Currently loving: Pink Coats

Fall weather always comes with a change of color in our wardrobes. We switch out our white dresses, bright prints and pastels for blacks, browns, navy and neutrals. One of my favorite ways to bring color to a fall wardrobe is a bright coat. I've always been a fan of light pink, so I splurged toward the end of the last winter season and bought myself this coat from J.Crew. Different from the typical darker colors of fall and winter outerwear, it's the perfect pop of color.

Military inspired vest + dress

I recently bought this dress from H&M and it is my new favorite piece in my closet (not to mention a great deal) . I've had a love for lightweight, long sleeved dresses for a while now. They're a good transition piece for summer to fall, and I think one of the ways to perfect the look is with a military style vest. The military green color is a good autumn hue, and it's perfect for those cooler autumn days that are right around the corner. 

I haven't found a vest yet, but it's at the top of my fall wardrobe list. Any suggestions?

Throwback denim

Yesterday my good friend Alex texted me a screenshot of a jumpsuit she'd recently purchased online, asking my thoughts on the piece. I loved it, and then she proceeded to tell me she's thinking about buying overalls too. I can remember Carrie Bradshaw donning dungarees in more than one episode of Sex and the City, but she never exactly styled them to my liking. 

I would probably pair it with a white tee and a statement necklace, but I also really like how the girl below wears a gingham button down underneath. Asos has a few options that I really like, such as this pair and this one as well. 

Would you wear overalls this fall? 

Pumpkin Bread

Post-Halloween and October, it's usually safe to say that the "pumpkin madness" has died down a bit, but because it's still before Thanksgiving, I thought I'd post my mother's recipe for pumpkin bread. It was a such a huge hit when I brought it into work, my boss thought it was store-bought!

xxo

Pumpkin Bread (makes two loaves)

- 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin purée

- 3 1/2 cups flour

- 3 cups sugar

- 2 tsp. soda

- 1 1/2 t salt

- 1 t cinnamon

- 1 t nutmeg

- 1 cup cooking oil

- 4 eggs

- 2/3 cup water

- 1 cup nuts (optional)

Sift together dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well. Pour into three greased and floured 9x5-inch loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes

Outdoor Style: Ditch the hats for the headbands

This winter, I want to throw caution to the wind (and cold, snow, rain and sleet for that matter). I know in Ohio we had a mild winter last year, and although I was in Washington, D.C. from January to April, it just didn't seem like winter-- there was no snow! Lately, I've heard every weatherman talking about what a "horrible winter" we're going to have because of last year's mild season. This being said, I thought I'd start a little earlier than December with some stylish tips-- and also because I went outside for my lunch break the other day and was almost frozen to death by the wind and the cold!

I'm usually the type to wear ear muffs, but have always loved the look of headbands too. It's all the style without the messy hat-hair. Here are a few of the best I've scoped out. Do you own any winter headbands?

{1} {2} {3} {4} {5} {6}

Fur Real

Now that the days are getting colder, I cannot wait to break out my fur vest. I got a lot of use out of it last year (and I can remember a LOT of stares) before they really became popular. I plan on pairing it with jeans and a flannel shirt or black skinnies, a grey tank and my new black jacket with leather sleeves. 

xxo

Pumpkin smoothie

We all go overboard with pumpkin when the fall season hits, and I can admit I am no exception. However, I will disclose that I had my first ever Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte last week. I did not have high hopes for it, because I hate the syrups coffee shops use, but I was impressed. I heard on the news that Starbucks is starting to have a nationwide shortage on the syrup, which most likely is going to lead to a mental breakdown for over half of my age group's female population.

Don't fret PSL obsessives; whenever the inevitable "pumpkin spice latte" extinction occurs for this year's fall season, I'm here to offer you a good alternative. Enter, the pumpkin smoothie. I had to add sugar to get rid of the bitter taste so it's not completely healthy, but I can promise you there are less calories than in a latte!

Pumpkin smoothie

- 1/2 banana
- 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
- 3/4 cup vanilla almond milk
- 1/3 cup Greek yogurt
- 4-5 ice cubes
- 2t cinnamon
- 1t nutmeg
- 3T powdered sugar

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. 

The need for tweed

Tweed always reminds me of old, stuffy professors. I've never really been a fan, but I'll admit that I've already bought a tweed skirt for the fall. When the first Nordstrom fall catalogue hit my mailbox, it was filled with tweed blazers, dresses, skirts and flats, and I knew it was going to be a major trend for the fall. So far, my favorite pieces are these below. What do you think of tweed?

Clockwise from top-left: {1} {2} {3} {4} {5} {6} {7}

Tweed outfit inspiration:

  

  

Halloween Nostalgia

When I look back on Halloween as a kid, there are certain things that instantly come to mind when it comes to movies and entertainment. Aside from all of the treats and costumes each year, there were traditions my brothers and I always enjoyed once October began.

Without hesitation, I think all three of us could say that our favorite episode of Boy Meets World was the "Halloween one," and it was something we looked forward to watching every year around Halloween time, along with a few other shows and movies... Hocus Pocus especially! I don't think anyone from our generation will ever tire of Bette Midler as the green witch, or Thackery Binx.

{Best episode of Boy Meets World}

{My favorite Halloween movie of all time}

{Family Matters "Stevil" Halloween episode, which still gives me the creeps}

{And who could forget, Halloweentown}