autumn wishlist

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It's been a while since I did a wishlist wednesday (I don't seem to have as much time for online-shopping nowadays, which I guess is a good thing for my wallet!) so I thought I'd put together a little list of things I'm coveting from Modcloth for fall! As much as I adore my normal pastel palette, I'm just as much of a sucker for autumn hues as anybody else :)

By the way, if you've never purchased from modcloth before, now is the perfect time to start... they're offering $20 off your first order of $50 or more if you follow this link. But the offer expires October 2nd so hop to it! ;D

hearts and cats

Ever since September 1st, I've been in full-on fall mode, drinking hot chocolate and pretending that it's cold outside even though it's actually just as hot as it was in July. But yesterday was our first autumn-like day! Luckily none of my neighbors were around because I was definitely skipping and twirling around outside, basking in the cool weather. I'm actually surprised how many other bloggers love fall, because growing up I was always considered pretty goofy for liking it so much. Everyone I know is a summer groupie, and the fact that I'd choose chilly nights over balmy ones made me some kind of alien lol!

Anyway, here I go again with another very literal outfit, inspired by this I <3 cats pin! Having the words spelled out isn't quite enough... you need to also be wearing a cat shirt and a heart skirt to really drive the point home, right? ;)

Shirt + Skirt - c/o sheinside | Pin + shoes - modcloth | Cardigan - forever21

a not-so-hot mess

dress/tights - h&m

shoes/coat/belt - modcloth

Ugh! Yesterday was one of those days when your hair won't do a single thing you want it to, none of your clothes seem to lay right or fit, your shoes appear to have magically shrunk a whole size and you generally spend the whole day in a fit of discomfort. Don't you hate those days?

On the bright side, at least it was chilly enough out for me to wear tights AND a fall coat when I had to run errands!! Picking up hot tomato soup at Panera (it seems like every time I mention leaving my house I'm going to Panera to get soup... and that's kind of true) is just more fun if you're wearing a coat and braving the blustery winds to get across the parking lot!

Summer is my least favorite season, and fall is my favorite.. so this transition is always SO fun for me! I'm not just leaving the muggy, sweaty bug-laden days behind me, but entering a cozy season of hot cocoa, apples, pumpkin, sweaters and tights. I love movie nights in the fall with the windows open so the cool crisp air blows in, making me snuggle even tighter under the blanket with my cat purring beside me! Nothing beats autumn in my book.. even my allergies can't keep me from loving every second of it! ;)

you'll need no castles in Spain

It's autumn in New York.. and New Jersey. I opened my front door this morning and WHAM! our tree seemed to have magically turned bright orange overnight! I still need my castles in Spain, because New Jersey isn't exactly paradise, but autumn does make the garbage/sewage scent a little bit sweeter ;-p

pumpkin pie cookies

The squeals of joy coming from my house could be heard from miles away when I announced to my family that the weather was sufficiently autumn-like for me to make my first batch of pumpkin pie cookies this season.

These cookies go hand-in-hand with heavy sweaters, hot cocoa and multiple layers of comfy blankets. One bite and your eyes see a haze of falling leaves; cool howling winds seem to blow through your hair, and you can smell the distinct aroma of a fire in the hearth. These cookies are fall itself.

As someone who loves (actually, love isn't quite a strong enough word) pumpkin, but isn't keen on the creamy consistency of pumpkin pie, these cookies are a perfect alternative. They have the same flavor as the popular seasonal treat, but with a super soft cake-like texture instead.

I've been making them every autumn for at least five or six years, though I can't remember where I originally found the recipe. It's jotted down on a piece of loose leaf, sprinkled with smears of pumpkin and flour from years of baking. It was originally a pumpkin-chocolate-chip cookie recipe, but I ditched the chips after the very first batch. The pumpkin itself is more than enough. However, in case you want to add the chocolate, I included them in the recipe.

You'll need:

1/2 c. margarine
1 c. pumpkin
1 c. sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. skim milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 375'

Microwave the butter, then combine with pumpkin, sugar, egg, milk and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Mix the two together, and then add the chocolate chips (optional).

Drop even teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet, about 1" apart. They don't spread too much during baking, so you can fit quite a lot on each sheet. Bake for 9-12 minutes, checking to make sure the bottoms don't burn. Transfer immediately to wire cooling racks. Enjoy! :)

coat weather!

Coat - F21
Sweatshirt - F21
Jeans - Old Navy
Shoes - Target
Bag - Urban Outfitters
Beret - F21

This was my first day wearing a coat this year! yay!! I love autumn more than any other season, and I'm absolutely tickled pink that the temperatures have fallen, the wind is blowing and the leaves are falling!

By the by, does anyone know of a good online tutorial for hemming jeans? Is it the same as hemming normal pants or is it different because they have stretch & that really huge lumpy seam on the side? Mine are all about 5" too long and I'd love to finally make them fit!