Happy Halloween!




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I just had to include this one...how cute is this idea??

 



Hiking at Table Rock and Blog Award!

So, I may not have been able to take off and follow wherever the wind led me (like I mentioned wanting to do in my previous post), BUT I did get to go on a little mini-adventure with my boyfriend and his parents to Table Rock State Park this Saturday! Given the gorgeous, cool weather we've been having lately--plus the beautiful shades of the autumn leaves we've been seeing--we decided that this weekend would be the perfect time to take a little day-trip to the mountains for a hike...and it was! Table Rock is a pretty little nature reserve in the Upstate of South Carolina, with numerous trails boasting views of mountaintops, waterfalls, rivers, and beautiful foliage.

**Side Note: Sorry I'm looking so rough in these pictures...no makeup...ya know, tryin' to harness my inner "outdoorsy, good at roughin' it" side..haha uhhhh yeah...**

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the leaves on top of the mountains :( But trust me when I say, they were absolutely perfect! All different shades of red, orange, and yellow...so pretty! The weather was also extremely cooperative: chilly but with clear, sunny skies and not too windy. If any of you are nearby prime hiking locations, I would definitely reccomend that you go for a little trip to the mountains and see the leaves!

Do any of you enjoy hiking? Where are some of your places to visit in the mountains?

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....I almost forgot..!

I recieved yet another blog award this week from the sweet Julia at Classy Southern Charm. Thank you so much Julia! Everyone should definitely stop by and check out her blog at some point, her posts are definitely worthy of an everyday read! Here's how the award works:

This award is for bloggers with less than 200 followers!

Here are the rules:

1. Show your thanks by linking the blogger who awarded you!

2. Leave links to your top 5 blogs and leave them comments letting them know!

3. Post the award on your blog.

4. Enjoy the love!!

Okay, so since I'm new to blogging I'm not following a whole lot of blogs yet, and I just awarded 15 people with the Versatile Blogger award this past week and while I'd love to award some of them again with this one, I think there's a chance they might find that a tad annoying! So, my point is I will only be officially awarding 4 blogs...but really this award goes out to all of the blogs I read with less than 200 followers :)

1. jMc at Style, Grace, and Charm...the Southern Way

2. Kristen at ...now what?

3. Petchie at Petchie's BlogBook

4. Melody at Sweet Like a Song

I've just discovered these four blogs and its safe to say I'm already obsessed! All of them are cute, cute, cute!

~KBR~

Preppy Inspiration

Maybe it's just that time in the semester that I'm getting anxious for the end (or at least for Thanksgiving Break!) or maybe it's the change in the weather, but for whatever reason I've been feeling super restless lately! It seems that at the moment, nothing would make me happier than packing up a weekend bag and hitting the road, windows down, not caring where I go and stopping when I feel like it. Some might call that "running away"; I prefer to think of it as living while you're young ;) Anyways, while certain obligations and responsibilities are preventing me from doing that, these images have at least provided some kind of relief for me. Hope you can get some inspiration from them too, and happy Friday!

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~KBR~

Versatile Blogger Award!

 

Versatile: ver-sa-tile [vur-suh-tl] or, especially British [vur-suh-tahyl]: capable of, or adapted for, turning easily from one to another various tasks, fields of endeavor, etc.: a versatile writer.

Word information source: http://www.dictionary.com/

Here is how the award works:

1. You thank the person who presented you with the award.

2. You tell 7 things about yourself.

3. You award 15 other newly discovered bloggers.

Thank you so much Crystal at Coffee from Nordstrom! This is my first blog award and you are so sweet to think of me!

Seven things about me:
1. Although I've mainly lived in NC, I've also lived in Florida, Kentucky, and Ohio...obviously Carolina is my favorite though ;)
2. I LOVE reading. I can't get enough of it!
3. I'm a PR major
4. I attended an all-girls boarding school in high school
5. I love the feeling of working out and after working out, but when it comes to hitting the gym, I'm the least motivated person I know!
6. I HAVE to have everything perfectly planned/scheduled...if I don't, I get really stressed and can't stop thinking about it
7. I've actually been "following" blogs for over a year, but it wasn't until this month that I got the confidence to make my own!

