Fun Striped Fall Sweater and Fall Friday 5

Happy Fall friends! We finally got some cooler autumnal weather here in California so I took advantage and pulled out some of my recent finds. Today I'm sharing with you one of my favorites and some of my 5 fall favorites from food to podcasts. Let me know what your favorites are this time of year!

I'm having a moment with striped sweaters right now and grabbed three in the past week alone, whoops! But I think the color blocking & stripe combo is such a fun trend for fall. I recently picked this beauty up on Amazon and it was such a great deal! I've seen nearly identical versions on boutique websites for almost three times the price for pretty much the exact same quality. It is breezy and lightweight so it is perfect for this mild California weather over here. It is oversized already so don't size up. I'm wearing a small, but could have easily gone with an XS if they had it. There are also a bunch of other color combinations available and I found this in a cardiacs style as well so b sure to check them out.

Favorite Podcast
I took a break from the crime podcasts for a little bit because I found myself getting a little bit too paranoid, but I couldn't stay away for long! I have really been enjoying the Jensen and Holes Murder Squad podcast that debuted earlier this year. If you are a fan of My Favorite Murder then you may already be aware of who these guys are, but their style is completely different from Georgia and Karen and they really make you feel like you can be a part of solving whatever crime they are working on that week. Their delivery is unique and I have really been enjoying it!

Favorite Fall Show
Have you ever heard of Chesapeake Shores? I don't know why more people don't talk about this show. I love to binge it during the fall time and take in their beautiful views and wholesome family dynamic. It is better than your typical Hallmark show in that it isn't about perfect people and their perfect lives, but deals with their struggles and regular life dramas while still in beautiful Hallmark fashion. These three sisters are so much fun to watch and their small town lives are gorgeous and enviable. I highly recommend this show if you're sick of the petty and obnoxious drama that plagues our TVs these days. This is just some good ol' quality tv!

Favorite Fall Food
You're gonna hate me when I say this, but I don't really love pumpkin spice flavored anything. I know, I'm sorry. It's just not my cup of tea. I do enjoy some of the seasonal pumpkin flavored foods available this time of year, though. One of my favorite is the Autumnal Harvest Pasta Sauce from Trader Joes. The flavor is amazing and just feels so fall. Grab it next time you're in Trader Joes!

Favorite Fall Discovery
The Grove Collaborative is a company I had never heard about, but I recently saw an ad for a free 5 piece Mrs. Meyers set and it got my attention. It turns out they are a company that sells only clean and safe products ranging from home cleaning products to skincare. I already buy the Mrs. Meyers spray cleaners and liquid soaps so I clicked and have been hooked every since! I love the fall scents that Mrs. Meyers has so I ordered all three of them, but the Apple Cider has to be my favorite. They also have my Seventh Generation Detergent for cheaper than I get it at Target and a bunch of Method cleaners that I use all around my home. So I was able to get a bunch of products from them that I already use, but for a better deal AND get a bunch of free stuff. Score! Then you can set up how frequently you want them to replenish your favorites. I chose every other month, but may change it if that's too soon. You can take advantage of their deal too and pick up some of your favorites or discover some new ones.

Random Favorite
I've had my Bissel Icon Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum for about a month now and I couldn't be more obsessed with it. If you have a pet or two, especially if they are long haired, then you NEED this in your life. I loved our Shark Apex for years and thought it was doing a really good job until I got this Bissel vac and put it to work. I had used the Shark earlier in the day in the living room, but the Bissel managed to get an INSANE amount of fur out from deep in the carpet. I was amazed at how much fur that wasn't visible was still trapped in the carpet. For a few days I just went around vacuuming everything with it because suddenly my home felt filthy. I got so much fur out you guys! The vacuum is cordless and very light so it's easy to use it with the attachments to get dust and fur off tall shelves and ceiling fans without any issues. If you have pets this is the vacuum you need!

October New Releases I've Loved

Happy October friends! This is the start of my favorite time of year to curl up with a book and it also just so happens to be one of the times of year when I think the best books are being released, that might just be because I love thrillers and since Halloween is right around the corner it is also the best time of year to release them. I have four new releases for you that I've really enjoyed. One is a nice cozy read and the rest are sure to keep you up at night or at least make you a little paranoid for a bit. Enjoy!

