Fall Color Perfection

*don't forget to enter the Storymix giveaway! you have until Friday*

I'm not one to get super excited over something like nail polish but when I saw the Essie Fall 2010 collection I was head over heals in love. They are spot on with their color choices, they just scream fall fashion to me!

In Stitches

Little Brown Dress

Limited Addiction

Merino Cool

Sew Psyched

Velvet Voyeur

I liked them so much that I immediately went to Amazon and ordered my favs.

What do you think, are you loving the collection as much as I am?

<3



Recipe: Whole Wheat Apple Muffins

Since we went apple picking I have been in search of new ways to use the apples we got. I made an apple pie first which is a staple but I wanted to make something different. A friend introduced me to Smitten Kitchen and ohmygosh does she have some amazing recipes and not only are the recipes awesome but the photos she takes of her food just make you want to reach through the screen and eat it up!

I found the perfect recipe for my tasty apples - Whole Wheat Apple Muffins. Yum. That links to the original post on Smitten Kitchen but I also have the recipe here for you, along with photos of how my muffins turned out.

Whole Wheat Apple Muffins

Ingredients

1 cup (4 ounces) whole wheat flour

1 cup (4 1/4 ounces) all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1/2 cup (1 stick, 4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) granulated sugar

1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 cup (8 ounces) buttermilk or yogurt

2 large apples, peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Grease and flour 18 muffin cups and set aside.

Mix together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon, and set aside. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and add the granulated sugar and 1/4 cup of the brown sugar. Beat until fluffy. Add the egg and mix well; stop once to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.Mix in the buttermilk gently. (If you over-mix, the buttermilk will cause the mixture to curdle.) Stir in the dry ingredients and fold in the apple chunks.

Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, sprinkling the remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar on top. Bake for 10 minutes, turn the heat down to 400°F, and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool the muffins for 5 minutes in the tin, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!

<3



Apple Orchard Photo Shoot

After seeing so many amazing editorials on various wedding blogs I was head over heels in love with engagement shoots. It came as no surprise that when I got engaged I was dying to have one of my own.

When fall rolled around and we went apple picking it occured to me that this might be the perfect setting for our very own engagement shoot! Instead of looking for a professional photographer we decided to save some money and asked a friend to to take our photos.

I could not be happier with how these came out and I am beyond excited to share my favs with all of you!

Locations: Brookdale Fruit Farm and Lull Farm in Hollis, NH

Photographer: Kinsey Michaels

Editing: All done by me using Photoscape software

My Current Obsessions

Gold Watches

Coach Boyfriend Bracelet watch

Funky Rain Boots

Steve Madden's have adorable zipper details

Anoraks

Like this one from American Eagle

Fall decor

gorgeous table scapes

Plaid

via ShopBop

What are you obsessing over?

Don't forget to check out my Blog Sale!

13 Coach Handbags now with reduced prices.

<3

Welcome To Fall

The first official day of Autumn is this Thursday and fall in New England is off to a fabulous start!

We already have colorful leaves all around us, crisp mornings, cooler temps and pumkpins everywhere.

The return of Fall also means the return of my favorite fashions:

Boots

Tights

and

Sweater Dresses!

Shopbop has some great examples of my fav trend

but personally I am coveting these:

Fall Favs by TangerineHearts featuring suede leather boots

Sonia Rykiel Striped cashmere-blend sweater dress, $1,195
Marc by Marc Jacobs Celie sweater dress, $360
Old Navy Womens Boat-Neck Sweater Dresses, $40
OPAQUE TIGHTS, 5.50 GBP
DKNY Aura wedge suede ankle boots, $285
Steve Madden Women's Duffled Boot, $127

I Can Hear Fall Calling My Name

Fall fashion has been all over the blog world lately and while I fully intend to embrace the last moments of humid sunshine here in the Northeast, a few crisp mornings have left me breathlessly awaiting the days of colorful leaves and cooler temps.

Of course like any fashion forward woman I have been browsing the fall fashion trends, picking out my favorite looks. I tend to buy new pieces for my wardrobe every season, a habit picked up from my back to school days when my Parents would happily fork over the cash for a whole new wardrobe.

I am looking forward to high boots, textured fabrics, deep colors and leather jackets.

I'm in love with the color of the Haute Hippie dress.

I can picture it paired with a dark leather jacket.

Available from ShopBop

The textured fabric on these Ann Marino pumps screams fall to me.

Via DSW

The perfect tailored leather jacket with a cool assymetrical zipper.

From Wilsons Leather

See by Chloe daytripper in a rich yellow brings an unexpected pop of color to the dark fall palette.

Available at Revolve

These leopard print flats are steal for only $12.99 at Target.

Patterned shoes will be a great look this fall

Accessories in the colors of fall foliage will add pizzaz and tie together any look.

House of Harlow necklace, Judith Ripka cocktail ring and Lauren by Ralph Lauren bracelet all from Nordstrom

Is anyone else getting ready to re-vamp their fall wardrobe?

Where are you shopping?

Happy Wednesday and happy shopping!

<3

Chili Today, Hot Tamale.

Today we are supposed to have highs in the mid 60s, this past weekend we had 2 days where it snowed. Such is the crazy weather of New England, it's making it quite difficult to dress myself appropriately for the season. Today I went with a long sweater, skinny pants and high boots. Tomorrow I could be wearing a parka and snow pants for all I know!

So, even when I try really hard not to make plans because I like to feel free from obligation, I always end up with lots of plans. So I have so many things that I am looking forward to at the moment! On Friday, my Girlfriends are coming over for a cocktail party. Absolut Vodka came out with Absolut Boston and all the drinks will be made using that.

On Saturday we are going to Nightmare New England. Basically it's a bunch of haunted houses and stuff like that. Personally, Halloween is my least favorite holiday but I really like scary stuff. I saw rain on the forecast so that could possibly put a damper on the event but we'll see. In keeping with the Halloween theme next Wednesday the girls are coming over to carve pumpkins and on Halloween we are having a party at our place. My Boyfriend and I are dressing up in 1920s era costumes. The following weekend we are heading to a local hockey game and then out on the town with a bunch of friends.

So far this fall has been fantastic and filled with fun outings.  A couple of weekends ago we went up to Loon Mountain to see the foliage, we also went camping in the Berkshires with my Siblings and apple picking near home. Here are some photos I took:

Loon Mountain in Lincoln, NH

Tolland State Park in Otis, MA

Apple Picking at Lull Farms in Hollis, NH

Our 1st homemade Apple Pie!

Anyone else doing some exciting fall activities? My Boyfriend and I have been trying to spend at least 1 day each weekend doing something fun without any other friends. Just the two of us! I highly recommend it as we have been having so much fun lately.

You Know I Read It In a Magazine...

So I got so caught up in my last post that I forgot to mention fall fashion. (Probably because it is totally unrelated to what I was ranting about.)

Anyway, I wanted to share my Fall Fashion Favs!

1. Cardigan Sweaters: Solid, printed, long or short. You can easily continue to wear spring and summer tees & tanks if you throw a cardigan over them. They are just so versatile! I have this one from Express and there are so many variations.
2. Boots: booties, ankle boots, knee high, over the knee. I love them. I have more than 7 pairs of boots & I recently bought these suede Jessica Simpson Angie boots and I can't stop wearing them.
3. Tights & Leggings: colored tights, printed or textured tights, fabric tights, liquid leggings, printed leggings. Take mini skirts and shorts into fall by pairing them with tights or spice up a plain dress. You can find them anywhere. Marshalls actually has a wide selection, as does Target and most department stores. I might forego pants altogether because I love tights so so much. A word to the wise though, leggings are not pants and I don't feel they should be treated as pants. Make sure your behind is covered by your top (at least the marjority of your behind)!!
4. Animal Prints: I always turned my nose up at animal prints. Then I bought this Leopard Print Shirt
5. Leather & Suede: Faux is OK. Leather and Suede are hot this year. Even leggings are being made out of leather. You can get the same effect with a spandex pair like these leggings from Express. Motorcycle jackets are really big right now too.
6. Belts: Love belts. Thick or thin, belting a shirt or sweater (even a cardigan!) can update a boring outfit.

All of these styles can be found at major retailers and places like Marshalls & Tj Maxx if you want to save money and the best part is almost all of them can be combined!! I recommend focusing on a few versatile pieces that you can wear with more than one item in your wardrobe.

Happy Shopping!!