Happy Monday! I can’t believe it’s already December—this year has flown by. Even though it’s back to reality today after a nice long Thanksgiving break at home, I’m reminding myself that there are only 15 business days left in the year and then I get to enjoy two full weeks off from work. I could not be more excited, and really am craving the break to recharge.
My Thanksgiving was a great one. On Wednesday night, my best friend Molly came over to my apartment and we grabbed some Cava, drank wine, and watched cheesy Christmas movies. On Thanksgiving morning, I went home and my family went on a nice long walk before heading over to my Uncle’s house for our annual Thanksgiving dinner. The rest of the weekend was so lazy—lots of football, books by the fire, movies, and carbs. And, I left the house just once, to go to my 10-year high school reunion, which was actually a lot of fun!
As y’all know, I shared my gift guide and stocking stuffer ideas—I’ve been updating both posts regularly as more ideas pop into my head, so even if you didn’t purchase all your gifts during the sales last week, you can probably grab most of it on sale today during Cyber Monday!
One retailer I have been loving lately is L.L.Bean. This year, I’ve really been focusing on buying less crap, and instead, favoring high-quality things I love, and L.L.Bean makes some of the highest quality items I’ve ever owned. I know when I’m buying from them, I’m buying for the long hall! Today they’re running a 20% off sale when you use the code THANKS20, so I wanted to share my five favorite things I’ve ever purchased from L.L.Bean. I’ll also say that if you’re in the DC area, the L.L.Bean store at Tysons Corner Mall is amazing! It’s two stories and they have just about anything you could ever dream of wanting. I also love making my returns there since it’s faster than mailing back items.
These boat and tote bags are amazing—I have several and prefer the ones with the zip top. Whether you’re using it to take extra stuff to work, as a gym bag, or for a weekend trip, these bags are durable and last. I have several different monogram styles and several different colors, but the two I use most regularly are my medium and large bags with extra-long handles.
Bean Boots have been a staple in my winter wardrobe for ten years now, and if you don’t have a pair, I can’t recommend them enough. My favorite style are these 8″ chamois-lined ones—though they offer a wide variety of styles, which you can check out here. The 8″ size is my preferred size—it makes them great to wear whether or not there’s snow on the ground. Bean Boots only come in whole sizes, and I would recommend sizing down, especially if you’re between sizes or you plan to wear them with thick socks. I am a true 7 and wear a 6 in Bean Boots.
I’m not the biggest fan of sweaters generally, but I love the L.L.Bean Fisherman Tunic Sweater. It looks beautiful layered over jeans or leggings, and is more feminine than a classic boxy sweater, in my opinion. The zippers on the sides are also a beautiful detail that give you some flexibility on styling, too. I love this sweater so much that I now own it in multiple colors. I would recommend sizing down if you’re between sizes since I think they run large. I buy mediums for reference. If you prefer a more classic sweater instead of a tunic, L.L.Bean also makes a beautiful fisherman sweater.
I bought this jacket nearly four years ago for a ski trip to Park City, Utah (you can see it on me here!) and it’s been a great staple off the slopes, too. I love that it has a detachable hood so I can keep it on if it’s raining or snowing, but ditch it if it’s sunny. Despite it being on the shorter side, this jacket is so incredibly warm. And at under $200 regularly, I think it’s at a great price point for a winter jacket you can wear season after season.
These moccasins are amazing, and while I’ll wear them out of the house from time to time, for the most part, these are my go-to winter house shoes. Nothing is worse than the cold floors during this time of year! I think these run pretty true to size, and I bought my normal size 7.