New Year's Eve Style

New Year's Eve: The most sparkly night of the year! With any of these looks, you'll be sure to look dazzling well past midnight and into 2016!

All Things Norwalk

At my school, we have a senior program called project explore. In this program, the projects can range from books to school stores to magazines. My friend, Amie Newsome, started a fashion blog called "All Things Norwalk," about the clothes that the students at my school wear, as well as popular trends. I'll put the link to Amie's blog down below, be sure to go check it out!  

Here is one of her most recent posts: Falling for Freshmen

Be sure to check out her upcoming post, Ugly Christmas Sweaters!
All Things Norwalk

Christmas Attire

Christmastime in New York City

Holiday Favorites

 

My Favorite things to do during the Holiday Season 

1. Driving around looking at Christmas lights. This is definitely a favorite for my family. Multiple times every Holiday season, we drive around the neighborhoods near where we live and look at all of the lights on the houses. It is one of my favorite ways to spend time with them and always gets me into the Holiday spirit. 

2. Baking Christmas Cookies.  My best friend and I have a tradition of baking and decoration Christmas cookies and singing along to carols in my kitchen every year; it is one of our favorite things to do. Last year, we made so many cookies. I think it took us almost 2 hours to perfect them just how we wanted them. Hey what can I say? Everyone has their quirks. 

3. Watching Classic Christmas Movies. Every year on December 1st, I turn on the Hallmark Channel and begin to start my 25 Days of Christmas movie marathon. Some of my favorite holiday movies are Eloise at Christmastime, Elf,  A Charlie Brown Christmas, and A Christmas Carol. 

4. Going through the stack of Holiday Cards.  I'm not sure why, but whenever a new holiday card comes in the mail from a family or friend, I start beaming with excitement. I love watching the collection grow in the basket on our coffee table throughout the season. 

5. Caroling at elderly homes. Not only do I love singing Christmas Carols, but I love singing at elderly homes as well. Every year, some of my friends and I like to go sing at an elderly home. Watching the people's faces light up as we sing to them is such an amazing feeling and makes me extremely happy. 

Hope you enjoyed. :) 

Holiday Gift Guide

Tis the season for gift shopping!! It's that time of year again. With the holidays just around the corner, it might be tough to find gifts for all of your friends and family. So, I'm going to give you some gift ideas that they will be sure to love: from purses to sparkly jewelry, coats to scarves, watches to bow ties, and so much more! 

Holiday Gift Guide: Mom

Holiday Gift Guide: Best Friend

Holiday Gift Guide: Gentlemen

Bake With Me: Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie

One of the many holiday traditions in my family is that the day before thanksgiving, I'm in the kitchen with my mom all day cooking and baking. One of my absolute favorite things to not only eat on Thanksgiving, but to bake, is our classic Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie. If you are looking for a dessert to make this holiday season, then I reccommend to keep reading and follow the recipe below!

Enjoy, xo

Ingredients: 

3 Eggs

1 Cup of Corn Syrup (1/2 Cup of light and 1/2 Cup of Dark)

2/3 Cup of Granulated Sugar

1/3 Cup of Margarine or butter, melted

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

1 and 1/4 Cups of pecan halves

3-4 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips

For the pie filling:

In a mixing bowl beat eggs lightly with a beater or whisk (either one is fine) until combined. Stir in corn syrup, sugar, margarine or butter, and vanilla. Stir well. Stir in pecan halves. 

Place a pastry lined 9 inch pie plate on the oven rack. Pour the filling into the pastry lined pie plate. 

Pour in you semi-sweet chocolate chips, and fold them into the filling. 

For the leaf crust: Take a second sheet of pastry dough, in addition to what is already under the filling, and place leaf cookie cutters into it (these will make your leaf cut outs.)

Next, you are going to want to brush the top rim of the pie crust with a little bit of egg wash, then place your leaves on top of that crust and brush those with a little more egg wash. 

Cover edge of the pie with foil, bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.

After it comes out, remove the foil and bake it for another 20 to 25 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center of the pie comes out clean. 

Cool pie on a wire rack after it is out of the oven. 

Thanksgiving Day Outfit Idea

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and everyone is getting ready for football games, dinners, and parties. I thought I would show you an outfit idea that would be perfect for a Thanksgiving Family Dinner.

