As I was reviewing my falls shoes this year I realized that they all fall under a ‘practicality’ umbrella for me. I don’t think I’m alone in that this year has toned things down a bit in so many areas (will we ever go back to underwire bras?!) but as I often find myself saying, ‘practical doesn’t have to be boring’. Below I have put together my fall shoe guide for 2020 and beyond. I personally own just about every pair that I included and each one plays a role in my day to day outfits.
Uggs have always been a staple for me and last year I switched to this lower version and didn’t realize how much I’d love them. I feel like they work so well with jeans and aren’t quite as casual as my typical Uggs. The shape of this bootie by DV is almost identical to my older pairs and they’re the most flattering bootie I own. For those that need to dress business casual or for the occasional night out, these suede booties are just what you need to take your outfit up a notch.
Flats may get more wear than ever for me lately. They can elevate a casual look that may alternatively be worn with sneakers or on the other hand tone down (and add some comfort) to an otherwise dressy look. I have these Everlane flats in nude and they may be my most favorite shoe ever. They are simple yet classy and chic. The nude is sold out but I just ordered them in black as they’re currently marked down! Loafers and slides are a given, but maybe try adding a bold color or print to play around with!
Finally, sneakers. The shoe we all want to reach for is now offered in every print and style you could want! I’m branching out into the high-top world with this cute pair (they run large for me) and hoping I’m ‘cool’ enough to pull them off ;) A white pair of Converse is never a bad choice and there’s always the option to add a little animal print!
No matter what your day-to-day looks like right now, I have a good feeling that many of these options would work into your closet quite well!
Sweater jackets are a fall staple for me and have been over the past few years. I love their comfort, their style, their warmth and the wide variety of colors and prints we can now find them in! J.Crew seems to be leading the pack in this department (scroll below to see their beautiful options) and I now own quite a few of theirs in various lengths and colors. This leopard print is my newest addition and I couldn’t love it more. It has a bold print without being too overpowering and makes for a great layer over any number of outfits. To prove that case further, I styled this sweater blazer five different ways in order to give you a few ideas on how to get the most wear out of it. I took it from dressy to casual so that no matter what your day to day looks like, you’ll be able to gather some styles that work for you!
Fall has arrived and as the leaves continue to turn to all their beautiful shades outside, I’m ready to bring some Autumn indoors. As the weather continues to get cooler I attempt to create a warm and cozy atmosphere around our home. That revolves around around my decorating, adding cozy throws and pillows, and then adding soups to a heavy rotation in our kitchen :)
Below I’ve gathered my selection of decor picks for the season. All of them are similar to what I use in my home and hope they can spark some joy and bring that warmth to your own space. Some of our most important work happens within the home which gives me all the more reason to work towards creating a beautiful and comfortable atmosphere for my family and friends.
Our leaves are changing and the colors I saw over this past weekend were just stunning. When they begin to cover our yard I have different feelings about them, but for now, I’ll just enjoy their beauty up high!
In addition to sweaters and cardigans, shirt jackets are a great fall staple. You never know when you’re going to need to add or remove layers during the day and shirt jackets allow you to layer it over top of shirts or under heavier jackets/coats. It’s such a versatile piece and one you’ll be glad you have on hand! Scroll below to see more of my favorites in this category.
This post feels long overdue, but alas, here it is! For those of you that follow me on Instagram, you are aware that Trader Joe’s is where I do the majority of my grocery shopping. I began shopping there when we lived in Hoboken, NJ and when we made the move to State College, PA seven years ago I was thrilled that they had a store in town. I know that sounds silly, but groceries are an important part of our lives and I was happy that was one thing I wouldn’t have to readjust.
We obviously love the food, but as the primary grocery shopper, I’m drawn to the small store, unique variety of food and the most friendly staff that you will encounter! They are so helpful and courteous and if there’s ever anything you want to try, they’ll allow you to sample it on the spot. You’ll find a few brand names, but overall the Trader Joe’s brand is what fills the bulk of the store.
I always love seeing what others find when they shop here because I tend to get into my regular routine and easily overlook certain items. When Covid19 wasn’t an issue, the stores typically had a sampling station where they’d prepare different foods on a daily basis. I often discovered new favorites when they did this, so I hope that this post can help serve you in a similar capacity.
Pictures can speak louder than words when it comes to food, so I included everything from one of my more recent grocery trips to share with you. A lot of it is pretty self-explanatory, but I’ll highlight some of the products that may be new to you.
Gone-Bananas: Chocolate covered, bite sized frozen bananas. The best little treat! Cauliflower Gnocchi: Jack and I will often sub this for a pasta dish we serve to the kids. It’s also awesome with pesto, grilled chicken and shaved parm. Vegetable Fried Rice: For a quick meal, we add chicken, beef it up with broccoli and it feeds our family of five. Cauliflower Crust Pizza: I don’t claim to compare this to a good pizza crust, but in it’s own right, it’s delicious! In a similar fashion to the gnocci, we will crisp up the crust and add diced chicken, pesto, tomatoes, parm etc….it’s incredible! Brioche French Toast: Pop it in the toaster for a quick breakfast for the kiddos.
Garlic and Herb Pizza Dough: this is a favorite of ours and such a time saver to have on hand! Bagged Rice: Another time saver is their precooked rice. Three minutes in the microwave and you are set. Juice: Trader Joe’s has a number of delicious juices and the kids always love when I show up with some!
