Fall Checklist: 50 Must-Do Fall Things

I know that technically Fall has been here for a little bit now, but I don't really consider Fall to start until October. In October the weather just seems to slowly shift to cooler temperatures, foggy mornings, and more cloudy days. This is truly Fall weather. In Fall there are so many things that you need to do that you miss during the Summer. I have a lot of things on my must-do for Fall list. Check out my list below. Do you see anything that you are also going to do? What's on your list for Fall?

1. Carve a Pumpkin
2. Go on a Hot Air Balloon Ride
3. Retreat to a Cabin in the Mountains
4. Have a Scary Movie Marathon
5. Donate to a Food Bank
6. Shop at a Farmer's Market
7. Enjoy the Harvest Moon
8. Start Christmas Shopping
9. Watch the Birds Fly South
10. Gather Pine Cones and Make a Centerpiece
11. Remember What you are Thankful for
12. Visit a Pumpkin Patch
13. Go Apple Picking
14. Bob for Apples
15. Go Trich-or-Treating or Give Out Candy
16. Navigate a Corn Maze
17. Visit a Haunted House
18. Have a Photo Shoot in a Leaf Pile
19. Go on a Hayride
20. Go Camping
21. Tell Ghost Stories
22. Jump in a Pile of Leaves
23. Attend a Football Game
24. Go Tailgate at a Football Game
25. Fall Festival
26. Host Thanksgiving Dinner
27. Volunteer at a Food Bank or Soup Kitchen
28. Bonfire Time
29. Halloween Costume Party
30. Go Black Friday Shopping
31. Decorate with Mums
32. Make a Fall Themed Mantle
33. Make a Scarecrow
34. Watch Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving or It's a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
35. Make a Scarf
36. Play a Murder Mystery Game
37. Find or Make a Halloween Costume for Yourself
38. Go on a Nature Hike
39. Make S'mores
40. Bake an Apple Pie
41. Have some Candy Corn
42. Enjoy Pumpkin Pie
43. Indulge in Carrot Cake
44. Sip Apple Cider
45. Have Apple Cider Doughnuts
46. Make and Eat Caramel Apples
47. Have Roasted Marshmallows
48. Roast and Eat Pumpkin Seeds
49. Enjoy Chili and Homemade Soup
50. Go to Starbucks for Pumpkin Spice Latte

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Chit Chat

Let's face it, some days are rough. Sometimes you have days where you don't feel quite right from the moment you wake up and despite trying your hardest you just cannot shake it.

I had a day like this last week. I spent the entire day feeling completely defeated with an intense feeling of sadness and frustration without being able to pinpoint exactly where these feelings were coming from but I did know I was overwhelmed, I didn't feel like myself, and I couldn't seem to pull myself together.

Once the day was winding down I found myself a spot and cried. I am not talking about a cry like I have when I shed a couple tears after seeing those incredibly sad commercials with the adorable cats and dogs needing someone to take care of them. I am talking about a red faced, puffy eyes, tears streaming down my face kind of cry. The tears came out of nowhere. Maybe they came simply because I didn't know what else to do. You know what? It felt good. It felt like a release of all of these pent-up emotions and after I wiped the tears away although I didn't feel completely better I was more relaxed and somewhat relieved.

In my book there is a lot to be said for sitting down and having a good cry every once in a while. We live in a society that is always urging us to be happy and telling us to get over it. While I do agree that we need to get over it when something sad happens or when things do not go our way I do not think it should come at the expense of us first working through our grief and disappointment.

Crying can have a powerful role in healing. It can help us clear out our emotions and established a more balanced perspective at where we are and what possibilities we have. It allows us to refocus and release tension. Sometimes I just need to cry. We are allowed to have bad days or even weeks and we are allowed to have a good cry to help us get through them.

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The Sunday Edition

The girls over at Her Late Night Cravings had a wonderful post on their Fall wardrobe essentials and the items.

The PolishAholic had a great post this week featuring some beautiful nail polishes! I would really love to have th Oh Splat! color!

Kate's Little Store is an etsy shop I found this week. I love all of the cute brooches and the fact that most of her stuff is made from wood!

While looking around on etsy, I also found an adorable shop called KnitKnit. The girl who runs this shop makes embroidered necklaces with the cutest animals. I so love this owl necklace!

This week I saw some of the most gorgeous, most delicious looking cakes ever! Where? At Sugar Ruffles, Elegant Cakes, you definitely need to check out the photos of The Vintage Cakes!



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On The Menu: Simple Fruit Salad

I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and I typically like to keep the way I eat them very simple. Instant vanilla pudding gives this fruit salad a little pizzazz that requires basically no effort. I like to let mine chill a little after mixing in the pudding so the fruit gets juicy.

