I heart Fall Tag

I don't know if you have ever heard about tagging someone but it is a pretty common occurrence in the blogisphere. Essentially, it is asking someone you know via blog to answer a series of questions. This set is based on a love of all thing fall.  I adore autumn, and I have shared a few things that I love about fall. 

QUESTIONS:


1. Favorite Fall lip product?

My favorite lip product of all time, not just fall is the Dior Lip Maximizer. It is a sheer gloss, it goes on easily, tastes delicious, is not too sticky and naturally enhances the shape and color of your lips. Anyone can wear it and it appropriate all the time. 


2. Favorite Fall Nail Polish?

I love Wicked by Essie. It looks like red wine on your nails, it is elegant and a little edgy. I also find it goes well with autumnal colors and neutrals. Which is what I wear this time of year. I also love how versatile the color is, it looks elegant with a suite at work and perfect with jeans and flannel on the weekend. 


3. Favorite Starbucks Fall Drink?

Yup, I am a card carrying member of the Pumpkin Spice Latte Cult. (#psl) I love it, I look forward to it all year, and it is one of the few treats I allow myself to get. For a make at home rendition, this recipe is amazing. 


4. Favorite Fall Candle?


I love Autumn  Wreathe by Yankee Candle. It smells like cinnamon, apples, pears, and fresh pumpkins. It is not too sweet, which I like also. I burn this from when I walk in the door to when I go to bed. It makes the house smell amazing and there is something so welcoming about having a candle on when you walk in the door. 

5. Favorite Fall Scarf or accessory

I have too many scarfs to mention. I love them all. I wear them all. My latest two favorites I got in my Popsugar Boxes: Marchesa Voyage and Tilo Scarves Modal Graduation in Raisin. But my favorite fall accessory is actual my pair of LL Bean Boots, which my husband calls my duck boots. They are awesome, I wear them all the time. They are warm, waterproof, and go great with jeans or leggings. I heart you LL Bean. 


6. Haunted house, haunted hay ride, or haunted corn maze?


I say none, I don't like anything haunted. I do love hayrides, and houses, but no thank you on the haunted parts. 

7. Favorite Halloween movie?

I am a complete wimp when it comes to scary movies. I have still have nightmares about a movie I saw in college... nonetheless, I love watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Practical Magic, and Johnny Depp's Sleepy Hollow. 


8. Favorite candy to eat on Halloween?

Twix, Kit Kat, any cookie candy chocolate thing... 


9. What are you dressing up as for Halloween?

My son told me our family is all going to be puppies, I will wear the ears. 

10. What is your Favorite thing about Fall?

My favorite thing about Fall is sitting outback with a blanket, the fire pit going, and a nice glass of wine. My friends and I call this being European, and I love it. But I love lots of things about Fall, the excitement of the holidays, the beautiful leaves turning, going to the farm for apples and pumpkins, all the cozy sweaters and socks, the delicious comfort food. There is so much to love. 

Happy Fall everyone! And if you are reading this, tag your it... 

Apple Picking

I love fall, all things fall. I especially love apple picking. We have the best farm. Great Country Farms in Bluemont, Virginia. It is the perfect farm if you have children. They make it super easy on you. So often apple picking in Virginia is an extreme sport and you have to be ready for an all day, athletic event. But not so at Great Country. You don't need to bring anything... except maybe a sturdy bag to hold the apples (they have plastic ones.) I bring my Boat and Tote, because it holds a ton and it is easy to carry... and could I really go anywhere without. 

They have great set up for entertainment. The tractor pulled hay ride come about every 15 minutes. So you never have to wait long to get out there, or come back. The farm usually have live music and cider or apple butter demonstrations. There is an apple festival every weekend in September. My son loves the little barn animals and the huge playground. 

They also have a "Roosteraunt" where they sell amazing cider donuts and coffee for your morning fix. After you are done with the farm and apples you can grab a lunch outside the barn. They sell hotdogs and BBQ, homemade pies, and old fashioned glass Cokes. 

On your way out you can stop through their farm stand to pick up some fresh local produce, so you get some grocery shopping done. 

It is a working mother's dream for a family day: healthy, outside, quality time, and great pictures. I heart you Great Country.  

