to toronto

well, we are currently enjoying a very spontaneous road trip to toronto. the canada one. 

life has been hectic and quite surprising at times so we decided to leave it all behind for a few days with a little change of scenery. if you've been reading this blog for a while you already know we like to travel so nothing new there. 

we went from planning a 1-2 night getaway just the man and I, to a trip to D.C., to toronto with a stop in NYC on the way back, to how about disney world (man those orlando hotels were cheap), to no let's actually be reasonable and just drive to toronto and back. 

ha! yes, we are crazy. no really it's just yours truly. 

sooooo, long story short, while we are gone I have a few posts scheduled for you and then I'll be back by the end of the week with hopefully a ton of toronto pictures. 

now go stare at the animated gif for a while. am I the only one that has to stare at those for like forever?
the photographer man told me to purse my lips (which is one of my biggest pet peeves when looking at fashion blogger photos by the way) so I eventually gave in... enjoy ;)

knot that shirt

jeans: AE, tank: old navy, shirt: AE, sandals: old navy, necklace: aerie

this outfit is from last week before things got crazy. we grabbed dinner as a family for the first time in weeks and it was pleasantly warm so I got the sandals back out.
i also immediately dyed my roots after I saw these pictures... my hair has been a big pain lately. i think i'm ready for a change. bangs maybe? any suggestions?

also, and just to make this post even more random, i can't tell you how amazing it feels to have my man home after such a busy baseball season. he won't be working as much during the off season so we'll be able to just spend time together as a family.
it's so strange to have him around to eat dinner with us every night. i'm sure logan is still quite confused as well. i'm just glad not to be a "single" parent anymore :)

recipe: sweet fall harvest casserole

sorry, i dropped off the face of the earth there for a few days... we've had a lot going on lately. 

i won't bore you with the details but most importantly, Jason is finally home for the off-season so instead of following my blogging duties I slacked off and snuggled up to my man, trying to make up for the past 6 months. i'm sure you understand :) 

if you follow me on instagram, which you totally should by the way ;), you may remember me posting a picture of this deliciousness and threatening to post the recipe here. well, those threats were real! 

be warned that you may never want to eat another fall dessert after this... ok, you were warned.

here is what you'll need for 8 servings and an 8x11 baking dish

ingredients: 

• 1/2 butternut squash
• 2 large apples
• cinnamon
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 pinch of salt
• 1 heaping tablespoon of flour
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp margarine or butter, melted

topping

• 4 ounces of vanilla wafers
• 1/4 cup margarine or butter, melted
• 1/2 cup brown sugar

preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C)

bring a large pot of water to a boil. while you're waiting, cut the squash in half. use a spoon to remove the seeds and peel the skin with a potato peeler. be careful not to chop your fingers off ;)

cut the squash into cubes and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. drain the squash and mash it well. 

peel the apples and slice them up. add a dash of cinnamon. set aside.

in the 8x11 casserole dish combine the mashed butternut squash, white sugar, vanilla extract, milk, dash of salt, flour, 2 tbsp melted margarine and eggs. mix it all well and bake in the oven for 25 minutes. 

in a mixing bowl prepare your topping by combining crushed vanilla wafers, brown sugar and melted margarine. i usually put the vanilla wafers inside a large freezer bag and use the rolling pin to crush them. pretty mess free. 

after 25 minutes remove from oven and layer apples on top. return to the oven for another 15 minutes. 

sprinkle topping over top and brown for 5 more minutes. 

enjoy!!!