Ingredients:
1 pineapple cubed
1 pint blue berries
1 pound strawberries, halved or quartered depending on size
1 1/2 cups grapes
3-4 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding

Directions:
1. Clean fruit and place in large serving bowl.
2. Sprinkle with pudding.
3. Gently stir.
4. May be served immediately or chill in refrigerator overnight.

Happy Weekend

I wish I was spending the weekend at home decorating for Fall, baking something delicious, and with the majority of time spent in bed catching up on recorded shows and flipping through my favorite magazines but I have another jammed packed weekend ahead of me. Saturday me and Jessica are headed to Lexington for the day and Sunday will be devoted to tackling errands that I have fallen embarrassingly behind on. I also hope to carve out a couple hours at some point this weekend to put up on my growing collection of Halloween decorations.

Earlier this week I purchased tickets to the Nutcracker and I am already excited. My mom has never been to the ballet so me and Jessica are taking her this year and I cannot wait to share how beautiful it is with her. What are you doing this weekend?

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Friday Favorites: Anthropologie Shoes

Now that Fall has official begun, more people are shopping for those items to add to their Fall wardrobes. With the warm Summer weather starting to come to a close shoes are one item that everyone is paying special attention too. As the warm sunny days get behind us we will have to put all of those cute Spring and Summer sandals back in storage. So, I have been thinking a lot about shoes for Fall. Anthropologie has so many cute shoes in their new Fall arrivals. From boots to ankle boots to wedges to oxfords, I just see so many pairs of shoes that I would love to order. What do you think about my favorite pairs? I also saw this top that I would love to have. It has such a beautiful print and such vibrant colors. Are you looking for any items to add to your Fall wardrobe?

Glitz Sneakers - Bowtie Loafers - Black and White Mary Janes - Ribbon Booties - Idlewild Wedges - Elsie Oxfords

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Wise Words

I think that we sometimes take the opinions of other people too seriously. We let what others say dictate how we should feel about ourselves or about something else. When we really only need to be thinking about how we feel and what we believe.

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Stylish For Less: Sweaters Under $50

The temperatures are still very warm here in the afternoons but as it has been a complete icebox in my office the last two weeks I am officially declaring it sweater weather. For my #stylishforless picks this week I have rounded up 7 great options all under $50. I would pair this leopard sweater with a black pencil skirt for the office and maybe it is because I am borderline "crazy cat lady" (meet Tiger here) but this sweater would be perfect weekend wear for me. Have the temperatures dipped enough for you to start wearing sweaters yet? Do you have a favorite from the ones below?

Leopard Sweater / Cat Eyes Sweater / Gem Sleeve Sweater / Ivory Cable Sweater / Embellished Shoulder Sweater / Black & White Geo Sweater / Lace Detail Sweater via: Vogue Paris November 2011

Necessities For Embracing Fall

The semi-cooler temperatures we have been experiences have me extremely excited. Daydreams of cozying up in a warm sweater (current favorites here and here and a dream sweater here) and a warm throw are at the forefront of my mind. I have rounded up 9 of my favorite necessities for embracing the season including tall brown boots and red lipstick. Round this list out with pumpkin spice lattes, fresh baked apple pies, and numerous hot chocolates and I feel like I'm all set. What are your Fall necessities?

Cozy Socks / Vintage Leather Belt / Tall Brown Boots / Umbrella / Candles / Hairpins / Red Lipstick / Warm Slippers / Soft Throw via: 1

Decorating for Fall

Now that Fall is officially here, it is time to start putting out those Fall decorations. When I think of Fall decorations, the first thing that comes to my mind is pumpkins. While I love pumpkins of all sizes, especially the white ones, they are not the only item you can use to decorate for Fall. There are just so many options for decorating around the home for Fall. Think of reds, oranges, and yellows when it comes to colors. I think of wreaths of corn or cranberries. For Fall I also think about decorating with acorns, pine cones, and leafs. Are you doing any decorating for Fall?

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All the Leather Trimmings

Leather is a must have for Fall and Winter fashion. For this Fall I am definitely loving items that have a leather trim. These items do not have a whole lot of leather to them they are just accented with leather. To me this adds a feeling of luxuriousness to the items and this detail just adds more interest. Leather, whether it is a little or a lot, adds some rocker attitude to a look. I especially love the blazers that are trimmed in leather. They are so rocker chic to me. Plus, while leather pants may not look good on everyone, pants that are trimmed in leather do! What are your thoughts on leather trim?

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What To Wear: To Welcome Fall

One of my favorite things about Fall is cozy sweaters like this fun camel sweater. I also see Fall as a time for wearing jeans whenever possible. This nail polish would be the perfect way to complete this #whattowear to welcome Fall look. I have happily been shopping for new Fall pieces. What have you added to your closet for this season?

