Fall Basics || Round 1 Recap

Tops: plaid shirt | chambray shirt | striped tunic

Jeans: dark wash skinny jeans | black skinny jeans | distressed jeans

Accessories: booties | statement necklace | plaid blanket scarf

I decided to round up a little recap of my fall basic series outfits thus far. As you may know if you read my blog, I am currently working on bulking up my fall and winter wardrobe since I was (very) pregnant last year at this time and did not buy any clothes besides maternity wear. I decided to start with the basics and wanted to share my new pieces with you for your own fall wardrobe inspiration. I plan on continuing to post outfits weekly with monthly recaps until the end of November. Who knows, maybe I will start a winter basics series in December?!

The above photo is a quick snapshot of all 3 outfits I've posted so far including tops, jeans and some of the accessories that I've purchased this season (that will all be on heavy rotation, no doubt). Since I work from home and am also home with my son 2 days out of the week, my dress code is pretty casual. These are outfits I would typically wear outside of the house to run errands, meet up with friends, weekend activities, etc. I have made it a goal to actually get dressed (like, not wearing yoga pants) on the days that I am working from home, so some of my outfits I do actually wear to 'work'. 

When it comes to shopping these days, my goal is to purchase staple pieces that will last longer than just a season. I'm hoping that these items will not only last me through winter, but also into next fall as well! I've placed myself on somewhat of a budget when it comes to shopping, so I try my best to find good deals and save money without sacrificing quality pieces. 

I've linked to the items underneath the collage above and have similar items (plus a few honorable mentions) linked below for more variety:

What are some of your fall fashion staples?

Rent the Runway Review

Have you heard of Rent the Runway? It's an awesome online service that allows you to rent designer clothes and accessories for a fraction of the retail price. What's great about it is that you can schedule when it will arrive, you can order a back up size and you don't have to wash or dry clean it before you send it back!

I've tried Rent the Runway a few times now and I have to say that my experience has been very positive. The first time I tried RTR was for a wedding over a year ago and the dress wasn't quite what I was expecting, so I was able to send it back within 24 hours and received a credit on my account. A year later, I finally used the credit! You can read more about their return and credit policies here.

Bill and I went to a wedding in Cleveland this past weekend and I decided to try out RTR again. I had a back up dress just in case, but I had a good feeling about the dress that I ordered. The great thing about the site is that you can look at reviews and photos of other customers that have rented the dress. This is what I really appreciate because it is very difficult to find a dress that fits me well without tailoring. I'm 5'2" and a little on the 'curvy' side so I have to get something that will fit and not be too long. When I came across this Nicole Miller dress (also comes in a pretty coral color), I absolutely loved the style. Then, when I read the reviews and looked at the photos of customers who had rented the dress, I was even more convinced that it was the dress I should order.

This particular dress was so comfortable and was perfect to wear to a wedding! It wasn't too clingy or tight, so I was able to move (dance) and feel comfortable. It was also a really pretty bright blue that doesn't show through in the pictures as well as in person. I loved the lace detail as well.

The return process was so simple! The dresses came in a very nice garment bag that zips up into a package. They provided me with all the return instructions and a return label. All I had to do was put the dresses back in the garment bag, zip it up, tuck the return label into the postage slot on the front and drop it off at a ups drop off spot. I think the most difficult part was just figuring out the closest ups drop off.

You can choose either a 4 or an 8 day rental for a bit more money. I chose the 4 day which was perfect because I scheduled the dress to arrive on a Friday, the wedding was Saturday and then I had until Monday to return them.

I loved my experience so much that I signed up for their RTR Pro account! With the pro settings, I get free shipping, free insurance on all orders and a free birthday dress rental! Totally worth it! :) I can't wait to order my birthday dress in November!

Have you tried Rent the Runway? Did you have a good experience?

PS - I was not compensated by RTR for this post, I just wanted to give my honest opinion on the service! 

Friday Randoms

Hello friends! Happy almost weekend! This week has seriously flown by... I feel like I say that every Friday? Anyways, here are some random thoughts for you...

* My new love is the 2+ hour nap. It now happens in the afternoons and it is glorious! Ever since Cam dropped down to 2 naps per day, he has been sleeping like a baby (literally) in the afternoon. On Tuesdays and Thursdays when I'm home alone with him, this 2 hour nap is my savior! Don't get me wrong, we have a great time together! But, mama needs a break to catch her breath too! Yesterday during this said nap I had goals of starting a crockpot meal, throwing in a load of whites, maybe showering... very high hopes... What did I do instead? Caught up with my dvr, ate left over Chinese, flipped through the new Pottery Barn Kids catalogue and scrolled though my phone... It was awesome. The shower can wait, am I right?

