Fall classics.

There is something to be said about classic looks. My personal style has always been very classic, with a little bit of an edge thrown in every once in awhile to mix it up. I gravitate towards timeless pieces that I know will stand the test of time. I love trends, but nothing can ever replace your trench coat, or those perfect, tall leather riding boots, or those pearl earrings. Those things, even if they may get switched out for the next big thing from time to time, will be around forever.

That being said, I'm so happy that this Fall's make-up trends actually include classics. Red lips and a winged cat-eye. The "new" red is either an orangey-red for a bright pop against dark Fall colors, or, like my version, a delicious wine red, much like the burgundy/wine color trend for clothing. The color I am wearing is Revlon's "Wine With Everything", and is more of a cranberry colored wine that matches my skin tone better. Of course, you could do any range if you want. Next on my list is an even darker, more rich bordeaux-like wine color for major impact in the evening. Or hey, why not for day?

The cat-eye is also a favorite of mine. It gives you that instant eye-lift and also adds a little sass to your look, I think. You can use a gel-based eyeliner (I love MAC's fluid line in "Blitz and Glitz" and "Blacktrack") or a liquid version, like the one I used from Forever 21. There are also marker-tips that really help with precision. I started with a base of pencil liner to help me with my liquid line and also to help the liquid stay put a little better.

Both of these make-up looks have been around for quite some time, and there's a reason they have staying power. A red lip can be so alluring and sexy, and the same goes for the cat-eye. It's as if you wear these looks and become someone else for a day! They are so fun and both very easy ways to try some trends without breaking the bank. Even more cost-effective is the fact that, with either, look, you don't need much else on your face! If you're doing one or the other, keep the focus on that feature. If you're doing a cat-eye, use a pale, shimmery shadow to really brighten, or go all-out with a smokey eye or a wash of one bright or rich color, keeping everything else on your face more neutral (a light pink cheek and lip stain). If you're doing just the lips, maybe try the more bolder, darker hue of wine and, again, keep everything else simple. Just some smudged black eyeliner and a couple coats of mascara will do the trick. If you want to do eye-shadow, do something that's maybe one shade darker than your skin tone in a shimmery or satiny finish, just to brighten the eyes a bit.

I paired them both together, so I kept everything else very simple and pared down since these are both bolder looks. Nothing but concealer, a pink flush on the cheeks, a little highlight on my brow bones, and filled-in eyebrows to frame my face. Keep the look from being too retro with updated accessories, clothing, and hairstyle. You can't see the rest of my outfit, but I was just wearing skinny jeans, a simple tee, a long burgundy cardigan, and leopard flats.

So go forth and have fun with this look! It's perfect for day OR night, so try it tomorrow for work or this weekend for a night out!

The best cake I've ever made.

Seriously. This cake gives my other favorite, Italian cream cake, a run for its money! I found this recipe for chocolate pumpkin cake with salted buttercream frosting and a chocolate glaze on Pinterest, and it did not disappoint. I didn't make the little decorative pumpkins obviously, but next time, I plan on it! The recipe was a little involved just because there was the cake, the buttercream, the caramel sauce to mix in to the frosting, AND the chocolate glaze, but it's totally worth it. The cream cheese buttercream is the same recipe I always use for other cakes I make, but I hadn't really made caramel sauce before. It really doesn't take many ingredients, but it took a little longer for my sugar to melt into my corn syrup and for it all to melt together than the recipe says, so don't worry if that happens to you! I think what would have helped me is if I had put the corn syrup in the pan first, then the sugar on top instead of the other way around.

Basically, the result is a super moist cake and an amazing combination of flavors with the salted caramel frosting and rich, semi-sweet chocolate glaze on top. Nick isn't a big cake person, but he thought this was delicious! I like to think it's also because I made it :)

"Make us instruments of Your peace."

Today is a strange day. I don't mean this day as in Tuesday, but this day as in September 11th.

I feel a little ashamed, but I almost forgot until I saw the statuses posted on Facebook. Never forget. I remember. Etcetera.

Of course, I don't actually forget that 9/11 in general happened, but as a native of Oregon and thus, the West Coast, I felt very far removed from it all. Of course I remember what happened that day. How my dad came home from dropping my sister off at the high school and immediately turned on the television, and I watched in awe as a building I hadn't even known about until that day was burning, and they kept replaying the first plane fly into the tower. I remember waiting at the bus stop with my fellow 7th grade friends, discussing what was going on, even though we couldn't quite comprehend. "My parents said it could be the start of World War III," said one of my friends. It hit me a little more then.

All day long we watched footage on the news and all of our teachers tried to make sense of it with us. It took a few years for me to realize the magnitude of that infamous event, and each year, I find myself still trying to understand it.

