If you recall, we have shared Flowers for Dreams with you once before. Read here if you’d like. However, now we’re back to share a completely different seasonal bouquet that features a pretty amazing treat. First, we want to give you a little bit of backstory on this amazing company!
Flowers for Dreams started as a college project they set up to sell roses outside of a high school graduation. The goal was to sell out and donate half back to purchasing backpacks for low-income students. The high school loved the idea and invited them back again and not too long later 600 backpacks were donated. Little did they know a company was taking shape. Following a lot of trials and tribulations, they set out to change the game and provide an alternative to overpriced flower delivery. No hidden fees or upsells on beautiful bouquets. They offer bouquets for just $35 to Chicago and Milwaukee area. And every single bouquet sold benefits an amazing local charity (each charity changes on a monthly rotation).
Not only do they donate to a different charity each month; they work extremely hard to help raise up and promote small local businesses. Cue them starting local bundles of gifts you can add to any bouquet. We received the gorgeous winter bouquet in addition to the Milwaukee bundle which featured a delicious candle from Milwaukee Candle Co. It smells like a winter miracle! It also includes 12 Oz of Kickapoo Coffee whole beans, 8 Oz of Indian Summer Farm Honey and Indian summer honey farm lip balm.
You know we are a sucker for our local economy and promoting small businesses so when we heard that Flowers for Dreams, a company we already love, added this to their menu we were over the moon thrilled. Seriously can you imagine a better treat to send someone you care about? These beautiful blooms and local goodies are guaranteed to make anyone’s day. It is an especially good gift for those people you just aren’t sure what to get! Or perhaps you are going to a friend or family members’ house and would love to show up with a host gift. There are three winter bouquets to pick from, one of them is sure to catch your attention. They also sell some gorgeous wreaths as well and if you want to check them out in person they are popping up at the Christkindl Market!
Well, what are you waiting for? Make someone’s floral dreams come true and feel good about what you’re promoting behind the scenes of your purchase. They also even have a winter wreath if you’re looking for a door decoration – even better! Just click right here to get your order started!
P.S. If you’re into dressing for the season, these skirts fit the bill. I am all for filling December with as much Green, Red, and sparkle as I can. Jenilee and I both own this red skirt and this green skirt came back fully stocked for another season (lucky you!). This skirt is part of the club in my closet of items that always get complimented. Anyone else know what I mean? But seriously I should wear it on days I am feeling down, because it brightens my day all day: in the locker room, at work, at Qdoba, walking down the street, people just love it! If you’re in need of a holiday party look these skirts are a solid option for you! Check the widget below for where to shop them!
Sometimes being tall really does feel like a job title you can’t shake. A lot of us have the luxury to choose where we work, and I know some of us necessarily don’t. Our height is definitely with us regardless, and even if there’s a day where being shorter might be nice, it’s just not an option. My feelings are fewer and further between these days, thankfully. But I definitely still have them! It usually comes after some clueless person says “how tall ARE you?!” for the thousandth time, or when someone refuses to stop staring even after I’ve given them the best death glare I’ve got in my arsenal (and I have a lot).
I have been enjoying myself more when I’m out in public, feigning shock and awe, doing double-takes or elevator eyes right back at people gaping. If we can’t have fun with it, we’d be pretty miserable at times. You might have even caught our stories last weekend when we were in line at a local Christmas Market and these gentlemen were having a conversation about us while staring us down. We turned it around on them and had a good laugh in the meantime. I think sometimes what helps me shift my mindset during these occurrences, is usually thinking about what type of person I want to be. It’s nothing to do with being liked, it’s more about operating as an integral person.
So while I still have the knee jerk reaction of giving these fools a piece of my mind, I realize my response can only be about me. Who I am, and who I’m attempting to become. What it doesn’t mean is you not being able to have fun with your response to people. Part of my personality is using humor, and I think a lot of tall women have used humor as a way to cope with their height contrast. So crack a joke in response and enjoy the bafflement on people’s faces. Straight faced telling people I was a cheerleader in high school when they inquire if I played basketball and volleyball. An alternative is choosing to say nothing at all, which sometimes feels like the safest choice. Just look at someone and walk away, you aren’t obligated to engage with them. Maybe they’ll learn from their encounter (maybe not haha).
