Lust vs. Must

Today I have a fashionable, beauty savvy blogger filling in for me (see previous post on why I'm not on my blogging game right now) - Amanda of A Goode Hue! Lucky for me, Amanda lives in my hometown so I get to brag that I know her IRL. Check out her post below and stop by her fun blog!

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Hi guys! I am thrilled that Leeann reached out to have me guest post this week, I met Leeann last year at a blogger meetup—my very first—and she quickly became one of my blogging buddies. Cool fact, she is originally from the city that I live in now and she even went to the same high school that my boyfriend attended. Small world, right?

This week I am highlighting a few of my fall must-haves for the penny pincher. I am a total window shopper and am always finding items that I love, but the price tag? Not so much! This girl is on a budget and am on the hunt for the latest and greatest beauty and fashion finds. Here is what’s on my Lust vs. Must list this week:

Camel Cardigan: I have been on the hunt for a long cardigan in a rich camel shade but as soft as it may be, the J.Crew cashmere cardigan is just way out of budget. Luckily this knit H&M cardigan is an inexpensive alternative.

Nude Blush: Soft and sheer pink blushes top my favorite makeup looks for fall and the shade of this rose Dior Nude Shimmer Instant Illuminating Powder is absolutely gorgeous, but $56 for a blush is just not in my budget. Luckily, this pretty Physicians Formula Nude Wear Blush is.

Oxblood Handbag: Oxblood remains as one of my top color picks for fall and this season I am drooling over the Michael Kors 'Medium Sutton' Saffiano Leather Tote. At that price I won’t be toting it around anytime soon, but you just might catch me with the ModCloth Office to Outing bag.

What have you been lusting after this fall?

Easy Ways to Look More Polished

Today I have a great guest post by Elisabeth of Headbands and Bagels! She's bringing us workplace fashion tips. It's perfect for me since I started a job this week, and the attire is business casual, which I'm haven't had to dress for in years.

1. Pick your outfit the night before. This can help prevent you from mismatching from grabbing clothes too fast.

2. A cami is an office gals best friend. Especially if you have a larger chest like me, you are always better off throwing on a thin cami underneath to protect you from flashing just a bit too much cleavage. Also opt for higher cut necklines that leave it up to the imagination.

3. Not tailoring your clothes, especially pants. You don't want to be that person hiking their pants up throughout the day. Invest a few dollars in a tailor to take your pieces from nice to exceptional. I have a tailor I go to all the time. I know that I have big boobs and a butt with a smaller waist. So I often need dress and skirt hems modified to cover more in the back and pants to be brought in at the waist.

4. Put on all your accessories and then take one off. Especially at work go for one statement piece of jewelry and let the rest be more subtle or ditch the statement all together and go for a printed top or dress instead.

5. Carry the smallest bag you can. You know us. As women we keep adding to our bags until they are bulging. Take only the size you need for that day's tasks and pare down to the essentials for that day.

6. When in doubt go with a midsize heel. I am a huge flats fan, but they don't go with every look. I also know that I feel most powerful in a great pair of mid height heels. They give instant polish while remaining comfortable enough to navigate the streets.

7. Always have a power outfit for any occasion. Have your go to look for work, casual weekends and nights out, so that if you find yourself in an outfit rut, you have an immediate backup choice that you know makes you feel good and look good.

Go say hi to Elisabeth over at Headbands and Bagels. I've had the pleasure of hanging out with her a few times and she's awesome. You'll love her!

Guest Post: Vodka Infused Lemonade

Today I'm excited to have Angie from Vodka Infused Lemonade filling in for me while I'm on vacay. She's super fashionable and hosts a weekly linkup on Thursdays. Read more to learn about her blog hop and how to join the fun!

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I'm really excited to be guest blogging here on Leeann's blog today. Thank you so much Leeann for having me. I hope you are enjoying your vacation.

Last week I needed to run to the grocery store and I was just going to put on a maxi dress and head out the door. Then it dawned on me that I could add a denim vest, my heart pendant and my cross-body bag to make my simple maxi dress into an outfit. Have you ever just walked out the door in simple jeans and t-shirt and then saw someone who added a necklace and blazer and thought wow, she sure looks put together??? That's exactly what I was thinking as I was putting together my outfit. Why head out the door in a simple maxi when I can look and feel more put together??? It took me only a few extra minutes and I felt much better about myself.

 

Dress (Gap). Vest (Old Navy). Necklace (J Crew). Watch (Michael Kors). Bracelet (Stella & Dot). Purse (Fossil c/o The Bay).

The key to creating an outfit is to slowly build on it. Start with a blank canvas. In my case it was a simple maxi dress. Next step is to add a cardigan, blazer or a denim vest. The idea is to complete the look. You can also do that with a scarf, once the weather gets cooler. Next add some jewelry. A great statement necklace, bracelets, earrings, watch, hat, you name. The key is to add some subtle touches. Then add some cute shoes, in my case I decided on some sandals. I then completed my look with a cross-body bag. Again the purse can bring the entire outfit together. It may seem daunting but play around with your jewelry, with hats, scarves, purses, shoes. It's exactly like dress up!!!!!!