NYC Rooftop Party Styling

The hubby and I are off to NYC this weekend. His brother and fiancee are throwing a swank Rooftop Party in Manhattan. I wanted to go against the grain, and dress down, comfortable, but still pay respect to the hosts. 

When it comes to beauty, I think manners and kindness matter so much more than what you wear or who did your hair. Just being authentic and interested in others is what people will remember. Whenever I write a fashion or a beauty post, I always want to remind myself that the most important thing a woman can wear is compassion. 

For my dress, I chose this long sleeve black tee-shirt dress Velvet By Graham & Spencer, which I bought at Nordstorm Rack for under $150. I'm not going to wear any nylons, because it is not really worth hassle, as long as your legs are shaved. 

Accessories: I am going to go with a nude pump because they make your legs look fantastically long, my pair are from Sam Elderman. I love the D'orsay style because they fit my feet and you can stand and walk in them for hours, I literally do, these are my pumps I wear to work. I love my Moda Lux nude clutch with gold detailing. When you hold the clutch low, it has an elongating effect to your silhouette. To compliment the gold detailing in the clutch, I choose my gold Marc Jacobs watch and some understated but elegant Kendra Scott earrings. 

Beautywise, I'm not doing much. I am currently on a no makeup kick. I like my freckles and my tan, I don't want to cover that up. It took a lot of beer drinking in the pool to get it, and I am proud of that. I do love the way my hair feels and looks after a blow out so I am going to get my haircut and highlighted on Friday. Because, I think second day hair looks better. 

Scent, I am loving the sexy vanilla scent BYWAY eau de parfum. It is a sweet fragrance with warm notes of caramel, wild rose, vanilla candy, honeysuckle. To me it smells like amber moonlight, it is both fun and sexy. Also, it is made in the USA, which is exactly what I am looking for these days. 

More than anything, I'm just excited to celebrate a wonderful couple's engagement and a have a fun night out with the hubby. I can't wait! Congratulations Jeff and Cara! 

All Natural Beauty Treatment: Coconut Oil

There are easily over a hundred uses for the oil but I am practically evangelical about its beauty treatments. Coconut oil is a naturally anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and it smells amazing. It is baby and pet safe and there are no harsh chemicals or carcinogens. You can pick it up anywhere, and if you choose you can get all natural, organic, cold pressed and bonus it is CHEAP!  Coconut Oil is an incredible beauty multitask-er, here are some of the uses I like the best.

• Natural Teeth Whitener - I have lately added oil pulling to my mourning routine. Oil pulling is essentially swishing a teaspoon of coconut oil in your mouth for about 20 minutes. I know that sounds like a long time but for me that is making lunch for my husband, breakfast for my son and emptying the dishwasher, or the time it takes me to drive to my vegetable garden. The hardest part about oil pulling is remembering not to swallow. Coconut oil tastes delicious, it is not painful unlike many mouthwashes and the benefits are pretty amazing. Oil pulling helps eliminate the harmful bacteria and viruses in your mouth to keep your healthy, remove plaque, help reduce mouth irritations and even help with tooth aches. Pretty awesome, Listerine and ain't got nothing on that. 
• Shaving cream - Coconut oil is probably the best shaving cream I have ever used. It goes on smoothly, allows for a close shave and it smells amazing. It has a few added benefits, the oil will keep your razors sharper longer, and because it is a natural deodorizer and moisturizer your underarms and legs will smell and look incredible. 
• Body lotion - Don't pay way to much money for chemicals, just use Coconut Oil, it will work better than any other moisturizer. The only caution is you don't want to stain your clothes so be careful and when you put it on and give yourself some time to let it soak in. 
• Cuticle cream - I have terribly dry hands and cuticles. It comes from being a mom and washing my hands a thousand times a day. A little rub and my fingers are baby soft. If you are painting your nails you can use q-tip and put the oil right on the cuticle, paint your nails and when they are dry all of the extra nail polish will just come off with oil... perfect manicure at home. 
• Scar and Stretch Mark Treatment - Coconut oil contains vitamin E, lauric, caprylic and capric acids which makes it  an excellent scar treatment, just rub the the oil in at least once a day but up to 4 times if you have the time
• Hair Mask - Coconut oil is one of the best essential oils for hair and scalp health because it contains healthy fatty acids and vitamin E. You can message about a tablespoon into your hair and scalp and leave on for about 30 minutes. Wash your hair out and you will enjoy healthy, glossy and moisturized hair.