The Wonder of Now

 This is the 3rd installment of the Sanctuary Sound series which focuses on Peyton and the events following her chemotherapy. She has finished her book about her experience and battle with cancer and is now set to go on a world book tour- much to her dismay. She just wants to get back to regular life and put her cancer behind her, but that's difficult for her when she has to keep rehashing the events in the book and the emotional toll that the past several years have taken on her. It's hardly the ideal time- or setting- for her to even think about romance, but has it somehow found her when she wasn't looking? Can she accept that somebody would truly be interested in her after all that the cancer has put her through both emotionally and physically? The Wonder of Now is a rollercoaster of emotions and is a nice little quick read. It may be my favorite of the series as Peyton teaches some very important life lessons. It's never too late for forgiveness, especially forgiving yourself.

This Little Dark Place

This Little Dark Place I devoured this mystery in just two short sittings as A.S Hatch made it very hard to walk away. The ending was something I never saw coming which is refreshing after reading back to back predictable stories. The characters were wonderful and well developed with the main character, Daniel, tugging at your heartstrings a little bit. But WOW that ending!! This story is sure to throw you for a loop!

I Will Make You Pay

Wow! Do you think you have a bad judge of character? Well Alice will give you a run for your money. When she receives a threatening phone call at her newspaper office where she is a reporter her life begins to unravel. She tried to hide her past and create a new life for herself, but has it come back to haunt her? Will she have to reveal the whole truth to not only the police, but her new boyfriend or is the threat completely unrelated? This story takes you in circles as it weaves two stories to reveal the whole truth. Who has Alice hurt so badly that now they are determined to make her pay? The ending is even better than you guessed!

Lock Every Door

If something sounds too good to be true then it probably is. Even though Jules' friend said those very same words to her after she got a job offer of a lifetime, she didn't listen. Jules has been through the ringer as she lost her job and her boyfriend and is now trying to pick up the pieces. While looking for an affordable housing option she comes across an ad as an apartment sitter. It turns out to be more than that as this opportunity is at a high profile building full of rich and famous tenants and pays an insane amount of money. All she has to do is take care of the apartment and follow their very strict rules. No nights away from the apartment, no guests, no disturbing the other guests- what could go wrong? A friendship with one of the other apartment sitters in the building begins to show her just how much could actually go wrong and I promise you that you will never see it coming! This story is insane, but in a good way and will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Amazon Try On Haul | September Hits and Misses

 All of these are paired with one of my favorite Bralettes. 

I've been looking to add more loungewear pieces to my closet so cozy leggings and tanks have been my jam. I've also been looking for a pair of affordable white leggings that aren't see-through and although I still haven't found them, I did find these super soft and under $20 ones. They are only slightly see-through on my rear so I wouldn't wear them without a top that covers, but otherwise I do like them. They have pockets on the leg that I probably won't use, but they are a cute detail. They are high waisted, but don't really have any tummy control which is fine for something I just want for comfort and lounging around in. This "always hungry" tank is also super cute and comes in several colors. The back has a twisted cross detail that is also cute. Both of these are a size small and are under $20.

This tie front top is so lightweight and soft. Do I even need to point out the gorgeous green color? The sleeves have a balloon detail and the buttons do work. This is a size small so I'd say it is true to size. I think I'll be wearing this top a ton once the weather cools down.

This is another great tie front top that I think I'll be wearing a bunch. I actually already ordered it in a second color. It is a super soft waffle knit material with working buttons and is also under $20!

This top gave me all the Free People vibes. It has lace detailing at the bottom and is a nice waffle knit material with raw edges on the shoulders. I will say that it is much longer in person than it looks in the picture which doesn't sit that well on my 5'1" frame. It would look really cute with leggings as well! This is a size small and it is also under $20!

I had such high hopes for this jumpsuit, but again, my height is an issue. I'm 5'1" and the legs on this are just a few inches too long for me. This is a size small and it fits loose and comfortably even on my wide hips & butt area. It is not lined and is made of a pretty thin and airy fabric so it is pretty see-through. I paired it with some long shape wear shorts to give the appearance of lining, but I think next time I would pair it with a cami as well. I do think this could work if I got it hemmed, but at the moment I feel a bit like I'm about to go paint a house and a bit like an oompa loompa. 

This breezy button up cami comes in so many colors and is easy to dress up or down. It does run somewhat big. This is a small and I have it tied to be more fitted, otherwise I wear it tucked in. The straps were also really long, but adjustable. I have my straps tightened all the way and as you can see it is still somewhat low cut so keep that in mind. I also wore this on the Fourth of July since its the perfect patriotic shade of blue. These sandals are also from Amazon and are from my previous Amazon Hits and Misses.

