10.03.17 Live

The Autumn Edit – 2017

It seems frivolous to post about fall fashion or beauty given what’s happening in our country and our world. I’ve shared my views here (and will continue to do so, here on this website and on social media).

That said, respect and civility for opposing views is something that’s lacking in our culture today, and I hope we can have more conversations with people who don’t see the world as you do. Please do what you can to educate yourselves on the issues and learn from others.

You’ll be surprised what you discover.

If you need to escape the news for a bit and indulge in some frivolity, I thank you for coming here. It’s important to balance news consumption with fun reads and light things. 

I’ve set up recurring donations to Everytown for Gun Safety and UNIDOS, and I’ve called my congressman and senators to voice my opposition to the gun silencer law vote in Congress. 

I hope you will join me in fighting for a safer, better nation – together.

—–

’tis the season for pumpkins, football, chili, and unpacking your coat collection.

But it’s also time to change up your spice cabinet, get cozy, and wear a darker lip.

Fashion

Pullover fleece/sweatshirt

I didn’t own a pullover fleece or a pair of Birkenstocks while I lived in Seattle.

And yet, these quintessentially Seattle pieces are my favorite items to wear in the fall. The pullover, especially.

I added this sherpa-lined pullover and a quilted one to my fall wardrobe, and they’ve been my go-to items to reach for school drop-offs, weekends in the park, and for the lounging at home.

I had to stop myself from purchasing a third (a bold Aztec-printed number, inspired by Hillary Clinton). Let’s see how long my self-control lasts…

Burgundy silk blouse

This blouse combines so many of my favorite things.

The rich wine color. The kitten soft fabric. The fact that the buttons don’t gap around my chest.

It is perfect for fall, especially when tucked in a pair of high-rise denim and accented with a pair of leopard print shoes.

Pair it with a black pencil skirt, or with a fitted suit, or a pair of silk wide-legged pants.

However you wear it, it’s perfect for fall.

Olive green skinny pants

I used to restrict my olive green clothing to outerwear (a draped trench, a fitted field jacket).

Not anymore.

Skinny pants in olive are the perfect bottoms for fall. They’re as versatile as denim, but add that little something extra to an outfit.

I’ve been pairing my BWL moto pants (I love the detailing and the elastic waistband – score) with chunky cream sweaters, fitted black tops, and simple t-shirts with a long cardigan thrown over.

They’re classic. They’re comfortable. And they’re just a little bit special.

Draped trench coat

I own the classic tan trench and a flowing black one.

I also own the draped style in other colors – white, navy, crimson, and olive.

This lightweight coat in a new neutral is my favorite styling trick. It adds immediate style with little effort, can ward off a slight chill, and is just comfortable. No muss, no fuss.

Wear it with matching pants and a neutral top. Wear the color head-to-toe. Wear it belted over a slip dress for a night out.

I guarantee you’ll be wearing it this season, and the following spring and fall.

Beauty

Molton Brown Black Peppercorn

I love this scent year-round. But it’s particularly perfect for fall.

Molton Brown’s spicy, musky scent just feels like this season. I use the body wash and lotion, and walk through a few spritzes of the fragrance after I’ve gotten dressed.

It even layers beautifully with other perfumes. I personally love to pair it with Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom as my signature scent.

If you find it strong, their Pink Pepperpod is a lighter version that I also love (it’s my spring/summer body wash and lotion, actually).

I love it. I hope you will too.

Wander Beauty Lipsetter

I never wore lip liner – until I started using this product.

I fully get it now.

Wander Beauty’s Lipsetter serves up the perfect matte lip with its dual-ended liner/lipstick product, in a range of universally flattering shades.

On The Mauve is a perfect nude, and Fuchsia Class is a bright pink that perks up my standard all-black outfits. Bold In Beijing (seen here) is my favorite though – a rich wine color that is autumn in lip form.

My favorite thing isn’t the color, or how convenient the product presentation is. The best thing about Wander Beauty is how every shade looks good on a range of skin tones.

Now that’s beautiful.

TULA Hand And Nail Therapy

I’ve never been loyal to a hand cream.

And then I started using this one.

TULA’s Hand and Nail Therapy has all the essential hand cream ingredients (shea butter, vitamins A & C), but the 3 probiotic strains help keep your hands moisturized and to protect against environmental damage.

