This + That: It’s Fall, Y’all!

Happy First Day of Fall! How are you celebrating? Perhaps with some pumpkin-flavored coffee concoction or an autumnal #OOTD? I’m so ready for fall weekends with open-all-the-windows weather!

On to last week’s highlights: new additions to my fall wardrobe (one big save, one big splurge), an epic closet clean-out, and a fun texting technique to stay connected with friends near and far.

My #TreatYoSelf Shoe Splurge

We all know I’m obsessed with my Loeffler Randall ‘Celeste’ velvet mules. The quality is amazing, they get tons of compliments, and they’re holding up well through lots of wear. (We’re talking 2-3 days a week, running-around-the-flower-shop wear.) When these leopard mules with a metal heel popped up on my Instagram feed last week, I could not stop thinking about them. I went home that evening and showed them to C, and he told me to go for ’em. I cashed in some credit card points to help take the sting out of the big price tag, and when they arrived from Amazon two days later, it was love at first sight. (Getchew a credit card with Amazon rewards, friends.)

And A Budget-Friendly Laptop Backpack

Our wedding coordinator, Shanna, spent last week in Canada designing weddings with a florist she connected with on Instagram. She needed a backpack for her trip, and I remembered a post last year on Love Nothing More about an amazing budget-friendly backpack Terra found on Amazon. I knew I linked it in an old ‘This + That’ post, so I searched the archives and found her link.

I was thrilled to find it on sale on Amazon for less than $35, and ordered one for each of us. It’s a steal for the price: I was impressed with the construction and feel of the vegan leather; the adjustable straps are thick and comfortable on the shoulders; and the gold hardware makes the bag look luxe. It has a padded section that holds up to a 13″ laptop, and plenty of interior and exterior pockets to organize all your essentials. If you’re in the market for a chic and affordable backpack for work or school, 10/10 would recommend this one.

It also comes in brown, but I always go with black when buying vegan leather bags as it typically looks closer to the real deal.

Shop My Closet

I spent my entire Sunday afternoon cleaning and organizing my closet. I started a wish list of pieces I’d like to buy this season, and thought I’d help fund those purchases by selling the stuff I never wear. (Plus I’m just really vibing with a super-pared-down wardrobe these days, à la The Anna Edit.) Now you can shop my closet on Poshmark!

I still have lots of stuff to add, and it’s going to take me a while to upload it all. I feel like I have a lot to learn about the Poshmark site and community, so any tips are welcome!

‘Text Me Right Now’

While catching up on episodes of ‘A Few Things’, a podcast by Of/a/Kind, a chat about communicating with long-distance friends piqued my interest. The ladies mentioned an interesting text technique used by one of their girlfriends. She and her friends randomly message each other with a simple directive: ‘text me right now.’ The recipient responds with a quick iPhone snap of whatever they’re doing in the moment. Working in the office, cleaning the bathroom, being a couch potato; nothing is too mundane. It’s a fun way to stay connected across the miles, and more intimate than the highlight reel of an Instagram feed. Plus it only takes a minute, and lets the other person know you’re thinking about them.

I think this would be just as valuable with friends who live nearby. We’re all so busy with work and our families, and it’s easy to let days and weeks slip by without checking in.