These are the same leggings from above paired with a tie back tank that I tied at the hip and a lightweight jacket. The tank is lightweight and is a great staple with a triangle mesh cutout in the back that's perfect for working out. This jacket has the prettiest floral print on it and is a beautiful sea green color. It is super lightweight and isn't lined, however, and won't do a whole lot to keep you warm. I do think it is perfect for this transitional weather, especially in mild climates like here in California, so I will probably get a pretty good amount of use out of it for running errands and evening walks. This is a size small and it is another under $20 steal!

This is what the previous grey tank looks like when it is tied in the back. When tied like this it does get pretty tight in the tummy area, but it can also be worn untied for a looser fit or at the hip as I did above. This is a size small and it is pretty true to size.

Check out last months Amazon Hits and Misses!

Everything I Wore on Our Vacation

So our impromptu road trip along the central coast has come to a close and now I'm home sick in bed wishing I could press the rewind button and relive it. For now I'll just relive the outfits I wore and posted on Instagram and start planning our next road trip, but I've gotta say that it isn't quite as fun.

We left our 100 degree town to enjoy beautiful 70 degree weather all week and I might miss that most of all. It's September and I've finally reached the point where I can't take this heat anymore, but I digress. The weather was amazing so I got to pull out a couple of sweaters and ankle boots. Did I mention how nice it was?

Most of what I wore is from Amazon, but is that really shocking? I may have spent a little too much time on Amazon this past summer and I'm trying to work on that, but can we agree that the almighty Amazon is amazing and hard to quit? Where else can you get a great deal on coffee pods, sweaters, and shoe organizers all in one place? See? Don't get me started about Amazon. This will turn into the longest post I've written yet. So before I get carried away on another tangent here's everything I wore (or got a picture of anyway) on our road trip. 

This jumpsuit is so comfy! It has a button clasp on the top, but I usually like to wear it open like this with a bodysuit or cute bralette underneath. The jogger style pants are perfect for this transitional weather and can be worn up as I have them or pulled down into full pants. The cinched waist is also perfect for enjoying road trip food and not having to worry about a food baby.

I can't tell you just how much I love this kimono. The feminine lace details are amazing and trust me when I say that the photos do not do this stunner enough justice. The price is also amazing! I can't wait to see how many different ways I can style it. It also makes the perfect swimsuit coverup and has a tie to keep it closed if needed. This hat is also AMAZING! It is such great quality and is another under $20 Amazon steal. I already ordered a second color and may not be stopping there. 

I couldn't not pack any leopard, right? It's the perfect neutral. We've all agreed around here that leopard is a neutral so don't bother trying to convince me otherwise. This dress I found on Amazon Prime has a super cute leopard print, but I do have to say that it is thin and requires a slip underneath. In general, I don't love the fabric to be honest, but at under $20 I decided to keep it and I'm actually glad that I did! It's not something that I'll be keeping in my closet forever, but for now I'm really enjoying it.

These leggings were featured in my recent Amazon hits and misses and I've really been enjoying them. They're under $20 and great quality. I paired it with this waffle knit v-neck top and a bralette for our adventure into a preserve which was low impact so I didn't need the same support as I would while running so these were perfect! I'm also still so in love with these lightweight sneakers!

This sweatshirt is SO cute! I had to have it the moment I saw it. When I first received it I wasn't impressed with the fabric and size. It runs smaller than expected and isn't the regular sweatshirt material that was shown in the picture, but when I tried it on I fell in love. If I'd had time before we left I probably would have exchanged it for a size up, but I'll still get plenty of use out of this small.

This lace trimmed kimono is so dreamy! The unique detail sold me as soon as I saw it. I find myself wearing black less and less these days since we have a white cat who sheds everywhere and I'm not a fan of walking around with visible fur all over my clothes, but since we were away I thought I'd take advantage. This dress ended up actually being a pain that would rise up with every step so I didn't link this one and instead linked another one that I plan to order to replace this one.

A little more leopard was needed and I found it in this gorgeous leopard coverup! It's lightweight and ties at the waist AND is under $20!!

I'm bummed that there were a few other things that I didn't get pictures of, but I was just trying to enjoy myself so I forgot. I'll be sharing my pajamas on Instagram too so be sure to follow me there!

September Reading List

The Girl He Used to Know
Tracey Garvis Graves
I loved this book so much! It is a slower paced read which is exactly what I was looking for in between the heap of thrillers I've been reading. While not in such extremes, I related to the main character and easily took a liking to her. Tracy Garvis Graves created well developed characters and scenarios that felt familiar and believable. Annika Rose and her anxiety take you on a journey through love and fears and teaches valuable lessons about second chances. If you're looking for an easy and calm read, especially if you've been reading a bunch of thrillers like I had, then I highly recommend this one.

