Kilee Nickels

Our LEGO Room Reveal + Our Favorite LEGO Sets

2020-01-06T10:09:00.004-06:00

(Thank you LEGO for sponsoring this post. This blog post is sponsored by LEGO. All opinions are my own.)

The boys have been begging us for months to finish our infamous LEGO room and we are finally done! We are huge LEGO fans over here- so much so that when we moved into our new house a few years ago and found a hidden room upstairs, we converted into a LEGO-only room. We just finished adding all of the storage and tables the boys could ever need and to celebrate we grabbed a few LEGO sets they have been so excited to try. LEGO sent over three sets that were perfect for the boys to try out and give their reviews. Knox, Kesler and Easton were eager to participate and we had lots of fun working together on these great new sets!

Knox is my six year old and he has really just jumped into the world of LEGO in the last six months or so. He liked them before, but lately he has been talking about the sets that he really wants to put on his list and the pieces that he really thinks are cool. He assembled this LEGO CITY Rover Testing Drive set all on his own. It says 5+ and it really was great for his age level and abilities. I was really impressed and he was really proud of himself! Of course his brothers always love to try to give their two cents, but he held his own and really did the whole thing from start to finish.

Now Easton is my Harry Potter kid. He loves Harry Potter and was so excited to see some new Harry Potter sets this year. We got him the LEGO Hogwarts™ Castle last year and it was such a dream come true. He had a lot of fun putting together the LEGO Harry Potter The Knight Bus™. Target and LEGO also have a LEGO Harry Potter Quidditch™ Match set that I know he has his eye on too! Easton is a super fast builder so it's fun when he finds a set that he really thinks is neat! We had this bus together so quickly and it went right up next to Hogwarts.

But my favorite set to build, or help build, was Kesler's set. He built the LEGO Star Wars Resistance Y-Wing Starfighter™. It is for ages 8+ and Kesler is 9, but it proved to be a little challenging for him. He had to spend some extra time on it and it took a little bit of extra effort from him. He got somewhat frustrated, but between him and Easton, they figured it out and it turned out so cool. The ship itself is a really awesome ship and they were both really proud of it when it was done. It might be one of the coolest sets we've ever assembled over here at the Nickels' house. And I love that it challenged them! Way to stick with it boys!

LEGO sets have been a favorite in our house for as long as I can remember. We always make sure we grab a couple new sets for the boys for each holiday and they are always over the moon. We can't seem to stay away from the LEGO aisle at Target and I know I'll be back there for some birthday and holiday shopping this year for these guys and my nephews too. All of the sets you saw in today's post are available at Target- plus a whole bunch more! We're big fans of the Star Wars, Harry Potter, CITY, and NINJAGO sets at our house- but even the Classic sets are so good too.

I'm sure we'll get lots of questions about our LEGO room and how we organize and all of that, so we'll be sure to share more in another post as well. Hopefully these sets give you some ideas for gift shopping this year for the kiddos in your life. You can never go wrong with LEGO!

Hello from 2020

2020-01-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year! It's officially 2020 and I'm here for it. 2019 was a year of growth and stretching and unlike any other and I think it's safe to assume 2020 will be a whole lot more of the same. If I do a decent job of taking my own advice it will be a year full of taking risks, failing forward, learning, trying lots of new things, getting uncomfortable and believing that it will all work out in the end. It will be so much fun, so much not-fun, so much work and there will be so many rewards. Are we seeing a theme here? It won't be boring, that's for sure!

SHOP THE POST

SWEATER // JEANS // BOOTS // EARRINGS

To be honest I haven't spent hours writing down goals for this year or drafting podcast outlines or prepping tons of inspirational content. I can't tell you that the podcast is going to be fire this season because it's already been pre-recorded or that I've got a plan to help you A, B or C. I don't. I'm still working though emails on the last day of 2019 and planning what we are eating for dinner tonight at 4 pm, not a month ahead of time. But what I do have is hope. And encouragement. And ambition. And the knowledge that it's just one day at a time and one task at a time that I can make a difference.

My only plan to do small things with big consistency this year.

So I'm offering to share those small things and small wins and big things and big wins with you this year too. That may be here. It may be on the podcast. It may be only on social. But I'm excited to dig into what the year has in store and to set some goals and to enjoy the ride!

PS: These pretty earrings are back in stock today after several months of being sold out! Wahoo! They also come in brown. And we have a new Earring of the Month today as well. Snag all three and stay tuned for more awesome stuff a little later this month from Nickel & Suede!

Happy New Year to you! Let's go!

New Basics for the New Year

2019-12-30T13:16:00.002-06:00

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great holiday and enjoyed time with your family and friends. In this week between Christmas and New Year's I keep forgetting what day it is, heck, even what year it is. My mind keep thinking it's already next week and I'm so thankful when I remember it's still 2019 and I've still got a few more days before we jump into a new year. I'm still recovering from Christmas and very much in reflecting mode. Today I'm partnering with JC Penney to share some cute sweaters and basic workwear that will take you right into the new year, plus so thoughts on ways to start the new year off right!

SWEATER | PANTS | BOOTIES | EARRINGS

SWEATER (wearing XS) // PANTS (2P) // SHOES

Every year as soon as Christmas is over, I'm all about light and bright and no more red and green. My wardrobe shifts from the holiday color palette to basically the opposite! I headed to JCPenney last week and found so many cute things that were just what I had in mind. I love this star sweater in black and white and paired it with my favorite black dress pants and these edgy white boots. I also picked up this cute striped sweater, this leopard blouse and this mint colored sweatshirt. They all fit a little big so I size down in all of them. I love refreshing my tops in January with some basics that I can wear for work or with jeans. All of these items are on sale and the quality is great too. I love that I can always find so many great items that are my style and are quality and a price that I can appreciate at JCPenney every time I go.

With the New Year approaching of course my mind is turning to goals and so I pulled out my goals from 2018 over the weekend. I think it so important to write down your goals so that you can visualize what is important to you and see what it is that you want to do going forward. At the beginning of last year I wrote a big list of goals and then looked over it once a quarter throughout the year. Yesterday I looked through it and somewhat to my surprise, I had accomplished about 85% of what I had set down on paper. That's pretty incredible right?

