saved for, and invested in, but it was worth every penny. I just got tired of constantly rifling through my makeup bag and eventually just dumping it all out. With a GLAMbox, everything is visible and everything has it’s place. Their motto is “if you don’t see it, you won’t use it,” and it’s really true. I’m not a naturally super organized person, but this product makes me feel like I am. It’s so refreshing to not have such a cluttered bathroom.

In addition to makeup organizers, they make jewelry and accessory organizers, too! I linked some in the widget below, via Shopbop. If you head to their website, however, they’re currently running a Friends & Family sale! Use code “Friendsandfamily” to receive 20% off everything! GLAMboxes don’t go on sale very often, so now is a great time to treat yourself, or someone else, as the holidays are approaching!

Emily

TRAVEL TIPS

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The weekend before last, I was fortunate enough to visit my alma mater, Baylor University, for homecoming. Some friends had amazing football tickets and it was just a great time sketching around all my old haunts. By “old haunts” I mean we basically went on a tour of Waco Mexican restaurants and it was delicious. Queso anyone? Side note: I don’t care where you’re from or where you’ve been, there’s no place like Texas. It’s God’s country. Anyway, just from my two little trips in the past two months, as well as four years of being an out-of-state college student, I’ve definitely racked up some travel tips. I’m no expert, and I don’t fly on a regular basis these days, but when I do, I’m ready to rock.
1. OVERPACK: Ok, not totally. You’re not Mariah Carey posting up at the airport with $30,000 worth of Louis Vuitton luggage…but then again maybe you are, and in that case, get it girl. When I say overpack, I mean the necessities. Always bring a few more undies, bras, socks, etc, than you think you’ll need. It also doesn’t hurt to have a couple extra pairs of leggings/Nike shorts. Of course, it all depends on where you’re going and the duration of the trip.
2. SAMPLE SIZES: This is a great way to save space in your makeup bag or the tiny sandwich bag for liquids at the airport. Get sample sizes of your foundation/primer/moisturizer, whatever! Just ask at your cosmetics counter and they’ll make you a sample. Free foundation y’all! If for some reason the sales associate is weird about it, just ask for the little container and make your own.
3. VACUUM SEALED BAGS: Especially for a long trip, or if you’re really overpacking, vacuum bags are a godsend. It was basically monsoon-ing the whole time we were in Waco, so rain boots were a must. My mom treated me to some new Hunters, but ya know that new-rainboot-smell? Yeah, I wasn’t trying to mess with my whole suitcase giving off the aroma of new rubber. Instead, I squished them into an airtight plastic bag, saving both space and smells. It was also nice on the way back, since I’d been sloshing around puddles and such, everything was kept clean. Since we were staying with friends, and didn’t want to be bigger mooches than we already were, we brought our own towels. They took up minimal space thanks to the bags. I have these, which don’t actually require a vacuum!
4. BOSE QUIET COMFORT HEADPHONES: They’re pricey, but if you have room in your budget, these Bose headphones are perfection. My boyfriend has a pair, so I typically use his, but I’m definitely saving up for my own. You just don’t realize how insanely loud a plane is until you put them on and enjoy the sound of silence. They’re really nice if you have anxiety about flying, they make the whole experience a hell of a lot calmer.
5. PILL BOX: Rather than carrying around prescription/vitamin bottles, I use a sectioned pill box as another means to save space! Nordstrom Rack always has them near the register, that’s where I found mine! If you’re carrying around controlled substances, keep ’em in the bottles with your name. Avoid being sketchy at the airport y’all, it’s a good rule for life.
6. WET ONES: I always feel gross traveling. Until I have the time/place to officially freshen up, Wet Ones (or Purel) to the rescue! Makeup wipes are also really helpful, and I try to keep both in my carry-on. Also, it doesn’t hurt to make sure deodorant and a rollerball of perfume are within reach!
7. CROSS BODY BAG: If my boarding pass, ID, passport, etc, aren’t compartmentalized, they’ll end up at the bottom of my Neverfull (which should really be called a Neverfindit). I recently picked up this Tory Burch cross body that basically has a built in wallet. It’s small enough that I can just throw it in my bag once on the plane. Essentially, it’s a little sneaky extra bag because officially, I count my tote as my purse, and have an additional rolling carry-on. It seems obvious, but it’s just another easy way to keep everything together so I’m not rifling through my bag like a crazy person at the gate.
8. DUSTBAGS: They come with shoes, bags, and wallets, and let’s be honest, they don’t all get used. That said, put them to work separating clean laundry from dirty. Also, use them for the shoes and bags you’re packing! Like the vacuum bags, they help keep everything orderly and protect against scuffs and scratches. If you’re an responsible adult and actually use your dustbags at home, pick up these for your trip!
9. GATE-CHECK: Take advantage of this if you can. The notion of lugging my carry-on down the aisle and hoisting it into the overhead bin stresses me out. Not to mention, I’m just not that strong. I prefer to gate-check and pick my bag up either at baggage claim or the end of the jetway. Just one less thing to stress about. Or if you’re really bougie, I suppose you could actually check a bag, but like who wants to pay for that? Not this girl.
10. ATTIRE: I know that back in the day, flying was an event, and you dressed for it. Times have definitely changed, and this ain’t the Oscars, honey. It’s acceptable to be more casual at the airport. My grandmother would cringe reading that, but casual doesn’t have to mean sloppy. I typically go with some performance cotton Lululemons, easy on and off loafers, a soft tee, and a flannel. It’s super comfortable but doesn’t look like you’re ready for bed in a big sorority tee. I also never wear eye makeup on the plane, because let’s be real, I’m going to be doing some serious awkward napping and don’t need eyeliner smeared all over my face. Lately, I’ve been getting spray tans pre-travel, so I don’t really wear any in-flight makeup, come to think of it.
Some of these tips might seem obvious, but I hope you found some insight about streamlining your travel experience. On another note, if anyone has any advice on how to unpack after a trip, let me know…I may or may not still be living out of my suitcase from over a week ago…
Emily
 