Coconut Oil is really a wonder oil, a magical elixir that can make you healthier and more beautiful, you will be happy you tried it, I know I am. 

Fall Into Gorgeous Nail Colors

I love Fall. I always have. I love the changing of the leaves, the cooler weather. I love Autumn Harvest and the delicious soups and stews that come from all those squashes and pumpkins. I love the sweaters, and the layers, and the cozy nights with a glass of bold red wine and the fire pit outback. As I have gotten older, and more so since I started gardening, I do have a little bit of sadness as we wave goodbye to Summer. But as the sunburn on my hand will attest, it was a great summer. Time for some lovely trappings of Autumn. For me usually the first that changes with the seasons is my nail color. It is ridiculous, I know. I will change my dishes, my door wreathe, decorations on the mantel and our menus, but for some reason nails get changed first. Here are some of my favorites from this years new lines... 

• Essie's when i'm buttoned up, i always dress to kilt

• Nars

• Opi's Nordic Collection

• Butter of London Nail Lacquers 

Love Hate Running

Love Hate Running 

I run, I am not a runner, that is to say I run but I do not enjoy it. I run because my body hates running so much it is the only thing that motivates my post-baby, post-30 metabolism. I love running because it is fast, easy, requires no special equipment, I can do it anywhere, and I can do it early in the morning before the boys wake. I hate running because it is hard, it is mental, and I have terrible knees. I ran from when I was 16 until when my second trimester of pregnancy. Now, after many failed diets, too much money spent on trainers and on gym memberships, I am going back to what I know works, sweating it out to Nelly and Jay-Z every other morning at 4:30 am. There are few things that I use to help make running a little more fun and here are my crutches: 

• MUSIC - If I had to pick one thing that is an absolute must, I would pick music. I wouldn't make it six blocks without it. Even in the military we ran to cadences. You don't have to spend a heap ton of money on it either, if you have an iPhone you can download Pandora or Spotify for free and they have some awesome powerhouse workout stations. 
• Good Shoes - Shoes are essential. If your feet hurt you can't do much of anything. I have weird shaped feet and that makes it difficult, but there are plenty of running stores that will let you run in a pair of shoes or have special equipment that you stand on to help you get the perfect pair. For me, I love New Balances, I have been using them for 15 years. But, every body is different and every foot is too. 
• Hydrate or die - You can run hungry or tried, but you can't run dry. You have to drink water the night before and after. I have a CamelBak Glass water bottle that I use constantly. Somehow the straw makes it easier for me to hydrate. Try a bottle you like in your favorite color, put on your desk or carry it around the house while you are doing chores. You will be amazed at how much better you feel when you drink water. 
• Running App Coach- I love my running app. It tells me when to walk, and when to run, it lets me know if I am going to fast or not fast enough and when I have reached the halfway mark. You can try plenty of running apps for free. I love them. 
• Fuel - I don't eat before I run, I used to when I was running for time or with others and wanted to perform well. I eat after, and I am currently loving Larabar Protein Bars. I am on a Paleo kick and I really think it has improved my runs and my energy in general. They sell these at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and, of course, Amazon.   
• Happy Workout Gear - You can run in any clothes you like, I spent a good chunk of my life running in BDUs and boots. But you should try and find some clothes that make you happy. Maybe its an old t-shirt, or your favorite old sports watch that doesn't work anymore. Whatever it is, wherever you get it, it should make you happy because you will need that little bit of umph to get out the door. 
• Mental Game - Remember that Native Americans used to run for hours across expansive distances, running is all mental. If you pray, ask for some extra power, if you mediate, visualize yourself at the end of the run. Think about attaining your goal and how you will feel when you do, just don't stop, it is all in your head. Your body will want to fight you to rest, but push through. You can do it. 

So those are my tips from someone who runs but does not enjoy it. All the best and happy work-outs.