SOCIAL MEDIA

Monday, November 18, 2019

Red & Green Christmas

 Hi All & Happy Holidays! 
I decided to decorate my house early this year as there are just a few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We had a snow day last week (so exciting!!) which means I didn't have to work (#teacherlife) so I spent the day decking the halls. 
Sunday, November 10, 2019

Our Fall Wedding


Hi All & Happy Sunday!
I'm excited to share with you more of our wedding photos. It's been so fun looking through them and remembering all of the special moments from our wedding. 
One of my favorite memories is when the photographer had Kyle & I go down to the river to take some photos. At first, I thought this was a fantastic idea until I was knee-deep in freezing cold water in my wedding shoes- and at that point, there was no turning back. After wading through the river to the perfect location our wedding planner brought down some champagne for another "photo op". Champagne photos are cute right?? Well yeah, until Kyle decided to shake the bottle of champagne prior to opening it so when he opened it, of course, it exploded right into my face! The photos are hilarious, I can't wait to get our wedding video back and see it in action! I have to say, even though the champagne exploded all over my face, my makeup didn't move at all- so props to my makeup artist! 
I hope you enjoy a few more glimpses into my favorite day
 Nicholle
Monday, October 28, 2019

Fall Vermont Wedding

Hi All-
Our wedding photos have arrived and I am so excited! I have so many photos to share so I plan on splitting them up into a few posts. The first post I'm going to share is some of the "close up" details of our wedding. I planned all of our decor and such and love how it turned out. It definitely was a bigger undertaking than I had anticipated but it was the exact vibe I wanted. While none of this was inexpensive it was a lot more affordable to do it myself than it would have been to hire someone. If you have any questions about vendors or products used let me know!  

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Closet Office



Hi All & Happy Sunday!
I recently added some new decor pieces to my little room as well as having a custom closet installed. There are a few more things I want to do and decor pieces I want to add but I thought I should just share it. I picked up this beautiful multicolor rug a few weeks ago at Pier One. I previously had a bright white rug but I felt like everything was beginning to look too sterile. I love the texture and color this rug adds to the room. Another item I added to the room was this leather ottoman. It's a fun and functional piece though I usually don't sit on it, I just pile all my clothes on it! I always get a lot of questions about my clothing rack. Kyle and I drove to Canada to go to Ikea to get that rack. It came in a million pieces with of course no directions but I love it and it was under $200! 
Kyle had 3 of our closets in our house done which has been life-changing. Our house was built 50's so the closets aren't great, to say the least. The custom shelving in my closet has created so much storage and I actually enjoy going in there. If you're on the fence about having custom closets installed I say do it! 
If you have any questions about specific pieces let me know! I'm going to link a lot of them below.

Nicholle


Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Fitness Routine


Happy Tuesday!
I had shared over on Instagram a few months ago that I have finally found a fitness routine and meal plan that works for me. I received so many questions about it that I thought it would be easiest to put a post together. Full disclaimer that I am not a fitness guru nor am I a nutritionist, this is just what has worked for me. 

With my wedding having been coming up this September I really wanted to look and feel my best so I started making some changes in May and have had some great results. I was able to tone up as well as shed a few pounds from too many breads and sweets! 