WEEKLY WISHLIST

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Hi! Today, I thought I’d share another #weeklywishlist because, well, I haven’t done one in a while. Also, with the holidays justtt around the corner [eyeroll], my wishlist is getting quite lengthy.

Booties: I’m kind of on a bootie kick right now (wow that sounds like a Zumba move, I hate myself). I’m definitely gravitating towards a bootie/chelsea boot moreso than ballet flats these days. Maybe this means that for once in my life I can say I’m practical. I love leopard details, especially when peppered into an all black ensemble, it adds a pop of something while still being neutral. They’re Madewell, but I was only able to find them at Shopbop. Sizes are dwindling, so I might need to just bite the bullet and snap them up.

Earrings: These Loren Hope statement studs are such a fun little addition for fall. I like how they pack a punch, but aren’t giant boulders weighing down my head. Win-win if you ask me. Really though, I don’t have a pair like them and that rich merlot color is just the best.

Sweater: Don’t mind me, I’m just continuing my current obsession with cable-knit. Carry on.

Primer: This line-item is up for debate because I’m not quite sure what to look for in an eyeshadow primer. I just emerged from another decade, apparently, and don’t have one. I’ve heard great things about this one, from Urban Decay, plus it has some anti-aging magic. If anyone has any other recommendations I’d love to hear them!

Loafers: If a ballet flat and a driving moc had a baby, it might kinda look like these little gems from Kate Spade. What more could I ask for?

PJs: I feel really aggressive wanting these Christmas-y pajamas, like yes – it’s barely November, but think of all the lounging! Loungewear is important y’all, and how can you not love those little Santa gnomes? Also, this plaid pair is a must!

Pants: These Victoria Beckham pants are fabulous. I’m always a fan of gingham, especially in black and white. It’s so chic and stands in a definite contrast to the classic picnic table print. I would love these topped by a chunky knit or all buttoned-up. Also here.

Watch: Not to be trendy, but I’ve been eyeing this Daniel Wellington watch for a while now. Though I love a good “boyfriend watch,” sometimes those oversized timepieces look gaudy as hell. Not to mention, I feel like they overpower my wrist. I like how this watch has that really large face, but the thinner band tones it down.

Sunglasses: I tried these Prada beauties on at the airport Sunglass Hut a week or so ago and I can’t stop thinking about them. I don’t have a pair of sunnies in this light tortoiseshell, which means they’re an obvious necessity. I’m like kidding but also not…

Tray: Who doesn’t love a little crown motif?

Take the edge of your Monday like I did, with a little online shopping. I hope y’all had a great Halloweekend!

Emily

SKIRT CHASER

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I have a seriously dysfunctional relationship with skirts. I don’t know what it is, but I just haven’t found one that I love and would rather wear over a dress. Is anyone else like this? Maybe it’s a lazy thing: you look put together, but it’s just one article of clothing. Throw it on and go. Whatever my issue is, hopefully I’ll get over it this season, because there are so many fun trends for skirts! Once again, the 70s vibes of fall are surfacing with suede fringe, leather, and patchwork. I also love the classic pleats, plaids, and button fronts. The mini skirts are darling paired with cozy knits (like those found in my last post), and the midis looks so polished with a bloused silk top. Check out the widget below for some more skirts that give me hope I can be a skirt person!

Emily
PS that fringe-y little number is linked in a lighter canvas color! The tan sold out.

THIS OLD HOUSE

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Hey y’all, I hope everyone had a great Monday! For once, I was seriously productive, and it felt so good. It’s amazing what you can get done when you, ya know, actually sit down and do it. If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you might’ve noticed a picture here and there of this old, decrepit, cottage style house (and some treasures we found inside!). This ole girl is part of the reason I’ve been so MIA on the blog lately. My parents have owned a boutique home building business for over 25 years, and now I’m stepping into the ring. We purchased this Maple Bluff property in September and have been busy with it ever since. Though once a nice home owned by a respected family in the Madison area, it had fallen into serious disrepair. When I say disrepair, I really mean it was totally unlivable and therefore, it’s been taken down to the studs. The last few weeks have consisted of clearing out truckloads of junk, meeting with subcontractors, and getting bids. Demolition should be finished in a few days, and we’ll have a clean slate inside. I can’t wait to restore this place to it’s original character. With the guidance of my mom, I’m taking this project and running with it, so expect to see updates both here on the blog, and on Instagram as well. Also, I’ve been pinning like it’s 2011, getting lots of inspiration for kitchens and bathrooms, so be sure to follow 10th & James on Pinterest!
Emily