Fall in Pittsburgh!
My husband made pizza in the Ooni this weekend. The best!!
Had to get Henry to pose in front of this giant Penguins mural! People often say they don't realize how small Henry is just seeing photos on IG; I think this gives you a good perspective. He's a little guy!
To start, a happy birthday (yesterday) to my mom! We had such a fun time celebrating her last night. We went to Capital Grille, and I was very happy about it because it is Wine and Wagyu right now, which is their promotional/special menu that has my favorite burger in the entire world. It was delicious, as always. She is very easy to celebrate!
Otherwise, it's been a pretty typical week. We have had some stunning fall weather, so I've been soaking it up with lots of walks. The leaves are putting on a show, too. There are many things to love about every month of the year, but October's list is the longest for me.
I had been putting off my car maintenance a bit. My husband does most of it for me, which I sooo appreciate, but we have been busy lately, so it kept getting pushed to the back burner. I called the shop to see if I could make an appointment, and when I did, they asked if I could get there in an hour and they could take care of my car. They usually book out for weeks, so I was pleasantly surprised and thankful I had the flexibility to race in! I am so relieved I got it all taken care of, and so quickly, too.
This weekend, I'm hosting a little birthday dinner for my mom and cousin, whose birthdays are less than a week apart. My cousin also just got engaged, which is so exciting! I love to host, so I am looking forward to it. I am so excited to meet my aunt and uncle's new pup who will be joining us! I got him a cute little gift, and I talked with Henry to be nice. Henry tolerates other dogs... he generally doesn't love them. He and Buddy are not besties. He is the boss of Buddy, and Buddy mostly puts up with it. The two dogs he genuinely *loved* sadly both passed away this year.
I'm in full-on prep mode with my gift guides, launching the week of November 2nd and rolling out all month long. Let me know if there is anything in particular you are looking for, and I'll be sure to note it!
I'm also looking forward to the holiday season. It's a lot of work for me, but I enjoy it. I am especially glad that my sister and BIL will be in town for extended periods for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. I am so appreciative that they have made such an effort to fly back and forth across the country so much since they moved earlier this year.
Sometimes it's the simplest outfits that just work. I think the internet/social media may see this as boring and uninspired, but I really think it's such a classic, timeless outfit. I think there is elegance in simplicity.
FV just launched their holiday collection, and it's so fabulous! They sent me these beautiful pieces, and they're just so stunning! I can't wait to wear the dress to a holiday party- maybe even for Christmas Eve!
Sweatshirt (soft fleece on the inside)
I didn't realize that HH sold pajamas until they recently launched a whole collection of darling sleepwear for women and children! They sent me two sets that you can see above. They're lightweight cotton pointelle and so soft and comfortable. According to the size chart, I'd be a small, but I sized up to a large in both sets. They run small. Granted, I love my pajamas to be roomy. The printed set has a stretchy cord at the waist that lets you adjust the fit, so it fits perfectly and reminds me of the fit of a size medium in brands like Roller Rabbit and Lake. The solid pair is just a stretchy band without a cord. Since you can't adjust it, the waist is too big on me, but I am thinking once I wash and dry them, they may shrink! So I think medium is probably the better size for me in the solid pink. Sharing all of this so in-depth because I find HH sizing a little all over the place. I've been everything from an XS in some of the dresses, to a medium in some of the pants, to now a large in these pajamas. I'm 5'6", typically a 4/27 in jeans and pants and a small/medium in most tops and dresses, and I don't really like anything to fit me too tightly except for things like leggings.
Cozy robe season has begun!
Wearing: I'm really all over the place this week. We turned on the heat, which feels like a real time marker for the season. I've been pulling out my warmer pajamas, robes, and sweaters. It's cold in the mornings and evenings. I got up early yesterday morning to walk Henry before his bath, and I wore a long down puffer, hat, and gloves!
You can find me on ShopMy, where I link all of my outfits, favorite finds, home decor, beauty, and more. I’m always updating it with my latest finds! You can also follow me on the LTK app and browse all of my posts here on my website.
My favorite spatulas (made right here in Pittsburgh!)
Eating: One of the few times I bake each year, and it was to make the easiest pumpkin loaf! I've been making this recipe since college. I have the recipe, here. It's not even worthy of being called a 'recipe'! I don't normally make it in a loaf, but that's what I was feeling. The loaf took 50 minutes to bake. It's really dense and gooey, which I love. If you want it fluffier, add an egg or two. You can add in nuts, caramel, other spices, butter, etc. It's a real 'choose your own adventure' situation. You can also make them into muffins or cookies. I typically prefer them as muffins. I don't like baking because it has to be so precise, but with this, you don't have to be precise at all and can kind of just do what you want. I have never put frosting on this, but I think adding an egg to make it less dense and then making a cream cheese frosting would be delish!
BonBon sent me a cute little Halloween package. I love gummy candy, and BonBon truly is some of the best out there. A very cute Halloween treat for someone special, and a great stocking stuffer, too! I personally prefer the sour mix, but you really can't go wrong. I think they're doing a Halloween sale starting tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled.
Sale: These dinner plates and these bowls are by Lenox and on major sale. I cannot get over the price. They remind me of our Wedgwood Nantucket Basket plates. If you need classic, everyday china, this is a great option.
When I posted about this deal on Instagram, someone asked me how many I recommend getting. I think it totally depends on your storage space, needs, and general preference. I typically buy at least 8 of something, usually no less unless it's very specific and I know just my husband and I will use it. For pieces I plan on using to host, I buy at least 12. Even if you don't have seating for 12, I've easily had well over 12 people over even just for takeout pizza. It doesn't need to be 12 Herend dinner plates! You can get a nice big set from somewhere like Crate and Barrel that isn't all that costly. I'd even go as far as getting 16, if you can, so you have extras if something breaks and enough for larger groups. Of course, if you live in a one-bedroom NYC apartment and don't host much, a set of 6 may work best. But the dinner plates I'm linking are such a good price. You can get 12 for about $135, which is a *very* good deal.
Watching: My husband and I watched Animals on Netflix, a thriller movie starring Kerry Washington and Ben Affleck. It was good- nothing particularly amazing, but worth the watch!
Loving: How fun are these swan shoes that my sister ordered?!
Wanting: This cotton sweater tee looks like the perfect shape to dress down or up. These Christmas tree martini glasses are too cute and festive. I have quite a bit of the Spode Christmas glassware, but nothing for a martini, so I may have to snag these! A new sweater line just launched, and this collared sweater looks so similar to a Frame sweater I've been admiring, but it is a fraction of the price (albeit still not inexpensive). Herringbone ballet flats are something I didn't even know I wanted until I saw these! I'm also drooling over this sweater, specifically in the pink shade. The neckline is classic but unique. The most incredible fringed cape. My code SYDNEY15 should work. I really love the red because it feels so timely and festive, but the 'gilded garden' is another colorway I love, which seems more appropriate for year-round wear. This zip sweater looks vintage and classic all at once. A stunning silk scarf, thankfully without the Hermes markup. A cute take on the classic canvas tote. This giant bow tree topper is so fabulous! This velvet coat is calling my name. It's special, but still timeless enough to wear for many years to come. Tuckernuck does faux fur well, and this coat is perfect. Saw this 3.5' nutcracker in person, and it is as cute as can be. I think a pair would look adorable flanking a fireplace. These brass ornaments are pricey, but wow do I love them! They would look so beautiful hung on a bottle of wine or olive oil. This lace blouse is incredible and a very special dressy closet staple. A beautiful, classic black skirt for the holiday season and beyond. Not to mention, the price is right! These flats have an interesting cut, a little trendier, more modern than a typical ballet flat! I just pulled this cardigan out of the back of my closet because the evenings have gotten very chilly, and it is the best warm sweater. The quality is top-notch. I wish I had an event on my calendar for this blackwatch dress because it is TOO fabulous! Pillbox hats and brooches are making a comeback, and I am here for it! If you have a cocktail party on your calendar, this dress is perfect and would work year-round! These ballet flats are as classic as they come and look just like a certain French designer. This isn't an inexpensive black dress, but wow, is it special! This puffer looks like something Cameron Diaz's character would have worn in The Holiday with a cream cashmere sweatset underneath.
Pittsburgh: We finally tried Tambellini's Sandwiches in Brookline, and they were SO good. They are totally worth the hype. I loved everything, but the chicken Caesar hoagie was my favorite. I am not one to care for mozzarella sticks. I find them to be so bland, but their giant mozz stick was so flavorful. The meatball hoagie was delicious. I personally would have rather had just meatballs without the bun, but this was delish. My least favorite was the Italian, which is shocking because Italian hoagies are one of my fave things to eat. But even as my least favorite, it was still delicious. I definitely recommend ordering a few and sharing them. It was so nice to try so many different things!
Amazon Rec: These eye patches were inexpensive and are great. I think they stand up to my go-to patchology, and they are almost as good as my current fave, Yepoda! I try to use these daily; they just feel so good!!
You can find more of my Amazon favorites, here on my Amazon page where I am constantly updating it with all of my finds and top picks from home, beauty, fashion, and more!
Smelling: This Fig Candle is definitely a year-round scent, but it has a very cozy feel to it, so I'm really loving it this fall season!
Traveling: Every year, in college and beyond, we would go to DC around the holidays. My parents would pick me up from JMU, and we would spend the weekend there. We still try to travel, the 6 of us, around the holidays for a weekend somewhere fun and festive. Last year, we couldn't make it work for all 6 of us, so my husband and I went down to DC; we hadn't been in years. It was so fun to just eat, drink, relax, and shop. We had the best time. It's a nice place for us to visit because I've been dozens of times; I don't feel pressured to do a lot and can just relax. We couldn't make a trip with all 6 of us work again this year, sadly, but my husband and I are still going to keep the tradition alive, just us, and go back to DC for another fun weekend. So if you have any restaurant recs, please let me know. We never miss Le Dip, as the warm shrimp salad is something I dream about all year!
We are actually planning a trip to Scotland for all 6 of us. That's our next big trip (well over a year away still), but if you have any recs, please let me know. My sister and BIL have already been, since they have a friend from Scotland, so they have a good grip on the basics, but I'll definitely be asking you all for more specific recs next year!
Quoting: 'Imagine if we measured success by how loved people feel around us.' - Jonathan Dent // See more of my favorites, here.
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