Our Year In Photos: The Ups, Downs, & Lessons of 2015

This year has really been a doozy! It was certainly a full year. Looking back, I can't believe that all of this took place in just one year. It wasn't all good and in fact, some of this year was really exhausting and stressful, but it just goes to show the many opportunities a single year can hold. You just never know what's around the corner, so never ever give up!

As a twenty something, life is always changing and some of it happens so quickly. One day things look uncertain, while the next everything begins to fall into place. That's just life! We live and we learn. So, here's a little glimpse into my 2015; the ups, downs, and lessons.

Holiday Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers

Holiday shopping is hard! Should you get something your loved one needs or something they want? Is it best to buy them something they won't buy themselves? There's really no right answer to these questions but you really want them to love your gift! Today is the final post of our Holiday Gift Guide series. Stick with us and we'll give you some great ideas that you can't go wrong with!

So, what's next? With Christmas Eve being tomorrow, we don't have much time left! Hopefully you've done all of your shopping already. Here are last minute stocking stuffers!

3 Questions To Help You Choose The Perfect Holiday Look

It's almost Christmas! Last week, we talked about how to be chic and comfortable for the holiday (see previous post: How To Wear Loungewear on Christmas Without the Frump). But what should we wear for a party that's a little more fancy? Or what about those of us that would just love an excuse to doll up? We have a look for you, too!

It's tough to pick out the perfect look and it's even harder when you're faced with pressure, like a holiday that only comes once a year. Here's a few questions to use as a guideline for choosing a fabulous outfit for any holiday gathering!

Holiday Gift Guide: For The Hostess

Holiday shopping is hard! Should you get something your loved one needs or something they want? Is it best to buy them something they won't buy themselves? There's really no right answer to these questions but you really want them to love your gift! Today is the third post of our Holiday Gift Guide series. Stick with us leading up to Christmas and we'll give you some great ideas that you can't go wrong with!

It's not completely necessary, but it's certainly polite to bring a hostess gift with you when you attend an event at someone's home. These gifts are tough to personalize because you just want to bring a little something. If you get something too big or too expensive, your polite gesture will quickly turn to obnoxious. Here's a few ideas that will deem you a superstar guest!

How To Wear Loungewear on Christmas without the Frump

Christmas will be here before we know it! Have you thought about what you're going to wear yet? Not every family gathering is a formal, fashionable affair right off of Pinterest. Sometimes all you need is a cute outfit to cozy up next to the fireplace! Comfort is key and that's especially true if you're hosting, helping your host, or chasing after small children. With loungewear being so popular now, it makes it that much more acceptable to wear for a holiday gathering.

So, here's How To Wear Loungewear on Christmas without the Frump!

12 Days of Giveaways: Day 12 Featuring $300 Cash and More

I do deClaire   ||   Fashionably Employed   ||   Raspberry Glow  ||    Doused in Pink

Pumps and Push-Ups  ||   LegalLee Blonde   ||    Curly Crafty Mom   ||   Parlor Girl

Spoonful of Faith    ||    The Closet by Christie    ||    Free Citizen    ||    Avec Amber

Introducing... 12 Days of Giveaways! The holidays are upon us. It's the season of giving and we- myself and 11 other bloggers- are feeling extra generous. As a token of our appreciation to you- the reader- we are bringing you 12 different giveaways for 12 days straight!

Yes, you heard me right! It's the 3rd Annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways. Each day we will feature a stunning blogger, a fabulous brand, and an amazing giveaway. That gives you 12 chances to win! Be sure to follow along with us until the very last day (12/12) because we're finishing it off with a $300 cash giveaway! Someone's got to win. Why not you?

Scroll down to enter today's giveaway and head on over to our featured blogger's website, Ashley of Raspberry Glow, to say hello!

Good luck!

12 Days of Giveaways: Day 10 Featuring Project Gravitas

I do deClaire   ||   Fashionably Employed   ||   Raspberry Glow  ||    Doused in Pink

Pumps and Push-Ups  ||   LegalLee Blonde   ||    Curly Crafty Mom   ||   Parlor Girl

Spoonful of Faith    ||    The Closet by Christie    ||    Free Citizen    ||    Avec Amber

Introducing... 12 Days of Giveaways! The holidays are upon us. It's the season of giving and we- myself and 11 other bloggers- are feeling extra generous. As a token of our appreciation to you- the reader- we are bringing you 12 different giveaways for 12 days straight!

