Guest Blogger: Letters from a Mermaid {Favorite Things}

Hi friends! I am so excited to introduce you all to Rachael today! We definitely share a love for all things nautical, especially mermaids. I know you all will just love what she has in store.

Hey, ladies!

I am so excited to meet all of you today over at Cotton's beautiful little Southern blog!
While I am not a native Southerner (Ohio is my homeland), I like most people have some

South in my blood! 

I blog over at Letters from a Mermaid. 

Yes, you can tell from my name that I love all this nautical, especially mermaids, starfish, 

seahorses and pearls.  Today I cannot wait to share with ya'll a few of my favorite things!

1.  My Lilly P. Carded ID wristlet in Twill 

Honestly adorable. 

Fits my phone, credit cards, change, and even has a space for my lipgloss!

2. Coach Rollerball in Poppy

I preach about this little guy all the time, but it is such a delicacy!

Such a sweet scent and so easy to tote around. 

I believe every lady needs her favorite scent in a rollerball. 

3. My Cashmere Houndstooth Scarf

This is so very versatile. 

Looks fabulous with my peacoat, a LBD, as a shawl or just because. 

This was a recent investment for me and I don't regret it. 

I liked it better than Lilly P. Murfees!

4.  Another one of my latest investments: Ralph Lauren black leather monogrammed 

gloves with whipstiching. 

With lots of days in the brutal cold at a school on the lakeshore, this was the best thing I could

ever do for my tiny hands.  These will last a lifetime. I tend to lose 2 to 3 pairs of 

gloves a year...I may have to be extra careful now!

5.  Ralph Lauren Bridle Print Wellies

I invested in these a little over a year ago, and they are perfect for snow or pairing with a perfect outfit.

6. Succulents

I live in an apartment and am constantly coming and going. Plants tend to get neglected 

and I have killed many a "lucky bamboo." 

Succulents tend to last a week or even two without being watered. 

Not to mention they look adorable and are amazing in the low light of a bedroom or bathroom. 

I can't wait to meet you and learn some of your favorite things!

Stop over and say hello. 

Meeting other bloggers is my favorite part about blogging!

Cheers, 

Rachael

Guest Bloggers Wanted

Hi friends! 

One of my blogger goals for 2014 is to get to know my fellow bloggers better! 

I would love to host some of you as guest bloggers of the next few months. If this is something you're interested in, feel free to contact me!

Guest Blogger: New Year's Sales Tips

I am so excited to introduce you all to Tori from Classic Loving today! She is one of the sweetest and most thoughtful bloggers I have met and I would highly recommend checking her page out! When Tori told me her idea for this post, I was ecstatic! I know I will be using these great tips and tricks in my sale shopping!

Hey all! 

It's Tori from Classic Loving and I'm guest blogging for Cotton today :) 

I hope everyone had a great NYE and New Years in general! 

Once New Years is over, the sales kick in. As a former retail employee, I know how hectic it become from even January 1st! Literally, sales shopping gets crazy. Not as bad as Black Friday, but definitely up there.

We Heartit

I know I love shopping- which means that I usually participate in these sales. I've got a couple of tips for people who are participating in these sales.

1. Bring only cash, leave the cards at home 

This can seemingly be dangerous in a different way than having your credit card with you, because you can drop your wallet, get it pick pocketed, etc which would mean you would lose all of the cash inside of it. But when you think about it, how often do you lose your wallet or get it stolen when you go out? Not too often. Bringing cash will stop you from overspending, especially if you are bad with willing yourself to stay on a budget.

2. Go in leggings and a loose top with a tight tanktop underneath 

I know it's unlady-like to try on clothes outside of the changing room. But worse come to worst, you can throw on tops without going to the dressing rooms if you are wearing a tanktop. Leggings will also make changing easier and can even substitute as tights for dresses/skirts, making it less time consuming than wearing jeans or dresses. 

3. Know the mall that you are going to- map out where you are going
Go to stores in a logical order. It really saves time and gives you more time to look around for clothes rather than walking around the mall.  The faster you get to the last store on your list, the better stuff there will be left. 

4. Go early or go late depending on what you want 

We Heart it

Ever heard the phrase "You snooze, you lose?" I know that everyone goes as the store opens, which means you will be thrown into the middle of tons of people. But there will always be that one dress that you've been dying for. A lot of stores have early bird sales such as "extra 20% off before noon"! Or go late if you don't care as much about what will be there, then go late to avoid the traffic. 

