Grocery Shopping with Matt & Leah

This was the day I asked Matt to take my outfit photos at the grocery store, since it was getting very close to sundown, and we were desperately out of food. Two birds, y'all.

However time-convenient, this idea of mine was nonetheless unsettling to someone as outwardly shy as myself. Am I a masochist? Maybe. But I managed to get through the ordeal (sarcasm) relatively unscathed, and with dinner in hand, to boot.

I love peanut butter more than almost anything, and this is definitely my favorite at the store.

Dress (worn as shirt): Thrifted; Skirt: Vintage; Shoes: American Shoe; Tights: Target; Necklace: Target (alterations by me)

Also the best. Favorite hot sauces causes quite the debate among my friends from time to time. What's your favorite?

I've had lingonberries before, so I can only imagine they'd be equally as excellent in jam form. It'll come home with me someday.

See y'all tomorrow with a DIY!

October Sponsorship/Big Tree, Take Two

First things first: I'm now accepting sponsors for the month of October! If you'd like to trade ads with me, drop me an email and we can talk banner size, duration, etc. I'd love to work with some like-minded bloggers, so don't be shy!

And now, back to the outfit post.

These photos were hurriedly snapped at Big Tree last weekend, when Matt and I took my mother out to see the wonder-oak. She was just as impressed as I upon seeing the massive beauty for the first time, and we were equally as camera-happy the second time. There are things in life you can never get enough of; natural wonders are certainly up there for me.

I'm now wishing I had more sleeveless shift dresses in my closet- the layering options for fall/winter are endless! Perhaps I'll attempt to snag up some more during any remaining end-of-summer sales I come across. What are your go-to layered items for the colder months? I'd love some new inspiration!

Dress: Vintage; Shirt: Vintage; Tights: Target

Have a great weekend, everyone! See y'all monday!

Homemade Ginger Snaps

Whenever I think about holiday desserts (let's be real- when am I not thinking about holiday desserts?), ginger snaps are always at the forefront of my sugar-laden brain. My mom always had them around when I was a kid, and the smell of ginger consistently brings candy canes + santa clause to mind. And though it's not time to string the lights on the tree yet (something else that's always on my mind), it is autumn, which is close enough for me. 

You will need:

-3/4 cup butter or margarine

-1 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup more for decoration at the end

-1 egg OR egg substitute (I used flaxseed meal)

-1/4 cup molasses

-2 cups all purpose flour

-1 Tbsp. ground ginger

-1 tsp. ground cinnamon (not pictured, as I can be very absentminded)

-2 tsp. baking soda

-1/2 tsp. salt

In a large-ish bowl, mix butter/margarine and sugar until creamy.

Since I was already using butter, I wanted to cut down on the animal involved-ness of the cookies in some other way, so I used an egg substitute. The directions on the flaxseed meal say to mix 1 Tbsp. meal with 3 Tbsp. water and let sit for 2 minutes.

Add the egg, or "egg," and molasses to the butter + sugar mixture.

Beat the mixture until blended.

Mix the remaining dry ingredients together (except for the decoration sugar) into a medium sized bowl, and stir (not mix) into the molasses mixture.

Roll the dough into balls and dip in the sugar set aside for decoration.

Place on an ever-so-slightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

Trust me when I say that these babies are even better with a glass of milk. Enjoy!

Lines + Dots

This is what I wore on a particularly chilly Saturday this past weekend. Not to say that the thought of warming my insides with apple cider and not cringing isn't a welcome change from losing half my body weight each day due to humidity, but I must admit, I do feel a bit underprepared; mostly in the pants department.

I have just under one million (and counting) sweaters, but I recently re-discovered, re-acknowledged, re-avoided my lack of pants. This pair is a product of a sale at Gap last year, but they are rather thin and won't prevent goosebumps for much longer. So, you see, I have to go shopping- for survival's sake.