Yes, you heard me right! It's the 3rd Annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways. Each day we will feature a stunning blogger, a fabulous brand, and an amazing giveaway. That gives you 12 chances to win! Be sure to follow along with us until the very last day (12/12) because we're finishing it off with a $300 cash giveaway! Someone's got to win. Why not you?

Scroll down to enter today's giveaway. Good luck!

Holiday Gift Guide: For The Workaholic + Giveaway

Holiday shopping is hard! Should you get something your loved one needs or something they want? Is it best to buy them something they won't buy themselves? There's really no right answer to these questions but you really want them to love your gift! Today is the second post our Holiday Gift Guide series. Stick with us for the next few weeks leading up to Christmas and we'll give you some great ideas that you can't go wrong with!

So, who's next? It's the workaholic! What do you get for the person that works around the clock? Here are some classy and functional office decor gift ideas!

12 Days of Giveaways: Day 8 Featuring Tulip Boutique

I do deClaire   ||   Fashionably Employed   ||   Raspberry Glow  ||    Doused in Pink

Pumps and Push-Ups  ||   LegalLee Blonde   ||    Curly Crafty Mom   ||   Parlor Girl

Spoonful of Faith    ||    The Closet by Christie    ||    Free Citizen    ||    Avec Amber

Introducing... 12 Days of Giveaways! The holidays are upon us. It's the season of giving and we- myself and 11 other bloggers- are feeling extra generous. As a token of our appreciation to you- the reader- we are bringing you 12 different giveaways for 12 days straight!

Yes, you heard me right! It's the 3rd Annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways. Each day we will feature a stunning blogger, a fabulous brand, and an amazing giveaway. That gives you 12 chances to win! Be sure to follow along with us until the very last day (12/12) because we're finishing it off with a $300 cash giveaway! Someone's got to win. Why not you?

Scroll down to enter today's giveaway and head on over to our featured blogger's website, Lee of LegalLee Blonde to say hello!

Good luck!

12 Days of Giveaways: Day 7 Featuring Deloom Giveaway

I do deClaire   ||   Fashionably Employed   ||   Raspberry Glow  ||    Doused in Pink

Pumps and Push-Ups  ||   LegalLee Blonde   ||    Curly Crafty Mom   ||   Parlor Girl

Spoonful of Faith    ||    The Closet by Christie    ||    Free Citizen    ||    Avec Amber

Introducing... 12 Days of Giveaways! The holidays are upon us. It's the season of giving and we- myself and 11 other bloggers- are feeling extra generous. As a token of our appreciation to you- the reader- we are bringing you 12 different giveaways for 12 days straight!

Yes, you heard me right! It's the 3rd Annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways. Each day we will feature a stunning blogger, a fabulous brand, and an amazing giveaway. That gives you 12 chances to win! Be sure to follow along with us until the very last day (12/12) because we're finishing it off with a $300 cash giveaway! Someone's got to win. Why not you?

Scroll down to enter today's giveaway and head on over to our featured blogger's website, Carrie of Curly Crafty Mom, to say hello!

Good luck!

12 Days of Giveaways: Day 6 Featuring La Fille Colette

I do deClaire   ||   Fashionably Employed   ||   Raspberry Glow  ||    Doused in Pink

Pumps and Push-Ups  ||   LegalLee Blonde   ||    Curly Crafty Mom   ||   Parlor Girl

Spoonful of Faith    ||    The Closet by Christie    ||    Free Citizen    ||    Avec Amber

Introducing... 12 Days of Giveaways! The holidays are upon us. It's the season of giving and we- myself and 11 other bloggers- are feeling extra generous. As a token of our appreciation to you- the reader- we are bringing you 12 different giveaways for 12 days straight!

