Airport to airport

I'm starting to feel like I should just take up permanent residence in the airport! Just arrived back in Southern California on Sunday after a week in my hometown in Ohio. But it was a quick turn around since I had to head back to the airport yesterday to fly to St. Louis. I'm working on minimal sleep here but didn't want to leave you, my dear readers, in the dark! While I was visiting Buckeye Nation last week, I became the proud, new owner of a fabulous, vintage fur coat! It had been passed onto my older sister from a friend of our Grandma's, but my sister couldn't seem to find any appropriate occasions to sport the trendy look. I was more than happy to relieve her closet of this space stealing beauty...

Now all I need to do is figure out where, when and how to wear this! What would your outfit look like with this new show-stopping piece in your wardrobe?

Black Friday Newbie

Hope everyone had a happy and delicious Thanksgiving! After feasting on amazing dishes and having quality time with the family, I embarked on my first Black Friday shopping experience. I tried to prep and organize myself as much as possible beforehand in order to minimize the likeliness of a panic attack. I held on strong from when we started at about 11pm until my head hit the pillow at about 4:30am. Didn't go too crazy, but I did make out with a bottle of super glittery Essie nail polish that I've been lusting after for the holiday season and a new set of luggage (plus a few secret items to be given as Christmas gifts!).

The strategy session post Thanksgiving dinner...

Old and New

This week, I am in Ohio visiting my family for Thanksgiving. There are a few wardrobe pieces that I left behind in Ohio due to the fact that the climate in Southern California (where I now live) is a little too warm for down coats/heavy sweaters/etc. I had lots of fun going through my old drawers and closet when I first arrived and was delighted to find a couple pieces that I had forgotten about (not to mention a few pieces of my sisters' that she gladly donated).

Trench-Jessica Simpson (old), Blazer-Vintage Ralph Lauren,

Top-StyleMint, Shorts-Express (old), Tights-unknown, Shoes-Steve Madden, Bag-Zara, Sunglasses-Ashbury Psychedelic Lollipop, Rings-Ariella Collection from Nordstrom, JewelMint, Bracelets-found antiquing, H&M, Tiffany, Necklace- made for me by Alaina Wood of Reflection by Design and can be found here!

Sweet Tater Pie!

With Thanksgiving just around the corner I have been in quite the festive mood. I tried out a new recipe for a dish to take to a small dinner gathering last week and instantaneously fell in love! I am a huge fan of anything pumpkin/butternut squash/cinnamon/fall related so when I was asked to make a sweet potato pie (for the first time) I was enthusiastic about the challenge. Nothing with sweet potato as an ingredient can go wrong so, of course, the pie turned out fabulously! I think it has replaced my appetite for pumpkin pie. I made the recipe again this week to give to a couple people as "have a nice Thanksgiving break" gift.

Prep

Headed into the oven

Finished product! (They are in aluminum pie dishes because I was giving them as gifts. Yes, I own real pie dishes.)

My variation on the recipe I found online:

Ingredients:

4 ounces butter, softened

2 Cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes/yams*

3/4 Cup granulated sugar

3/4 Cup brown sugar

1 small can (5 ounces, about 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons) evaporated milk

3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

2 prepared pie shells**

*I used yams and I didn't measure the amount. I just used two LARGE yams.

**I used Pillsbury pie crusts and baked them for about 5 minutes by themselves before adding the filling.

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix butter, potatoes/yams, sugar and evaporated milk until well blended. Add vanilla, eggs (already beaten separately) and pumpkin pie spice; mix well. Pour into the prepared pie shells. Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour until set. Makes 2 pies.*

*The first time I made this recipe I used a deep pie dish and made only one pie. The filling was definitely thick, but amazing! The second time I tried out the recipe I did make two smaller pies with the same recipe and they turned out great as well. I think it's just a personal preference on filling to crust ratio :)

Juxtapose

This photo is the perfect juxtaposition of 60s lady-like chic and the 80s grape-colored lips vibe. MAJOR inspiration to play with a new look this fall! What is inspiring your look this fall?