Carving Pumpkins

It's the time of year y'all! Time to carve pumpkins, dress up, and go bobbing for apples. (I have actually never been bobbing for apples, it kind of sounds terrible.)  Anyhow, last weekend my roomies and I made turkey burgers, muffins, and carved our pumpkins.  It's actually a rare occasion that all three of us are home together so it was pretty nice.  Plus, here's a confession, I have never really carved a pumpkin on my own.  My memories of carving pumpkins as a child are telling my dad what I wanted on my pumpkin and watching him do it. Is that sad?

Hope you all are having a happy fall and doing lots of fall activities!

Easy Pumpkin and Chocolate Chip Muffins

The other day before the UCLA Cal game I made these easy pumpkin chocolate chip muffins for our tailgating party.  They are super easy if you want to make something festive for an upcoming party or get together.

All you'll need are:

• 2 boxes spiced cake mix
• 1 Large can pumpkin puree
• 1 Large bag chocolate chips

All you have to do is simply mix your three ingredients together, scoop into cupcake tins, and cook for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. It's that easy!

I had seen this recipe all over the internet and I was skeptical as to how they would turn out with no eggs or oil or anything but the puree keeps them moist and they are perfect.

UCLA vs Cal

This weekend I kept busy by going to my parent's house to visit and going to the UCLA Cal football game at the Rose Bowl on Saturday with my family.  In case I haven't mentioned before, my whole family are huge UCLA football fans and most of them half season tickets to the game.  Since I don't have season tickets, I'll usually go to one game a season when someone doesn't show up and has an extra ticket.  This week a ton of family members were absent due to a wedding so my sister, my mom and I were able to go.  I am happy to report that we won 37 to 10 which still leaves UCLA undefeated for the season.  Anyone who keeps up with pac 12 football knows that's long overdue since we had a pretty big losing streak for a few years up until recently.

Anyhow, that's what I have been up to lately.  Also, I've been ecstatic that it actually feels like fall.

Some September Activities

Let's catch up on what's been going on lately.  We first of all let's just state the obvious, IT'S FALL!  Which means the heat wave in San Diego has officially ended and I can actually wear sweaters and boots without feeling like I'm gonna die.  I have been taking advantage of that this week by pulling all my cardigans out of my closet and putting them to good use.  My favorite fall outfit so far has been the one pictured in the middle.

Cardigan: Old Navy

Dress: Forever21

Earings: Forever21

Glasses: Warby Parker

Phone case: Ebay

Last week was my friend Miranda's birthday and we celebrated by going out to In Cahoots, a country bar in San Diego, for drinks and dancing. Happy Birthday girl!  Also, that was probably the most exciting thing to happen to me in a while because I NEVER go out.

Back to this week, although I'm excited about the weather, this week has been extremely hectic.  I had two midterms on Tuesday; French and 19th century European art history.  I worked Wednesday night so I stated up late studying after I got home then rushed to school early the next morning to study some more.  After a bit of a stressful day my work called later that evening to see if I wanted to pick up a five hour closing shift, which I couldn't say no to, need the money!  So I worked till about 1030, and let me tell you, after that day, I don't think I've ever been more happy to see my bed.  But then this morning I went back to work for a little shopping since it's employee appreciation weekend!  As you can see I got a lot of maroon colored clothing, 1. because its the perfect fall color and 2. because my manager says it's my color and she helped me pick out half of it.  Cannot wait to wear it though, with my new boots!

And in between all of the midterms and work this week I got a cute little snapchat from my sister, it made me smile.

Tonight, to relax me and the roomies ordered pizza, made some margaritas and started watching American Horror Story (which is crazy, have any of you watched it? Creepy and addicting right?)  

What have you all been up to in these first few weeks of fall?

The Autumn Tag

I saw the autumn tag on The Marvelous Flight of Cara's blog and I obviously had to do it.  It's a well known fact that autumn is the best season in the world.  Well, maybe that's more of an opinion...nope actually I'm gonna stand by what I said, it's a fact.  Changing seasons, new Starbucks drinks, and lots of scarves and boots! Yes please!  So here are some of my favorite things about fall in The Autumn Tag...

1.  Favorite thing about autumn.
The clothes.  Not sure who doesn't love wearing boots, scarves, and tights again.  Boots and scarves are definitely my weakness, I have a closet full of boots and I literally have two drawers in one of my dressers dedicated to scarves.  I also love the change in weather and being able to curl up with a cup of coffee and read my kindle, write on my blog, or watch some Netflix while its rainy and cold outside.

2.  Favorite drink
Obviously Starbucks's PSL, Pumpkin Spice Latte!

3.  Favorite scent/candle.
Of course all candles from Bath and Body Works are to die for, I love "Autumn Day" and "Pumpkin Pecan Waffle."  But nothing can beat those smells that have some nostalgia attached to it; the scent of thanksgiving dinner cooking at my parent's house or my mom's pumpkin surprise in the oven.

4.  Best lipstick.
I am a lipstick fanatic so this is a tough one, but MAC's rebel is perfect for fall.

5. Go to moisturizer.
I have really dry skin naturally so cold weather only makes it worse.  I use Cetaphil and Palmer's cocoa butter all year round, in fall I just use more of it.

6. Go to color for eyes.
I don't really have a go to color for my eyes in autumn, pretty much depends on what mood I'm in or what I'm doing.  However, ELF's baked eyeshadows really do remind me of fall.