Camel Sweater / 3.1 Phillip Lim 31 Hour Bag / Tory Burch Jeans / Glitter Loafers / Kate Spade Bow Studs / Gorjana Sunset Disc Bracelet / Gorjana Taner Pressed Bangles via: 1

Happy Fall!

I am so excited that Fall as arrived. The temperature has actually cooled down a little. I am looking forward to there being a little more crispness in the air so I can start wearing all of the sweaters I have stocked up on. Although everything has been so busy here I hope to get some decorating done this week and the images above are some of my inspiration. Have you already decorated for Fall? Are you excited about Fall like me?

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Chit-Chat

I honestly love my job as a teacher. It's not just my job as a teacher that I love, I truly love the school that I work at. I believe that the other teachers and administrators really keep the best interest of the students in mind when important decisions need to be made. They are also so friendly and kind. I have found a fantastic group of four women there that I have become very good friends with. We eat lunch together every day and refer to ourselves as "the lunch bunch." When one of us is stressed the others are always willing to help out and offer advice and support. When one of us has good news to share the others always rejoice with us.
We trust and support each other just like any good friends would. Our friendship doesn't end at work. We have all shared work and personal things with each other. We have helped each other through rough times and celebrated the good together.
Even on days when my students are perfect angels and everything has gone perfectly, I still look forward to lunch. It is a break from the day. It is time for me to unwind and have lunch with a group of fabulous women. Do you have a group of friends at work that make your work days better?

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The Sunday Edition

Five pretty dresses that are perfect for dressing up but totally out of my price range: shimmering gold silk dress // black cocktail dress with feathers // floral ballgown // jeweled dress with feather skirt // silver sequin cocktail dress.

6 New Essie shades for Fall

A great embellished sweater that will be super cozy this Fall.

I love every single item on Kelly's birthday wish list.

I love this ladylike look Rachel featured.

I love Nnenna's book roundups.

Leather is one of my favorite fall trends and Dale gathered together some great on trend items.

Picnic season is almost over so try out this adorable idea while you still have time.

Maybe we should all give meditation a try.

We can also be found on Instagram // Twitter // Facebook // Pinterest // Bloglovin'

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So Much to Bake, So Little Time

Recently our lives have been pretty hectic. Tracy and I have both been on the go and we've had a lot of extra tasks that we have had to complete. Work for both of us has also been stressful lately. For the past few weeks we really haven't had any time to just do the things we enjoy. Baking is one of those things we haven't really had much time for lately. It is something we both enjoy doing and then it is always fun to share the goodies afterwards. I haven't been able to try anything new and I haven't had any time to make any of my favorites. So I don't have any new recipes to share, but I would like to redirect you to several of my favorites from the delicious treats we have made in the past.

1. Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cake
This rich, moist cake is truly delicious. It has been my favorite cake that we have ever made. The peanut butter cake and the whipped topping frosting with the peanut butter ganache is going to be devoured by your friends and family by the next day.

2. Caramel Pecan Cheesecake
The Cheesecake Factory has nothing on this cheesecake. It is rich and decadent. Plan ahead and give yourself time to make this before a get-together and you will wow anyone!

3. Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Until this cake I always thought, "Carrot Cake? Ewwww gross!" Boy, was I wrong. This is a moist and tasty cake and the frosting has just enough sweetness to not be too cream cheesy.

4. Pecan Pie Bars
I have made these for two family and friend gatherings. They are always one of the first items to disappear and I have received numerous compliments both times. They are simple and easy to make, but everyone thinks I put a lot more effort into than I did.

5. Lemon Cookies
This are quick, easy, and delicious! Sometimes you don't want chocolate or vanilla. You want a something a little different with a lightness. These lemon cookies are perfect.

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Happy Weekend!

This has really been a busy week, even though my night class on Tuesday was cancelled! Tonight Tracy and I had fun at a football game. After such a busy week, it looks to be a very busy weekend as well. Is your weekend going to be busy or will you have plenty of time to kick back?

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Friday Favorites

I have been looking forward to Fridays more and more lately. Friday evenings seem to be the only breather I get lately. This week my favorites include this amazing sweatshirt that absolutely gets it right for a girly girl like me by mixing a comfortable piece with lots of sparkle. Although this dainty necklace is out of my price range it is a dreamy item that I had to share with you. I love mixing in the occasional edgy piece with my typically feminine/glamorous aesthetic and this biker jacket fits the bill, plus it is a great budget friendly find at only $85.

