A trip to visit a friend...

by Crystal

Remember when I said I was going to visit Katie? It already feels like so long ago. But it was so much fun and just what I needed! We spent our time doing crafts, drinking wine, eating delicious food, and watching episodes of Parks and Recreation. Perfect weekend, right? Right. Now that we've got that settled...

Can we talk about this oxblood craze for a second, please? The name just seems so...gruesome? I'd much prefer to be wearing a color called burgundy, plum, sangria, wine, or even maroon, than a color named after the blood of an ox. Has anyone else thought about this? Just me?

Added bonus for the weekend - Mom stopped by for a visit!

Outfit details:
Cardigan: Gap
Cords: Gap
Boots: Target

(almost) Friday favorites!

by Crystal

Last night we watched one of my all-time favorite holiday movies:

E was afraid it might be a little early to start watching holiday movies. But for me, it's never too early! We still have a few more we need to get through before December 25th. And then obviously we'll need to watch A Christmas Story two or three times that day.

That got me thinking about a few more of my favorites, so here goes:

Favorite colder weather song:

(I mean, come on. How can you not love John Legend??)

Favorite new iPhone app: PicFX.
 This has some of the best editing capabilities I've seen for the iPhone! If you can spare a few bucks, I highly recommend it!

Favorite new blog I'm following: The long and short of it
Maybe it's because she lives fairly close to me, and I think we should be friends, but I'm really loving this blog! 

I'm heading to Madison, WI tomorrow to visit our lovely Katie! We are looking forward to some fun times walking dogs, drinking wine, eating cheese, and doing some much need thrifting. I'm so excited! (And I just can't hide it.)

Happy early weekend y'all!

Tights weather.

by Crystal

Temperatures are really starting to drop over here. I look at it as a reason to incorporate tights into more outfits!

We visited a local mill and winery last weekend while dad was still in town. I don't know what it is about going to wineries that I feel like I need to wear a dress, but I've definitely made up that rule in my head. And I'm one to follow the rules.

Outfit details:
Jacket: Target
Scarf: Target (old)
Dress: Forever 21 (old)
Boots: Sole Society

Election day!

by Crystal

Watching the news about how long some citizens were waiting in line to vote makes me grateful I moved to a small town. Within 20 minutes (including the four block drive to the voting site), I had done my civic duty and cast my ballot. I hope everyone was able to make it to the polls! If not, you still have about 50 minutes! They said as long as you're standing in line by 7 p.m., you'll be allowed to vote - even if you don't actually get to do it until a few hours later. If you're one of these people, I suggest bringing some hot cocoa/tea/coffee/cider to help keep you warm.

We'll be up way too late tonight to find out who will be our POTUS for the next four years. I've done what I can...now, we wait.

We took these photos right after I walked in the door from running errands. I wasn't going to photograph this outfit, but I got complimented on both my jacket AND my scarf. So obviously they needed to be shared on the internet. And yes, I'm wearing blue for a reason today!

Scarf: Pieces Boutique - adorable local shop!
Jacket: Gap (2011) - similar
Sweater: Gap
Jeans: Gap
Boots: Target

A day off.

by Crystal

My dad came to visit this weekend! He's only our second guest we've had, and first family member to experience this new place we call home. I took off on Friday, and we had the chance to visit a local dairy that delivers milk, ice cream, butter (all the essentials) to grocery stores and shops in this area. It was wonderful!

It was a beautiful day, my dad was in town, and I'm stuffed full of peanut butter chocolate chip ice cream - so I was especially happy! Special thanks to him for snapping these photos!

...and a few more from the day.

Outfit details:
Sweater: Target (2011)
Cords: Gap
Boots: Sole Society

The nature walk that turned into a hike.

by Crystal

How was everyone's Halloween?? Ours was pretty uneventful. We don't really get any trick or treaters in our apt. building, so instead, we cuddled up and watched a Halloween movie. Little Shop of Horrors counts, right? Neither of us are much for scary movies. E did dress up for work, though. He did a mash up of a wizard and a football player. He was a FANTASY FOOTBALL player. Get it? He's a creative one, that guy.

Anyway, I wanted to share a little something my friends and I discuss quite a bit. The difference between nature walks/nature trails, and hikes. Basically, here it is:

• Nature Walks/Nature Trails: Light amount of effort, mostly flat terrain - for those who want to take a trail walk outdoors and be one with nature. Wear what you want for this one
• Hike: Medium to lots of effort, moderate to steep inclines, with a destination to get to a certain point (mostly the top of a mountain/hill). Wear loose fitting/comfy clothing and sturdy shoes

While visiting the family-in-law this weekend, we decided to grab some fresh air and head outside to nearby state park called Stone Mountain. I thought we were just going to walk on a trail or two, enjoy the brisk weather and some conversation, but instead we ended up walking up a mountain literally made of stone.

Now, I'm normally a person who loves a good hike, but this time I was completely unprepared (attire-wise, of course). We went about halfway up, starting getting a little sweaty, and turned around to walk back. That's just how we roll.

My outfit may have stopped me from hiking, but it obviously didn't keep me from dancing.

Top: H&M
Boyfriend jeans: Gap
Shoes: Sperry Top-Siders
Sunnies: Target

Road Trip

by Crystal

This past weekend, E and I took a little road trip to meet his family in Atlanta (they drove up from FL). It was our first time meeting our new nephew! He's about six weeks old and completely adorable. There were definitely some moments that made me want one of my own, but mostly, I was just happy to give him back to his mama when he started crying. :)

Anyway, it was about a five hour drive - which for me, means dress comfortably. Sitting for extended periods of time coupled with too tight of jeans, or a shirt that keeps riding up makes for a very looooong car ride. My solution? A t-shirt, cardigan, boots, and jeggings. Yes, I said it. I hate that word, but love these pants.

Outfit details:
Cardigan: Gap
T-shirt: Old Navy
Scarf: Target
Jeggings: Rich & Skinny via Rue La La
Boots: Target

Where's Fall?

by Crystal

This morning's conversation went something like this:
Me: I just want it to get cooler so I can start wearing all my sweaters and boots!
E: Are you complaining that it's not cold? I thought you hated winter.
Me: I don't want winter, I want fall. The way it's been, it's going to transition from summer to winter, and I'm going to miss my favorite season!

Unacceptable.

I hear elsewhere in the US, the temperatures are starting to get cooler. But for us down in SoVA (my loving nickname for Southern Virginia), it's pretty consistently in the 70's and even 80's. I'm here to say, I don't care. It's October, and I'm going to wear boots, gosh darnit.

I shopped my closet for an appropriate warm autumn outfit, and here's what I came up with:

You get an iPhone photo today. My photographer has been busy with his real job lately, which hasn't allowed much time to carve out for outfit photos. The good news: the iPhone photos will be getting better soon - after passing up the 4 and 4s upgrades (yes, I still have the 3GS...), I'm getting the iPhone 5! Given that my current phone is hardly functioning anymore, I.Can't.Wait.

Outfit details:
Sweater: H&M
Skirt: Francesca's
Boots: Target ($35!)

Hey Ma - look what I made!

by Crystal

Does anyone else take advantage of Groupon as much as I do? The emails I get every day give me great ideas for date nights and fun activities on the cheap(er than they would usually be). Last night, E and I had a little date night to break up the week with a BYOW (bring your own wine) painting class. Nothing like getting my left-brained engineer husband a little exercise for his right brain!

I completely recommend this kind of date. Our instructor provided us a bit of structure, so we weren't completely starting with a blank canvas, but we were encouraged to still make the painting our own - which still allowed us to embrace our creativity!

At the beginning:

At the end!

And is it wrong to think about what I should wear to something like this? I'm going to go ahead and say no, it's not. I wanted to be comfortable, and not wear anything too fancy, in case any paint found its way onto my clothing. Luckily, it did not.

I shared with my friend Jenni that was feeling pretty uninspired by my closet lately (it seems like that happens to me with the changing of the seasons...). She picked out this outfit from across the country - literally remembering each article of clothing I had. She's impressive, that one.

Outfit details:
Cardigan: Forever 21
Shirt: Target
Necklace: Local vendor (handmade!)
Jeans: Gap (Sexy Boyfriend Jeans)
Flats: Target

Octoberfest!

by Crystal

This past Saturday, our little town celebrated Octoberfest. This entailed local vendors setting up shop uptown and selling Fall-inspired items, German music, fried food, craft beer (which means Sam Adams around these parts).

It was the perfect weather to walk around and day drink, perusing the different kinds of jewelry and crafts. These pictures were taken when we got home, if you can't already tell from my drink bracelet and shiny skin.

PS - the red sunnies were favors from our wedding. We stole a few extra pairs to take home! Yes, we're rebels like that. Stealing from ourselves.

Outfit details:
Scarf: Taret
Shirt: Old Navy
Jeans: Gap
Boots: Local shoe store

Sunday fundays.

by Crystal

Today was a somewhat lazy day filled with football, jalapeno popper dip, and writing wedding thank you cards. I don't care that it has been over one month since the wedding. Our guests WILL be thanked! And they will be thanked a lot!

But I went shopping yesterday. What else is new? I stopped by Old Navy and got drawn into the $19 Rockstar cords. Nineteen dollars, people. I think they're normally like $30...so that's like three for the price of one, right? Well, that's what I told myself so when I walked out with three pairs anyway. I'm already loving them.

I also bought a few pairs of boots that I'm second guessing the next day. Does that ever happen to you? Where they're a great idea in the store, but when you get home you're just not sure? No? Just me? Maybe I'm too impulsive. But I look at it as an opportunity to return them and buy new ones!

Outfit details:
Scarf: Local boutique in Hermosa Beach, CA
Shirt: GAP (Gap Pure)
Corduroy pants: Old Navy
Flats: Steve Madden

A Venn Diagram I can actually understand.

by Crystal

I tend to have anywhere from 5-67 projects going on at once. While not all of them actually come to fruition (some are never even started...), these projects help me keep my creative mind active, which I believe helps keep me sane. Well, that and wine, but we've gone over that, haven't we?

I saw this pin on Pinterest and immediately knew I wanted it. The productive mood struck me on Saturday, so I decided to make it!

Supplies:

• Sharpie marker
• Floating picture frame (you know, one of those with the glass on both sides)
• Piece of paper (I used a patterned piece from JoAnn Fabrics)
• A bowl to trace circles
• Good music (I listened to Zach Brown Band's album "Uncaged." Love.

Before.

I used paper with a wood pattern on it.

The finished product hanging on the wall.

 

Finished product hanging on the wall with other photos in frames. What can I say? When the productive mood strikes, I do as much as I can. It doesn't strike very often.

The finished product hanging on the wall with other frames over our (half-made) bed!

My husband was pretty impressed. Not that I put this all together, but that I knew what a Venn Diagram was. Come on hubby, I know my calculus.

wine is life.

by Crystal

Ok friends, it's about time I come clean. I'm a little bit obsessed with wine. If I could only drink one thing for the rest of my life, that's what I would choose. It's got water in it, right?

A friend asked me to go to a wine tasting at the Eagles Club on Wednesday (don't know what the Eagles Club is? I didn't either until I moved here). Everyone brought a bottle of wine, and we all got to try what everyone brought. Turned out 21 other people thought it would be fun too. So we drank 21 bottles of wine. Oh, you don't do that on a school night? I'm not ashamed, judge me if you will.

I brought one of my favorite bottles of wine, which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Zinfandel. Much to my dismay, much of it was dumped out in the dump buckets. Next time, I'll remember that the people of southern VA tend to like their wine to taste like juice. 

Outfit:
Shirt: Gadzooks (from high school - remember that store?)
Skirt: Old Navy (2011)
Wedges: Target
Necklace: Gap Outlet