Fashion Friday: Pumpkin Style

Happy Halloween! In the spirit of the holiday, we asked our followers, friends and family to send us their best pumpkin creations this Halloween season. WOW - there is an overflowing amount of talent in the pumpkin carving business. Check out these awesome pumpkin masterpieces! If you haven't carved your pumpkin already, maybe this will serve as some inspiration. Might I suggest the "pumpkin cooler." **Check back for updates throughout the day!

Panthers and Michael Jordan themed pumpkins, from our friend Taylor!

Melissa's "The Lorax" pumpkin is adorable!

Caroline's Minion Pumpkin, how cute!

Savannah and Ben carved a classic Jack-o'-lantern

A closer look at Savannah and Ben's Jack-O'-Lantern

Mary Hannah's "Pack-O'-Lantern" for the NC State fans

A Boston Terrier inspired pumpkin by Katie's sister, Julie

The inspiration for the Boston Terrier pumpkin

A cooler pumpkin by Belma and her Dad - resourceful and spirited, literally!

Transition Your Beauty Routine from Summer to Fall

Since the weather is finally changing here in Alabama, we're switching up our beauty routine a little too. Although we're not ready to say goodbye to our summer tans, it's about time we swapped out some of our products in time for November's start.

We hope these 10 tips will help you make the transition!

1. BB Cream to Foundation.

If you use a lighter BB cream in the summer or do without any at all, we recommend wearing something with more coverage in the fall. With our tans fading away, we like to keep our face still looking bright and fresh. Try bareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation - it comes in 20 shades and still looks natural!

2. Face SPF to Heavier Moisturizer.

With less Alabama sun and high humidity, we're switching out our face SPF with heavier moisturizer. Two moisturizers we love? Clinique's Dramatically Different Face Lotion and Bobbi Brown's Vitamin Enriched Face Base.

3. Choose matte lipstick over gloss.

In the summer, our bags are full of Chapstick and shimmery lip balms and glosses. This season, we're choosing more matte finishes in deeper colors.

4. Pull out the black liquid eyeliner.

Although I'm a religious liquid eyeliner wearer anytime of year, I like to play up my eyes more when the weather cools down. The trick is to keep the rest of your makeup more neutral when you're doing a more bold eye.

5. Don't be afraid of self-tanner.

Jergen's Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer is a lifesaver. For one thing, it's a steal ($8.49 at Target) and it provides gradual color within just a few days.

6. Experiment with deeper eye shadow shades.

Summer is all about neutrals - golds, creams, beige. Experiment with earthy tones like greens and deep browns to make your eyes pop. NARS has pretty duo eyeshadows we love for fall. Try this one and this one.

7. Swap the bronzer.

We aren't giving up our bronzer - we're just switching out the shade. Go with a lighter tone that will complement your complexion this season.

8. Soak your strands.

Replace a day of regular conditioning with deep moisturizer. There are plenty of affordable options at the drugstore - just one day a week can make a big difference in how your hair looks and feels.

9. Add hand creme and cuticle oil.

Keep a travel bottle of hand creme or lotion handy, either at the office or in your purse. Cooler air can dry out your skin and you'll thank yourself later for having it close by. Also, cuticle oil is a great thing to store at home - it will help rehydrate and revitalize those nails! We love Essie's Apricot Cuticle Oil, it's a tiny little miracle worker!

10. Color you happy.

Summer makeup is all about neutrals, so take advantage of the cooler months with more colorful tones for your cheeks. This deep blush from Lancome will brighten up your face and give you a healthy glow!

Our Favorites: Leather Ankle Boots

With it being in the upper 70s and low 80s early this week in Birmingham, it seems like fall hasn't exactly stuck here down in the Deep South. Except for a couple occasions, Katie and I haven't pulled out our tall boots - they don't seem quite right when the weather's been this warm!

Although flats are our usual go-to option during the work week, here are a few leather ankle boots we love for this transitional time. Ankle boots are perfect for in-between weather, and we love how easy they are to finish a look!

Our best tips when looking for new fall booties - think color, quality and comfort.

Color: If you want to invest in a pair, make sure you go for a color that you'll wear often and will match your wardrobe. Rich, cognac brown is a great choice in my book! It matches just about everything.

Quality: Quality is something that is now one of my top shopping priorities. Just because something is on sale doesn't mean you should buy it. Invest in real leather, and it will be worth your money down the road. Look for booties that will last you many seasons. I've had my pair of J.Crew leather ankle boots for about a year now, and with some leather polish, they still look as good as new!

