How I Spent Thanksgiving + Burgundy Moto Jacket

I hope everyone had a relaxing holiday weekend! How did yours go?

We went camping by the beach for four days and it was pure bliss. Nate's family was out of town so we postponed our gathering. Instead of turkey, cranberry sauce and stuffing, we had In-n-Out! I must've gained five pounds with all the burgers and Mexican food we indulged in, and yet round two is this Saturday so I'm reeling myself in until then!

Anyway, it was probably the best non-traditional Thanksgiving I've ever had. Waking up to the sun shining on the water and listening to the waves crashing while drinking my morning coffee and walking the dog - as I said, PURE BLISS. We seriously have dreams about selling all of our stuff and living out of an RV for a year. I know that sounds a little crazy, especially for a girl who loves clothes but I swear some days that's all I want!

Speaking of clothes, I hope you guys aren't tired of seeing my growing moto jacket collection. I can't stop reaching for them, usually when I don't know what else to wear. In my defense, Nate does work in the motorsports field so I'd like to think I'm just doing my part to represent 😉

Wearing // Old Navy moto jacket, Wit & Wisdom jeans , Zara pumps & cami (old), Sezane bag (unavailable), Gorjana coin necklace

But do you want to know the best part of camping during the holidays? No stress! Instead of pushing sales on social media (or being tempted by them myself) I instead focused on my family. 

*I did do some online shopping, but I stuck to a list I made earlier in the month and now I'm just waiting for my packages to arrive. I ordered a pair of toffee colored ankle boots, an olive sweater dress, and those faux leather Spanx leggings that everyone has. They didn't work for my best friend (I won't repeat what she said since I make it a point not to use that language on this blog), but I'm giving them a go! If everything fits nicely, you'll see them here very soon*

Did you do any holiday sale shopping this year, or are you tired of it already?! 

Linking up with On The Daily Express & Straight A Style 

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Cozy Knits To Live In

Happy Tuesday! I hope you enjoyed the long weekend in honor of our veterans. It was a fairly quiet one for us, although we did have the pleasure of attending a beautiful wedding on Saturday.

It's been incredibly windy and dry which undoubtedly is making the California wildfires worse. It's absolutely heartbreaking. My dad and grandmother live near Thousand Oaks, but thankfully they are alright and their homes are not threatened.

It's always difficult for me to blog about clothes when there are so many serious issues facing people, so I'll keep things brief. I'm still all about the basics, and both my cardigan and dress are must-haves. They are the perfect soft, cozy knits that I'll live in for the rest of the year and well into Winter.

Wearing // Leith ruched dress on sale, Old Navy longline cardigan on sale, Ted Baker bag, Gorjana starburst coin necklace

Beauty // Lipstick in MAC Powder Kiss "Burning Love" 

You'll probably recognize this Leith dress, as I've worn it on the blog before. It has a good amount of stretch, looks flattering against my curves, is fantastic for layering, and comes in several colors. I'm contemplating getting another one in black...it's hard to resist! As a rule, I try not to buy items in multiple colors anymore but I've got to admit that this dress is very tempting because of how versatile it is! Go up one size in case you are interested. I'm a pretty standard medium across the board, but I had to get a large in this and the fit is perfect. 

The Old Navy cardigan is a recent buy from one of their never-ending sales. I don't know how people keep up with them! It's also very soft and layers well over dresses. All I need is a pair of ankle boots and I've got my Thanksgiving outfit covered. 

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Fall Updates // Currently

I haven't done a life update since July, and I think it's high time I filled you guys in a bit! Today I'm joining the lovely Anne in Residence for her currently linkup. I used Anne's prompts as well as my own...hope you enjoy!


 Currently: 

 1. Appreciating: my right to vote, not only as a citizen of this country but also as a woman. I must confess sheepishly that yesterday was my first time ever voting in a midterm election. I began voting in presidential elections as soon as I turned 18, but I never felt compelled to vote in the midterms until this year. I'm happy that I finally did. Local elections do matter, and they directly impact everyone in the community. Did you vote?

2. Posting: less on social media, saving more for this blog. As platforms and algorithms ebb and flow, I've taken some cues from friends and have made not only a conscious decision to unplug more often, but I'm also finding myself just totally uninterested. It's an awesome feeling actually, the whole not caring part. If I feel like posting on Instagram I do, if I don't then so be it.

3. Relaxing: on the beach in Laguna and Oceanside most weekends. I've almost entirely made peace with our Fall in southern California. Naturally as an envious human I want a New England Fall with colorful orange and red leaves but that's just not happening. Below in Laguna, it was a sunny day with a high of 81. Pure bliss. I kept picturing those aerial shots you see in the openings of The Real Housewives of OC.

Crescent Bay in Laguna Beach, Ca

4. Wearing: dark green everything. From my Ted Baker crossbody bag to my wrap top from Target's a new day line, I seriously can't get enough of this rich jewel tone. I included the link below and I got my normal size medium. The jersey fabric drapes beautifully on the body.

 Target wrap top

5. Watching: Man in the High Castle (season 3) via Amazon. Have you watched it? Nate and I have been fans since episode one, and each season has been better than the last. A short summary: It's 1962 and the axis powers have won World War 2. The western part of the United States is controlled by the Japanese, the eastern coast is the Greater Nazi Reich. It's an incredibly well-written and thoughtful take on a dystopian history with enough depth to really grip you. I definitely recommend beginning at season 1.  

6. Researching: developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism. 

7. Getting: a new job! Yes, I recently got a job working as a caregiver and special needs provider for an in-home care company. That's why I've been doing research and attending some classes in preparation. I've thought about going into this area for awhile, but hesitated because my background is in Psychology and not healthcare or nursing. But I love helping people and this just seems like the natural next step for me. Would you be interested in hearing more? I can devote a separate post, just let me know. I'm very excited!

How is your Fall going so far? I can't believe it's already November!

Also linking up with Gina and Amy Ann.

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Taking My Spring Midi Dress Into Fall

I've loved midi dresses since I was a kid, and I'm pretty sure that watching reruns of I Love Lucy are mostly to blame. I started wearing midi skirts and dresses a few years ago when they became trendy again, and I still can't let them go. Midi dresses are so feminine, and they can also be surprisingly comfortable. I love being able to move around freely in a midi length while still looking polished. 

After seeing this dress on Lilly last Spring, I immediately bought it and have worn it countless times since. Dinners, a family gathering, and more recently on the plane ride to Mexico! Hey, the elastic waist makes it feel like I'm wearing sweatpants. 

Wearing // Older Ann Taylor midi dress, Old Navy moto jacket, Sam Edelman flats, Chelsea28 white bag, cool option here & here

Beauty // Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk lip liner all over lips 

In order to bring the dress into Fall, I simply added the moto jacket I raved about in my last post. Camel and blush pink look beautiful, and I decided to tie them together with white accessories (which are still very much on trend for Fall and Winter). Who says you can't wear white after Labor Day? For that matter, who says you can't bring your warm weather favorites into the colder months? I've really been on a mission this year to get the most use out of different pieces in my closet and although I struggle with it at times, I think I've done well overall. I'm much happier dressing (and blogging!) this way and I hope I'm giving you some ideas! 

Midi dress styling option seen here

Linking up with Rachelle today

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