My Halloween Costume

 

I usually dread the anxiety that comes from picking the perfect costume every year. I always

want to be something unique but still have people understand who I am. Freshman year I went

as a toddler from Toddlers & Tiaras and everyone just thought I was a pageant queen. (fail) 

This year, thanks to my recent obsession with Parks & Recreation, I am Leslie Knope.

Even though I truly feel that my spirit person is Ben Wyatt, I thought it would be funny to go 

as Leslie. And the only way to complete a Leslie Knope costume is to wear a Li'l Sebastian

shirt. Not only do I love the costume, it also only cost around $12. I had to buy the white shirt

and the iron-on picture materials but everything else I own! (Well, the buttons were handmade or

purchased from the thrift store for 50 cents. I love how aggressive the American flag pin is.)

I'm Leslie Knope, and these are all the things I support::

Have an amazing and safe Halloween!!
What are you being?

A Note for Thursday

via

work hard

and

try not to worry

ok? 

(maybe you needed this reminder like i did.)

Home

Yesterday I was walking home from school in the early evening and a certain smell stood out amongst the car exhaust surrounding me. It was the smell of water. But a very specific kind of water.

It had a slight fishy smell mixed with some algae but it wasn't the ocean. It smelled more pure and clean. It smelled like standing on a pier facing Lake Tahoe.

As I continued down the street I smelled campfire and smiled because both scents remind

me instantly of Tahoe but in very different locations. One reminds me of paddleboarding

on the lake and the other reminds me of sitting around a big campfire roasting marshmallows

and swapping stories. Both distinctly Tahoe scents. (at least to me)

And then I became homesick for my home away from home.

I haven't been homesick once this fall, which is a huge feat for me. I have been fully enjoying

my time in Tucson and will be sad to leave come December. But every once in a while the 

thought of Tahoe creeps into my mind and I wish I could transport myself there with ease. 

Maybe it's the Nor Cal girl in me but Tahoe will always be home and I will always miss it.

(I mean, look at that scenery!!)

Things I Love

Buy here

Amy Poehler's new book sounds hilarious and like a great read. I loved Tina Fey and Mindy Kaling's

books and I think hers is going to be at the top of my favorite books list soon.

Source

 Lauren Conrad has impeccable taste, as we all know, and she just shared her top ten

pumpkin decorating ideas and they. are. adorable. I love the flower one shown above and the 

gilded ones are also incredible. 

Have you listened to Taylor's new album yet? Thoughts?? I'm gonna pick it up today and
figure out all the codes and hyper-analyze every little lyric. (It's the only way)

I've been excited about this collarboation for quite some time! Gap Kids and Kate Spade/Jack Spade
have teamed up and the collection is available at Gap starting October 30th!!
It's only in stores for two weeks though so hurry! Check it out here!



Have you seen this yet? I can't wait till Into the Woods comes out! Fun fact: my sister and I
were in a kids version of the musical when we were both in elementary school! That's when I
decided the stage was definitely not for me. I'd rather appreciate it than be a part of it!!

Do you have anything you've been loving and I should be aware of??

Mood Board

I saw this cookbook on Anthropologie's website and immedietly wanted to create
a mood board around it. Lately I have been fascinated by stone and marble and how intricate
and beautiful they are. There is no definite pattern in marble and yet it always turns out
stunning. You can add some extra sparkle and glamor to an office space or your home
in general by adding some marble or stone touches. How beautiful would that stone paperweight
be in a bookshelf? If that cookbook was mine, I would place it somewhere the eye catches
so it's more of a statement piece. I think I'm going to have a house full of cookbooks
someday but never actually cook out of them, just stare at them! haha

And some links for your weekend reading:

You should read Natalie's post because it's just so good.

I'm a big fan of some well placed wallpaper (I can see my mom rolling her eyes in disgust right now. She hates wallpaper) and this round-up shows the prettiest designs around!

I love reading about other people's college experiences (and snooping into people's lives in general because people are fascinating, ya know?)

I  want to find the perfect lipstick shade for me. I like this article on a bold lip.

It would be fun to pull off these rhubarb hued glasses.

I want to make this when I'm home for Thanksgiving! Yum!! Amanda has the best recipes.

Happy Friday!

