Best Of Outfits of 2015

Can you believe it's been another year? I swear the older I get the faster time goes by, especially when I think about how TfDiaries will be 6 this coming year. Holy Moly. So, to celebrate the new year and 6 years of TfD, I'm rounding up my most favorite outfits of 2015. Here's to a stylish and wonderful 2016. 

Happy New Year Guys!

Things I Loved: Bold Prints, Color, 70's Inspired Style, "Fur", Cropped Tops, Moto Jackets, Fringe, Layers,  and OTK Boots

The Faux Shearling Denim Jacket

I've actually had this jacket in my closet for a little over a month now and haven't really worn it too many times. Maybe because I may have ordered a size too snug keeping my pairing options a little limited {no oversized pairing here, dangit!}. However, It fit perfectly over this black sweater and $20 H&M maxi dress - worn as a skirt. I kind of love it, and the whole faux shearling trend. Ps. I tried my hand at the whole silk scarf trend, what do you think?

Jacket Target, Sweater Debshops, Dress H&M {on sale for $13!}, Boots Report, Scarf and Bag Vintage

Get the look: 

Mini Apple Pies

One my most popular posts here on TfDiaries has to be the Apple Bites Recipe from almost 3 years ago. It's with good reason, they're delicious and ridiculously easy to make. So, I thought it was time for a little update just in time for the holidays. Originally I meant to post these for Thanksgiving but somehow time got away from me and I completely forgot I had these pictures on my camera - oops. But, since it's still the holiday season I figured there's no better time than now to finally share my updated version on a classic TfDiaries favorite! 

For this version I skipped out on the 'crescent rolls' and went a little fancier by way of puff pastry sheets cut into tiny circles and filled tiny pieces of apple, cinnamon, brown sugar and a smidge of vanilla extract. If you're still pretty attached to the crescent rolls you can roll it out smooth and do some cut outs of your own on that, it's basically the same thing.

Mini Apple Pies (Yields about 24 mini pies)

1 Large, tart apple - peeled and chopped

1 Sheet of Puff Pastry 

1/4 Cup Brown Sugar

2 Tbsp. Granulated Sugar

1/2 Tsp. Flour

1 Tbsp. Cinnamon

1-2 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract

Optional - Whipped Cream to top

Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, flour and sugar in a small bowl. Stir until thoroughly mixed.

Lay out your puff pastry and cut with a 2'' round cookie cutter or if you don't have one (or if your four year old turned it into a 2'' mess of metal) use a 2'' spice cap or something similar. 

Re-roll out and cut excess pieces until you have no more dough. 

Add the mini pie crusts to greased mini cupcake tins. Crimp the edges with a fork.  

Fill each pie with a teaspoon of chopped apple and top with a teaspoon of sugar/flour/cinnamon mixture. Add a couple of drops of vanilla extract.

Bake at 350˚ for 10 minutes or until crust is lightly browned. 

Remove from tins and serve warm. Top with whipped cream if desired. 

Ps. These are great for gifting, we made a ton and gave them out to our neighbors on Thanksgiving. 

Free People Moonstruck Dress

It's not really a huge secret that I love anything with a retro vibe, so anything Free People pretty much belongs in my closet. This dress is no exception - I mean, this color, print and length? Yes please. It's pretty much everything I love in one single dress. So, it was an immediate yes when I saw and snagged the last one in my size from Revolve Clothing, just in time for the holidays. {Ps - I'm obsessed with everything in stock, including this dress, on sale & under $40}. Instantly the "Moonstruck Dress" became my Christmas dress, it's kind of festive, no? Wear it alone, paired with an oversized fur vest or just opaque black tights, either way it's going to be perfect...

 Since the weather has been more than favorable this season I couldn't resist going bare legged with the addition of a single strand gold necklace, black tassel clutch and black pumps. 

Free People Moonstruck Dress  c/o Revolve, Shoes BCBG Paris, Bag Melie Biaco, Necklace H&M

4 Easy Holiday Hairstyles

I personally can't believe that Christmas is in less than three days, when did that even happen? Which left me wondering what on earth I'm going to do with my hair for the rest of the holiday get togethers I'll be heading to for the 'rest of the year'. I personally have grown a little tired of letting my waves steal the show so I've been giving my hair little 'switch up' for the last couple of weeks, including letting it go straight. So, with a little help from Garnier's Sleek and Shine Sleek Primer Style Prep I've put together a few hairstyles that will have me trying something different until the new year.

 Here's 4 super simple, holiday-ready hairstyles...

-The Blowout-

Just a quick blowout with a paddle brush, I sprayed a good amount of the Sleek and Shine Sleek Primer to prep my hair and to keep it from frizzing out. Tip: After blow drying, pin your hair in a loose low bun for added volume and texture. Take out when you're walking out the door.

-The Bardot Bow- 

It's no secret that I love Bardot-everything so a small pony on the crown with just a tiny bit of volume topped with a bow seemed to be the perfect fit. Complete with a cat eye and bold lip.

-Deep Side Part & Twist Braids-

Give yourself a deep part and instead of braid tie little knots and pin into place. You can do a loose braid if you'd rather go that route. 

-Half Up & Braided Crown-

First, pull the hair from the underpart of hair and braid over to the other side (tutorial here) and pin. Pull back two large pieces from the front of your hairline and pin back, tease if necessary. 

How are you doing your hair for the holidays?

Spring 2016 Trend: Denim Culottes

I might be jumping the gun here and looking a little too far ahead towards Spring but with these crazy temperatures I couldn't resist giving these denim culottes a test drive before storying them away until Spring. Since we know the 70's aren't going any where for a while, I snagged these on super sale from Luisa Via Roma last month. Only to find that they're going to be kind of a big deal come Spring time, win and win. For "pre" winter they're getting an chunky knit pairing but I have a feeling they're going to be even more popular when they're paired with cropped tops and sandals in a 'few' months. Who else is looking forward to Spring styles? I know, it hasn't even snowed, or considered snowing here but still, I can't help but look ahead. 

Waven Denim Culottes Luisa Via Roma, Heels BCBG Paris via DSW, Sweater Marshalls, Bag Kooba