blogtober

What I Love About Halloween

Halloween is hands down my favorite holiday for many reasons. As a young girl, I would sit under this maple tree in our front yard & read books like Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark or Goosebumps. It wasn’t just the fall season I romanticized – Halloween has been like my Christmas. And here’s why…

It Conjures Up Wonderful Childhood Memories

Some of my best memories revolve around Halloween. From Halloween slumber parties with dancing & games to helping my dad carve pumpkins & watching It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown & Hocus Pocus with my family ; we definitely had a lot of spooktacular memories. One of my favorite memories was going to this local pumpkin patch / garden shop & going through their haunted house. I remember dressing up in costume with my cousin & “helping” make the haunted house even better by scaring people as they walk inside.

A Stereotypical Dark Holiday Actually is Joyous

Although Halloween is seen as a rather scary & dark holiday, I find it to be very positive & joyous. I mean, who doesn’t love coming home with a sleeping bag full of candy? The nostalgic feeling of pouring the entirety on the living room floor & asking my brother to trade all the Reese’s peanut butter cups with me. Those were the days. The holiday allowed me to really bond with family & all sharing the similar love for the holiday. Even as we got older, my parents, brother & I loved going to our local historical town & get lunch or go to the local coffee shop & watch all the trick or treaters & elaborate costumes. I hope to continue this with my future family.

There Aren’t High Expectations

Other holidays like Christmas hold so many expectations & underlying stress. Halloween was never that way. We didn’t have to please anyone else & we could be as low key or extra as we wanted. If we wanted to just stay in & watch spooky movies, we could most certainly do that!

Dressing Up & Sparking Imagination

Being able to dress up like anyone we want ( to an extent) & be imaginative with our looks is one of the reasons I love the holiday. As I got older, my makeup game improved & started to really come up with elaborate looks. Especially when we started going to the Ren Fest, I loved doing multicolored eyeshadows, false lashes & gems on my face. I mean, you could do that on a regular day but I don’t think my 9-5 would approve.

It Fits Everyone’s Vibe

There’s something for everyone on Halloween. You don’t just have to love scary movies or gore to appreciate the holiday. I personally, am not the biggest fan of scary movies. I embrace the things I do enjoy & ignore the rest.

The Weather

Now, as a kid I used to hate having to wear a coat trick or treating. It would ruin the costume, you know? But overall – fall is my favorite time of year because I can be fashionable & I won’t freeze my ass off. The colors of the tees also help with the overall Halloween aesthetic. If I had to choose a season that best described me, I’d pick Halloween season.

Fall Activities

There’s so many fun things to do ine the fall. Last year, I shared my fall bucket list & those activities are still my favorites. Going to Ren Fest & drinking Meade, going to the pumpkin patch, eating apple cider donuts & going through corn mazes never get old. I also love going to haunted forests or houses & ghost tours in my local area. Roasting marshmallows by the bonfire, watching spooky flicks, & carving pumpkins. I also would LOVE to visit Salem one day. That is definitely on my bucket list.

Embracing The Spooky Side of Things

I’m the type of person who loved all things spooky 24/7 but Halloween is the one time of year where being weird & out there is kind of cool! If you believe in ghosts, this is the time of year to really immerse yourself in the history of things & stories. It’s fun to believe in the unbelievable.

Pumpkins Galore

Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin spice lattes – All Things Pumpkin all the time! I love decorating our front porch with them, carve them in cool designs & just the aesthetic of it all.

Ghost Stories & Urban Legends

Like I said, embracing spooky season is so much fun. Reading about ghost stories and urban legends is something I personally enjoy. Whether you think these stories are fake or not, they are still entertaining.

-B

blogtober

How To Romanticize The Autumn Season

Happiness to me, means romanticizing your life no matter how extraordinary or mundane it may feel. And as you know, I lean towards enjoying the more simpler moments. Although, grand gestures & affairs may seem wonderful, those too can become old. So, we must look beyond the extravagant & appreciate all aspects of our days – because like the leaves falling off trees, we are forever changing & life doesn’t stop for anything. And whether you usually love or dread the fall season, here are a few ways you can romanticize the autumn season to your liking.

Wear Cozy & Warm Colors

There’s just something so refreshing about the brisk air & more blustery days. I very much enjoy cozying up in chunky knits & boots – or staying in & snugging up with blankets to a crackling fire. Even the tones of autumn that mimic the aesthetic of the falling leaves brings joy to my days. Adding a few burnt oranges or reds to your neutral attire can be a nice change.

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Embrace the Taste of Fall

The flavors of fall go beyond pumpkin spice – although I do love me some warm pumpkin bread as a snack. Crisp apples, pies, ciders & cinnamon anything are just a few of my favorites for the fall season. I’m also a huge fan of soups as soon as the temperatures reach the 60’s. There’s this cozy factor I hold onto with these tasty treats. Slow down & savor each bite as you become more present in such mundane actions.

