hooked on a feeling

Sweater (remixed 1 / 2): Francesca's, Lace Top (shop!) (similar 1 / 2 / 3): Ruche, 

Leggings (similar!) (remixed 1 / 2 / 3): Vera Wang (from Kohl's) 

I've become a really big fan of big, comfy sweaters lined with lace. I've been eyeing a few sweaters that fit the bill, but when I saw this really fluffy lace-trimmed tank top on sale over at Ruche last month I decided that perhaps I could create the look for a bit cheaper! I can also now apply this frilly layer to multiple sweaters in my closet.

This fun layering couldn't come at a better time, because we finally had our first supremely gorgeous Fall day yesterday. It was crystal clear and glorious, bright-aired and stunning. It was a high of 72 degrees which is straight-up cold for us Arizonans.
My mom was hosting a horse clinic this whole weekend, so the stables were swarming with happy horse riders, learning and laughing and socializing. Dustin and I brought our coffee out to the barn house porch to watch for a little while, and we were all shivering in the breeze! It was such a wonderful sensation. There's something in the air, a certain scent of chill. I'm hooked on that feeling of Fall.

To really up the ante, Starbucks released their red cups this weekend! Most states have already been enjoying cold weather for a while (even snow, which is mind-boggling), but these festive red cups which signify so much holly jolly could not have come at a better time here in Arizona. It's time for sweaters and sandals, which is the Arizona way.
Dustin and I made our first voyage to the red-cupped Starbucks in town and took celebratory photos as part of their #redcupcontest to win a sterling silver Starbucks card. It seems like a pretty absurd thing, to have a sterling silver Starbucks card, but now I need one. 

November is a thrilling time. I wish I could be spending my entire day outside on the porch, sipping from hot mugs and reading a good book. (Jane Austen's Emma, to be precise, which is my book club's selection this month!).

my first guest post

Good morning everyone!

I told you all before about Cara Box, and how much I enjoyed it! Well, I decided to sign up again for the fall season.
I have been paired with two lovely bloggers, one of whom is the lovely bloggess of My Life as a Long.
As it happens, we have the same name! Cait and Cait!
It's not very often that us Caitlins come across another Caitlin with the same spelling.
As every Starbucks barista I've ever encountered would testify, it's one of the trickier names to spell correctly. Way too many variations.
Although I'm pretty convinced that the one barista that spelled it "Katz" was just being ornery.

Anyway, I've run down a rabbit hole. The lovely Cait is off galavanting across deep blue waters, cruisin' it up in honor of her and her husband's anniversary! She asked me to come up with a fun guest post so that her blog would remain active while she was away.
I happily obliged, writing up a quick post on some of my favorite fall layering tips. 
I would love for you to go read it!

i feel weird saying "booties"

I had this great moment of photographic courage last night.
I went to pick up my husband from a meeting, and as I was sitting in the car listening to music, I noticed the sun was setting. It was a beautiful sunset, but it also made me realize that he was running late, and that we might run out of light before I got a chance to have him snap a few outfit photos for me.

So I did the crazy move - I set the camera on self-timer and propped it on a giant trash can, and took pictures in the parking lot.
I got a lot of stares from passersby, and two girls on a nearby bench literally stopped mid-sentence and stared openly, food dangling from their mouths. (That might be an exaggeration). Even so, it felt kind of great to be openly weird for a second.
My bravery ran out really fast though, and luckily Dusty came out soon after. Maybe one of these days, when I've mastered manual focus and invested in a proper remote, I'll feel less awkward about traipsing around with my tripod in the middle of populated areas.
But chances are...I'll opt for the deserted barn, every time.

Dress (shop!)/Boots (shop!): Ruche

The fashion world: The only place where "booties" can refer to something other than a plethora of butts.

Am I the only one who feels really weird saying it?
Whenever I say it out loud I resist the urge to giggle a little. Maybe I'm not really 25 after all.
In any case, I love my new pink booties. 
Heh heh.
Now I'm laughing again.

But seriously, I could wear these every day.
They're soft and so perfect. I love the heel on them -- and the fact that they're pink, even though it's a soft baby pink (they're called rose!), is so much fun. I can't wait to wear them again.
(Thanks, mom!).

parisian rooftops

Top/Scarf: Primark in London, Sweater: Banana Republic,
Pants: Ruche (shop!), Boots: Urbanog, Sunglasses: Ruche

Mornings in Paris were my favorite.
Our apartment was warm, cozy, and happily situated on the 7th floor with a darling balcony.
It was full of natural light, and something about waking up in that atmosphere was even more than perfect. It was like a dream.

Before the cold could hit us, before the day officially began, I would spend a few minutes out on the balcony, listening to the noises of life below and straining my eyes to see as far as I could into the city.
It was surreal and beautiful, completely invigorating and personal.
I think moments like that are the ones that often stay with us the longest, after traveling.
The intimate moments, the ones no one else will ever see or feel.