15 Newly Discovered Blogs!
Annye and Jena at Smith and Emma
Faison at Fat to Fabulous
Jessica at Southern in the City
Bo-Nan at Cape Cod Collegiate
Julia at Classy Southern Charm
Jordan at Classy from North to South
Portuguese Prepster at The Portuguese Prepster
Jenna at Leggings Love
Dayna Leigh at A Bama Belle and a Bucket List
Alena at Oh, It's Just Perfect!
Elle and Em at Elle and Em
BAH at panache
Lauren at Brown Sugar Brunette
Megan at Post Baylor
Brittany at Life of a Resident's Wife

Dripping in Jewels

One late fall/early winter trend that I've been obsessing over lately is jewel tones. While I can't argue with the fact that earthy, natural tones are great for fall, I am willing to argue that more colorful jewel-inspired hues are just as lovely.

The colors you need to look out for when trying out this trend are emerald, burgandy, sapphire, amethyst, burnt orange, ruby, mustard yellow, and the likes. Also, don't be scared to play around with mixing jewel tones, or pairing them with neutral colors like tan, cream, or black. The great thing about these rich, deep colors is that they really compliment each other when you pair them up, and add some flavor to less colorful pieces.

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Elie Tahari "Rochelle" Blouse



Marc Jacobs Crepe de Chine Blouse



Forever 21 Light Layering Jacket



J. Crew Talia top in silk

J. Crew Stripe Saturday Sweater

What are your thoughts on the jewel tone trend? Where have you found great jewel-inspired fall/winter pieces like long-sleeved sweaters and cardigans?

~KBR~

Weekend Recap!

Sorry that it's Wednesday and I'm just now posting this! I've been unbelievably busy with school for the last few weeks, but I've just made it through major tests/projects/presentations in all of my classes so things should be a little less stressful for a while at least--thank goodness!

Anyways, I spent this weekend in Clemson with my boyfriend! For those of you who haven't read my first post about Clemson/my boyfriend, he's a senior there and we visit each other pretty often (usually around every other weekend, but so far this semester I've seen him just about every weekend, which is amazing)!

I arrived there Thursday night (no Friday classes--yay!), and he only had class for two hours Friday morning so we got to spend most of that day together, which was so nice! We started off the weekend by attending a bonfire at one of his fraternity brother's houses. I love bonfires--they're such a fun, relaxed way for everyone to get together and just hang out and talk.

Then, Saturday at noon was the Clemson vs. Chapel Hill football game...let me tell you, definitely some mixed feelings there! Anyways, I still cheered on the Tigers when they won...still undefeated for the season, which my boyfriend is loving.

Have any of you ever visited Clemson, or attended one of their games? It's such a beautiful school/campus, and they are SO unbelievably school-spirited! I have a great time everytime I visit!

We ended the weekend with another party, at the same house we went to for the bonfire! Sorry for the blurry picture, all of my pictures from this night turned out blurry for some reason...this was one of the clearest! Anyways, its always so nice to get to see my boyfriend on the weekends since he's so far away during the week, and as you can see we usually have a great time!

What did you do this weekend? If you're in college, do you often visit friends/boyfriends at other schools?

~KBR~

Fall Festivities

I adore autumn.

Obviously, the fashions of the season are cozy and gorgeous, and the weather is absolutely stunning, but its even more than that. Something about the whole fall spirit--the festivity of the season--captivates me. Since its just beginning to get cold here in the Carolinas, I'm just beginning to get into the fall spirit. Here are some of my favorite fall images to get you in the mood for autumn.




