Five on Friday: Current Wish List

Hey everyone! Happy Friday! It was finally starting to feel like fall this week and I wore my first scarf of the season. {Insert a happy dance here!} It was back up into the high 70s today but still feels better than 90! This has been a doozy of a week and I am looking forward to some down time. Mark is back this weekend too so I can't wait to see him!

With the change of a season always brings shopping to the mind. I love an excuse to throw together some new outfits and all the cute bloggers out there have gotten me excited about fall clothes. I have racked up quite the wish list but I narrowed it down to 5 items today.

Green sweater
Slouchy tan sweater
Plaid Cape
Crossbody purse
Slip-on sneakers

I am in LOVE with these slip-on Caslon sneakers. I think the color is a great neutral and these are an easy shoe to throw on for any casual outfit. I don't know how practical they are going into the winter but I'm all about them for fall.

So to be totally honest, I just ordered the plaid cape pictured above. I am going to New York in a few weeks and I think it will be perfect to throw on. Plus who can resist this gray plaid??

My fall go-to outfit is usually a tee, a long sweater, skinny jeans, and ankle boots. It's so easy and always looks cute! This green sweater is the perfect fall color and will spruce up any neutral outfit.

I'm on the hunt for a new bag. I use my Longchamp bag every single day but want to change it up a bit. This saddlebag is a great neutral but the print is a little different at the same time. Also, I love the color!

This slouchy sweater doesn't look like much in the picture above but one of my favorite bloggers, Emily,  posted pics in it and I love how it can be oversized enough to wear off the shoulder.

Have a great weekend!

Fall Finds at Target

Hey everyone! I'm back today with some fun fall finds (like that alliteration lol?) from Target. I was there over the weekend and wanted to buy EVERYTHING. Don't worry Mark, I refrained!

One | Two | Three
Four | Five | Six
Seven | Eight

It's still pretty warm here but I'm excited to pair some long sleeved (one, four) dresses with ankle boots (soon) and then leggings and taller boots later in the year. So many cute options!

This lace-up sweatshirt is way cuter in person. I love how it will be easy to throw on for a breezy day but isn't too heavy. I am imagining it layer with a vest when it gets a little cooler as well. They had an olive green version in stores but only had large/ x-large left. Bummer!

Christmas is definitely my fave holiday to decorate for but fall is a close second. I love all the earth tones for Fall and you can't go wrong with plaid. Finding different patterned pumpkins in various sizes is one of the easiest ways to decorate for fall. Cluster them in threes and boom you're done. I have a few grouping of pumpkins in my house right now.

I change out the throw pillows on our brown couch throughout the year and the fall pillow are my fave! I have a plaid pillow, a few pumpkin pillows similar to the one pictured, and a velvet "gather" pillow. Such an easy way to change the vibe of a room.

Hope you have a wonderful day and yay for fall almost being here!!

DIY Fall Sign

Hi everyone! I'm back today with a fun little DIY project that I finished over the weekend. I knew I wanted something for my front door but wasn't feeling the wreath I made last year. It was just too small. Plus I have been dying to use my Silhouette Cameo for more projects. So I started scrolling through some Pinterest ideas and combined a bunch that I liked.

For this project you will need:
- a wood sign: I found mine at A.C. Moore
- sand paper
- a stain or paint color of your choice
- paint brush
- a stencil or vinyl cutout of the words
- fake leaves or garland
- hot glue
- twine to hang your sign (mine already had twine attached)
- felt pads (for the back of your sign)

I started by sanding the wood sign. I used a 100 grit sandpaper and then moved my way up to 220. If you have a sandpaper block it makes sanding much easier. Then I applied the stain. One word of advice... wear gloves! I splattered it on my feet and hands because I was staining it on my deck. It was sooo hard to get the stain off my skin lol.

It took quite awhile to dry and I think that's because I didn't wipe off the excess stain. I will for sure do that next time. In the meantime, I used my Silhouette cameo to make the lettering. I picked a font and welded the letters together, then printed on white vinyl. I transferred the vinyl onto the transfer tape and then applied it to the wood sign when it was dry. This process takes forever because you need to use a scraper or a wooden popsicle stick to get the vinyl to adhere. It probably took close to 30 minutes for it to actually work.

Next, I unraveled the garland pieces to make it more manageable to work with. I placed it around the wording until I was happy with how it looked. Then I just started glueing some pieces down. I'm not very good at hiding the hot glue but I did my best, and voila, it was done! I really like the way it turned out! :)

Five on Tuesday

Hi everyone! Life has been crazy over here because 1. moving is a pain and 2. living in a new state requires lots of changes lol. I am adjusting though and liking my new home and also missing my friends and family like crazy!

I have some favorites to share with you guys today. In typical Jessica fashion they are very random and all over the place. Let's jump in...

Pineapple Mineral Water

I have been on a serious sparkling water kick for almost two years now. I love carbonated drinks, so this makes me feel like I'm drinking soda without the junk. I've tried a ton of different brands but I just recently tried Trader Joe's Pineapple mineral water and WOW, it's so good! I want to try the tropical one next.

The Best Seasoning Ever

Speaking of more Trader Joe's goodies... has anyone else tried this seasoning blend? It's like eating an everything bagel without the carb overload. I use it on avocado toast and love it. Go pick this up asap! Trader Joe's is just the best!! 

FALL!!

Since moving to Virginia Beach I now realize that I had no idea what real humidity was like. I always thought San Diego was humid but boy was I wrong. It's bad here... real bad lol. I always want the summer to stay for as long as possible but I am ready to say ADIOS to this weather and welcome the boots and scarves. Yes, I'm basic lol. 

Kirkland's has had all their fall stuff out and I'm soooo obsessed. I keep drooling over everything but then I feel weird buying fall stuff in August. It's just so cute!! The tall "Hello Fall" sign is seriously my jam and I feel like I need it for next to my door. 

How to Wear Ankle Boots

With all this fall decor on display, it has gotten me so excited for fall clothing as well. One of my favorite fall items are my ankle boots. I love that they are comfy but also dress up an outfit as well. One of my favorite bloggers/ youtubers posted a video this week with some tips for how to wear ankle boots and which jeans will work best. She does a lot of fashion over 40 videos, but I still think they are great regardless of your age. Click on the video to see her tips :)

Picture Hanging Pro

Guys, I put this console together by myself. I'm pretty proud haha

So I am probably the worst at hanging pictures/ frames. I always somehow jack it all up and everything ends up a little off. Mark is the pro but unfortunately he hasn't been around for the last few weeks since we moved into the house. Since I am 1. very impatient and 2. want to get our house together, I have attempted to hang some of the smaller frames myself. Thankfully, it hasn't been a disaster because my friend Chelsea told me about this method using paper.  Here it is:

Ignore the poor picture quality and the junk in the pic lol

1. You trace all of your frames on butcher paper or in my case, wrapping paper. 

2. Then you hang them using painter's tape or washi, which is what I had. Then you can adjust them to how you want the pictures positioned. 

3. Next, you measure the width of the frames and mark the center at the top above the paper frame. 

4. If you mark the top of the frame using the washi tape, you can remove the butcher paper.

5. Measure the top of the actual frame to the hook on the back. Mark this on the wall as well and use this spot to hammer your nail. 

6. Hang your frame and you're done! I hope that made sense!!

If you made it this far in my ramblings then I am officially impressed. This is probably the most random thing I've ever posted but hey, at least I got a post up! :) Have a great day everyone!

The Perfect Fall Soup

I was feeling pretty under the weather this weekend and I was craving chicken soup. We've been trying to eat healthier at home so I decided to crack open some Paleo cookbooks to see what I could find. This roasted chicken and vegetable soup immediately caught my eye and I was so excited to try it. Well folks, it did not disappoint. SO GOOD! Mark was obsessed and even went back for thirds. Plus it was pretty easy! Bonus!

**recipe from Danielle Walker's Against All Grain: Meals Made Simple

Ingredients:
Roasted Veggies-
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 small sweet potato, peeled and cubed
- 4 cups carrots, peeled and cubed
- 4 cups butternut squash, peeled, and cubed
- 2 yellow onions, quartered
- 1/4 cup of olive oil **recipe calls for ghee or coconut oil
- pinch of sea salt and cracked pepper

Soup-
- 12 cups chicken stock
- 4 cups shredded cooked chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken)
- 2 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dired rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1 cup water
- 5 cups of baby spinach

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

2. Roast the veggies: place the garlic and vegetables on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, (or ghee or coconut oil) sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss to combine. Ross for 20 minutes or until veggies are tender.

3. Meanwhile, bring the chicken stock to a simmer in a large stockpot. Add the chicken, herbs, salt, and pepper. Keep warm while the veggies are roasting.

4. Pick out onion quarters from the pan of roasted veggies and place in a blender. Add half of the roasted veggies to the blender and the rest to the broth. Puree veggies and onions with a cup of water.

5. Add vegetable puree and baby spinach to the soup. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, until the spinach is wilted and the soup is hot.

Enjoy!

House Updates {Spare Bedroom}

I've posted a few pictures of the spare bedroom before but I wanted to show you the new couch and throw pillows. I feel like they make such a difference and the room is really coming together. Definitely still a work in progress, but BIG improvement!

Pumpkin   |  Gather   |  Plaid

I'm also obsessed with this entire collection at Target. Look how cute these pumpkins are for fall! Also, I'm seriously eyeing these throws to add to the room. Right now you can save 10% with the code: FALL. Also how cute is Bentley?? :)

Beautiful flowers from my hubby :) Also, don't mind the cords from the blinds or the black cord that goes to the lights outside lol! 

This room is a mishmash of my getting-ready area, my desk, and my craft supply home lol. It has a little of everything! 

Of course I have a few owls in here as well! 

More pictures of the backyard to come! Mark did a bunch of work back there this weekend.

5 Ways to Decorate Pumpkins

I am the world's worst pumpkin-carver. Nothing ever turns out how I want and I've cut myself too many times to count. That being said, this year I want to do something different. When I started searching for inspiration, I found so many cute ideas.  I thought I would share them with you, just in case you're carving-challenged like I am :)

Chalkboard Pumpkins

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I think these chalkboard pumpkins are my favorite. I love that they are in pastel colors and are super neutral. The glue-gun lettering is genius too! I can't wait to make these! 

Button Boo

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This is so cute! I love the idea of using buttons because I have a ton of random buttons. I don't have very many the same color though... I wonder how multi-colored buttons would look. I love the ribbon on top too. Such an easy way to jazz up a pumpkin! I also think it would be adorable to use the buttons to make the shape of a bat. You could print out a picture of a bat and use it as a stencil on the pumpkin. 

Glitter Makes Everything Better

As a teacher, glitter is my worst nightmare, but as a crafter, I LOVE it. Glitter just adds a little touch of excitement to any project! Am I right??  The gold glitter on that black pumpkin looks amazing but I don't know how easy it would be to accomplish haha. The polka dots are totally my jam too!

Metal

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These thumbtack designs are another great way to spruce up mediocre pumpkins. I love that they are easy to use and really modern with the metal touch. I think I want to do a white pumpkin and spell out thankful. How cute would that be??

Characters

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Mark and I are going to paint our pumpkins like Disney characters. I am so excited! I also found this idea to make a simple Mickey head. I LOVE the use of two small pumpkins for the ears and the fact that this doesn't require tons of skill haha. Mark is the real artist so we will see how our painted pumpkins turn out. Any tips??

Bonus 6- Candle Holder

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Okay one more because I can't stop looking at these cute decor ideas. This one is amazing and would look perfect on the stairs in front of my house... it just takes a little more effort and supplies.  The Creative-versa tool that she used to cut the top of the pumpkin looks pretty awesome as well. As I said above, carving/ cutting are not my strong points so I could really use a tool like that.  :)

I'm linking up with some of my favorites today. Check out their blogs- September Farm, The Farmer's Wife, A. Liz Adventures, Carolina Charm, and Hello Happiness.

Have a great Friday!

Five Things To Look Forward to in Fall

Fall is officially here so I can finally start talking about all the pumpkin/ fall goodness lol. I feel like I've been pretty good so far. I've only had one pumpkin cream latte and I haven't posted much about anything fall related haha. Here is my roundup of things I am looking forward to...

Scarves

Red Plaid  |  Blue Plaid  | Knit Scarf 

Who doesn't love being wrapped in a comfy scarf?? I have tons and tons of scarves and pretty much live in them all fall/ winter. Let's be real, San Diego doesn't have a winter haha. Anyways, I have a couple favorite ones that I can't wait to wear but of course I have my eye on a few new scarves as well. Can you tell I have a thing for plaid??

Oh and one more because I can't help myself. I LOVE the fringe.

Comfort Food

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I am a huge fan of hearty soups and chilis in the colder months. I love to make my family recipe of stew and also french onion soup. I posted about some yummy soup recipes a couple weeks ago but I've found even more that look amazing. Check out this list of 50 fall soup recipes from Country Living. YUM! This Sausage and Cheese Tortellini soup needs to make an appearance ASAP. I'm not sure Mark will be pumped about the carb fiesta but I'm excited about it lol. Also, I'm posting about a new fave recipe I made this week during my Five on Friday tomorrow. Come back to check it out!

