my february favorites.

my february favorites. by heatherbird featuring nars cosmetics

my january favorites.

my january favorites. by heatherbird on Polyvore

my december favorites.

1. Star Wars holiday sweater - "tacky" sweaters that are actually cute are all the rage right now, and I couldn't resist this one from Target. It was perfect for our holiday Spirit Week at school, and my students loved it.

2. The Hamilton Mixtape - My mom got me this album for Christmas and I am obsessed. If I didn't love the songs from Hamilton enough already, now we get new versions from The Roots, Busta Rhymes, Aloe Blacc, Usher, Sia, Regina Spektor,  Kelly Clarkson, Alicia Keys, Ashanti, Andra Day, John Legend, Chance The Rapper, and more.

3. Keep Collective time key - I love Keep Collective jewelry, which consists of leather bands and interchangeable charms. I recently treated myself to a rose gold "time key," which transforms any of my bands into a watch.

4. Ole Henriksen Truth Serum - I got a sample of this magic Vitamin C potion with my Clarisonic Mia cleansing brush and I can tell that it makes a big difference to my usually-dull winter skin.

5. Samsonite hardshell luggage - My big Christmas gift from Mr. Q this year; now we are ready for business travel! I got the indigo (for UVa) and he got burnt orange (for Virginia Tech).

Farmhouse Christmas Inspiration

1. reindeer figurine  2. burlap ribbon  3. chenille throw blanket

4. birch LED candles  5. free lyric printable  6. stag head wall art

7. centerpiece box  8. stag throw pillow  9. flocked pine spray

Last week, I shared my vision for a calm and cozy farmhouse-inspired Christmas. Here are a few items currently on my wish list to help bring the look home. What are your inspirations this holiday season?

Fall 2014 - Sangria and Gold

Now that we're solidly into fall, it's time to break out the bold, rich colors that remind us of comfort and luxury.  I'm really digging the combination of sangria and gold at the moment - so classic and sophisticated.

1. Old Navy satin boho blouse  2. Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick in "Soft Raspberry"  3. LOFT floral scarf  4. Old Navy pixie pants 

5. Zoya nail polish in "Aubrey" 6. Fossil "Preston" colorblock purse  7. Albeit lipstickin "Bordeaux" from Anthropologie  8. "Elsa" scalloped ballet flats from Payless

Which of these bold, classy pieces is your favorite?

Linking Up:

Manic Monday at More Pieces of Me and The Daily Express

Passion 4 Fashion at Rachel the Hat

Style Sessions at Style Elixir

Style to Inspire with Rhea Et Cetera and Life in the Fash Lane

Style: Let's Get Away...

If there's one thing I can count on, it's the distinct kicking-and-screaming feeling I get every year before the first week back to work. If I could design the perfect life, I'd be spending this week on a beach somewhere - maybe at a tropical resort in St. Lucia?  Painting my nails pink and sitting on the patio all week are going to have to do.  Today's inspiration set was inspired by this beach tote and sun hat that were almost certainly switched at birth.

1. Amalfi sun hat from Market Earth  2. J. Crew bandeau top and high-waist bottom in "deep hyacinth"  3. Tinley Road cami from Piperlime  

4.  AG Jeans chambray shorts from Nordstrom 5. Bath and Body Works Passionfruit Plum hand soap 6. Deborah Lippmann nail polish in "Whip It"  7.  Essie nail polish in "Haute in the Heat"  8. Bamboula Ltd. beach bag from J. Crew

Let's stop for a minute to talk about this Bath and Body Works hand soap.  My college roommate's bridal shower was last weekend, and we gifted her with the shower curtain and hooks she'd registered for, but I don't like sticking 100% with a gift registry.  I always like to throw in a little something extra... shower curtain... bathroom... soap it was, so off to BBW I went.  This soap smells amazing. End of public service announcement.

Linking Up:

Manic Monday at More Pieces of Me and The Daily Express

Passion 4 Fashion at Rachel the Hat

Style Sessions at Style Elixir
Style to Inspire with Rhea Et Cetera

Stylish Tuesday at Life's a Party, Dress Like It

Style: Independence Day

The Fourth of July is such a cheerful, laid-back holiday.  This year, we're be spending the holiday week in America's birthplace, Jamestown and Williamsburg, Virginia, but my fondest Independence Day memories are of family cookouts at my cousin's house in the country.  We'd play badminton and horseshoes, grill out, swim in the creek, and light up some bottle rockets.  Those days were so carefree and happy, and that's the kind of day I wish for you this Independence Day.