Finding Grace

K.L Slater

Nothing good every comes from keeping secrets as we see for ourselves in Finding Grace. When the daughter of Lucie and Blake Sullivan goes missing while walking home from her friends house just down the street nobody understands how it could have happened. It took all of a few minutes for her to vanish into thin air as her dad waited in their driveway for Grace to round the bend between the two houses. When Grace doesn't appear suspicious begins to fall on her own father who seems to be keeping some secrets. Can Lucie truly trust her husband or is there something more obvious happening? When the past comes to haunt Lucie she must find the courage to face it head on or lose everything. Or will she lose it all anyway? This book is so entertaining and full of twists and turns with an ending that is sure to surprise you!

The Doctor

Lisa Stone

You see what people want you to see is the phrase that comes to mind after reading The Doctor. This is one of those books where in the same sentence you're rolling your eyes at how unrealistic the plot is and then biting your nails in anticipation of what happens next. When a couple moves in next-door to a doctor and his wife they don't get the welcome they expected. Even after several failed attempts to befriend her neighbors Emily keeps finding new ways to reach out the couple next door. It all seems to go nowhere until suddenly Emily goes missing. Well, not missing exactly. While alone in the house one night while her husband worked late and after Emily had put her son to bed Emily seemingly decided to leave her husband for another man. Or so her note says. Her jilted husband can't accept the truth of the letter and believes something more sinister is going on. It's a battle between his parents and hers as well as his gut and the thoughts of the police that leave him going back and forth. Where has Emily, a loving wife and mother, really gone? This is a twisted story that will leave you a little more suspicious of your neighbors and what they're really up to behind closed doors.

Date Night 
Samantha Hayes

Prepare to be shocked with this one! I was going in circles this entire book trying to figure it out, and I was still so surprised! This story is so well developed and the premise is so twisted that you might as well just quit trying to figure it out. What was meant to be a date night to get things back on the right track for a couple ends up being a web of nightmarish events that could end up being the end of them. What in the world really happened and who is not being completely honest. Don't be so quick to believe everything in this book and be prepared to be glued to the pages in this twisted thriller!

Amazon Try on Haul | Hits and Misses

I have a confession. I'm addicted to Amazon. I find so many deals and so many great items without having to leave my couch and then they just appear on my doorstep a day or two later like magic. What's not to love? I'm really ashamed to say just how many orders I place a month so I'll just let you use your imagination. Over the past year I've really been impressed with their clothing options, but mostly I'm impressed with their easy returns. Ever once in a while I do find some duds that I need to return and knowing that it isn't going to be a hassle to send back makes me order over and over without thinking twice  It's bad for my bank account, but my closet it happy.

I know it's become a popular thing to do Amazon try on hauls on Instagram, but I wish more people would show the fails as well so that we know what to avoid as much as what to buy because for every five items that I loved there is one item that was disappointing. SO that's exactly what I've set out to do! You won't just be seeing what worked out for me, but take a look at what's going back-and why as well. Enjoy!

I've been on the hunt for cozy loungewear and comfy leggings and I'm glad to have found these two gems. These leggings are surprisingly good quality and do a pretty good job at sucking you in. They are under $20, true to size and are perfect for lounging around the house. This sweater is also true to size and a great price! It is lightweight with an oversized fit and comes in a couple other color options. Both of these are keepers for me.

This Journey tank gives me all the heart eyes. I'm a huge Journey fan and had to have it the moment I saw it. I ordered a size medium for a slightly oversized fit.

This dress has the most beautiful print! It reminds me of a Waverly fabric that I made my mom some curtains from. This dress is not a true wrap dress. It is sewn to look like it and the belt is not attached. The fabric is a stretchy and somewhat slinky fabric similar to a bathing suit. Although it isn't see through, the fabric is thin and unforgiving so you may want to wear a slip or shape wear underneath.  I'm still torn about keeping this one!

This jumpsuit was my biggest disappointment. I think it would work for somebody taller, but it just overwhelms my petite frame. It is a lightweight fabric that's perfect for this transitional weather and has a very stretchy waistband. The bust area, however, was too big for me and the pockets puffed up at my hips and made them look wider than they already are. I wish this one worked for me, but as I said, I think it's better suited for taller women.