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Brewhouse Inn & Suites

There is something about the start of a new year that brings on the wanderlust in full force. New Year, new me, new location? Escaping to a new destination, where no one knows you and everything is brand new is always alluring. Maybe you had a bad 2018, or perhaps it couldn’t have gone better if you planned it. Whatever the reason may be, anyone who has had a chance to travel, knows that once you get a taste for it, there is no going back!

Sometimes by the strange forces of kismet, those unknown places happen to be in your own city. That is exactly what happened and led to us visiting Brewhouse Inn & Suites. We ended up connecting with Brewhouse and stopped in to take a mini tour of their property. Surprisingly, we hadn’t heard of it before, despite it being less than a half mile from the new FISERV Forum (where the Milwaukee Bucks play).

From there, we were offered an opportunity to stay and enjoy the Brewhouse Inn & Suites as guests. We couldn’t (and had no intention to) pass this amazing opportunity up! As we’ve mentioned before, we have a great deal of hometown pride for our “smaller” big city. With each passing year, it feels like Milwaukee gets better. It procures more incredible offerings to draw both travelers and residents into spending more time there.

Brewhouse is one of the “newest” hotels in Milwaukee. It’s the truth, but the property is a converted brewery and dates all the way back to the late 1800’s. The name Best may not mean anything to most people, but you may have heard of a little name called Pabst. Pabst’s history starts in Milwaukee, and it was here that Jacob Best opened a brewery and used the copper kettles that you’ll now find sitting dormant as the focal point of the hotel. They certainly make for a stunning and large display to look down upon from each guest floor.

They boast 90 suites on the property, and while they are varying sizes, they all come equipped with a full kitchen. It helps traveling feel a little less jarring to have the option to sit at a table, or grab food out of the fridge and put it on an actual plate. When we checked into our suite, the first thing we did was unload our snacks and drinks into the fridge and cupboards. Y’all know we don’t travel without bringing some snacks with us. Hangry us is not the best version of us!

The other touch we noticed as soon as we walked into the suite, was the beer bottle french doors. They separate the bed and bathroom from the sitting area and kitchen, and they provide a touch of whimsy. I know I’m not alone with being appreciative of some room separation! Especially when you’re staying in a smaller than normal space with friends/family. The ability to close the doors and have a semblance of privacy is wonderful!

We adored the use of the cream city brick exterior as an interior design touch. The bedroom also had beautiful full length windows which gave us a view of their courtyard. The hotel is part of the new “Brewery” neighborhood, which is up and coming. The FISERV Forum is just a short walk away. Beyond basketball, it also plays host to many big name concerts each year. The hotel is attached to Jackson’s Blue Ribbon Pub, which provides the menu for any of your room service needs. They also provide a shuttle ride service down to the Forum if it’s a little too chilly to walk.  

Just around the corner is a hidden gem, the Best Place. They do brewery tours, which ties in well with the Pabst/Best history. If you’re looking for more Milwaukee beer, there is the gorgeous new Milwaukee Brewing Company location. It also boasts the Glass and Griddle restaurant attached. There is plenty to keep you busy in the immediate vicinity! We took full advantage and stopped at Milwaukee Brewing Company to round out our Saturday night.

You’ll definitely want to take the time to stroll past the copper kettles. Maybe find a cozy seating area to relax and bask in the ambiance and history. If you amble to the back wall, your eyes will be drawn up to the stained glass window. It depicts King Gambrinus, the patron saint of beer. All the details paint a cohesive, chic look for Brewhouse Inn & Suites. It pays homage to the heart of Milwaukee, being a city born and raised to brew good beer.

To anyone looking for a great hotel to stay in Milwaukee, check out Brewhouse Inn & Suites first! They have reasonable rates, they’re close enough to anything you’d like to visit, and they have beautiful rooms! What more could you want in a hotel?

Let us know below, have you ever considered visiting Milwaukee? (doesn’t count if you are already a resident!)

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Yellow Floofer

You might be thinking- Yellow Floofer? Huh? Well, for some reason unbeknownst to us, that is what we have been calling this sweater for the past few months. At this point it has fully stuck. So here we are introducing all of you to the yellow floofer. And to be honest I couldn’t think of a better name if I tried.

A fun fact about our family is we are well known for our weird sayings and nicknames. Namely our dad. He is the untitled Nickname King who has given nearly anyone of value in his life at least one nickname. So, to no one’s surprise Jenilee, Nick and I have all adapted and adopted this trait throughout our entire lives. We continue to have weird nicknames, words, or just kitschy phrases that our friends tend to pick up on. So saying things like yellow floofer -it’s just kind of who we are and without question we all just run with it. Does your family do weird things like this or is it just us?