My big takeaway from that discovery was that just the process of writing down goals and then reviewing that list can be so progressive. I didn't make a list with sub-lists and check boxes and time lines in a big complicated planner. I just made one big list and I reviewed it multiple times last year. And I made a ton of progress. I kept it simple and I got a lot done. I'm always a fan of simple, when it comes to getting dressed or making goals so if there is a way to keep it simple and make an impact- I'm all about it.

What are your plans for making goals this year? Are you setting goals? Picking a word for the year? Did you accomplish anything big this last year? I'd love to hear!

Thank you JCPenney for sponsoring this post. As always all styling and opinions are my own.

Last Minute Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List

2019-12-18T14:10:00.000-06:00

We are officially ONE WEEK away from Christmas! I really cannot believe I am saying that! I feel like we were just cruising through the Summer months and here we are, about to celebrate Christmas, the end of a decade, and the start of a new year.

Last weekend I mentioned I needed to still grab a few gifts for people and I received so many messages from people saying they were in the same boat! I wanted to share some of the things I grabbed this holiday season or things I already have that are available for last minute shipping. Hopefully this list will help you guys round up the rest of your shopping this season too!

Amazon (order by 12/22 for Christmas Eve delivery)

Nordstrom (order by 12/22 for Christmas Eve delivery) J Crew (order by 12/20 for Christmas Eve delivery) Abercrombie (order by 12/19 for Christmas Eve delivery) If you see me out and about you know I'm grabbing stocking stuffers and gift cards last minute and stalking the UPS delivery trucks for the last of our gifts! Good luck with your last week of errands and shopping!

Ultimate Gift Guide For Him: Soren's Picks

2019-12-13T18:50:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday friends! It's getting down to the wire and when I polled you this week on Instagram I found you and I are in the same boat. We all have one person left to shop for (at least!) and that one person is our guy! So I enlisted Soren's help and we've pulled together all of his favorite things from Nordstrom that he hands-down recommends for your guy. And if you know Soren at all you know he has VERY high standards. He knows what he likes and if he likes it- it's good. So we've complied a list of winners for you today for men's holiday gifting from Nordstrom and I think you'll find this gift guide serves you well.

NOTE: I, Soren, did write all the text that follows and I endorse what is being said here: Quarter Zip Jacket: A good quarter zip fleece was the first thing on my first wish list after marrying Kilee. This is a classic that I always try and find a reason to wear. Feels great under my leather jacket too. Running Shoes: Most comfortable shoes ever. Period. If he hasn't tried them, just get them. They're the easiest shoes ever to get on and off. The hype for these shoes is real. Leather Gloves: These are the kind of quality that make you feel like a better man. To me, they're the next best thing to nice shoes. They're just super nice. The exterior seams on the fingers really make the insides so comfortable. Definitely get the caramel color.

Headphones: I literally go to sleep with these every night. I even took them on a week-long hiking trip because I've become so dependent on them to fall asleep. Plus, at home when kids wake up in the middle of the night asking for mom - but I have to go get them, these headphones are a real sleep saver. I can't hear a thing anymore. ;) Hand Salve: I started using Kilee's Kiehl stuff a while back - it's legit. Now she get's me my own! Kiehl's Set: Same as above. I'll not hesitate to try stuff she get's me from this brand. I'm 38 now and should start taking care of myself like an adult! Pajama Pants: These actually surprised me with how good the fit was (TTS size medium). I didn't feel sloppy at all. My first thought was that I might even try getting away with wearing them to work! Toiletry Case: She got it for me. I use it. All good. Leather Slippers: Always, always get real shearling. It's the only thing that keeps sock-less feet from sweating. Plus it conforms to your foot. I wouldn't consider another slipper. These will be such a favorite you'll forget to get a new pair after a few years. Mine are still awesome. Body Brush: I did not put this on here, I've never seen it - so I guess I'll take note and start using one.

RUSH JAMMIES // SOREN PULLOVER // PANTS // SLIPPERS

So those are all of Soren's faves. I think I would also add in this speaker, these shoes , and these shoes too. I hope these ideas help as you go to shop for those last few gifts on your list- especially for the hardest one on your list. Thankfully Norstrom has fast and free shipping options so get to ordering and finish off that Christmas shopping list!

Thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. As always all opinions and styling were my own.

Friday Happenings- So. Much. To. Do

2019-12-06T14:58:00.001-06:00

Happy first week of December! I cannot believe I am saying that. This has been an exciting week with earring launches over at Nickel and Suede, massive sales for Cyber Week, Christmas shopping and today I am traveling for a speaking engagement. Who else gets nervous when speaking in public? I have been working to overcome it but still have a ways to go. Today I am sharing all my outfits from this week, this week's top sellers, and even more sales that are happening this weekend.

THIS WEEK'S TOP SELLERS HIGH WAIST LEGGINGS CONVERTIBLE HOBO BAG PLUSH THROW HIGH WAIST SKINNY JEANS PAJAMA SET BOOTIES NEW CITY COAT MIXED MEDIA SWEATER LEOPARD BOOTIE AVIATOR SUNGLASSES THIS WEEKEND'S SALES

JCrew | 48% off your purchase with code FLASH48
Abercrombie | Up to 50% off site wide
LOFT | 40% off your purchase with code NEWNOW
Express | 30-50% everything
Be sure to check out today's podcast too! This one is near and dear to my heart- the topic is Imposter Syndrome. It's a toughie, but a goodie!

How is your Christmas shopping going? Are you done? Part-way? Have you started at all?

Ultimate Gift Guide For Boys

2019-12-05T12:10:00.000-06:00

It's that time of year! November and December are coming quickly and Christmas shopping has already begun. I never understood my grandma having her Christmas shopping done by September until now. Time goes so quickly and now I can really appreciate how early prepared for the holidays! This year I have Christmas gifts for my boys on my mind and I wanted to share my holiday gift guide as early as possible in case you too are trying to get ahead. It feels so good to get started early and to have some ideas up your sleeve as the deals start rolling out this month. In today's post I've linked so many toys that we have and have loved and then several toys that are on our wish list. So read on for the ultimate boys' gift guide!

