Orange you glad it's Halloween!

Happy Thursday! We are that much closer to the weekend and to most importantly, Halloween! I am loving your votes for my Halloween costume. It looks like Elle is winning. I still haven't made up my mind, but will be sure to share when I decide on a costume. I realized this week that I do not have enough orange in my wardrobe. I am in need of orange! Here are some fun choices:

{Lilly Pulitzer}

{Tory Burch}

{Kate Spade}

{Kate Spade}

{J. Crew}

{J. Crew}

{Anthropologie}

{Anthropologie}

{Anthropologie}

The countdown is on for a candy-filled weekend full of tricks and treats!

How do you plan to celebrate?

Let's play dress up

What to be for Halloween . . .

Elle?

Blair?

Any other suggestions?

Last year my boyfriend was a magician and I was his white rabbit :)

Pumpkin Pancakes

While I was home visiting my family a couple weeks ago, we made pumpkin pancakes and they were so delicious. I highly recommend this recipe! It's simple to make and will put you in a fall mood for sure.

Pumpkin Pancakes (Martha Stewart recipe)

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups flour

2 tbsp sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp each of ground ginger, cinnamon and salt

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

pinch of ground cloves

1 cup milk

6 tbsp canned pumpkin

2 tbsp melted butter

1 egg

Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and spices. In a separate bowl, stir together milk, pumpkin, egg and melted butter. Fold wet ingredients into dry mixture. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat and pour in 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. Cook pancakes about 3 minutes per side. Enjoy!

Cute as a button

I was recently introduced to a company, Konjono, whose motto is "really cute hats!" When the name Konjono, meaning it's beautiful in Amharic (the primary language of Ethiopia), was stumbled across by the owners — at once they new it was the perfect name for their business. It was just the feeling they hoped their hats would evoke, with a dose of great big smiles on the side.

Konjono started out in 2003 as a hand decorated lampshade with special ribbons and eventually evolved into hats with ribbons. The hats are designed and made in the United States and use quality fleece and grosgrain ribbon. You can even custom design your own. The owners, Deborah and Anne, recommend looking in a Crayola box to find the name of the color you are looking for and they'll go from there. How fun!

Konjono was kind enough to send me a sample of one of their most popular designs, the Hot Pink Crab. It is sure to brighten any winter day with it's pink, green and crab bundle of fun! The hats come in a variety of sizes and I have the most adorable, pink-loving 5-year-old friend who will have her eye on this one since it's just her size :)

There are hats for boys as well. One of my favorites is Gone Fishin' (below).
Another option for the older bunch is the school spirit line. There are over 50 universities represented and the hats would be perfect for those icy cold winter days trekking across campus. The one below isn't Elon, but it is Elon colors. Go phoenix!
I threw in the Georgia Tech one as well since it's my sister's alma mater. Go jackets!

If you want to check out the hats for yourself, you can find them here. Happy shopping!

*All photos courtesy Konjono.

Thanks!

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. My grandpa is still in serious condition, but hospice is helping to keep him comfortable. I was really glad I was able to get home and see him. He is a special person in my life. It was also nice to take a break and be home for a week visiting my family. Life is busy to the max with tutu time in full action - I have already had two five-hour dance rehearsals this week on top of work plus a few Junior League projects going on, so i will do my best to keep up with regular posts.

On a happier note, I received this fabulous plate (Boatman Geller Madison Damask) from The Preppy Princess giveaway! I even embraced my less than fortunate monogram :)

I just love The Preppy Princess! Her comments always brighten my day and she is such a genuinely kind and fun individual. Her store is full of preppy pink and green wonderfulness. Here are a few of my favorite things.

Thanks again Preppy Princess for making me smile!

I'll be back later with a product review to share. Have a great Wednesday!

Home is where the heart is

Hello everyone! Sorry to run out on you, but it was a hectic week/weekend. Full of fun, too, of course. I am now home visiting my family this week. My grandpa is very, very ill so please keep him and my family in your prayers. I am taking a little blogging break while I am home and will be back to posting again soon. Have a wonderful week!

Wanted: Fall bag

I am on a bow kick this week.

Whitney Caroline Designs $38.50

Love it!

Hide and seek

Thanks to Hannah D., the case of the missing bow necklace has been solved! It is now on the Ann Taylor Loft site. I must head to the store and check it out in person when I find time. The web site calls it the Short Ribbon Chain Necklace by Lisa for Loft. I am wondering if there is a longer version as well (as shown on models in photos)? We shall see.

Here is the lovely -

I think it will look great with sweaters for fall/winter!

Also, in honor of breast cancer awareness month, a bow bracelet has been debuted. This is the Breast Cancer Ribbon Bracelet by Lisa for Loft. With purchase, $5 will be donated to support the cause.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I got to work on a Flat Stanley project for an adorable kindergarten friend of mine. For those that don't know, Flat Stanley, or in this case Flat Caroline, is a small paper doll that is mailed to someone to take on adventures. The person it is sent to takes pictures of it on fun adventures and sends it back with a travel journal of what it has been up to. So far, Flat Caroline has gone to Congo River Golf and played mini-golf with a hot pink ball, fed the alligators at Congo, attended the falling of the leaves in Celebration, Fl., and has gone to ballet class. I have a few more adventures up my sleeve.

Also, the preparations for the Singing Christmas Trees performance that I dance in have already begun. It is a very serious production and we have three practices a week. Worth it, but takes up quite a bit of time. I have been choreographing and teaching "It's the most wonderful time of the year." It is meant to be a broadway number so I am finding inspiration from watching Glee. After a long 4+ hour practice yesterday, I called my boyfriend and found out a lovely surprise - that he had cooked a delicious dinner for me and had it waiting. It's the little things that mean the most!

My week is full of dance practice, Junior League meetings and a friend's birthday this week. Times may be busy, but life is meant to be celebrated!

Let's get cozy

As we head into fall, the temperature starts to drop and we envision cozy nights snuggled up by the fireplace with a pumpkin spice latte or warm apple cider in hand. What better way to beat the chill than with a new comfy blanket?

I found these two Martha Stewart options below here and here. Both originally were $80 and the ruffle is now $39.99 and the pom pom is $19.97.

Indulging in a new soft blanket, yet staying on budget?

Perfection!