The Lovely Side

It's getting done a LOT this year. (Maybe this past spring's Gatsby is to blame?) But I'm not complaining! I think that the Jazz Age look is the bees knees. Hit up local thrift, vintage, and even antique stores to round up a loose dress, t-strap pumps, vintage purse, and several strands of pearls. A well placed decorative hair band plus some red lipstick, and you're ready for all those speakeasies!

Ever since I scored an adorable teal corduroy blazer at a thrift shop, I've been obsessing over how to style it and what to wear with it. Turquoise, teal, and all their entire family of hues are my favorite of all colors. Paired with mustard goal and oxblood, teal looks great. Paired with neutrals, teal looks great. Paired with bright orange or a fresh yellow green, teal just simply looks great.
My teal corduroy blazer looks a lot like the first one pictured above. I want to get as much wear out of it as possible this fall... before a snowy and blistery cold Iowa winter sets in. Whether it's a corduroy blazer, leather or suede jacket, or a boyfriend blazer, I'm in love with these ten ways to style teal outerwear for fall.

This weekend I'll be going on a mini road-trip with the boyfriend for a day or two of adventures in eastern Iowa. And as I'm planning my two outfits for the fun-packed, beer-packed trip... I find that I'm quite smitten with polka dots this week.

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Time for another giveaway, lovelies! With fall temperatures here, 'tis the season to get cozy and snuggle up with a good movie. Preferably something with a good balance of comedy and romance, am I right? And who better to star in such a movie than Rachel McAdams. I love Rachel - she's talented, stylish, quirky, and so adorable. It's about time that she hits the big screen in another romantic comedy.  No really, it's About Time.
Thanks to the good folks over at Universal Pictures, two lucky readers on The Lovely Side will get to experience About Time with someone special. I'm just dying to see this movie. It looks like the perfect flick for a date night with the boy... or an evening out with the girls.
Two winners will each receive:Love Actually 10th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray Combo Pack available 10/15)About Time Soundtrack featuring music from Ellie Goulding, Ben Folds & more (Availab…

It wasn't until college that I came to appreciate glasses as a fashion accessory. And I really started to look forward to my yearly eye doctor appointment. Today, I consider myself obsessed with eyewear and all the styling possibilities. I love trying new pairs on - all different shapes, all different colors. For me, glasses complete a look and tie together all the details of my outfit. Whether it's my go-to favorite pair of rectangular tortoise shell frames, my "geek chic" black and clear pair, or my bright red glasses for a bold pop of color... I love my eyewear! Besides being the final touch on my outfits, glasses give me an extra boost of confidence. (Funny how they seemed to take it away back in fourth grade!) I feel more pulled together, more confident, and more professional.

* * * This giveaway has ended. * * * * * * Winners will be notified soonly. * * * 

What are your essentials for a great road trip? Besides a great friend or two to enjoy the ride with, there are three big must-haves for your car ride. Music, because the radio can't compete with your carefully curated playlists. Snacks, because an empty stomach is almost as awful as an empty gas tank. And a good book, because a gal should never be caught anywhere without a pageturner in her purse. 
You have reached your destination on The Darkest Minds road trip. The sequel is here.
Today, Alexandra Bracken's new novel Never Fade hits bookshelves. And to celebrate, The Lovely Side is giving one lucky winner a special road trip prize pack. 

I don't usually kiss and tell, but thanks to a little smooch on das boot (see left) and the 90 Facebook likes (thank you to everyone who gave me a like!) that followed... I won a ticket to BrewNost, a fantastic beer tasting even held at a local Czech museum. I'm so excited, but I don't know what to wear!

You lovely readers know how much I love soap. And if you've checked out the other blog (Yeast, Love, & Hoppiness) that I co-write with my brewer-lover boyfriend, you'll know about my adoration of beer, too. Over on the YL&H blog today, I reviewed some craft beer soaps and hop candy from Swag Brewery. And the goodies were just too good not to share over here on The Lovely Side.
Swag Brewery is your one-stop shop for craft beer gifts and craft beer swag. They make and sell craft beer soap, craft beer t-shirts, beer art prints, and even bottle cap earrings. It's the ultimate destination for beer lovers who want to show their craft brew love inside and outside of the bar or brewery. 
They were kind enough to send some samples to sate my beer bath and hop cravings: two craft beer soaps to suds up with and a package of hop candy to enjoy.

Apricot Wheat Beer Soap with Walnut Shells 
Round in shape and a foggy peach in color, this craft beer soap is flecked with little piec…

I love myself some pumpkin spice. And if I didn't have good self control, I'd stop at every coffee shop on my way home from work (Starbucks, Panera, Coffeesmiths, the list goes on...) for a pumpkin spice latte every single day. Instead of doing that, I concocted a delicious pumpkin spice coffee treat to make at home. It's easier on my waistline (so I tell myself) and my wallet.

I'm a sucker for stunning sets and elaborate costumes - especially when mixed with intrigue, romance, drama, and history. Last night I stumbled across the CW's new series Reign, which unravels the story of the young Mary, Queen of Scots. And then today, I found out that a new Romeo & Juliet is about to hit the big screen - based on an adaptation written by Downton Abbey's Julian Fellowes. I can't wait for either of these! I need some historical costume dramas to keep me occupied until Downton Abbey hits the U.S. and Game of Thrones returns with its newest season. Enjoy the trailers!

This coming weekend, I'm attending a nearby Oktoberfest event in the Amanas with my boyfriend G and some friends. I've been looking forward to the German food, music, and beer for months. And I've been thinking about my costume for just as long. Nothing will do me than to dress up in some traditional Bavarian garb and get my bier-drinking on.

As I try to piece together a do-it-yourself dirndl for an Oktoberfest event this coming weekend, I've been swept away by some seriously beautiful dirndls that are out there. Some of these lovely outfits are the stuff of fairy tales. The lacy details, gorgeous patterns, full skirts... I love it all! If I ever learn to sew, I'm definitely whipping up a beautiful dirndl like one of these.