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Carly A. Riordan
a little bit of life, a little bit of style, and everything in between.
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📌 Save this post! Can’t get over the MAGIC that is @backtonature.nj’s Christmas Market during the holidays! 🎄🌟🎅🏻🧣The decor this year is on a new level. If you need to get into the holiday spirit (or pick up speciality gifts or more decorations for your home), 100% recommend making the drive! It’s worth it ❄️

When you don’t actually feel cute but then kind of end up feeling cute because you put a bow in your hair, slipped into a dress that fits, and swiped on your favorite red lipstick 💋 @hillhouse @annmashburn 🎥 by @carterfish, maybe I’ll post the video without music so you can hear her hyping me up, because you can’t imagine the crowd the bore witness to the making of this Reel 🫣

And then there were three ❤️❄️🎄🌟⛸️ Needlepoint stockings are a huge undertaking… they take hours (and hours and hours) of stitching. The final results are more than worth the effort though. These will hang on our mantle every Christmas and I can’t think of anything more special than that. I finished Mike’s stocking at the end of the summer after stitching almost every night for seven months. I am taking a little break and then I’ll start on the baby’s stocking for next Christmas!! 🥹
#needlepointstocking #needlepoint #ndplt

FROM THE ARCHIVES ❄️⛸️🌲some of my past favorite winter looks mostly because I miss real pants and being able to button my coats

This tree feels extra special this year. 🎄💫⛸️❤️🕯️ Jack is fully embracing the magic of Christmas (“kiss miss”) and his enthusiasm is downright contagious!
Not one of my best qualities, but I typically feel immense pressure trying to make things feel extra special and perfect and then I get disappointed when the reality doesn’t live up to my (unrealistic) expectations. I wish I could blame social media for this.... but I know the call is coming from inside the house.
This tree seems perfect to me, though, just the way it is. It was a true group effort getting it here. Another one of my not-so-great qualities is that I’m terrible at asking for help when I need it.... this year, I can’t ignore it though. I needed help, and a lot of it. Mike got every holiday storage box up from the basement (no small feat) and hoisted the into the house and got it up in the stand within minutes (then redid it twice to get the angle of the tree just so); my mom and I took multiple trips to the hardware store and drug store for the “right” colored lights (in case you’re wondering, “bright white” is warm yellow and “warm white” is actually bright white... make it make sense); my mom wrapped the tree in lights a second time when we learned the hard way that when the box says you can’t plug in more than five strands together they mean it; and Jack was there to help and hype us all up to say how “boo-full” the tree and lights are– and keeping us in line by scolding and reminding us that we aren’t allowed to touch the ornaments 🤭
I feel a little pang of sadness that we aren’t celebrating a first Christmas with a baby who was supposed to be here, while also struggling through a third trimester (just feeling physically tired and exhausted), while also cherishing our last Christmas as a family of three, while also getting excited knowing our baby will be here before we know it. Sure, it’s a lot of pressure to put on one single tree, yet here I am. ⭐️

Spent the weekend decking the halls 🎄 the garland is up, the tree is up, the wreaths are up! Fueled by three peppermint mochas, one bag of Milanos peppermint slices, one batch of chocolate chip cookies, and one loaf of zucchini bread… my mom and I got it done 🙏🏻

These boots are TOTALLY made for walking! Taking a spin in @stuartweitzman’s iconic 5050 Bold Boot and feeling like an it girl, who happens to value both fashion and comfort! ⭐️ Take advantage of #StuartWeitzman’s Black Friday sale with an extra 25% off full-price and sale styles with code FORYOU25! (Select exclusions apply; through 11/27) This *rarely* happens!! I’ve linked this exact pair of 5050 Bold Boots in the @shop.ltk app! You can shop the boots and a couple of my other sale picks here #liketkit https://liketk.it/4oWbB #fallfashion #swpartner

