Top Five Fall Fashion Must-Haves

In spite of the fact that it snowed on Saturday and has been getting colder and colder outside, I am still determined to hang on to fall. It arrived late this year and peaked quickly. Suddenly, Thanksgiving is almost upon us and I have barely gotten to enjoy my favorite of all seasons (and let's be real, as soon as the pumpkin pie's gone, I will be in full-on Christmas mode).

Today, I want to share my top five essentials for the tail end of fall-- these are things I've gathered over the years and absolutely love. They carry me from fall to winter seamlessly.

1) Vans SK8 MTE Boots: Anyone who knows me knows my obsession with Vans-- they are the ultimate shoe choice for me. I like a good boot as much as the next person, but these allow me to carry Vans over into the winter. I've even worn them hiking a few times and they hold up. They're waterproof and lined AND have traction. Plus, the buffalo plaid on my pair is necessary. I got mine a couple years ago at an end-of-season sale, but regardless, they hold up well and are cozy.


2) Old Navy's fleece-lined jeans: I have recently come to appreciate Old Navy's stuff. After years of my sister and my best friend both talking about the wonder and joy of Old Navy jeans, I decided to give the rock star jeans a try. I was looking for fleece-lined leggings to wear UNDER jeans (as much as I hate feeling like Randy in A Christmas Story, I hate being cold even more) and I found these, and since they were supes on sale I decided to give it a go. I've never really found jeans comfortable, but these are a game changer (and I will definitely be wearing them to Light Up Night).

3) Lodge Socks: I believe these are technically called cabin socks, but somehow Shelley and I decided they're lodge socks, and so they shall remain. We were out shopping one day and found these socks. Since then, we have acquired a few pairs each. These, also, are helpful on all of our wintery jaunts into the woods, but they're also just really cozy on our nights by the fire as well.

VICI sweater 

4) A good beanie: I love hats. I have never been one of those girls who can pull off a baseball cap (I have too much hair and it just is not a good look) but I do rock beanies, berets, and wide-brimmed hats pretty well, so I don't even care. Everyone needs a good beanie, and the cool thing is the variety. Cuffed, pom, slouchy, homemade? They're all fun and cute and, most importantly, warm. I have a decent assortment I rotate through. When I was a teen, I was very anti-hat for some reason, but I'm so glad I've come around just in time for them to really have their moment.

5) Oversized sweaters: This is another one of those things I was very against when I was younger. For some reason I literally despised sweaters or anything that wasn't a button up (I blame the Catholic school uniforms I wore from preschool through 12th grade). However, they've become a go-to. There's nothing easier than grabbing pants, Vans, and a baggy sweater to roll out of the house and still look put together. I like Dottie Couture or VICI for sweaters (sales, free shipping, and coupon codes make everything better) but I've also found some good ones at Target too (because, honestly, is there anything they DON'T have?!).

Let me know if you love/try any of my fall favorites!

Hair Care Routine

One of the questions I get asked the most frequently is what I do to my hair to get it long and keep it healthy. It's been a lifelong process of trying to figure out what works, and after two shoulder-length haircuts that were colossal mistakes (I just do not look good with short hair), I found some tips and tricks that helped me grow my hair out and keep it from looking like witch hair (this is a legitimate concern).

Hair care starts in the shower. First, I only wash my hair probably 3-4 out of seven days. Not only is it a huge hassle to do all of this nightly, but it also dries everything out, which is not great.

I've tried vinegar rinses, masks, and a million shampoos. I don't think it really matters what shampoo you use as long as it isn't a dollar bottle or one of those weird 6-in-1 deals that dudes use. I opt for either Pantene Pro-V or the Garnier Grow Strong shampoo and conditioner. Again, I don't see the point in paying $20 for a bottle of shampoo, but you do you. So I start with washing it and rinsing, and then I put on the conditioner and leave it set while I do everything else. Then rinse with cold water only. It seals your cuticles and makes it shiny.

Once I'm done with that process, I'll either scrunch my hair (more on that another time) or just typically opt to style it. First, do not come your hair wet. DO NOT. I just spritz on this USmooth heat protectant spray which is $20 but also lasts for like six months or more, and my hair's long. It smells amazing and essentially works as a leave-in conditioner as well as a thermal spray.

