If you're looking for books, head to your nearest library. If you're in the mood for slogan sweaters, check out Joanie. (For a combination of the two, still look to Joanie for bookish sweaters and book print dresses.) Cozy sweaters are a bit staple of my style and I recently snagged a few I couldn't resist from Joanie. I went for this one for the slogan, but it's become a repeat favorite of mine for lazy days around the house because it's incredibly soft and warm. This particular style has sold out, but they still have sweatshirts for "avid readers" and Jane Austen fans. Plus, they are the sort of brand that re-releases popular styles so check back if you're coveting this particular sweater. I really do like brands that bring back their popular styles and even re-create them in various colors. I know the trend these days is to create buzz with limited editions and drive sales by telling people they only have so long to get a certain style before it's gone forever, but I prefer a brand that isn't afraid to repeat. Like a classic novel, good taste does not go out of style and if you love a piece or style you can continue to wear it long past what is vogue.

This outfit is basically my ideal winter look right now. I find myself favoring more and more classic dresses like the ones Son de Flor makes; timeless and chic with a bit of ease to them. I especially like their new festive capsule collection with the embroidered collars or this gingham style I'm wearing today. Add some cozy knits and a backpack for collecting little foraged bits and this outfit couldn't get better. Wellie boots means it's even a practical one as we did tramp through quite a bit of mud to this pretty patch of woods. I feel a bit like a storybook character in this outfit. I've received a few comments on my Instagram lately asking me what I wear on more casual days or if I always look so "dressed up" and while it's certainly true that I have my down days at home in leggings and an oversized sweater--I don't leave the house like that! My blog outfits are my real outfits. I admire people who can pull off more slouchy, casual outfits and still look and feel cool. The truth is I don't feel good in those types of clothes. These outfits as "dressed up" or more effort as they might seem give me confidence. Sure it can take a bit longer to coordinate an outfit in the morning (although honestly I don't think it does; I probably spend the same amount of time getting ready as the average person), but it's worth it if you step outside feeling good about yourself. To each their own!   

One of the ways I'm trying to keep my inspiration and motivation through winter is by tackling new creative projects. My latest little side project is to make seasonally inspired crowns with foraged bits throughout the year. I made my first crown last week using very prickly holly which was pretty but not the most comfortable crown in the world! I want my next one to be using evergreen branches and bits of white--either leftover baby's breath that has been drying in our living room, or some silver dollar branches I found in the woods recently. It's good motivation to get outside and exploring in this colder season.

I added my winter editing presets to my shop recently and only just realized I never announced it on my blog! Between a newsletter, Instagram, Instagram stories, and so on my blog can get the short straw some days. But I don't think I'll ever be able to give up my blog completely. I still prefer the long-form of a blog; the ability to write a lengthy and thoughtful post or include a dozen pictures rather than having to choose just one shot. All that is an aside to the point of today's post: here's my new winter presets: a festive pack! I had a lot of fun making them and they've been getting really lovely feedback as well. I'm routinely demo-ing them in my Instagram stories too, so there's even more examples there and in my highlights if you want to know what effect each preset has on a photograph. The presets are available in Lightroom for desktop, Photoshop/ACR, and Lightroom mobile. Again it's a set of six primary presets, plus I through in two vintage inspired extra presets for fun so you actually get eight in total! I like a set of six because then these presets can work together as a team; not every preset is perfect for every picture but these are designed to work cohesively together so you don't have to use a single filter to still have a consistent editing style. I have been using these presets myself to edit all of my pictures this December. I use them as a launching point and add little adjustments on top to personalize each image, but am demonstrating them here without any edits beyond the presets themselves so you can see the effect they have on a photograph.
Evergreen: This is a very classic preset that brings out lots of detail and keeps greens very true. A lot of presets can kill greens (my autumn ones definitely do!) but winter to me is all about evergreen trees, branches of holly and so on, so it was important to me that my winter presets don't make greens look too gray or yellow. It's also less contrasting and brighter than some of the other presets in this pack.
Frost: Probably my favorite in the winter pack, frost is designed to make every picture look frosty and wintry. It's very blue-toned and works beautifully on cooling down warmer pictures or giving less wintry pictures a cold, snowy feeling. Most of my presets tip towards being warmer toned as I usually prefer warmer-looking pictures, so frost is very unique in my collection and gives the best winter vibes to all your photographs.
Holly: Inspired by the bright red berries on a holly branch, this is a very warm and red preset. It's more dramatic than the others in the festive pack so it isn't as universally flattering as some of the others, but perfect for when you want your photographs to have a unique punch.
Mistletoe: Another great preset for green, this is darker and more contrasted than the Evergreen filter; since winter is such a dark season many of these presets are geared to make your pictures a bit darker and moodier. Presets to me are about adding a mood or feeling to your pictures. Mistletoe is also great for brightening whites (like the white little mistletoe berries) and punching up greens.
Mulled Wine: This is my most popular preset from the winter pack based on feedback from my testers and those that have already purchased the pack. Mulled wine is a smoky filter that mimics the steam rising from a warm mug of mulled wine. It's soft and very universal filter that will give your winter photographs a real "mood."
Sugarplum: If you liked pumpkin patch from my autumn presets, then Sugarplum will probably be your favorite from this set. It's a winterized version of my favorite autumn preset, a bit darker and purplish it works beautifully to add a rich glow to your winter pictures. Named for the sugarplum fairy dance in the Nutcracker and the candied plums themselves.

I'm all for waiting until December to start blasting the Christmas music and putting up all of your twinkle lights, but once it is December I'm so happy to see stores and homes decked out in all the gaudy decorations! As winter settles in and the evenings grow dark far to early, I find the festive flair everywhere truly comforting. A few cheerful bows and flickering lights and the grimmest of corners feels a bit magical. Throw a load of garlands and baubles into an already cute pub (like our local favorite Tomney's) and it's especially jolly. The winter blues have already started to creep up on me, so I'll take comfort in any form I can get it. It does strike me a bit bittersweet that all these sweet decorations will be ripped down in January, but there's no point in focusing on that. If there's any way to get through winter with your spirits high it has to be by appreciating the moment you're in. So right now I'm celebrating the Christmas markets, cute church festivals, and the coziest corners to curl up in with a hot toddy and good book.