It's FALL Y'all!

Were you hoping for another post about pumpkins? Perfect...

Chris invited me to go with him to Boyd Orchard Monday afternoon because he had the day off work.  Love when he thinks of fun daytime dates!  

We browsed through the store buying things like local honey (me), onion ring batter (him), carmel apples (me), potato soup mix (me), fried chicken something-or-other (him), chili (him), etc.  

Then we walked through the pumpkin patch comparing sizes and shapes of pumpkins like the experts we aren't.  

Both of us realized we hadn't been to a pumpkin patch in at least 10 years.  I was quickly reminded of that when we were the only adults there without children. YOLO people.  

Finally, we each found a pumpkin worth taking home.

Mine was perfectly round and symmetrical with a good stem for carrying.  His was 1 pound bigger than mine (because he's the most competitive boy on the planet) and oblong.

Opposites attract!?

We grabbed a yummy burger at Hugh Jass and headed to his house to carve away.  

We both got really excited when we found our carving patterns online.

Here is the before and after:

This is my version of making a political statement.  Chris chose to show off his misguided fanhood by carving the script Louisville "L".  Bless his heart - he wasn't born with Kentucky blue blood running through his veins.  (can you say house divided??)

Regardless, it was a really fun day with my favorite boy and there was only 1 casualty...

JUST KIDDING! We also bought vampire blood for absolutely no reason at all.

OOoohhhhhhh. So scary.

This weekend were going to a costume party at a friend's house.

I was just made aware of this plan today (WEDNESDAY!) so I don't have a costume together yet.

I'm thinking I either want to be Katniss from the Hunger Games

OR

Tanning Mom.

I'm obsessed with HG and I already own combat boots so Katniss would be easy and I'd feel like a badass.

However I also own a jankity old blonde wig and lots of tanning lotion and bronzer...so Tanning Mom would be easy, culturally relevant, and funny.

What to do? What to do? Help!

Pretty pumpkins

It's Monday.  I'm catching up on work that I needed to do Friday but Lexington was under an internet outtage. An outtage. Like...did we run out of internet as a city?  Mercy!  So as with most Mondays...I'm just trying to get through.  Instead of yammering on about that I'll share a little project I completed on Friday afternoon :)

I bought a few baby pumpkins the other day and since I can't leave anything in it's original condition...I painted them.  I've been seeing these adorable painted pumps all over Pinterest so I thought I'd give it a whirl.

I decided to do a polka dot design first using my Martha Stewart Gold Glitter paint and paint sponge.

Pretty self explanatory.  I evenly distributed the dots around the pumpkin and then cleaned up any drips as it was drying.  So easy!

Next I thought I'd do a chevron-ish zig zag pattern in white so I grabbed a bottle of basic white acrylic paint and a medium width brush (about 1 inch) and went for it!  Now, if I had more time I would have used painter's tape to create the pattern - but this was a quick project so I decided to free-hand the design.  I did the thick zig zag first and the smaller one second.  I used the smaller brush to clean up the edges :)

Ta-da!

Would you be surprised to know that I want to buy about 10 more and decorate them all?  No, you wouldnt?  Okay then!

I'm supposed to carve pumpkins with the boyfriend this week.  What should I carve?  UK themed?  Scary?  My initials?  What do you think?

30 before 30

Hello my darlings. Welp...as per usual...I'm only posting a few times a month. At least I'm consistent in my inconsistency!?