Fitness Routine //
I don't follow any crazy program, I don't have a gym membership and I don't work out for hours on end. The one thing I've learned about working out is that it needs to be sustainable. It's not realistic for me to go to the gym every day, but it is realistic for me to set aside 30-45 minutes at home to workout. 
1 // Cardio 
I start my workouts with 15-20 minutes of cardio on a recumbent bike. Mine is from amazon and cost under $150 with prime. The bike itself has different resistance settings and is perfect for some basic cardio. You don't need anything fancy. While Peleton machines and Nordic track are great they're not necessary for a good workout. 
 2 // Arms
I always do arms after my cardio as my legs are usually a bit sore! I do 2-3 different exercises with simple 8-10 pound weights. My goal is always to tone not to build up muscle. I'm going to link below to videos demonstrating the exercises I do (much easier than trying to explain!) 
These are the main ones I do! Nothing fancy- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rvp2gAZIO8
3 // Abs
Abs are my favorite workout to do! I love using the exercise ball for my ab workout as I feel like it does the best job at keeping me toned. Let me warn you that your abs are going to HURT after doing this!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqdaSQL9dH0
4 // Legs/Butt
Legs have been the hardest thing for me to tone, not entirely sure why. All I can think of is that I have never attempted to gain any leg muscle until now. Like with the abs, I love to use the exercise ball for my leg workouts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtrYVS1c6mI&t=85s
What I Eat // 
My food weaknesses are definitely carbs. I don't crave chocolate or sugary candy. I crave garlic bread, and pasta, and bagels, and toast- YUM! So in full disclosure, I had to stop eating all of those things on the regular.
Breakfast // 
During the workweek, I'm not big on breakfast so I will just have a banana and my coffee (much needed!). On the weekends I like having scrambled eggs with veggies or a yogurt parfait. Around 10:30 is when my students have a snack so I usually have some mixed nuts or one of THESE fig bars, they're so good!
Lunch // 
I'm much more of a snacker than I am a big meal type of person. I purchased one of THESE lunch containers and it has been such a game-changer! What I've loved most about the container is that it helps me with portion control. There are 3 sections in the container. In one section I put veggies ( I love cucumber, carrots and snap peas), in another section, I put a fruit (grapes, orange slices, berries), and in the final section, I put a protein like peppered turkey and cheese and make little rollups. I also bring a container of hummus to dip my veggies in. This lunch combo leaves me feeling full and satisfied since I was able to have a few different things. I really avoid breads and sandwiches at lunch as all it does is leave me feeling bloated.
Dinner // 
It's no secret that I love cooking. Preparing and plating meals is one of my favorite things to do. Kyle & I love Mexican food so 2/3 times a week we have some kind of Mexican dish. I'm not very restrictive when it comes to what I make for dinner. I generally don't make pasta dishes and I don't serve bread/rolls with dinner. We always start with some kind of salad and then a main dish. One of my favorite meals is maple salmon and brussel sprouts, so good! I also do not have dessert. While I love treats I find that it's just not great to eat them before bed. We always eat dinner around 5:30 so we're never eating past 7, it allows time to digest before lying in bed.
Tips// 
* Have healthy snacks! Any cut veggies or fruits are great go-to's. We also always have yogurt in our fridge.
* Limit beer intake! Kyle loves beer but we don't have any during the week. All of those calories and carbs in beer really adds up.
* No fancy Starbucks drinks! You would not believe all the junk in those drinks. Besides it being wildly expensive it's also pretty unhealthy if you're getting anything besides a basic coffee or tea.

Let me know if you have any questions. I hope this was a bit helpful!
Nicholle
Sunday, August 4, 2019

What's In My Bag // Louis Vuitton Neverfull


Hi All & Happy Sunday!
The weather has been beautiful here in Vermont lately so we've been soaking up every second of it. We're headed out on vacation later this week so I was cleaning out my bag and thought it would be the perfect time to share what I carry in my bag as well as a little review of the purse itself. 

