Gardening in High Heels

cultivate a beautiful life

Five Favorite Fall Essentials

I am a summer girl through and through. I can wear ripped jeans, tank tops, and sandals every day of my life and be happy. Wait…as a “fashion” kinda blogger, should I really admit that? Anyway, when I was younger, fall was everything to me. I loved the start of school, the new opportunities, the pretty piles of leaves to jump in, and just about everything else that came with fall.

Since I was a kid, my list of fall essentials has changed a little bit. I still love the slower pace and the fresh feeling a change of seasons can bring, but I’ve embraced some other fantastic fall things.

Favorite essentials that make it easy to fall in love with fall | Gardening In High Heels

Dark Lipstick + Nails

I mean, really, you should have seen this coming. I’m getting more bold with what I wear to work, which means I can experiment with my lipstick a little more than I have in the past, even last year at this time. For my money, it doesn’t get any better than ColourPop’s Bossy Lippie Stix. It’s a rich red that looks great any time of day. Dazed is also a great color that’s a little richer with a berry hue to it. Revlon has some great options, too, and you can see them in yesterday’s Makeup Mix-Up post.

Of course, I also had to add in dark nails. I love OPI Lincoln Park After Dark, OPI Vampsterdam, Essie Chocolate Kisses, and Essie Velvet Voyeur.

All the Fall Coffee

I’ve been experimenting with homemade pumpkin spice syrup and it wasn’t working until I found a recipe that I love on Gimme Some Lovin’. I realized I was missing the syrup step..kind of essential, but for some reason, I figured my kitchen just magically caramelizes things on its own without heating sugar and water first. Her recipe is amazing. I’ve been adding the syrup to plain coffee and it’s lasted me about two weeks in the fridge.

I also love this list of coffee additions (that aren’t creamer) from Chemistry Cachet.

Scarves + Converse Sneakers

To me, fall is all about dressing for fashion and function..as opposed to winter where I don’t care what I look like as long as I’m warm. It’s function all the way once November hits. I mostly look like Ralphie’s little brother from then until May, so I cling to cute scarves, leather jackets, and Converse sneakers for as long as I can.

I’ve been trying to KonMari my clothes and I can’t cut down my embarrassingly large collection of jeans, sneakers, and scarves. They all bring me joy, damnit, and I’m wearing them for as long as I can.

Scented Candles

If you can’t tell, I’m all about making myself a nest in the fall so I can just stay there throughout the winter. I’ll poke my head out somewhere around February and quickly run back inside. I’m very much like Phil that way. My favorite way to make my space cozy with with candles. I absolutely adore Leaves and Pumpkin Latte and Spice. I can burn through those in a week easily. No pun intended.

I’ve had to place a block on myself this year and force myself to go through my candle collection before I buy any more. I mean, Bath & Body Works does their 2 for $22 sale and then send out a coupon for 20% off and I’m not supposed to use it? Come on.

Good Books

You can’t get comfortable at home and not have a book to curl up with. I’ve been loving Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, Yes Please by Amy Poehler, People Over Profit by Dale Partridge, If You Find This Letter by Hannah Brencher. Up on my list next is 700 Sundays by Billy Crystal, Appetite for Life by Noel Riley Fitch, and What Would Google Do? by Jeff Jarvis. It’s quite a mix. I can’t read one genre for long without mixing it up a little.

What do you do to prepare yourself for cold weather with your fall essentials?

 

Vampy Vixen – The Makeup Mix-Up

Playing with makeup is great fun for me, but I tend to do the same thing over and over. I’m definitely stuck in a makeup rut. So I thought I would join in on the Makeup Mix-Up with Making Mrs. M and Miranda Writes. This week’s challenge: Vampy Vixen.

Vampy Vixen Makeup for the Makeup Mix-Up challenge using Urban Decay Naked 3 and Urband Decay Smoked palette | Gardening In High Heels

Now I’m not one for dramatic smoky eyes every day. I typically wear the same two styles: one all-over shadow or a simple smoke for daytime with purples/golds. So to jump in with this on Vampy Vixen is kinda like, “If I’m going to do this, I’m going to go balls to the wall.”

When I think Vixen, I think a strong cat-eye, lots of lashes, and bold lips. But when you throw in “vampy,” well, you gotta kick it up a little. When you do a Pinterest search for “vampy makeup,” it’s all dark, smoky eyes and blood red lips. That’s where I first went with this, but then I decided to do things a little differently.

To me, a vixen carries her power in her eyes. If looks could kill, you’d have already died. So I really wanted to focus on the eyes and bringing a lot of drama with a smudged out smoky cat eye.

