monday must-haves // under $10

It's the last Monday of September--hooray! I never like to "wish away" time, but September might be one of my least favorite months. It's that awkward transition from summer to fall, where my mind desperately wants to believe fall is here but the weather here in Texas is not quite there yet.

Mornings have cooled off nicely, but by midday it feels like summer once again--albeit a mild one. 

Anyway, needless to say I'm happy October is just 2 days away! I'm linking up with Andrea and Erika for their new Favorite Things Party (Under $10!!). I love this challenge as I'd consider myself to be pretty frugal. It's fun to shop for affordable items that are also stylish!

This edition of Monday must-haves under $10 includes items I recently purchased for  a Halloween/pumpkin-decorating girls' night with a few of my gal pals last Friday. These items were purchased at places like Dollar Tree, Michaels, and Target. Enjoy! xo.

twine - $1 @ Target // chalk - $1 @ Michael's // stickers - $1 @ Target

signs - free here and here // straws - $1 @ Dollar Tree // lights - $3 @ Target

paint (Americana) - $1.39 @ Michael's

2

friday faves

via

TGIF! It's Friday am I'm on a roll with this whole favorites thing. I'm linking up with Erika, Andrea, and Narci for Friday Favorites and listing my top SIX favorite  things to do in the Dallas-Fort Worth area this upcoming weekend.

 For those of you that live in DFW, check out what's going on:

1) State Fair of Texas

Big Tex. Fried food. Ferris wheel. Live music. The State Fair of Texas is back, y'all! You KNOW it's officially fall when the fair returns, and this year looks to be better than ever. I can't lie, my favorite part about this event is the food. Every year, a new selection of fried foods are judged and the winners make it to the prestigious State Fair menu. I mean... Deep Fried Breakfast for Dinner? Deep Fried Funnel Cake Ale? I'm intrigued!

2) Fort Worth Oktoberfest

The weather this weekend will be perfect for this event. Check out the website for Friday and Saturday's schedules, which include a 5K, dachshund races, and a barrel rolling competition! (Not to mention tons of German food and beer!)

3) Day in the District

On Saturday, September 27th, 9 of the museums in the Fort Worth Museum District will be participating in Day in the District. That means admission will be FREE from the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. I went last year and it was a really neat experience!

4) Rahr Oktoberfest 5K

I can't express enough how much I love Rahr! Especially in the spring and fall months when the temperatures are mild enough to truly enjoy the outdoor areas, it's such a great way to spend an afternoon with friends. This Saturday, Rahr is holding their annual Oktoberfest 5K. For $40, you get race entry, a shirt, food, beer, plus an Oktoberfest 5K pint glass to keep! Registration closes at noon today (Friday), so hurry and sign up before it's too late!

5) Southwest Classic

Are you a Texas A&M fan (whoop!), an Arkansas fan, a college football fan, or a Jerry World fan?? This weekend, the Southwest Classic is taking place in the good ol' AT&T Stadium (aka Jerry World).  Last I checked, tickets are still available if you want to really get in on the action. But if you're like me, you can easily catch the match-up at a bar or in the comfort of your own home. 

6) The Trailhead

Love trying new ways to be physically active? Look no further than the Trailhead! Located right on the Trinity River, this secluded spot offers a full schedule every Saturday in the fall with FREE classes like yoga, barre, and boot camp! I tried the barre class for the first time on opening weekend and it was a killer--yet invigorating--workout. 

No matter where you are or what you end up doing, I hope you have a fabulous weekend! See ya Monday. xo.

4

adventures in dallas & fort worth

As I mentioned in my last post, my sister came to visit me this past weekend. Besides shopping, her visits are always a good excuse to take her to new restaurants I've been wanting to try. I thought it'd be fun to hit the highlights of the weekend (with pictures!)

Friday night, we went to Friday on the Green in the Near Southside district of Fort Worth. I've been to this event a few times and it's always such a great way to unwind after a long week of work! We noshed on tacos from Taco Heads food truck and followed that with a trip to Melt for ice cream.

On Saturday, we were up bright and early and headed to Dallas for coffee and breakfast at Ascension. We each got lattes (a vanilla for me, caramel for my sister) and the yogurt granola bowls. The lattes were so delicious and we could not stop talking about how much we loved our granola! The service was also really great.