I leave my hair air dry (unless I'm going somewhere and only have an hour from the time I step in the shower until the time I walk out the door (I try REALLY hard not to ever have this happen because it sucks)). I don't wrap it in a towel. There was a period of time I noticed a lot of little breakaway fuzzies around my hairline if I wore it up, and that look is cute on babies but not on me, so no more of that. I might blast it with a dryer a bit the next morning if it's still a little damp, and then after that I just use my flat iron to smooth and flip the ends.

Ta-da!

Top Eight Autumnal Haunts

Hello friends! Happy Halloween from thee worst blogger. The goal is to post a bit more regularly, but for those of you who have stuck around through the eight month dry spell, thank you!

I am taking today, the Saturday before Halloween, to share with you my favorite haunts of all time. If you don't mind the incessant rain we've been getting out here, I highly recommend the trip.

So, here are my Top Eight Autumnal Haunts:

1) Demon House: This is my all-time favorite haunted house. It's out in Monongahela, PA, down a bunch of winding back roads. Literally every time we go, it is raining and cold, which adds to the appeal. It has an outside area, a bonfire, and a screen that shows scary movies. If you get the Groupon, you also get a ticket for a little hot chocolate. Shelley makes fun of me for this every time, but I can't not bring that up, even if it is just Swiss Miss in a styrofoam cup. Apart from that, though, the actual haunted house (no, really, there is a legend you can read here ) is fantastic. The workers are very in-character, and it's the only haunted house that I went to this year that made me scream out loud instead of just jump and laugh. 

2) Kennywood Park Phantom Fright Nights: I love Kennywood Park. Located in West Mifflin, PA, it's a haunt I've gone to every year since high school. There are several haunted houses to go through, and most of the rides are open as well. The houses are all fun, but there's only one I remember being truly scary. Regardless, it's a nice excuse to go back through the park after the disgusting humidity of summer has dissipated.

3) Scarehouse: I have only been to this twice, but the most recent was this year. I went in undergrad and had to wait nearly two hours to get inside, so I was salty and unamused by the time I walked through the house-- especially after driving to Etna. This past time, we went in mid-September when it first opened, so all of the workers were highly engaged and it was scary as well as long. Nothing is more annoying in haunted house land than going through a house that is brief and lame.

4) Soergel's Orchard: I used to go here with my family as a kid, and the apple at the entrance always seemed enormous. Now I realize I was just very small. There is a cute country store, a winery, a greenhouse, and a little market. Hayrides take you to the pumpkin patch, and you can go apple picking. They also have trivia nights at the Arsenal Cider House. The highlight last year was being transfixed and watching apples be mushed up to become apple cider.

5) Eastern State Pentitentiary: I went here in undergrad as well, and it may be one of the best (behind Demon House) that I've done. It's apparently really haunted, so everyone was taking pictures and looking for orbs, but it was equally creepy to see some OG electric chairs and Al Capone's old cell. Philly is a pretty historic city, so it wouldn't be surprising if there were some real ghosts floating around.

6) Nightmare at the Canfield Scaregrounds: I always enjoy this one, although this year they did away with the creepy slide down the bleachers (after Shelley, Erica, and I clunked heads last year like the Three Stooges, I can see why-- I KNOW we weren't the only people who did that, but it was still fun). There are always six or seven features, including a hay ride. Some of them are scary, some are more giggle-inducing. This past year, Shelley and I followed some friends through and got to laugh at them leap away from a person in a polka-dotted bodysuit stepping away from a polka-dotted wall. Shelley and I go to this one traditionally, so even though we won't be roped into the Zombie Paintball again (seriously, don't waste your time), the rest of it was hokey and entertaining. If you live anywhere near Canfield, OH, I highly recommend it.

7) Gettysburg: This is allegedly one of the most haunted cities in America, so it belongs on this list. I went in summer, and Devil's Den definitely felt like hell-- it was so damn hot. Over the course of the few days I was there, I went on 2-3 ghost tours. The Candlelit Walking Tour was fantastic. One of the tours gave you little gear like you were on some paranormal show. I felt like I should've been filmed in night vision or something, but I did get a little action on the radar while we were walking through a cemetery. Spooky and historic.

8) Janoski's: This is another one that is less scary and more just autumnal and fun. When we were little, we would get in the car and spend a day driving out, enjoying the pumpkin patch and getting a caramel apple, and then heading over to Hozak's for their fall festival as well. Cute family farm, with a store, bakery, and winery as well.

There it is. If you're looking for something to do between now and Halloween, these are all solid options. Let me know if you go and what you think! :)

Elaine

Sometimes, things happen that make you feel so small--so young.