True story, I had an entirely different look planned out, but it ended up being too dark. I need to have a little brightness to get the power in my eyes to stand out, so instead of dark all the way up to the lashes, I focused some gold on the inner corner and really smoked out the corners.

Vampy Vixen Makeup for the Makeup Mix-Up challenge using Urban Decay Naked 3 and Urband Decay Smoked palette | Gardening In High HeelsVampy Vixen Makeup for the Makeup Mix-Up challenge using Urban Decay Naked 3 and Urband Decay Smoked palette | Gardening In High Heels

Talk about if looks could kill…I’m throwin’ some serious shade here.

Vampy Vixen Makeup for the Makeup Mix-Up challenge using Urban Decay Naked 3 and Urband Decay Smoked palette | Gardening In High Heels

Vampy Vixen Makeup for the Makeup Mix-Up challenge using Urban Decay Naked 3 and Urband Decay Smoked palette | Gardening In High Heels

Products used:

  • Urban Decay Naked 3 / Smoked palettes
  • Pop Cat Eyes in Black Dahlia
  • Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Pencil in Uzi
  • Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Metal in Barely Branded
  • ColourPop Lippie Pencil in Tootsi
  • Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in 215 Shameless
  • Urban Decay Naked Skin
  • MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Light Year

What does “vampy vixen” makeup mean to you?

Next week’s look for the Makeup Mix-Up is Halloween Tease. I have no idea where to even begin with that. Any suggestions?

Sunday Lately, 42

Today…well today I’m just going to dive right into the Sunday Lately topics.  You guys know the drill by now, right?  But first, a shot of my delicious brunch from Marty’s Market in the Strip District yesterday.  Beercakes made with Shipyard Pumpkinhead, delicious Rustbelt maple sausage, and apple cider sangria.  And coffee.  Lots of coffee.

Brunch at Marty's Market in Pittsburgh's Strip District with apple cider sangria and beercakes.

Doing

It feels like I haven’t stopped doing things in ages.  The past few weeks have felt busier than summer when it comes to planned events (and ones that just pop up).  Something that I’m trying to work on is saying No to things that I either don’t feel like doing or don’t have the time to do instead of smashing it all in one day and then not having time for myself.  I came to the realization that I’m very afraid that if I say no once, people will stop asking me to do things with them.  Which is insane…right?  Also, I hate disappointing people.

Appreciating

Everything is a work in progress.  I’m really trying to embrace the philosophy, “Done is better than perfect.”  I get so wrapped up in making sure that everything is perfect and that it’s all going to turn out exactly as I planned it that nothing gets accomplished.  I get stuck in analysis paralysis or whatever you want to call it and my big great wonderful ideas never get to see the light of day.

And that’s just rude to those ideas.  They have feelings you know.  Just ask Elizabeth Gilbert.

Designing

A new media kit!  I’ve been agonizing over it for the past 2 weeks (plus two years) and I finally got so sick of complaining that I have to do it that I just sat down and did the damn thing.  I’m also working on a menu of services, but for now, I’m perfectly happy with my new Work With Me page for businesses, brands, and bloggers.  It’s still a work in progress (see above) but I’m enjoying it.

Humming

Well it seems like nothing new is on Pittsburgh radio right now (I keep hearing the same Death Cab for Cutie / Mumford & Sons singles every time I turn on the radio) so I decided to break out my iPod that I haven’t updated since college.  Let me tell you, it’s a real treat.  Florence + The Machine, Rise Against, and Katy Perry all in one playlist mix?  It’s a beautiful thing.

Expecting

I have no idea what to expect anymore.  What about you?

What have you been up to lately?

Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup with Katy, Nicole and Meghan. Use their themes or use your own. Just remember to link up with them so we can see what is happening with you lately!

Sunday Lately, 41

If I’m writing, it must be Sunday Lately.  Like I mentioned last week, it seems like the only time I post anymore is for Sunday Lately.  I swear, I have the best of intentions to stick to the posts that I say I’m going to write.  I’ll get there.

The Plague - Draai Laag collaboration beer

Friday night, Draai Laag released a sour stout in collaboration with Caliente.  It definitely didn’t have the same feel as a stout (and it’s listed as a sour ale on Untappd) but it was definitely different and worth waiting in line to try something new.

Planning

A big revamp/comeback.  I want to have a bunch of content lined up, a new home page, a fun giveaway.  I’m also planning a big blog tour with Katy (you know, the maker behind this awesome shirt/hat combo. And a third of the Sunday Lately group).  It’s a mashup of fashion bloggers and sewing bloggers.  We’ll give you an occasion to dress for and you put together an outfit, either sewing or styling.  Let me know if you want to join in and we’ll hook you up.