I am from the West Coast and I don't have any close friends or family who have been in Iraq since the war began, and at the time, I knew absolutely no one from the East Coast. Since I've been in college and moved around and traveled a bit more, I have met people who are from the East Coast, and New York specifically. I have become friends with people who's family members have been to Iraq. Obviously it isn't the same for me as it is for them, because it hits closer to home for them, but I now can see the affects through their eyes, and in turn, I feel as if I have a little more understanding.

But who will ever be able to understand it, really? How can we wrap our minds around such hate? How can we wrap our minds around how terrible that day really was? I think part of why I never felt really affected is because the whole thing seemed surreal. Kind of like, "Wait, did that really happen? Seriously? Is this some kind of sick joke?"

Of course it happened, and that is what sucks. The fact is, the US has ticked off some people, and other countries have ticked us off as well. No country deserves to go through what we went through, but hasn't our country put people through the same kind of thing? I mean, remember when we bombed Japan? Yikes. I'm not saying anyone is more to blame than the other, because we could go in circles with that, but I'm merely commenting on the fact that there is a lot of terrible shit that happens in the world, and I wish there wasn't. Call me an idealist, because I am, but I really think the world just needs more love. I'm not stupid, and I know that a perfect world will never exist because that would be boring, but if people just took a little more time out of each day to think about their actions and words and to put others first, things could be a whole lot better. It starts small, in the one kind word you say to someone, and it can grow and spread to so many others and really change things.

But as I said, a perfect world won't exist, and we need things to rock our life as we know it and to make us realize what really matters. Don't just think about those things on days like today, when we were affected. We should remember the days that we did some pretty crappy things as a country to others, because, I hate to break it to you but, we've done a lot. So every day, think about 9/11 and what that means if you need to, but think about the suffering that other parts of the world have gone through. I'm not trying to downplay the hurt from this day or disrespect it, because this day and all of the families hurting from the loss of loved ones who were and are fighting to protect our country definitely deserve a hell of a lot of respect, but we shouldn't focus on ourselves the whole time.

And hey, I know I especially need to work on that, but if we make the conscious decision to think this way, things really could get better. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one....

This song, "African Benediction", takes words from the prayer of St. Francis. I sang it in University Choir last year for the 10th Anniversary. It was the same song they sang when they were called on to sing something at the candlelight vigil that Millikin held 11 years ago today. This song is beautiful, and if I pray one prayer for the rest of my life, it would be this one.

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Weekend happies.

[Burning my new Bath & Body candles]a

[Fall nails: Essie's "Skirting the Issue" and "Penny Talk"]

[Jessica Simpson flats on sale at Von Maur]

[New Fall garland]

The onset of some chilly weather this weekend (finally!) made me a pretty happy camper. I was able to wear boots and a cozy cardi during my errands on Saturday, and we actually turned our air off and opened up our windows. Seriously, the best thing ever. I'm sure it will get a little warmer again this week, but I took advantage of this weather by lighting my new delicious candles, starting to decorate (more will come later, of course), and baking my first Fall goodie! It's from Pinterest, and I am finishing it up tonight. From the smell of my apartment yesterday, it's going to be pretty bomb! And yes, I will post it later :) Happy Monday!

Champaign girl date.

Yesterday I went to Champaign to visit my friend/bridesmaid Michelle (as well as to try on the bridesmaid dress for her wedding) AND to see my lovely Big from Tri-Delta, Brynn.

This was seriously what I needed.

Let me tell you a little about this lady called Brynn.

She is one of those people that I will forever and always look up to and will never feel on quite the same level with, but in a good way. She is seriously like wonder-woman. I joined Tri-Delta as a junior, so there weren't a lot of girls my age or older that didn't already have Littles. Brynn was one of the seniors that stepped up to the plate and signed up to take on another one (I was one of a couple juniors in my pledge class). I knew who she was just from recruitment, because she was VPM at the time and ran the recruitment events and always greeted us at the front door and saw us on our way out. I thought she was pretty cool, but really didn't know her well. I remember getting her as my Big like it was yesterday.... they announced she was mine and she ran up to me and gave me a HUGE hug and I was welcomed with screams into the "Mafia Family" by her other little, Alyssa. The fam grew by two that night because Danica, another member of my pledge class, became Alyssa's Little. It didn't take long for me to realize that I was in the perfect family with the perfect girls and that I had the perfect Big for me. I realized how much Brynn and I had in common and how fun she was and how crazy our whole family could be together. We got along so well and still do, even though our family has grown! Brynn was a senior at the time, but I believe she was busier than most. She worked while going to school, kept up her serious relationship with her now husband, Chad, was involved heavily in Delta, and still managed to make me feel special and loved. If that's not enough, she started right into a fast-track grad school program a few weeks after graduating from Millikin, all while planning her wedding! 

She is the sweetest person, and I think everyone can attest that she was and is always sincere when she talks to you and, even with everything going on with her, will still take the time to listen and talk with you if you need it. Seriously. She's awesome.

