Stark Raving Chic: A Brief Holiday Hiatus Announcement!

Hey there, babes! As I bask in the bliss of newlywed life with Adam, I’m taking a little hiatus from blogging—think of it as our official honeymoon period!

This also coincides as the holiday season approaches, it’s time for me to take a little break from the blogging hustle and bustle. Think of it as my own version of a chic winter hibernation—complete with cozy blankets, peppermint hot cocoa, and a mountain of holiday cookies that I definitely won't be sharing!

But fear not! I’ll be back, brighter and bolder than ever, in March. Trust me when I say there are some *exciting* developments on the horizon that I can’t wait to share with you. Picture it: fresh content, thrilling new ideas, and maybe a few fashionable surprises (I might just have a little something up my sleeve!).

So, while I’m off recharging my creative batteries and indulging in all things festive, make sure to keep that stylish spirit alive. I’ll miss our little rendezvous, but I promise the wait will be worth it!

Wishing you all a magical holiday season filled with love, laughter, and a sprinkle of glamour. Here’s to what’s ahead—new adventures await us in March!

Xx, Bree

Suit Shopping Adventures with Adam: Where Romance Meets Tailoring

There are few moments in wedding planning as iconic as dress shopping—cue the “Say Yes to the Dress” montages, tearful moms, and glasses of bubbly. But let’s talk about the unsung hero of wedding prep: suit shopping. That’s right. It is simply one of those quintessential wedding tasks that often gets overshadowed by the glitz and glamour of dress shopping. But let’s get real for a second: a wedding without the groom’s suit? That’s like a taco without guac. And since Adam and I are equal-opportunity fashionistas (okay, mostly me, but we’re in this together), we recently embarked on the all-important mission to find the suit for him. So in this post, it’s not just about lace and tulle; sometimes, it’s about fabric swatches, bow ties, and whether my fiancé knows the difference between a shawl lapel and notched (spoiler alert: he doesn’t).

So, cue the cute moments, quirky one-liners, and a surprising amount of suit-related banter.

Step 1: Convincing Adam That Suit Shopping is Actually Fun

Let’s start here: Adam is the love of my life. He’s charming, funny, and has a heart of gold—but let’s just say he’s not exactly an aficionado when it comes to wardrobe choices. His idea of “dressing up” is putting on the one button-down shirt he didn’t spill coffee on. So, when I mentioned the words “suit shopping,” I could see the hesitation on his face (he also put it off for 3 weeks following our initial conversation).

But here’s the thing: I’ve learned the secret to getting Adam excited about anything—bribery, in the form of food. I dangled the promise of brunch after the suit appointment, and suddenly, he was all in. Pro tip: when in doubt, offer bacon.

Step 2: Entering the Suit Wonderland

We walked into the suit department, and it was like a fancy men’s wonderland. There were more shades of grey than a paint store, and don’t even get me started on the lapels and fabrics. Adam immediately gravitated toward the “safe” options—black, grey, something that said “I’m going to an important work meeting” instead of “I’m getting married to the love of my life.”

But Noah, Adam’s brother and a fashionisto himself, wasn’t having it. “Let’s change things up a little, huh?” he said, with a little wink to me. He pulled out a gorgeous slim fit, Calvin Klein dusty blue suit, complete with a subtle pattern. Adam looked skeptical, but I could already tell this was going to be a winner.

Step 3: The Suit Try-On Extravaganza

Adam stepped into the dressing room like a lamb to the slaughter, while I waited outside like a proud fashion coach, ready to cheer him on. A few minutes later, the curtain pulled back, and… wow. There he was, in all his suit-clad glory, looking like the cover model for GQ’s Grooms Who Clean Up Too Well issue.

Adam did a little spin in front of the mirror, pretending to size himself up like a pro. “What do you think?” he asked, with that adorable grin I love so much.

“I think we might need sunglasses at the wedding because you’re shining, babe,” I replied. To be honest, it took every ounce of self-control not to propose to him right then and there.

**Note: the suit coat is a little off in color as they need to order the exact color in Adam’s size—but that will be in next week!**

Step 4: Bow Tie or Traditional Tie: The Great Debate

The next hurdle? The age-old question: bow tie or traditional tie. I was team bow tie all the way because, hello, they’re cute and quirky—just like Adam. But he wasn’t so convinced. “Do I look like a professor who’s going to teach history in this?” he asked.

I gave him a look. “Actually, yeah, kinda like my law and ethics professor I had in grad school—maybe we should rethink this.” I was shocked to be disappointed at my own first personal choice. However, in the end, Adam did find an absolutely gorgeous, traditional, tie (and well okay, my mum found the tie and ordered it from Italy). And I, in turn, promised to stop making dad jokes about it. (But let’s be real, I’m not actually going to stop.)

Step 5: The Final Decision: Dusty Blue All the Way

After trying on a few more suits—some that were, shall we say, interesting (there was a plaid situation that we won’t speak of again)—we came back to the dusty blue number that had stolen both our hearts. It was sleek, timeless, and made Adam look like a dashing 007, minus the Aston Martin.

He looked at me in the mirror and said, “I think this is the one.”

I couldn’t resist. “You mean I’m the one, but sure, the suit’s great too.”

We laughed, and with that, the decision was made. Our sales associate Marina rang us up, we high-fived, and I made sure to snap a mental picture of Adam looking ridiculously handsome. (There may have also been a sneaky selfie or two. For posterity, of course.)

