monday must haves

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and it's got me thinking about what I will be wearing while celebrating with my family! Though it's not quite cold enough here in Texas, I can still incorporate fall colors without adding too much bulk. Here's a few of my must haves for my trip home; reds and golds are cozy hues that are also very festive and perfect for the holidays! xo.

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pumpkin picking

One of my favorite things to do when fall comes around is to get a pumpkin! I'm not really sure why this is--I guess it just brings out my inner child!

Thinking about hunting for the perfect pumpkin inspired me to put together a comfy, cozy outfit for braving the chilly weather at the pumpkin patch. Warm neutrals with a pop of this season's "it" color, burgundy, exude style without being too over-the-top. After all, it's just a pumpkin patch. Which may include a stop at the local Starbucks for a pumpkin spice latte. xo.

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brrrrr

Oh, how I love this cool weather! Granted, it's much harder to drag myself out of bed in the mornings, but it's perfect for coffee-drinking and bundling up in layers of warmth.

via

love & lust | wedge booties

I am dying over these wedge booties, y'all! I saw the Jack Rogers booties the other day and fell in love... until I saw the price. Yikes! Not good on my wallet. I decided to do some digging and found a very similar pair for a steal! The Etienne Aigner booties from Macy's have a nearly identical silhouette, a great heel height, and come in a variety of colors.  For $99, you can bet these are on my fall shopping list! Are you into wedge booties for the fall? xo.

Jack Rogers Booties / Etienne Aigner Booties

monday must-haves

Right now I am obsessed with vintage-inspired jewelry, structured bags with interesting textures, and demure peplum--especially in emerald and ruby hues for fall. Touches of gold and nude pull everything together. xo.

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put some grey in it

"Greige" [grey/beige] was a huge nail trend last year. If you ask me, I don't think it's going away anytime soon. In fact, I am seeing lots more of this non-color mixed with other hues like blue, green, and purple. The combinations are truly endless! From a gorgeous, true grey to a dusty blue, here are my top five picks from the web. xo.

1 - Timeless / 2 - Trustafarian / 3 -  Merino Cool / 4  - Greycian Goddess/ 5 - Evvie

the scents of fall

Hope you all had the best Labor Day! Even though fall temps won't come around in Texas for a little while longer, I'm already in an autumnal mood with Bath & Body Works' roll-out of fall scents. This weekend, I stocked up on Leaves and Bonfire Maplewood candles [an old favorite and a new one to try] but am already super excited to get different scents during their next 2 for $20 sale!

What are your favorite fall scents? xo.

tax free weekend!

Tax-free weekend in Texas: a "holiday" that brings hoards of shoppers out to buy clothing and school supplies sans sales tax. It's a pretty sweet deal if you want to stock up on fall essentials! Even though I usually like to avoid these types of scenarios, I think I might brave the storm this time around. However, my strategy involves going right when stores open at 10 on Saturday, armed with a bottle of water to hydrate while I shop 'til I drop!

Here's a few of my must-haves for fall that I'll be keeping an eye out for this weekend. Hope I find some goodies! If you live in Texas, you can shop for clothing, shoes, and school supplies tax free August 17-19 [items less than $100 only.] xo.

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maxi skirt style

I think I could live in maxi dresses. I love how effortlessly elegant they look while also being quite comfortable. In a lightweight cotton fabric, they are wearable even in the summertime! Recently, I jumped on the maxi skirt bandwagon and bought a black jersey skirt at Marshall's. I could never really figure out what to pair a maxi skirt with but found some photos that inspired me to give it a whirl. I can't wait to wear it with tanks during the summer and transition to some comfy sweaters and boots when the temps drop. What do you think of the maxi skirt trend? xo.

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cranberry crush

I am crazy about cranberry this season! As I start to bulk up my cold-weather wardrobe, this color is going to be essential. Whether you add a single item for a pop of color, or go monotone with a berry sweater dress over berry tights (with some brown boots--ooh la la!), this color is gorgeous on every skin tone and is perfect for fall/winter. Here are a few cranberry-hued items that I absolutely adore at the moment. xo.

1. Women's Jersey Maxi Skirt, Old Navy; 2. Velvet Bow by China Glaze (Limited Edition), ULTA; 3. Sparkle & Fade Drapey Open Cardigan, Urban Outfitters; 4. Ribbed Cable Knit Tights, Forever 21; 5. Classic Knit Beanie, Forever 21; 6. LC Lauren Conrad Chiffon-Trim Sweater Dress, Kohl's.

scarf style

A scarf is probably one of my favorite accessories in the fall and winter. I love scarves with fun details, whether it's an interesting print or a vibrant color. They can really spice up a ho-hum outfit!

Below, I have rounded up a few gorgeous scarves for some fashion inspiration. Stay warm! xo

1. Large Polka Dot Scarf, Zara, $29.90; 2. Feather Print Scarf, Zara, $29.90; 3. BDG Popcorn Knit Ribbed Eternity Scarf, Urban Outfitters, $29; 4. Manhattan & Co Houndstooth Scarf, JC Penney, $17.99 (Sale); 5. Manhattan & Co Bright Plaid Scarf, JC Penney, $17.99 (Sale); 6. Zigzag Pattern Scarf, New York & Company, $19.95; 7. Mini Polka Dot Scarf, JC Penney, $16.99 (Sale).

pumpkin spice muffins

I'll admit until recently I loved the idea of carving pumpkins, but eating them? Not so much. I have been frequently   visiting Pinterest the past few weeks to get new baking ideas; now that it's cool outside, I can freely use the oven without fear of turning my house into a sauna.
stalking

When I stumbled across a TWO INGREDIENT pumpkin cake recipe, I was dying to try it. I didn't have high expectations, but the results were amazing. Not only is it cheap and easy to make, but the use of pumpkin in place of oil, eggs, butter, etc. in a traditional cake reduces the calories! I'm a huuuuge sucker for sweets, so this is good news for me. Needless to say, this recipe is my fall go-to recipe.

Recipe (adapted from All Recipes)

1 package spice cake mix*

1 can (15 oz.) pureed pumpkin

Optional: 1 egg**

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a 9x13 inch baking pan. You can also use a muffin/cupcake pan.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the spice cake mix and canned pumpkin until well blended. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.

3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. If making muffins/cupcakes, bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Cool and serve, or store in the refrigerator.

Optional Glaze 

 Though this cake tastes pretty awesome on it's own, you can make a quick sugar, cinnamon, water glaze for extra sweetness. About 1 cup sugar, a tablespoon or two of water (or milk) and a dash or two of cinnamon (to taste). Add more sugar if it's too runny. Then drizzle on cake once it has cooled. Heaven.

*If the store is out of spice cake mix (which was the case for me when I first tried this recipe), go ahead and get a yellow cake mix. Then add 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. ground cloves and 1/4 tsp. allspice. I got the idea from All Recipes. I didn't have cloves and it still tasted great without.

**I added an egg on my first try per the reviewers' recommendations. However, I think the cake would taste just fine without it.

TADAAAA: