Happy Tuesday, friends!  Yesterday was just about the Monday-est Monday in a while trying to get back into the swing of things after the most fun wine-tasting weekend.  Well Monday’s done, Tuesday is here, and today I’m sharing my favorite wardrobe staple for fall.  Can anyone else believe it’s leather jacket season again?  Because I am READY for it.

The floral leather jacket above is seriously one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe.  It’s a couple years old, and I SO wish that I had snagged it in a second color because sadly it seems that Parker NY no longer makes leather jackets.  Why, Parker, WHY?  I’ve worn her quite a few times over the last couple of years and have zero plans of stopping.  (I did post recently about my new hunt for a leather jacket with gold hardware, and well, that hunt is still on.  This one from Anine Bing is seriously dreamy but OH SO pricey, and so the search continues.)

While I’m still searching, good news for the gals who are digging a little floral leather action.  I recently came across a couple of really cool options including this real leather one that’s over 50% off, this pretty gal that’s under $100, and a faux leather version that’s under $50.  I love that the floral pattern adds a little something extra to an all black or neutral outfit, but I also love mixing it with other prints like a striped tee or this Allsaints dress.  Add in the sock booties I just can’t quit, and you’ve got yourself a lewk.

Leather jackets for life, y’all.

xoxo

Photos thanks to Katie Stuart

Ahhh, October has finally arrived, and she kicked off with a bang with a couple of gloomy, not-so-hot days and (gasp!) even a few drops of rain.  If you’ve been following the blog for a while, then you’ve probably figured out that Southern California “fall” is basically my excuse to live my life in leather shorts.  When it’s still too hot for jeans and even the thought of my favorite leggings makes me sweat, I’m reaching for my favorite non-summer shorts.

This pair has been my go-to for a couple of years (see them dressed up for the holidays here and here), and I just came across a super similar pair that just so happens to be on super sale.  Snag ’em before the sale ends if your fall fashion plan doesn’t include breaking a sweat.  (Unless of course you live somewhere with actual fall weather, in which case, lucky you.)

This colorblocked sweater sadly seems to have sold out, so I’m linking a few similar styles below.  And now I’m off to stare out a window just in case a few more raindrops should decide to show.  I know, so emo.  Here’s hoping everyone is having a great first week of October!

xoxo

Photos thanks to Katie Stuart

Ever looked into your closet and thought, you know, I could really use a little more leopard in here?  Well maybe not, but apparently that’s what I subconsciously told myself recently because today when I walked into my non-clean closet office, I tripped over not one but two pairs of leopard shoes.  (Jokingly, Weeze must have moved them in my way.)  You can check out the casual pair here, and the even more casual pair here – those are pretty much my two speeds lately.

Then I looked over at my clothing rack and saw this cozy, fuzzy, softer than anything leopard cardigan.  I’ve been holding off on sharing the look above because this leopard cardi is unfortunately sold out once again.  Seriously, it gets restocked and then disappears quickly – too many influencers showing it love, but it’s for good reason.  I’ll be keeping an eye on when this one gets restocked again, so make sure you’re following along on Instagram for any updates.

And in the meantime, I thought I’d share a few more of my favorite leopard finds for fall.  Scroll along below to find your new favorite animal prints for fall.  There are dresses, pretty tops, the cutest scarf, and the booties that are next on my list – and lots of ’em are less than $100.  Here’s hoping you gals find something you love to spice up your fall wardrobe,

xoxo

Photos thanks to Michelle Preau

Whoo-Wheeeee. Currently writing this blog post from a million miles in the sky as I’m heading home from two days in New York City. Two days. It was a super short trip, but wouldn’t you know it, the Big Fat Apple left me feeling all kinds of inspired? It’s been two years since I last attended fashion week, and by default, two years since I last visited New York. While I don’t really miss the hustle and bustle of that particular week in the city, I do miss the inspiration from it.

I bought this skirt thinking that it was perfect for a dinner night in New Orleans, and it definitely was. (Bee-Tee-Dubs – these photos were taken in New Orleans, not New York. I took zero photos in New York and I’m 100% Coolio with that. I shopped instead. Why are NYC Zara stores so much better than the ones in Southern California?) But I digress. So I bought the skirt, loved it, wore it, and thought – I can’t wait for the next time I can wear it.

Then I got to New York City and changed my thought to, What am I waiting for? The women in New York I swear just kill it. They’re commuting by buses, trains, and good old fashioned footwork, and some of these gals could be running right off a runway. I saw a girl yesterday hopping on a bus in a pleated metallic maxi skirt, a graphic tee, sneakers and a leather tote with all of the things. It was raining and humid and sticky and just freaking gross, but she had taken that pretty maxi skirt and made it rainy day, bus-hopping, city appropriate.  So chic.

Which brings me back to this new favorite metallic skirt. I love it dressed up (blouse + heels), dressed down (graphic tee + sneakers), or somewhere in between like the look above. And now I can’t wait to get home and pull out more favorites from my closet. What are some things in your wardrobe you’ve been “saving” for a special occasion that you could just pull out now? Finally splurged on that lust-worthy handbag? Don’t let it sit on a shelf, girl!

(Oh, and apparently I’ll be wearing these sock booties all fall long, so hopefully you don’t mind?)

Here’s hoping everyone has a great weekend ahead, guys!

xoxo

Photos thanks to Michelle Preau

September, y’all.  Can you even believe it?  Labor Day weekend has come and gone, and I’m over here like, didn’t summer just start?  I’m hopping on a flight back to California today from Louisiana (hoping to beat Tropical Storm Gordon, fingers crossed), and despite the warm temps in both places, I’ve currently got all the fall feels.  I’m excited to pull out all of the fall fashion, whip up a chili, shop for a pumpkin, and kick off week two of football season.  (Any other gals excited for football season?  Because I’m stoked.)  And in addition to the usual, I’ve decided to put together a little list of September goals.  Because what good is a new season if you can’t do a few new things?  So here goes.

Decorating our house for fall – This is the goal I’m probably most excited about, and it’s all my mom’s fault.  I’m fresh off a trip home to Louisiana for a few days, and my mom already had their house totally ready for fall.  Door wreaths, little touches here and there, and even fall dishes on the table – she’s kicked summer to the curb and is ready for the leaves to change.  In our home, there’s nothing I love more than decorating for Christmas, so I figured, why not add in a little seasonal spruce in the meantime?  Once I get some pumpkins, colorful leaves, and turkeys in the mix, you know I’ll be sharing with you guys here and over on the ‘gram.  (You can follow all of my HB home posts here.)

Find a new book…And read it – As much as I hate to admit it, it’s been *cough* years since I’ve read a book cover to cover.  I’ve started a couple that I never finished, but reading from page one and finishing the whole shebang?  Years.  My main problem is a) finding the right book and b) falling asleep after reading a couple of pages.  I’ve decided that maybe bedtime isn’t my prime reading time, so I plan to carve out a little time during the day, maybe a couple days a week.  Also, I’m currently taking book suggestions, so please, please let me know your favorites!  (As far as categories, I’d love a little suspense, something funny or a good love story, just no self-help, por favor.)

Kick up my workout routine – Before Eric and I got married about two and a half years ago, I was in a serious pilates routine.  I went to a reformer class about five times a week for over a year.  (I had an unlimited monthly package, so it helps that my frugal side wanted to get the most out of the package.)  After our wedding, I got a little burned out on pilates and felt like my body just kind of started to plateau.  I tried out Orangetheory classes and really liked them, but juggling the classes with my schedule at the time and Weeze’s tough puppy phase proved to be a lot, so I just didn’t keep going.  These days, I get my workouts in by taking Weeze on a long walk (usually 2 to 5 miles, depending on the day), but I’d like to start adding in occasional classes and workouts to switch things up.  I’ve heard amazing things about SeaFit Pilates in Huntington Beach and think I’ve got to give it a shot this month.

A return to at-home facials – There was a time not too long ago when this was an every-Sunday type of thing.  I’d remove my makeup, wash my face with two different cleansers (also love this one), and take a long bath with a masque on my face.  Post-rinse and post-bath, I’d follow up with my PMD (Personal Microderm – such a face-changer), these toning pads, a serum, and my favorite undereye cream.  (See a full review of my favorite eye creams here.) Right before bed, I’d usually add on one more moisturizer or facial oil.  I know, it’s a LOT of steps, but it was my relaxing, end-of-weekend thing that happened to really change my skin, and it’s something I’ve been missing for a while.  Blame the hiatus on laziness or the fact that it’s been WAY too hot for baths, but this month, I’m planning to get this skin back in its best shape, one at-home facial at a time.

Getting back to basics with Instagram – Once upon a time, many algorithms ago, Instagram was just plain fun.  Take some grainy photo with your iPhone 3, slap a filter on it, create some emo caption with a hashtag that meant nothing, and call it a day.  Then came 400 different photo editing apps, a non-chronological feed, blogger pods (groups of girls who DM each other when they post a photo so that everyone can go “like” and “comment” on each other’s photos – I’m not kidding), bots and fake followers, paying for comments, and brands and snooty PR reps who like to dump on the 7 years you’ve been actually running a website because your Instagram engagement isn’t up to their made-up standards.  Instagram can be an amazing tool for growing a business so I’ve tried to play the stupid games, and really, I just don’t care anymore.  I want to get back to posting photos and images that make me happy, so I kicked off the month the best way I know how – a photo from a friend’s wedding with some of my high school besties.  Suck it, algorithm.

What are some things you guys are looking forward to this month?

xoxo

Photos thanks to Katie Stuart