Loving

The feeling of a clean house.  Sadly, that feeling is few and far between lately.  I don’t know why, but there’s something so satisfying about a clean kitchen and a freshly vacuumed floor.  My kitchen seems like it always has something in the sink or sitting on the stove.  I’m in the middle of a big baking kick.  I’ve tried Jana’s coconut muffins and I’ve modified these chai pumpkin spice kiss cookies from Pass The Sushi over the years to get them to a juuust right place.

Reading

“Big Magic” by the incomparable Elizabeth Gilbert.  I’m not as far in as I’d like to be, but I know when I finally sit down to read and get into a groove, I won’t stop.  I love her writing style.  Her podcast is just as incredible as her writing.  Speaking of podcasts, have you caught up on Nicole Antoinette’s first season of the Real Talk Podcast?  I read she’s recording her second season and I can’t wait!

Wishing

I’d love a few more hours in my day.  Or someone to help with my to-do list.  I know people have offered to help, but a lot of what I need to accomplish is up to me.  I mean, I can outsource the creation of a menu of services page, but I want to do it.  Because I’m stubborn and it’s important to me that I do it.  Because I’m a control freak like that.

Feeling

We had our first Freedom is Sexy Sister Circle call on Wednesday night and it was wonderful to feel connected to the other people in the program.  Since then, I’ve been feeling all the emotions; it’s been a rainbow of emotions this week.  I’ve been overwhelmed, energized, lethargic, exasperated, anxious, happy all within the span of a few minutes.

So what have you been up to lately?

Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup with Katy, Nicole and Meghan. Use their themes or use your own. Just remember to link up with them so we can see what is happening with you lately!

Sunday Lately, 40

So Sunday Lately is apparently the only thing I write anymore when I’m not bragging about being covered in spray paint.  I am okay with this.

Pumpkin latte from Coffee Buddha

Completing

My About page is getting a makeover!  It’s seriously about time.  It hasn’t reflected me in a while.  Actually, I don’t know if this space has reflected me in a while.  I’ve been doing such a good job of making sure that I’m presenting a nice, opinion-and-feeling neutral space that it’s lost all flavor at all.  And that just ain’t cool, y’know?  Who wants to read that blog?

Visiting

I’m writing this in my favorite coffee shop, tucked away in the corner.  I haven’t been here in a while and it’s one of my favorite “me” places.  I’ve been trying to do things that bring back the root of who I am.  I feel like I lost my way over the summer and let myself get swept up in other people’s shit that I lost the things that I like about myself.

Something that Molly Mahar includes in her Holiday Council program is a page of things that bring you back to you.  It’s titled something like “Magic equations” or something like that.  But it’s basically a list of things that you like to do that ground you and that you’re supposed to visit when you’re losing sight.  I didn’t fill that sheet out last year, so I’m making my own for the last three months of 2015.

Repeating

So I’ve had Twenty One Pilots “Tear in my Heart” stuck in my head and it alternates with that Macklemore “Downtown” song and Lady Antebellum’s cover of “Any Man of Mine” by Shania Twain.  I am all over the place this week!  But it’s what’s repeating in my head right now.

I’m also finding a lot of flowing and pulling imagery around lately.  I started Emily Cassel’s Freedom is Sexy program this past week and ever since then, I’m pulling Goddess Cards that focus on calm energy, forgiveness, and an easy flow.  I know this sounds super woo-woo, but I’ve always been a believer in trusting the Universe and guidance from a higher power.

Applauding

I’m applauding all of you for getting this far in the post.  I’m getting all kinds of weird up in here today.

Scheduling

I’m trying to make a map for myself for the end of 2015 and to set me up for the next year of my life (Freedom is Sexy ends right around my birthday, so it’s the perfect time to launch myself into something new).  And I hate feeling like I’m always behind and just kind of bouncing around, spinning my wheels, and having to play catch up.  That feeling makes me crazy.  So scheduling is necessary to figure out where I’m supposed to be and when.

I also bought a Happy Planner this week and I have yet to dig into it.  It’s so much bigger than my easily-transportable Moleskine planner, so I’m trying to figure out how I want to use it.  If I want to use it.

What have you been up to lately?

Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup with Katy, Nicole and Meghan. Use their themes or use your own. Just remember to link up with them so we can see what is happening with you lately!

Let’s Play

           

People Really Dug These

We Belong in the Garden Together