Bars: All of us enjoy our ‘bars’. Jack and I are big fans of the Quest bars and the kids love any number of their granola bars. Ezekiel Bread: I love that they offer this in their stores. Once I made the switch from whole wheat to Exekiel Bread there was no going back. I toast their cinnamon raisin bread and add peanut butter most days when I break my fast. Corn, Pea, Bean and Quinoa Chips: This was introduced to me by a friend or else I may never have grabbed they, but they are delicious! A good alternative to a potato chip with a ton of flavor.
Cooked/Peeled Eggs: Purely for convenience, I love that they offer these! Fresh Salsa: Our favorite salsa and a favorite for the many friends we’ve served it to. Just, so, good. Everything But the Bagel Dip: The EBTB seasoning may be one that TJ’s is most famous for, and this dip has to follow closely behind. Use it for veggies or any type of chip or pretzel you desire, so good!
Flowers: Trader Joe’s has some of the most beautiful and better yet, well-priced flowers around. This is the reason I always have a fresh vase of flowers in our kitchen! Naan Bread: The kids love Naan bread. I know there are many good ways to use it, but I’ll cut it up for dips and make sandwiches out of it if I am able to get it to before the kids devour it. Everything But the Bagel Seasoning: It’s a must try. Throw it on just about anything! Chicken, steak, tuna, avocado, sandwiches…endless possibilities. Snacks: We are always stocked with school snacks and TJ’s has a ton to offer. The kids enjoy their bars, fruit strips and a new product, their granola bites that are individually packaged.
For all of you that enjoy those seasonal items, these are a few of my favorites.
Colombia Supremo Coffee: Not seasonal, but ended up in this pic nonetheless, it’s by far our favorite coffee. Not too light, not too dark but just right with a ton of flavor. Autumnal Harvest Creamy Sauce: In the realm of a vodka sauce but not as heavy, this sauce is a dream and a nice change from a typical red sauce. I stock up every year before the change of season. Pumpkin Mix: Another item I stock up on to have all year. This mix allows you to bake muffins or bread in no time. Great for after school, breakfasts or serving for guests.
I know I’ve left things out, but at least this will serve as a general guide and hopefully give you a few new things to try out the next time you get in to a Trader Joes! If you have any questions about anything I may or may not have mentioned, feel free to ask!
There’s been a chill in the air lately and the leaves are beginning to foreshadow the change to come. I picked up this kimono sweater last week and absolutely adore it. It has a slightly more cropped fit that seems a little more playful than some of the other options and the colors are even more beautiful in person. Not only does it come in this pretty coral but also a navy blue that I was debating between. You’ll have endless options with this extra layer, throwing it on with a chambray button-up, long-sleeved tees, turtlenecks or even a cute cami. The best part is that the quality far out-weighs the price on this one! It gets my stamp of approval, for sure!
Hi all! I hope your week is off to a great start. I’m trying to catch up on all the things and knew I was overdue for a blog post! Today’s post is a round-up of my everyday outfits over the past few weeks. I know you guys appreciate seeing these snapshots that I quickly grab and I’m happy to pull them together to have all in one place for you! Hopefully these easy looks can provide a little inspiration for you…or at the very least, a little comfort ;)
The start of a four-day week doesn’t feel so bad! I wore this look over the weekend and will probably recreating it often. I found these pants at Target last week and I’m loving them! They wear like a structured jogger that you can wear with sneakers or even heels for a fun, vamped up look. I wore them with this bodysuit which has been getting a ton of wear. I love bodysuits for their sleek style and for the fact that you don’t need to worry about tucking! Then there’s this adorable bag. Well, honestly it’s the strap that makes the bag, and maybe even the outfit. I’m 100% on board with this trend and love how you can easily switch out your strap to work with that days’ look. I found this bag in a cute boutique in Stone Harbor, NJ, Shorely Chic. Pop over to their online shop where they still have bags/straps in stock (these things sell out quickly!) and scroll below to see all the strap options that I’ve been finding. The best part is you can mix and match with bags you currently own (as long as they have hooks), and the same goes with straps. It’s such a fun way to accessorize and at the same time allow you to remain hands free!
Hi friends! As I’m sure it is for many of you, life has been crazy lately. My kids started school today and with that and all of the other activities/events trying to happen, I feel like I can’t consume all of the information being thrown at me fast enough. It’s a crazy time, that’s for sure! I do want to share about our beach trip with you at some point soon, but with the current JCrew sale happening, I wanted to quickly share some of my favorite fall picks with you before it ends! Honestly, clothes are what first nudge my excitement for fall, and I think you’ll see why with some of these pieces! This sweater cardigan makes such a statement yet fits perfectly into my day to day wardrobe…it can’t arrive soon enough! If that’s a little bold for you, make sure you check out the rest of them, they are taking over my closet one at a time ;) I have these classic suede booties from last year and I just love how they finish an outfit. I also highly recommend their rain jackets. I have an older print, but adore this one in leopard dot as well as the solid colors they offer. I’m totally on board with the fun purse straps, so grabbing these on sale is a good idea! Lastly, I’m excited to try these jeans. I love the wash and style and they have great reviews. I’ll be sure to report back! I’d love to know which pieces stand out to you, LMK ;)
Happy Friday, all! Today is Anthro Day where you can get 20% off clothing, accessories and shoes as well as free shipping. I’ve gathered my favorites for you below and now I’m trying to narrow down my own cart! So many cute goodies for now and moving into the fall. You can see my love of graphic tees and tie dye is still going strong, and I’m here for it :) Let me know what goodies you find!