I've rounded up my favorite toys for boys (and girls!) below. We don't have any video games so instead it takes some creativity to find toys, games and other gifts for the boys for Christmas. This list is really for all ages as I think that my boys all play together and with a lot of the same things even as they grow, especially if it's a great toy!

We have tried and loved many of these and you can read my thoughts on each gift suggestion below.

CRAYOLA ART SET (AGES 5+): This set has been a hit at our house for several ages. Two of my kids have their own sets and they love having the case to protect their own art supplies. If you have a creative or an art lover, this set is a winner.

MINI DELUXE 3 WHEEL SCOOTER (AGES 2-5): These scooters are the best. Rush, our youngest, learned how to scoot around on this before he even turned two! We love them for ages 1-6. We have three of them and they are durable and easy to use.

MAGNET BUILDING TILES (AGES 3+): These have been a favorite toy for all ages for years. Last year we got a second set because we found the more we have the more fun they are. The bigger boys still play with these too!

DINO DISCOVERY 3D SANDBOX (AGES 3+): My four and six year old really love this sand and the dino set was a fun way to get some. We also bought extra kinetic sand to add to the set.

BREAK OPEN GEODE SET (AGES 8+): This was a hit at my nine year old's most recent birthday party. It comes with ten geodes so there are plenty to learn and practice breaking. There was some involvement needed from parents but they also gave great ideas for how kids could do it on their own.

DRONE WITH GLOVE CONTROLLER (AGES 6+): This drone was so much fun! We got this affordable drone set and it worked right away. The kids and adults have had so much fun with it.

HOT WHEELS CRISS CROSS CRASH SET (AGES 5-9): Hot Wheels are always a hit at our house. All of my boys had a blast with this set.

RIPSTIK CASTER BOARD (AGES 8+): This is on my radar for this year. My brother's always had them and I think my bigger boys would enjoy them.

SNAP CIRCUITS SET (AGES 8+): I love toys that help kids learn and this is definitely one. It's also fun so it's a winner for both kids and parents.

MARBLE RUN SET (AGES 8+): You can't beat a marble track set.

HOT WHEELS MINDRACERS GAME (AGES 8+): I think my boys will really enjoy this one as well.

LEGO MAKE YOUR OWN MOVIE KIT (AGES 8+): We have so many Lego's but my boy's would love this set and idea!

LEGO GADGETS SCIENCE KIT (AGES 8+): Love this spin on a typical Lego set.

ROCK POLISHER (AGES 8+): This set is super cool- but it definitely teaches patience! It takes about 5-9 days for the rocks to make it through their cycle! Definitely recommend but wanted to give warning that there is no immediate gratification on this one.

LEGO CHAIN REACTIONS (AGES 8+): My boys love Lego and this set looks fun!

LEGO PLAY N STORE TABLE (AGES 2-8): We have a Lego room in our house, but if we didn't I think a table like this would be ideal!

SEARCH AND FIND MYSTERY GAME (AGES 5-12): We love games! I think this looks great for older ages.

My boys love getting packages, but KiwiCo Crates are one of their favorite packages of all! They love each having their own project to work on! It's the perfect activity for a Saturday afternoon. They all get the chance to build and learn something new that is age appropriate and fun. I love that that you can gift this subscription in 1, 3, 6 or 12 month lengths! It's the kind of gift that keeps on giving well past Christmas!

What gifts have your boys loved? What else would you add to the list?

December Earring Of The Month + An Exciting Announcement

2019-12-02T14:40:00.000-06:00

I cannot believe it is already December, this year has flown by! This month we have some exciting stuff happening over at Nickle and Suede. We have TWO great Earrings of the Month that will elevate all of your holiday outfits. Our Gold Rush and Silver Linings earrings are the perfect year round staple for any wardrobe and their metallic accent is pairs with any style. I'm also excited to announce that starting tomorrow we will be releasing limited quantities of either throwback styles or exclusive one day only or while supplies last earrings through Sunday! These new styles are so fun- I think you'll especially love the first day's style!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's style- and be sure you are subscribed to our newsletter to stay up to date on every day's newest styles!

Cyber Monday Deals + Holiday Outfit Round-Up

2019-12-02T10:39:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday! Not only is it Monday- but it's Cyber Monday so it's the best day to shop. Today I've got just a fun quick round up of lots of outfits I've worn this month that are all very holiday-esque. I've been dressing like it's Christmas since November 1- I can't help it. I love the plaid and the red and the sparkles and the sequins. It's just so fun. So today I'm rounding these outfits up for you and lucky you- most of them are on sale. I've linked them all for you to save and to pin and to shop.

TOP (30% OFF) | SKIRT (60% OFF) | SHOES (60% OFF) | SUNGLASSES (30% OFF)

BODYSUIT (50% OFF) | SKIRT (50% OFF) | BOOTIES (35% OFF)

TOP (50% OFF) | JEANS | BOOTIES

TOP (50% OFF) | SKIRT | BOOTIES

TOP (50% OFF) | PANTS (40% OFF) | BOOTIES

CYBER MONDAY SALES

Nickel and Suede Holiday Favorites + Gift Guides

2019-11-29T11:19:00.001-06:00

Happy Friday! It's Black Friday and we're in the thick of the gift shopping season. This weekend we're offering 15% off PLUS FREE SHIPPING on all orders so if you didn't shop last weekend- now is the time! My team put together some fun gift guides below for several different personality types and I've detailed out all of my personal faves below as well!

SHOP ALL OF MY FAVORITES BELOW:

Black Friday Faves 2019

2019-11-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

Hey guys! Happy Black Friday! It's a big day for deal and for shopping so I'll get right to it. I've rounded up the best deals below. So here's to making your list, checking it twice and CHECKING. IT. OFF.