* About this half marathon.... Yes, that's happening in a few weeks. Yikes! At least I have cute new pair of nikes (color blue lagoon) to cheer me on as I huff and puff my way through it :/

* Bill and I attended a fancy event last Friday for the Ohio State Alumni Association and I wore this dress from Express. I love the cut and the sheer sleeves. Bill kindly pointed out that it was a navy blue dress and should have been scarlet or grey (OSU colors)... Sorry babe, I like blue dresses! (PS - Doesn't he look dapper?!)

* We finished the dresser!! We've been working on refinishing our bedroom dresser for the past few weekends (and when I say we, of course I really mean Bill). It looks awesome and I'm planning to show it off in our master bedroom reveal after we are done with the decorating, ordering new bedding and nightstands. So, probably not for another few months... I know the anticipation is killing you! :)

* Bill and I have a wedding this weekend and I decided to take a gamble and order a Rent the Runway dress. It's set to arrive today... Say a prayer for me that it fits and looks decent!

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!!

Camden || 10 months!

(onesie was a gift from Bill's co-worker, but you can order one similar here)

There's no way my baby is 10 months? Just yesterday he was a wrinkly little newborn and now he's only 2 months away from turning one?! This can't be...

Our little Buckeye had a very busy month! He is busting a move and trying to get to everything he is not supposed to. He started getting up on all fours this months and also standing with his play table and holding onto furniture. He also grabs at everything. If you have a drink in your hand, forget it... He's going after it! He also took his first over night vacation with us to Put-In-Bay and slept in his pack n play. He was such a great little travel buddy!

He's also become quite the foodie (taking after his parents). We started feeding him more 'real' food this month and some of his favorites are oatmeal with banana/fruit, yogurt, cheese (shredded), sweet potatoes and butternut squash. He has also been chewing on some steam broccoli stems here and there and doesn't hate it! I've been trying to make more food for him and to start weening him off of the baby food, but he still loves his purees. We are down to 4 bottles a day, but the ones during the day are starting to dwindle. He still chugs his morning and night time bottles like a champ!

Naps have gone down to 2 per day! Thank you for those that commented on his 9 month update about dropping the 3rd nap. It is really helped and he now takes a 1.5 - 2 hour nap in the afternoon! He is still sleeping a solid (like, on the dot) 12 hours at night, going to bed by 6:30-6:45pm and waking up around 6:30am. Those early morning wake up calls are rough, but I (we) love our grown up time/me time for a solid 3ish hours at night. This time helps me wrap up work projects, blogging and house chores before the end of the day.

I'm going to keep this update a little shorter than the norm, just because I feel as though they sound really similar the past few months!

We are so lucky to have such a wonderful, adorable little guy in our lives! I really can't believe it's been 10 months since I held his little 5 lb 13 oz newborn body in my arms!! He is growing up way too fast!

I love you my sweet boy!

I'm linking up with Natalie and Annie for Thoughts for Thursday!

Fall Basics || Blanket Scarf

blanket scarf (similar here) | stripe high low tee | express distressed jeans (express jeans are buy 1 get 1 for $29.90 right now!) | booties | kate spade watch (similar here and here) | kate spade crossbody | ray-ban sunglasses | opi nail color (kennebunk port)

It is officially fall today, so that means today's fall basics post had to include 2 things... a plaid blanket scarf and Starbucks (a classic #PSL of course)! Doesn't get much more blogger / basic than that!

If it's one thing we bloggers love, it's fall... Another thing we all love is a blanket scarf. The one I'm wearing was actually purchased off of ebay last year after the infamous zara one sold out. I wanted this exact plaid, and the only other option was ebay! Now you can find these plaid blanket scarfs everywhere in all different colors and plaid patterns. I've linked to a handful I love down below in the 'shop this post' scroll bar. 

This outfit is perfect for our current transitioning temperatures. Here in Columbus, it's been chilly in the mornings and evenings and it still gets up to the mid 70s during the day. Having this blanket scarf handy helps keep me warm when the temps drop and I can fold it up in my car or handbag when it gets warm. 