The times, they are a' changing

 High school graduation circa 2011

College graduation circa 2014

Lately I have been feeling ultra nostalgic and who's to blame me, I'm graduating in 2 months

almost to the day. It is crazy to me that I have had this blog since my senior year of high school

and now I am completing my senior year of college. There are so many memories

in these pages (not that you need to look back on most of them because wow, embarrassing)

and a whole lot of growth. If you go back far enough you'll see that I was unsure of where I

wanted to go to college until the very end and you'll see me fumbling through Freshman year,

get moody in my sophomore year and doubt my future profession, then I head off to Italy

and my life changes for the better, and then I'm back in Tucson where sure, things weren't

perfect, but are they ever? I fell in love with Tucson, I joined new clubs, I made

new friends and got to observe a speech-language pathologist at my dream school, Vanderbilt.

And now I've been documenting my senior year at the University of Arizona and it has

been my best fall yet. 

Fall and I have a complicated relationship. I adore the changing of the seasons and the cooler weather

(not that we truly get either of those here in the old pueblo) but school is always more challenging

for me in the fall. I think it's mostly emotional but I always get homesick and my grades always

slip. But this fall has been different. I've had bright eyes this entire semester and I finally

feel secure in my path towards becoming an SLP. I don't know what the spring will bring, 

if I'll get into grad school, if all my friends will keep in touch, or if I'll have a job,

but I know it'll all work out. He has a plan for me and it's better than anything I could dream up.

I'm not quite sure how to end this other than to say thank you for reading. 

Thank you for being a part of my journey thus far. :)

The Perfect Tote

One thing I would love for my 22nd birthday (I know, I know, it's only October and my birthday is in January! Blame the spending freeze!) is a classic and well-made tote bag.  I thought
putting together a little collage would be a fun way to shop around and also

day dream about which one I want. ;) I love the Michael Kors totes because they come in 

so many colors but the Gigi one is also great! And don't even get me started on that Bien tote!

I don't think it would be totally appropriate for grad school but I love it regardless. 

Do you have a favorite place for tote bags?
I would love any and all suggestions!

Playing Catch-Up

 I saw this on Michaela's blog this morning and really wanted to join along, so yes, there are 

two posts today! Yay Friday!

Making: Lots of flashcards and edits to my grad school applications. I have two big tests next week and a paper due plus the apps so staying organized is key!

Drinking: Obscene amounts of coffee and English Breakfast tea. Helllooo caffeine!

 

Wanting: A new tote bag for school! I have a post coming up next week with some of my favorites. :) But for now, the spending freeze continues!

Eating: I'm eating way too much Mexican food lately. I go on these weird food obsession kicks every once in a while and right now it's Mexican food from my favorite place. I have to get all the good Mexican while I'm still in the southwest!

Smelling: My holiday candles. One is vanilla and the other is pine. I know Halloween hasn't even happened yet but they soothe me.

Wishing: I'm wishing for my tests to go well next week and also that I get my letters of recommendation packets put together by the end of next week!

Enjoying: I've been loving the cooler mornings and evenings here. It still gets into the high 80's in the afternoons but it doesn't matter when it at least cools down. I'm also just enjoying Tucson and my final months here.

Loving: I'm loving everything from Anthropologie right now. I also love the book, Calm My Anxious Heart. I don't think there could possibly be a better book for me haha!

Hoping: That the weather drops down into the 70's soon! I really want some cooler weather so I can start wearing sleeves and maybe a light jacket?

Needing: To get moving! I have to get my day going! (#procrastination)

Feeling: I am feeling very hopeful. I am content with my major, the grad schools I'm applying to, and I'm excited for the future!

Wearing: I'm currently wearing more professional clothes because I have some research testing to do this morning!

Bookmarking: I've been bookmarking all of the Christmas gift ideas I have for friends and family!!

Noticing: How much I miss Italy. I have a good friend (Hi, Valeria!!) who is in Orvieto right now and I am having some major envy! My sister is also going to be studying abroad in Italy next semester so I am bound to be jealous of the two of them for a while longer. Italy will always be a piece of home to me. 

 

If you want, you should tag along! 

Happy Friday!!

It's Feeling Like Fall

I definitely felt too trendy for the farm when I wore this. But every part of this outfit reminds

me of fall and it had to be worn to a farm. At least I was wearing closed-toe shoes! 

Whenever I go to a pumpkin patch it is nearly impossible to not pose with a pumpkin.

I couldn't choose which pumpkin I liked more so I posed with two! 

Have you been to a pumpkin patch yet?

