2018 – A Year to Be Thankful

They say time flies when you’re having fun. Well whoever “they” are, hit that on the head. 2018 has come to a close, and that’s alright by us! This year has been an amazing year of new opportunities and firsts for us, and we wanted to spend a little time reflecting.

Our very first outfit post!

We started The Real Tall officially in 2018. As we’ve referenced before, we have sat on this idea for a couple of YEARS, before bringing it to fruition. That was truly a proud moment. Even if nothing ever came of it, knowing that we put ourselves out there is a win! Our first Instagram post was on February 28th! We hit publish on our first blog post on April 2nd. Since then we’ve shared 84 posts with you!

Highlights

Some of the biggest highlights of our year were working with brands we’d only dreamed of collaborating with! Long Tall Sally was definitely an unexpected dream that we couldn’t believe. We still pinch ourselves about it! We are super excited to share more small business tall brands with you this year, and we won’t make you wait long!

On a different note: hearing from any of you on struggles you may have overcome, how we have helped you gain confidence, come out of your shell or any way, is one of the biggest highlights we could ever ask for. That is solely why we are here. We love that we have a community that feels comfortable sharing these things with us.

Improvements

On the flip side, we definitely had some struggles this year as well. Caitlin and I are both pretty busy, whether it be extra jobs or extracurricular activities. We are constantly coordinating our schedules to meet up and shoot content. This meant an evolution of what our vision was, for both our Instagram and blog together. If you’ll peek back into the archives, you’ll notice we did a lot more coordinated looks as well. We had a lot of fun with that and we loved it, but it wasn’t always conducive to what we were each buying. Plus it meant taking up more of someone else’s time to have them take our pictures.

With the schedule struggles came consistency issues. We hope to improve on this for 2019, so y’all know when you can expect content from us! As always, we’re looking for feedback on what you’re looking for from us, so we can help you out in the best way we know!

Goals

We’re constantly looking ahead to what value we can bring to the table. The top goal for 2019 is growth, and not in the numbers sense. We’re looking to improve ourselves within the scope of posting consistently and bringing quality content to the table. Dependability is a good alternate title, although not particularly sexy! We hope to launch a couple of smaller series that will be posted regularly.

Another we mentioned above, is sharing more tall retailers with you. We have been introduced to a couple of new brands that we can’t wait to share! Our eyes are definitely on some pieces from brands we already know, but haven’t prioritized yet. Always, the goal is to remain true to bringing you budget friendly tall items or tall friendly items, to make your shopping experience as positive as possible.

Thank yous!

We’d certainly be remiss if we didn’t take a moment to say thank you. We’re so grateful for you, our readers! Whoever you are, we hope you’re getting value out of what we share with you. Special thank yous to Sarah, and to Tim. Both of them have spent many of their own hours helping us with pictures, and we couldn’t have done it without you! Thanks as well to Sophia who has provided valuable insights and feedback to us. We appreciate the love and support from our parents, our Aunts, and the rest of our extended family and friends. And one last big thank you to our group of tall ladies we have become intertwined with. Your knowledge, support, suggestions, corrections, etc. have been invaluable to us as we started this journey. We love you all!

  • Tim
  • Behind the Scenes – #gramhusband
  • Nick
  • Sarah

We would love and so greatly appreciate if you would leave a comment, DM, or email on how you think we are doing, suggestions you have, ideas for content you may want to see in 2019 or anything else you may want to share. Thanks for being here with us!

  • We’ve enjoyed having our Mom join us on many occasions as well!
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Lux Domes

I hope you are all hanging in there, as we coast through the rest of the holiday season. I know the two of us are looking forward to a mostly low-key New Years Eve. We always prefer to try and stay off the roads and spend time with close friends for this holiday. Maybe because we are just tired because we both typically have to work that day. It could also be that we just aren’t into the crowded expensive NYE bar scene. However, we did get out a little bit last weekend for some fun and a very unique experience.

I think we have mentioned a few times now that our family is migrating away from copious amounts of gifts, and more towards quality time and experiences. I am personally so down for this. After the last few years of consuming, buying, overspending, and over receiving; it just started to feel excessive and the joy of the true meaning of Christmas was wearing off.