PJ's // EARRINGS

JCrew Factory | 60% off, plus an additional 50% off clearance with code YAYDEALS

JCrew | 50% off your purchase and an additional 60% off sale styles with code SHOPFIRST

Abercrombie | 50% off Sitewide plus free shipping LOFT | 40% off your purchase with code BESTWEEK

T3 | Extra 25% off Sitewide with code FRIDAY19

DSW | Buy 1 get 20% off, Buy 2 get 30% off
Gap | 50% off everything code BLACKFRIDAY + extra 10% w/ code BESTEVER
Express | 50% everything
JCPenney | Free shipping anywhere over $25 plus Black Friday Deals! Banana Republic | 50% off regular price
Macy's | Free shipping with $25 purchase
Neiman Marcus |

Nordstrom | Up to 50% off
Nordstrom Rack | Spend more, get more
American Eagle | 40% off plus free shipping
Bloomingdales |
Shopbop | Up to 25% off full price items, 75% off sale price Mango | 30% off everying- code BLACK19
Amazon |
Ulta | Black Friday Beauty Busters
Sephora |
Abercrombie Kids | 40% off plus free shipping
Nickle and Suede | Free shipping + 15% off (while supplies last and excluses EoM)

I'll be sharing more deals as they pop up over the weekend on stories and on Facebook so be sure to follow there for the most up to date sales. Happy shopping and enjoy the weekend!

The Only Pajamas You Need This Season

2019-11-27T10:42:00.000-06:00

I don't know about you, but I'm so ready for this weekend. I'm ready for the days at home with my boys, even more decorating for Christmas, baking and making those Christmas lists. I'm heading home from work tonight to make pies and tomorrow I'm in charge of the turkey. We're hosting Thanksgiving dinner and after years of living away from family I'm just so thankful to live nearby and get together for the holidays. I'll be living in my pajamas all weekend and today I'm sharing the BEST sets that I found at JC Penney. I ran in the other day to grab a few things and I ended up finding some new blankets, new pjs and some cozy socks too. You're going to love all of it!

SHOP THE POST

PAJAMAS (pick black or rose) // SOCKS // BLANKET

In the past I've usually been a sweatshirt and joggers kinda gal, but I've been getting on board with a few pajama sets lately. And when I found this set on a recent trip to JC Penney I knew I had to share. They are so soft and luxurious feeling. They aren't heavy or hot, but they are still cozy if that makes sense. My favorite are the black pair, but the rose pair has a little leopard trim that is so chic as well. I've been telling everyone I know about these pajamas because not only are they so soft and even stretchy, they are under $20 on sale for the whole set! I love new pajamas at Christmas time so if you do matching jammies with your sisters or your mom these would be great ones to snatch up! They may have them in your store, but I would order online to make sure you get the sizes you want.

I'm wearing size small and they fit pretty TTS. They fit a little loose so you could size down, but I love the slightly over sized fit for jammies. Like I said I also grabbed a new white cozy blanket - I love adding some texture to my living room and there are a lot of great deals on blankets and other home items on sale this week. I've similar items below, but don't miss these exact pajamas and this blanket too- you'll love them!

Shop all of my favorite pajamas, blankets, and other cozy things from JC Penney (that also happen to be on MAJOR SALE this weekend) below.

Thank you to JC Penney for sponsoring this post. As always all styling and opinions are my own.

Nordstrom Cyber Deals This Week- Insider Info

2019-11-26T11:25:00.000-06:00

Hey guys! It's a big week here at our house between Thanksgiving prep and kids being off of school and lots of fun memories to make. Those are the things I want to spend time on but between work and kids I'm getting behind on the holiday preparations that I wanted to get ahead on. The biggest shopping season of the year is not joke and I'm feeling just a tad behind on what I'm getting the people on my list. As much as I wish I could deny it, I haven't bought a single gift! Oops! Thankfully the sales will still be happening all week and today I've partnered with Nordstrom to share a bunch of really fun Cyber Deals and Black Friday that should help you and I get some of that shopping checked off!

SHOP THE POST

JACKET // SWEATER // JEANS // SHOES

Today's outfit has me feeling all sorts of tough which is kinda how I feel November is playing out. Like I'm super grateful and I love Thanksgiving, but it's been a month and I'm having to really dig down deep and leopard and leather are getting me through. That being said, this jacket and these boots are both shockingly comfortable, great quality and helping me kick butt this month. This outfit I would say fits TTS, except for the pants. Those I would say order a size up- they have no stretch.

I'm excited to shop the sales this month and lucky for you and for me- I have some insider info. The Cyber Deals at Nordstrom start this week- on Wednesday at 12:01 am and you can sneak peek them here. And even more deals go live on Friday at 12:01 am as well. I'm a sucker to see what deals pop up so I'll be sure to share on social when I see things go live!

Nordstrom has so many great gifts for under $25, under $50 and under $100. There are perfect things for stocking stuffers, small gifts and little gifts too. I had so much fun browsing them! Here are some of my faves that I would put on my list, but don't stop there. There are so many great things for the guys and for kids too. Head here to browse them all!

Have you made much headway on your shopping lists yet? Are you going out this week? Shopping online or in-store?

Thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. As always, this all opinions and styling were my own.

Your Guide to Winter Coats- The Essentials

2019-11-22T10:17:00.000-06:00

Brrrr! I don't know about you but I've been living in coats lately! And nothing kills an outfit like wearing a coat you don't love. Especially if you are like me and you sometimes accidentally wear coats around inside all day. Oops. But a great coat can really make an outfit and if you have one to three really great coats, you can really make almost every outfit a winner. So today I've partnered with Abercrombie to share a variety of their coats that I've been testing out this month and I'm happy to report I've got some winners! Read to for fit, fabric and functional details on all of the coats I ordered from Abercrombie this month!

SHOP THE POST There are lots of style of coats that I've seen trending this year and if it were up to me I would always go after the fuzziest and the one that looks the most like a big furry thing (just ask Soren) but just because something looks warm doesn't mean it's going to be practical for every occasion. Today I'm featuring four styles of coats and I think they all cover your bases. If you really need to choose I think you can narrow it down to two to start- but these four get you a lot more options! 1. The Puffer: This is traditionally a pretty casual option- and Abercrombie has casual options. But this puffer is also pretty dang cool in that it comes in faux leather and velvet options. I love the little bit of an elevated fabric with this casual shape. It's warm, edgy and super chic. I would say a puffer jacket is a must (or a parka- which is next on this list) for your coat closet. You need something to wear with sneaks, more casual boots and cute beanies. But if you find one to love you will be proud to add it to any outfit. And how cute is it with this A&F scarf?? I'm wearing size S in this one and it fits great. I would say it's TTS and the faux leather is really nice. I would also love to try the velvet or other fabric options. Here are a few other similar options from Abercrombie.

