Poncho // Blanket // Shirt // Shoes // Candle // Hat, Scarf, or Sweatshirt 

I'm not usually one to come up with gift guides to overwhelm you with throughout the holiday season (and I will do my best not to again this year), but when there's something beautifully curated and reasonably priced that manages to give back in some way, I always want to get on board. This is one of those things.

The TOMS for Target collection launched over the weekend and is chock full of beautiful scarves, sweaters, shirts, shoes, and more--and every piece sold gives a blanket, shoes, or food to someone in need. Like the usual TOMS "one-for-one" model, every item in the limited-time collection will bring a gift to someone in need. That poncho is going to keep someone else warm. The shirt you buy for your brother will feed someone for a week.

Rob and I often skip gift-giving among ourselves for holidays like Christmas (or our anniversary and definitely Valentine's Day) in an attempt to save money and not end up with a bunch of things we don't need, but when you have an opportunity to get something nice for someone you love and simultaneously do something good for someone you don't even know, it just helps make the world a better place. And isn't that what the holidays are about? Joy. Simplicity. Giving back.

TOMS for Target: One-for-One. For All. Starting November 16th, for every Target+TOMS limited edition gift you buy, we're (Target) giving shoes, a blanket, or meals to those in need. #TOMSforTarget

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Target via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Target.

We're in Farmville this weekend for the Hampden-Sydney vs. Randolph-Macon game on Saturday. Going to two different schools in the same town was such a perfect situation for the early years of my relationship with Rob--we both had our own space and our own groups of friends, but it was so easy to see each other, and it's so fun now to go back and visit Longwood whenever we're in town for a Hampden-Sydney event. I like sharing a college town with my husband.

Last year we missed lots of fun weekends like this one, but all throughout our college years and right after graduation, we were always tailgating with friends for HSC football games. My twenty-first birthday party was actually a tailgate at Hampden-Sydney!

To prepare for The Game (and because I can't resist any excuse for wine and food), I put together an early tailgate for La Crema--because whether you're at the game or just in your backyard, you can throw a quick, easy, and beautiful party. Even the neighbor's dog, Bentley, couldn't resist showing up and begging for a chicken wing or two.

This post is sponsored by La Crema. For tips on throwing a great tailgate of your own, check out my post on their blog today!

Photos by Sarah Gatrell of Photo + Love.

Last week, I went to the mall with my mother-in-law and was totally surprised to see holiday decorations everywhere and Christmas music playing in every store. In Uptown Charlotte, wreaths are adorning all the street lights and people are taking horse-drawn carriage rides everywhere. Ready or not, the holidays are on their way, and even in my own home, I have a stack of gorgeous cards from Minted to prove it.

I was super excited about our holiday cards this year for several reasons: wedding photos, a new last name, and last but certainly not least, dreamy rose gold foil. Once I had designed our cards, I decided to take advantage of The Minted Envelope, which prints your recipients' addresses in one of many gorgeous designs. It took a fraction of the time it would for me to hand-write them, and now my envelopes are ready and totally professional-looking. I think Regina Spektor is going to be really impressed when she gets hers.

I am such a fan of Minted and I love using them for everything--our wedding invitations, personalized stationary, art prints as gifts--but my favorite thing has to be their holiday cards. I look forward to seeing, choosing, and sending them every year.

This post is brought to you in partnership with Minted. This year, we're sending out the New Adventures Foil-Pressed Holiday Cards in Rose Gold. Save 10% on your order and get free shipping until November 17th with the code FRECKLED10FS.