I also have to add in the journey of getting this sweater was tough. Not like real life tough obviously. More like first world problems. I had this particular sweater in my saved items for many weeks and then it sold out. And then it came back thankfully and happened to go on sale! Obviously at this point I ordered it and as with most Asos packages opened it with excitement… only to find a puma sweatshirt instead. AGGGGGH.

I know this is a first world problem and I should just get over myself but it happens more than we would like with Asos and it’s disappointing. So back went the Yellow Puma Sweatshirt. As I hopped back online to reorder it was sold out again. A few days later it came back and they refused to match the sale price even though it was their error, but as you can tell I just bit the bullet and ordered it again.

Any-who – the yummy brightness of this sweater immediately drew me to it online. When I received it, the feeling of soft fluffiness made me swoon. This is the fourth (?) sweater that I own of this style from Asos, and I just can’t seem to get enough. They make them in brights, blacks, pastels and more. Each one has felt just as soft and worn just as well.

And not only are they comfy, cozy, AND cute; the price point is always right! I don’t like paying an arm and a leg for a basic sweater, so this has come in clutch. Especially if you can wait until a sale and snag them for an even better price. Beyond the low price tag, how can you beat the sleeve length of this sweater? I mean look at them! They are flowing well beyond my wrists with ease.

Because of how wonderful the fit of this sweater is, I feel SO comfortable. I say that because this isn’t always the case. Especially when you are on your way out of over indulging your way through the holiday season. I’m sure some of you know what I mean! But after looking at the pictures from this day, I could just tell I felt like the best version of me. Sometimes we forget that clothes are supposed to be and can be comfortable. The more comfortable they are, the better you will feel.

So hopefully as we continue on with our intentionality this year, I can be a bit more intentional about the items I keep. Rather than periodically stretching for reasons to love it. If I can get my brain back to how I feel in this sweater, or other go-to pieces, it will help me stay mindful. I paired this sweater with some of my go-to Madewell Jeans, the Franco Sarto Booties we are always mentioning and some of my favorite Ray-Ban Sunnies!

So unfortunately for all of you this sweater is sold out. Which makes me sad because we really did intend to share this one earlier but…life. However, there are a few other color options available right now and I have no doubt this sweater will make another appearance on Asos. I am also going to do a bit of a roundup of other Asos sweaters we love below. As well as another roundup of sweaters from other stores. We are heading in the season where sweaters will likely start to go on sale, as swimwear and dresses peek back out!

Outfit Details/Sweater Roundup

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Rhonda Lynette Designs

First full week back at work in a month for me, and I am feeling the effects. I am just not cut out for this job stuff, haha. How easily we slip into our four day work week! We made it though. Still thinking a lot about intentionality, which I wrote about in this post. Hopefully y’all aren’t letting the full week wear down your goals already for the year. It’s all about stacking those small victories together. When it seems like what you’re doing isn’t working – keep going! That’s when the real magic happens.

No one knows about stacking small victories better than Rhonda Lynette Designs! Her clothing is the star of today’s post. As a small business owner, she has been out here grinding away at her dreams. Her goal is to strive to empower every tall woman to love their height and to feel comfortable, confident, independent and beautiful. When she reached out to us about collaborating, we were all about it!

We love seeing another tall woman chasing her dreams. Plus in doing so, she is empowering and making other tall women feel better about themselves. That is something we wholeheartedly stand behind. She took her Bachelors Degree in Fashion Merchandising and Design. From there it made complete sense to start Rhonda Lynette Designs. Rhonda as a small business owner, sews all of her pieces herself. It is so nice to receive a piece of hers, knowing that it’s a quality piece made with love.

Here is a lady who stands in the gap for us as tall women looking to go beyond just basics that fit, but to help us stay on trend! How many times have you browsed online shops that have a tall section, only to find a fraction of the offerings in your size?! Too many for us to recount, and it’s always a fresh sting. We’re left hoping that maybe by the next fashion season, they’ll include some tall sizes, as the trend fades. Why we should we be not only relegated to the back row for pictures, but also for offerings? We don’t deserve to be leftovers!

One of the most inspiring parts of Rhonda’s story is that she stands at 5’9, which some might not consider even tall. She is tall enough to still struggle with well fitting clothing for herself. The best part is she took that worry and set about creating clothing for tall women. Plus she has two daughters who are tracking to become tall women, so she wants to provide well fitting clothing for them as well. How incredible is that!?

