Saturday, August 30, 2014

In anticipation of fall

Our beautiful mountains during my favorite time of year

 (This blog is from a column I wrote for the newspaper this week. I'm so excited for fall)

The leaves are just starting to change their hue, the nights are starting to cool, my favorite fashion magazine has released the September issue and Starbucks has already started to offer the pumpkin spice latte. Oh yes, I’m ready for fall.
Despite the warm days this week, I know fall is making its way around the corner. I get an indescribable feeling when I start to see the signs of my favorite season. There is something about fall that just makes me smile. Though I know it means winter will soon follow, I see fall as a time to slow down and really enjoy the beauty that surrounds this area. I could spend hours taking my time and walking through the rich colors of the season. And there is nothing like being surrounded by shades of orange, red and yellow while driving through the mountains.The beauty that comes with the fall season is part of the reason why I love it so much, the other is all the experiences that come with it.
I love the comforting fragrances of fall. Warm pumpkin pie, apple cider and cranberry are just a few of my favorite scents that I associate with the season. I’m looking forward to unpacking a few of my fall candles and making my home smell warm and inviting. Just thinking about it makes me want to light a candle and get cozy under a warm blanket with a good book. Along with the candles, I enjoy decorating my home during the fall. Once I pull the fall bin out of storage I will sprinkle my home with knick-knacks of ceramic leaves, pumpkin candy dishes and scarecrows. It’s one of my favorite ways to decorate the house, second only to Christmas time. I also love the fashions of fall. Those closest to me know how excited I get when I’m able to start wearing boots again. As I flipped through the September issue of my favorite fashion magazine this week I was inspired by the oversize blazers, suede textures and long skirts. Part of me wants to go shopping, but mostly I can’t wait until I can start layering my fall wardrobe and feeling warm and comfortable in the crisp weather. One trend I am most looking forward to is patterned knit sweaters. I tend to gravitate toward solid colors, but the unique stripes, Fair Isle patterns and textures are inspiring. I’m looking forward to pairing them with rich colored pants and, of course, boots. It is also a piece that will work for weekend wear. So, in case you haven’t guessed, I love fall. Now that August is coming to a close and Labor Day is upon us, I will start to watch the weather in anticipation of cooler temperatures and an excuse to break out my favorite seasonal pieces. In just a few more weeks I will be able to don a warm sweater and take in all the wonderful things that come with the season.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Polished Up: Sally Hansen Trouble Maker

I know it's still summer, but I couldn't help but reach for this gorgeous purple polish that is perfect for the upcoming fall season. I love the Complete Salon Manicure polishes by Sally Hansen. This shade is called Trouble Maker. One coat was almost completely opaque, but just streaky enough that I applied two coats. I love the wide brush that comes with all the polishes in the line. It makes polish easy to apply.
I've been wearing this shade for over a week now and have very minimal wear on the tips of my nails.