fall

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Winner of the Anthropologie e-Gift Card and Cravings?

Congratulations to Keiko for winning the Anthropologie e-gift card! I hope you get something good!

This question and answers set for the giveaway was my very favorite. I feel like you can learn so much about someone through their pets. And it was so nice to get to know each of you better. I do not typically respond to comments on giveaway posts (since I manually type in each person’s name and then go back and recount and recount to make sure I am correct, it would be too confusing), but I will be responding to each entrant throughout the week because your comments touched my heart so much. And I have so much to say to each of you! It will take me awhile, so please bear with me. : )

Today my daughter turns fifteen! Fifteen! It is a big age. In some cultures, it is the age of becoming a woman. I am going to bury my head in the sand for a bit and pretend that that is not happening.

The only thing she has requested today is for me to come up with an elaborate cracker spread. I was at a loss as to what to do, but yesterday I met a woman who majored in cheese and crackers. She knew every kind of dip and what kind to get. It was kismet. She should really consider getting her doctorate. The lady knows her stuff. I will Instagram some pictures of what I make my daughter today. I am going to do my best to make it special, along with some surprises (horseback riding lessons! Be still, my heart). Since she is sleeping until noon and will not read this post, I can write that.

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I also got her this cool ring. Guess who is going to steal borrow it?

Happy Birthday My Sweet Girl!

This month I splurged on a few items. I bought this jacket and I cannot recommend it enough. It is amazing. I own it in brown but I love every single color it comes in. I have a post coming up about it next week, but it is just my favorite thing ever. Eighty degrees in California? Leather jacket. I scoffed at all of the sandals I saw traipsing past as I sweated in enjoyed my find.

I am pretty content this month. I am not really craving much of anything. Especially after all of my indulgences. Burp. There is this coat that I think is gorgeous, but I bought a dress last week (it is on my Instagram) when I went to a holiday workshop. I decided instead of making a list of things I am craving, I am going to post things I am glad I all ready own and that I am excited to wear this coming cold season:

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The Miles of Henley Dress. I own this in three colors (previous posts here and here), so it is fair to say that I recommend it. I think it is so pretty and I love that there are a variety of ways to layer it. I also like the price.

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I think this season is the season of grey tights. I bought my fleece lined ones (also in black in the picture) from Nordstrom Rack this week for $8 each. And the Hue grey cable tights were $11. I am excited to wear them. The fleece lined ones are so cozy. I have tried them on all ready.

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The First Kiss Dress. I wear this dress all of the time. I bought it in the spring of 2013. I can wear it for three seasons in Southern California. And I have. When I purchased mine, it came in only one pattern and now it comes in a few more. I will style it in an upcoming post. I have the black and white version and I hope they bring that color combo back. It is my favorite.

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I will be wearing my Anthropologie Ponte Bell Skirts (previous posts here and here) with tights (possibly the ones above) all season. The brand is Girls From Savoy. Their online store happens to have a skirt that looks like the same skirt in different colors. I have no idea if it is actually the same shape, only that it looks like it might be. It is on sale and available here.

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Also, my vintage boots. I have seen them on eBay for a little more than what I paid for them at the flea market ($50) but they have lasted for years and years (they are probably older than me) and I think a vintage pair of boots should be in every girl’s closet. I own three pairs, but these are my favorite.

What is your seasonal favorite that you all ready own? I plan on combining and layering my collection of slips with cardigans all winter. Are you craving anything? Did you get to one of Anthropologie’s Holiday Workshops yet?

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Ollie and Me: On The Prairie

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Ollie loves car rides.

No. I mean really, really loves them.

He doesn’t care where you take him. He just likes to get into the car and go.

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The sad part is that he is so short he cannot really see out of the window. This does not bother him. Ollie is a glass half full kind of dog.

On this day my husband decided to take him a little bit past the house. I asked my husband if I could join him and perhaps get some pictures of the outfit I wore that day.

He agreed.

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Ollie did not.

When we got to the location I decided to see if Ollie wanted to pose with me.

You would think based on the photo above that he was not so happy about this (seriously though, how funny is that face? His is pretty hilarious, too).

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I decided to show him how much fun taking pictures can be.

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He decided he really, really liked getting his picture taken.

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I think it is because he got a lot of love.

Who am I kidding?

He always gets a lot of love.

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Dare I say it? It looks as though he enjoyed it more than a car ride.

Blasphemy!

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I think he might be happier than I am with this outfit, too. I paired my grey dress from this post (which has become a layering piece ’cause I shrunk it) with a flannel skirt (similar here) and fringe vest (similar super fabulous vest here) that I scooped up for $10 each at a consignment store last winter. The belt was from Anthropologie.