Apple Galore

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This is such a great time of year for all things apple. I have found some really yummy looking apple desserts and I can't wait to give them a try. This blooming' Baked Apple Dessert from The Gunny Sack looks incredible.

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These Apple Pie Bites look like the perfect bite size treats. How adorable are they??

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Everyone needs a great Apple Cider recipe. This look pretty fantastic!!

Gilmore Girls

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Gilmore Girls is back on November 25th and I couldn't be more excited. If it wasn't over Thanksgiving break, I would have a party for it lol! Anyone else excited to watch??

Neutrals

Plaid  |  Maroon Sweater  | Gray  Sweater

I love me some good neutrals with pops of maroon and green. The fall is full of these colors and it's totally my jam. I also love wearing big comfy sweaters and basically anything plaid. This light blue plaid is calling my name! Fall is by far the most comfortable season when it comes to clothes and I am so ready!

What are you guys most looking forward to in fall??

My Fall Bucket List

Now that my hubby is home I plan on checking off some activities on my fall bucket list. The first stop is Halloween costume hunting, of course! We're going to be Mary Poppins and Bert and I can't wait! We've never spent a Halloween in the same city in the five years we've been together... crazy, right?? Not only is Mark usually gone for Halloween but he's also gone most of the fall season. This year he will be home for at least the next two- three weeks so I plan on taking full advantage of all the fall activities and goodies (regardless of the fact that it's still eighty degrees).

Pumpkin carving is at the top of my list and I hope to check it off this weekend. I am TERRIBLE at pumpkin carving but it's still fun to try :) Maybe I can also roast some pumpkin seeds and drink Pumpkin ale at the same time! Three birds, one stone pumpkin! :)  I have this recipe saved for when I  make a couple batches of pumpkin seeds. Mmm!

Caramel apples are also high on my priority list. I have been on the hunt for some alternatives to the original caramel apple recipe because I have the hardest time biting into them.  My mom is probably laughing while reading this post because my fam LOVES to make fun of me and my hardship with apples lol, thanks guys! I've found some realllllly yummy looking sliced- caramel apple recipes though.

Mark wants these asap. Picture source here. 

How cute is this??? Picture source here. 

As you can tell by my list there are a bunch of things I want to do this fall. Crafting is always a favorite of mine and I get to check this one off my list on Saturday. I'm getting together with some of my girlfriends to craft and make a yummy fall treat. I can't wait! I'm also super excited to make some hearty chili, donate some goodies to a food drive, and of course have a Harry Potter marathon! I'm not a scary movie fan so Harry Potter is as close to Halloween-ish movies that I get lol. :)

I'll keep ya updated as I check some items off list. Have a great day everyone!!

The Perfect Fall Outfit(s)

 Necklace  |  Cargo Vest  |  Plaid Scarf

Plaid Shirt  |  Jeans  |  Maroon Shirt

Riding Boots  |  Ankle Boots

The weather finally cooled down this weekend and I am ELATED! As soon as I woke up and it was rainy and cooler outside I knew I could finally wear some of my fall staples. A plaid shirt is always my go-to because it's comfy and looks pulled together with some riding boots. Plus it's super easy to layer with a vest or a cargo jacket. My new favorite piece is this green cargo vest. It goes well with everything including this maroon 3/4 length shirt and the striped long-sleeve I worth it with this weekend. To dress it up a tad I would add my BP Trott booties. They are super comfy and adorable! And fall wouldn't be fall without some plaid scarves. I love big fluffy scarves and this one from Forever 21 is too cute and too inexpensive to pass up! 

What is your perfect fall outfit?

Ankle Bootie Love

Starting from top left- Click name to go to link
1. Vince Camuto Franell Western  2. Strike Your Heart   3. Sam Edelman Hannah Belted Chelsea
4. Sole Society Lyriq Bootie   5. Terri Lace Up  6. Sole Society Hollie Bootie
7. Lucky Brand Yoniana Wedge  8. Forever Fringe  9. Sole Society Lyriq Bootie (in Khaki)

**Correction: the Vince Camuto Franell booties are actually $158.95 now

 I'm not really what you would call a heels kind of girl and I only wear wedges on occasion. Flip flops and sandals are my faves during the warmer months but in the fall/ winter ankle booties are my jam. I love ankle booties because they immediately make an outfit look more put together. They are pretty effortless in the sense that they don't kill my feet and I still feel stable. Plus a little bit of heel always makes my legs look longer. It's the little things right?? :)
 Here is a round up of some of my current faves. I purchased the Altar'd State Forever Fringe booties last year and I LOVE them. I think the fringe detail is so cute and makes them look a little more country and even a little boho. I have been lusting after the Sole Society Lyriq Bootie though. The navy blue and the khaki suede are both calling my name. That mossy green color is one of my favorite colors to wear and it will go with a ton of things this fall/ winter. The navy blue is just so different from everything I own so I'm drawn to them as well.