7.  Favorite music to listen to.
A little Iron and Wine and coffee is perfect for fall.  Also for some reason Nada Surf's cover of "If You Leave" really reminds me of fall.

8.  Favorite outfit.
Dear lord I have to pick one? Impossible.  Just a couple of examples though are, a cute dress with some boots, tights, and a chunky sweater,;or black riding pants, boots, leather jacket, and a big scarf.

9. Favorite autumn treat.
Pumpkin pie and my dad's party potatoes on Thanksgiving.

10. Favorite place to be.
In bed, at my parent's house, or at a UCLA football game!

I tag all of you to answer these questions!

Let me know what you favorite things are about autumn.

End of October

  Happy November everyone!  November may be my favorite month ever, fall is upon us, football season is in full swing, my birthday is near, and Christmas is approaching.  Before I concentrate on the wonder that is November though I though I would catch you up on what my last days of October have entailed.

  Last weekend my friends came down to visit me in San Diego for a couple of days.  Saturday day night we went out for pizza then stayed in with some cheap Whiskey and reruns of "The OC" which was relaxing.  The next day we had breakfast at my favorite breakfast place near my house, The Living Room Cafe.  Just about the best part of my day was discovering that The Living Room already had their peppermint mocha's out, so naturally I had to get one.

  Later we met up with my friend who lives nearby and got ice cream at a cozy little place in South Park that makes their own ice cream and walked around a couple shops down there, including a shop that only sells things made by locals in San Diego and Tijuana.

The place is called Make Good and I would definitely recommend going there if you're every in the San Diego area.

  My Halloween was pretty good too.  I haven't done something for Halloween in a few years so I felt like it was time to dress up again.  Of course I waited till the last minute to find a costume so I just ended up buying cat ears at the last store in the mall that had them the day of Halloween and wore those, all black, and a fur vest.  Easy costume.  

  After finally getting my costume together I spent the first half of the night with my friend Sam's family in San Ysidro taking her little cousin's trick-or-treating and playing a few games with them.  Later in the night we went to pick up another friend from her work in downtown San Diego and walked around down there.  This is my first year living in a big city for Halloween and it was crazy.  Bars were packed, the streets were filled, and everyone was in costume.  Halloween is the only time of year you can see Santa Claus, a Telly-Tubby, and Freddy Krueger having a beer together, which is kind of cool.

  Here's me and my friend Sam dressed up at Barley Mash, a local bar downtown that she and my friend work at.  And as you can see the street behind us is packed with people.  If you chose to drive downtown that night, you were screwed.

  This weekend I drove up to my parent's house for my sister's final football game!  Her and I were both cheerleaders in high school and junior high so after years and years of football games, it's kind of sad that it all came to an end last night.  Especially since my sister's school and my alma mater didn't win a single league game this year.  At least it was fun right?

Have a Happy Autumn

We all know what a magical time autumn is and because I want you all to have a successful and cozy fall I have come up with some of my favorite things, essential to fall.

1.  Festive fall lights.  No house is complete during fall without some cozy twinkle lights or fun halloween lights.  These can be found at Target.

2.  I think this one is self explanatory, what's fall without pumpkins.  My advice? Have a pumpkin carving party with some friends.  Carve your pumpkins, bake the pumpkin seeds and enjoy some coffee and pumpkin muffins.

3.  In my opinion the BEST thing about fall are cozy blankets.  Save yourself a few lazy fall days, curl up in a cozy blanket on the couch with some tea and watch your favorite movie and/or TV show.

4.  If you include a cute mug into this cozy day on the couch I promise it will make you like 89% happier.  Happy mugs make a happy life, fact.  You can find this owl mug at modcloth.com.

5.  Wreaths aren't just for Christmas, there are also tons of autumn wreaths out there just waiting to hang on your door and say, "Welcome, this is a happy home."  Don't want to buy a wreath? Make your own, there are tons of tutorials on pinterest of DIY wreaths and you can get most of the items at the dollar store!

6.  Something I desperately loved about my youth were the Halloween cookie cutters my mom had.  Sugar cookies cut out with some of these festive cookie cutters are an easy gift for friends or favor to bring to a Halloween party.  These cookie cutters shown are from Crate and Barrel.

7 & 8.  Of course the easiest way to make your house smell like happy are candles.  Lucky for us we live in a world with Bath and Body Works and can buy just about any smell in jar.  Bath and Body Works has tons of holiday smells perfect for the season such as "Autumn" and "Apple Crumble."  

Hope you all have a successful holiday season and a safe Halloween this week! What are you favorite ways to make your home fall-like?

Fall is Coming!

Anyone who knows me well knows I am obsessed with fall and winter.  Basically the time from the start of fall to Christmas is my favorite time of the year.  After this terrible heat wave here in SoCal boy am I ready for fall and fall weather.  Lately there have been a ton of fall inspired pins on Pinterest and it has been making me more excited for the season than ever.  Here are some of my favorite fall inspired pins as of lately.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 

Reasons Why I Love Fall:

• My birthday is in fall.
• The smell of cinnamon and pumpkin spice.
• Fall Starbucks drinks.
• Big scarves and boots.
• Cold weather when you're at home with a cup of coffee.
• Thanksgiving food.
• Baking Thanksgiving cupcakes and cookies.
• FOOTBALL SEASON!
• Starting to shop for Christmas!

Reasons Why I Don't Love Fall:

• Finals.

What are you favorite things about fall? Are you all as excited as I am for the changing seasons?