So we’ll just be her stand-in daughters until they grow enough to pass her up, wearing her fun designs! Sounds like a great plan to us. When she reached out to us, we hadn’t heard of her clothing before. We had some fun perusing the website and seeing everything she had to offer.

I ended up choosing these completely fabulous floral print pants. They’re definitely outside my typical comfort zone. I completely fell in love with the gorgeous pattern on the always wonderful green background. I immediately thought of this Express top because it’s the same peach color. From there I figured I should finish off with more of a boho vibe by adding a neutral lightweight cardigan.

This isn’t necessarily a Wisconsin winter friendly outfit. I know I’ll be reaching for it repeatedly this spring! Any of y’all down south can get away with it during winter, as the darker green seems almost season-less. I just have to finish by saying how incredibly comfortable these pants are. They have some stretch to them, but drape beautifully. Plus you CANNOT beat the length. It makes my heart sing to have pants skimming the floor. I just know y’all get me, when I talk about pant length!

Caitlin was drawn to the pink mesh top. It is a gorgeous shade of blush, that both of us love to wear. She loved that it was classy enough but the mesh made it a little sassy too. Plus nothing better than having a top made to fit your shoulders, and the sleeve length being long enough. The ruffle peplum on the bottom is perfect and can be balanced out with some Old Navy pixie pants and some ballet flats. Again, not the most winter friendly outfit. She could also easily throw a cardigan over it for warmth, maybe like the cardi she just posted about here!

She also got these gorgeous navy wide leg pants. We both immediately love anything with that high tie waist. With us having bigger hips/butt and smaller waists, so we try to call attention to the smaller parts of our bodies. These pants definitely do the trick. Something to note on sizing, these do not have the same stretch as the floral pants. If you’re in doubt ask Rhonda (who is very accessible via email or her Instagram DM) or potentially size up!

Caitlin wanted to make the pants the star of the show, so she grabbed a tall white long sleeve from Gap to pair with them. Again, for a warmer outfit it’s so easy to layer a cardigan or a duster for warmth. She finished the look off with some nude flats, and voila grab and go!

Tell us below, have you heard of Rhonda Lynette Designs yet? If you haven’t, definitely go check out her site for some more of her pieces. You won’t regret it!

Outfit Details

Lots of nude flat similar options up to size 13!

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Late to the Party With This Cardi

Personally I have strayed away from cardigans for the past year or so. I went in hard on some chunky knits and other easy to wear sweaters rather than figuring out how to pair a cardigan. However, I have had my eye on this cardigan for quite some time now. It combines the wonderful chunky, thick, coziness I look for in my winter wardrobe. In addition it’s a tall girls dream!

I have seen this sweater sprinkled throughout my Instagram feed for what feels like a year but I just couldn’t justify the insane price tag the early purchasers spent. Then it happened to drop down to 40% off, making it only $45! That is an insanely good price for the quality of this piece so I couldn’t say no. And now my suggestions for you are:

  1. Order this ASAP! At this price it is going to be gone in no time.
  2. Order down one size if you want a more regular fit. Stick to your standard size if you want  a bit of an oversized fit. If you are tall like us I suggest sticking to your regular size. But if you are a more average height this can still fit and look great on you!

The amount of times I have already grabbed for this sweater makes me laugh. I’ve worn it to church, coffee with friends, work, casual Saturdays at home, etc. I’ve dressed it up, down and everything in between. I have even influenced a few others to buy their own (Hi Jenilee, and mom). To top it off, I then somehow I also convinced myself that I needed the forest green as well. Talk about a vicious cycle of influencing. Have you ever caught yourself caught up in yourself? Oops!

I think at this point I am coming to realize that it may just be human nature to only want to wear your new clothing. I have a closet full of clothing I like but when I have something new I pretty much try to wear it to any and every occasion. Especially if said occasion is with a different circle of friends who haven’t seen the outfit yet. Obviously new and shiny is what people are always attracted to but why do so many of us find ourselves keeping items from 2002? I know I am guilty of this.

A trick a tried a few years ago was turning all of my hangers backwards-making it extremely inconvenient to take clothing out-however, when I wore an item it got to go back in my closet the correct way. After a year I really had to evaluate the items I didn’t wear and most got the boot.

If you are a little bit of a pack rat like me I suggest giving this a shot. Especially since it is still so close to the New Year! Obviously there will be items you still keep (dresses, formal attire, etc.) because you don’t need those items day to day. But, trust me-it will help you purge!

