Valentine's Day Picks {Under $50)

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Valentine's Day is next week and it conveniently falls on a weekend. You can go out to dinner, stay home and cook something together or just spend the night in bed (if ya know what I mean).  No matter what you are doing, get your color of love ready. No matter what you're wearing, I'm sure your man will appreciate the a little extra effort and pretty outfit. Here is a selection of some of my Valentine's Day picks for under $50. All of these will be here by next week so hurry and get something red to wear for next weekend.

Thank you for stopping by and have a great (hump) day! :) 

Winter Style w/ Kat's Fashion Fix

Hello Happy Medley fans! I'm so excited to be guest posting today for the lovely Anna. My name is Kathleen and I'm the creator of Kat's Fashion Fix, a fashion and lifestyle blog similar to Anna's. I find style inspiration everywhere I go - I'm quite obsessed - and I aspire to be a fashion editor in NYC. 

Today I'd like to share with you a few of my favorite cold-weather looks, as well as some tips on how to maximize your winter wardrobe. I'm sure most of you, me included, are tired of snow flurries and freezing temps, but with a few creative closet tuneups, your sweaters and boots can seem fresh and exciting again! Let me show you how...

A mix between preppy and glam, this winter look is gleaming in gold yet classically grounded. I just adore the Peter Pan collar on this sweater and I love how it looks paired with such a rich fabric. Introduce some sparkles into your winter wardrobe for a welcome twist on the expected. 

 Metallic and leather are a killer combo for any night of the year! A black leather jacket is a closet staple for me and I love the way this top glistens underneath. Up your jeans game by sporting coated denim, a modern and totally rocker-chick alternative to your run-of-the-mill blue jean. 

 A sweater is the obvious choice for freezing February temps, but to add extra oomph to a simple sweater, layer a blouse underneath. The result? Extra warmth and extra polish. I'm also a total sucker for jewelry, and a look-at-me statement necklace like this one adds a whole new dimension to an otherwise simple ensemble. 

 One small addition in the accessory department can make a world of difference when it comes to fashion. I don't wear my glasses often, but when I do, I make sure they highlight the quirky side of my style. Wear your accessories so that they become the icing on the cake to your personal taste and overall look. And who says you can only wear shorts in summer? I paired black shorts with black tights and boots for a unique cold-weather alternative to skinny jeans or leggings. I like the contrast between the light chambray blouse up top and all-black on the bottom. 

 Keep your color palette clean and bright. Think: grey shades, creams, medium-to-light denim, and gold to make it all pop. To compliment the grey tones I've got going on, I opted for a cream, knit beanie. I've been loving beanies lately and this one effortlessly brightens up my winter wardrobe. 

 Forget winter's dark hues and monochromatic pieces - inject some flower power into your wardrobe for a fresh take on cold-weather fashion. Trust me, it's never too early to bust out your favorite florals! Not to mention giving your favorite white button-down a break from office slacks by pairing it with something way more fun and adventurous. 

 Black is a common color to turn to during these chilly months, but to make yourself standout when rocking this monochromatic look, it's vital to incorporate a variety of textures into your ensemble. This allows the eye to see each individual piece clearly, thus eliminating the "blob" illusion. In short: you'll look leaner, and your clothing will appear more expensive. Here I've got leather, silk, cotton, and ponte all in one look. 

Red is a color that everyone looks great in but not everyone takes advantage of. Especially during these dreary days of February. Red serves as a fun burst of color that can easily be transitioned into any wardrobe and is still appropriate for winter. I love a chambray blouse underneath a sweater, and even though it's a preppy look, you can put your own spin on it by adding black jeans, attention-grabbing footwear, and dazzling accessories.

 I love rocking a bold, bright hue - especially to brighten up dreary winter days. Make the most out of your favorite solid-colored sweater by pairing it with a scarf in a fun print and/or silky texture. Leopard is my go-to choice! 

Let your last layer be your favorite because, after all, your coat is the piece that gets the most playing time in the winter. This season I chose a wool coat with leather sleeves - edgy yet timeless. Center an entire outfit around your coat for a warm look that you can comfortably wear both inside and out. 

Happy winter dressing everyone! 
Thank you for stopping by!

Winter Style w/ The Brandied Pair

Hello lovelies! This week I have a whole range of different styles from amazing style bloggers. I think we all get bored of seeing same old, same old so check out how these ladies style their winter favorites - from scarves and hats to simple blouses. Hope you enjoy it! 