After coffee, we hopped over to Klyde Warren Park to check it out. Neither of us had been before. It is a beautifully landscaped park with stunning views of downtown and uptown Dallas. We walked around the arts district to kill some time and made our way over to Northpark Mall for some shopping.

After a few hours of shopping, we were starving and ready for lunch! We went to True Food Kitchen to have some yummy healthy brunch and dined al fresco. In the shade, it was quite nice! Plus, we both agreed we wanted to "thaw" out after being at the FREEZING cold mall. I guess they really wanted people to start buying their fall/winter boots and sweaters! Sister ordered the huevos rancheros (no picture--woops!) and I got the turkey sausage with sweet potato hash and eggs. We enjoyed the food and really liked not feeling heavy/gross/too full like we would if we'd eaten elsewhere.

After a little more shopping, we made a little pit stop on the way home to Fort Worth in the new(ish) Trinity Groves area just west of downtown Dallas. I was so surprised at how cute it was! There were several restaurants that smelled devine, but our purpose was to stop in the Kate Weiser chocolate shop. We each got a gorgeous truffle and a macaron to try. The shop also sells homemade candy bars, caramels, and ice cream. The chocolates were almost too pretty to eat! Almost. (PS: I highly recommend the Red Wine and Berries flavor!)

We got home mid-afternoon and watched our Texas Aggies BTHO SMU and refueled with more coffee. Then later, after a little more shopping, we ended the evening with wraps at Spiral Diner--a delicious little gem in the Near Southside district that specializes in vegan and gluten free food--and some J. Rae's cupcakes. HEAVEN.  The "Ate Layer Burrito" wrap at Spiral Diner is amazing, just sayin'.

Sunday morning, we hit up Trader Joe's--my sister's must-go place when she visits--and did a little more shopping. We also stopped by Park Hill Cafe for brunch and both ordered the fresh fruit plates (we weren't super hungry). The plates were surprisingly large and filling, with an assortment of fruit and yogurt dipping sauce. We also enjoyed the complimentary pastry/bread basket and tried a few different breads, muffins, and scones.

Overall--I'd say I had a pretty successful weekend and enjoyed the time with my sister and also finally getting to try out some places I'd been wanting to go! I'm always open for new recommendations in Dallas and Fort Worth, so feel free to comment below with suggestions. xo.

0

happy monday

Good morning and happy last-Monday-of-summer! (The first official day of fall is tomorrow, although my pumpkin-loving self has been pretending it's fall for weeks now.)

Anyway, I hope you all had a great weekend. My sister came to visit and we had so much fun exploring Fort Worth and Dallas! I'm planning to share more about our adventures later this week but first: coffee. Check back Wednesday to see what all we were up to this weekend. Hope you have a wonderful day!

xo

0

friday faves // september 19, 2014

Happy Friday! We made it!

Friday means the weekend is almost here. It also means it's time for Friday Faves! Once again, I'm linking up with Andrea, Erika, and Narci. I really looked forward to doing this post because it is not only fun to share my favorites and get introduced to others' favorites, but it also helps me to focus on the "little things" in life that make me happy. Life can get busy, hectic, overwhelming, etc etc. so it's good to take a moment to recognize the things that get me through the day!

With that said, here's a few things I've been L-O-V-I-N-G this week:

1) Pumpkin Bagels

Now that it is mid-September (wait, what??), I'm happy to report that grocery stores are finally fully stocked with all things fall and pumpkin. My sister actually introduced these Pumpkin Spice Bagels to me and swore up and down that they were as delicious as they sounded. I requested that the hubs get some at the store the other day while I was in class and was so excited to finally try one for myself. Verdict: They are delicious. They are yummy by themselves, but would be just as great with a smidge of cream cheese.

2) Brooks "Ghost" Sneakers

I'm currently in full swing of half-marathon training. My hubs and I ran the Thanksgiving Half in Fort Worth last year and decided it would be a new tradition. I only gave myself about 1 month to train last year (I know, I know...) so this year we started much sooner. I purchased a good pair of running shoes that the salesman at Luke's Locker recommended for long distances (Brooks "Ghost"). So far I've run in them three times (alternating with another "minimalist" pair for shorter distances) and really love the extra cushion and stability they give me. 