Shop the post: 

Shirt: Old Navy

Skirt: Kohl's

Statement necklace: Francesca's

Bracelet: J. Crew

Ring: Kate Spade

Flats: Tory Burch

Nail polish: Essie's Smokin' Hot

Full of Thanks and Giving

When most of us think of Thanksgiving, the first things that probably come to our minds are the mashed potatoes, turkey, gravy, and pumpkin pie. Now, don't get me wrong, I love all of that. But, we often forget about why the holiday really exists....which is to remind us of how thankful we should be for everything we have in our lives. So, I decided to write a little bit about what I'm thankful for, enjoy:)

1. My family. They are always there for me and I don't know where I would be without them. They helped me become the person who I am today and I can't thank them enough for all they do for me. 

2. My Best Friend. My rock. She has been through it all with me for my whole life so far and I know she always will be.  I love her to the moon and back and more. 

3. Food on my table. Whenever I'm hungry, I can just go to my cabinets and pick out something to eat. I often for get that some people might not have that privilege, and that's why I am so thankful for the food on my table.

4. A warm home. The weather outside is freezing this time of year, so I am so lucky and thankful to be able to come home to a warm house every night.

Rainy Day Puddle Jumping: OOTD

I say, "When life gives you a rainy day, grab a cute umbrella and jump in some puddles," and that is exactly what I did on this rainy fall day today! Except, I took some pictures while doing it...of course:)

Shop the post:

Vest: Vineyard Vines

Button Down: Old Navy

Bean Boots: L.L. Bean

Boot Socks: Express

Umbrella: Forever 21

Watch: Anne Klein

Bracelet: Francesca's 

My Favorite Brunch Spots

"The best days start with brunch"

Some of my favorite brunch spots: 

-The Duck and Bunny

Location: Providence, RI

-Bubby's

Location: New York City, New York

The Sono Baking Company & Cafe

Location: Westport, CT

Sugar Factory

Location: New York City, New York

Chocoplogie

Location: South Norwalk, CT

Plaid on Plaid

Plaid on Plaid

One of my favorite things about the fall is plaid. When I think of plaid, I immediately think of bonfires, leaves, crisp weather, and flannels. However, flannels aren't the only way I like to style plaid. I love wearing it as an accessory, such as in a headband, watch, or shoes. It is the perfect way to add a pop of color to a neutral outfit, and also makes you think of bonfires and crisp weather all day long. 

Bake With Me: Creamy Hot Apple Cider

Here is a delicious recipe for creamy hot apple cider, aka, the only thing I drink in the fall.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 cups Mott's Apple Juice

½ teaspoon of Cinnamon

¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or about 2 shakes)

½ teaspoon vanilla

2 Tablespoons Caramel Syrup

2 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream

Canned whipped cream for garnish

Directions:

In a microwaveable container mix together the Mott's Apple Juice, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla. Microwave for 2 minutes or until HOT.

Put the juice blend, caramel syrup and heavy whipping cream in a blender and blend on high for about 30 seconds until all combined and creamy.

Transfer to a mug. Top with whipped cream.

Enjoy!

Fall Morning Routine

My Morning Routine for School

6:00-Ding Ding Ding goes the lovely sound of my alarm clock. At this time I usually think, "Okay I'll get up," but it usually doesn't happen for about 5 more minutes.

6:05-Now, I officially get up. I like to start my day first thing with stretches and some crunches; this will usually take me around 6-7 minutes

6:11-I head into the bathroom to wash my face, brush my teeth, straighten my hair and do my makeup. My everyday makeup usually includes:

6:25-After I'm finished in the bathroom, I head back into my room to put on an outfit for the day (this one takes me about 5 minutes because I pick out my outfits the night before.)

6:30-Time for breakfast! I head downstairs to make myself my favorite meal of the day. For breakfast, I'll usually either have some oatmeal or my homemade pumpkin bread. Keep an eye out for a pumpkin bread recipe coming soon!

6:45-6:50-I usually use this time to get my backpack together, check some social media such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter, or spend some time with my doggie, Lulu, before I leave for school.

6:50-I leave my house and head off to school for the day!

{Bean} there, done that

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers," as I say during the first week of the month. October is finally here and I couldn't be more excited. I can finally where my bean boots and vests without sweating. 

So lets get ready to jump into this fall post, enjoy :)

Shop the post: 

Vest: J. Crew Factory

Sweater: Brandy Melville

Bean boots: L.L. Bean

Thanks for reading! 

XoXo, Elise

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