What's in my bag? //


  • Felt OrganizerIf you use a tote bag as your everyday bag you NEED one of these felt organizer inserts. The organizer has been such a game-changer in a bag this size. Tote bags are very practical as they can fit so much, but they can also turn into black holes fast- and there's nothing worse than frantically trying to find your keys in your black hole of a bag- that's why you need this organizer! Another benefit of using this organizer is that you can easily switch between bags as everything is organized within it. 
  • Mentos Gum- YUM, definitely a new favorite of mine. My Mom got me some a few months back and I love it, so if you're looking for some gum next time you're at the store try this one.
  •  Fresh Sugar Lip Balm- This is one of my favorite products! I have it in a few different shades. I love how hydrating it is and that it contains SPF. 
  • Baggu Reusable Bag- Vermont recently passed a single-use plastic ban which means starting in the new year stores will no longer give out plastic bags and paper bags will come with a 10 cent charge. I decided to get ahead of the game and start using my reusable bags now. I love these Baggu ones as they fold up into the little bags they come with. I always keep one in my handbag. 
  • Personalized Leather Keychain-  This keychain is great quality and a great price. I got it a few months ago and have loved it. It would also make the perfect gift!
  • Ray-Ban Sunglasses-  If you're going to get one pair of sunglasses these classic aviators are the ones to get. They come in a few different colors and are a decent price for designer shades. 
  • L'Oreal Lipstick- This is the best drugstore lipstick- I always have a tube of the shade 'Eva's Nude' in my bag. It's a great neutral that has some rosiness to it. 
Thoughts on the Neverfull // 
Kyle got me the Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM in Nashville while we were on vacation. I had been wanting one and when we went to look at it in-store (as we don't have any stores here) he got it for me (he's the best!). Anyways, I've had the bag for about 5 months now so I feel like I can give a pretty honest review. Do I think the bag is extremely expensive for a purse? Yes. Do I love it? Yes! You're either into designer bags or you're not and that's okay. I personally love designer pieces. If you love designer pieces I think this tote is a great investment. It's the perfect everyday bag that will last you for years. I also love that this bag comes with a clutch (pictured above) so it's an added bonus. I use the clutch to hold my cards and cash- this is perfect because if I don't feel like carrying the bag I can just grab the clutch out of it. The one drawback of this particular bag is the Vachetta leather- this leather starts off as an almost pink tone and gradually over time darkens to a honey color. The issue I have with this is that when you first get the bag the leather can easily become stained by water or lotions so you have to be careful unless those kinds of things don't bother you (I'm OCD about that). If you're wanting a more 'carefree' bag I would suggest getting a different color as the trim won't be the Vachetta leather. 

What's one must have item you carry in your handbag? 

I hope you've enjoyed!
XO,
Nicholle 

* This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Nicholle Sophia

Friday, July 26, 2019

Vermont Date Night Idea


Hi All!
I'm so excited to be sharing with you the BEST Vermont date night! Kyle & I did this a few weeks ago and he was raving about it to everyone for the next week. What I'm talking about is the Champlain Valley Dinner Train. 

The Champlain Valley Dinner Train is, as the name indicates, a dinner train that runs from Burlington to Middlebury right along Lake Champlain. The train ride is about 3 hours long, departing at 5:30 and returning around 8:30. Your ticket on the train includes your train ride as well as a 3-course gourmet meal.

My Favorite Things: 

The Food // 
My meal was SO good, and I'm not just saying that! I would seriously ride the train again just to have the chef cook me that meal again. I believe I had some sort of white fish stuffed with a seafood stuffing and my goodness was it good. The flavor was incredible, I couldn't believe he made it on the tiny kitchen in one of the train cars.
    
The Views // 
One of the best things Vermont has to offer is its scenery and what better way to see it then on a train? It was so fun to ride through the rural farms and watch the sunset over Lake Champlain. It was a great reminder of how beautiful our state is. I also loved that the windows on the train opened so when we were going slower speeds we had the windows open to really take the view in. 

Customizable Experience //
In addition to your regular train ticket, you are able to add on different packages if you want. One of the packages was the romance package which included roses, champagne, and chocolate-covered strawberries- YUM! The other package we had included access to the lounge which had amazing live music and hor's d' oeuvres- so good! Having the ability to move from our table car to the lounge was really nice as it gave us the opportunity to move around vs. sitting at our table for the duration of the ride and the music was great!

Overall I can't say enough good things about our experience on the train. I think this would make the best birthday, wedding,  or anniversary gift for anyone. I love the idea of giving an experience vs. a typical gift. Kyle and I are excited to ride the train again. We were told they even do fun murder mystery train rides! 

Let me know if you take the train! I'd love to hear your thoughts.

