travel style

When I'm traveling I have two things in mind: comfort and function. I don't love air travel, so I have to be comfortable. A bag that goes with everything, chic travel hair, and a versatile wrap are all must-haves. I also wear flats that are easy for airport travel, and I like to have a light scarf within reach.

shop the look:

   

glitter pumpkins DIY

It's Fall, which means pumpkins are a necessary decoration. Yesterday I broke out some glue and glitter for a very easy DIY to glitz up these ordinary white baby pumpkins.

I find that it's easiest to use a brush to spread the glue (I used just a regular white glue). You can use the same brush to dip into your glitter and brush onto the glue spots on the pumpkin.

I have very limited mantel space, thanks to our upgraded TV size from last year's Black Friday. I basically only have about ten inches on each side. A photo of Sprout's paw prints in his first-ever snowstorm, some silver initials, and these glittery pumpkins add just a touch of style to an otherwise boring mantel.

adventure time

West coast, here we come!

After every five years at my company, you are entitled to a four-week sabbatical. T took his a little over a year ago when we went to Europe, and now it's my turn. If you've followed along for a while or know me personally, you know that I have a goal of hitting all 50 US states before I turn 50. We are about to embark on a two-week vacation that will cross three states - Washington, Oregon, and California. I've been to CA a number of times, but never to the northern part of the state. We're planning to spend a couple of days in Napa before ending our trip in San Francisco for the wedding of one of T's childhood friends - our last wedding of the year!

Do you have a must-visit place in any of these cities? Definitely let me know!

Photos via: 1/2/3/4

white fish en papillote

While I am trying to be a better, more adventurous cook, there is little chance I would have attempted this recipe on my own. Waaay too complicated, right? When this Blue Apron box of ingredients arrived, I was pleasantly surprised - the box included literally everything you need for the meal (aside from the oven and cookie sheet). It was actually easy to cook this dish, probably because I had a nice little cheat sheet of step-by-step instructions with pictures of what everything was supposed to look like.

This might be the best way to really learn how to cook if you are a visual learner. Because who really wants to go to the grocery store and hunt through the store to find out what freekeh is? Not this girl. (Sidenote: It's a grain. And it's good!) 

Blue Apron provided me with a complimentary package of recipe and ingredients. All opinions expressed are my own.

loving leopard

leopard print button down (old, from J.Crew Factory- also love this one) // black skinnies // boots (last Fall season- also like these and these) // new ottoman (I also love it in blue velvet!)

I've been wearing a lot of leopard lately, so naturally I've been hunting for the perfect leopard coat to wear when the weather gets chilly. But I'm debating on whether to go tailored trench or fun and fuzzy.

images via

one // two // three

This one is fun and looks really warm, but I'm not sure about the fuzziness of it. This one is a contender (especially if it means I can wear long gloves a la Kerry Washington), as is this one.

fall days were made for apple crisp

Last Fall I gave you my favorite apple crisp recipe, which I took out again the other night. We haven't been apple picking yet, but I picked up a bag of apples at the store because I was craving some Fall goodness.

I tried to make the recipe a little differently this time, mainly because I didn't have oats at home, and I found that you can very easily make a similar version without oats. Here's what I used for this version:

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup flour
• 4 apples, cored, peeled, and sliced
• 1 stick butter

All you need to do is butter your pan or glass dish and lay the apple slices. Mix your stick of butter into the brown sugar, sugar, flour, and cinnamon mixture, and put on top of the apple slices. Bake for 40 minutes in a 350 degree oven or until slightly brown on top. 

(I took this photo and then realized I forgot about the whole crumbling-in-the-butter part. Oops. But then when I went back and did it, it didn't look so pretty.)

And then explain to your fuzzy friend why apple crisp is not for dogs.

wedding Wednesday: silver and white tablescape

(excuse the iPhone photos!)

T and I attended our fourth wedding of the year this past weekend. It was our first small wedding (only about 70 people total) and had quite a few DIY touches that the bride did herself (and they looked gorgeous!). My favorite touch was probably this centerpiece wreath on our table.

I love love love the dress I wore on Saturday but was too busy on the dance floor to get a good photo, so here's a classy bathroom selfie to show you what I wore. I've loved Sue Wong dresses for a while. (I won't lie to you, I shed everywhere on Saturday night, leaving ostrich feathers behind as a reminder of my presence.)

Sue Wong dress (also love this one) // Michael Michael Kors pumps