Cozy Layers

Dress & Shirt (Target); Sweater (Banana Republic Outlet); Socks (Kohls);
 Scarf (Loft);  Tights & Earrings (Nordstrom); Boots (Guess find at Marshalls);
Dave Haas Photography

You know what's cozy?  Sitting on your couch in sweats and a blanket, drinking hot chocolate, and snuggling with your favorite furry friend.  So even though we have to leave our couches, it's possible to be cozy without looking like a couch bum (which in all honesty is one of my favorite looks for fall/winter).   Have I mentioned how much I love tights with socks and boots?!  It's like a constant comfy leg hug... plus my toes are the warmest little sausages in a blanket :)

Business Meets Party

Sweater (Gap); Skirt & Necklace (Limited); Blazer (Kiss/NY);
Shoes (Franco Sarto find at Marshalls)
Ryan Seidel Photography

This skirt just looks like it belongs at a party... it's short, fun, and filled with shimmery gold.  Instead of going to a party, it went to work.  And so I balanced out my party skirt with my serious black blazer.  I sort of feel like those people who do video conferences from home and wear suits on top and pajamas on bottom.  Even though I am split between work and party... my heart always belongs to the party :)

Friday Find

RumChata (select liquor stores)

If you haven't heard of this insanely amazing rum, then pay attention. RumChata is as fun to say as it is to drink... it's a creamy liqueur made from sugar, rice, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet dairy cream and rum. RumChata should go as liquid Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal for Halloween because that's basically what it tastes like... it's delicious in coffee, hot chocolate or just poured in a glass.  And the best part is that it's made in Wisconsin (which is where I'm from). Beer, cheese, brats, and RumChata?  Man I love home :)

Uncontrollable

Dress (Taylor find at Marshalls); Scarf (H&M); Tights (Target);
Shoes (Nine West); Watch (Fossil); Earrings (Limited)

You know when things don't work out the way we plan - we say the universe is telling us something?  Well today the universe was telling me to wear my blue/green tights.  I had the best intentions of wearing black tights - but 2 weeks in a row of work travel has left me with a basket full of unwashed black tights. And so sometimes my fashion choices are as simple and uncontrollable as a laundry issue, or as complex as the universe interceding and showing me a better option... I prefer to think it's the latter :)

Functional Fashion

Dress (Limited); Shirt (NY&Co); Jacket & Tights (Target); Shoes (Naturalizer);
Earrings (Nordstrom)
Dave Haas Photography

Sometimes my layers aren't functional… a scarf is added for some color or a denim jacket for a finishing touch.  Today my layers are completely functional.  My tights layered with a sweater dress layered with a shirt and then a jacket was all necessary.  I love it when function and fashion come together…  which is pretty much the theory behind the fanny pack ;)

Classic

Jacket (Gap Outlet); Jeans (Target); Sweater (Gap); Shoes (Nine West);
Bracelets (JCPenney); Hat (DSW)
Ryan Seidel Photography

There are few items more perfect and classic than the trench coat.  It's always in style, it goes with everything, and putting it on instantly makes you look pulled together.  A black turtleneck, pearl bracelet, and black pumps are also must own classics... adding the colored denim and hat make this look classic with a twist ;)

Friday Find: DIY

For my boyfriend's birthday, one of the gifts I gave him was personalized map coasters.  I ordered highway maps (free) from the states we've been to together... and then cut out the cities that were special to us (first date, trips together, hometowns, etc) and glued them to coasters I bought at the dollar store. It's an great DIY gift that is thoughtful, useful, and unique.  I also made the card... just grab a candle and use that as the "i" in "wish" - so easy!

Senior Pictures

Dress & Shirt (Gap); Sweater (Limited); Shoes (Ellen Tracy find at Marshalls);
Watch (Fossil); Earrings (Nordstrom)
Bryan B Photography

While looking at these pictures I had major Deja Vu... I had seen them before.  The beige sweater... the pose with my hand to my face...  It was 1999, and my high school senior pictures.  Oh what I would tell that girl if I could go back in time. Definitely to study less and pretend to like keg beer during my college years, and to take myself less seriously, be patient, and enjoy the ride...  I really should start listening to myself ;)

Stripes Squared

Shirt (Green Envelope - TJMaxx); Scarf (Loft); Skirt (Gap); Boots (Nine West);
Watch (Fossil); Earrings (Nordstrom)
Nicole Lai Photography

Stripes are such classic, timeless, and fun pattern...  so why not double down?  Adding stripes to stripes makes an already good thing even better. Sort of like a cute guy that can cook... or putting sweaters on Rex... or zumba'ing to Gangnam Style.  It just works :)

Upstaged

Dress (Macy's); Shirt (Gap); Belt (Target); Shoes (Nine West); Watch (Fossil);
Nicole Lai Photography

I'm used to being upstaged by a small furry creature... So when this little squirrel buddy insisted on hanging out while doing some serious posing, the moment had to be captured.  I think he wanted to convey that for squirrel fashion it's all about a bushy statement tail... it's the rodent equivalent to the blogger bun :)

Friday Find

Lumene Deep-Cleansing Peat Mast (Ulta, Walgreens, CVS)

Typically the cooler months bring drier skin - I'd gladly welcome that as my face is always oily, even in the winter. This deep cleansing mask by Lumene is my new BFF... it's intended to absorb excess oil and impurities from skin and tighten pores. I use it twice a week, and each time I rinse it off my skin feels tight, refreshed, and softer.  The best part is that it doesn't become uncomfortable and pull your skin too tightly like other masks can (in other words, no frozen face)... and the next best part is that it's under $10!

Pause Please

Dress & Earrings (Nordstrom); Cardigan (Banana Republic Outlet);
 Shoes (Franco Sarto find at Marshalls); Necklace (Consignment Shop);
Watch (Fossil);
Nicole Lai Photography

Have you ever wanted to press pause on your life?  There are certainly times I would have preferred to fast forward through, and others I'd love to rewind and relive... but right now I just want everything to stand still.  There seem to be few moments when all aspects of life seems hopeful, happy, and right... and lately life seems to be all these things.  So I'd like press pause.  Please?

Love

Shirt (Target); Sweater (Old Navy); Jeans (Express); Tights (Limited);
Shoes (Nine West); Earrings (Nordstrom):
Dave Haas Photography

Oh love... I am no expert in it.  I have been burned by it.  And I'm still a sucker for it.  It's true that the longest relationship I've had with the opposite sex is my dog Rex... And let me tell you it's been a long six years :)  The best way I've heard love described is that it's a contest in generosity... and it's so true. You want to do every little thing to make the other person feel loved and appreciated, because you are so very grateful for how lucky they make you feel. And sometimes, you want to wear a heart on your sweater :)

Motor Maxi

Jacket (Kohls); Dress (Calvin Klein find at Marshalls);
Shoes (Jessica Simpson find at Marshalls); Earrings (Nordstrom); Necklace (Gift)
Ryan Seidel Photography

Adding a tough jacket to this summer maxi dress gives it a new and edgy look for fall. And I'm wearing my new favorite necklace... a gift from my boyfriend who knows I love turtles :)   And so a Motor Maxi is what happens when you combine a motorcycle jacket with a maxi dress.  And carrying Rex like a baby is what happens when he doesn't listen (it's a very common look for us).