Frye Jamie Work Bag / Biker Jacket / Jeweled Chandelier Sweatshirt / Jamie Wolf Necklace / Charles Philip Tassel Loafers via: 1

Investment Bags

It was only in the last few years that I have come to realize the value of a good investment. Before that I always spent my money on a lot of trendy cheaper items that consisted of subpar quality and went out of style in a few seasons instead of saving up to purchase classic items that can last years or even a lifetime. A few things to remember when purchasing an investment handbag is make sure it will withstand passing trends, look great for years to come, and is something you really love. This, this, and this are among my favorites. You can see some more of my favorites below.

Saint Laurent Sac Du Jour Mini Leather Tote / Michael Kors Miranda Tote / Saint Laurent Sac Du Jour Leather Tote In Black / Chloé The Marcie Satchel / Mulberry The Bayswater Bag / Alexander Wang The Emile Tote / Fendi 2Jours Shopper / Tory Burch Robinson Dome Satchel / Coach Legacy Pinnacle Leighton Frame Carryall / 3.1 Phillip Lim 31 Hour Bag / Marc by Marc Jacobs Too Hot to Handle Tote
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Stylish for Less: Black and White

All week, since receiving my new black and white clutch from Chicnova, I have been thinking about black and white fashion. Black and white pieces are so easy to incorporate into any type of look. They are perfect for work, fun, and casual looks. Black and white items have a classic, timeless feel about them, which is probably why they are so big for Fall and Winter this year. But really, when aren't black and white items chic?
I have recently realized that a good portion of the items in my closet are now black, white, cream, or navy. I have just been seeing so many great neutral items. These items are perfect for me though. They can easily be paired with anything else in my closet. They are perfect for creating professional work looks and I love them all! How do you feel about black and white items? Are you in need of a few good ones? Then check out my #stylishforless collage on black and white items.

Black and White Stripe Tee $12 - Black and White Floral Skirt $17 - Black and White Color Blocked Clutch $15 - Jolie Boyfriend Watch $28 - Black and White Lace Up Pump $26
I love them all! Can you believe that they are all $30 or less? Which one is your favorite? I seriously cannot decide between the watch and the shoes.

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College Tip: Renting Books

Whether you are a full-time college student, part-time, or taking night classes one way to save some money is to rent your textbooks. This is something that I have only been familiar with for the past year due to my brother starting college last year and renting some of his textbooks. This past summer I even rented the textbook for the summer class that I was taking.
One great website to rent from is Campus Books Rentals. You can save 40-90% off of normal bookstore prices, which can really add up! Shipping is free both when you rent the book and when you return the book. You can treat these rented books just like books you buy. You are able to write and highlight in them!
There are other perks to renting from Campus Books Rentals. One being that for each textbook that you rent a donation goes to Operation Smile. Another great thing is their RentBack program. Through this process you can actually make money by renting the textbooks you own! How fantastic is that?

Want to know how it works? Check out this video:



This is a paid sponsored post by http://www.campusbookrentals.com/.

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Splurge Worthy: Silk Sheets

I recently got some silk pillowcases and they are unbelievably amazing. I have no idea why it took me so long to give them a try and now I cannot wait to get myself some silk sheets. Silk and satin offer great benefits for your skin and hair due to the reduction of friction. Definitely add these to the top of your wish list or head out to a fabric store and purchase some silk or satin (satin is surprisingly extremely affordable) and beg your sister with her savvy sewing skills to make them for you.

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A Pink Slip

I have always been a girl that loves her pink. As a result, I could not be more excited that pink is one of the hottest color trends for Fall (see my previous posts on little pink dresses and some favorite pink finds). There are so many wonderful pink items that I cannot wait to wear. How can you possibly not love this pink moto jacket? A few other favorites include this skirt, this dress, and this tee. Do you plan to happily embrace this trend?

Leather Box Tee / Sleeveless Dress / Wool-Blend Moto Jacket / Mulberry Willow Leather Tote / Knitted Sweater / Pants / Heavy Crepe Full Skirt / Chloé Alison Leather Shopper / Polka Dot Dress / Embellished Tee / Alexander McQueen Scarf / Butter London Fruit Punch / Bandage Dress / Zoe Karssen Sweatshirt / Biker Jacket / Stella McCartney Bra / Blush Embellished Tee
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What to Wear: Black and White

Black and white is a wonderful color combination. Both colors look so crisp and clean, especially when paired together. They are classic and chic together. Personally, I love black and white for work. These colors are just so professional and dressy looking. This weeks #whattowear look is a black and white look that I would love to wear to work. Do you have favorite colors that you love to wear to work? What do you think of my look below?

One Shoulder Ruffle Top - Black Envelope Clutch - Ivanka Trump Mary Jane Pumps - Onyx Gem Strand Necklace - Faux Leather Pencil Skirt

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