Step 6: Brunch, Because Priorities

As promised, we ended our shopping adventure with brunch. Over seasonal features and espresso martinis, we basked in the glow of another wedding task checked off the list—and, let’s be real, we also basked in the glow of how fantastic Adam looked in that suit.

I’m not saying the suit is what’s going to make our wedding day magical—that’s all about the love and commitment (and maybe the cookie table)—but let’s just say, when I walk down that aisle and see Adam waiting for me in his navy suit and tie, I’m going to swoon. Har’

One Last Look

Suit shopping with Adam was everything I hoped it would be: cute, quirky, a little chaotic, and a lot of fun. Sure, there were moments of confusion (why are there so many types of lapels?) and a near-miss with a plaid blazer, but at the end of the day, we found something that was perfectly him—and perfectly us. Plus, we got brunch, so really, it was a win-win.

Now, onto the next wedding adventure… I think Adam heard me mention “floral arrangements” and has suddenly developed an intense interest in golfing.

Are you getting married or have you ever planned a fall wedding? Let’s chat about it in the comments below and you can also always hit me up on my socials! Which are on Instagram (and connect with me on Threads!), Pinterest, BlogLovin, Twitter (oops I mean “X”, eyeroll), you can also like/follow me on Facebook and connect with me on LinkedIn!

Later babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Pssssst! If you love this outfit and want to shop Adam’s closet (at least for this post), you can find these pieces and similar ones here in my LIKEtoKNOW.it shop!

A Spooky Night of Nostalgia: Kennywood’s First Ever 21+ Night (feat. Fright Night Sneak Peeks!)

Ah, Kennywood. For anyone who grew up in Pittsburgh, this amusement park is more than just a place to ride roller coasters; it’s a treasure trove of nostalgia. As a lifelong Pittsburgher, Kennywood holds a special place in my heart. The sound of joyous screams from the rides, the aroma of funnel cakes and cheese fries from the famous potato patch, and the thrill of childhood memories come rushing back every time I step through those gates. This year marked a monumental occasion—Kennywood’s first-ever Over 21 Night in its 150-year history! Naturally, my fiancé Adam and I decided this was the perfect opportunity for a date night filled with nostalgia, thrills, and a touch of spooky fun.

As we entered, atmosphere buzzed with excitement. Kennywood (at least part of it—being Steeler Country) the park was transformed into a Halloween spectacle, and we were ready to dive into the festivities. Though the air was sticky due to the Pittsburgh summer heat, it was also electric with excitement, and I could feel my inner child bubbling with joy. Our first stop was the much-anticipated “mAlice in Wonderland Haunt.” Picture this: a haunted house based on the whimsical yet eerie world of Alice in Wonderland. Although the line was long, just the anticipation of what awaited inside was enough to get our hearts racing.

Next, we had our sights set on the “Open Body Boo-fet,” which sounded like a deliciously creepy feast. Unfortunately, the line was longer than the queue for a Black Friday sale. So at that, we had to abandon ship. Instead of waiting for what felt like an eternity, we decided to embrace our hunger, we opted for the classic Kennywood experience: potato patch fries. As we munched on those perfectly crispy, cheese-smothered fries, I couldn’t help but think—this was exactly what we needed. Who needs a fancy buffet when you've got the ultimate comfort food in hand? As we devoured our snack, I mused about how some things never change—like the joy of savoring those fries while surrounded by the sounds of laughter and the whirring of roller coasters.

After our fry feast, we ventured into the cocktail scene—because what’s an Over 21 Night without some adult beverages? One drink that caught my eye was the infamous “Blood Bag.” Yes, you read that right—a giant Jell-O shot served in a blood bag! It was equal parts hilarious and delicious, and I felt like a vampire as I sipped from it. Adam and I exchanged amused glances, both wondering if we were too old for Jell-O shots—spoiler alert: we definitely weren’t.

As the night progressed, we made our way through Steelers Country, which was open until midnight for voucher holders. This area was buzzing with energy! We jumped into the foam party, where we were greeted by a cascade of bubbles. Picture two adults trying to dance in foam while not slipping and falling—it was a comedy show waiting to happen! Adam and I laughed so hard that I’m pretty sure we burned off those potato patch fries in no time.

In addition to the foam party, we enjoyed a dance party, games, and a beer and wine tasting cocktail bar. It was like an adult playground, and we were here for it! The thrill didn’t stop there; we also made time for rides. We braved the Aero 360, soared on the Sky Rocket, enjoyed a nostalgic ride on the Old Mill, raced each other on the Racers, and relived our childhood memories on the Kangaroo. But the cherry on top was our favorite—the Jack Rabbit! The rush of that classic coaster’s double dip brought back all the feels, and we screamed (and laughed) our way through the twists and turns.

As we left the park that night, I couldn’t help but reflect on what a fantastic experience it was. Kennywood’s first Over 21 Night was a delightful blend of nostalgia, excitement, and a splash of Halloween fun. Adam and I had a blast reminiscing about our childhood while creating new memories together. Who knew that our childhood amusement park could still hold so much magic, even as adults? I think I can confidently say we’ll be back for more—after all, there are plenty more potato patch fries to devour and cocktails to sip. Here’s to more adventures at Kennywood—because whether you’re a kid or an adult, the magic of this place never truly fades!

Do you have a favorite childhood amusement park?? Let’s chat about it in the comments below!

Xx, Bree

P.S. If you wanna keep the conversation going on socials, feel free to follow me on Instagram (and connect with me on Threads!), Pinterest, BlogLovin, Twitter (oops I mean “X”, yuck), you can also like/follow me on Facebook and connect with me on LinkedIn!