What Nicole Wore

If you’re traveling home today, safe travels! If you’re already with your family…hope you packed stretchy pants and your appetite. I always make 5 Cup Salad, but I’m really thinking I might try to make Paige’s 3 Cheese Mashed Potato Casserole…holy yum. Cheese + bacon? No one in my family will be able to resist! (Including me…)

I told you in Monday’s post about how I scooped up some incredible deals at Gap Factory last weekend and this leopard print cardigan was one of them + it was only $11!  I missed out on the super popular leopard cardi from Target last year and still didn’t own a leopard cardigan. I felt like I was missing out on major pattern mixing opportunities, but now I’ve made it! This one’s also available in a gray leopard so pretty much everyone’s covered here. The fit is true to size, I’m wearing an XS although if you layer your cardigans over thicker knits or sweaters, I’d size up.

Saying I had a favorite pattern would be completely blasphemous, but leopard would for sure make a top ten list for me. I’ve been all about “easy” outfits this week, Thanksgiving plus working Black Friday always drainssssss me so chances are if you see me in the flesh over the next five or so days, I’ll be rocking an easy to put together combo. Or using an old outfit as inspiration — anyone else do this? Totally guilty of stalking my own Instagram for outfit ideas.

I know this sweater will pair well with anything (seriously, I need a hot pink tank for summer to wear with this and white jeans). Stripes, a tartan plaid shirt, more stripes, blue jeans, pencil skirts. Endless possibilities. Kind of like the Golden State Warriors…. I. Can’t. Stop. Staying. Up. To. Watch! {Little known fact: I love basketball just as much as I love clothes. Tell me who your squads are in the comments and we can either be friends or fight. I kid. #CatsBy90}

In more post related news, I finally found a lip product that doesn’t completely dry out my lips or cause a reaction! -praise hands emoji- -celebration emoji- -heart eyes emoji- All the emojis, really. I feel like I’ve tried so many things over the past couple years as lip color has become the thing. Every time I’d try a new product my lips would crack and split and I’d end up sad and embarrassed.

Over the summer, I finally took a break from constantly trying new products and just stuck to basic moisturizing. But with all the fabulous holiday beauty gift sets coming out, I decided I wanted to give a few a try. I’ve had a pretty good experience with Benefit’s Lollitint and after doing some reading decided I wanted to give their tinted balms a try. I ended up buying this gift set at Ulta over the weekend and I’m so happy it worked out. The set is $26 and includes two full-sized tinted balms {normally $18 each} plus two mini lip and cheek stains {full size is normally $30 each}. Not only is the kit a total deal, it’s a great under $30 gift for the beauty lover in your life.

I’ve been so excited that I haven’t given the other color a try yet, but I will definitely keep you all updated on my lip color trials and tribulations.

Friday’s post will be all about navigating my favorite places to shop and calling out some great gift ideas from all of them. Speaking of awesome gifts: how cute is this pouch? It would be so cute to tuck a set of mini nail polishes + a Starbucks gift card in plus it’s under $15 right now.