Kindness Stories

via

This past weekend I had just finished volunteering at the folk festival in town and was on the 

phone with my mom when I decided to take a seat on the ground. I was fairly content just sitting

there in the shade but then a man did something so kind, it took me back a bit. 

The man came over to me with a chair and placed it right next to me and just smiled. I then

profusely thanked him and was awestruck by his simple act of kindness for the rest of the day.

I think the act of spreading kindness is incredibly important, especially when it's most 

difficult. Something I would love to start is to begin sharing stories of kindness. Whether it

be something you have done or something a stranger did, all types of kindness are important.

If you have a kindness story to share, please email me (allienotsally@att.net) and I

would love to share it on here! 

Let's spread the kindness around!

A Farm in the Fall

Best frayns!

Agua Linda Farm (remember this post?) is on my list of happy places. This list includes places
such as Disneyland, Tahoe and Carmel and now, The Farm. There is something about a farm
in the fall with families all around, actual Pumpkin Spice Latte's (non of that Starbucks fake
stuff), Casper playing on a projection screen, and horses grazing nearby that just screams
"THIS IS HEAVEN!"

Do you have a list of your happy places? These are the spots that instantly bring you peace
and feel a little like home.

One Shirt Three Ways

Outfit 1

This jean shirt is one of my favorite shirts because of its versatility. The outfit above is one of my classic go-to's because it's comfortable and the shorts add just enough pizazz with a plainer shirt.

 

 

Outfit 2

This is the same outfit from Monday! I love how it is the perfect fall look and it's almost

the time when I can wear this and not sweat like crazy! Yay!

 

Outfit 3

 This skirt is one of my favorite statement pieces that I own and it works perfectly with

the jean shirt. It's a girly outfit and also perfect for the summer to fall transition. When it
does start getting colder, you can switch out the sleevless chambray shirt with one that has
longer sleeves.

With my spending freeze in full force, I thought it would be fun to showcase one shirt three ways.

I've now reached the point where I am struggling to like my clothes much longer but that

might also be because I'm a little tired of wearing warm weather clothes.

But I can proudly say I have still not bought one article of clothing or jewelry since starting 

the spending freeze! Yay! 


Have a great Friday! Tucson has their annual Folk Festival this weekend and I'm going to
my favorite farm!! Any exciting plans for your weekend?

My Favorite Fall Shows

TV is back! TV is back!

 I wish I had a DVR so I could watch everything but alas, I am restricted to just a couple

of favorite shows that I consistently love. 

These are the shows that i love, love, love:

 I LOVE this show! I would definitely say I love it even more than Chicago Fire. I've been a 

Sophia Bush fan since One Tree Hill and then her good-looking partner is one of 

my favorite character plus I have learned I could never be a cop. I have so much respect

for cops (and I also have a deeply irrational fear of them). If you're not already watching

this show, please do so!

 This is the only new show I've invested some time in and I love it! I am a huge fan of Dave

Annabelle and Octavia Spencer plus all of the characters are incredibly endearing. I keep

recommending it to everyone I know (including you guys)!

 The original Chicago series show! (I'm still convinced there's going to be a Chicago MD)

This show has lost me a little bit plus I don't have time to watch it on Tuesdays anymore but

I still try to stay up-to-date as much as I can! I also deeply respect firefighters!!

I  know I'm waaaaaaay behind on the Parks & Rec train but wow, I don't know why I didn't start

this sooner. I am so obsessed with this show that I plan on being one of the characters for Halloween!

I just finished season 6 and don't know how I am supposed to wait until season 7 comes on!

Also, I AM Ben Wyatt. (Example 1: the irrational and paralyzing fear of cops)

What are your favorite shows? Any I should add to the list?

Fall Layers

So much sass.

 Even though it's a bit early to be wearing sweaters here (it was 95 degrees when I wore

this) I thought it would be fun to pretend and also maybe inspire an outfit for those of

you who are living in some fall weather! 

These photos were taken near one of my favorite boutques in Tucson, Bon.

They have the best paper goods in town! If you've ever received a card from me, it

was probably from Bon. Also, my roommate and I realized we are no longer totally uncomfortable

taking pictures in public. We used to get so self-conscious when people would walk by and now

we may even say hello as they pass by us giving strange glances! #growth

Also, I saw This Is Where I Leave You last night and loved it! I am a sucker for family dramas/
comedies (The Family Stone is one of my all time favorite movies) and I thought this one
was endearing and heartfelt. It has a crazy good cast as well! Have you seen it?

Have a lovely Monday!