So I was looking for inspiration and I thought I'd take some ideas from my fellow bloggers. Allow me to introduce you to my 30 Things To Do Before I'm 30.  I'll be honest with you...I'm 24 and I don't really think about the big 3-0 very much.  But as I was writing this I thought, "I need to get on it!" And that sent me into a mini freak out...until I was thoroughly distracted by the Dr. Drew update with Amber from Teen Mom from prison.  Thanks, MTV.  Back to the list:

30 before 30 (in no particular order)

1. Visit Europe
2. Take a beach vacation with my best girls
3. Get engaged (I hope!)
4. Land a career that I am passionate about (non-profit pretty please)
5. Buy my own car
6. Do the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
7. Visit Las Vegas
8. Visit Washington, DC
9. Run a 5K
10. Read the whole Bible
11. Become a member of a church
12. Spend New Years Eve in NYC
13. Learn more about horse racing
14. Learn how to research/write/apply for grants (get certified)
15. Visit Harry Potter World
16. Raise $500 for a non-profit organization
17. Master the smoky eye
18. Meet a famous person
19. Go to a live taping of a talk show
20. Buy myself a designer handbag (as a reward for reaching a major goal)
21. Get a facial
22. Go to a farmers market
23. Plan/execute a major event
24. Do something special for Dad and Mom’s 60^th birthdays
25. Live in the same house for more than 1 year
26. Stop being late all the time. Oops!
27. Give something up for Lent
28. Learn to like sushi
29. Read 5-10 books a year
30. Get to know myself better!

 I should probably add #31. Stop watching shows completely centered around teenagers (a la....Teen Mom, Gossip Girl, Laguna Beach)

So what about y'all?  Do you have a list like this?  Any major things I missed?  Am I totally shallow for the handbag goal?  

Freakin' Friday

Heyo.  It's Friday. I don't have anything witty to say because this was the dumbest week in existence.  I'm just glad its the weekend and there are cocktails waiting for me.

What am I doing on this Friday, September the 14th (Happy Birthday Dad!) at 1:20 pm you may ask? Well, I'm staring out my window into this 80 degree day, wondering why it isn't Fall. I'm simultaneously getting mad at myself for wishing away summer.  Someone slap me in January when it's -10 degrees and I have to put on a parka and snow boots to walk outside.

However, because I can't dress for the season in my mind...I'll share my fashion wish list for this Fall...whenever she comes.

Ostlie black flats from Aldo.  They're a moderate smoking slipper and moderately priced...and black. Get in my closet please.

Aldo

Tahari Clementine Suede Flats in Burgundy from DSW.  Oxblood/burgundy/maroon is one of the "it" colors for this Fall.  I don't necessarily care about that but I've always loved jewel tones and I'm definitely a sucker for this style shoe right now, so here she is.

DSW

Sole Society Camila Flat in Leopard from Nordstrom. Last one I promise.  But it's leopard. Come onnnnn.

Nordstrom

Mossimo burgundy jeans from Target. Right color. Right style. Right price.

Target

Milk Stud shirt in white from Tobi.

I love a good button down. They are one of my favorite pieces for Fall year in and year out.

And let's face it...menswear-inspired pieces are making a huge comeback.

There's a gorgeous studded collar.

Note the cutout (that doesnt involve the midriff - thank you!)

LOVE.

Tobi

Tobi

Leopard print blouse (button down preferably...hello predictable girl).

I swear I've never been into animal print before. But apparently I'm having a moment.

So, if someone could track down this pretty gal's blouse that would be fab. It's all over Pinterest with no source. Uh. #firstworldproblems

Everly Sea Island Shimmer dress in taupe from Red Dress Boutique.

Chevron...imagine that.

Also - shimmer, sleeves, shift style.

That'll do ;)

Red Dress Boutique

Cowboygirl boots. If I found a way to put these Ariats on my feet, Lord knows I would. I like their simplicity more than anything. But frankly I'm just hoping to find a sale on a decent leather pair that hits my calf at a flattering height. Is that too much to ask? Probably...

Ariat

Dot Cross Gold bracelet from Derng. 

Because I'm attempting to have a wrist stack up to my elbow. 

Because I love crosses.

And because sometimes sideways is better!

Derng

Here's hoping that at least a few of these items make their way to my closet! What's on your wish list this Fall? Is anyone else silly enough to wish away the 80 degree temps in exchange for fashion?