The other fall staples in this outfit are my distressed jeans and the striped high low tee. This tee is the perfect drapey fit that I like and is the perfect long length so I have the option of wearing it with jeans or leggings. Best part is that it comes in a lot of different solid colors as well as stripes and it's only $18!

Distressed jeans are very trendy right now. After I tried on these distressed legging jeans from Express, I was hooked! They seriously fit like a glove and give just enough stretch and comfort while still looking on trend. 

This outfit is going to be a staple for sure this fall. It's the perfect weekend wear for brunching, grabbing coffee with a friend, running errands or tailgating! 

A special thanks to my friend for taking these pics on my camera for me! :)

Happy fall y'all and happy shopping!

Shop this post:

Check out my other outfits in my Fall Basics series: outfit 1 | outfit 2

6 Ways to Celebrate Fall

It will officially be fall in 2 days! The temperatures are slowly dropping and it is starting to feel more like the seasons are changing. To help celebrate my favorite season, I've come up with a list of ways to help put you in the 'fall' mood:

1| Go ahead, order yourself that #PSL... You deserve it! And they are truly delicious...

2| Paint your nails a dark tone like a deep red or purple. Shop red tones here and purple tones here.

3| Dust off your favorite blanket scarf. They are perfect for layering during these transitional weather days. I've linked to my favorite ones you can stock up on here, here and here.

4| Light a fall candle. Might I suggest Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin... Mmmmm...

5| Decorate with glitter pumpkins. They're just more glamorous than orange ones...

6| Hang a fall wreath on your front door and add some potted mums to your entry way. We always get a few pots of mums for our front porch every year and this really makes me feel like it is officially fall!

What are some of your favorite ways to celebrate fall?

Fall Basics || Chambray Shirt

chambray top | black skinny jeans | booties | statement necklace | kate spade watch (similar) | cat eye sunglasses

I'm back with outfit #2 of my Fall Basics series. I had to include the classic chambray shirt because it is a great transitional piece from summer to fall. You can also carry this top into spring with a pair of white or light colored jeans. The great thing about a chambray top is you can dress it up or down. If you changed out my booties for a great pair of pumps, this look could definitely be business casual attire for the office or even a date night outfit! Or, you can dress it down with a pair of dark wash, distressed jeans and flats for a more casual look.

I paired mine with my favorite pair of black skinny jeans, my new booties and a statement necklace. Here are some other options for the pieces in this fall inspired outfit:

Chambray shirt

Black skinny jeans

Booties

Statement necklace

Happy fall shopping!

Lately...

Sorry for the radio silence Friday and yesterday! We had a pretty relaxing Saturday and went to Put in Bay with my family Sunday and returned yesterday. It was a quick trip, but it was so much fun! We took Camden with us and he was such a great little travel baby! Although it was a lot of work schlepping all his stuff, I'm so glad we brought him along!

Here's a little photo recap of what I've been up to lately...

Football season is here! I'm so excited to spend gamedays with the newest little Buckeye fan! :)

We've been toying around with the idea of moving to a larger home in the next few years and of course that leads to searching for our dream home on zillow constantly! I'm trying to be patient and know that our home is the perfect size for our little family of 3 (4 with Charlie) for now... I saw this quote posted on instagram and decided to recreate it on our chalkboard in our kitchen. Such a great reminder!

We are working on refinishing our bedroom dresser (and when I say we, I mean Bill). It is such a process! Sanding takes a lot of work! We've got everything sanded down, but had to take a little break from working on it this past weekend for our trip. I'm hoping we can finish it this weekend! Here's the look I'm going for as far as finish/color and hardware. I'm planning on posting our master bedroom makeover inspiration later this week!

source: Pottery Barn

And now, here are a few highlight photos from our trip to Put in Bay:

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! 

PS - I'll be back tomorrow with outfit #2 of my Fall Basics series! 

T4T || Fall Bucket List

image source here

Going along with the theme of yesterday's post, I thought I would share my bucket list for fall. Seeing how I did about 50/50 with my summer bucket list, I'm hoping to cross off all of my fall to do's. 

1. Decorate the house with fall decor. Already picked up a few little pumpkins from Target! Next up, finding a good door wreath and mums for the front porch!

2. Take fall family photos. If you read my blog, then you know we've had to reschedule our family photos 4 times now! Hoping to get them complete by the end of the season!

3. Plan Camden's 1st birthday party!! (shock face emoji!!!) I am in denial that this is happening which is my excuse for not starting yet! His birthday is November 20th and I just know it's going to come wayyyy to quickly!