Comfort: If you are splurging a little on a pair of good quality boots, you'll want to make sure they're comfortable for every day wear. Mine have a lower heel, which I like because I can wear them anywhere. It's up to you on the heel height, but your feet will thank you later if you choose wisely in terms of comfort!

Here's a round-up of several of our favorites! (The Madewell + J.Crew styles are even on sale!)

Madewell Ames Boot

J.Crew Remi Double-Zip Ankle Boots

Frye Melissa Button Short

Lucky Brand Ehllen

Jack Rogers Marianne Scalloped

Antelope High Color Booties

Dolce Vita Teague Boots

Happy hump day, and happy shopping!

Travel Tuesday - Auburn, Alabama Game Day

Julie and I took off to Auburn, Alabama this past weekend to watch the Tigers take on the Gamecocks. It was a great game and the Tigers pulled out an exciting win! We had never been to an Auburn game day before. Between Tuscaloosa the weekend before and Auburn this past weekend, we have had a great dose of SEC football this season. Check out a few of our pictures tailgating and at the game. We could even be caught chanting a "WAR EAGLE!" in Jordan-Hare stadium.

While the Tar Heels will ALWAYS be number one in our hearts, it has certainly been entertaining to experience all of the die-hard fandom of an SEC school. The extravagant tailgates and high energy atmosphere of the stadiums can certainly turn anyone into a fan. We are so lucky to be living in the middle of such a football-crazed state. Chapel Hill needs to jump on a tent-village for tailgating pronto.

Hopefully all these football fans down here in the deep south will take to our basketball obsession with the upcoming season....

Monday Motivation

Happy Monday, and last week of the month of October! Here we are again at the end of another month and face only two more months in the year of 2014. It is crazy how quickly time has been passing. Now that Julie and I are in the groove of our jobs, the days seem to fly by and before we know it another week has passed. As we begin this week, I wanted to provide some of my favorite words of inspiration. I hope this week is full of more than just completed task lists. Make it full of learning, growing and pursuing your passions. Hopefully some of these words will help get you there!

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Weekend Sales to Hit

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Searching for a few new fall additions to your closet this weekend? Or need some new makeup products?

Here's our round-up of some great sales you'll want to hit to spruce up your wardrobe or cosmetic bag. Happy Saturday, and happy shopping!


Macy's Clinique Bonus Time:
Spend $27 + receive an 8-piece gift
Ends tomorrow!

J.Crew:
25% off full price styles + extra 30% final sale
Use code TGIFALL
Ends tomorrow!

J.Crew Factory:
Extra 25% off everything
Use code EXTRA25
Ends Tuesday!

Anthropologie:
Extra 25% off sale, for a limited time
Use code EXTRAEXTRA

Banana Republic:
Extra 50% select styles + 40% the rest of your purchase
Ends today!

Steve Madden:
Up to 30% select styles, for a limited time

Calypso St. Barth:
Friends and Family event
25% off with code FRIENDS14
Ends tomorrow! 

Madewell:
25% off + free shipping on "wear now" styles
Use code CARPEDIEM
Ends today!

BCBGeneration:
30% off entire purchase + free shipping
One week only!

Topshop:
30% sale styles + free shipping, for a limited time

Fashion Friday - For Travels

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It's Friday! Does your weekend have you traveling somewhere fun? Lately Julie and I have been burning up the roads and the runway from traveling. Whether it be just a day trip or a weekend getaway, your outfit for the ride is one that cannot (and should not) be ignored.

We've got a list of some of our favorite travel attire for staying comfy on the airplane, car, train or whatever your mode of travel may be. Check out our favorites:

For Tops:

• Oversized sweater - comfy and warm for cold flights
• Chambray shirt - easy, simple and sleeves can go up or down depending on temperatures
• Oversized tank with denim jacket - another simple look that can fluctuate with the temps
• Solid or striped simple long-sleeve tee - great for still looking sharp but not sacrificing comfort

For Bottoms:

• Leggings - comfort and style, always my go-to
• Soft, stretchy denim - make sure its your favorite pair of jeans for traveling. You want to be comfortable!
• Palazzo Pants - another great choice for comfort and trendy!

For accessories:

• Scarf - I love pairing my sweater/leggings combo with my favorite comfy infinity scarf!
• Messenger bag/oversized purse - I always carry by biggest purse with my carry-on. I have to have something that can hold my wallet, laptop, iPad, magazine and anything else I need to throw in there!
• Watch/bracelets - I tend to keep jewelry simple. You want to be able to take it off easily in the security check-point!

Shoes:

• Riding boots - the easy, slip-on/slip-off choice for fall travel
• Flats - another trendy, comfortable and easy-to-get-through-security shoe option!