Yes, you heard me right! It's the 3rd Annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways. Each day we will feature a stunning blogger, a fabulous brand, and an amazing giveaway. That gives you 12 chances to win! Be sure to follow along with us until the very last day (12/12) because we're finishing it off with a $300 cash giveaway! Someone's got to win. Why not you?

Scroll down to enter today's giveaway and head on over to our featured blogger's website, Barbie of Parlor Girl to say hello!

Good luck!

12 Days of Giveaways: Day 5 Featuring AIBI Watches

I do deClaire   ||   Fashionably Employed   ||   Raspberry Glow  ||    Doused in Pink

Pumps and Push-Ups  ||   LegalLee Blonde   ||    Curly Crafty Mom   ||   Parlor Girl

Spoonful of Faith    ||    The Closet by Christie    ||    Free Citizen    ||    Avec Amber

Introducing... 12 Days of Giveaways! The holidays are upon us. It's the season of giving and we- myself and 11 other bloggers- are feeling extra generous. As a token of our appreciation to you- the reader- we are bringing you 12 different giveaways for 12 days straight!

Yes, you heard me right! It's the 3rd Annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways. Each day we will feature a stunning blogger, a fabulous brand, and an amazing giveaway. That gives you 12 chances to win! Be sure to follow along with us until the very last day (12/12) because we're finishing it off with a $300 cash giveaway! Someone's got to win. Why not you?

Scroll down to enter today's giveaway and head on over to our featured blogger's website, Aisha of Free Citizen, to say hello!

Good luck!

12 Days of Giveaways: Day 3 Featuring Pumps & Pushups

I do deClaire   ||   Fashionably Employed   ||   Raspberry Glow  ||    Doused in Pink

Pumps and Push-Ups  ||   LegalLee Blonde   ||    Curly Crafty Mom   ||   Parlor Girl

Spoonful of Faith    ||    The Closet by Christie    ||    Free Citizen    ||    Avec Amber

Introducing... 12 Days of Giveaways! The holidays are upon us. It's the season of giving and we- myself and 11 other bloggers- are feeling extra generous. As a token of our appreciation to you- the reader- we are bringing you 12 different giveaways for 12 days straight!

Yes, you heard me right! It's the 3rd Annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways. Each day we will feature a stunning blogger, a fabulous brand, and an amazing giveaway. That gives you 12 chances to win! Be sure to follow along with us until the very last day (12/12) because we're finishing it off with a $300 cash giveaway! Someone's got to win. Why not you?

Scroll down to enter today's giveaway and head on over to our featured blogger's website, Brooke & Erica of Pumps and Push-Ups, to say hello!

Good luck!

Holiday Gift Guide: For Her + Oakleigh Rose Giveaway

Holiday shopping is hard! Should you get something your loved one needs or something they want? Is it best to buy them something they won't buy themselves? There's really no right answer to these questions but you really want them to love your gift! Today we're kicking off our Holiday Gift Guide series. Stick with us for the next few weeks leading up to Christmas and we'll give you some great ideas that you can't go wrong with!

Let's start with the most difficult one; for her. Whether you're shopping for your wife, girlfriend, sister, or mother- shopping for her has never been more difficult. Could she have been dropping hints all year that you missed? Did she say 'oh, I don't need a thing' when you asked what she wanted? Women are tricky because, in general, we aren't that straight forward. We might know what we want but more than anything, we want it to be your idea. After all, that's what a gift is!

There are two common routes that you could take when choosing a gift for your female loved ones; luxe and pamper or lounge and cozy. We've got all of the answers for both categories today! Read on for some spectacular ideas.

12 Days of Giveaways: Day 1 Featuring Denim Lily Boutique

I do deClaire   ||   Fashionably Employed   ||   Raspberry Glow   ||    Doused in Pink

Pumps and Push-Ups  ||   LegalLee Blonde   ||    Curly Crafty Mom   ||   Parlor Girl

Spoonful of Faith    ||    The Closet by Christie    ||    Free Citizen    ||    Avec Amber

Introducing... 12 Days of Giveaways! The holidays are upon us. It's the season of giving and we- myself and 11 other bloggers- are feeling extra generous. As a token of our appreciation to you- the reader- we are bringing you 12 different giveaways for 12 days straight!

