5 Ways to Embrace Fall

Ahh...it's that time of year again, Fall is upon us. Cozy Sweaters. Leaves. Boots. Warm Fires. Halloween and Thanksgiving. Boy...now I'm really craving a cup of warm apple cider. 

Anyways,since this week the start of Fall, I thought that today's post should be dedicated to ways to celebrate and get you in the Fall mood. :) 

1. Add new, warmer pieces to your wardrobe. I LOVE buying new fall clothes every year. I always love buying new sweaters, blanket scarves, and knit socks; they always seem to come in handy. 

2. Paint your nails. Put away the bright corals and greens, and take out the deep purples and maroons. The thing that let's me know that Fall is here is painting my nails darker colors. My favorite fall polish is the Essie, "Shearling Darling." 

3. Go Apple Picking and Pumpkin Picking. Every year during the fall, these two things are musts for me and my family. We love going. They are great ways to spend time with family and to get some quick photo shoots in;) 

4. Help cook Thanksgiving dinner. One of my favorite things to do during the fall is help my mom cook Thanksgiving dinner for our family, Thanksgiving is also my favorite holiday. This will definitely put you in a happy fall mood, and make you work up an appetite. 

5. Decorate your house. I always look forward to decorating my house for fall. I love putting out mini pumpkins, lighting candles (my favorite fall scented candle is pumpkin pecan waffles from Bath and Body Works), hanging up fun fall quotes on my walls, and putting out a small dish of Candy Corn (although this can be very dangerous if you have a sweet tooth like me.) 

Fall Fashion Essentials

 

J. Crew Field Jacket

White Cable Knit Sweater

Bean Boots

Paper Bag Skirt

Knit Socks

Riding Boots

Puffer Vest

Tory Burch Reva Flats

Autumn Words

Lily & Anchor

Two of my friends recently started a jewelry and decor business called Lily and Anchor. They sell things from tassel bracelets, to layered necklaces, to polka dot picture frames. So cute right!?

All of their products range from $10.00 to $30.00 and a portion of all the profits made go to the American Red Cross. 

Here is their contact info and Instagram: 

Email: lilyanchorco@gmail.com

Instagram: lilyanchorco 

Kate Spade Flagship Store

In my most recent post, "The Upper East Side," I mentioned my visit to the Kate Spade Flagship store on Madison Ave. I thought that it deserved to have it's own post, so here it is:) 

I honestly don't know how many times I got lost in the store, considering it has four floors! 

The Upper East Side

Hey there Upper East Siders...Elise here

Last week, my dad and I took a trip into New York City.  I've always been a city girl at heart, so it was such an amazing way to spend some quality time with my dad and a great trip to take before heading back to school on Tuesday. 

First, we went to central park, as we strolled around looking at the beautiful  fountain and flowers, taking in the true beauty of this classic part of the city. 

Next, we headed to the Upper East Side to The Kate Spade Flagship Sore. Let me just say it was four floors of pure perfection. Keep your eye out for an upcoming post all about the store!! 

After the Kate Spade, we went to Serendipity 3 to grab a quick bite to eat. Oh, and the frozen hot chocolate is a must! 

After lunch, we walked around the city, visited some of my favorite shops, and took some pictures of the incredible city. 

A day in New York City couldn't be complete without stopping at Magnolia Bakery. It was my first time every going and let's just say it was very successful. 

What I'm wearing in this post:

Dress: Forever 21

Purse: Kate Spade

Sandals: Forever 21

White Chocolate Blondies Recipe

Blondies anyone?

If any of you have a sweet tooth, like me, you are definitely going to want to try this recipe! I made this for a bake sale I helped organize at my school and everyone went NUTS over them.

White Chocolate Blondies

Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups of firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup of unsalted butter (2 sticks)

2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoons of baking soda

1/2 teaspoons of salt (any type is fine)

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

About 1 1/2 cups of white chocolate chips (I used the whole bag)  

Directions: 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish.

Put the sugar in a large bowl. Melt the butter in a small skillet or in the microwave in a glass measuring cup. Stir the butter into the sugar until smooth, cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, in another medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together.

Beat the eggs and vanilla into the sugar mixture. Add the flour mixture a bit at a time and mix until a smooth thick batter forms. Fold in the chips, as desired.

Spoon the batter to the prepared dish and spread to evenly fill the dish. Bake until the blondies are light brown around the edges and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Invert onto a rack and cool completely. Cut into squares and enjoy :)