 Decisions, decisions... What are your favorite ankle boots??

Fall Crafts and Treats

I have been a tad bit fall obsessed lately which is kind of crazy because I truly do love summer. It's just been super humid and hot with no signs that it's getting cooler any time soon. Yuck! I guess I'm just ready for a little change. I'm sure that in a few months I'll be crying about wanting it to be warm again! On a recent trip to Joann's Fabric I saw this adorable area of pumpkins. I love having clusters of pumpkins around the house during fall. It just makes everything feel so cozy and it's such an easy way to decorate. I haven't purchased any yet because I might recreate some of these one my own. I snapped a few pictures for inspiration though.

I LOVE this one!

These are all my jam!

**On yet another trip to Joann's I saw that they have a buy 2 get 1 free sale going on. I think I'll be making some purchases this weekend!! :)

More Fall Inspired Goodies

I stumbled across this blog called One Cheap Utah Chick in my quest for all things fall. She shared a simple (semi-homemade) pumpkin spice creamer. I love pumpkin spice (as I embarrassingly shared the other day hehe). It can get expensive to go to Starbucks everyday, so I'm trying to find alternatives that aren't too unhealthy.  I just started using a creamer again and I didn't want to go back to the fake dairy that I was using beforehand. The Natural Bliss creamer is great because it's made with real sugar and cream. I wouldn't call it healthy but it's better than most alternatives.

The recipe is super simple...you only need three ingredients:
- Natural Bliss Cinnamon Creamer
- 1/4 c. 100% Pure Pumpkin Puree
- 1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Blend all the ingredients and transfer back to the bottle. I recommend using some of the Cinnamon creamer pryer to mixing it all together because it won't fit back in the bottle otherwise. You can also store it in a large mason jar (which would be totally adorable).

Update: I've been using this all week and LOVE it! It's not a super overwhelming taste but still has that hint of pumpkin/ cinnamon goodness. YUM!

I love printables because they are like instant decor! Someone did all the hard work and created them for you. Perfect! The Dating Divas just published a list of 65 fall printables and they are seriously adorable. I printed out a couple this week but I'm waiting to put them up since Mark will think I'm crazy. :)

Fall Lovin'

1. Chevron Necklace 2. Vince Camuto booties 3. Plaid Scarf 4. Bucket Bag 5. Faux Leather Jacket 6. Textured Cardigan

I love fall! I know I sound like the typical girl who squeals with delight at the thought of boots, scarves, pumpkin spice lattes, and comfy sweaters...but I can't help it! Living in San Diego doesn't give us the chance for a true fall but I can pretend, right?? Some of my favorite blogs have been posting outfit inspirations and I have been swooning over these Vince Camuto booties. They are a little expensive for my taste but seriously adorable! I follow EmilyAnnGemma (from The Sweetest Thing Blog) on Instagram and she just posted two really cute outfits with these booties. Maybe they will go on sale haha?? A girl can dream right?

I snagged these littles beauties during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale and I'm super excited to wear them. I am definitely not a heel girl so booties make me feel like I'm dressing up without risking falling on my face. :) I wore the heck out of my maroon booties from Old Navy last year so I am so excited to have a more neutral color to wear this fall. Plus the zipper detail in the back is so cute and makes them easy to wear.

The chevron necklace would be a great layering piece for a basic tee and a long cardigan. Plus it's only $16! Perfect!

I saw the Bucket Bag at Old Navy last weekend and wanted to get it but for some reason I set it back down. They have a sale online right now for 25% off any amount, 30% off $75, and $35 off of $100. Maybe I will have to pick this bag up soon! It's a great neutral bag that is able to hold a ton of my junk! I tend to fill my purses with all kinds of things but lately I've been using a really small cross-body so I've had to be a minimalist. I'm ready for a bigger bag for sure!



Of course, I can't leave out the excitement I have that the Pumpkin Spice Latte is coming back! I tried a few different recipes at home this past year but they weren't as good. Can't wait to treat myself!

What are your favorite fall treats?? Any clothing items you can't wait to purchase?