Vest Dressed

When it comes to fall looks, vests are a staple so today I’m sharing two different fall looks  styled with vests. I love how these two looks are unique but all I did was change one piece. The longer duster vest is perfect for work or more formal looks. I love wearing it with jeans for a more casual look or with black pants and a blouse for a dressier look.

The green vest is perfect to dress up all different ways too. I’ve worn it often with jeans like I’ve styled it with here and with leggings and a sweater (see that look here). Vests can be so versatile and are a great way to change up a look and add a warming layer without the bulk of a jacker. I love wearing puffer vests too (see here for some of my favorite puffer vest styles).

I get most of my vests either from T.J. Maxx or J.Crew. I love the puffer vests at J.Crew and J.Crew factory and Old Navy sells a great alternative as well.

What are some of your favorite ways to style a fall vest? Comment below!

Cozy Fall Layers

There’s a lot to love about fall, but one thing I could definitely do without is the colder weather. The best way to combat the cooler days is with cozy fall layers, so today I’m sharing one of my favorite fall looks.

There are a couple of ways to mix up a classic look and make it fall ready – you can add an oversized scarf to transform a classic white shirt and some jeans. I found this green scarf at Nordstrom Rack and its Free People. I love it and will most likely be wearing it nonstop this fall and winter.

As for the rest of my outfit, my jeans are from Loft, my top is from Tobi, my boots are Vince Camuto, and my bracelet is from Francesca’s.

What are some of your favorite ways to change up your wardrobe for fall? Comment below!

Apple Picking

Every family has their traditions. As time goes on we grow out of some, let others go, and create new ones.  Growing up, many of our family traditions were known as “forced family fun.” I can still remember the dread of having to get out of my warm bed on a chilly weekend morning to tag along on another reluctant adventure. Looking back now, these are some of my most cherished memories.

One tradition I can always remember loving was apple picking. Every year my two siblings and I climb trees to reach the best apples we can find. In recent years it has been getting harder to find a time that we can all be together but I was so happy when we all made the trip to Brooksby’s Farm, in Peabody this past Saturday. It took a little bit of coaxing and some tough negotiating (my brother would only agree to three pictures and not a single click of a camera more), but we managed to make it work.

When my mom and I went earlier in the season, the line was incredibly long so I was nervous that we would have to deal with long lines and crowds again, but it was way less busy! We go to walk right into the orchard and climb any tree we wanted. The apples tasted so good we couldn’t stop eating them.

After we had picked our share, we went over to the pumpkin patch. As kids the rule was that you had to be able to carry your pumpkin to the car. I think on those days I developed super human strength because I was always determined to take home the biggest one I could find. Now I think the little round ones are the cutest.

Next to the pumpkin patch is the farm stand where we get to the best part of our trip – apple cider donuts. Thankfully this line was shorter than usual too and we were able to grab a warm batch of donuts and some cider too. Shortly after it was time for us all to go off about our days. Life seems to be getting busier every year but I’m so thankful for the traditions that have stood the test of time and allow us to all be together again.

Do you have any special fall traditions? Comment them below!

What’s in my Mug

I used to firmly believe that crisp fall mornings were meant for sleeping in and staying in my warm bed for as long as possible. Now that I have a puppy who wakes me up before the sun even thinks to rise, I find myself enjoying a new part of the fall days. One thing that makes it easier for most people (myself included) to wake up earlier is caffeine. I have never been a major coffee fanatic, but lately I find I’m starting to rely on it more and more. Now that the fall season is in full swing, I get to bring my love of all things pumpkin into the mix. To celebrate my new fond love (need) for coffee in my daily life, I am sharing what’s in my mug through the week:

Weekday Mornings

I am up and out of the house around 6:00 on the weekdays, so caffeine is a must. To be honest, I never actually learned how to make coffee in a pot (I can imagine it’s probably a super obvious process that would nonetheless confuse me), so having a Keurig is a lifesaver. I have three different fall-themed K-cups that I use:

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Medium Roast Coffee Keurig K-Cup Pod

Green Mountain Coffee Pumpkin Spice Coffee Medium Roast K-Cop Pod

and Stop & Shop’s Pumpkin Spice Keurig K-Cup Pod

I love how quick and easy it is to have my coffee ready to go. I have really begun to appreciate travel mugs. This adorable Kate Spade one was a gift from my best friend Abby! It’s really coming in handy these days, so thanks Babs! Because my love of pumpkin is extreme. I also add pumpkin flavored creamer to cut down the bitterness a little.