XO,
Nicholle 

* This post is in collaboration with Green Mountain Railroad. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the companies that support Nicholle Sophia
Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Floral Wedding Invitations

Hi All!
I'm so excited to be sharing our wedding invitations from Basic Invite with you today. I shared our Unique Save the Dates earlier this year and you all loved them! 
The clock is ticking when it comes to our wedding- less than 100 days, ahh! I've begun to make sure all of the "big" items are crossed off our to-do list and wedding invitations was one of the big ones. 
I knew that I wanted to use Basic Invite again to do our invites as it was so easy to make our save the dates
Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Affordable Deck Decor


Hi All! 
I'm so excited to be sharing our outdoor space with you today! We recently had a deck built in our backyard and it turned out better than I could have hoped! Prior to the deck, we had some concrete steps and a 5-foot wide concrete walkway- not very cute at all, and definitely not a usable outdoor space. My hope for this deck was to extend our living space and to create an area where we could enjoy the summer months in Vermont.

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Everyday Jewelry With Marco Bicego

Hi All,
I'm so excited to be sharing this bracelet with you today!
 I remember when I was younger my mom had a beautiful gold necklace with her initial on it and she would wear it all of the time. When I got older she let me have the necklace and it became an everyday piece for me. This necklace is well over 30 years old now and looks as if I just bought it, yet it was my Moms and now mine. I want to at this point in my life, start building a collection of jewelry that I can pass on to my future daughter. The older I get, the more I see the importance of investing in quality jewelry pieces. These pieces will truly stand the test of time. This is why I am so excited to share with you this beautiful Marco Bicego Marrakech Bracelet, available at Perrywinkles Fine Jewelry. The second I picked up the Marrakech Bracelet I knew it would be an everyday piece for me. I love the beautiful rose gold and how "soft" it looks, even Kyle complimented it! 
There are so many gorgeous Marco Bicego pieces that I now have my eye on to add to my jewelry box! I really encourage you to invest in pieces you will wear forever, like this bracelet, or an initial necklace. It will be the best feeling in the world when you can pass those pieces on to your daughter, I know how much I cherish the pieces passed down from my Mom. 

For my Vermont readers- head over to Perrywinkles to receive 10% off any purchase of $500 or more for the next 30 days! Use code:  PW18Nicholle

I hope you've enjoyed!
XO,
Nicholle

* This post is sponsored by Perrywinkles Fine Jewelry and Marco Bicego. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Nicholle Sophia. 


Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Best Place To Stay In Nashville


Hi All!
Kyle and I got back from Nashville this week and had the best time. We stayed at the CUTEST Airbnb. So cute in fact that I had to put a post together to share it with you!

If you're familiar with Nashville at all this cute carriage house is located in the 12 South area. We were able to walk to my favorite restaurant (Bar Taco) in under 10 minutes and the best shopping area. We were in Nashville last year as well and stayed closer to downtown/broadway and I have to say this location is SO much better! It was a quick walk to town and only a 10-15 minute drive to anywhere else we wanted to go including the main strip. 

Now onto this carriage house. This exceeded all of my expectations. I'm of course into very "cute" and "trendy" things and this house did not disappoint.  Kyle and I loved the outdoor fireplace and sat out there having drinks and watching movies a few nights. The whole vibe of this house was perfect, I especially loved the blue kitchen cabinets, the kitchen also had a Nespresso machine! My fave!

Staying in Nashville can be pretty pricey but we felt this home was reasonably priced. There are two options for renting this home. You can rent the entire place which provides more sleeping areas and a living room or you can rent the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and patio. Either way, you have the home completely to yourself, with the second option the other rooms are just closed off. 

Our favorite spot at the house
After seeing the bathroom I was ready to move in! How pretty are these floors!?
This was the comfiest bed ever, also loving the bed side lights. 
 How cute is this kitchen!? I want this faucet in my own home! 

 If you're headed to Nashville I highly recommend this house. It will not disappoint! I hope you've enjoyed.
XO,
Nicholle 


Monday, April 15, 2019

How To Grow Sprouts

Hi All!
Recently I've been loving sprouts on my salads and sandwiches. I enjoy gardening and thought I might try growing my own sprouts & it turned out to be so easy! Today I'm going to share with you how you can grow your own sprouts with a few easy household materials. 

Materials //
* Water! 