Yes, you heard me right! It's the 3rd Annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways. Each day we will feature a stunning blogger, a fabulous brand, and an amazing giveaway. That gives you 12 chances to win! Be sure to follow along with us until the very last day (12/12) because we're finishing it off with a $300 cash giveaway! Someone's got to win. Why not you?

Scroll down to enter today's giveaway and head on over to our featured blogger's website, Amber of Avec Amber, to say hello!

Good luck!

The Best of Fall 2015 + What's In The #RANBonusBox?

I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving and weekend! As we're about to begin the month of December, we're strolling on into the next season; winter. I am so not into the cold weather (is anyone really?) but it does give us the opportunity to switch up our style to mirror the weather. But before that happens, let's revisit all of our fall looks!

Here's The Best of Fall 2015!

Happy Thanksgiving: We're Grateful For You

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope all of you are out celebrating the holiday with your loved ones. I just wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for you! Thank you so much for your support and for taking the time to read and view our posts. I thoroughly enjoy every aspect of this blog and wearing all of the hats that I do to deliver quality! If it weren't for all of you, The Closet by Christie would never have evolved into the website we are today and it certainly wouldn't be as much fun for me.

Our 3rd year was surely a whirlwind and we made a lot of positive changes and improvements to the website. Who knows what our 4th year will be like; we turn 4 in mid-January! Thank you for joining us on this crazy journey.

To express our gratitude to you, get ready for a lot of posts from us! We're about to start a holiday countdown in a BIG way. That's all I can reveal for now but believe me, you're all going to love it!

Transitioning Thanksgiving Style From Casual To Chic, Pt. 2

We're just one day away from Thanksgiving! Boy, did this holiday sneak up on us. This is such a tough holiday to dress for because everyone celebrates it so differently. What if you have two different parties to stop by and the attire is the complete opposite? That's the question we're addressing this week with our two-part series!

Earlier this week, we started out with the building blocks. We walked you through the steps of how to create a casual look that can easily be transitioned (see previous post: Transitioning Thanksgiving Style From Casual To Chic, Pt.1). So, what's next? The transition to chic, of course! Read on to see how we transitioned our casual look without the fuss.

Here's how to transition from casual to chic in just one step!

Transitioning Thanksgiving Style From Casual To Chic, Pt. 1

Have you ever seen the movie 'Four Christmases,' starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn? It's a comedy that hit theaters in 2008 and it's about a couple that struggles to make it to four different holiday gatherings in one day. Four holidays are ambitious but with the modern blended family, this is a plot that's all too familiar for many. To avoid making a difficult choice, some couples might opt to have Thanksgiving dinner with one family and dessert with the other family. Young adults might be spending the early part of the day at their mom's house and head on over to their dad's for the evening. You might even be rushing off to a Friendsgiving gathering to end your day!

Just like no two families are alike nowadays, no two holidays are alike either! Some families lounge in front of the TV watching football, while other families have a more formal celebration. Now just a few days away from the big Thanksgiving holiday, we're faced with what to wear. Because all of these celebrations are so different, wearing the same outfit may not be appropriate. 

So, how do we cope? Should we bring several outfits and change in the car? Of course not! This week we're bringing you a thorough two-part guide on transitioning your Thanksgiving style from casual to chic. Read on today to find out the first step, which is creating a casual look that can be transitioned easily. Check back here on Wednesday to find out how we transitioned this look from casual to chic in just 1 step!

4 Step Event Style Guide

"Every day is a fashion show." I absolutely love this phrase! And it's 100% true. When you choose something to wear, you're communicating something to the world- whether you mean to or not. So while it might seem vain to focus on the fashion, it's a really important part of an event. And based on your wardrobe choice, you're not just communicating who you are but you're also setting the mood for how you'll feel. If you love what you're wearing, you'll be confident and more likely to step outside of your comfort zone! Who knew fashion could be so powerful?

Last week, I told you guys all about my upcoming sorority 'reunion.' It was the sorority's 30th Anniversary, so some of our alumni put together a big bash. It was such a big deal because over 200 people attended, including our Founder, and we had never had such a large event before. It was so cool because I got to reconnect with friends that I lost touch with and meet people I hadn't met before! So, how did I get ready for this big event?