Playing Catch Up

So guys...I was working (aka slangin' boots & champs) on the Dubarry booth at the Hampton Classic in NY from Aug 23rd to Sept 3rd so I left the blogosphere for a minuto.  Here's what we were up to....

It was busy.  It was fun.  It was tiring.  But all in all it was a great 2 weeks for Dubarry and our team.  And BONUS - we had some great celeb spotting including Bradley Cooper, Julianne Moore, Kelly Ripa, Kelly Reilly, Ramona Singer from Real Housewives of NY, and Jill Zarin also from RHONY :)

Now its back to life, back to reality (remember that song?) And that means getting my Brand Ambassadors excited for this semester AND more personally...obsessing over Fall fashion, football, and the last few days in the sunshine (and the pool).

So...you guys...what is the 411?  What has everybody been up to? What is the hottest gossip?

What I'm Loving

Hope everyone made it through another Monday and for those starting back to school (as teachers, students, grad students, etc.) good luck and...may the odds be ever in your favor ;)

Sometimes on Mondays you just need to think about who/what you love.  So I'm going to share the current "loves" of my life here!

I LOVE my new iphone case from the Etsy store Frog Eyes and Corn Teeth and I cannot wait to get it in the mail and pop it onto my little apple machine.

I LOVE the color grey (and spelling it with an 'e').  I'm obsessed y'all.  I encouraged my boyfriend to get not 1 but 2 pairs of grey pants.  I decorated my living room with grey accents. I want a grey handbag for the fall.  I want to dye my hair grey.  Just kidding.  But I think it's awesome, baby, and I plan on surrounding myself with it for the next few months. 

I LOVE my pretty necklace from one of my favorite new blogs Lex What Wear.  The site just launched this month and it is adorable!  I was lucky enough to win a fantastic bauble necklace in their first giveaway.  So excited to wear it this week.

I LOVE that I won an 8X10 canvas print from Easy Canvas Prints from another fabulous Kentucky blog, Our Fifth House.  I think I've had a little string of good luck...and I'm not mad about it!  Now I just have to decide what I should get printed. Hmm...suggestions?

I LOVE the bouqet of lilies my boyfriend got me for no reason on Thursday.  They are my favorite flower :)  He also made us dinner that night.  I think he's a keeper!  They've bloomed a bit more since I took this on Friday but I'm too lazy and worn out from Pure Barre to walk the 7.5 feet to my kitchen and retake this picture. lazybloggerprobz 

I LOVE MTV for their Laguna Beach Marathons.  Bringing me back to the days of Ste-Ven, Kristen the maneater, LC and her bad luck in love, Talon in his high socks and pierced ears, Morgan the Mormon, Jessica's cleavage and palpable desperation, and the many many other hilarious California high schoolers that entertained me through my teens. I have no shame spending my mornings as a 24 year old watching episodes about prom, love triangles, spring break, and bonfires on the beach.

What are you loving lately?  Do you have an odd obsession with a bleak color, a tv show about teeny boppers, or your own good karma/luck?  Hope so!  Enjoy the rest of your weeks!

Donuts

Okay guys, I just had to share this before I jet off to Chicago.

My sister and I went to the mall this past week and the only purchase I made came from...wait for it...Claire's.  Don't get judgy wudgy on me.  I am now the proud owner of 2 hair donuts from the mecca of plastic accessories.

All hail the hair donut.  If you're like me and you've tried and tried (and failed and failed) to be like the Kardashians rock the big bun, then you can scurry on down to your local mall and pick up this little miracle product and stop crying yourselves to sleep.  AND STOP CUTTING UP YOUR SOCKS.  Buy a few hair donuts (they have blonde and brunette) in varying sizes...and ta-da...you too can have a giant ballerina bun on your skull.

Look.  If I can do it. So can you. See?

My mom says everyone used these "back in her day".  I said "secrets don't make friends and friends don't make secrets" and pouted.  Just kidding.  But come on baby boomers...share your tricks!  Welcome to 2012 hair donut...happy to have you here.

Okay, have a great weekend my little bunheads. XOXO