3) Afternoon Dog Walks

Lately, since the temps have started creeping down a bit, I've been walking my two rambunctious dogs about 2-3 times per week around the neighborhood. I used to only do this on weekends when my hubs could help out and we could each be responsible for one dog, but have gotten much more comfortable handling them both on my own. It's so fun to see neighbors outside doing yard work, running, and walking their dogs. I live in a pretty quirky neighborhood where everyone not only takes care of their yards and each house has its own unique personality.  Besides exercise, I get some great gardening and porch decor ideas just by walking around the block!

4) Green Tea with Lemon

Green tea with lemon, I've decided, is way more delicious than plain ol' green tea! The Bigelow brand is the one I've been drinking lately, and it's become a welcome part of my afternoon routine at work (and a healthier replacement for my usual Diet Cokes).  Drinking from a hand painted teacup makes the tea taste all the better, right??

5) J. Rae's Carrot Cake Cupcake

If you live in Fort Worth and haven't been to J. Rae's, take this as a sign that you need to go asap. It's one of my absolute favorite bakeries. Not only do they have delicious cupcakes, but the cheese cake is out of this world and the sugar cookies (that come in a multitude of colors, shapes, and themes) are devine. I don't think it's possible for me to oversell this place. The carrot cake cupcake is one of my faves, and I only get it during the fall for some reason. I treated myself to my first one of the season after a long day at work this week. The best.

As you can tell, these favorites are kind of all over the place, but hey, I'm just being real.

One thing I am really looking forward to this weekend is my sister coming to town! She is staying the whole weekend and we've pretty much got our entire Friday, Saturday, and Sunday planned out. Shopping, food, and traipsing around Dallas and Fort Worth are in my near, near future. I cannot WAIT.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! xo.

10

pumpkin spice hot chocolate

There's nothing better than a mug of hot chocolate on a fall evening. Add some pumpkin to the mix and you've got something really special (trust me).

I found this recipe on Pinterest and love that it is not loaded with sugar or other unhealthy ingredients. The original recipe makes two servings, but since the hubs is not a fan of pumpkin (I'm still hoping he'll come around...) I cut it in half to make a perfect single serving. The pumpkin in this recipe is NOT overpowering at all, but just adds a little more depth and richness. 

Single Serving Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

Adapted from FatFree Vegan Kitchen

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1/4 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)

2 tbsp Ovaltine drink mix
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Dash of vanilla extract

stevia, to taste

1. Blend all ingredients except stevia in a blender until thoroughly mixed.

2. Check sweetness and add stevia to taste. Blend once more.

3. Pour mixture into a saucepan and stir regularly until steaming. 

4. Serve in a big mug and enjoy!

xo.

0

casual friday outfit

I took a little selfie after work Friday to show off my super comfy Madewell plaid popover paired with my new-ish LOFT ankle zip skinnies and favorite leopard loafers (from Target last year). I found a few comparable leopard print loafers since Target no longer carries them:

I love this outfit and think a gorgeous pendant necklace, such as this Kendra Scott Rayne Necklace, would have been a nice finished touch! This is definitely something I've coveted for a while and will probably add it to my Christmas wish list this year. Check out Pinterest Told Me To for more ways to style the Kendra Scott Rayne Necklace!

So tell me--what's your favorite casual Friday outfit in the fall?? xo.

1

friday faves // september 12, 2014

Good morning and happy Friday!

I thought I'd do something a little different today so I'm linking up with Andrea, Erika, and Narci--a few local DFW bloggers--for a Friday Favorites post!

1) TOOTSIE ROLL POPS

Yes, you read right. I'm normally a strictly chocolate girl, but lately I've been obsessed with tootsie roll pops! I brought my glass pumpkin candy jar up to work last week and filled it with candy. It's such a great way to satisfy my sweet tooth after lunch and I love that it takes me longer to eat than other sweets. They have a new pomegranate flavor in the mix, which just might be my favorite.

2) MADEWELL SLUB V-NECK TEE

I have been eyeing Madewell's perfectly slouchy tees and finally scored this one for myself over Labor Day weekend (on SALE, what could be better?) I'm not ashamed to admit I've worn it pretty much every other day since then. I got the color "Speckle", which is a nice, heathered/speckled off white that is not see-through! Now I need it in more colors! You know I just love a good basic tee.