2. The Parka: The parka is the most traditional of coat options and one that I think is the most basic and easy to wear. I love this green military style from A&F and I am always a fan of fur around the hood. This coat has a sherpa lining which makes it warmer and softer on the inside. This coat is great for cooler temps but definitely not for freezing. It's a little bit lighter of a parka but great for your casual coat category. Here are a few other similar options from Abercrombie.

3. The Teddy Coat/ Fur Coat: This coat style has really gotten popular in the last few years and I gotta admit, this one is my favorite of today's featured styles. I love this russet color and the texture is just to die for. I've gotten so many compliments and questions about this coat. It's warm and can be dressed up or down. I do think that a coat that is a little more of a fur texture also fits in this category and I wear my fur coats with casual or dressy outfits. But if you are going for a one-coat-for-all-outfits coat this year- this would be it! I'm wearing size small and I think it fits TTS. Here are a few other options from Abercrombie right now.

4. The Wool Coat: The last category of coat that I would say is really important and even essential is a wool coat. This is the coat you wear to work, on dates, to dressy events and with dressy outfits. Today I've styled this plaid blazer-cut coat, but you can really get a camel or charcoal color wool coat and it will be really timeless. I would definitely make sure you have a wool coat that you love in your closet for the times when you cannot be casual. I'm wearing a small in this and it fits TTS. Here are a few other wool options from Abercrombie right now.

I hope this coat guide was helpful! I know my confidence in my Winter oufits has definitely improved by having a few key coats in my closet. I love the selection that Abercrombie has this year and the quality and price is great too! I'd love to see which ones you snag so be sure to tag me on social or in stories when you get yours! Have an amazing weekend!

Thanks to Abercrombie for sponsoring this post. As always all opinions and styling were my own!

Holiday Statement Earrings

2019-11-21T15:32:00.000-06:00

Hello! I wanted to hop in for a minute today to share that my favorite new releases for N&S are live today. These holiday statement earrings have been in the works for months and are just the pieces to really elevate a holiday look. The Gem Statement Earring and the Afterglow Statement Disc are piecs that we have sneak peeked and have been highly anticipated and we can't wait to get them in your hands!

SHOP THE POST

GEM STATEMENT EARRINGS (SILVER)

GEM STATEMENT LEATHER EARRINGS

I designed these gem posts to pair with our patented gem shape for an even more elevated and dressier style and I love how they came together. They debuted when I wore them to the Inc 500 Gala last month today you can finally order a pair for yourself. The gem shape is intended to be worn so that it carries with your jawline for a really flattering look, and these posts are even more dramatic in how they draw that line. I love how they elongate your face and your neck!

The Afterglow Disc is also a gorgeous earring with the prettiest gemstone post and shimmering leather. Did I mention it's limited as well???

AFTERGLOW LEATHER EARRINGS

LUXE LEATHER EARRINGS SET

WINTER FIR + CLOVE CANDLE

Our holiday candle is also back today and I'm so excited to start burning it. It's the perfect blend of evergreen, cloves and even a little citrus. You won't want to smell anything else this Christmas!

These and all of our earrings + the entire site will be 20% off for our Pre-Black Friday Sale starting tomorrow through Monday. You do not want to miss this! This is our deepest discount of the year and things will sell out! Starting Friday at 7 am CST you can shop online with no code necessary. And if you are a newsletter subscriber- you know you started shopping today!

I'll have a post up tomorrow with all of my N&S faves so get your list started and get ahead start on your Christmas gift shopping! Enjoy!!!

N&S Style Files- Cozy and Casual for this Crazy Month

2019-11-15T12:18:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone, happy Friday! We've kicked off November with holiday releases and the red, green and gold holiday vibes are going strong. This year's Nickel & Suede holiday collection is very glam so for Style Files I decided to take thing down a notch and go with some cozy and casual looks. I'm loving plaid, pom pom beanies, jeans, our new Spirited sweatshirt and scarves paired with our newest big and bold lightweight earrings. Whether you dress up or down for a holiday event, you N&S will be there to pull the outfit together and make you feel like a million bucks.

SHOP THE POST

SWEATSHIRT // EARRINGS // SCARF // JEANS // SNEAKERS

SHIRT // EARRINGS // PANTS // BOOTS

If you know me at all you know I love a good monochromatic look so today's looks definitely still have that flavor. I paired our new Spruce great leather earrings with our Spirited sweatshirt and a fun plaid scarf and sneakers. This outfit is one I can move in and with all of the things there are to do this month, I'm gonna need it.

The Crimson Beau is another one of my favorites from this collection. I love the red and gold paired together and today I styled it with some red plaid and faux leather pants. These pants are so good- fit is TTS and this top is really affordable. I love how festive both of these looks feel, but you can totally wear them now and all through the next six weeks before Christmas.

I hope this month's outfits gave you some more styling ideas for these great new earrings. As usual they are still just as lightweight and they feel as incredible and they look. Can't beat that! I hope you have an amazing Friday and weekend and we'll see you soon!

OLM Gift Guides: Toddler Edition with Vtech

2019-11-14T09:33:00.000-06:00

Hey guys! I'm so excited to share today's post with you because it was such a fun project to work on. As you may know we have five boys and as you can imagine, in a house with five kids, we have a lot of toys. We have so many toys that it can be a struggle to know what to get the last kiddo or even the fourth kiddo for a gift. It's hard to find something we don't have that he and we will love. Well, today I have some great toy recommendations that both Rush and I (and his brothers!) have all had lots of fun playing with and can safely recommend for your toddlers this season. This is the first of several gift guides we've put together this month, but Rush and I had so much fun playing with dino and pirates in the living room I can tell you this one will be our favorite!

VTECH LATCHES AND DOORS BUSY BOARD: Initially, Rush was more apprehensive about this toy, but once he figured out how to use it he loved it! I think this is going to be great to help with his fine motor skills which is definitely a “mom win” for me! There are so many modes on this busy board which is great. There are also 3 different songs that encourage him to work on his ABC's and numbers.

VTECH TREASURE SEEKERS PIRATE SHIP: Rush and even the older boys LOVED this one! They have been playing with it nonstop since we got it out. I love that this is a toy that Rush will be able to use for a few years. If you are looking for a great role play toy this one would be perfect!