Blouse: JCrew│Denim: JCrew│Pumps: JCrew│Handbag: Agora Vintage I am so excited to be guest posting for Anna.  She is one of my favorite up and coming bloggers.  We actually have a lot in common, our love of classic shapes and styles dominate most of our looks.  So when she contacted me about posting in her "Winter Basics" series, I was very excited.  
I live in Georgia and don't really experience "hard winters."  My winter basics typically include, fabulous denim, blouses and classic jackets.  On this particular day, it was 50+ degrees meaning I nixed the jacket.  In my opinion though, blouses and denim are necessities for winter.  Whether you layer with a sweater and scarf or you go without, a basic classic look can be created with these ultra feminine pieces.

Things He Says [Part I]

As Jonathan's vocabulary grows, he is becoming fun, interesting and more adult-like. The things he says at the most unexpected times, are just pure hilarious sometimes.

While pulling a little wooden carriage full of toys, he accidentally runs it into the table.
Jonathan: Oh boy!
Anna: Did you just say ' oh boy'?
Jonathan: Da (Yes in Russian)



As I was making  purple cabbage slaw some of the cabbage ended up on the floor. He comes over from the play room
Jonathan: Oh meeeeeeeess, mama
Anna: Yes dear. Mama will clean it up later.
Proceeds to take his little chair, climbs to find the kitchen towel from the top drawer, then starts wiping the floor
Jonathan (singing): clean up, clean up, everybody do their share




Potty training has finally took off and he hasn't had an accident in a week. As I put him on the potty,
Anna: Go ahead and pee.
Jonathan: I did it. I pee.
Anna: Do you need to go #2?
Jonathan: Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm yes. Mama go. Shut the door.



As I'm pulling out of the driveway
Jonathan: Mama, this way.
Anna: no, Jonathan we are going different way.
Jonathan: No this way!
Anna: We can go that way next time, ok?
Jonathan: OK.



We are all together playing on the couch. Jonathan passes gas and starts laughing hysterically
Anna: Jonathan, was that you?
Jonathan: No. Ummmmmm (thinks for a minute) papa!



He wants me to give him another bottle of milk, before bed time.
Jonathan: more moty (his word for milk)
Anna: no more milk.
Jonathan: why, mama, why?
Anna: because you already had milk. you can't drink too much before bed...blah blah blah
Jonathan: why? why? why?
Anna: (more logical explaining) why am I explaining this to you? (laughing)
Jonathan: I don't know. (in the most grown up voice ever)

How to Stay Warm in Style

Most of the country is a frozen land right now and those who don't see snow can't call it winter (i'm looking at you Texas). I'm often jealous of bloggers who get mild winter temperatures and can just imply layer their best shirts and sweaters, then throw on a puffer vest and call it a day. However, where I live, one must have all proper essentials for below zero temperatures. So how does one stay warm AND stylish? Here are some examples of winter styles collected from Pinterest, of course (and some with yours truly). 

1. Cognac/brown/riding boots: this is one boot that I consider my winter essential and many other stylish ladies out there seem to favor them too. They are the perfect neutral and can be dressed up or down, jeans or dress they work with everything. 

2. Beanies/ floppy and fur hats: beanie is not only a cold weather accessories it's also a savior for your bad hair day. Throw on a simple black beanie and an oversized scarf and you have half of an outfit. I love hats but it's so hard to find what I want most times. They are either too floppy or too small, too saggy or too tight. Black seems to be the color a lot of ladies favor but brown is also a classic that can work with a lot of things.

3. Puffers: These cold weather must-haves don't seem like statement makers but they can be stylish too. Pick a basic color and add some fun scarves along with statement bags. This is one cold weather garment that will last you for years and you will reach for over and over, plus it's very practical.

 4. Scarves: Honestly, I cannot live without a scarf in winter months and I love the coziness of it. Also it's a great accessory which can change an outfit from blah to 'gorgeous'. Of course, recent obsession with the plaid over sized scarf has over taken the blogosphere but there are other prints out there. No really.  I love bright scarves that add color to any outfit and paired with the same coat make it look like a whole new outfit. Did I mention they add warmth? So the more the merrier.

There you have it. Stay warm and stylish ladies.

xo, Anna