3) PUMPKIN ANYTHING EVERYTHING

I've been on a pumpkin rampage lately. I'm blaming Starbucks' earlier than usual release of the PSL, which seems to have given me the fierce craving for pumpkin in all forms I can get it. Pumpkin coffee, pumpkin candles, pumpkin soap, canned pumpkin... you name it. And I'm just getting warmed up! (Psst, those Green Mountain Coffee Pumpkin Spice K-Cups are the best.)

4) FOOTBALL

Football season means fall, tailgating, friends, good food, and school spirit. I love going home to College Station for Aggie football games. The town is indescribably electric during this season. The hubs and I went to the home opener against Lamar last weekend and had a blast! I got a few pictures of the new stadium but hope to get some better ones on my next visit. It's amazing how much the campus has changed in the 5 years I've been gone!

5) TIMEFUL APP

I recently discovered this app and am head over heels for it! Timeful is a time management app that syncs with your calendars while also allowing you to create "To-Do's" and "Habits" and fit them to your schedule each day. Over time, the app is supposed to "learn" about you and your routine to best fit your tasks into your day. It sends you alerts when you need to move on to another appointment or to-do and you can cross things off as you go. For a list-lover like me, this (free) app is pretty much everything.

6) Avocado Toast

I don't know what took me so long to jump on the avocado toast bandwagon, but I finally took the plunge this week and I won't be looking back. This is such an easy and satisfying breakfast in the mornings. I think this is going on my regular breakfast rotation from here on out.

So that's it for this week's Friday Faves! Hope you enjoyed and please share some of your faves in the comments below. Have a great weekend! xo.

4

monday must-have // popover tunics

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

Whether paired with slim ankle-length work pants or your favorite skinny jeans and boots, popover tunics are a super versatile top for both work and weekend. I'm always looking for new pieces that work double duty so they aren't limited to just one specific setting. I love that the structure of these tops are appropriate for the office but can easily be dressed down for a fall weekend apple-picking or wine tasting trip. I recently purchased two of these tops--one from LOFT and one from Madewell (ON SALE!)--and plan to wear them to pieces all season! xo.

0

must have fall shoes under $100

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

As much as I love my summer sandals, it's just about time to replace them with more appropriate footwear for the fall season. This, of course, means boots, boots, boots! I've also been obsessing with the slip-on sneaker trend lately. I love that these typically casual, athletic type shoes have been elevated with more luxurious textures, fabrics, and colors to easily be paired with anything from skinny jeans to dresses and skirts. All of the shoes above also happen to be under $100--updating your fall wardrobe doesn't always have to mean breaking the bank!

What shoes are you most looking forward to wearing this fall? xo.

0

fall inspiration

Today I am feeling especially in the fall mood. My Pinterest feed has been covered with fall-inspired outfits, entertaining ideas, photos, and decor galore!

via

Here are a few images that are inspiring me today. Hope you have a great Friday Eve--it's almost the weekend! xo.

via

via

via

via

via

PS Want to see more of what's inspiring me this fall? Check out my Feeling Fall Pinterest board! For yummy eats, check out my Fall Recipes board.

0

fall white

Hope you all had a wonderful, relaxing Labor Day Weekend! Now that September is here, I'm officially in fall mode. Bring on the Pumpkin Spice Lattes, football games, Oktoberfests, boots & scarves--I love it all!

I'll be packing away my summer tanks and shorts in the coming weeks and making room for my fall wardrobe. However, just because it is after Labor Day doesn't mean I'll be too quick to toss out my summer whites. A few fall accessories can transition white pieces into fall and winter nicely. I am even a fan of white sweaters (but won't be shopping for those anytime soon. I live in Texas, after all!)

Here's some inspiration for wearing your crisp summer whites right into the next season:

1. Pair your white pants with a lightweight cream sweater and tan booties for an effortlessly cool fall weekend look.
2. Your long-sleeved white button down shirt transitions easily to cooler months topped with a denim jacket and booties. A wide-brimmed hat adds a bohemian vibe to the look.
3. A cap, trench, and ankle-strap flats elevate a simple white summer shift.
4. Top a white pencil skirt with a thin sweater or two for a cozy, fall work outfit.
5. Tuck a breezy white tank top into an autumnal hued midi skirt for an easy fall outfit perfect for brunch with the girls.

Tell me, what is your favorite way to wear white after Labor Day? xo.

photo sources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

0