Well, as I sit here in my Post New Year tiredness with a full fledged cold-that’s all for today folks. Short, sweet, and hopefully helpful. I hope you are all recovering from all of the holiday hoopla and easing back into your routine. If you have any other tips on purging clothing/home goods/etc. We would love to hear them!

Outfit Details

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2019 Intentionality

Hey you. Yea you, reading this! You made it through the first week of the New Year. Congratulations, you’re kind of a big deal. Isn’t the first week of the year always like no man’s land? I can’t tell you how many times I heard “I don’t even know what day of the week it is,” repeated. Maybe you had a long week, worn down by all the people hyped up on their resolutions while you felt sluggish at best. Or perhaps you were one of the ones riding that tidal wave of good energy and a fresh start into the new year. Regardless, it’s a new week and another chance to carry on with your fresh start. If you avoid resolutions like the plague, I say all good by me!

Caitlin and I have been discussing intentions recently. Being an intentional person specifically. A lot of times we let our lives be dictated by our routines. If we’d stop and evaluate for a second if something is actually serving us in a positive way, we might find some surprising answers. We’re constantly bombarded with noise. Whether it be our own doing, or just living our lives it’s pretty hard to avoid aside from staying in your house with the TV off! Heck, even at the gym avoiding a TV is pretty much impossible if you’re doing any cardio machine. I know people rely on TV to distract them into staying on the machine. Lets be honest, you can’t really tell the 50 other people around you to turn the channel!

For me, I’ve limited tv/Netflix/Hulu etc, and I haven’t really looked back. Another thing I could improve on though, would be the mindless shopping website browsing, and Instagram/Facebook browsing. I’m sure if you have an Iphone, you’ve heard of their screen time settings. Despite running this blog/Instagram page, I still make sure I have my settings on to limit how much time I can spend scrolling. Hah, speaking of, I just came back from some mindless scrolling and organizing my virtual shopping carts. Definitely low on the priority list. But obviously a work in progress on intentionality for me as well.

That carries over into marriage as well. It’s easy to get caught up in your everyday mundane schedule. Too quickly we forget to take time to be intentional about our marriages. It can also be applicable to any relationship or friendship etc. With our lives being more pseudo connected than ever, are you actually connecting with the people you love/like/cherish? When you set aside time to get together with people, are you doing more than taking up physical space in their vicinity?

Just some food for thought on my mind recently. It’s fitting because I wore this outfit on my anniversary date night out with my husband. I had this top in my saved items for a long long time before I saw it go on sale. Tall blouses are always at the top of my list. Many stores that carry “tall blouses” are still not long enough in the body/sleeve or broad enough in the shoulder. Plus we have to contend with the already limited offerings because they provide a fraction of the mainline items.

I can’t jump on every beautiful blouse, especially staying on budget. Thankfully Asos had their Black Friday sale and I was able to snag it at a reduced cost. I was crestfallen to receive a completely different blouse in its place. I recovered quickly and hopped online to try and order it again. This time I had better luck.

As you can see, it fits pretty well. I would appreciate the sleeves being slightly longer, but I liked everything else about it enough to hold onto it. This is the perfect dressy blouse that I’ll be able to wear in a professional setting. Clearly based on this outfit, I’ll also be able to wear it to a social gathering. Plus, black is always an easy thing to grab and mix and match! Unfortunately it’s now sold out on the site, but I linked a few similar blouses from Asos.

One of my new favorite pair of jeans is this dark wash denim from Express. They are high waisted which is always my preference, and they look completely sleek for a night out. It doesn’t hurt that they are super comfortable either. If you’re in between sizes I’d say size down. I’m usually between a 10 and 12, I got these in a 10 and they have still loosened up.

Lastly, these booties have been such a great purchase for me this winter. They are so sleek and streamlined. I love that they have the studs for a little extra visual interest at the sole. I also love that they are reasonably comfortable to walk in, for having a three inch heel. Ladies they come up to size 13, which is what I wear!

Last thought I’ll share is an interaction we had while taking these pictures. A lady passed by us, took one look at us and asked if we are sisters. You know we obviously get asked often. She then proceeded to tell us, “you belong on a basketball court,” as she’s continuing to walk away. I just smiled and said I did play. As I turned around to Caitlin; I said, “I belong right here where I’m standing.” Intentionality is highly applicable in how we treat others as well. Although I could have resorted to snarkiness, instead I smiled and shared a laugh with my sister.

So hopefully y’all got a little bit of food for thought on intentionality. Are there any specific words or goals you’re reaching towards this new year?

Outfit Details

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