 

The next time you're putting together an outfit, consider adding some finishing touches like jewelry, hat, scarf, fabulous shoes or cardigan/blazer/denim vest to make an outfit out it.

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Told you she was adorable! Now here's where the fun comes in. If you're blogging about fashion, head over to Angie's to link up for her weekly blog hop, Tres Chic Fashion.

   

Guest Post: The Stories of Kelsey

Happy Wednesday! I arrived home from New Orleans last night and I'll have a bunch to recap soon. But today Kelsey of The Stories of Kelsey is giving me a little extended blog vacation and filling in. Check out her post and be sure to visit her blog!

   

Hello all you Join the Gossip fans! Thanks to Leeann for having me over on her blog today! I thought I would introduce myself to you by telling you a few fun facts about me.

I've been hit by a car while crossing the street as a pedestrian. Full story here.

I hiccup at least 10 times a day and it sounds like a baby Tera Dactyle. It is so loud and I have no idea when I am going to do it. It is definitely embarrassing. 

 

I always said I would never live in Utah but after having to turn down a great opportunity in Boston my husband and I found ourselves living here and it is actually pretty great. 

 

I always avoid stepping on man holes after my college roommate's grandmother fell down one while walking down the street.   
Even though I look pretty healthy I battle with Ventricular Tachycardia in my heart and Endometriosis.  I once was pulled over for jaywalking. I wasn't sure what to do so I just sat down. Yes, they put their sirens on and everything.   

I am really good at hula hooping. I could probably go for hours and hours if I didn't get bored and stop. 

 

  I am a master aesthetician and so I have a huge love for skin care.    ------
  I thought today I would share some of my favorite tips and tricks for achieving healthier looking skin.  

Facial Massage I know it sounds crazy but just like your body loves getting a massage, your facial muscles really like it too! Some of the benefits of facial massage are stimulated blood & lymph circulation, helps improve muscle tone,  helps absorb product, and reduction in puffiness & sinus congestion. Start at your chin and pay extra attention to your jawline. and with circular motions work your way up up your cheeks. Make sure to go over the bridge of the nose. Work your way up to your forehead and circle your way out to your temples. Spend extra time at the temple to help relieve stress.

 

Try New Products Just because you read a raving review or saw a great commercial for a certain product doesn't mean that it is the right product for you. We all have very different skin types that require different products. Just because your best friends loves a certain brand doesn't mean it is the right one for you. It takes the skin about 2-3 weeks to get used to a new product. Give a new product at least that long to see how your skin reacts.  

Use Sunscreen Daily Yes, even in the dead of winter. UV rays can go through the windows of your house, car, and even through the clouds. It is important to always wear at least an spf 15. Many moisturizers now come with an spf included so you don't have to feel like you are going to the beach slathering on sunscreen just to go to work. 

 

Be Aware of External Factors Although internal factors have a big impact on the health of your skin, external factors do as well. Misuse of products, poor maintenance and care, environment, pollutants, air quality and of course the sun have a huge impact on the health of your skin. Did you know 80% of premature aging caused by external factors can be attributed to the sun? This is why sunscreen is so important!   
Hopefully you were able to learn a few new things about how to care for you skin. Feel free to leave a comment, leave an email or visit my blog Stories of Kel if you have any more questions!

Guest Post From Casual Jenny

Today my agenda consists of touring the New Orleans Garden District. I did this last year when I visited but I'm a sucker for some sightseeing so I'm having another go at the neighborhood. Jenny of Casual Jenny is here to talk TV while I'm gone. Be sure to show her some love!

 



Hi! I'm Jenny and I blog about my new house, new husband, food and DIY over at my blog Casual Jenny.   I hope you will stop by and say hello!

I am excited to be guest blogging for Leeann while she's away! Have fun, Leeann!

Her recent post about the upcoming fall TV season got me reminiscing about some of my favorite shows that are off the air. Fortunately, you can still watch most of them on Netflix!

30 Rock 
Hello, who doesn't love Liz Lemon!? I know this show only ended last year, but I was super bummed. It is hilarious!It's about a show similar to Saturday Night Live and it's head writer, Liz Lemon.  From Tracy's billions of dollars, Jack's Republicanism, Liz's quest for love and all of the amazingly hilarious minor characters (Lutz....seriously!) I could watch this show over and over on Netflix.

Freaks and Geeks
My husband and I just finished watching the first (and only) season of this show, and I am so glad we did! It is so relatable, but also funny and lighthearted. Plus, it stars a young James Franco. Just sayin'. It follows a brother and sister, Lindsey and Sam Weir, who are a freak and a geek, respectively, through a year of high school. Our favorite character was Bill, one of the geeks. He seems to be one of the only cast members who hasn't really done much other work, which is sad, because he is amazing!

Wings

Okay, yeah, getting into 90's territory here. I just have fond memories of watching this with my grandma when I was young and would visit her in the summer. It takes place at an airport in Nantucket, Mass, and focuses on two brothers who own a small airline.  Most of the more "adult" jokes went over my head at the time, but I definitely recognized this was a good show! It stars the guy who was on Monk too! Just a fun sitcom. You can catch it on Netflix!