Disclaimer:  ModCloth links contain my affiliate code.  Thank you for supporting Beyond the Aisle!

View this set on Polyvore

1. Pier1 paper straws  2. Urban Outfitters melamine plate  3. Jo-Ann Fabrics solar lantern 
4. J. Crew linen tank top  5. Lime Ricki bathing suit  6. Mossimo shorts from Target
7. BaubleBar star ring  8. Vineyard Vines tote  9. ModCloth sandals

American readers, how do you celebrate Independence Day?

Linking Up:
Casual Friday at Two Thirty-Five Designs
Manic Monday at More Pieces of Me and The Daily Express
Passion 4 Fashion at Rachel the Hat
Style Sessions at Style Elixir
Stylish Tuesday at Life's a Party, Dress For It

Style: Memorial Day Nautical Fashion Inspiration

The unofficial beginning of summer is officially less than a week away. Whether you're hitting the beach or hitting up sales, this season's popular nautical-inspired fashions and accessories are perfect for Memorial Day - patriotic, classic, and picnic-perfect.

View on Polyvore

1. J. Crew Factory anchor swimsuit  2. Express anchor earrings (similar) 
3. Old Navy canvas rope tote  4. GAP striped top (similar)
 5. Keds for Kate Spade cork sneakers  6. Merona chino shorts from Target

Linking Up With:
Funday Monday at Still Being Molly
Style Sessions at Style Elixir
Casual Friday at Two Thirty-Five Designs

if my blog was an outfit...

When I saw the "If My Blog Was an Outfit" link up at Hairspray and High Heels and A Dose of Paige, I knew I had to join in.  I love using Polyvore to get creative with fashion ideas, and I just gave Beyond the Aisle a little makeover, so I liked the challenge of creating outfits that express the style of my blog as well as its heart.

I couldn't stop at one outfit, so I wanted to show off all the sides of Beyond the Aisle.  My motto is "add color and style to every day" - I don't believe in spending life waiting for special occasions!

The first outfit I designed is an everyday outfit - very similar to what I might wear while putting together a Monday Clicks of Note post, heading to work on Friday, or going to brunch with Breeze and Coordinator C on the weekend.  I wanted to have some little shout-outs to the blog's new swirly design (I doodle swirls all the time so it was love at first sight) and calming blue, gray, and white color palette.  I actually own the scalloped LOFT sweater and lia sophia jewelry in this set, so it's definitely my style!  Throw in some Essie nail polishes for a special manicure, a Fossil wallet (my favorite brand), broken-in blue jeans and a cute pair of Tom's (lace is a must for a wedding-obsessed blogger like me).  I always like to feature brands I really wear and stores I really shop at in my fashion posts - and always try to keep things affordable.

Classic Blue

Everyday look: LOFT pointelle sweater, J Brand jeans (similar), lia sophia necklace, earrings, and ring, Fossil wallet from Amazon, Essie nail polishes in "Truth or Flare" and "Avenue Maintain," crochet TOMS

Work look: Merona cardigan (similar), Merona woven shell, Merona pencil skirt, LOFT chandelier earrings (similar), John Lewis heels, Kate Spade clutch

The second look I put together started out as a work outfit and turned into more of a fancy party outfit.  I do own the white Merona sweater from last spring's collection at Target - the lace shoulders are my favorite detail.  I swear by colorful shells for my work wardrobe, and pencil skirts are my favorite.  The accessories are all dream pieces- I love feminine pieces with bows, chunky jewelry, and all things Kate Spade, particularly the collection of clutches inspired by vintage book covers.

Spring Wedding

Wedding outfit:  WToo dress by Watters, lia sophia earrings, J. Crew metallic heels

I would be remiss to put together a post like this and not create a wedding outfit!  I still think of weddings as the ultimate inspiration, even as I transition into more of a lifestyle blog. Cerulean blue has been one of my favorite colors since I got my first jumbo box of Crayola crayons, and when I was playing around with my blog design it just felt right.  I love flowy bridesmaid dresses, and I'm currently crushing on long dresses - they are so elegant!  I'm also in love with these lia sophia earrings and strappy J. Crew kitten heels.  Hydrangeas will always be my favorite flower and the one I associate with my wedding and other happy occasions throughout my life.  My favorite weddings and parties to feature on the blog have the perfect combination of rustic, bohemian, and vintage style, and I think that this outfit would fit right in.