When it feels like Summer but looks like Fall

On fall days that feel like they belong back in August, I stay with my pumpkin theme but keep things cool by getting and iced coffee instead. My mom and I love Dunkin’ Donuts Pumpkin Swirl flavor. She gets it hot and black with just one pump, while I’ll take it hot or cold with almond milk. When the weather gets cooler, I tend to switch over to hot coffee, so it’s nice to be able to shake things up every once in a while.

Whenever I can find an excuse to go to a Starbucks

The Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks is one of my all-time favorite things about fall. Any time I’m out running errands or need a midday pick me up, I find myself wandering in to get one. The other day I got an extra one for free and I was so happy I wanted to hug the barista. These cups of happiness really just make my day.

What are some of your go-to drinks?

I wanted to hear all about what’s in you mug too, so comment below!

Fall Fanatic

Happy fall y’all!

As soon as it was October, I fully embraced every aspect of the autumn season. I think to say fall is my favorite time of the year may be an understatement. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a total water baby who loves the summer sun, but there is just something about a crisp fall day in New England that brings back years of happy memories. Some of my favorite fall activities include: asking everyone in my family at least once per day if they will go apple picking with me, taking the scenic route home (going way out of my way on my commute home to find any and all trees that have changed color), consuming apple and pumpkin products in any capacity, almost exclusively, making far too many trips to Home Goods, and repeatedly saying “Oh wow, I just love fall.” I welcome the eyerolls from those of you who think I am as basic as they come because I love this time of year and nothing is going to stop me from taking it all in every second I can.

This fall though is especially wonderful because I now have my pup! I love having a puppy around because I finally have someone who is just as excited by everyday things as I am. Luca doesn’t mind that I want to stop every five seconds to look at a tree or some pumpkins. He is more than happy to stop with me and smell anything and everything in his path. He makes everything an adventure and I am so blessed to have a new companion by my side!

Our most recent adventure took us to Brooksby’s Farm in Peabody. I have been coming here for as long as I remember. One of our oldest traditions is taking pictures with my siblings in the apple trees. Almost every year it seems make the Christmas card picture because it’s just about the only time my mom can get us all together. I think the only reason this seems to work is because we know that there are warm apple cider donuts waiting for us inside the little farm stand. The line is almost always to the door when we go but the wait is always worth it.

I think I may have done every fall activity imaginable, but that won’t stop me from trying to find more. If you love fall like I do and have some fun activities to share, comment them below!

Farewell to Fall

 

 

As soon as September rolled around, it was all things pumpkin spice and it seemed like summer was in the rearview mirror. Now, I am breaking out my cozy sweaters and Christmas socks and playing holiday music any chance I get. Before I delve completely into winter and all things Christmas, I wanted to take minute to reflect on my favorite season: fall. Fall is such a beautiful time in nature and for me, has always been a time of new beginnings.

Fall is when we get to go back to school again and see all our friends. Fall is when we get to trade our shorts for cozy vests and our flip flops for riding boots. Fall is nature’s finally before everything green is buried in a blanket of snow. What a more beautiful way to mark an ending (and new beginning) than with a vibrant display of beautiful colors.

So here is my farewell to fall, it will be a whole year before we meet again and I hope that the next season of vibrant colors finds me in a new place with renewed hope for life and all its beauty.

Outfit details here.

Autumn Wonderland: A Trip to the White Mountains

My Sweater: Forever 21 (similar here) | My Vest: TJMaxx (similar here)|My Scarf: TJ Maxx  (similar here)| My Pants: Forever 21 (similar here)| Our boots: Hunter |Abby’s Shirt: Gap (similar here & here) | Abby’s Jeans: American Eagle |

This post took me much longer to write than I was hoping and that’s because I took so many gorgeous photos during my trip that the idea of editing them all was so daunting. So I kept putting it off, but I need to share them with you guys because they are truly, truly magical.

Over Columbus Day Weekend, Abby and I (and my mom!) took a trip up to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. It’s about a two hour drive for me and the weather said that it was supposed to rain so we almost didn’t go. I am so glad we did though, because even though it did rain a little, the trees were still so beautiful that it made it all worth it.

While driving along the highway, we could see color bursting out in all directions. It really was something out of a dream. When I was younger, my family would always take trips up to see the foliage. I definitely didn’t appreciate the long car rides and seeing all the colors back then, but I certainly see the beauty of it now.

I hope that this is a renewed start of that tradition because the magic of the foliage up North is something I would love to see again and again.

Do you guys have any favorite fall traditions? Comment below!