Welcome to Fall

With the kids going back to school and football season starting, it's beginning to feel like fall.  Nevermind that the weather is still in the 90s!

Aaron and I had a great time yesterday cheering on State!  And we won 24-23!  We tailgated with Bojangles (of course), Cottonwood Pumpkin Ale and I made Nutella Pound Cake.  The pound cake was delicious but I think next time I'll make it healthier by substituting applesauce for half of the butter and cutting the sugar by a quarter.  It's really true that once you start cutting down on sugar you are more sensitive to it.  So I thought the cake was rather sweet but the boys gobbled it down. :-)

Even though my preferred weather is summer year around, I am looking forward to wearing the fall styles.  I have some Melissa Frye boots I bought last year on clearance I didn't get to break in.  Also, of course I'm already looking at new boots, what girl can have enough?

Rag & Bone Harrow Bootie

 Tory Burch Kiernan Boot

Neither of these boots are terribly new, but I'm in still in love with them!  Especially the harrow booties, they seem so versatile.  Both these shoes retail around $500 but you can get them on ebay for about $300.  I'm a big fan of ebay shopping and have even sold a few items on their myself.  

 J. Crew Vest

It's funny because growing up throwing on a L.L. Bean puffer vest was the norm and nothing special.  Similar to Lacoste polos.  Now I'm 27 and they seem like the hottest thing.  I'll hold off until the weather gets a little cooler.  

I hope y'all are having a good Labor Day weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

Beer Pong at the pool

Wrightsville Beach with Aaron

Playing in the mud with Libby and Debbie at Beer Bourbon and BBQ

so happy I married a man who makes fantastic cocktails :-)

Mind Meanderings

1. Vegetable Lasagna

 Photo and recipe from Marshalls Abroad

I made this vegetable lasagna last Sunday.  It consists of delectable layers of whole wheat pasta, pesto, a ricotta-feta cheese mix and vegetables.  I used spinach, broccoli, bell peppers and onions for my veggie layer.  Due to all the cheese and pesto, I'm not sure if it was all that healthy (or budget friendly), but I can say it was hands down delicious.  Aaron even ate the leftovers!


2. Mindfulness

At Duke we have a monthly class where we practice mindful meditation.  I've enjoyed it so much I started looking for it in the community.  I found a yoga studio in Durham near work that offers mindful meditation a couple nights a week and you pay a donation for each class you go to.  I went to my first class Wednesday and really enjoyed it.  Sometimes I feel like I'm always trying to multitask (text on phone, 5 tabs on chrome, talking to someone, writing notes) and I want to work on my focusing skills and lowering my stress level through mindfulness meditation.


3. Lilly Pultizer Endless Summer/After party Sale

The Lilly after party sale is this Monday!  Get ready ladies!  I really would love a couple dresses and a scarf.  We'll see, sale starts at 8am!

Have a great weekend! xoxo

Hold Fast to Summer

It's been a long time since I've blogged!  Aaron and I have been so busy.  Here's what we've been up to

Moving
Aaron bought our townhouse in Cary long before we ever met.  I moved in after the wedding and, let me tell you, it was a total bachelor pad.  After renovating the kitchen and bathroom, we decided to put the house up for rent, mainly to ease my commuter time.  We were able to refinance the mortgage from a 30 year to a 15 year mortgage and get an awesome interest rate.  It took us about 3 weeks to find a renter and then we moved out!  We're excited about being landlords but it is not easy.  The same week that our tenants moved in the AC and dishwasher broke, Murphy's law of course.  Aaron was so quick and responsive and everything is back on track now.

Aaron and I moved to an apartment in Brier Creek which is a part of Raleigh that lines Durham.  It's perfect for me to commute to Duke and the state psychiatric hospital in Butner.  We're farther from downtown, but it's worth it not to have a daily conniption over traffic!  I don't have to take I-40 anymore, it's wonderful!

With my girlfriends on the 4th of July at our new place!

Decorating
Moving means decorating!  I felt so intimidated by decorating our old place - it was dated, Aaron's stuff was everywhere, there was so much to fix.  Our apartment currently is new and the layout is open and easier.  I purchased a couch off of Craiglist and am now shopping for pillows.  I want to do magenta and it's been hard trying to find the color in stores.  Ordering online has been a lot of trial and error.  Also, pillow prices can be more expensive than I ever imagined.  So far my favorite home designer has been Nanette Lepore - seriously, when I got my first pillow by her I sent my others back!  With the wonders of Google I can find some pretty good deals on her things.  I can't wait to show y'all the final reveal.

Magenta living room inspiration

Working at the State Hospital
I started working at the state psychiatric hospital this year (I'm still a Duke resident - year 2 out of 4).  The state hospital is usually reserved for the sickest of the sick patients.  I'm on the adult acute unit and some people have been there for over a year and half.  On the acute unit!  There are a few patients that will probably never leave.  It's definitely a change and a challenge but I'm excited for a new place to serve and learn.

Getting Ready for Wedding Season
Fall wedding season is creeping upon us!  So far we're attending 3 weddings in Nashville, New York and Raleigh.  We've been invited to more but I'm not sure if taking off and traveling for the others will be doable.  We're so excited!  Not too many of my friends are married so I can't wait to have some people join me in the ranks.

My engagement ring with Aaron's band.

I love weddings!

With unpacking slowly but surely getting done, I should be be blogging more often!