It goes back to what I said at the beginning; which is you didn’t choose the tall life, it chose you. So instead of being an amateur about it, I want to be a professional. A professional tall person to me means someone who is at peace with themselves. They know their worth has nothing to do with their height, despite countless people trying to assign it based on that value. Someone who chooses to stand their full height, and present themselves well with their shoulders back and head held high. That’s just a short definition that comes to mind, but something I’m constantly striving towards. Everyone is their best self when they’re living authentically, and I think the more we move towards it, the better off we’ll be.
Part of that process is figuring out your style, and buying based on your own rules. We’ve talked about it pretty extensively in our posts, but Amalli Talli actually just posted a how-to blog that lays it out more efficiently. If you want to read up on that, click here. It’s worth thinking about before spending (or wasting) any more money on items that will just gather dust in your closet until you donate!
One of the colors I’ve been leaning into more has been red. I’ve been paying attention to the colors I reach for in my closet and just accepting that it’s one of my favorites. Plus, I’m all about wide-leg pants so that makes this the ideal pair. I bought these from Asos Tall range. Size reference I’m 6’4 and typically wear either 10/12 in pants. I have on a size 10, and they are still plenty generous, but I am the smallest by far at my waist. So if you’re more apple-shaped, go off of your true waist (your belly button). My inseam is 37.5/38 to the floor and I’m wearing my favorite snakeskin flats from Long Tall Sally so no heel on them. As you can tell the pants are to the ground, which is ideal for us ladies with longer inseams. I finished my work look off with a turtleneck I found an H&M a couple of years ago and a chunky gold necklace. You’ll find me living in turtlenecks all Winter long, and that’s just another thing I’m embracing about my preferences!
Tell us below, your evolution of embracing your height or something you still struggle with. Or tell us what you’re learning about your style preferences!
Once we hit December it feels like a blink and the month is over! Does anyone else feel this more and more as we get older? I used to think it was funny whenever adults would say that to me, but it’s always hindsight of realizing just how truthful that is. So with that in mind, we plan to soak in all of the events and gatherings as they come. I (Jenilee) leave for Mexico next week, and I always feel like it’s an ideal time to get away because it forces relaxation and slowing down during arguably the busiest time of the year. Plus it doesn’t hurt that I’ll get to warm up for a bit, as we’ve already experienced plenty of cold temperatures.
With all of the frosty weather we’ve had (since October), we’re looking for long sleeves! If you’ve been reading/following along for a while, you know we love us some bodysuits. There is just something so sleek and chic about them paired with pretty much anything. Plus, you can’t overstress the practicality of never having to adjust your shirt to re-tuck it in every time you move. They have many positives to them, and therefore we’ll continue our obsession indefinitely.
If you’re thinking, “well that’s great and all but I don’t like tight shirt bodysuits,” girl we get it! There are so many times I ate or drank a bit excessively the day before or plan to indulge while wearing a bodysuit and don’t want it broadcasted to everyone. There are so many different cuts and styles of bodysuits that everyone can be happy. Along the way, we’ve discovered we don’t love the full butt coverage bodysuits. Mainly because of the underwear looking line that it portrays. Obviously, we have curvier butts than some, so maybe that’s not an issue for you!
We have a lot of places that we’ve found tall or tall friendly bodysuits. Our top choice has continued to be Asos Tall. That’s what Caitlin has on today. It’s the perfect mauve and is ideal for the Winter months. It’s more of a sweater material, to keep you cozy while avoiding the frumpiness of a regular bulky sweater. Don’t misunderstand, we love to wear our big sweaters and be toasty warm, but sometimes you want to go out at night and this is a perfect combination of having both.
Caitlin paired it with our favorite type of jeans right now (especially for comfort) the American Eagle curvy stretch Mom jeans. She’s wearing in size 12L, which is ideal for her 35″ inseam. We have been wearing them nonstop, because they’re super high waisted, which is a must for our preferences. Plus they are loose but cut correctly to still hug your curves so you don’t look like a bag lady. Basically, they’re completely ideal! She finishes it off with snakeskin booties from Nordstrom Rack and of course layered with our go-to Moto Jacket from Amalli Talli. That is a size Large and fits perfectly in the shoulders. The summary is that you can look ready for a night out while still being the comfiest ever.
