Fall, Family, & Reflections

This week has been heavy on the photos. I'm sorry, I'm not sorry. It's just SO much fun to relive some of the moments from the past few weeks. As evident from the slew of images, Missouri was good for my soul. Time spent with family has the ability to make wherever you're at feel like home. I think we needed a reboot before making our way to Texas. We needed to be surrounded by the people we love the most. We needed the fall air, wide open spaces, a reason to put on a sweater, and we needed to laugh so much our sides hurt (possibly even snort, oops!). It's not often that we get to have all of our favorite people in the same state, so we divvied up the days and made the most of our time together. It was wonderful, and I hope now that we're back on the Mainland we do it often. 

There was a lot of eating and imbibing. I got to brag about having a leisurely lunch with my sister on Facebook — we always dream about the day we get to do that more often and we're envious of those who see one another regularly. Her boyfriend made me the most DELICIOUS gin cocktail called The Lovelady. In fact, I think I need to get him to come up with an original Type-A(shley) concoction. Perhaps it could be a blog exclusive? See, now I'm getting giddy again! We did a little shopping in Kansas City (Hello, Anthropologie!) with my in-laws. We enlisted the help of my father-in-law when we set out to buy the Jettawagen. Can you believe they made me promise to not say anything about my love for VW? I played it coy and never said a peep about my past with The Black Flash. Victory car-nitas, anyone? I apologize, sometimes I'm too corny for my own good, but we did celebrate with Chipotle! I got to hug my mom and dad; I mean REALLY hug them. It's funny how change can make you feel so vulnerable again, like a kid on her first day of school. I honestly don't know what this next chapter entails, but their embrace and big smiles said they believed in me and reminded me that everything would be okay. My Grandma even made a pit stop in Missouri from Iowa and attended a Taylor Swift themed birthday party for my dad and Flyboy, all organized by my sister and her beau. Who knew that buzzing like cheap speakers with Grams might just be the highlight of the trip?!

Fall Fever

via

Sweater // Boots // Scarf // Lip Pencil // Mini Skirt // Socks // Earrings // Nail Polish // Pumpkin Spice Latte

I'm going to cut to the chase and admit it already -- I'm one bitter apple! For the past few years, we've lived in areas where we've had to forgo the season of fall (i.e. Texas and Hawaii). It just isn't right, folks! My blog reader is brimming with posts of Autumnal goodness, and I'm forced to wear a light sweater with shorts in an effort to "fake" fall. It's a balmy 85 degrees at Lil' Puna, and I'll begin to perspire in my sweater if I start to move around too much. I know what you're thinking -- insert hashtag and punaproblems here -- but the curmudgeon in me has to vent. Now that I got that off my chest, you can find me seated at my computer, where I'll inevitably pin another sweater, or a pair of boots I have no business wearing this year. In addition to all these darling fall looks, I'll end up bookmarking endless recipes that include pumpkins and crock pots. When the day comes and we depart this lovely island, I hope we move somewhere in which we can experience the year's last, loveliest smile -- Autumn.

Note: Is it just me, or does it feel like Andy Rooney took over and wrote today's post? My goodness! I guess that's what a lack of fall weather will do to a girl.

Fall Fashion Flashback: On a funnier note, I thought I'd share something slightly embarrassing with you. I chose this top image because it made me grin from ear to ear. Ever the loyalist, I asked for a pair of Hunter Wellington Boots for my birthday in 1997 -- kinda like the ones in the photo. My dears, that means I was in the 7th grade. What business does a 13-year-old girl have with a pair of $100+ rubber rain boots? I'm not exactly sure, but I asked for them, and my parents bought them for me. I was absolutely ecstatic! We were living in Germany at the time, and I had every intention of wearing them to school with a plaid wool skirt -- just like the models in the J.Crew catalog. Yeesh! The day came and the boots arrived in the mail. I'll never forget the look on my mom's face as I tried them on. I could tell the "look" I was going for just wasn't working. I struggled to pull the boots over my monstrous calves. In our family, we have a build similar to that of German peasant stock. We're naturally bigger on the bottom. My mom often jokes that we were meant to carry the king up the hill to his castle. I think it makes complete sense! Now, whenever I tell this story, someone inevitably interjects and says something like, "Oh it couldn't have been THAT bad..." Believe me, it wasn't good. You see, my ankle-to-calf-to-thigh ratio has always been rather wonky. I tried to be like Tim Gunn and make it work, but I ended up returning them instead. When I see a pair of Hunter wellies today, I usually end up shaking my head and smiling. I guess this is one look I'll leave to the Duchess of Cambridge; she has it perfected.

Enough about me, how about you? 

Have you experienced a crisp fall day? Partaken in any Autumn activities?

Guilty of a fall fashion Faux pas or blunder?

Do tell.

Happy Tuesday!

Toodles,

ANF