Any of those colors would look great! I think they grey is very sophisticated and you'd have tons of options for accessorizing. Maybe with the Kate Spade Charm heels perhaps?
BCBG has some GREAT dresses for formals. during my senior year of high school i wore a bcbg dress to homecoming and prom.
i would highly recommend checking out some of their dresses
i wore this dress
http://www.bcbg.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3906103&cp=2769162.4370073&clickid=cat_leftnav_txt&parentPage=family
but in navy (i don't think they have that anymore) but i absolutely love the dress and plan on keeping it for as long as possible.
i do loove those jcrew dress though!
have fun!
I actually really like the first blue dress! I think that could be easily accessorized well and is sophisticated but still fun! Good luck choosing!
I love both — and I agree about the gray for the long one. So sweet.
xo Josie
http://www.winksmilestyle.com
You might want to also look at the Arabelle dress from J.Crew – it's a similar cut but because it is not an empire waistline, it doesn't make you look pregnant (which even my size 2 friend did when she wore it for a wedding).
Check out the Taryn in dusty shale!
I'd go gray or navy(it would be pretty against your fair skin) for the Taryn!
I agree with Katie! The long grey dress would look really pretty and perfect for a ball. Maybe try a fun necklace to spice up the grey!
I agree with Katie! The long grey dress would look really pretty and perfect for a ball. Maybe try a fun necklace to spice up the grey!
I would do Rent The Runway for long dresses it makes sense as your less likely to wear it again than a short one.
The second one is cute too – I don't think 'formal' these days necessarily means a long dress is required.
I would go with the gray or the navy!
I love the gray or navy!!! Navy is very sophisticated! One of my favorite colors for evening gowns!! 🙂
Both dresses are beautiful! I'm also in the process of looking for a dress…it's for a charity auction which I'm organizing, so I need to be able to 'work' in the dress.
I vote for the royal blue or navy long dress. It's slightly summery but very dressy.
I got the long grey dress for prom last year and returned it. It is a beautiful dress and I love the way that it fit and the color was so fun too..the only problem was the top. It made my chest look very small and just looked kind of awkward. It just didn't stay up that well and I was always pulling it up. If I were you I would order it and try it on before you make your final decision!
I say the blue Taryn for sure!
I would encourage you to take a bit of a risk- you say you do not care for strapless but I think the blue or the coral strapless Taryn dress would look really great with your dark hair and fair skin tone and going strapless-while it is out of your comfort zone-it isn't outlandish by any stretch. This dress is definitely tasteful and sophisticated. The short blue dress is adorable but certainly not dressy enough for a ball.
I love the royal blue Taryn!! I think the color would go so well with your skin tone and hair color. I like that it's a long dress – how often is it appropriate to wear a long dress after high school dances have finished up?! I'd jump at the chance to wear a long dress 🙂
The gray dress would look great with a statement necklace or a fabulous pair of earrings – I think turquoise would be so fun!
Love the grey maxi! I am just obsessed with that dove grey lately. I just got two flowey tops and a wrap top dress!
You can pair it with any color, and it looks especially great with bright jewel tones!
NAVY!!!!!!
It is a great dress, and very hard to chose. The pink salmon looks great with nude shoes or gold sandals. The blue is amazing and the safest choice.
Congratuluation!!!
Blue Jcrew for sure! You could really make it pop! with some understated jewelry!! 🙂
The grey. Definitely. You could do pops of colors with the accessories. Teal. Purple. Royal Blue. It'll make you stand out in a tasteful way.
Eat Cake
I think either one of the blue Taryn dresses would be great with your hair and skin color.
Really, any of them would look great on you!
Have you ever tried Rent the Runway? Another blog suggested that site to a girl who was also looking for a more formal dress. I would love to try it, but I just haven't had an occasion that needed a formal dress. Just throwing it out there…
the gray would look great for the occasion, but gray is not the best color on fair skinned people. I would go for the navy or the royal blue.
I'd go for the coral or royal blue! Love that dress!
the first one! blue all the way it is spring time and one of your last chances to make a statement and be remember but also classy
I'd go with the longer one – I really like the navy blue, but grey sounds great too!
I think I would go with the blue or the coral in the long dress!
I wore the grey dress in the "Arabelle" form (slightly different top) and I highly recommend it!! It looks really elegant on and will never go out of style. I would definitely go with the grey because it is such an event-neutral color. I tried the coral one as well and found it washed me out too much. Good luck!
The long grey is adorable and functional for multiple seasons and events!
I think the coral would look so good on you! 🙂
I think the navy would look phenomenal with your hair and skin!
navy!!!!! with pearls/gold accessories and nude flats/heels (depending on which is more appropriate)
navy!!!!! with pearls/gold accessories and nude flats/heels (depending on which is more appropriate)
I have the Taryn in spiced wine – such a great dress! The Sloane is beautiful, though! I'd probably go with the Taryn in any colour, but I'm partial to the navy! 🙂