So, how did I do?  Do these outfits match up with your mental picture of Beyond the Aisle style?

Linking Up:
Friday's Fab Favorites at Style Elixir
If My Blog Was An Outfit at Hairspray and High Heels

January Favorites

I'm happy to be linking up with Kylie and Emily again this month with some of my recent favorite things.

View this set on Polyvore

1. lia sophia - Usually I am not a fan of home shopping parties, but I recently attended my first lia sophia jewelry party and it was a totally different experience - a girl I went to elementary, middle and high school with has become a very successful salesperson in our area, but she is not pushy at all.  I didn't feel pressured to buy anything, but the deals were pretty awesome.  I found this adorable necklace, a cute pair of stud earrings, a bar necklace like I've been looking for, some gifts for friends and family members, and I got a silver chain link bracelet (another thing that's been on my wish list) as a treat for booking a party next month.

2. Flannel pajamas - I was hoping for some new flannel jammies for Christmas and my mom made that wish come true.  These Insomniax reindeer pants from JC Penney are super adorable, comfy, and the perfect length for me - I am 5'2" and usually have to roll up the ends of my PJ pants.  Good job, Mom!

3. John Frieda Full Repair - This is my current favorite shampoo and conditioner.  I've been using it for a while and all of a sudden I'm getting compliments on how shiny my hair is, so I guess it's been working its magic!  I usually have a lot of problems with breakage, split ends, and flyaways in the winter, but with this shampoo and conditioner my hair is smooth and healthy looking.  It's safe for color-treated hair, which is a big plus since I just went back to black.

4. Hershey's crinkle cookies - Apparently I've been living under a bridge because I had never tried cocoa crinkle cookies until I saw the recipe on Pinterest.  Hello, amazing chocolatey goodness.  Chilling overnight made the dough very easy to work with.

5. Reindeer Ranch wine - I picked up a bottle of Sweet White at Kroger because of the fun label (obviously I am a wine connoisseur) on our way to a holiday party and it is tasty.

6. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones - I posted a short review of the movie in my most recent entertainment round-up.  I was so happy that the movie lived up to the high expectations I had after reading the series.

Thanksgiving Cocktail Party

I've shared some ideas for a modern family Thanksgiving dinner; our celebration this year is shaping up to be more of a "friendsgiving" with a light meal and drinks.  I love the idea of incorporating classy gold accents with a cheeky woodland animal theme.

How to Style:

View this set on Polyvore

1. Anthropologie linen napkin  2. Anthropologie animal cocktail napkins
3. Pier1 acorn vase filler  4. C. Wonder ikat dessert plate  5. Rondo gold flatware from Horne
6. Threshold brass wine stopper from Target (part of a set)  7. West Elm stemless wineglass

Keep reading for my dream Friendsgiving menu!

Fall 2013: Acai and Plum

It's no secret around here that I absolutely love purple, so I was thrilled to see a true purple in this season's Pantone color report- Acai is a deep, rich violet that makes me happy.  It pairs well with plum, red, pink, gray - see what combinations you can come up with!

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1. Victoria's Secret sweater  2. J. Crew long sleeved cashmere tee
3. Calypso St. Barth stretch bracelet  4. Walk in Love tee
5. OPI Euro Centrale polish from Beyond Polish  6. Rescue Beauty Lounge "Pause" polish
7. Zoya "Carter" polish  8. Sally Hansen "Trouble Maker" polish from Target
9. Ruche statement necklace  10. GAP cords

Fall 2013: Samba Red

As Thanksgiving and winter holidays approach, I wanted to focus my fashion posts on items that would be easy to incorporate into outfits for special occasions, holiday photos, or holiday gifts. Pantone calls this season's red "Samba" and it's the perfect spicy color for a festive celebration!

