Wednesday, September 23, 2015

What I'm Reading, Week 37

It's the first day of fall! Here's to football season, cider with whiskey, and happy Halloweens! On to the reading progress.



I'm still reading Richard Reeves' Infamy, but I've started reading the five stories in Wool, part of the Silo series, by Hugh Howey. More post-apocalyptic sci-fi fun for all my fellow geeks! I'm loving how well defined the characters in this book are, it totally sucked me in right away. I don't want to spoil anything about this story because I'm enjoying it so much, but if you like this sort of genre at all, you should give this a read. I'm tearing through it at an absurd pace.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

My Fall 2015 Wishlist

Fall '15 Wishlist


























It would be foolish to assume that there aren't things I want as the fall weather starts to come around. The cape trend has been floating around for a few years now, and I think I might finally be brave enough to go for it. This one from H&M is so chic looking, not to mention the right price. I think I'm going to go for a minimalist tortoiseshell-inspired look this fall and gold accents black and brown really well. I think both the Topshop Filigree Two-Row Necklace and Topshop Geo Drop Pendant Necklace from Topshop's Nordstrom collection would look really classy over a sweater, or just a slouchy tee. Not to mention they would look great with those tortoiseshell earrings, which are from Topshop stores.

Frankly, I'm just really in need of an umbrella and I like the idea of being able to see where I'm going when Chicago brings freezing rain back into my life. This Totes Bubble Umbrella from Target comes with several different color trim, so if you want to spice it up, you could go for a pop of color. Finally, these Annie Side Zip Ankle Booties are also from Target, and I love them. My best friend brought them to my attention, and I've been actively resisting purchase ever since.

What makes your list for this fall? Let me know in the comments, and feel free to check me out on Polyvore if the spirit moves you!

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Monday, September 21, 2015

Mani Monday: Favorite Fall Polishes


















Ah, fall. I know not everyone chooses their nail polish based on the season, but as the junkie I am, it's really the only way to get a full scope of my collection. I have a particular weakness for fall colors, be they warm or cool, as they get me in the mood for my very favorite time of the year.

One of the first polishes I ever purchased and go back to every year, is Essie Sassy Satchel. It's a beautiful metallic red brown that just epitomizes fall for me. Zoya Amy is a metallic burnished orange that's great right at the beginning of the season, when you're still feeling the last lingering bits of summer but the leaves have started to turn. Once the weather turns to cool and grey days, Essie Macks is an offbeat blue-toned red that's slightly translucent that makes me thing of rain-slicked streets.

If you're a lover of cooler tones, Essie After School Boy Blazer is about as chic as it gets. It's blackened navy that always makes me feel like I actually know what I'm doing with my style. Essie Over the Edge wormed its way into my heart last fall as gun metal grey continued to dominate fall trends for the millionth year in a row. I think this polish is one of the best ways to wear that particular trend, it's nice and subtle but still different. Blue-greys are also going to come around again this year, and Essie The Perfect Cover Up fits right in line with that. As fall starts to turn toward winter, OPI Viking in a Vinter Vonderland, in addition to having the best name ever, is the purple that owns my heart. It's a nearly black purple that's fully opaque in three coats and just makes me happy to look at.

Friday, September 18, 2015

What's in My Bag #1





















I recently got a new everyday bag and I figured I'd show you guys what I always tote around with me! Frankly, doing this has made me realize that I'm really boring. The bag itself is from a boutique on Southport called M2. It's actually reversible, which is pretty cool because it will match the wide variety of gym clothes I wear on a daily basis :/ My adorable green wallet is from Target, I just keep all the usual sort of things in it. All the way to the right is my Kindle, my beloved Kindle, which entertains me on every form of public transit without having to use my data (bless you, Kindle, bless you).

I have Pepcid because heartburn is no joke #realtalk and I do not have time for that nonsense. My floral-patterned sunglasses are from Francesca's Collection and cost me $14 before tax, which is a good thing because every pair of sunglasses I've ever owned have been left behind on a train. This is why I can't have nice things.

Since I nanny and, thus, spend a great deal of time outdoors in the heat, I don't bother with much makeup in the warm weather. It's a bit of a bummer, considering I'm such a beauty junkie, but it beats sweating it all off as soon as I step outside, that's just a waste of money. The exceptions are Rimmel Hide the Blemish Concealer in 102 Light Beige and NARS Lip Gloss in Chelsea Girls. That concealer is the closest dupe for Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Bisque that I've found at the drugstore. Although it's not quite as good, I keep it around because it costs around $5 instead of $25. That lip gloss is not cheap, but I don't care, it is everything I've ever wanted in a nude lip gloss. The hype is legit on that one.

And, of course, I gotta have a Blistex for those windy Chicago days.