Back To School Days

I can't believe that summer is over already.  I always get those butterflies in my stomach at this time of year even though my own school days were long ago.  Not that summer ending is a sad time exactly, it's just a time when that wild freedom of summer has to be folded up neatly for another year and the routines and busy schedules come off the shelf again.   

But, there's a lot to love about back to school.  Like fresh clean notebooks, and seeing old friends again and meeting new ones and of course, the time honored tradition of bringing an apple to put on the teacher's desk.  I happen to know just the spot to pick a few fresh apples in honor of the first day of school. 

 This morning a gentle thunder storm rolled through just as the sun was beginning to rise.  I wrapped up in my Cozy Up Open Front Knit Cardigan and decided to go outside to enjoy my morning tea while listening to thunder and watching the rain roll down.  

As the the heavy drops turned to a light mist, I decided it would be the perfect day to inspect the apple orchard and see how the apples are coming along.  

While most apples are ready to harvest in fall, this particular variety is ready now, in late summer.  The skin is so dark red it's almost purple at times and they're sweet and tart and make the most amazing dried apples ever.

The stillness of the orchard and the way the rain has cooled the air, made me glad I brought along my soft white cardigan from Blooming Jelly to keep me cozy while I pick.  There's just enough of a chill in the air that I want to wrap up  until the sun starts breaking through the clouds.  The sun hits the rain drops clinging to the apples, leaves and grass, lighting up the field in a crystal glow.

The apples are crisp and crunchy and I make sure to pick enough to take home to slice up and pack into lunches and maybe even make a pie to have warm and gooey and waiting at the end of the day and a few extras of course to send to school with my daughters so they can carry on the tradition and put apples on the desks of all their favorite teachers this year.

Before I know it, it's time to gather up my bounty, load all my delicious apples into my basket and walk home.  The clouds are clearing away and the sun has fully risen into the sky.  The day is beginning, school is beginning.  There's so much to do, so many busy days ahead.  

The lazy days of summer are over and gone, but there are still many weeks of still mornings out picking apples just like this morning left in the season before the weather turns cold.   And as always, I intend to make the most and the very best out of each day and each passing season.

Shopping Info: COZY UP OPEN-FRONT CABLE KNIT CARDIGAN from Blooming Jelly, Unique-Vintage dress by Glamour Bunny

Tunic Weekends

I love each of the seasons in their own uniqueness, but I can't help but get a little excited at the changing of each into another.  It's that time when one season first begins to whisper its arrival that I have this fresh anticipation of all that is on the way :  the colorful leaves, the harvest festivals, the holidays and seeing distant family and old friends again.  But, I can't exactly wake up one day and turn in my summer wardrobe for fall.  Although August is the hottest month of the year here, it's also a transitional month.  Those first hints of autumn are just beginning to show, but it takes time for the season and the weather to fully change.   

This isn't just a time of the changing season, wardrobes must change too in order to accommodate the weather's indecision.  There's always that struggle in the days between summer and fall to find something that's cool and airy for those hot afternoons but still layers well for the newly crisp mornings.  Not to worry, there is a simple and stylish solution to keep you comfortable and cute no matter what kind of weather may come. 

My go-to for this time of year is a simple loose fitting tunic with a light, airy fabric and if I can find one in a timeless print like this RETRO POLKA DOTS ROUND NECK BLOUSE WITH BELT from my new collaboration partner Blooming Jelly is something that I know I'll be able to wear for many seasons to come.  One of my favorite things to do to make an outfit more colorful is to take a top like this one and then pair it with a colorful skinny jean. This rich burgundy color really compliments the navy blue of the tunic and some basic, breathable black flats creates a modern stylish look that also beats the heat.

Since this is such a cool outfit, I need a little something extra for those unpredictable chilly mornings, I've layered this outfit with this COZY UP OPEN-FRONT CABLE KNIT CARDIGAN from Blooming Jelly that is so incredibly soft!  The white color of the cardi helps those polka dots to really stand out.  I love the length of this cardigan too with those yummy pockets and buttons down the front (a tie front cardigan would have clashed with a tie front tunic) to give it a cozy feel just like the name says.  

Let's not forget about accessories!  For this outfit I did a little mixing of classic style elements like pearl earrings (white to match the dots and cardigan) and a black satin headband with a bow tie back (which ties in with the black flats) with a whimsical novelty tape cassette purse.

For Make-up, I keep it simple for summer and I love a fresh face for fall.  So, for this look, I did a five-minute face with those classic key elements: basic foundation, a little blush, neutral eye-shadow followed by mascara and a bright lipstick and nails.

And that, is quite simply an easy look to transition between the season while being comfortable and stylish all the while.

Shopping Info: RETRO POLKA DOTS ROUND NECK BLOUSE WITH BELT and COZY UP OPEN-FRONT CABLE KNIT CARDIGAN from Blooming Jelly, Bag from Shein