October Favorites

October, you passed in a blink! And while central Florida still refuses to participate in the season — besides one blessed day in the 70s last week –we’re full steam ahead on our favorite fall activities… we’re just doing them in t-shirts and sandals. This month, I did two pop-up flower markets at our neighborhood brewery, did a fun photoshoot at the shop for a local magazine, attended my favorite annual plant festival at Bok Tower with a girlfriend (we both lost our minds and spent a fortune on plants and pots, oops), made a DIY flower basket costume for a Halloween party, broke October sales records at the flower shop, and spent nearly every Sunday binging Netflix and napping on the couch.

To Wear

Sadly, we’re far from sweater weather down here, but we’re all itching to get our fall on; transitional dressing is the best we can do right now. Let’s talk about my fake-it-til-we-make-it wardrobe faves that are getting me through until I can proclaim…

• Bootie mules are saving the day for me this season: they’re a fall ankle boot in the front, summertime slip-on in the back, and perfect for the slow-changing season. I bought a pair for $25 from TJ Maxx and I wasn’t sure how I’d like them; but of course I lurve them because we all know I’m obsessed with leather mules. Now I’m thinking I should invest in a quality leather pair, like these from Jeffrey Campbell, or this fun snakeskin block-heel style from Free People.

• Nothing feels more on-trend this season than a good pop of animal print, and I’m still on cloud nine with my leopard Topshop ‘Gainor’ slingback pumps. The low block heel makes them super comfortable (I wore them for 7+ hours around the flower shop recently) and they do all the work in any basic outfit. Sadly, mine are sold out everywhere and Topshop and hasn’t restocked them, but Sole Society has a really similar style for less than $100.

• My black vegan leather moto jacket is on heavy rotation right now; I can throw it over a cami and jeans, push up the sleeves, and almost-kinda-sorta feel like fall. If you don’t have one in your closet, I highly recommend grabbing one this season; like the leopard pumps, they make every outfit feel effortless and cool. Blank NYC makes great quality moto jackets in a variety of colors and textiles for a fair price, like this black one in faux leather and this cool red leather statement piece.

• I packed up all my light and white denim during my autumn capsule wardrobe prep, and I’m living in black hi-rise skinnies and 90s-style Levi’s 501 skinnies. For years, I stockpiled these affordable super high-waist black skinny jeggings from AE (they’re currently on sale for $35!) but these days I’m digging these black denim leggings from LOFT. 

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To Watch

On Netflix: Great News is a super fun comedy from Tina Fey featuring an ambitious young cable news producer whose life is turned around when her helicopter mom lands an internship at her station. It fills the hole 30 Rock left in my heart, and is as endearing as it is hilarious. NBC cancelled it after two seasons — whyyy?! — so I’m trying to savor the first two seasons on Netflix and sending up prayers to the streaming gods that someone will pick it up and keep the show going.

On Amazon Prime: C and I are loving the old seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm, the HBO series about life and times of Larry David and the predicaments he gets himself into with his friends and complete strangers. It’s the same kind of day-to-day life situational comedy David made famous with Seinfeld, with the awkward cringe turned up to 10. It’s our go-to show to watch before we fall asleep (when it’s not a football night *eyeroll*).

To Listen

I cashed in some credit card rewards on a pair of Apple Airpods and my ears are so happy; I can’t tell you how many times I cursed out loud as my earbuds snagged on a kitchen drawer handle and ripped out of my ears while I listened to a podcast making dinner. Do they also help me sneak in extra Bravo podcasts at work? Yep, sure do.

Speaking of Bravo podcasts, I did not need another reality TV snark podcast in my life, but I just discovered Sexy Unique Podcast all about Vanderpump Rules and I can’t, like, not listen to it. (Other favorites all about the Bravo universe: Watch What Crappens, Bitch Sesh, Everything Iconic and Taste of Reality. Guys, uh, do I have a problem?)