pumpkin spice & everything nice

ever since irene blew through this past weekend, our weather has taken on a fall feeling.  and i'm not complaining.  i absolutely love all things fall- the crisp coolness in the air; the warm scented candles; keeping the windows open; the cozy, comfy clothing and of course the boots & scarves!...  but perhaps the tastiest part of fall is anything pumpkin spice... last fall i tried putting a pumpkin spice twist on almost everything: pumpkin breads, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin fudge, pumpkin pancakes with pumpkin syrup!...looking forward to getting a skinny pumpkin spice latte at starbucks ;)

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xo,

emma stone

emma stone has been everywhere lately.  she is a classic, timeless beauty.  i love how she is able to create a new look for herself, and pull it off every single time!  here are a few gorgeous images.

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in other news...

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what an adorable & talented baby this will be!

xo,

sometimes a rainy day is just what the doctor ordered.

xo,

the "one"

my mom & i have tentatively penciled in my first dress appointment.

i get butterflies just thinking about it!

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i plan on trying on EVERYTHING...even though i do have a vision in mind;)

xo,

thoughts of fall

even though i jusssst got my highlights done & a little trimmy, trim, trim...and summer is not quite over...fall IS right around the corner, and for the first time (like, ever!) i am actually looking forward to fall..  it is perhaps my favorite season.  and i'm ready for the cooler evenings. i'm ready for the cozy sweaters & the boots, and the leggings & scarves...  which also leaves me feeling like i need to go a little more "fall" with my hair.  i've always been BLONDE blonde..but i'm considering leaving it behind and going for a more natural looking blonde- what i like to call a honey, caramel blonde. something along the lines of...:

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xo,

friday thoughts

super excited that it's friday!

excited to see girlfriends all this weekend!!

feeling bittersweet that summer is ending ..& fall is right around the c o r n e r . .

loving that shawn & i have picked out our wedding bands!! (even if our wedding is just over a year away, trying on rings is FUN)

hoping that the reception site we are looking at on wednesday will be THE one

127 hours has just arrived from netflix

i had rita's water ice for dinner last night...first time i had rita's all summer...i know, not normal

check out photo #27!

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and some photos!...

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because how can you look at these and not smile?!

happy weekend!!

xo,

wedding woes

this wedding planning process has been stressful to say the least. and i know that it is different for everyone, this is how i have been feeling up to this point. i think my anxiety comes from the fact that i can picture my wedding being so many different things that i cannot decide what i want.  shawn is so easy going & laid back with it all, he has given some input, but mostly says to do whatever i want. 

there is part of me that pictures the wedding being just the two of us at town hall saying "i do" with just a witness...then whisking off for our honeymoon.

there is part of me that pictures us on the beach, wind blowing, waves crashing, people standing around. and the whole night ending with the best bonfire on the beach you've ever seen.

there is part of me that pictures me walking down the aisle at the church in my white gown with my mom & my brother by my side, with all my family & friends watching.  having a reception filled with dancing and champagne & red velvet...

and the more i think about it, the more i want the final vision.  that is what i have pictured ever since i was little.

i guess i just needed to see it in black & white.

thanks, blogger :)

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xo,

the new skinny, a new read, & a birthday girl!

i must say that on monday i finally had a chance to try out bethenny's new skinny girl - the skinny girl sangria!

it is delish! 

very refreshing & a great summer drink...

how cute is bethenny in her hot pink dress?

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on the book front, i recently picked up a chris cleave read titled incendiary.  after reading little bee, i was desperate to get my hands on something else by cleave.  so far incendiary is pretty interesting.  it is written by a wife/mother whose husband & son are somehow killed by osama bin laden.  the whole book is a letter to osama from this woman.

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happy birthday to one of my favorite girls....

happy birthday giuliana! had to include that little hottie bill! love them!

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i'm looking forward to this evening- my cousin and her bf are joining shawn & i for dinner...hoping it's not too hot to sit out on the deck:) 

xo,

some tuesday tunes for your enjoyment!

things have been a bit busy over here with wedding planning, job hunting, etc, etc...

buttttt i thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite summer songs that i have been listening to. i love music. i love singing. i love music videos... so here ya go...enjoy!

where can i get carrie's dress??

what's been on repeat for you??

xo,

i'm leaving on a jet plane...

heading back to florida for labor day weekend.  couldn't be happier!

xo,

hold on for one more day

ever since this weekend at courtney & fred's wedding i have had one song on repeat in my mind. what song might that be, you ask?

wilson phillips - hold on!

ever since our years at PSU, this song has held so much meaning to our circle of girls. so you can bet your little bottoms that we were out of the dance floor, belting out this classic.  it was priceless.  take a look for yourself haha..

congratulations to the beautiful bride & handsome groom!

hope you 2 are having a fabulous time in Aruba!!!

xo,

book review - ROOM

while away last week, i finished ROOM by emma donoghue.  it was certainly a good book, but i think i was expecting more from it.  i don't want to give anything away, but if you read it, let me know what you think!


now, i'm about to start A Place of Yes by bethenny frankel.  it's no secret that i just love anything bethenny does, so i'm excited to see how this book is.

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in other news, i tried a new recipe for breakfast this morning called over night oats.  i saw the recipe on peanut butter runner.  i was really impressed with how it turned out!
1/3 cup of instant oats
1/3 cup of greek yogurt
1/3 cup of skim or almond milk
cinnamon
handful of blueberries
your favorite toppings! i added honey..

mix the above ingredients and let it sit overnight.  it thickens and the oats soften.  it was heavier than what i normally eat for breakfast, but it was really good & will keep you fuller longer!

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tonight is the rehearsal dinner for courtney & fred...ahh! i'm so excited for this adorable couple!

their wedding is on friday & i cannot wait to see what a beautiful bride courtney will be.  she has kept the details of her dress hush hush!

congratulations to the soon to be mr. & mrs. felter:)

have a fabulous weekend!!

xo,