hat // scarf // mittens

Everybody has that friend who is really hard to shop for.  They're really particular and you're tempted to just get them a gift card somewhere, but they're a close enough friend that you feel like that would be a cop-out.

That's where cute knits come in handy.

No matter how picky someone is, everyone loves a cute beanie or scarf.  It's a personal enough gift for a close friend, but also a hard one to mess up.  Go with neutral colors in classic shapes, and it will be something that fits into almost anyone's wardrobe.

from left to right: one // two // three // four // five // six

In honor of the Christmas season, I'm starting a series on quick, easy gifts that anyone can put together on any budget.  I get super stressed out with all different hostess, friends and family gifts that come up throughout November and December, so I'm hoping I can provide some ideas that make your holidays less stressful!

I just love mugs.  I get them on sale from fancy stores like Anthro and find some really cute ones at thrift stores, and truth be told, I've accumulated so many that our cabinet can't hold any more.  But I promise I use them all! I serve ice cream in them, eat cereal out of them, and sometimes soup, in addition to coffee and hot chocolate and tea and pretty much every other hot beverage known to man.

Because they're cute and versatile, mugs make awesome gifts for pretty reasonable prices.  Get a cute mug, fill it with hot chocolate mix/ a small bag of fancy coffee/ mulling spices for cider, and bam. instant present that anyone will love.

These are a few of my favorite mugs I've found around the internet, but you can also get lucky at your local goodwill or thrift store :) 

Boots are by far my favorite shoes.  I wear them all year long. Yeah, they're more expensive than flats or sandals, but they also last forever and make any outfit look 10 times better.  The Minnetonka trampers (3) have been on my wish list FOREVER - here's hoping they're part of my Christmas this year.  I've been seeing a lot of these fold-down booties (5) around, and I really like them on other people.  Not so sure that they'll look great on me, but I'd like to give them a go.  I already have a pair of booties like (1), and they're some of my favorite dressier shoes.  A tall riding boot (2) is good for transitioning dresses to fall, and I love the zipper detail on the back of this pair.  My favorite boot trend, though, is probably the tapestry on (4)... these dress up jeans for date night perfectly, and how cute would they be with cut offs in the summer?

It doesn't get terribly, bone-numbingly cold down here in Tennessee, but you definitely need a coat from November to March.  Since I'm ridiculously cold natured and stay cocooned in sweaters and jackets throughout the winter, I like to have a few warm options so I don't get stuck in a rut.  I love all of the jackets and cardigans above - a chunky cardigan is a must for layering, and I like the idea of a poncho for fall before it gets too cold because it's unique.  My favorite has got to be the sweater-sleeved anorak, though... It's the next item on my Christmas list!  The leather jacket would be awesome over dresses and tights to bring them into colder weather, and the denim is great for layering.  Since I'm graduating in May, I'm trying to stick up on cute blazers to wear to interviews... I had to dress for a career fair today and discovered that most of my business casual clothes resembled Karen from The Office... so yeah, I need to fix that.  This blazer is only about 25 bucks and comes in a ton of colors, so it will be a lifesaver.
Sorry for the lack of a Sunday Style this week - we were traveling and then I had to work and it was nuts! I should be back on schedule next week :)