It’s fragrance-free and absorbs completely, leaving your hands soft without any residue. And a little bit goes a very long way – I apply this several times a day, and I’m still using the same 2.5 oz tube.

This cream was a lifesaver in Colorado – between the 30-degree changes in temperature and rain/snow without gloves, it healed my chapped hands and prevented them from getting worse.

TULA Kefir Replenishing Cleansing Oil

I swear by oils – for your face and body, for cooking, and even for dental health.

Oil pulling really works.

This cleansing oil from TULA is everything – rich without clogging your pores, nourishes your skin without leaving a greasy film, and has even kept my blackheads at bay (oil dissolves oil, which is what your blackheads are made of).

My complexion is very stress-specific. Between work and the state of the world, my face should look like a pizza.

Thanks to this cleanser (and a few other favorite products), I’ve only had a few pimples to contend with.

I’ll take it. And more of this cleanser.

Accessories

Tan crossbody bag

Can I make a bag confession?

I’ve been LUSTING over the Louis Vuitton Pochette Metis ever since it came out.

It has everything I look for in a crossbody bag – multiple pockets, a divider, made from durable materials, and just chic.

The only downside? The price.

This Tory Burch bag shares many of the same qualities that I loved about the LV bag – a center divider (which is also a zippered pocket), durable hide leather construction (very similar that of Mansur Gavriel’s bags), and a minimalist design.

And while it’s still an expensive purse, it’s significantly less than the Louis Vuitton.

After debating between this color and the green, I opted for the tan. I’m so glad I did – I keep gravitating toward this color when I’m getting dressed. I’ve been pairing it with my tan loafers and leopard print booties, and I can’t wait to wear them with my new over-the-knee boots as it starts to get colder.

You probably don’t NEED any new bags. But if you’re on the hunt for one, I highly recommend a tan crossbody (this one specifically) to take you through fall, into 2018, and quite possibly the rest of your life.

Leopard print booties

If you would have told me that these would be my favorite shoes this season…

Well, I probably would have believed you. But I wouldn’t have believed that they came from Target, and they are a total steal.

My outfits err on the plain/simple side, and a bold shoe is how I prefer to dress them up.

These boots do just that.

They make a red sweater dress more festive. They jazz up a basic jeans/blouse combination.

And don’t even get started when you pair them with skinny black pants and a turtleneck. So good.

These are a steal and a great way to test the trend. If you’ve already ran your other leopard shoes into the ground, I’ve included a few more options and styles.

Baseball cap

There’s nothing groundbreaking about a tan purse or a hat for fall.

But these two items are giving me LIFE this season. Especially given how long I let myself go between hair color appointments.

That premature gray life…

Most of my baseball caps are sports related (go Phillies, #flyeaglesfly). And they’re fine for weekends in the park or running errands, but less so for a stylish look.

This gray and black number is simple at first glance, but the subtle color blocking and the wool fabric make it far more stylish than my worn Eagles hat. I especially like pairing it with a sweater dress – I like the juxtaposition of dressy and casual.

Also, any excuse to use the word ‘juxtaposition.’

Gold coin jewelry

Coin jewelry is timeless for me.

But I just rediscovered a vintage bracelet (from Sweet & Spark!) in my jewelry box a few weeks ago, and I haven’t stopped wearing it.

It goes with everything – jeans and a t-shirt, a nice dress, or a full suit.

It also looks great when worn with mixed metals. I wear my gold coin bracelet on the same wrist as my silver evil eye necklace, and I love how they look together.

It’s got me on the hunt for my Julie Vos necklace at home, and a pair of coin clasp earrings online.

What can I say? I like my money where I can see it – right on my wrist

Health

Aaptiv

If left to my own devices, I would skip strength training entirely.

Unfortunately, I’ve started to work out once a week with a trainer, and he says that’s not an option.

Balls.

Thank goodness for Aaptiv – and Sultan, in particular. His strength workouts are manageable (but still tough), always have a great playlist, and he never fails to pump me up.

A full review of the app is forthcoming, but I recommend you check out Sultan’s Upper Body Burner, Body15 Weights, and Soar Not Sore.

And maybe follow it up with a Wake Your Asana Up.

You’ll need it.