Well, we all made it through “Black Friday” which has now become a full week of madness instead of one day/weekend. I think most stores have extended their sales to at least the Monday before Thanksgiving now. Did you snap up any good deals? I think the most excitement for me was discovering Amazon had a sale on all of the books I needed to purchase for gifts this year. Talk about kismet! I think I’m now mostly done with shopping for Christmas already, which is a great feeling. Our family was cutting down on excess this year, so we did a theme of “want, need, read” for gift giving. So everyone was able to give lists pretty easily; which made shopping a breeze. What does your family do for gifting, if anything?
As we’re aging, Caitlin and I are both becoming far more particular when making our gift lists. It goes back to realizing how much better tall clothing can fit than making a regular-sized option work. So our Mom mentioned to me that Caitlin stopped her from gifting me items that weren’t tall sizing, and I told her I was glad! Sure it takes a bit more thoughtfulness to actually follow through on this. No joke though, I got rid of so many things in my closet over the last year and 90% of them weren’t tall sizing. Which illustrates yet again, that we reach for the items that make us feel good. What makes us feel good, is well-fitting clothing. Too many times I’m lured in by the cheap clearance rack and making an item work because it’s $5.00. To no one’s surprise, guess what ends up in the donate bin first!?
With age comes maturity though, right? That’s the plan at least, to become a bit wiser every year, especially with spending. The more thoughtful we are, the better our closets will serve us! That’s where Amalli Talli comes to the rescue, as usual. These sisters are nothing if not extremely thoughtful. Their attention to detail on what tall women need in their closets is impeccable. I think that’s one of the questions tall women get asked the most: What item would you love to have in your size? Honestly, my first thought is – “I don’t feel like I should have to choose!” But whenever I sit with the question further I feel like every item I’ve got in mind, Amalli has come through for us!
Being that they’re located in Minnesota, we know they’ve got a pretty good idea of what a Midwesterner’s wardrobe needs to consist of. Sweaters, sweaters… and more sweaters. When you’re sick of wearing your sweaters, layering pieces. Sounds like what you see when you’re perusing their website, right? Like I said before, super thoughtful. But just because they’re covering our basics, doesn’t mean we have to look basic. Their color choices have just strengthened from each collection and this might just be our favorite yet!
They gifted us the red Mock Turtleneck sweater, and the dusty purple Cable knit sweater, to try. We’re super excited to share these pieces with you today because we’ve definitely been wearing them nonstop. Red has become my go-to choice recently. It’s a power color that can pack a punch with little to no effort. Plus, it always makes me want to throw on red lipstick and take over the world. Win-win, I’d say. This sweater is my ideal because it has a turtleneck, which is a must for me in the winter. Plus the length and the weight are both perfect, in that they keep me warm, but don’t add any bulk as some sweaters inevitably do.
Once this sweater was sneak previewed on their Instagram page, Caitlin was smitten with the dusty purple color. A little known fact about Caitlin is that growing up, she was absolutely obsessed with purple. Purple anything and she was about it. I specifically remember this fuzzy sparkly short sleeve sweater she had from Limited Too that she rocked for a while. So while she’s exchanged purple for other favorite colors, she was lured back in with this softer hue. Plus the classic cable knit design will never go out of style. Lastly, any time she can wear a turtleneck sweater without it “choking” her neck, she’s one happy girl!
Obviously, we had to wear our new sweaters with our Amalli denim as well. The versatility of their pieces is such an incredible selling point as well. Finding denim that works on your frame is a beast of an effort, but finding well-fitting and nice colored denim?! Practically impossible. I’ve never had a smoky-black wash on a pair of jeans, and they just go with EVERYTHING! Not to mention their knee-rips on the dark wash pair. Caitlin just posted a different brand and at 5’11 the knee rips were still a good two inches above her knees. All we’re saying is Amalli Talli thinks of every little detail. It doesn’t go unnoticed in these parts!
So we know you might have missed their Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales, but we’ve still got your code for 15% off now using THEREALTALL15 if you decided you have to have anything (especially in time for Christmas).