I was 4.5 miles into a 6 mile workout tonight, uncharacteristically listening to music on my phone because my iPod battery was dead. I looked down to change the song and a text from my mum flashed across the screen:
                                                           Elaine Mulkey died.

I spent the rest of my run thinking about this person I have thought of on occasion-- most recently as part of a story my mum and I told to my girlfriend over Christmas-- but haven't seen nor spoken to since I was still wearing a school uniform.

Suddenly, I was 8 years old. I was going to my first Halloween party, at Roxanne's house, and her mom and dad had dry ice and peeled grapes and cold spaghetti-- the works. I thought it was the neatest thing, standing there with a group of shrieking girls telling ghost stories.

I was at my first sleepover, and I was allowed to bring my sister Elizabeth-- my true best friend, always included in endeavors at the Mulkey house. Flashes of birthday parties filled with Lisa Frank, Twister games, and diaries with heart shaped locks and keys. A Ouija board for the girls while my sister and I hid, holding hands, in the laundry room while Elaine folded sheets.

I was 10, and it was Easter Sunday, at sunset, and Elaine was teaching my sister and I to ride streamer-handled, glittering bicycles without training wheels while my mum and our friends looked on and the orange light settled around us. I remember whooping with joy because I would never have to pretend I wasn't in the mood to ride bikes again. I was struck by the fact that we were spending a holiday evening with family of a different kind-- the kind you choose.

When my parents split up,  it was obviously a weird, difficult time for my mum, sister, and I. Elaine created a space for us in her life. She would stand there, dragging on a cigarette, running a tanned hand through cropped red hair, talking to my mum while my sister, Roxanne, and I would roam around the yard pretending we were the girls from "Now & Then" and eating popsicles or swimming at Elaine's mom's house.

She was unorthodox and fascinating. She was kind. She was real. She was a friend to my mother at a time when that was so, so important. I feel grateful for having had a chance to know her, and know she will find comfort with Him.

28 Things I've Learned

My birthday was nearly two weeks ago, and in the midst of candles and balloons and a giant fruit basket and my favorite dinner ever (chicken penne gorgonzola-- thanks Mum!), I was feeling very reflective, as one does during birthdays. As such, I decided to write a post about things I've learned over the course of my life so far. Twenty-eight things, to be exact-- things that, whether good or bad, have shaped me.

1) Be kind-- it is the simplest gift you can give, both to yourself and to others.

2) Be thankful for what you have-- no matter how bad things seem, it could always be much, much worse.

3) Music is good for the soul. It elates you when you're already happy, it's cathartic when you need a good cry, and playing music/singing makes me more overjoyed than I could explain.

4) This world is a beautiful place-- take care of it. It's really not hard to throw away trash or make an effort to conserve a little bit.

5) Reading is the window to the world. You may not be able to afford to travel, but by opening a book and immersing yourself in its pages, you'll still see the world.

6) Sarcasm is a way of life.

7) I still hate coffee...and mashed potatoes.

8) I haven't found a better substitute for deep thinking than a long run outdoors.

9) Not everyone is going to like you, and that's okay. The people who do are the ones who matter.

10) I used to think changing the world had to be BIG and all at once. Now I see that we can all change our small corner of the world, a bit at a time, and if we try, it can make a difference.

11) Writing is my favorite form of self-expression, followed closely by art and music.

12) You're never as broken as you seem, and the people who matter are the ones who carry you through murky waters.

13) Taking time for yourself is so important, even if it's only a few moments a day, or if you're rocking out to music while you're drying your hair and singing into your hairbrush.

14) No one is ever that busy-- take some time to put down your phone, unplug, and just be. 

15) My sister gets me in a way no one else ever has-- having a solid relationship with someone who has known you your entire life is so, so important.

16) My mum is everything I want to be.

17) Take good care of yourself-- wash your face, wear sunscreen, floss... you only get one body.

18) Drink water, all day, every day.

19) God is so incredibly good-- take time to appreciate all He has given you.

20) Teaching is an important profession-- it's not just English or math or social studies. You have access to the secret lives of 130 kids at a time, and in addition to imparting knowledge on them in a basic sense, you also get to help mold them into decent human beings with a respect for one another and the world around them. It's pretty cool.

21) True, unconditional, soulmates-level love is real. I've witnessed it, and I've experienced it.

22) Compromise is essential in any type of relationship-- it's essential to listen to one another.

