Day 6: Party Time!

Today my family celebrated my aunt's 80th Birthday! WOW! Happy Birthday Aunt D - love you! I had a really fun afternoon/evening with my family spending time and sharing stories. Big thanks to my cousin and her adorable hubby for hosting at their new(ish) home - its beautiful guys!

Thankfully it was warm enough today that I didn't have to wear tights. The weather has really warmed up this weekend - the bf and I even got in a few quick yard sales the morning!

Turtleneck: Target, Dress: BCDG, Boots: Clarks

Sorry these photos are kinda blurry...bad lighting and a sleepy photographer don't mix well.

And this is the "What do you want from me? I'm not good at posing for pictures" face. ridiculous. 

It's been a late night so we stopped for some delish sustenance on the way home - Vanilla Soy Latte - oh how I love thee! 

I just love that Starbucks hands out free music! Who's with me? I pick up a new card every time I stop in...which is more frequent than I should admit.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! ♥

Day 5: TGIF

Shirt: Zara, Sweater Vest: Forever21, Jeans: Gap, Shoes: Apt9 via Kohls, Necklace: Handmade

“50 Reasons to Be Pretty Damn Euphoric You Live in New York City” I read this today – I loved it. Subsequently I have also decided that I think I need to move there. I should tell you though that this is not the first time I have come to the conclusion that I should move to NYC and I’m sure it won’t be my last. (Thankful it is only a short train ride away). For whatever reason I haven't moved there yet. I'm sure it is due to some profound reason that I have yet to uncover and will reveal itself at an incredibly inopportune moment...can you tell I'm a psych major? (Self diagnosis is my worst enemy). Anyway – read it, even if you’re not a New Yorker and just an admirer like me, its great! I may have actually laughed out loud at some of them.

Retail Therapy:

For those of you not taking part in the 30 for 30 Challenge who are still allowed to shop - don't forget about the Give & Get Sale going on now!

Now through Sunday November 14th get 30% Off at Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Gap Outlet and Banana Republic Factory Store in-store or online and 5% of what you spend will go to a charity of your choice.

Go HERE to sign up to give to the charity of your choice as well as get your 30% savings coupon to use at checkout!

The word FOUR has 4 letters.

Did you know? ...In the English language there is no other number whose number of letters is equal to its value. Useless knowledge...

Scarf: China Town NYC, Turtleneck: Target, Belt: hand-me-down, Jeans: Gap, Boots: Kmart, Mittens: gifted

I felt like some Red, White and Blue was appropriate today in order to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Happy Veteran's Day!

If two wrongs don't make a right, try THREE.

Dress: Thrifted, Sweater: Annie Sez, Belt: Hand-me-down (thanks Mom), Boots: Clarks

On Saturday as an unbelievably adorable 4 year old dug through multiple boxes under my coffee table that I had completely forgotten existed (isn't it interesting what the world looks like from a 4 year olds point of view - they see all kinds of things we don't), we came across a large box of yarn I had stashed away. There are large balls of yarn, small balls of yarn, scraps of yarn and everything in between. So I have decided that maybe I should start crocheting again and create a patchwork quilt out of all these pieces I have. Truthfully I thought nothing of this box of yarn we uncovered until I saw this picture in Ready Made magazine yesterday and felt über inspired!

The natural number following 1 and preceding 3.

Here's a hint...it's TWO!

Turtleneck: Target, Sweater: JCPenneys, Belt: Flea market in Italy, Jeans: Gap, Shoes: Dunnes Stores (Ireland)

Turtleneck, check! sweater, check! super knee high socks that you obviously can't see, check! I also had on a scarf, mittens and jacket this morning. Needless to say I'm not adjusting to this sudden change in temperature well. The entire month of October we had above average temps and now suddenly it's only 45degrees when I leave for work and my car is covered in frost! BRRRRR!

Outfit Numero Uno

I had the day off work today. I love having Mondays off - it feels like a quiet holiday! And a quiet holiday was just what I needed after this past weekend. Things were BUSY!  I worked both Saturday and Sunday (I'm only scheduled half days on the weekends thank goodness), met a friend for lunch and visited his new art display at a local coffee shop in town (may I just say its AMAZING!). My college roommate and her adorable daughter came to stay with us this weekend! It was the first time we have seen each other since graduation 2 years ago - so nice to catch up! I had the normal errands to run and chores to complete and trying to squeeze in time to pick out my 30 for 30 picks was a challenge all on its own. However, I got it done and here is outfit numero uno...

Dress: BCDG, Jacket: Gap (thrifted), Scarf: BCDG, Boots: Clarks

...the skirt of this dress was a little flowy for the heavy winds we had here today. Thankfully I was indoors most of the day.  But when I did have to face the elements that scarf kept me comfy-cozy all day long!! Hopefully it will continue to keep me warm tonight cause I'm off to a Women's Board Auxiliary meeting at the hospital....we're planning our Casino Night fund raiser tonight! YAY!