5. Organize your email coupons and coupons in general 

It'll make the cash register transactions easier for both you and the sales associate! Make sure you utilize coupons, because you can get discounts which means more money to spend on other items or less money spent in general!

6. Have fun! Don't stress!
Don't worry about getting the best deals or the best clothes! It's the new year! You shouldn't be stressing out about clothes and money anyway :)



I think not stressing out and having fun are such good things to keep in mind before you go shopping. It'll make your shopping/sale experience so much better.
Good luck, and have fun everyone!


Thanks Cotton, for letting me post today! Please come visit me at my blog Classic Loving- I'd love to meet all of you :)

Guest Blogger: POSITIVE New Year's Resolutions

I am so excited to introduce you all to Emily today! This post is so sweet and I have already taken these ideas to heart! Make sure to head over to her page and follower her, too! 

Hey Y'all! I'm Emily from Mrs WASP and I am guest blogging for Cotton today. I hope you have all had a merry Christmas! As we near the new year, I know everyone is ready to start making those New Year's Resolutions. I want to stop you for a second, and bring you a breathe of fresh air with those resolutions. Let's make this new year a positive one with resolutions we can all stick to!

1. Smile more.

Every time you pass a stranger, no matter your mood, smile. This gesture is the biggest pay it forward you could ever pass on. That smile, no matter how short or long has embedded warmth into that passerby. 

2. Be healthy.

I know we're all looking to tighten our belts after the holiday feasts, but let's not get hasty with the gym memberships and empty promises of being bikini ready by April. Being healthy is an attitude. It's not about hours of cardio or only having some almonds and a diet coke for lunch. It's about knowing who you are and what you can reasonably accomplish. So before you sign up for those spin classes, look to go to bed and get up at the same time every day, and start walking every day for a month to set up a good habit. It takes 30 days to start a new you, so let's be healthy one month at a time. Slow(er) and steady wins the race!

3. Try something new.

What you do can be something totally new, or you can take something you already love and delve further into it. I myself am keen on kayaking, but I've only done it in the calm waters of the low country. I intend on having a go at it in the mountain waters at least once this year.

4. Monogram it.

Last but not least, and this may not seem like a resolution, and many of us have a plethora of monograms, but I have a tradition where I find one really nice piece to give myself to start off the new year with.  A perfect resolution right? I think so. It's a simple reminder to stay true to yourself. As Dr. Seuss said, "Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

I hope you've enjoyed these resolutions, and I hope y'all have a happy new year!

Emily





Thanks so much, Emily! I hope you all enjoyed the post! 

Wanted: Guest Bloggers!

This is open to all of my followers! Even if you don't have a blog but would like to try your hand at it, shoot me an email! 

Guest Blogger: Top 5 Stocking Stuffers

Hi Everyone! My name is Kelly Boudreau from Hello Boudreau and I’m so excited to guest blogging here at Cotton's Pickens about my Top 5 Stocking Stuffers today! My roommate and I are on the hunt for cute stockings to hang from our entertainment center in the living room which got me thinking about stocking stuffers.
The original Christmas stocking story was supposedly about a poor man who had three daughters who couldn't afford to give his daughters a wedding. Saint Nicholas was in their town that night and wanted to give their family a gift but knew the father wouldn't accept his charity. He came by their house in the middle of the night, went down the chimney and saw three stockings. The three daughters had hung their wet stockings over the mantelpiece for drying and went to bed. The next morning when they woke up, each daughter found a bag of gold coins in their stockings. Hence - stocking stuffers.
Here's my list of Top 5 Stocking Stuffers this year:

1. Stella & Dot Joy Candle - This soy wax candle smells of fruity notes such as fresh limes and mandarins complimented by hints of peppery basil and aromatic white thyme.
2. Leather Hunter's Flask - This hunter's flask is made of stainless-steel and textured leather with two shot cups. This stocking stuffer is for both the rugged and refined.
3. Peace-Out Cuff Links - These cuff links scream V for Victory.
4. Kate Spade Colorful Lipstick Crayons - Pucker up! These colorful lipstick crayons are perfect for any holiday party.
5. Personalized Ink Stamp - The perfect gift for newly weds who are enjoying their new home together.

I love seeing what people come up with to fit inside Christmas stockings. What was the best stocking stuffer you ever received?

Thanks Meredith for letting me stop by and share my Top 5 Stocking Stuffer list! Feel free to check out Hello Boudreau and say hi, follow on Instagram or Facebook!
Genuinely,
Kelly