Walk and Talk

Weekly Walk and Talk | 11.25.2022

Welcome to our weekly “walk and talk,” where we bring our weekly walks to you. Our walks are a time to catch up on family life, share online shopping hits and misses, exchange recipes, discuss our newest Netflix binge — all the stuff that friends share with each other. And now we’re sharing with you!

Don’t miss any of the good stuff! Click here for previous editions of our “Walk and Talk.”

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WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

CHRISTA : It’s the season to settle in with a warm fire, the glow of Christmas lights and your favorite holiday movies! There are so many great options, old and new. Here is the Rotten Tomatoes Top 100 Holiday Movies list — you have my permission to watch one every night — kinda like a movie-themed advent calendar! The RT #1 pick is new to me, a movie with Jimmy Stewart that became the inspiration for the Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks classic You’ve Got Mail.

MEGAN : Low Country – The Murdaugh Dynasty, HBO Max. This is a crazy three part true crime docu-series about a family in South Carolina that ruled the local legal system for over 100 years. There are multiple murders, deception, hate crimes, “accidents” and unexplained deaths. Basically this family is like a southern crime mob. You can’t make this stuff up and I could not look away. A little bit long winded but I had to follow it to the end.

A HEAD START ON THE HOLIDAYS

We’ve reached the end of our Holiday Head Start checklists. We hope you’ve found them useful and we especially hope they saved you lots of time getting ready for the holiday season! It’s not too late to get ahead of the game. Here’s a recap if you’re looking for some links:

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIPS

BLACK FRIDAY AND CYBER MONDAY

Skip the 4am “Black Friday opening,” skip the crowds and the long check-out lines! Put on your comfy loungewear and shop our holiday gift guides!

Check out this article by Consumer Reports for more Black Friday shopping tips.

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

Small Business Saturday is a day to support all the (you guessed it!) small businesses. We will be shopping at the local boutiques in our town, our hairdressers(buy a gift card!), independent florists for holiday decorations and gifts, and our favorite small businesses that have an online shops. Bonus if it’s Woman Owned!

Here are a few small business we’ll be supporting:

  • Etsy of course is top of our list. There are so many unique gift ideas. Check our our Etsy Mother’s Day gift guide for our recommendations.
  • Sparkle All Over is a great source for cookies — delivered fresh, always delicious, and easy to work with for any questions or customizations for your order.
  • Visit Amazon to find small and medium-sized businesses available on their platform.

And thank you for supporting our small business, too! With every purchase you make from one of our links, you’re helping us earn money to support Style Among Friends, at no cost to you.

GIVING TUESDAY

Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 in the United States. It was started to counter act all of the spending on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Basically, Giving Tuesday reminds us that although giving gifts is fun, it’s important to support the non profits in our communities as well. You don’t have to give money; giving your time, manpower, use of your truck or lending your skills (hello graphic designers, accountants and social media specialists!) can also be a powerful “gift” to many companies.

We typically give to organizations within our community, but honestly if you have a fav that speaks to you and it’s global – pick them! It feels good to give back.

This year we are giving to Food for Neighbors. Our stylish friend, Karen started Food for Neighbors six years ago. Their Red Bag Program supports local teens in our community that are food insecure. Karen was a guest on our blog a few months ago, you can read her interview here. If you would like to support Food For Neighbors and you are not local to northern Virginia you can donate to their “virtual” Red Bag program.

CASUAL PARTY LOOKS

Whether it’s an ornament exchange, book club holiday party, girls’ night out, a cookie swap or a Favorite Things party, we’ve got the casual and festive looks for every party this season!

MEGAN : I saw this sequined duster in a shop window when Christa and I were out for a walk last year. My brain was instantly buzzing with ideas for how to wear it and then I dropped the ball and they sold out. Fast forward to this year and Christa found it for me online. (Everyone needs a Christa, she’s the best at finding those reclusive treasures that you can’t seem to find yourself.) Anywho, I’ve ordered the duster and I’m currently in my closet thinking of all the ways it’s going to make my life complete. It will be perfect with my coated denim, my ripped jeans, my “vegan” leather leggings… basically if you see me from now until Valentine’s Day, I’ll be wearing my new duster.