4. Make something with pumpkin in it (that I haven't made before). Maybe this? Or possibly these?

5. Complete my fall wardrobe capsule and post outfits weekly. I already started this series with yesterday's post! We are off to a good start!

6. Finish decorating master bedroom. We've started to refinish our dresser and I'm hoping the finished product is presentable! We are sanding it down (when I say we, I mean Bill), painting it antique white and replacing the knobs with new hardware. I'm also hoping to get new nightstands and new bedding by the end of the season.

Bonus: Going apple picking or visiting a pumpkin farm. These two are classic fall activities that I hope to experience as a family someday!

What's on your bucket list for fall?

I'm linking up with Natalie and Annie for Thoughts for Thursday.

Fall Basics || Plaid Shirt

plaid shirt | skinny jeans | booties | marc jacobs bag | monogram necklace | kate spade watch (similar)

Had your fill of awkward wanna be fashion blogger poses yet?
And please don't mind our lovely stained concrete patio...

Anyhoo... I've started to compile and organize a fall capsule wardrobe (more on this concept later) and I'm feeling much more prepared for the season than I was a few weeks ago. I've taken advantage of some sales recently and have been able to keep a lot of my outfits budget friendly, while still feeling stylish and up to date.

I wanted to start sharing my favorite fall pieces in a "fall basics" series on the blog. Over the next couple months I will share photos of outfits that include all my current fall fashion staples. First up, the classic plaid shirt.

Nothing screams 'fall' more than a flannel plaid shirt, am I right? This shirt is so cozy and warm! FYI, I took these photos in 90 degree heat and was sweating immediately after... Oh, the sacrifices we make for the blog!

Also, these booties are most likely going to be a staple this season! They are the perfect neutral shade to go with any outfit and they are so comfortable! I am a huge fan of comfort meets style these days!

Here are some other options for the pieces of this fall ensemble (click on the image to link to the source):

Plaid shirts (all less than $50!)

Dark wash skinny jeans

Booties

I hope you enjoy these types of posts! I gotta give props to those fashion bloggers out there! These outfit posts are definitely challenging, but are also so much fun!

What are some of your fashion fall basics?

Greek Hummus Dip

This dip is one of my new favorites. If you are a fan of hummus and feta cheese, then you will love this dip!

My friend made this for a girls' night recently and ever since it's all I can think about. After she gave me the easy recipe, I decided to duplicate it for myself. It's the perfect dish to bring to a girls' night, game day or any type of gathering, really!

Ingredients:

+ 8 oz hummus spread

+ 8 oz tzatziki sauce

+ 1/2 cucumber, chopped

+ one large tomato, chopped

+ crumbled feta cheese

Directions:

Layer ingredients in order above in a 9x9 serving dish. Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 hour. Serve with your favorite corn chips. 

Enjoy!

Labor Day Phone Dump

You guys.... We had to reschedule our family photos AGAIN!! Ughhh! It was so nice all day on Friday, then a half an hour before our scheduled shoot the thunderstorm clouds rolled in and it was stormy for the rest of the night. I was so bummed! I'm really hoping we can get some nice family photos before Camden turns 1!! Oh well...

On a brighter note, Happy Labor Day! We are celebrating by spending the day at home and starting a new DIY project... Refinishing our bedroom dresser! Wish us (I mean, Bill) luck! I'm sure I will post before and after pics when it is complete...

For now, here are some recent photos of what I've been up to...

chambray top | distressed jeans | tory burch sandals | statement necklace 

There were a few cooler mornings recently that got me excited for fall... Of course, by afternoon I was back in my shorts and t shirt!

I got a new Rocksbox shipment recently that was soooo good! I ended up keeping the Kendra Scott earrings and I am in love!

nikes (old, similar) | athletic shorts | nail color - essie's 'bottle service'

Half marathon training in full effect! I completed 8 miles on Friday... It was rough!!

I indulged in brunch at Sunny Street Cafe with a group of girlfriends on Saturday and it was just what the doctor ordered! Can't get enough girl time, coffee and eggs benedict!!

Camden, Bill and I attended a 1st birthday party for my friend's son. Camden just loves watching other kids run around and do big kid things. He is counting down the days for his first birthday party (mommy is stressed thinking about it)!

I'm linking up with Biana.

Hope you all had a lovely holiday weekend!