Northern Exposure

Okay, again with the 90's shows but seriously....I tell everyone I can to watch this show! This is another one my grandma introduced to me (she has pretty good taste in TV now that I think about it!) It takes place in small town Alaska and follows the lives of the strange and interesting people there, namely a New York doctor who was forced to move there to pay off medical school loans, a female pilot, and May-September couple, and a former astronaut. Unfortunately, the series isn't available on Netflix or Hulu! I have one season on DVD and I hope to get more of them!

Newsradio

My last pick is Newsradio. This show takes place in a radio station full of eccentric characters. It stars Phil Hartman, Andy Dick and Joe Rogan, too! Phil Hartman passed away in the middle of the show's run, unfortunately. He was too funny. This show isn't on Netflix, but you can watch it for free on Hulu!

Talls vs. Smalls + Target

Today I am filling in for my life partner, Tiffany of Polka Dotted Cats, which she's off celebrating her birth week. Go check out my post that counts the many ways we are exact opposites!

AND This month I'm sponsoring Shanna's blog and also a part of a HUGE group giveaway. Be sure to enter!

Now let's talk Target...

That store always has a way of sucking me in. Pretty sure it sucks everyone in. I mean, you can get pretty much anything there at a decent price. But that's where you get into trouble. You grab a top, some shoes, a few DVDs, coffee mugs, and before you know it you've blown 100 bucks. That's about the average at Target, right?

Here are my week's four favorites, courtesy of Target.

1. Prabal Gurung sleeved dress / This is such a classic dress and would get so much use. 

2. Linen blazer / Nautical + perfect for spring! 

3. With Love by Hilary Duff perfume / My FAVORITE perfume. I know, but it's amber and amazing. 

4. Armless Upholstered Accent Slipper Chair Black Chevron / Who doesn't want a chevron chair?

 

Linking up For Random Wednesday & Four Favorites

Guest Post: Interpret As You May

I'm Amy from Interpret As You May. I currently live in Texas and graduated from (and now work for) Texas A&M University. I married my high school sweetheart over 3 years ago, and am really happy to write here today?

Today I wanted write about my Top 3 favorite things about Texas in the Fall!

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Source: alexmeixner.wordpress.com via Rachel on Pinterest

#1: Festivals I grew up in New Braunfels, TX, which features a prominent "ode to sausage!" (and beer) called Wurstfest. My grandparents have been volunteering since the 70's, my mom went with her friends in high school & I haven't missed a year since middle school.

Source: aggieathletics.com via Marcus on Pinterest

#2: Football Of course living in a football town, college football totally rules the weekend around here. It's a sight to see an extra 50,000 people pour into town, taking over restaurants and parking spots and the roads! Game day in College Station is electric & it's hard to avoid the excitement.

Source: homesicktexan.blogspot.com via J.b. on Pinterest

#3: Chili Ah, chili. Texas chili. All meat, no beans. Tomato rich, and super spicy. That's my preference. My husband made our first pot of the season a week ago, and I was just reminded of how awesome fall is. You can't really beat a good pot of chili, a good beer & some homemade cornbread.

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I know these aren't specific to Texas, but I'm prone to believe we do it a little bit better here ;) Where are you from? And what's your favorite part of fall there? and if it's apple picking, I'm jealous .... the closest apple picking farm is 5+ hours away! Thanks Leeann for letting me guest post ? I hope you guys enjoyed it & will come visit me!

Guest Post: Little Girl in the Big World

Hey guys! I'm Meghan from Little Girl in the Big World, and I blog mainly about running and style, but I throw in a few other topics as they strike my fancy. I'm excited to be here guest posting for Leeann while she's gallivanting around Australia. While Leeann was super open about what we could talk about, I begged her to think of some ideas, and one of the things she suggested was sharing pictures from my recent wedding and honeymoon.  And because many hours were spent for an entire year planning it all, I'll never pass up the opportunity to share a few. We got married at the Tampa Museum of Art on July 21st, and then we headed to Kauai, Hawaii for a little over a week on our honeymoon. I have a ton more pictures on my blog.  I also thought I'd share my love of outfit creating and assemble an idea for a fall formal wedding ensemble. I also took the liberty of browsing my favorite online retailers that I rarely actually purchase from because of price. But, it's always fun to look and be inspired! The one rule I have for wedding attire is never to wear white. I find it to be so tacky when someone wears white to a wedding. That's the bride's color! Is that only a southern thing? Here is the wedding and honeymoon:

 

We enjoyed those days so incredibly much and will never ever forget them.  And for the fall wedding outfit:

dress//sweater//clutch//earrings and cuff//shoes

Obviously this is a formal look, but I always appreciate a good opportunity to get dressed up. I would keep the tights if I were not headed to a wedding in Florida (where I live).

What do you think? Is if good for fall, or should it hold off until the holidays? That was my other thought...

Stop by my blog sometime! Thanks for reading!