Happy Thanksgiving week friends! Jenilee and I are so ready for a few days off of work and I am looking forward to some one on one time with my parents! I am so excited to be channeling my Half Baked Harvest obsession into this year’s Thanksgiving meal. I figured what better time to try making my very first Thanksgiving Turkey than with a small audience. If you haven’t checked out her cookbook; breeze by her Instagram account and you will definitely drool down your chin.
Anyway, we hope you are all settling in for some solid family time and celebrating over your favorite shared traditions. We are actively promoting skipping the Black Friday hullabaloo. Stay inside, opt-outside, do whatever you want. The bottom line, truly try to focus on staying away from overconsumption during this Holiday season. Spend some time thinking about items that truly spark joy and make you happy. Not loading up on items that you only feel drawn to because they are deeply discounted. With that being said, we know it is a great time to get a lot of your shopping done and maybe even snag a few items you have been watching for months. We’ll provide you some of our favorites today so you can get ready.
The real reason we are here today is to talk about all things Small Business Saturday. We wrote a post on this last year and to date, it may be one of my favorite posts. Connecting with local business owners has been one of the most rewarding part of our blog. We want to provide you a resource to shop for some of our favorites this season! In an effort to not play favorites please find them listed alphabetically below!
In other exciting news to share our true love for Small Business Saturday, we are doing a HUGE local giveaway on our Instagram with another local blogger, What Riva Wore! Below catch some details on what is included and then check out their Black Friday/Small Business Saturday Posts!
This company is dangerous. Not like take caution dangerous but like freeze your credit card in an ice block dangerous. The shirts are catchy, local, fun and so unique. Once you start buying them you won’t be able to stop. And they are pumping them out at record speed now. We feel lucky to be giving away our FAVORITE shirt to date that they have made, it has all of the Wisconsin state symbols on the front and it is designed so well. Every single time we wear it we get so many compliments; which are par the course for all of their designs. The unique features make Packer shirts, Milwaukee and Wisconsin shirts look fresh and like nothing else on the market. If you’re local you can stop by the public market or the airport for in-person shopping. Otherwise, their Black Friday Sale is always live so don’t wait to get some local gifting done or maybe swing by the Public Market for the trunk sale Saturday for some truly unbelievable prices. We also get to giveaway a Milwaukee icon mug, various pins and magnets!
Colleen is a local Milwaukee Photography. She specializes in portrait photography, marketing and so much more! She will make you feel like her closest friend as she takes your photographs. Come ready for an adventure and expect to get a little dirty and to have a lot of fun! She offers mini holiday shoots for any season of life. You will be lucky enough to win a mini session if you enter and win our giveaway!
I was actually introduced to The Earth and All Stars by winning a giveaway so it only feels right to be coming full circle by now doing our very own giveaway of two beautiful sets. All of the jewelry is handmade and designed in Milwaukee. It is a mix of leather and eclectic accessories of any sort. She uses recycled goods and we love that! You can see The Earth and All Stars at local makers markets or shop her goodies on Etsy. We told her we were doing some Milwaukee Flag themed goods and she matched it to a T with one of the amazing leather jewelry sets. You can just feel the Milwaukee pride within the heart of this small business.
Owned by a husband and wife team, Giltee was born out of a side project. Adam and Lisa Gilson began screen printing in their basement as a creative outlet. Lisa connected with us on Instagram and introduced us to their designs which feature Wauwatosa (our own backyard), Milwaukee, and so many other Wisconsin cities. They make unique shirts, baseball hats, winter hats, sweatshirts, sunglasses and so much more!! We are lucky enough to be giving away a long sleeve Wisconsin Milwaukee Flag long sleeve. The quality is impeccable and the shirts they print on are top of the line!
Jet Set local is a local coupon passport that makes exploring Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, and the North Shore with the Foodie Flight. You will get $10 off $25 purchases at a wide variety of restaurants. This is the perfect way to solve your “Where should we eat tonight debates” there will be no more going back and forth with you pick, no you pick, no you pick! We have a tendency to fall into a routine and stick to our favorite spots so this is going to be wonderful in pushing us to try new hot spots! To add to it, it’s the perfect gift for the person who has everything!