Julie and I are looking forward to our travel for homecoming and the upcoming holidays! We love picking out a trendy, yet comfortable outfit for our jet-setting days!

Fall Nail Trends

It's almost a week until Halloween, so today's beauty post is all about nails to complement the season. Deep colors and metallics look so chic when the weather cools down, and we are changing up our nail polish routine in light of (finally!) colder temps.

Here's a Thursday round-up of 10 fall polishes we have on our radar. From metallic to deep jewel tones to dark colors, we've got you covered. These products will pair with your fall fabrics perfectly and may even score you some complements. Get polishing, ladies!


1. OPI You Don't Know Jacques

Tried and true, this shade is one that's become almost a neutral for us in the fall. It matches everything! We wear it so much, we'll both have to buy a new bottle this year.


2. Chanel Alchimie

New last fall, this metallic shade from Chanel delivers a high-shine mossy olive color.

3. NARS La Notte

This navy color is a perfect complement for deep blue pants or a blazer.


4. Butter London La Moss

Butter London scores with a shade that is the definition of fall. That deep brown is a gorgeous way to pull off a dark color.

5. Essie For the Twill of It

Moody and metallic, we are thinking of polishing our nails with this color from Essie for Halloween night.


6. Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Game of Chromes

For special occasions, metallic gold nails are a go-to. This inexpensive bottle is a great choice for amping up your polish collection!


7. Essie Dress to Kilt

Essie does it again with a classic shade of ruby red. We imagine this one with a big plaid scarf or flannel button-down and tall boots.


8. Deborah Lippman Take The A Train

This gritty pewter color can replace You Don't Know Jacques for the weekends. Love.


9. Tom Ford Black Cherry

If you're willing to splurge a little, this dark cherry color is rich and stunning. It's "almost black but not quite" shade is a great choice when you want your nails to pop.


10. Julep Casper

This one claims to glow-in-the-dark, but we think it's just downright pretty on its own. The hint of shimmer may be just what you need to change up your look.

Fall Home Decor

Happy Hump Day! I cannot believe how quickly this month is flying by. Julie and I have spent some time making our apartment feel a little more like fall. Even though Alabama took a little longer than we are accustomed to for it to get cooler, we finally feel like we are getting there. The leaves are slowly transitioning into their beautiful autumn colors, the weather is noticeably cooler and we have even pulled out a coat or two! So what that it is almost November?!

In honor of the season we had to make sure the sights and smells of our apartment looked the part. Check out some of our own fall decor and some of our favorite inspiration!

Our Looks:

Pumpkins by the fireplace

A full fall SL collection and autumn aroma

These halloween characters

A fresh tablecloth for fall

Our Inspiration:

This Cornhusk Garland from Southern Living

This bathroom just for fall

This DIY mason jar

This stove top potpourri 

Nice, France

Located on the French Riviera, Nice is a seaside metropolis for tourists seeking gorgeous views, stunning architecture and exclusive art attractions. If you're looking for a place which has exquisite dining and a beachfront as well, this place should be on your bucket list.

Explore:

The beach | You can't visit Nice without exploring its coastal waterfront. During the day, you can take a ride in one of the many luxurious yachts or sailboats surrounding the city (for a hefty price of course), but the experience would be one to remember. In the evening, buy a bottle of wine and watch the sun go down over the water - you'll definitely want to bring your camera along!

Promenade des Anglais | The promenade is Nice's seaside walk. You'll pass many grand hotels aligning the coast on your walk, run or bike ride, and there are plenty of restaurants and cafes for you to enjoy along the way.

The Old Town | The Old Town is a quaint, historic neighborhood where you can find everything from authentic French food to lovely churches and family shops. This area is also fun to visit late in the evening, when the nightlife picks up.

Cours Saleya Flower Market | Open 6 days a week, the flower market hosts not only beautiful blooms, but amazing local produce. Arrive early for the best selection with plenty of change and small bills.

Castle Hill | You'll definitely want to do some sightseeing here for a panorama shot of Nice and the "Bay of Angels." Although Castle Hill is more of a hill than an actual castle, it is worth climbing 300 feet of stairs for the view!

Museums | Among Nice's multiple museums, you'll want to stop by the Chagall Museum for its collection of stained glass and colorful, surreal artwork. The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is another spot to spend your time, but interestingly, more travelers rave about the building's incredible architecture than its art collection.

In terms of dining, Nice has an abundant amount of fine restaurants, but be wary of tourist traps. Ask around and seek out those hidden gems! But make sure you grab a crepe or croissant from a local vendor on the street. One filled with Nutella and fresh fruit is sure to please, I promise!