VTECH MIX AND MATCH-A-SAURUS: This was hands down the favorite of all the toys! I love that it is not only a major win because it is a dinosaur but it also is stimulating and helps with his fine motor skills. This toy is great for helping children identify their emotions, which is such a huge developmental milestone. You can also make Dino act like a monster or a robot, so there is sure to be something fun for every kid!

Here are some others we haven't gotten out yet but are definitely considering for Rush this year:

VTECH SCOOP & PLAY DIGGER: If you are looking for a great toy that is stimulating and doesn't take up too much space this is it! I love that everything can be stored inside and offers so many learning opportunities.

VTECH SMART SHOTS SPORTS CENTER: This is on the top of my list of things we need to add to our cart ASAP! I love that this toy is both a basketball hoop and soccer goal. It also includes so many songs, sounds and phrases, introduces shapes and numbers, and helps work on hand-eye coordination.

VTECH SIT-TO-STAND ULTIMATE ALPHABET TRAIN: How fun is this toy? For any toddler that likes trains this is a must have! This toy comes with so many activities to keep them busy which we all can appreciate. I also love that it encourages role play which is so important at this age!

VTECH POP-A-BALLS PUSH AND POP BULLDOZER: I love the idea of adding education into toys for any of my children but especially Rush because he is at the age where he is really soaking everything in! This is a great toy that stimulates attention and coordination, and teaches colors and numbers.

These toys are definitely all toys with lights, sounds and movement, but honestly they were all so engaging and fun. The boys all played with them and I loved seeing Rush especially light up as he figured out what to do with the toys. I think what makes a toy great is when it is more than just fun, but also engages a kiddo in more than one way. These toys each had elements that Rush and Baker had to learn and figure out, and different music and learning modes. They stayed engaged with them and it was really fun to see them light up with something new to play with and to learn.

Do you have a toddler you are buying for this season? What toy do you think they would love the most?

N&S Style Files- The Nouveau and November

2019-11-13T14:53:00.000-06:00

Hey guys! It's a chilly and even a little bit gloomy week here in KC. We've had a sprinkle of snow and sub freezing temps and every day has been full on coat/gloves/hat weather! But there is also a lot to be thankful for as we are in this month of gratitude and starting into the holiday season. As you may have seen we released much of our holiday line at Nickel & Suede and there are so many pretty things. I'm so excited to for you to shop them and share them and gift them and I'm so thankful for each of you that have done so in the past. It's pretty incredible the community of N&S women that we have built and I'm excited to continue to build that with you! This weekend I re-did my letter boards at home with some gratitude phrases to add to the spirit of Thanksgiving in our home and I thought I'd share those phrases here and maybe some more to inspire yours too! Read on for today's outfit and those thankful phrase ideas in today's post.

SHOP THE POST

SHIRT // JEANS // SHOES // EARRINGS

I'm in love with these earrings I'm wearing today- the Nouveau. It's our newest embossed earring and each pair is hand stamped. They are amazing. Today I'm styling this new release and I'll be styling two other new releases this week as well! These come in Select Navy and Select Burgundy and you can choose gold or silver foil. I'm wearing Select Burgundy with silver foil. They are all so pretty! This tuxedo top is such a great basic with a twist (wearing XS) and it's not see-through at all. Love the fit. These jeans are pricey, but they are my favorite high-end brand of denim. For a similar look- grab these Levis. These cute bow flats fit TTS and are a great match for our Select Burgundy leather. Love the velvet fabric. They come in several other colors as well.

I mentioned above that I changed our letter boards out this weekend and these are the phrases we landed on. I love letter boards for so many reasons, but one being they instantly add a holiday flavor the home!

SMALL BOARD

Here are some other phrases I think would also be so perfect for Thanksgiving month:

"In Everything Give Thanks"

"Be Grateful for Everything"

"So Grateful for So Much"

"Let Our Lives Be Full of Thanks and Giving"

"Gratitude Turns What We Have Into Enough"

"I'm Thankful For..."

Do you have letter boards at your house? What phrases are you putting up this month? Stay tuned tomorrow for another edition of this month's N&S Style Files!

Ultimate Gift Guide For Her

2019-11-12T12:55:00.002-06:00

Hey ladies and friends! If you've been following along with me on Instagram or on my stories you know my life is as busy as yours and I'm already starting to do the holiday hustle. I'm prepping myself ahead of time so that I don't have to freak out later. Things go quickly so the more I can check off now that better- am I right? Today I'm sharing a quick gift guide with you that you can easy shoot off to your hubby, your boyfriend, your in-laws, your parents, who ever asks you for your list. These are all of my favorite things and they are tried and true. You will love them. I have most of them or I have them on my list this year too! There are all different price points but the point is, if it's on this list, she's gonna love it! ;)

BLUETOOTH SPEAKER: This speaker is sooo pretty. I have it in my office and love it. It also comes in black, but I love the ivory.

KANSAS CITY MARKET BAG: This tote is custom for N&S. The quality is so wonderful and the size is really roomy. Love the colors and the brand.

HEADPHONES: These headphones are an investment but they are beauties. They are

JEWELRY STAND: This stand is a great option for displaying your N&S and other jewelry. I love the dainty look.

RING SET: I have this ring set and it's so pretty. It's great quality and perfect to wear every day.

LEATHER HOBO BAG: This bag is gorgeous. The quality is amazing and this is a bag you can use daily and be really happy with pairing with any outfit. A great bag really elevates any outfit.

BE BRAVE PRINT: We added these prints to our store this year and I love the empowering message they send. Snag them in two sizes and three styles.

T3 BLOWDRYER: This blow dryer is a game changer. It's an investment but it is so quiet, so effective and so well made. It has different heat settings, blow settings and a cool shot but it's so much nicer than any dryer you have ever tried.

LEOPARD TOTE: I love my Madewell totes but this one is just a new level of chic. This leopard version is so great. Perfect for work or carrying anywhere.

PAJAMA SET: These pj's are so on my list. Love these jammies- they are so soft and comfy. I would size down in them.

LUGGAGE SET: New luggage is on my list this year and I love this brand. This set is gorgeous and would be a great option for a gift.