recipe adapted from allrecipes.com 

10 fall must-haves

source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

• leather or faux leather detailing is everywhere right now. you can learn how to make one here or just go with this version from zara
• everything tribal is a big trend at the moment so I like to get a few cheaper accessories which won't break the bank and leave me with something I won't be wearing next season
• ankle boots are a must-have for fall and will always be a great option when paired with skinny jeans or a great pair of boyfriend jeans
• i am kind of digging the new take on animal prints ;) is this something you would consider wearing? 
• a nice jacquard jacket or blazer is a great classic item in your closet and will dress up a casual daytime outfit for a night out or a dinner date

source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

• a comfy cable knit sweater shouldn't be missing in any closet. 
• scarfs in any form or shape are my addiction ;) i have quite the collection and love wearing them instead of chunky necklaces that may get tangled up or lost in all those cold weather layers
• cozy socks - need i say more? 
• boyfriend jeans are perfect for those cool but not yet freezing fall temperatures. i like pairing them with heels but maybe not those pointy-toed stiletto ones? think casual and comfy here.
• lastly, rain boots are another must! at least where i live, we get a ton of rain, so these come in super handy when running errands or walking dogs. 

What are some items that are on your top 10 list for fall?


PS: none of these links are affiliate links so don't worry and click on through ;) 

diy: polka dot candle holders

this is such a quick and easy way to spruce up a few old tea light holders or up-cycle a jar or glass.

all you need is:

spray paint in any color you'd like  (I had gold left over from a previous project)

a few sheets of circular price stickers (left over from a yard sale)

painters tape

exacto knife 

underlayment for cutting and painting

my glasses are from ikea and i've had them for a few years (they still sell them)

1. tape off the bottom of your glass with the painters tape and use an exacto knife to cut off the excess.
2. apply the stickers, make sure they stick well or paint will seep underneath
3. spray paint outdoors (i applied 2 coats)
4. let dry
5. carefully remove stickers
6. enjoy! 

project inspired by poppytalk

a rainbow

jacket: sisley, pants: indigo rein (tjmaxx), scarf: nine west 

so most of you probably have a stack of colored denim from spring and summer just like me and are currently adding some pattered denim to that for the fall, right? 

so far i've had way more trouble finding patterned denim that I like than I had picking out colored denim in the spring. so for now I am just transitioning my colored pairs into fall instead of going crazy over the patterns. i am trying to keep my wardrobe a little more simplistic anyway so I fear I won't be joining in on this trend at all. 

instead, for this outfit I actually just pulled out an old blouson type jacket and this nine west rainbow scarf. I also got a chance to wear sandals one more time so I took advantage of that. 

i went to old navy over the weekend since most of their jeans were on sale. i wanted to try out the rockstar skinny jeans but once again, I was very disappointed with them. they did not fit great at all and have way too much stretch for my taste. the gray pair I tried was even lined with some horribly scratchy fabric which made me want to take them off immediately. 

clothes that make me itch are a total no-go for me. i wear mostly cotton and try to stay away from cheap acrylic sweaters or any fabric that may be even slightly scratchy. this is also one of the reasons you'll barely see me wearing frilly chiffon type shirts or blouses. 

i don't think i've ever found a flattering pair of old navy jeans, ever! this is one thing they have no idea how to design. 

how about you? are you weird about fabrics and fit? have you found any good patterned denim yet? 

Shop My Closet & Operation Christmas Child

hey everyone! hope you're having a good tuesday!

i just wanted to let you know that i updated the shop my closet section with a few new items and also took down what has sold. as i mentioned before, I signed up for a huge local re-sale event later this month and have to get everything entered by this friday the 5th! 

soooo, if you've got an eye on something don't wait any longer because chances are these things are not returning :) 

as always shipping is included within the US but just send me an email if you're outside the US and I can give you price. 

thanks so much to everyone who's already purchase before! 

the money will go towards filling my christmas shoes boxes for the samaritan's purse operation christmas child charity this year. learn more by clicking on the link.

i've been filling these boxes for a few years and love doing it because it means I get to shop.

you all know if it involves shopping I am all for it ;) 

no seriously, it's a very small, inexpensive thing that everyone can do to brighten a child's christmas. 

i know that my family is blessed with more than enough "stuff", a roof over our heads, our health and most of all love. i know that I constantly struggle with my own consumerism and I often need a reminder that there are so many people out there in the world, especially children, that don't have much at all. 

so if you're a little bit like me, then this is your reminder for today ;) 

i really hope you'll join me this year!