I wonder just when I will tire of mixing stripes and dots. Moreover, I wonder when someone will grab my shoulders and shake me vigorously in an attempt to get me to stop mixing patterns. Whenever I see my mother, I always wonder at which point she will comment on how odd my clothing is, yet we never seem to reach that point. It's a sort of challenge to me now- I'll get her someday.

Long sleeve tee: Maurices; Peplum top: Vintage; Pants: Gap; Boots: Target (DIY glitter by me); Collar necklace: another DIY by me

That's it for me, friends. I've got a classic fall/winter recipe to share tomorrow, stop back by!

Glitter Ankle Boot DIY

When I first saw these come down some runway or another,

I knew I my feet were destined to meet them someday. However, when I finally located a similar pair to what my eyes first discovered, I realized I'd have to sell several organs to be able to afford the $500+ price tag. Lucky for me, I'd seen this on Pinterest more times than I can count. Upon further research, I also found this. Unfortunately, someone beat me to it; but I can give credit where it's due. It's been done, yes. HOWEVER, I did choose a different color combination and have some additional troubleshooting/advice to offer. So without further ado:

You will need:

-Fine + coarse glitter in the same (or very similar) color

-Modge Podge (you only need about 2 oz)

-A clear sealant 

-Foam brush

-Reg paint brush (in case you don't like the foam brush...I didn't)

It's recommended that you use painter's tape to section your shoes, but I didn't have any, and the packing tape worked just as well.

Mix the two glitters together in a plastic bowl. Make sure it's plastic, as it'll  be easier to rinse out when you're done.

Add some of the Modge Podge to the glitter mix and stir with one of the brushes.

Use either brush to paint the glitter/glue mixture onto your taped-off sections. If you use a paint brush like I did, be sure to choose one that doesn't shed its hairs; they'll get stuck throughout your glitter.

After you've spread your layer of the glitter/glue mix on, take your coarse glitter and sprinkle it on top. Wait a few minutes, then press it into the shoe with your fingertips.

Let dry for approximately 24 hours.

The next day, spray your clear sealant over the glitter. BUT BE CAREFUL: the sealant I used totally altered the color of my glitter. In all fairness, I think I held the can too close. But it left silver splotches all throughout my glued area; I had to go back and re-do both shoes. The next time I held the can farther away and used shorter, lighter sprays, and it turned out a lot better. Just make sure to read the back of your sealant and follow its instructions about distance.

After you've applied your sealant, let dry for another 24 hrs.

When dry, peel your tape off and get to struttin'.

Enjoy!

Passing Through

Having breakfast with one of your best friends at your favorite breakfast spots really sets the tone for a great weekend.
My mother came to visit; her last visit before she moves out of state. It's sort of surreal knowing that I will no longer have any family in Missouri with me, but our weekend full of good food, photo albums, and catch-ups will hopefully last me until our next visit.
She's currently still here, so I think I'll leave it at that. Catch another DIY here tomorrow!

Sweater: Vintage; Shirt: Thrifted; Skirt: Vintage; Boots: Target (altered by me)

Sunday Balloon Ride

The above photo is how my Sunday ended last week. Though I was battling an insanely sore throat all weekend, seeing that gorgeous balloon so closely definitely raised my spirits a bit.

We laid around most of the day, then decided to venture down the interstate a bit to an antique store we've never been to. It had all sorts of (steeply priced) odds and ends, but what I was drooling over the most was the beautiful antique furniture and the masses of gaudy jewelry. Matt spent most of his time at the pinball machines : ).

This desk broke my heart

I love seeing old cameras

After the antique shop, we snapped a few outfit photos and laid out on a blanket in our backyard so Matt could do his reading for school and I could listen : ).

Shirt: Thrifted; Skirt: Vintage; Boots: Asos; Hat: JcPenney; Necklace: Target

We were just about to head inside when the beautiful balloon showed up, and I shrieked with delight when it did. It's on the list, people. It's on the list.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Mine will be filled with a visit from mi madre. See you Monday!