SUNGLASSES: These are my everyday pair and are the classic aviator. You can't go wrong with these. I wear the gold/green combo in the 58 mm size.

BEANIE: I love a cute beanie in the Winter- even with short hair. This is one of my faves and it comes in so many cute colors. I have it in black and ivory- makes a cute and easy gift!

KIEHLS MASK: This mask is so fun- it's an avocado based mask. And it literally looks like a mashed up avocado!

BOOTIES: These booties are my favorite dressy boot! They are pricey but I love this style and I wear them constantly to work.

STACKING RINGS: I love this set of stacking rings. I wear these daily. They are great to wear together or to split up!

THROW BLANKET: These are THE BEST throws! We have so many of these and they are so worth it! I would recommend these as gifts to anyone and would gladly take more for me!

ULTRABOOST SNEAKERS: These are the most comfortable sneakers of all time. Soren bought me mine and they are the best. I can't deny how great they feel to walk and work out in. Like walking on air.

LEGGINGS: These are my go-to leggings. They are thick, breathable, hold you in and feel great. And they are reversible. One side for working out, the other side for life.

NARS MULTIPLE STICK: This is the catch-all stick. Wear it for blush, lip color, eye color. The perfect shade of pink. I carry this one in my purse.

YSL LIBRE PERFUME: My newest favorite perfume. It's a little spicy and heavy. Love this one.

LEOPARD TRAVEL CASES: These are so cute for traveling and carrying makeup!

NECK AND SHOULDER MASSAGER: We got this after a friend recommended it and it actually works! It feels so good! My shoulders are always so tight and it just works the kinks right out.

CROSSBODY BAG: This little cross body is so cute. Love the little chain. Classic.

BLACK LEATHER JACKET: This is my favorite black leather jacket. It's a great shape, not too heavy, real leather and worth the price.

UGG BOOTS: These are so cute. I love the yellow citron color but UGG boots are just so cozy in the Winter. Any color is great.

LETTERBOARD: A letter board is such a fun gift for any women. This size is especially cute. We use it on a bookshelf.

BLACK SHIMMER LEATHER EARRINGS: This is a best seller right now and I want to wear it every day. It's so shimmery and beautiful.

SPOTTED LEOPARD LEATHER EARRINGS: Another best seller. These are so great year round.

I feel like I could go on, but these lists are hard to shop if you give too many recommendations! I hope these ideas help you shop for your girlfriends, yourself and the women in your life. If you have any questions about any of these items, feel free to reach out. You can DM me or send me a message on FB and I'm happy to help! Happy shopping!

Friday Roundup

2019-11-08T16:54:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday! I hope your week was as good as ours although maybe a tad warmer! We had some really cold days! One morning my third son Knox told me he left his coat at school and headed out the door to the bus stop with just a tee shirt on. He seemed happy to go so I let him but when I got in my car I saw the thermostat said it was only 28 degrees! I promptly drove a coat right down to him and he was happy to have it but wow- I didn't expect such low temps yet this year!

SEQUIN TOP | COATED JEGGINGS | EARRINGS

FLANNEL SHIRT | EARRINGS | JEANS | BOOTS

THIS WEEK'S TOP SELLERS
SLIP-ON SNEAKERS SPRINKLE SWEATER PIVOT SNEAKER FAUX FUR JACKET RIPPED HEM SKINNY JEANS KARAH SNEAKERS SEQUIN TOP SPLIT BACK SWEATER GEOMETRIC SWEATER SCOOP NECK T-SHIRT
THIS WEEKEND'S SALES MADEWELL | 25% OFF SWEATERS AND SHOES WITH CODE COZYCOMFY MANGO | 30% OFF EVERYTHING WITH CODE SHOPPING19 JCREW | UP TO 40% OFF SITE WIDE

JCPENNEY | 25% OFF ORDERS OVER $100, 20% OFF ORDERS UNDER $100 WITH CODE THANKS19

T3 | BUY MORE SAVE MORE EVENT SEPHORA | BEAUTY INSIDER EVENT, SAVE UP TO 20%

For today's podcast Soren is joining me and we are talking about being in sync and working together as parents of five while owning a business. There is a lot that goes into it, but mostly it's about being together and working in tandem on all of the things. I hope you enjoy and have a great weekend!

Nickel & Suede Holiday 2019- Holiday Statement Earrings

2019-11-06T12:02:00.000-06:00

Happy Holidays! Okay, okay so I'm getting a little ahead of myself there- but the holiday season is upon us and I'm so ready for it. I'm dressed in my red buffalo plaid today and I think it's going to be red and green and gold and glitz from here until Christmas for me! Today the first of our N&S holiday collection hit the website and we have something for everyone. We have a new embossed art deco pattern, a shimmery black leather, new resin and more. All of the new pieces are still lightweight, bold, statement making and will add just the right touch to all of your holiday looks!

NAVY AND SILVER NOUVEAU LEATHER EARRINGS

AFTERGLOW LEATHER EARRINGS

GUNMETAL LEATHER EARRINGS | SPRUCE LUNA LEATHER EARRINGS

CRIMSON CUT-OUT LEATHER EARRINGS | CRIMSON BEAU LEATHER EARRINGS WITH GOLD CIRCLE POST

GOLD QUARTZ LEATHER EARRINGS

GUNMETAL LEATHER EARRINGS

SPRUCE LEATHER EARRINGS

Stay tuned for more fun releases in the coming weeks, but don't miss your chance now to grab a few new pretties to get your holiday looks going now! What pieces are you loving?

In The Spirit Sneak Peek!

2019-11-05T09:06:00.001-06:00

Well hello November! Fancy meeting you here! Literally, you are looking fancy, and I literally can't believe November has arrived!! The holiday season actually comes a little late this year, but our holiday collection is coming very, very soon. Today on OLM I wanted to share a little sneak peek of some of my favorite holiday items from the upcoming Nickel & Suede In the Spirit Holiday Collection. These pretty pieces will be available Nov 6. We've got red, green, gold, metallics and more! It's all so good- I can't wait!

SHOP THE POST

Today's post is just a sneak peek- the shopping doesn't start until Wednesday. BUT- we did have our Grand Opening at our Flagship Store here in Liberty, Mo this weekend and the in-store customers got to shop the holiday products a little early. And their response was just the best! They grabbed so many of these new releases and I can't wait to share them online this week too. We even have a new sweatshirt coming that you are going to definitely want to add to your cart. Stay tuned!!