SHOP THE LOOK

CHRISTA : I saw these Kendra Scott earrings in their new Barbie collection, and knew I needed to put together an outfit for them! I added two pink options for the top – a comfy cashmere cardigan (size down) or a very affordable designer-look blouse. I’m pairing it with the gold shoes from my cocktail party look (after all, there aren’t too many occasions that call for gold shoes) — but I did throw in an option for some flats with a little sparkle. I’m showing this with my black pants again, but this outfit would work great with a pair of dark jeans (like our fav Itty Bitty Bootcut jeans). Finally, I added in my favorite Scout tote in a festive gold leopard pattern, perfect to carry your cookies to the exchange or hold your favorite things gifts!

SHOP THE LOOK

3 UNDER $30

CHRISTA : It’s a “3 under $30” of holiday platters. Perfect hostess gifts or friend gifts — or grab one for yourself for your Christmas Day entertaining. And, if you need a little assistance with what to put on your new serving piece, here’s a how-to for your holiday charcuterie platter.

Mud Pie reindeer chip and dip set (on sale!) // Crate & Barrel platter set of 2 (fits the two tier server) // Sur La Table holiday serving platter

WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO

MEGAN : We made another Style Among Friends Spotify playlist, this one is “Cozy”. Christmas music coming next!

READER REQUEST

Something we can help you find? Let us know and we’ll get right on it for you!

WHAT WE’RE READING

CHRISTA : The Katie Couric Wake-up Call daily email is full of great information. A perfect read before you get our of bed or with your first up of coffee. Not only does she give you a recap of the latest national and world news, but she shares favorite recipes, shopping trends and what’s new in entertainment. It’s a great way to start the day and feel like you’re caught up on what’s happening. You can subscribe here using my referral link.

MEGAN : This week I read one and listened to one. The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber was OK, I give it a 3. It’s about a pastor and a bartender that switch places the week before Christmas. Can be read in a day. But, Stranger In the Woods was awesome. Isla, an Australian photographer goes to Scotland for a month at Christmas to live with an architect and his family (to photograph his house). She starts to realize she has been there before and they all know her – but she has no memory of it. A rec from my friend Lynne (FREE on Audible and Kindle!). Such a good story I popped in my headphones and went for a few extra walks so I could finish it.

FRIENDS SHARE THE GOOD STUFF

Have something you love or can’t live without? Did you find a great deal? Well, do tell! Share with us and we’ll pass it along…because friends share the good stuff!

MEGAN’S KITCHEN UPDATE

One step forward two steps back. My countertops were installed this week! Bad news, they dropped a piece and it broke in my front yard. I might have cried.

SOMETHING JUST FOR FUN

CHRISTA : We all know them (or we are them) — the diet Coke connoisseurs who hit the drive thru (Chick-fil-a, of course!) daily. I’m looking at my stylish friends Megan, Dannielle and Terry right now! All fun finds from Etsy.

1 – t-shirt (the ONLY way to drink it!) // 2 – mug // 3 – t-shirt

4 – note pad and “i ❤️ diet coke” pencils (great stocking stuffer!) // 5 – socks // 6 – door sign

7 – door mat (pairs well with the door sign!) // 8 – tumbler // 9 – gift wrap for the perfect present

AND, HERE’S WHERE WE WALKED

This week’s walk felt very autumnal. Full of talk about what we’re wearing for Thanksgiving and future parties. I might have complained a little about my broken countertop. All in all we are feeling very thankful for this community that we have built over the last year. Thank you for following along. May your holiday weekend be blessed with laughter, leftovers and lots of internet shopping!

link: Santa Hats

Walking is always so much better when you go with a friend! We hope you’ll share our blog with your walking bestie. And let us know in the comments what you’re watching, wearing, eating, planning or shopping for.

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If you’d like to follow along with us for more style, decor, recipes and walks, you can find us @styleamongfriends on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. And you can shop our Instagram here.

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