Link Love + Labor Day Deals

Raise your (virtual) hand if you're having trouble coming to terms with the fact that summer is essentially over after this weekend. I couldn't resist using a summery pic, one last time, before it's on to fall fashion and then the holidays before I can even bat an eyelash (no, seriously, the end of the year always moves way too fast). Keeping this post short and sweet, because I've been home in Iowa all week for my sister's wedding—which is today!—and I'm about to dash off for our last few errands before the festivities get going. The wedding is at her house in the country, so there'll be plenty of shenanigans (hop over to instagram to see what kind of trouble I get into), but first I wanted to leave you with a few links from around the web and my favorite of the Labor Day deals this weekend!

Have you seen this hilarious piece where kids rate the Fall '14 fashion campaigns?

Harper's Bazaar has pretty much rounded up my fall (wish list) wardrobe right here.

Did you catch Kelly's insanely cool Flash Tattoos editorial last week?

If curling iron sizes confuse you (I never know which one to use for the waves I picture in my head), this infographic has you covered.

I'm not traveling for Labor Day weekend but I bookmarked Goop's last minute-getaway hotels anyways—hopefully I'll get to make a trip to one soon.

This Buzzfeed story on private islands in Nicaragua was completely fascinating (I spent another hour searching the web for additional stories on some of the people and places mentioned!).

And, finally, some of my favorite Labor Day sales:

Baublebar has a ton of great pieces, STARTING at 50% off!

Get 15% off everything at Furbish Studios with code ENDOFSUMMER.

Take 15% off everything—including current-season styles—at Loeffler Randall with code LABORDAY.

Final sale at J. Crew is an extra 40% off with code WEEKEND (I just got another pair of these chambray pants).

Up to 70% off summer styles at Sole Society (no code needed!).

Take 20% off at Tibi on select fall styles with code HELLOFALL.

*image via late afternoon

Collared

 If you take a look back at every style/outfit post I've ever done, you may notice that I do not wear collared shirts, with the exception of a previous appearance of the one in today's post. I've never been a big fan of the way they look on me, but after getting this uneven hemmed sweater I took a little style inspiration from my co-workers and donned it over my sole button-down. The look has grown on me so much that I've set my sights on acquiring a few more—baby style steps, right?

You may have also noticed me 'gramming some #countrylife pictures a few weeks ago...my younger sister recently bought a house just south of Des Moines, and we shot these pictures outside her barn. Gratuitous photos of my family's horses below!

Zara Coat || Inhabit Sweater || Elizabeth and James Blouse || Boyfriend Jeans

Schutz Shoes Ankle Boots (on sale!!) || Ray-Ban Aviators || NARS Lip Pencil in Yu

The Home T

If we've met, you already know I'm pretty proud of where I come from. If we haven't, you certainly know now! Born & raised in Des Moines, I moved to NYC about a year and a half ago (this Friday, actually-eek!), but I consider both places my home. I've been rocking this acrylic state necklace for a while now, but this super soft tee is a recent addition after I discovered The Home T last month. 

Not only does it help me represent my state pride, but a portion of all their proceeds are donated directly to research for Multiple Sclerosis, a cause much closer to my heart after learning that it affects the mother of a close friend (we're doing the MS Walk 2013 later this month in NYC-you can help by donating to our team page here!). 

T-shirt, The Home T (wearing an XS) | Necklace, MUZ Designs | Bag, Francesca's Collections

Jeans, Joe's | Shoes, Target (very old!) | Lipstick, Revlon Love That Pink | Nails, OPI Koala Berry

If anyone's feeling extra generous, my birthday is next month & I'd love the New York versions of this tee & necklace to honor my second home (wink, wink)!

Pictures courtesy of Jessica

xx

They Were All Yellow

It really is fall. The leaves are finally changing color here (although this photo is actually from two years ago, in Iowa-sorry to cheat but it was taken by yours truly!) and the temperatures are mild and cool. My immediate reaction once I can no longer wear summer clothes, which really used to be a lifeguarding swimsuit & something comfortable over it for about a decade, is to immediately switch to sweaters and layers and boots and coats. It dawned on me this week that it's still pretty nice here in NYC, having been in the 60's most of the last few weeks, so my usual knee-jerk reaction to dress like it's an Iowa winter has been rather unnecessary. It has also ironically been much warmer back in Iowa than here, when there's usually a frost or two by now and some light flurries of snow. 

As much as I'm not a cool or cold weather girl (the irony of growing up in the Midwest and moving out East is not lost on me here), I do love the gorgeous changes fall brings to my scenery. Hopefully, I'll get to spend a little time admiring the legendary east coast fall foliage this weekend. 

What's your favorite thing about fall? Leave a comment below!

Blank Canvas T-Shirt

Yesterday, Jessica (of Bows and Sequins) and I took our first road, well, train trip, really, to upstate New York! We met up at Grand Central in the morning (checking "take a train from Grand Central" off the bucket list now) and took a beautiful 2 hour ride up the Hudson to Poughkeepsie to see the Walkway Over the Hudson after I read about it in Time Out New York's list of musts for Fall! (You can view the entire 101 item list here.) Unfortunately, we were probably a week before the leaves hit their peak but it was still a fun day! I'll be doing a separate post about the trip and the town this week.

Some of my favorite things are making their appearances here, like my white v-necks (I own about 10 of this exact shirt!), Butter London nail polish, and my acrylic Iowa pendant-gotta represent!!

Jacket, Zara (similar) | Purse, H&M | Scarf, Forever 21 (similar)  

T-shirt, Target | Jeans, Joe's Jeans (old, similar)

Rings, various vintage & unique finds | Nail Polish, Butter London in Slapper 

Bracelets, all Sequin NYC

Laser cut acrylic pendant, MuzDesign 

I think Jessica shot this photo after we overhead some of the ladies next to us talking about their office adventures...check out that view!!