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1. Red Herring floral dress from Debenham's  2. Banana Republic satchel
3. Zoya "Livingston" nail polish  4. Kate Spade scarf from Piperlime
5.  Kate Spade tote from Piperlime  6. Kenzo "FlowerTag" perfume from Sephora
7. Essie "Twin Sweater Set" nail polish  8. Old Navy peacoat  9. Hunter rain boots

Getty/Jeff Vespa via PopSugar

My favorite celebrity take on samba red is Michelle Dockery's Prada dress at this year's Emmy- I love the bright red colorblocked with oxblood burgundy - it's unusual and a lot of people would probably expect these two colors to clash, but the clean lines make it work.

Fall Must-Have: Down Vest (Save or Splurge)

The first thing on my wish list this fall is a down vest in a fun color.  Lucky for shopping addicts like me, there are down vests in beautiful berry shades at every price point.

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1. Wal-Mart frosty dot puffer vest 2. Old Navy frost-free vest
3. Eddie Bauer year-round vest  4. J. Crew Factory quilted puffer vest

Southern Traditions: UVa Game Day Style

Virginia fans were so excited to see Oregon on this year's schedule.  Today we face the Ducks in Scott Stadium, and win or lose, you can bet that Wahoo girls will be showing folks from the Pacific Northwest how to dress for football games.

View this set on Polyvore

1. Kenneth Jay Lane pearl stud earrings from Tuckernuck
2. Kate Spade bow bracelet from ShopBop  3. Essie nail polish in "Geranium" from Target
4. Judith March sundress from Sideline Sweetie (similar style in strapless)
5. Vera Bradley wristlet  6. Jack Russell tote bag (similar)  7. Jack Rogers Navajo sandals from Jildor

Steeper or Cheaper: Swiss Dot Chiffon Blouses

J. Crew Chiffon Dot Top (out of stock)

J. Crew Factory Dotted Keyhole Top in navy, Dublin green (shown) and ivory

Old Navy Swiss Dot Chiffon Top in wine, navy, white, coral, and lagoon (shown)

One of my favorite purchases so far this season has been a Swiss dot chiffon blouse.  It's a little bohemian, but still very ladylike, and super versatile.  I snagged mine at Old Navy, and felt very proud of myself when I saw a very similar shirt for a hundred dollars more on the J. Crew website.  The J. Crew blouse is now out of stock online but may still be available in stores; as far as I can tell what the J. Crew and J. Crew factory versions have going for them that the Old Navy version doesn't are a thicker fabric (ON's blouse is super sheer and must be worn with a cami) and nicer cuffs - the Old Navy ones are elastic; both J. Crew version feature a hemmed cuff and button.  Old Navy offers the style in a wider range of colors.  For a teacher's salary and wardrobe, the Old Navy version hits the spot!

winter color: cool and cozy grays for your closet

1. LOFT herringbone coat  2. OPI On Her Majesty's Secret Servie nail lacquer from Drugstore.com  

3.  Oliver Bonas geometric necklace (or matching earrings)  4.  Old Navy graphic text tee  

5. Ruche polka dot cardigan  6. The North Face fleece pants (I have these, and they are amazingly comfortable and warm, though not meant for petites)  7.  J. Crew chunky cable knit tights  

8. Old Navy polka dot canvas ballet flats  9. J. Crew Factory skinny glitter belt

I found the North Face pants on the right under my Christmas tree this year... Mr. Q knows me so well.  I picked up the LOFT coat on the left last week and it is my favorite Christmas-money purchase for sure!  Now my eye is on that Old Navy graphic text tee... what a perfect message for the new year.

For more gray inspiration from the runways and real life, visit my Pinterest board!

summer/fall color: starfish and mushroom - the now neutrals

Summer's most popular neutral was starfish, a light khaki tan that goes with everything, but looks especially awesome paired with gold and white.  For fall, I'm noticing a lot of mushroom, somewhere between gray and brown, which looks surprisingly great with black.

1. LOFT short sleeved striped sweater  2. Old Navy boatneck striped sweater  

3. Forever 21 Metallic Scarf  4. Sally Hansen nail polish in Dune from Drugstore.com  

5. OPI nail polish in Samoan Sand from Amazon   

6. House of Harlow 1960 leather and gold sunburst necklace from The Trend Boutique 

7. Old Navy ballet-style wedges  8. GAP khaki flared pants  

9. GAP slim cropped pants  10. J. Crew patent leather skinny belt  

11. Butter London nail polish in Hen Party  12. Zoya nail polish in Cho