Cooler weather and fall favs........

Ahhhhh....I love stepping out on the porch on these cooler mornings and feeling fresh air ! We are finally going through a week of lower temps (lows 60s, highs in the low 80s) and of course it has us bringing out the longs pants and long sleeves - even though we get a little hot in the afternoon, who cares!? So I have been thinking about my "must have" list for fall. Some items I have already purchased, but some are yet to be purchased. These are on my list:



tan riding boot - DSW



jeggings - Old Navy

orange t-shirt - J Crew


skinny jeans - Old Navy

Chambray shirt - not sure of the source

fur vest - Old Navy (thanks Amy!!)







desert bootie - endless.com

black blazer - Target

boyfriend cardi - not sure of source

What's on your list?

Update: This is how I styled 2 of my favs today -



I found my chambray shirt at Target - $17.99, but with Merona $5 coupon it was $12.99!



I just love this necklace from Premiere Designs!



Pardon the computer in the background - it's hard to get a shoe shot!
Desert boots by Volatile from DSW.com

Saddlebag update.......

Mission accomplished:



Ninewest bag from TJ Maxx - $29.99 - under budget baby!



I just love the criscross detail on the side:)

Saddlebags....and I don't mean the the extra pounds on your buttocks!

What kind of bag will you be carrying this fall? Have you thought about it? It seems like each season I obsess over a particular kind of handbag that I must have! That would be all well and good if I had an unlimited budget, which I don't. So, I put a $50 limit on my purchase and start the search! Sometimes I find it and some times I don't, but I do enjoy a good hunt:)



This fall I am obsessing over saddlebags. This is my fantasy bag:



It is by Free People, and at $998 it isn't quite within my budget (unless I have won the lottery and just don't know it!). I just love the warm, rich saddle brown color and I can just feel the buttery leather. Everything about it says fall!


These are some other great options, all around $150:


By Lucky


by Fossil

by Patricia Nash

by Fossil

I have yet to find one for $50, but this week I will be searching at TJ Maxx, on Ebay, and other places online. If you happen to see one let me know!

I would love to know what you will be carrying! Please leave a comment and tell me what you are obsessing over!

Surprise!

How was your weekend? I have to say, mine was fabulous! A couple of weekends ago, I turned an , um, certain age, and my sweet husband took me to Charleston for the weekend to celebrate. We had a nice, relaxing time, ate good food, did some shopping, etc. But, I haven't had a chance to celebrate with my peeps at home. So, we reserved a room at a nice Italian restaurant in town for Saturday night, invited all of our friends to join us and got dressed up:




oops! - must work on necklace placement!

blazer - old as the hills from my working days
shirt - Kohls
jeggings - Old Navy
wedges - Shoe Dept
bracelets - Handpicked
necklace - Premiere Designs
ring - Tarjay



there! necklace placement much better!


Then, my husband and I went to pick up another couple to ride with us. Well, they weren't ready yet so we had to go inside to wait. We headed for the kitchen (because isn't that just where you go when you are waiting for people!?), rounded the corner, and there were all of my peeps yelling, "Surprise!" What? Why are you here? Aren't we going to a restaurant? Yep, they got me! And I never get gotten! I usually catch comments here and there to give it away, but not this time. Thank you to all of my wonderful friends! Ya'll mean the world to me!

If I had known what was happening my surprised look would have looked so much prettier!



Check out these lovely ladies....

Thank you honey! You did good!

Garden Stools

Do you ever see something that you want for your home and can't get it out of you head until you get it? Even if that something cost more money than it should and you know that your husband would really be angry if you brought home a $200 (insert your own coveted item here) that had no value other than to look pretty!? That's how I was this summer about garden stools like these:






and these:

I just love the way they look in rooms like these:
















So, being the thrifty person that I am, I just knew I could find the look for less! The hunt began......online, in thrift stores, department stores, antique stores, where oh where could I find a garden stool within my budget (I really did not want to pay more than $50)? Was it an impossible dream? Then one day I saw an advertisement for Big Lots and there they were - for $20!! I raced over to our local Big Lots store, ran over the the manager and asked "Do you still have the garden stools in the ad?" Have you ever been looked at like you have just grown a horn out of you head? It was one of those moments. I said, "You don't know what a garden stool is, do you?" He just looked at me and shook his head. After volunteering to go into the back with his staff to search the place, we finally came to the conclusion that this Big Lots did not have them. Nor did any of the stores in the midlands of South Carolina, or anywhere in the state for that matter. Disappointed, but not defeated, I quietly resolved to stop the frantic search, but just keep my eyes open. And boy did it pay off!! A few weeks ago I was strolling through Tuesday Morning (treasures are just waiting to be found in this place, people!) and what to my wondering eyes did appear........this garden stool!!!!

Now, was it exactly what I was looking for? No! I really had a solid color in mind. But, at $40, that was nothing that a little spray paint couldn't take care of! It was mine for the taking! I snagged it, brought it home , painted it bronze, and it now sits in my foyer like this:

Isn't she a beaut!? Mission accomplished!!

What do you wear when you exercise?

What do you wear when you exercise? Do you wear baggy t-shirts with no shape and your husband's gym shorts? Doesn't all of that excess material make you hot? Put something on that fits, ladies. Show off your shape (no matter how big or little you are)! Be proud that you are out there moving around, getting your heart rate up and doing something good for your health! Do you know what the benefit of wearing workout clothes that fit is? YOU WILL WORK OUT HARDER! Trust me on this! When you see those arms pumping iron and muscles starting to bulge slightly, you will pick up heavier weights! You will do a few more jumping jacks. You will run 5 more minutes on the treadmill. You will begin to like what you see! I have a workout "uniform" that I typically wear and it is by no means spandex from head to toe. My typical outfits consists of Nike running shorts and a fitted tank top with a jog bra underneath. Is that revealing? No! But I can see just enough of my muscles to make me try harder. Go ahead, give it a try! Let me know what happens!

Hot Falls in the South

I have been reading a lot of fashion blogs lately, and I am so envious of the clothes these ladies are able to wear this time of year. Apparently, they all live up North where they actually have cool temperatures in the fall. They get to cozy up in their jeggings and long cardis, bring out the boots and the clogs and jazz it all up with their statement jewelry. Me!? Oh no, it's still hot as hell down here in South Carolina and guess what we are wearing.....the same clothes were wore in July! Oh yes, it's still maxi dresses and sandals for us! Oh how I long for the days when we get to pull on our sweaters and warm up to a fire with hot chocolate (or a glass of wine in my case). But for now, the best we can do is tone down our summer colors a bit while we are waiting for that transition into fall. Perhaps a rust color maxi with bronze sandals, a beige, flowy sleeveless top with jeans, and of course, we will add our statement jewelry!