hello, october

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Happy October!

This month has a pretty good history of being my favorite. It is my birthday month, which might have something to do with it. It's also Frocktober, which has become such a fun tradition each year. (It's not too late to join me!).

I love October because it's Fall's dream month. I love it because of pumpkins, crisp leaves (in my imagination - Arizona doesn't even know the word leaves), baking, fireplaces, red and gold, Halloween, dressing up. This year it means moving into our house finally!! and going to North Carolina to see our favorite friends for a week.

This year it also means the would-have-been due date of our first sweet baby, Poppy. October 26th is a date I'm hesitant to meet. I know I'll greet it now with a much sweeter embrace than I thought I would. We are blessed. I am so grateful to have our baby boy. Even now as I type I can feel his little tosses and turns. I love this child so much, and that love has only grown and been layered by the loss of our first. But she (or he - we won't truly know until heaven) is not forgotten. Thinking of her is bittersweet. It's a tenderly bruised love. In my heart, she will always be my October girl. I would have loved sharing that with her. I will celebrate her life every year, and be blessed by the joy she gave us.

Because of these things and more, I will always be so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.

october awaits

Today is the last day of September!

I could not be more excited for October. I love October. It encompasses a lot of fun things for me -- fall, pumpkin and caramel treats, my birthday, cooler weather, my birthday (it's important). And, of course, Frocktober!

I would love to have you join me this year for a month of wearing dresses. Gather up that resolve and commit to revolutionizing the way you see your wardrobe. Frocktober is a style challenge that's fun and enlightening and will open your eyes to the clothes you have and should love wearing!

October, here we come!

#frocktobersisterhood

fall is for frocktober!

Autumn is...

birthday month pumpkin spice hay rides kettle corn weekend trips sweater weather burnt orange scarves plaid changing leaves crisp mornings harvest festivals the state fair thanksgiving fireside evenings pumpkin patches pumpkin everything s'mores camping apple cider halloween movie nights scented candles couch cuddles tights & boots spices hot drinks cozy socks caramel golden

And most of all, it's Frocktober. 

Happy first day of Autumn, friendlies!
This time of year is especially dear to me since living in Virginia -- now that we're back in Arizona, this season will look quite different. No changing leaves, the weather isn't crisp or cool yet.
Of course, all that really means is we'll have to be more creative in appreciating this season. We'll have to go visit a pumpkin patch, go to a fair, bake some homemade pies, visit Starbucks way more often (done and done). 
And, of course, Frocktober -- which will be in full swing starting next week! 

For those of you who don't know, Frocktober is my month of dress-wearing. An entire month of daily dresses! The collage above is my Frocktober 2013 challenge. This will be my third year embarking on this personal style adventure!
If you'd like to join me, I would be more than happy to induct you into the lovely Frocktober Sisterhood. The Frocktober challenge is mostly just to encourage you to experiment with your wardrobe, stretching your remixing abilities and inviting you to see your closet with brand new eyes. Even if you're active or you normally wear jeans to work, there are plenty of ways to utilize your dresses for more than just fancy-wear. And Frocktober will show you those ways. 

Follow along with me starting October 1st! And definitely let me know if you're joining me, and feel free to borrow my Frocktober Sisterhood pin for your blog if you have one!

#frocktobersisterhood

decorative cardigans

Dress/Shoes (shop!): Ruche, Sweater: LOFT

Mercy me, I love a good cardigan.
Actually, they don't even have to be good. They can be cheap and mediocre and I still like them more than many other articles of clothing.

The journey of the cardigan has been a jolly one. At first the word "cardigan" elicited visions of grandmotherly crochet sweaters, or even better, Meg Ryan from You've Got Mail. 
What a great movie.

Anyway.
The first person I met other than Meg who wore cardigans on the regular was a girl named Lauren, who I met freshman year of college. I thought it was cute and quirky, and then I realized that I was slowly becoming bewitched by them. They go with everything. They're comfortable, they make me warmer, and they come in all kinds of colors. It's like the next-door neighbor to a favorite pair of shoes.
Before long, we were browsing Target for new cardigans all the time. The first time I saw a patterned cardigan I thought the sky had opened up and bequeathed me a heavenly gift of polka-dot proportions.

I'm not sure when it began, but somewhere along the line, the cardigan snuck up on all of us and began to filter into the everyday woman's wardrobe. Not just the pixie-cut blonde types. Every style, every person, everywhere.

Honestly, this cardigan isn't even a cardigan.
It's a short-sleeved button-up sweater that is purely ornamental.
But that is how imbedded I am into cardigan culture - I wear them ornamentally now.

Frocktober day 1 has come and gone!
Will you join in on the challenge?

I love to see everyone else's Frocktober posts, and hope you'll join in (it's okay if you start a little late!). It's a great way to really dig into your wardrobe, and establish a new appreciation for your dresses and their endless versatility.
Plus, it's just a fun way to join in on the #FrocktoberSisterhood!

This little badge was created by Stephanie over at Anie Inspired, and Ruche is also hosting a Frocktober challenge for all the Ruchettes out there.
I was so excited to get this tweet from them this afternoon!

Make sure to tag any frocktober Instagram posts with #Frocktober and #FrocktoberSisterhood, and follow along with my Frocktober challenge here on the blog, and with @CaitSchan on Instagram. :)

frocktober!

October is...

birthday month pumpkin spice weekend trips sweater weather burnt orange 

apple cider halloween movie nights scented candles changing leaves crisp mornings couch cuddles tights & boots spices hot drinks cozy socks caramel

And most of all, it's Frocktober. 

An entire month of dresses!
Will you join me?
#frocktobersisterhood