Autumn Leaves by the Lake on Chilly Mornings



Hearty Stews



Festive Dining Sets



Warm, soft lighting and earthy decor



Cozy Pumpkin Candles





Rustic, woodsy design elements and spooky, glowing Jack O'Lanterns







Steamy spiced apple cider in clay mugs



Salty, roasted pumpkin seeds







Sticky sweet caramel apples





Naturally elegant backyard pavillion fireplaces

What do you love most about fall? What are you most looking forward to this season?

~KBR~







Monday Morning Motivation

If you have made mistakes...there is always another chance for you...you may have a fresh start at any moment you choose, for this thing we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down.

-Mary Pickford

If you watch how nature deals with adversity, continually renewing itself, you can't help but learn.

-Bernie Siegel, MD

~KBR~

Maybe Baby: Babysitting Tips

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I care for two children part-time everyday after class. I've been doing the whole nanny thing for a while now, and have cared for kids as young as 3 months and as old as 11 years. I really do love connecting with and taking care of children, so this has been a great experience (and, ahem, source of income) for me throughout college. That's not to say, however, that I haven't experienced my share of problems and challenges.

When I first began nannying, one of the major questions I found myself asking was, "Okay, what do I do with this kid?"

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't totally clueless--it's easy enough playing with barbies, leggos, stuffed animals, etc., but that gets old after a while...for the babysitter and for the children. So, here are some additional fun ways that I try to engage the children that I'm caring for:

• First and foremost, its important to learn about the children in advance from their parents: likes/dislikes, allergies, behavorial problems, etc. Don't be afraid to ask questions of the parents--they'll take it as a good sign, I promise! Plus, it'll help you figure out which activities the child you're caring for will enjoy most and will respond most positively to.
• I've found that creative activites are the number one most important thing to incorporate into your babysitting routine. Think coloring, drawing, fingerpainting, singing/dancing, play doh, crafts, and writing stories or poetry. The little girl I babysit enjoys writing songs and then performing them, so I've helped her come up with rhyming words and acted as an audience member for her "concerts." We even made origami swans one time...don't be afraid to try something new!

• Get outside! Most kids have tons of excess energy just waiting to be burned off, so go play in the backyard, take a walk around the neighborhood, or head to a nearby park. The four year old girl I babysit for last year LOVED just running around the backyard collecting flowers and leaves, and then making them into "cakes" or "salads" (her favorites...so cute!)
• Take the kids on cultural outings. Literally every single child that I've cared for has loved taking short day trips to the children's museum, Discovery Place, or the children's section of the library. These places are overflowing with colors, sounds, toys, and new experiences--practically heaven for any child.
• Do things that reflect the current season or time of year. Just last week I took the kids to get their Halloween costumes (after getting the OK from their mother of course) and it honestly was a really fun experience! During the spring you could take them on a picnic, in the summer you could head to the pool, in the fall you could go to a pumpkin patch or take them outside to play in the leaves, and in the winter you could go sledding. Again, don't be afraid to try new things!
• Young kids love helping the kitchen, so try letting them help you bake some cookies or brownies. It doesn't have to be anything fancy--slice and bake works just fine!

Do you babysit? What are some fun ways that you've found to engage the children you're caring for?

~KBR~

Melt my Heart

Okay, so maaaybe spending my days dreaming and lusting over these gorgeous pieces isn't necessarily the most productive use of time (wait...you're telling me I just did a post on organization and planning yesterday??) but it sure is fun! Here's what I'm absolutely loving right now:



This Tory Burch Amanda Angelux Crossbody Bag ($225)



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These (1 and 2) gorgeous winter coats by Milly ($675 and $625)

This gold monogram bracelet by Dannijo

These Valentino Bow Trim Platform Pumps in bronze ($745)

This Tory Burch Split Plate Logo Ring in tortoise ($75)

And lastly, this Kate Spade Chunky Alyssa Sweater

I really love the fact that these stand-out, glitzy pieces can all be used to liven up traditionally less-colorful fall and winter styles.

What styles and designers are you loving this week? Do you think these pieces are too over-the-top for winter or fall?

~KBR~