Little White Dress

In this outfit:
Jacket: BB Dakota (last year, similar)
Dress: Urban Outfitters ($15 sale)
Tights: American Apparel super opaque ($25)
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell (old)
Bracelet: Thrifted ($2)

Where I wore it: To the office

This weekend, the cat situation regressed to near-disastrous levels (I have the bandages on my arm to prove it), so I stayed out of the house (after separating the cats of course), and did some therapy shopping. Therapy shopping is always better when there's a sale, so I was super happy when I walked into UO to find they were offering an extra 50% off sale prices. I saw this white dress a few months ago, and fell in love, but I loved it even more for $15 bucks! It's definitely a summery dress, but it's not cotton (personally a straight cotton dress is a little too summery for me to transition) so with a slip and tank top layered underneath, it works for cooler weather too. Do you wear slips? I purchase half slips second hand (in good condition of course) to wear with skirts and dresses, and then cut them to the length I need. As long as the slip is polyester or nylon, it won't fray, and will act as a lining for an unlined piece of clothing. They're especially handy when you're wearing tights, your dress won't bunch or stick to your legs.

After living in jeans for the past couple of weeks, it was so nice to put on a dress. The weather had been hovering in the high 60's to 70's, making it a little tough to put on tights, but Monday morning, the temp dropped. We even had to turn the heat on last night. And, man it's really starting to get dark out earlier! I rushed home after work yesterday so Chris could take some pictures and we had about 10 minutes before we lost the light. All last week it was either raining or too dark, so I think it's time we change our photo schedule! Here's to waking up even earlier in order to take pictures!

P.S. I have an interview up on the Propelle blog today, if you're interested in reading it, you can find it here!

Autumn Goals

The view from Cathedral Ledge, back home in New Hampshire last year

I know lists such as these are plentiful this time of year, but well, the gym was closed, and it's raining out tonight, so I actually have some time to sit and think about this sort of thing. Last fall felt all too brief, caught up entirely in the relocation process, we were either frantically looking for a place to live, spending every free moment with friends and family, or tossing all our belongings into a moving van. I can't even remember last October, so I'm determined to enjoy every second of this one (and the last of September, and November too).

As the weather cools, here's what I'm hoping to do this fall:

1. Find some new hiking spots. 
We've mostly just stuck to Ohiopyle this past year, so I'm really excited to branch out and try some new trails.

2. Go apple picking.
This was a fall ritual back home in New England, and I'd love to continue it here in PA. The jury is still out when it comes to finding a good pick-your-own place, but we're definitely going to check out Soergels and Trax Farms.

3. Go to a flea market.
Something we've been waiting all year to do, if the weather holds up, this is what we'll be doing this weekend!

4. Visit friends around the state.
I already have some plans in place for this, but I want to make more. I'm such a week-to-week planner that my weekends are often spent on the fly, so I want to get better at planning ahead of time.

5. Re-do our home office/workspace and clean out the garage.
Our extra bedroom has a desk in it, and a computer, it also houses boxes of stuff to donate, and loads of other stuff we don't need. I'd love to build a new desk and really make it a space I'd like to be in. Also, ugh, our garage. We still have boxes from Massachusetts that have yet to be sorted and unpacked. I've been putting it off because I'm convinced they're now filled with spiders and other undesirables.

6. Have people over more often.
I'm gun shy when it comes to entertaining and get a little anxious about having people over to our place. I'd really love to get over this and entertain a little more.

7. Cook more often.
Confession: I don't like cooking. Chris does, so the majority (read: all) of our meals are cooked by him (except for breakfast and baked goods, two things I do enjoy making). I'd love to try out some new recipes and add a little more to my extremely limited repertoire.

8. Clean out my closet, and be intentional about what I add to it.
I think this is pretty self-explanatory. I think I've become much more aware over the past year of what I'm drawn to fashion- and decor-wise. I've done several closet clean-outs since we moved, and I want to keep the ball rolling seasonally.

9. Decorate for the season.
Our porch is just asking for mums in all colors.

10. Work more with my hands.
I write all day at work, I write in the evenings for this blog, I would love to make more time to create with my hands. It's something that I miss. Ideally, I'd love to take a metal-working class for jewelry fabrication, but have yet to find one that's affordable. This goal goes along with #5, we need to make some space for projects.

Do you make seasonal goals? I'd love to know what you're working on this fall!

Flannel Weather

In this outfit:
Flannel: American Apparel (old)
Jeans: Vintage/ Avalon ($11)
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell (old)
Belt: Vintage/ thrifted ($2)
Earrings c/o Noble Town Vintage
Bag c/o Bali ELF

Where I wore it: To the office!

Yesterday, I had one of those days. You know, the kind of day where you wake up late and nothing feels like it fits; you try on everything in your closet only to land back where you started from; standing in your underwear amidst the rubble of your wardrobe five minutes after you were supposed to leave for work? Yeah, that kind of day. After that morning whirlwind, I landed in frustration on this outfit for the sake of getting us out of the house relatively on time. Which isn't bad, I like it, but I spent my day wishing I was back in bed wearing pajamas. I usually have clutch outfits for days like this, outfits that I know look good and that I'll be comfortable in; but lately my closet has been a weird mix of summer and fall. I've been trying to put off making the seasonal switch for as long as possible, but I think it's time. I have no interest in wearing sandals again this year, it's time to break out the boots.

Do you pack away your seasonal clothes? I started doing it when Chris and I moved in together, and it's such a space-saver. Plus, I love rediscovering all those clothes hidden away in boxes at the start of each season. I have big plans this weekend to haul everything out and get organized.