This company feels so close to my heart. You may have read one of our many posts in the past but to give you the lowdown Katherine is the first Internet friend we made through our blog BECAUSE of Small Business Saturday. We reached out on a whim to get the skinny on her SBS sale and she pretty much became our friend at that moment. We have been blessed to collaborate and support her in any way possible which has been so natural and easy for us due to our love for the lake.
In true form, she is essentially promoting the same thing we are; which is why her sale runs for more than one day because she wants you to enjoy your family! If you are local to Milwaukee we highly suggest checking out Lake Effect’s brick and mortar store in Pewaukee. It is the most darling store that oozes positive energy and good vibes. If you need any suggestions on your favorite items check out the slider below. Everything is ethically sourced, made to fit true to size and can not only be worn at the lake but in every day style as well. You won’t want to miss her Black Friday/Small Business sale. And if you’re looking to make a purchase any other time you can use our code THEREALTALL15 for 15% off!
Not to get dramatic but we have been hearing so many things about toxins in Candles from stores like Bath & Body Works and TJ Maxx lately:
“A study by scientists at Copenhagen University conducted on mice found exposure to particles from burning candles to cause greater damage than the same dose of diesel exhaust fumes. The harmful effects of candle smoke included lung inflammation and toxicity, arteriosclerosis, and ageing effects on chromosomes in the lungs and spleen.”
So we have chosen to make the change to candles that follow this mission: “To stay true to my mission of contributing to an environmentally conscious lifestyle, LIT MKE candles uses a premium blend of soy and coconut waxes with 100% cotton wicks. I am always looking to improve the qualities of the candles and experiment with Each candle is carefully crafted by hand, locally in Milwaukee by myself and with help from my apprentice Karl..”
Not only are these candles better for your health (!!!!) they are the most unique, thoughtful gifts. You can choose a bottle of wine that is meaningful, a bottle of vodka you and your friends drank together in college, or maybe a favorite local craft beer. Mike accepts any custom orders and you can provide your own bottle/can and pick the scent. Christmas aside you can get a bottle of champagne turned into a housewarming gift, or gift a citronella candle to a friend who invites you to their cabin, or treat your groomsmen, bridesmaids to candles too! Honestly, the opportunities to give these unique candles are endless.
We feel so lucky to now offer our coupon codes: Realtall4 if you buy a four pack you get a free candle and Realtall6 if you buy a six pack of candles you get two candles free. (If you need unscented candles write in the special instructions box).
A local designer and calligrapher who combines modern design and old fashioned techniques to create one of a kind stationery, products and so much more! From wedding centerpiece designs to champagne flutes she has you covered with pristine calligraphy. (Insert me being jealous because this is a skill I have always wanted). One of my favorite items for this time of the year to point out is custom ornaments. You can get them for your freshly married friends, a new baby in your life, or just pop an inside joke on one! Today we get to share a custom Pantone glass mug and champagne flute for you!
We connected with Jamie via the Easttown Associations Saturday Farmers Market. If you’ve seen our post on the Farmers Market the you’d recognize her store, as we mentioned our meeting there! Her shop is filled with all natural products! She started off by making lip balms with her daughter and gifting them to friends and family. The demand grew, and she realized there was a market for natural products at various farmers markets. She added other products she had long been making for her family, including hand and face wash, essential oil roller blends, and room sprays. From there Nourish has only grown, and we were blessed to meet Jamie as she is as authentic as they come. She genuinely cares and believes in what she creates and was able to help recommend different products for us to try easily.
Twisted Sister Toffee
HOT NEWS here. This Small Business as new as new can get. This one happens to be very near and dear to our heart because the owner happens to be a part of our family. We have been treated to this toffee each Christmas and it’s something we both look forward to each year. We can’t share too many details yet, but lucky for you if you win this giveaway you get a sneak peek at the deliciousness that this toffee is!
Make sure you head to our Instagram to read the rules and enter our giveaway!
https://www.therealtall.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_6378.jpg939704Jenilee & Caitlinhttps://www.therealtall.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/2.jpgJenilee & Caitlin2019-11-27 09:16:032019-12-05 16:00:15Family Time and Small Business Saturday
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