Here's my 4 Step Event Style Guide!

4 Guidelines For Wearing A Leather Skirt To The Office

Do you have clothes collecting dust in your closet because you can't seem to figure out how to wear them to the office? Okay, that might be a little dramatic but it really can be tough to transition some trends from your everyday style to office attire. Back in the day, people typically had two entirely different wardrobes because office wear was so different from what we wear on an ordinary day. Lucky for us, things are a little less cut and dry today!

This leather skater skirt is one of my absolute favorite pieces in my closet, but it's not traditional office wear. So, how can we make this trend work for the office? Here's how!

3 Must-Know Ways To Make Trends Your Own

When you think of military jackets and combat boots, is this the look you envision? Probably not! I know that when I think of the two, I immediately imagine a cargo or camouflage jacket and black lace-up boots. That makes sense, right? That's the thing about fashion! Much like life, nothing ever is as it seems.

Designers often take existing trends and add their own twist to it, making fashion ever changing and sometimes unpredictable. That leaves us with so many different ways to embrace a trend and stay true to- or recreate- our own style. So, how did I embrace these two unlikely trends while staying true to my style? Here's 3 Must-Know Ways To Make Trends Your Own!

How To Layer Matching Prints

Have you ever loved a pattern so much that you wanted to wear layers upon layers of it? It's like when you were a kid and wanted to wear all pink every day- or at least that was my life. Now, that's a girl that knows what she wants! One of the best things about fall- aside from the beautiful foliage, of course- is the fashion and the classic prints. Plaid, houndstooth, herringbone; they never get old!

So now that I'm older and wiser, I've tossed aside the monochrome pink looks and instead doubled the houndstooth. It's called matching prints! How can this be done? The 'rules' are similar to the mixing prints trend that was big a few years ago. Read on to learn all about it!

3 Pretty Little Liars Inspired Flapper Costumes

Where do you look for Halloween costume inspiration? As a twenty-something, the typical pattern is to either grab something from the costume store, put together a super creative and elaborate costume, or imitate something from pop culture, like a favorite TV show character. But what if it was as easy as choosing a classic costume and upping the ante? What happened to being a pumpkin, a witch, or even a skeleton?

In recent years, I've really enjoyed choosing a 'classic Halloween' costume idea and using fashion to take it to the next level. Last year I was a vampire and the previous year I was a witch, but one of my absolute favorite costumes (ever!) is the flapper costume. It definitely has the best style-potential out of the 'Halloween classics.' There's just something about 1920's fashion that's so chic! I love the sequins, fringe, pearls, and everything else that goes along with it.

There are so many ways you can portray a flapper for Halloween, but the absolute best flapper costume I have ever seen was on Pretty Little Liars, worn by Aria Montgomery!

How To Wear A Turtleneck Sweater: The New Classic

A turtleneck sweater can be such a chic and versatile piece for the fall and winter seasons. But remember in the 90's when your grandmother wore one? We're definitely not going for that look, so how do we differentiate it? Well, it's all in the way you style it! This silhouette is definitely moving in as a new classic and whether you're going to the office or out on the town, the turtleneck sweater is a sure way to look fabulous.

Read on for some tips on how to wear a turtleneck and look city chic every time!

$200 Target Gift Card Giveaway

Hi, everyone! We’re here posting on a Tuesday to bring you this fabulous giveaway! We’ll keep it simple. We are SO unbelievably grateful for all of you; our daily readers, our occasional readers, and yes, even you first time readers! I cannot picture my life without this blog and it wouldn’t be any fun without all of you. Thanks for being apart of this journey!

As part of our appreciation, we’ve brought you this $200 Target giveaway! Someone has to win, why not you? Enter below and good luck!

What would you get from Target if you win? $200 can go a long way!

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GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Prize: $200 Target Gift Card
Giveaway organized by: Oh My Gosh Beck!
Rules: Use the Rafflecopter form to enter daily. Giveaway ends 11/10 and is open worldwide. Winner will be notified via email.

Are you a blogger who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your blog? Click here to find out how you can join a totally awesome group of bloggers! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway