Autumn Checklist

The Balloon Classic last weekend, followed by several days of fall-like weather, has me super anxious for autumn. After all that excitement, I'll admit, I was a little upset when the forecasted high this weekend was 90. But my walk to work this week was marked with quite a few trees already dropping yellow leaves! And when I got off my shift just after 8:00 this evening it was already cool and dark outside! I'd call that a sure sign of a fast approaching new season.

Our autumn is always full of so many great events and traditions, but I don't want to miss a thing this year! So, a while ago I compiled a list of all the autumn activities I have planned, which I've listed below.

+ Day hike on the Hull's Gulch Interpretive Trail
+ Watch the Balloon Classic from the park (and hills) — Done!
+ Take a camping and/or backpacking trip in the Sawtooths
+ Walk around Art in the Park (doing this in the morning!)
+ Eat and bake pumpkin flavored everything
+ Walk around the Hyde Park Street Fair
+ Find a good recipe for homemade apple cider
+ Decorate for Halloween
+ Visit a corn maze or pumpkin patch
+ Carve Pumpkins!
+ Make our halloween costumes (see last years here and here)
+ Go to an exhibit at the art museum
+ Go on more photo-adventures and start doing outfit posts again

Please come soon, new season.
Because I really want to watch Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown again.

What are you most excited about this Fall?
xx Emorie

Hot Air Balloons Make Me Happy

The other day I tried to explain to someway why it is that I love the Balloon Classic in Boise so much. I don't think I quite got my point across in that quick conversation, but writing my thoughts here might have better results. Friday morning I woke up early to an anxious pup whining, wanting to be let outside. I decided, since I was already up, to take him for a quick morning walk in the hills behind our apartment. I was sleepy and grumpy and lonely (Will had been gone for work for two weeks), trudging up the trail quickly. But as I made my way to the top of the ridge my spirits were instantly lifted as I took in the view of colorful hot air balloons floating above the valley (pictures from that morning here and here). I breathed in deeply, breathed out slowly, sat down on top of the hill and watched dozens more balloons launch from the park across town as the sunrise warmed me up.

Sunday, Will was home and Pip and I were happy. We all woke extra early to put on warm clothes and make a pot of coffee before heading down to Ann Morrison park to watch the final launch of the weekend. On this final day, all of the pilots will launch in a three minute window, weather permitting, and the result is particularly magical. On a cool morning, that feels particularly like autumn, with mist hovering above the damp dewy ground, dozens (I think there were 50 balloons this year) of hot air balloons inflate into life before your eyes. The park transforms into a whimsical garden of color. Perhaps it's the happy nostalgia surrounding all my memories of the River Festival (an event that occurred yearly when I was a kid), but watching the Sprit of Boise Balloon Classic every year fills me with a childlike sense of wonder, if for only a few days.

This year, after watching them launch and hover above the city in the park, we decided to then get back in the car with our packed thermos of coffee and drove high up into the foothills to watch the remaining balloons float across the valley. What a magical morning. And what a perfect transition into a new season.

xx Emorie

See last year's balloon classic here.

November Wishlist: Cozy & Cute

outfit one: beanie / mittens / parka / scarf / hooded cardigan

outfit two: sweater / turban beanie / gloves / coat / scarf

outfit three: scarf / sweater / turban beanie / fox mittens / coat

With the cold now here and even colder days sure to come, I thought it'd be fun to put together a small collection of different outerwear pairings. Because keeping yourself from freezing can still be cute. There are several reasons why this is my favorite time of year and the fact that it involves the cutest season for clothes (in my opinion) is definitely one of them. The holidays, snow, and no allergies or sunburns also make that list for obvious reasons.

I am in the market for some chunkier, super warm sweaters and other cold weather gear. While browsing sweaters, I remembered the sad state of the one pair of mittens I own. So I began browsing for a pair of gloves too. Needless to say, I ended up browsing a lot and came up with quite a wishlist. You can also read that as I have a birthday coming up in a month (and Christmas shortly after, of course) and I'm trying to come up with things to ask for. I love putting together outfits, instead the common wishlist of random things, so you get this. You're welcome. Also, I'm pretty sure everyone needs a pair of fox mittens in their lives, right? 

xx Emorie

Playing Photographer

My brother asked me to take a few pictures of him and his lady love just for fun, so the three of us went out on a little photo adventure yesterday. I had such a great time playing photographer for an evening. It may have been extra exciting for me because I got to use her lovely Canon Rebel for the shoot. These two are just so adorable/photogenic/fun, I had to share a few of my favorite shots with you. (I couldn't decide between b&w or color on that last one. It's my favorite.) Aren't they gorgeous? Talk about the perfect time of year for a photoshoot. I'm off to dream about having my own DSLR and getting to do this for a living.

October Wishlist: Cold Weather Casual

first outfit: jacket / sweater / pants / boots
second outfit: sweater / dress / belt / loafers / tights

Everyone is well aware of how much I love cold weather. I am so happy that it is here to stay for a good while. I'm already excited for halloween and the holidays to follow as well. Fall and Winter (winter especially), of all the seasons, seem to have a bit of magic to them. I think it's the crisp air and how the world becomes entirely different.

I have very few summer clothes, so it is very exciting when the weather cools down each year as I finally have a full wardrobe to play around with again. I love to layer things in new ways; I've already made a whole bunch of new outfit combinations this year. I've had this cute, simple polka dot dress for years (since the 9th grade!) but have only recently paired it with a pullover sweater. The result is cute, with the little collar popping out, but still comfy and cozy. I love sweaters over dresses, it creates a rather lovely laid back feminine feel that I adore.

This is my favorite time of year for shopping, naturally, as it is my favorite season for clothes and weather. So, I've been avoiding stores for I know I'd be too tempted to buy more than I need. Will and I just purchased a new computer (IT IS SO NICE ERMAHGERD) and I am the lucky owner of a new iPhone. So, you know, I won't be spending money for awhile. But I'm still browsing online on occasion and dreaming of new sweaters (I really don't need anymore, though).

Have you added anything fun to your wardrobe yet now that it's full on Fall?

Serious Scarf Searching

one / two / three / four / five

Hey, I have good news everyone! Fall seems to really be here to stay and this girl who loves the cold is happy, happy, happy about it. It's been rainy and cloudy and butt cold for days which means I've been wearing turtle neck sweaters over dresses and wool socks over tights and as many layers as possible. Can I get a hallelujah?! Since pulling out my favorite cold weather clothes from the corners of my closet I have come to the realization that I only ever wear one scarf. I have a few others, granted, but they're more of the chunky, thick, will keep you warm but aren't too pretty variety. I got this scarf a few years ago at Forever 21 and I love it so much (hence why I wear it so much) so I'm not complaining. I think the color combination is perfect for my wardrobe; it goes with nearly everything I own. And, depending on how I wrap it and what other colors I wear it with, can look a variety of ways.

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But I am still looking for other options to add to my wardrobe. This time of year I rarely leave home with out a scarf and it would be nice to have something else to throw on for variety every once and awhile. And I 'll definitely be needing scarfs now that I have short hair again. There is nothing fun about having a cold neck. But I am picky, so I've been searching the internets far and wide and collecting my favorites and maybe I'll actually make a decision and order one are two. Right now I'm thinking I may go for that lovely polka dot one in the middle. What do you think?

And are you as excited about colder weather as I am?

September Wishlist: Fall Anticipation

first outfit: hat / dress / sweater / boots
second outfit: sweater / scarf / shirt / leggings

With all the money spent on new backpacking gear this weekend, it is unlikely that I will be adding anything new to my wardrobe for a while. But it is still a bit fun to window shop, especially with all the Fall clothes now out. And I've been doing some hypothetical outfit planning. Because it has been feeling so extremely almost Fall-like here. This weekend stayed a lot cooler than it has been and we're even getting rain. It was such a lovely rainy morning today. It gave me a great opportunity to test out my new fancy rain jacket, though Scout wasn't too happy about a rainy walk first thing after waking up. Pippin didn't care one bit that he was soaked to the bone. Those two, complete opposites. But, in my defense it wasn't raining when we left and I didn't think it'd come down that hard. You'll be happy to know that my rain jacket works remarkably and I felt guilty for being the only dry one of the bunch.

I am so excited for Fall fashion again. Summer clothes seem so boring to me, as my aim is to always wear as little as comfortably possible in preparation for the balls of sweat I will produce upon simply stepping outside into the heat. I get lazy and bored with summer fashion. Bring me layers. All the glorious layers that I get to don in the crisp cool Fall air. I can't wait for sweaters over dresses, tights with boots, tall socks, hats and scarves.

Are you ready for Fall? I am downing one chia latte after another in anticipation.