RISE from Nootropics

Before you click “Buy Now”, send the link to your doctor to make sure it’s a fit for you.

I am NOT a physician. And this is only my experience with the supplement.

Got it? Good.

This supplement is designed to improve your memory and combat mental fatigue. For me, it has worked.

Now, I don’t know if it’s the supplement alone, a combination of RISE and meditation and offline time, or purely a placebo effect.

But I’ve found that I can focus better and power through my work more efficiently when I take this. And that, I need.

It’s been good so far. And with the end of year rush, I need all the help I can get.

Purple Carrot

I enjoy making dinner most nights. I do.

But the meal prep – the planning, the shopping – is something I hate.

And then came Purple Carrot.

It’s one of the many meal kit options out there, but I’m loyal to them for their delicious recipes, reduced packaging and their focus on organic, plant-based meals.

Bonus – the leftovers are enough for both my husband’s and my lunch the next day.

The only downside is the time and dishes required. Each recipe will take about an hour (sometimes longer), and multiple pots and pans. The chopping is pretty minimal, but there are 10-12 steps per recipe.

Worth it? For me, absolutely.

Half Baked Harvest cookbook 

When Tieghan cooked for us from her cookbook, she picked the most decadent dishes.

I’m still full from it.

But for every indulgent dish in the book, there is a healthy one that gives you so much energy.

Tieghan’s mango lassi has been a new addition to our morning smoothie game, and her honey-ginger chicken stir fry is insanely delicious.

And her Thai coconut curry. YUM.

My family seems to be enjoying the recipes as much as I’m enjoying the cookbook.

Or they’re just pumped for new recipes.

Either or, it’s a must-buy. The recipes are fantastic, the images beautiful, and the book an instant classic.

Kids

Little Spoon

Mornings are…chaotic.

Getting Rho ready. Getting myself ready. Getting to school on time.

Oh, and getting us both fed. Because, #hanger.

I rely on my smoothies (and coffee, lots of coffee) to get me going.

For Rho, it’s a little bit of my smoothie too. If we have time, I’ll make him eggs, French toast, or pancakes.

And when we don’t, I plop a Little Spoon tub in front of him and let him go to town.

These homemade baby blends are filled with all the good stuff, and none of the bed. We were lucky to get a sneak peek (well, taste) in anticipation of their NYC launch, and now I’m eager to replenish our stash.

If you’re looking to hack your kids breakfast, get yourself on the waitlist now.

Rockets Of Awesome x STATE Bags Backpack

Rho is my mini in a number of ways.

We have the same smile and curly hair. He inhales a cheesy roll-up from Taco Bell with the same gusto as my eating a bean burrito.

And we both love our bags. For me, it’s the aforementioned Tory Burch crossbody. And for him, it’s his backpack from Rockets Of Awesome and STATE Bags.

He hugs it while sitting in his stroller en route to school. He bypasses the hooks and wears it straight into his classroom.

I think he would sleep with it if I let him.

I love both companies – Rockets for making kid’s clothing shopping easier, and STATE Bags for making awesome backpacks that give one for every one purchased.

Like mama, like son.

1-2-3 Magic

Toddlers are amazing.

They’re curious, energetic, and so excited about life.

They also get easily frustrated – and understandably so. Poor kids experience all the emotions and often don’t have all the words to express themselves.

Frustrated kids, frustrated parents.

We are in that phase. And there are only a few things that help.

Wine helps.

Remembering that all of this is a phase, and it too shall pass.

And 1-2-3 Magic helps.

The system has helped me to raise my voice less and stay calmer. It also has helped us enforce our rules and boundaries in a way that all of us (Sri, my dad, our nanny and teachers) can maintain.

I don’t often talk about motherhood or Rho in this space, but I think this book can help any parent, aunt or uncle, or caregiver around. This summary offers a good introduction, but the full book is worth reading.

Old Navy fleece jacket

Old Navy is a regular shopping destination for us – I love their jeans, my husband wears their workout clothes, and many of Rho’s basics come from there.

This jacket is an annual purchase. It’s perfect for cooler mornings, and layers well under his heavier winter coats.

Getting him in a coat can be challenging, but he happily pulls his arms through this soft jacket.

Did I mention that it’s adorable? Because it is.

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