My 30 for 30 Remix Picks

I meant to have this posted much earlier today, but as things tend to happen, today was terribly busy!

So lets not drag this out any longer...here are my 30 for 30 Remix picks!

I had a harder time picking items from my closet than I thought I would. The first 15 were easy - all the pieces I love and wear regularly. The second 15 was not so easy and I soon came to find that my closet is limited to only a few colors - which one would think makes mixing things up easier, however, it can also make things kinda boring. My plan is to try and add splashes of color via my accessories, fingers crossed! Tomorrow the creativity and remixing begins - I'm really looking forward to seeing all the great outfits and inspiration everyone brings to the table! Check out the full list of participants HERE!

Controversy

Have any of you read this post by Maura Kelly at Marie Claire?? I just did! Basically she is saying that she agrees with the critics of the new CBS sitcom Mike & Molly stating "I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other ... because I'd be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch a very, very fat person simply walk across a room".

I'm really just amazed at people sometimes and their lack of judgement. I'm also surprised that an editor would even allow someone to post such a thing - whether or not as an editor you think she is being insensitive jerk or not, anyone with half a brain would have realized this was going to cause serious backlash!  And especially coming from a magazine such as Marie Claire that has always been such a supporter of having a healthy and positive body image. I suppose it is possible that the magazine does not have an editor that reads online posts - maybe they should.

What are your thoughts?

Counting down...

I have jumped on the challenge train! The "30 for 30" is a challenge that Kendi at Kendi Everyday came up with. The basic premise is to take 30 items from your closet (including shoes) and mix them into 30 different outfits over about a months time (read more about it here). She did this once back in April (see the finale pic of all her outfits here) and it was fantastic! She has graciously invited other bloggers to join her in the "30 for 30" challenge Fall edition starting Monday Nov. 8th and I have jumped on board.

I am hoping that my outfits will come out looking half as wonderful as Kendi's - as she is so talented with her fashion ideas. Follow along with me on my fashion remix journey while I try to stretch my closet further and get creative! I'll be posting my 30 items on Sunday so stay tuned!

What I want now...

I'm in her boat. I'll take one of each please!

I am loving all the new ballet flats collection by J.Crew found HERE.

I'd be dancing all over town if I scored myself a pair of these!

What do to with all that leftover Halloween candy...

1. Why not use it to bake tasty treats of course!

• Butterfinger Cake
• Snickers Brownies

2. Make your own flavored Vodka by infusing hard candies like skittles and mints.

• Skittles Vodka Tutorial (I am really dying to try this!)

3. Take it to work or donate it.

4. Freeze it for later use: Not able to use up all the chocolate right now? Not to worry - chocolate freezes great for later use in baking or just enjoying!

5. Save candies like dum-dums for decorating your holiday ginger bread house.

6.  Make a pinata for the next upcoming birthday party - if that's too far off, considering putting together party favor bags for Thanksgiving and Christmas parties (of course be sure not to use those candies with Halloween themed wrappers)

What are your ideas for using up left over Halloween candy? Share your thoughts below.

Tuesday Tutorial:

Embracing Embellishment...picture frame redecorating!

I recently found this frame on the Urban Outfitters website HERE and felt inspired to try and recreate it in my own way.

On Saturday I picked up this picture frame from a "FREE" box at a yard sale, but you could use any frame you have lying around or even grab one at the dollar store.

I found some embellishments in my stash of scrapbooking accessories and salvaged pieces. Simple embellishments can be found at any craft store and at many dollar stores as well, but to keep the cost down consider using anything you have lying around like bows, brooches, buttons, flowers!

Next I painted the whole piece black (to match many of my other frames) but you could use any color that suits your decor!

I used a sample jar of black paint that I had lying around, but I would suggest using spray paint to expedite the process and avoid having to worry about brush strokes!

Next I used a hot glue gun to attach the embellishments I decided to use.

Add photo and TA-DA easy peasy fancy photo frame re-do!

FREE Sample: Folgers Coffee (facebook offer)

Who doesn't love a FREE cup of joe?!



Head HERE and "like" Folgers on facebook and sign up for a FREE sample of Folgers coffee.

Gone to the Orchard...

For me Halloween was less about sweet sugary candy and more about sweet juicy delicious apples!

We went apple picking!

Nothing says autumn like a brisk walk through the orchard!

 

After a wagon ride out into the orchard, brown bag in one hand and the bf in the other, we got to pickin'! The weather was perfect - just cold enough to thoroughly enjoy some hot apple cider - but warm enough that we didn't need gloves. The sun was shining and the apples were beautiful! We ended up picking just over 17lbs of pink lady apples and at only $1 per pound it was well worth it to be able to choose which ones we thought were the best of the best! A perfect way to spend our Halloween!

I'm planning to try my hand at some homemade apple sauce, muffins and pies over the coming weeks. If you have any other apple recipe suggestions I'm all ears - please comment below!