Friday Happenings

2019-11-01T12:50:00.001-05:00

Hey, hey! I'm happy to report that we made it through a fantastic week of October fun- with only a few runny noses, a boatload of Halloween candy and just this last day before the weekend. I don't know about you but it's always hard for me when Halloween falls on a weekday because it feels like it should be a Friday - ALWAYS! We took the boys out trick-or-treating for a little while, despite the cold, and then came home to enjoy the goods. I let everyone pick two pieces of whatever they wanted and then we watched Toy Story 4. The boys all chose 2 full-sized candy bars (because that's a thing these days!) and we enjoyed the movie. But today we're paying for it with a little sleepiness and I had to field 100 requests for candy for breakfast. Today a new Earring of the Month dropped and it's a brand new earring! I've also got a new podcast episode out today so scroll down to get it all!

CARDIGAN | TEE | JEANS | BOOTIES | SUNGLASSES

JACKET | JEANS | SUNGLASSES | SNEAKERS | EARRINGS

THIS WEEK'S TOP SELLERS

SPRINKLE SWEATER

PLATFORM SNEAKER

DRONE WITH GLOVE CONTROLLER

THIS WEEKEND'S SALES

ABERCROMBIE | 25% OFF WITH CODE 14989

JCREW | 30% OFF WITH CODE SOGOOD

JCPENNEY | EXTRA 25% OFF WITH CODE BIGSALE4

Today marks the start of a new month which means a new Earring of the Month! Vanilla Shimmer Nova is a brand new style that is sure to be a new best seller! Snag this one now.

And today on the podcast- I can’t get away from this thought that being ALL IN on everything we do is the only way to go. Own your evolution and get going on the future you! Halfway doesn’t reach goals, lukewarm doesn’t get you PR’s and and sitting on the fence doesn’t make change happen. I shared so many of these thoughts on today’s episode of With Kilee Nickels- would love for you to listen in! What are you sitting on a fence about right now? What decision do you need to make and get moving on?

Sweater Weather

2019-10-30T12:41:00.000-05:00

Good morning! The end of the month is drawing near again and I'm really loving the cooler temps and the fun month that October is for our family. Two of my boys have birthdays right around Halloween so that always makes for a full week and then we have all of the busyness of costumes and Halloween parties and trick-or-treating. It's usually pretty chilly in Kansas City by the time Halloween arrives and this year it looks like it's going to be cold! I'm excited to bundle up and today I'm working with JC Penney to share lots of great sweater options to keep you warm and on budget this month.

SHOP THE POST

SWEATER // TEE // JEANS // SHOES

Sweater season is finally officially here. I'm all about over-sized sweaters, wrap sweaters, printed sweaters- basically the warmer it looks the better. I headed to JC Penney this month on the hunt for a great round up of sweaters and found more than a few to love. This Aztec printed one just screams Fall so I had to snag it, but I also grabbed this tiger printed one and a few others. The quality on all of these tops seems to be great, especially for the price. I would recommend ordering a bunch to try online so that you can get to that free shipping level and then see what works for you.

Size and fit details for reference:

My height: 5' 7"

Weight: about 115

SWEATER: This sweater (and everything from this brand) seems to fit a little big. I'm wearing size XS. I would recommend going with your normal size or sizing down.

TEE: Same as sweater sizing. Wearing XS. This is a basic white tee and is not sheer which I love!

JEANS: Wearing size 26. Great frayed hem. Love Levis. Fit is TTS.

SHOES: Fit is TTS. These are not real leather, but they look great and the price is great for the on-trend look.

Shop all of my favorites from JC Penney this month below!

Thanks to JC Penney for sponsoring this post. As always all opinions and styling are my own.

Fall Trends This Season

2019-10-28T21:35:00.000-05:00

This year I turned 33 and as strange as it may sound, it's the youngest and oldest I've ever felt. It feels like I'm cresting a wave of adulthood where I've learned enough to have a bigger perspective, but I can also see how small my perspective is. Does that make sense? I've more comfortably slid into my own style and found myself, and yet also find myself feeling old as I see what the "young people" are wearing these days. Those teenagers and their crazy clothes! :) That being said, I like to think I'm still pretty cool and that my style is still preeeetttty youthful. I love watching the trends each season and styling them my own way. If you know me at all you know trend forecasting and trend talk is literally one of my favorite things. Today I've partnered with Nordstrom to share some of my favorite on-trend items this Fall. I'm loving all things leopard, graphic tees, and more so read on for all the deets!

SHOP THE POST

JACKET // TEE // JEANS // SHOES // SUNNIES // BEANIE Today I created an outfit that really pulls together trends that I love and wear year round. They aren't new, but holy cow do they keep getting some love. This leopard jacket/coat stole my heart as soon as I saw it and I've gotten so many DM's every time I've worn it. I have it in a plaid print from last year and it is SO cozy. But in leopard it's really next level. So yes- I'm still calling leopard a trend this season. I also bought these sneakers that have leopard print on them this month and it's not hard to find me wearing leopard a million other ways this Fall. Another trend that I'm definitely pulling right into Fall/Winter is graphic and band tees. I have always loved these, but I feel like so many more people are wearing them now. They are so great for layering and whether that means with a cardigan, a puffy jacket or a blazer- the answer is yes. I have some pricey graphic tees like this one, so when I found some more affordable options I knew I had to share. This one and this one are great prices for a very similar look. Ripped jeans, especially in a mom-jean cut are also very in this season. I stood back on this trend for a little while, but this pair has gotten me so many compliments! I feel like this pair is the most approachable and is a great price point, but the pair I have on today is such a cool vibe. Style them with sneakers or with heeled boots- it all works! I love that I was able to order this entire look from Nordstrom at great price points and with free shipping and free returns. I actually tried more items than these but I landed on my faves and returned a few things that didn't quite work out. I hope this outfit and these pieces gave you some ideas for adding a little trend oommph to your outfits this season and when you do, tag me! I'd love to hear about it! Shop all of my similar favorites from Nordstrom to recreate a similar outfit below. Thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. As always all opinions and styling are my own.