So I hadn't seen this wonderful lady since her wedding. Last June. Yikes! Thankfully, Brynn and I have an understanding that, no, we aren't going to talk every week or even every month, but we still care about each other and things will be the same no matter how much time has passed. That is exactly what happened last night. We all went out to dinner in downtown Champaign and got right down to business catching up with each other and updating one another with what's going on with our jobs, wedding planning for Michelle and I, and everything in between. We stopped by her new house to get a tour and to meet her dog, Cooper, and made a decision that, now that things are a little less crazy with everyone, this kind of evening is going to happen again, and much much sooner!! There really is nothing like good quality girl time, and I am so blessed to have the people I have in my life, especially the people like my Delta sisters. So many of them are the most hardworking, talented, and wonderful people ever, and both Brynn and Michelle are no exception. I love them both dearly!

Thanks, ladies, for a wonderful evening, and yes, this IS going to happen again soon! :)

When I go to Target without a plan....

... I buy this:

[Revlon lipstick in "Wine With Everything" and Essie nail polish in "Skirting the Issue"]

and this:

[It's perfectly acceptable to eat this as my breakfast right? They just taste so good with coffee...]

I definitely went out with less than I wanted. The fall candy is out now, so you can imagine all of the other fall goodies and decorations (and Halloween jewelry!) that I had to resist. Don't get me wrong, I will be buying fall decorations, but I'm trying to be good and wait til pay-day. Good thing it's tomorrow. And I have time Saturday and Sunday to go back to Target (I have a feeling their dollar section is gonna be great and full of cheap fall wonders soon...) and then Hobby Lobby, the land of all things crafty and creative. So excited :)

It really just makes me so happy that everything fall is coming. Unfortunately, the weather here doesn't match quite yet (Pumpkin spice lattes don't taste the same when it's about 80 degrees out) but it was rainy all day yesterday and it's supposed to get cooler this weekend! My fingers are crossed that that continues.... I'm ready for my hot caramel apple ciders and boots and jeans and crisp fall air. My favorite time of year is so close to being officially here I can taste it!

In other news, Fashion's Night Out is tonight, and oh, how I wish I could be in the midst of it and Fall Fashion Week in New York right now!! This is why I'm pushing for Nick to get into school on the East Coast... there's just this little dream that I could somehow make it to a show or two at some point in life.   Not to mention just be close enough to NY to go on a semi-regular basis. That city is amazing and there is so much left for me to explore! 3 days there was not enough.

In honor of fashion week and fashion's night out, check out The Limited's new collection The Luxe Look of Leather, which debuts today. Leather accents are huge right now, and The Limited came up with a few great pieces so you can be on trend and lookin' fierce whether you're at work or just out for a night :) My favorites are the coated black skinny jeans, the black lace tee with faux leather accent on the collar, and the black dress with faux leather shoulder detail and pockets! And right now with the suiting event, jackets, pants, and skirts are buy 1 get 1 FREE! Go forth and shop.

In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy this first day off in 7 days by relaxing, finally getting time to fold my laundry, and heading to Champaign to do a little shopping, try on a bridesmaid dress for Michelle's wedding, and have dinner with Michelle and my big, whom I haven't seen since last summer! You could say I'm excited :)

September means Fall is coming...

.... and the arrival of Fall can only mean one thing....

BOOTS.

Fall and boots (or booties) go hand in hand. They are the perfect complement to skinny jeans and chunky sweaters or tights/leggings and sweater dresses. What I love about a great pair of boots is that, if you invest just a little more of a pricier pair, they will last you forever and you'll wear them through season after season with the right care. Not only that, but they make any outfit look more put-together (Why yes, I did put so much thought into my leggings, boots and oversized sweater today....not).

It's finally the first day of September, and even though the weather is still warm and pushing 90 here in Central Illinois, I've started looking for my next pair of boots. I already have a few, but I'm missing a really great black tall boot and a cute, easy, low-heeled bootie. Naturally, I browsed my favorite site to look at shoes, nordstrom.com, and picked a few of my favorites. Enjoy the eye candy :)

Just for fun & fancies:

[Vera Wang "Royce" bootie]

[Jeffrey Campbell "Night-Tick" boot]

[Manolo Blahnik Gold Heel bootie]

[Ariat "La Hacienda" boot]

Everyday boots:

[Michael Kors "Fulton" Harness boot]

[Michael Kors "Fulton" rain boot]

[Vince Camuto "Beralta" boot]

[Vince Camuto "Bollo" Over-the-knee boot]

[Sam Edelman "Stevie" boot]

aaaaaand a pair that I am particularly obsessed with:

[Vince Camuto "Hariza" boot]

 I mean, I think I need those glitter booties. I already have 4 pairs of tall boots, so I think they need to join the collection.... just saying. Who wants to give me $150 to buy them???