For the most part we have switched to going on a trip as a family. Which if you ask me, is a win win. We get some warm weather, family time, and some great memories. This year in addition to this we added in a fun smaller experience in Milwaukee with our entire family as well as Jenilee’s in-laws.

As Jenilee and I were perusing the web, we stumbled upon a link that seemed to keep popping up in our feeds. It was for Lux Domes at a restaurant downtown that we like. This is new to Milwaukee this year and we were pumped to see it! To begin with we don’t have that many rooftop bars or restaurants to enjoy throughout the summers in Milwaukee. To see a winter attraction on top of the limited options was so fun! They are private heated domes that seat eight people. They then allow for you to choose certain drink packages and appetizer packages.

The two of us kind of booked one on a whim. You have to put down a bit of a hefty deposit in order to reserve one. We were reassured to  read that you can cancel if needed, so we figured why not? We locked in our date and time and then inquired with our 6 guests. We found out shortly after we booked ours they had sold out extremely fast! They are now releasing a few more time slots after their initial great response. It made us even more pumped to have one locked down once we heard that.

I was especially excited for this night, for a couple of reasons.  It provided an opportunity to have my family over for some drinks, apps, and to see my Christmas decorations. Being the only one in a duplex rather than a house it doesn’t usually make sense for me to be the host for evenings. Luckily, my place is the closest to our destination, and everyone was happy to meet there.

After a few hours of hanging out we headed downtown. Typically i wouldn’t include minute details like this in a blog but I need to paint a picture. Rather than calling an Uber, eight of us (with me at 5’11 being the shortest) piled into one mid-size SUV. We were laughing so hard seeing people walk past doubletake as people just kept piling out and unfolding themselves. We’re not the ideal group to be cramming into cars-but we make do!

They have you arrive fifteen minutes early to assure they can stay on schedule and make sure people are getting their money’s worth and full experience. We waited in the bar area for a bit before and got to soak in a plethora of “I feel so short” comments as people walked by. It really never gets old! We headed up to our dome and settled in. They made them so cozy with lights strung, blankets and faux furs laid on the chairs and an extra basket of blankets for use as well. However, the little heaters they had inside worked wonders! I didn’t even wear my coat inside.

Our waitress (I use that term loosely) stopped by to explain the food and drinks that had already been set out and explain when she would be back again to see if we would want to add anything on and then again with a 15 minute warning as to when we would have to exit the dome. She also pointed out some of the games they had under the tables which we all thought was an awesome touch. We sipped and noshed and then grabbed for cards against humanity pretty quickly. Many laughs later our waitress told us we needed to start winding down. All in all this was an extremely fun experience and if you have the opportunity I highly recommend checking it out!

Also peep these outfit details below if you would like! I absolutely recommend layering the green turtle neck if you get itchy and it is the perfect fit to wear with jeans or leggings!

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One Mod Midi Dress

Isn’t this week supposed to go super fast because we got a day off (or some of us got two days off)? It’s not happening that way for me! I worked on Christmas Eve until two and then we headed to my in-laws for a night full of different Christmas festivities. After spending the night with Tim’s family, we headed back to spend Christmas day with my family.

We ate a ton, as we’ve come to expect of the holidays. Everyone did a little bit of puzzling, a pinch of napping, and some watching of inappropriate pseudo holiday movies. We’re looking at you Peppermint. Although Jennifer Garner did have some on point one-liners! Caitlin and our Dad checked out a new way of cooking the turkey, called Spatchcock. It turned out really nicely, and Tim made some delicious mac and cheese to accompany it.

We won’t bore you with our gifts, but a definite highlight for me was receiving this gorgeous black Patagonia duffel bag. I’ve been using my college basketball duffel, which served me well for many years. It’s been on its last legs, with several rips after stuffing it too full one too many times. Caitlin has had a Patagonia for a year or two now and has loved it! After my mom and dad got one as well, it became inevitable that I needed one as well!

Caitlin’s favorite gift is a gorgeous green pleated midi skirt. It’s been the year of green gifts for her because she also received a ribbed green dress that will be a super versatile player in her closet. Watch this space for those pieces to show up!