23) If I didn't have Shelley/my mum over the course of my life to provide cooked meals, I would just eat cereal/salads forever. I despise cooking.

24) You control who is and who isn't a part of your life. Eliminate negativity. It doesn't matter if someone has been in your life for 10 years or is related to you or anything else-- if you are unhappy, you can change that. Furthermore, there are friends and family members worth holding on to. Appreciate them and make sure they know.

25) I spent nearly 12 years working in the service industry, and 7 of those years were at the same place. When you go out to eat, just sit in the booth you're given-- you aren't moving in, it's an hour meal. Be considerate-- you are going out to be served food, not to treat people like they are your servants. And if you are going out, tip. Oh, and no speakerphone in public-- no one wants to hear your conversations. If you don't know how to be respectful and kind, just stay home, please.

26) Do one nice thing every single day-- even if it is as simple as paying a compliment or holding a door. A smile makes a world of difference.

27) I've always marched to the beat of my own drum, but when I was younger I had moments when I wished I wasn't QUITE so original. Being unique is awesome-- don't ever change or compromise who you are to fit a societal mold. You are wonderfully, fearfully made. BE YOURSELF.

28) Life is beautiful, but it is also brief. Being in shape or on time or the most popular person on social media is not as important as being happy and enjoying the ride. Cake is good. Buy the book or the shirt. Go on the trip. Cliche or not, you'll always regret not experiencing something wonderful over skipping out so you could work out or play around on Snapchat.

September, At Last

It's finally September, friends.

When I was little, my mum would read me this story all the time called A Bear for All Seasons. Basically, this bear and this fox are friends and they talk about the awesomeness of all of the different seasons while they try to decide which is best.

I feel like that bear.

I love the twinkling lights and sparkling snow and the bustle of Christmas, but once that dies down, winter in the 'Burgh is just...well, blah. It's grey and more rainy than anything with biting cold winds and random 65 degree days.

Spring comes and brings all of these gorgeous flowers and the long-missing sunshine, and it's great until it rains and I just want summer and sundresses and front porches and outdoor concerts.

Scarecrows on the shelf-- not too early :)

That wears out after a while too, and I find myself missing falling multicolored leaves, pumpkins, flannels, bonfires, and that hay/dirt/rain smell. I love fall. We aren't quite there yet, but as soon as it was September (the best of all months, and not just because it's my birth month), the weather seemed to know it was time to cool down. I had a hard time not busting out sweaters, and Shelley and I definitely got a little carried away with pumpkin-spice-scented pinecones and a little scarecrow girl who resembles me, right down to the overall dress.

I look forward to the possibilities that come with this autumn season. I've started my new jobs, and I have a classroom full of students to shape into better readers and writers, sure, but also just decent human beings. If they leave my room learning to connect to others and be compassionate, the literature has served its purpose-- and so have I.

Yesterday, I went out to Y-town with Shelley to see her younger sister and nephew, and we took them to a market and played around outside in the drizzle, then adventured to the park. It was so freeing to be able to run and explore (in spite of my frizzy braid) and enjoy the weather and nature together. I encourage you to get outside and just be. Winter rolls in pretty quickly in the mid-Atlantic states, so I'm taking advantage of the beautiful days as much as I can. Also, the photography options are great!

My best little pal

It was overcast or drizzling most of the day, so I left my hair curly and put my barn coat (a Kmart special from when I was 12) on over my flannel shirt and these most comfortable jeans from Dottie Couture Boutique. Dottie is my favorite store, and they also are doing something called Dottie Cares-- basically each month they donate proceeds to a different cause, which is super cool and another good reason to shop small versus at a chain.

It was a good day for Vans, even though as I was chasing Trent and Shelley over the loamy grass I wished I were barefoot. We were slaying dragons (aka Shelley) at the White House Fruit Farm and scouting out lions, sharks, and polar bears at the park. Also, while we were hiking we found a couple of different rocks. The first one I saw tucked into a tree's roots, painted blue and green like the Earth and it said "Peace," which made me smile. The second one, Shelley and Trent found. It's part of some social media campaign to brighten people's days, so we moved them somewhere else for people to find! It's definitely one of those things that sounds sort of cheesy until you experience it, believe me.

Happy Labor Day, everyone. Hopefully you're all enjoying the long weekend. I'll be trying (rather unsuccessfully) to refrain from all things apple/pumpkin/flannel as we segue into fall.