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Watch Some Fall Classics

With a warm beverage in hand & cozy blankets to hold me tight – I treasure those slower & peaceful evenings on the couch with the fireplace going [ or atmospheric screen saver] or watching a comfort fall favorite tv show / movie. Some cult favorites include Hocus Pocus, Casper, The Nightmare Before Christmas or Harry Potter.

robertdowneys: Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson... : now i just want  llamas

Play Some ASMR or Screensavers To Add Ambiance

I don’t own a fireplace. Instead I’ll play the fireplace screensaver on YouTube while I get lost in a book. If you are looking for some meditation, ASMR videos are another favorite. Find ones that are Halloween or fall themed to add a bit of magic to the evening. I especially love screensavers of rainy evenings in haunted mansions, falling leaves or even spooky music playlists. If you are looking for some books to add to your TBR, check out this blog post here or here.

Take A Walk in The Leaves

They say the most grounding action is walking through nature. Bonus points if you are barefoot. But I love embracing my childlike roots & trudge through the crunching leaves during my strolls or hikes. Jumping in a pile of leaves could also be super fun & nostalgic. The fresh air & sunshine are what are bodies crave, even when it gets a bit colder. Spend a little bit more time outdoors & bring a book or your laptop to feel just a little bit more productive in the process. A change of scenery is always something that brightens my mood.

How will you be romanizing fall this year? What is your favorite part about this season?

-B

blogtober, blogtober, Minimalism, Minimalism

My Fall Capsule Wardrobe

What is a capsule wardrobe exactly? Minimalists like to define it as a set number of clothing items to reduce the troubles of decision fatigue & allows us to understand the benefits behind owning less. Courtney Carver, the writer behind the book, Project 333 goes a step further & challenges those to have 33 items of clothing for 3 months. I attempted project 333 for myself during the pandemic & I did take note of the benefits. But overall, I don’t necessarily like to limit myself to a set number of clothing pieces. I simply ask myself how often I wear something? Does it fit the person I wish to be? And is it practical? Otherwise, I let it go. And over the course of the summer, I’ve downsized my wardrobe extremely to the point where 95% of my clothing is gone! As the new season approaches, I look forward to revamping my style & curating a capsule wardrobe that allows me to create classic outfits.

As I’ve decluttered over 10 bags of clothing in the past few months, I’ve also made a few replacements along the way. I’ve been in a style rut & wanted to enter my fall season with a bit more style. Summer tends to put myself in a style rut [ especially when it’s hot ] because all I wear are athletic shorts & basic tanks or tees. Fall fashion is elite. And I’m so excited to share the pieces I’ve bought & put together.

Denim Denim Denim

A classic pair of jeans is a staple in any wardrobe. As a millennial, I still find skinny jeans to be the most flattering at times, but I have been wanting to branch out to different styles. I purchased a pair of the viral 90’s straight leg relaxed fit jeans from Abrocrombie. And I totally understand the hype! I can’t wait to rock these with some sneakers & basic tees all fall season.

Business Beige

To jazz up your dressier occasions, why not swap or add a pair of beige slacks to your wardrobe along with the typical grey or black. I personally love incorporating lighter shades to my fall wardrobe to showcase a brighter look. No white after Labor Day, who? I also love adding knits to make your look a bit more casual.

Stick To The Basics

The majority of my closet is filled with basic tees & tanks. Lately – I’ve added a few fitted crop tops to my wardrobe. I love pairing tighter tops with baggier pants to create a bit of definition. I love layering these with flannels, cardigans or jackets to stay warm. I recommend you have a basic white, black & grey t-shirt & tank & then go from there. Stick to shades that are the most flattering to you. There’s no need to own the entire rainbow.

Sneakers

I’m trying to get away from just living in Uggs until March (although if you are from the East Coast, it’s pretty much inevitable). Last fall, I purchased this pair of Sam Edelman sneakers in this white & beige shade. I thought they would be a perfect minimalistic look to any pair of jeans or leggings.

Birkenstocks

It’s hilarious to me Birkenstock clogs are back in style. I wore these almost daily in high school. I haven’t yet purchased these, but am looking to add these to my capsule wardrobe soon to add variety to my shoe collection. I feel like they would be perfect paired with my A&F jeans.

Dainty Statement Jewelry

I strongly believe you can enhance an outfit by just adding a few statement jewelry pieces. I love pairing my rose gold B&T necklace with a crop top & jeans or adding a pair of gold hoops.

Oversized Sweaters & Cardigans

Of course, it’s not fall without that cozy sweater weather feeling. I love pairing them with black leggings, a warm beverage & a book in hand. They are like warm hugs! For the most part, I prefer neutral shades like beige, grey or black , but I also love wearing Halloween themed jumpers to be festive.

Water Proof Boots

On the east coast, I feel like it’s crucial to own boots that are weather resistant. Whether it’s walking through the pumpkin patch or the muddy Renaissance fair, I’m so glad to have boots that will be easy to clean. During the Nordstrom anniversary sale, I purchased a pair of black water proof ankle boots & I have a strong feeling I’ll be wearing these a lot this fall season!

Graphic Tees

During my recent declutter, I let go of a ton of old graphic t-shirts that were faded or had holds in them. I still believe we don’t need to own an entire drawer filled with graphic tees, but I do think it’s fun to own a few to make an outfit more unique. One of my favorites is my zodiac sign flower t-shirt.

Even More Inspiration

Pinterest is my favorite site for finding fashion inspiration. Here are a few photos that depict the style I’m going for lately…

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What clothing styles / pieces are you looking forward to wear this season?

-B