We gifted our Mom a new pair of Ugg boots, because hers have been worn out. She is so excited to have new pair! Caitlin also made sure to get her this protectant spray as well to keep them in new condition, especially with our harsher winters. Did y’all know that you can check out of Zappos via Amazon now? How seamless is that?! We were so excited not to have to make an additional login for another site. Also, both me and my mom wear size 13 and we can fit into the size 12 Uggs if anyone was curious about sizing.

As we get older and traditions keep shifting to keep up with new family members, I find myself more grateful to soak in what time I can with family. To truly be present with people, especially with the people you can be wholly yourself. Tim’s grandpa Doc shared his thoughts with us right before we left. He said how nice it was that everyone could share gifts with each other, but the best gift that was exchanged tonight was love. I couldn’t agree more! It is a gift we can choose to give each other or not, so easily. My prayer for you is that this Christmas you were able to get past some of the more trivial things and really focus on loving your family.

As for this dress, y’all know the goal is to be super selective about mainline finds. When we’re browsing Asos we get super frustrated about seeing dresses and pieces that we think are ALMOST perfect. Except they’ll add in some random detail that just ruins it for us. It’s usually some sort of slit or cutout, that makes it unwearable in our everyday lives.

I found this gem and realized that it was normal by Asos standards. Although it was in the mainline range, I still had to check it out! Someone on Instagram pointed out we both found 70’s inspired dresses recently, see Caitlin’s here. I couldn’t agree more, and I love it. Anything with a belt just dresses it up a little bit more.

You know we love us some army/khaki green. It’s definitely a neutral in our closets. The plan is to layer this dress as well for a different look. I paired it with some leopard loafers that are an easy chic addition to any outfit. The tights are now a constant companion for warmth in this Wisconsin winter. Y’all already know I’m rocking this teddy coat WHENEVER I get the opportunity. Oh and, no big deal but it’s on sale right now for you to snatch up at a low cost!

We hope y’all had great Christmas celebrations! We’d love to hear about your traditions old and new below!

Outfit Details

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An Atypical Sweater Dress

Eek, Christmas is almost here! I am still not quite ready for it, but have been living my best life in preparation and enjoyment of this season. Caitlin, Sarah (Caitlin’s roommate and BFF), Tim and I got to see a sneak peek of Mary Poppins Returns on Monday night. Y’all, it was so good! Emily Blunt is totally convincing as Mary Poppins. It captures the essence of the original without stepping on any toes of those die hard fans.

With that and having the day off yesterday, this week is really flying by. I got to spend the day making cookies and homemade Bailey’s with my mom. We also wrapped a few gifts and did some errands for a well rounded day. It will definitely help to enjoy Christmas festivities this weekend and not have a bunch of last minute things to tie up.

We are so excited for this weekend, because we’re visiting the Luxe Domes in downtown Milwaukee. It’s an rooftop “bubble” you reserve, and they serve you hot drinks and appetizers. We’re going with our parents and my in laws, and we’ve only heard positives about other’s experience! We’ll be doing a post on it, so watch this space for more.

It’s crazy how good the deals have been leading up to Christmas, all the retailers try to lure in the last minute shoppers. Once Christmas is past, we’ll be in full on preparation for our family vacation down to Mexico. So it feels funny, but we’ve already been browsing for swimming suits and taking advantage of the low prices! It also helps us practice mindful eating through the holidays.

Christmas and all the other holidays around this time of year bring out a lot of intense emotions in people. Reflections about the end of the year and where you’re at in life abound. Add in more family time and close quarters and it can make for some potentially bad situations. Be kind to your family and friends during this time of year.

The quote that always comes to mind is, “be kind, everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” This is especially true for everyone’s family, as we’re all typically living autonomous lives for most of the year. When Christmas rolls around and we’re in the same house for a long weekend, it’s easy to make assumptions or default react based on your familial past. Instead we could all stand to spend more time trying to understand one another. It could help avoid those tense moments of thinking your own family member is out to get you.

That’s enough of my feelings, but just had to share what was on my heart. Caitlin stopped into H&M last week on her way to a movie, just to peruse. It’s always nice to see stuff in person, and feel the fabric (especially for those of us that skim over the composition online). She was looking for a dress for an event but ended up finding this yummy dress instead.