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If you have a dog do they like car rides or walks better? What is your best score at a consignment shop?

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Ollie did so well taking pictures with me that I might do it again soon. It was much more fun than taking pictures by myself.

And the best part was… He got to get a ride back home.

His modeling fees are odd. But cheap. I pay him in car rides.

No need to tell him we were going back that way anyway.

P.S. * I shared this on The Pleated Poppy and Because Shanna Said So!

*two more photos that did not make it to the blog post can be seen on my Instagram Account (thegnomelover).

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A Dress Falled With Embroidery

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My husband and I went on a lunch date on this day. It was not cool enough for the sweater, so I wish I had set it down.

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I also wish I had more pictures of the dress itself, but my photographer that day was all about the closeups.

I hate closeups.

I love my photographer.

You will just have to bear with me.

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Or bare with me. Look at the cute Free People bandeau bra (bralette post can be found here) I simply put over a regular bra for a pretty lace peek-a-boo moment.

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I found this dress at my local Nordstrom Rack for a screaming deal. I could not believe nobody had scooped it up (it is sold out. I could only find one size medium of a similar dress. It is on sale for $30 from $148 on Free People here).

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The embroidered detail is amazing.

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I wanted to pair the dress with some wood accessories. I slipped on this Scrabble Ring for a fun solution. If I was a pumpkin latte kind of gal, I would happily drink it in this dress. This dress screams, “fall!”, with its orange and mustard accents.

Alas, I am allergic to pumpkin. So, I will have to get by just wearing the color.

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I will somehow manage to get through the autumn with regular ol’ coffee.

And closeups of my thirty seven year old face.

Somehow.

The secret is in the sauce a little thing I am grateful to not be allergic to, wine.

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Did you notice something amiss in the previous closeup picture? Something that did not look right?

Was it a bit creepy?

Was it my elbow?

I am double jointed in my elbows, so sometimes in pictures like those it looks as though my head should be flipped the other way.

Just give it time.

Halloween is coming up.

With pumpkins. And closeups. And weird elbows.

And wine.

It’s enough to make a girl’s head spin. What is making your head spin lately? I am definitely craning my head towards this dress. Are you double jointed? I only have it in my elbows and my thumbs…

And my mind.

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Winner Of The 18th Blog Giveaway and Cravings

Congratulations to Impracticalinnorth for winning the gift card to Nordstrom Rack! I hope you get something good! : ) Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway! You have me so excited for fall with the things you are looking forward to wearing. It has been in the 100s here in my neck of the woods and it is hard to see ahead to cooler weather. But I am trying…

I am on a clothing shopping ban for September (and since I had unexpected expenses arise, October’s clothing budget is looking bleak as well). This is okay, because quite honestly, I have enough clothes. And it is so much fun pulling out items I have stashed away for this changing weather. This, of course, does not mean that there are not items I am drooling over and waiting patiently for sale on:

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H&M’s Short Dress. I love the blank canvas of this dress. The mustard color is rad. The price is great. So many patterned tights would look fantastic with it. I also think the shape would look good on a variety of body types.

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I all ready have this Free People’s Shadow Hacci Top in grey. It is one of my favorite tops (a sneak peak of it styled can be found in this post). It layers over slips and fun bras beautifully. Over long maxi skirts, jeans and leggings. I want it in navy, too. It is great. Beware, it snags easily. I typically wear a small in Free People and a medium in most other brands. I tried both the small and the medium in the grey color and kept the medium for a looser fit.

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I am in desperate need of some black boots. My other black boots are going on twelve years old. They are a size nine. I wear a seven and a half. Needless to say, they do not get worn. I see a donation in their future. I am really picky about black boots. I want a small heel made of brown wood and a rounded toe. I am leaning towards these Frye boots at an incredible sale price in most sizes (there is also a wide calf version here).

I also love the Dolce Vita Amoux Boots at Anthropologie. Of course they are all sold out, but they are my favorite.

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I think the best thing on Anthropologie’s site right now is the Ruffle-back Sweater Dress (besides this dress I own and this vest I drool over in grey). It looks beautiful online. I cannot wait to see it in real life.

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For the home, I will be watching these pillows until they hit sale.

Edited on 9/30/2014: I removed a craving due to an experience with customer service. Thank you for your understanding. : )

What are you craving this month? Besides rich chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream oozing over the top, melting faster than you can scoop it and bring it to your mouth. Or is that just me? Ahem.