Step 1 //
Place seeds in a mason jar, cover with the cheesecloth and secure the lid. Rinse the seeds 3 or 4 times and then fill the jar so the seeds are covered with water. Let the seeds soak overnight. 
Step 2 //
Drain seeds and rinse them. Continue to rinse seeds every morning and night in cold water. 
Step 3 // 
After 2 or so days you will notice the seeds beginning to sprout- continue to rinse them twice a day until they are at your desired length. In general, it takes about a week to grow them to a good length
Step 4 // 
Rinse a final time and store in a container that allows for air flow. I store mine in the fridge. 

My favorite sprouts are alfalfa (pictured above), I also love sprouting lentils. I generally purchase the seeds at our local gardening store. I recommend always thoroughly washing your seeds to ensure there is nothing on them before sprouting them. 

Let me know if you try to grow your own!
XO,
Nicholle 
Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Wedding Wednesday


Happy Wedding Wednesday!

It just dawned on me the other day that we have less than six months until our wedding- ahh! I started frantically making a to-do list immediately, and after my minor freak out, I realized we don't have too many "big" things left to do. I thought today I would share with you what's left on my list.

To-Do List //

1. Find an Officiant
I've heard a lot of people pick a friend or a family member but I'm just not sure! I also have no clue where you seek out an officiant if you want to hire someone- help! If you've gotten married I would love to hear what you did.

2. Pick a Florist 
I feel like I'm the type of person who likes to put off things I deem as "easy" such as calling in a prescription or picking a florist as I always think "oh it will only take a minute" and continually put it off thus I never get it done! I have a few options in mind but I need to shop it out a bit more- who knew flowers could be so pricy! Not me! Someone suggested I look at a wooden flower bouquet which are actually so cool!

3. Seamstress
I have my wedding dress as well as my bridesmaids dresses, and they all need to be altered. I tried calling a few places but none of them returned my calls! If you are local and have any suggestions as to a great seamstress let me know.

4.  Finalize Music
We decided to have live music at our wedding and found a group we like. We're currently working out the details and making sure they will be able to accommodate some pre-recorded music. I really have my heart set on one specific song playing as I walk down the aisle & for my first dance so we shall see.

5. Order Invites
I used Basic Invite for our Save the Dates and I love how they turned out. I'm planning on using them for the invites as well. I didn't realize how many pieces go into an invite! You need RSVP cards and direction inserts and so much more. I'll be sure to share once I have them ordered.

I'm sure I've forgotten some things but this is my current to do list!
I hope you've enjoyed
XO,
Nicholle
Sunday, April 7, 2019

5 Must Have Beauty Products


Hi All!
Today I wanted to share with you some of my must-have beauty products, it was pretty hard to narrow it down to just 5 but I did it. See my favorites below!



1 // Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
I have found a magic potion and this is it! This is the first product I have found that can actually reduce and clear up blemishes fast. What I love about this drying lotion is that it doesn't overly dry out your skin. I've found that some acne products can really dry out an area causing a whole other issue; this one clears up blemishes without making your skin dry and red in the process. 
Living in a state with no sunshine for months leads to me missing that Vitamin D and of course being extra pale- not fun! I've been using this self-tanner for years now and I can say it's the best one I've tried. What I love about this product is that it gives you a truly natural looking tan. The color isn't orange and it doesn't make you look too tan- we all know how bad it looks if you're either orangey or way too dark in the middle of the winter! 
After finding this hairbrush I got rid of all of my other brushes- it's that good! I've been using this for a few years at this point and I can't recommend it enough. I have very fine long hair that gets so tangled and this gets all the snarls out with ease. My sister has very coarse curly hair and the brushes work wonders on her hair as well- definitely, a must have! 
If you live in a place that gets brutally cold November-March then you know the struggle with dry air and in turn extra dry skin. I felt like I just couldn't apply enough lotion to keep my skin moisturized until I found this! I love how this product leaves my skin feeling. It's moisturizing but not at all greasy- my hands instantly feel smoothe and nourished after using it. 
This foundation is a game changer! I have never used a foundation that works as well as this one. This is a true full coverage foundation. I use a little less than a full pump and apply it to my face using this buffing brush. This products stays put all day and leaves me with a velvet finish.

Let me know if you try or have used any of these products!
XO,
Nicholle