It was definitely a scenario where I suddenly received three consecutive texts with a dressing room pic. Please help, urgently! This dress doesn’t need any help, aside from getting through the checkout and coming home to live with Caitlin!

With a lot of sweater dresses, they are cut to be more of a bodycon style. Like the sweater dress from Long Tall Sally I wore here. Obviously there isn’t anything wrong with those sweater dresses. But when you’re living in Wisconsin in the winter, and your workplace is an icebox, you’re in need of something more like this silhouette.

It’s totally classy, and roomy without looking like a tent. It has a mock neck, which is mainly the highest neck Caitlin likes to endure. The sleeves are also a perfect length for her at 5’11, and she has pretty long arms. She paired it with her new favorite booties from Long Tall Sally. She last wore them here.

We hope y’all have a completely wonderful Christmas weekend. We won’t be posting Monday or Tuesday, as most of you will probably be home and busy with family, as will we!

Merry Christmas to all of our readers, we appreciate you following along with our musings.

As usual, that beautiful Real Reel.

Outfit Details

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One Festive Sweater

Sing that title to the tune of the Twelve Days of Christmas… and now it’s stuck in your head! My apologies for starting your week off like that, but at least it’s Christmas time. Therefore it’s fitting, don’t you agree? We’re closing in fast on Christmas. Hopefully everyone has either made good progress on their shopping to-dos or is already finished!

I can’t say I’ve been able to finish up finding gifts yet. That’s the perk of having one last weekend to complete all the odds and ends with Christmas Eve falling on a Monday. My husband and I just went away this last weekend for our fourth wedding anniversary. It’s actually really nice that our anniversary is close to Christmas. The busiest time of the year usually rushes by, but we get to stop and celebrate. We get to take time and slow down for a moment or a weekend. It helps push pause on rushing around frantically in the name of the holidays.

Tim and I went up north to my parent’s lake home, and just enjoyed the peace and quiet. We also got to spend some time with my Grandma, who lives up there on the same lake. Wisconsin is known for their supper clubs, so we took her to a nice dinner one night. Dinner was lovely and slow paced. I’m truly grateful to be able take a step back and enjoy the season.

Once we got back in town, Caitlin and I spent yesterday afternoon making some homemade Baileys. Our mom has always gifted them out to friends and family. We loved it so much, we adopted doing it as well! It was a cozy afternoon with some festive holiday tunes playing in the background as we measured and poured.

We’d love to know if y’all have any special treats you make for the Christmas season for yourself, or that you like to gift. One of my favorites to receive is our Aunt Susan’s special toffee/caramel with mixed nuts. I’m probably butchering what it’s actually called, but I can never get enough of it! I was just asking Caitlin if she’s planning to make any cookies, and she wasn’t sure yet. Traditionally we haven’t made them ourselves since we moved away from home.

Our family used to make spritz cookies with the different shaped molds, as a night together. We’ve definitely all pared back, as we’re trying not to overindulge too much this season. There are always too many reasons to overindulge at work and parties, without baking more in your own house!

Speaking of overindulgence, after a weekend of eating more than I should, I made a big batch of a Thai Peanut Salad I found on Pinterest. It has quinoa, kale, bell peppers, carrots, and red cabbage in it, and we added some chicken for extra protein. Nothing like coming into the week feeling prepared!

As for this outfit, it’s an easy go-to especially around the holidays. It’s a fun festive color to wear throughout all of winter. Plus it is over-sized, if you accidentally indulge in too many treats during the season. I love that the neckline is wider for that slouchy look. Plus it plays off the over-sized look better as well.

I’ve had this pair of Old Navy denim for awhile now. I think a lighter wash is a necessary part of a rounded wardrobe. The light distressing is clutch as well. I last wore this pair in this post, for another look with different colors to wear with lighter washes. Old Navy has some great cheaper denim and most of the time they are long enough. You’ll be pretty safe choosing Skinny jeans.

I linked similar sweater options and jean options below. Also, the booties attached to the widget do come in size 13! As always, thank you for clicking the links for our widgets. They help us make a small amount back and encourage us that we’re on the right track. So let us know below, what are some of your food traditions for Christmas preparations?

Outfit Details

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