In Photos: Autumn in Seattle 2015

The Pumpkin Cardamom cupcake from Cupcake Royale. I'll eat anything with cream cheese frosting.

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New Obsession: Faux Malachite Ring Bowls

If there's anything I love more than malachite, it's faux malachite. These little bowls are just as fun to make as they are beautiful. I can't stop making them, so I have more than enough to sell on Etsy! There are two variations: gold edge or copper edge. I prefer the copper. How 'bout you?

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Long Weekend: Trevor, Etc.

What a wonderful weekend! Although it wasn't as warm as I would have liked, it was still beautiful AND Trevor came home! We went out for crepes on Friday morning, bummed around Ballard all day, then had fancy pizza at Cornuto in Greenwood. I worked Saturday, but afterwards, Trevor was determined to eat oysters, so we had dinner at Ballard Annex. It was my first time there, and certainly not my last. The inside is super cool, the seafood was amazing, and the great service was just the cherry on top. And then today was Easter, so I feel like all we did was eat this weekend. 

 Instagrammy-whammy! The soaps shaped like crystals are from Prism on Ballard Avenue.

 Hangin' out with Tilly's friends, Chip, Hammy and Creampuff.

Oh, that face.

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5 Gift Ideas Under $25

Gifts for Everyone! by fleur-d-elise featuring home decor

You know what drives me nuts? When magazines and websites are like "Are you on a budget? We've got gift ideas under $100!" Excuse me, but what kind of "budget" are you guys working with? Like, maybe, I'll spend more on my mom than anyone else, but there is no way everyone in my life is getting a $95 clutch for Christmas. Lets be real, my budget is more like $20. $25 tops.

I'm lucky to have a lot of amazing people in my life that I want to buy presents for (all the time), but I've got to be realistic. Sometimes it takes a little more creativity, but you really can find nice things for less than $25. Here are a few of my picks. Cool fact: they are all either made here in Seattle or are sold by local companies!

1. Grey Pom Beanie from Zumiez $19.95. Who doesn't love a new hat? How cute would it be to buy the whole family matching hats and then force everyone to take a holiday photo together? Holiday sap at its finest.

2. Big Dipper Wax Works Candle. These candles are made from pure beeswax and are poured just miles from my house. My favorite scent is "Enlightenment" and is a combination of peppermint & bergamot oils. It's a light, happy scent. The pillars range from $13 to $33, or, at just $3.75, a votive would make a nice stocking stuffer.

3. Brush Stripe Tea Towel by Such Sweet Tierney $18. These 100% cotton tea towels are hand-printed here in Seattle. They would make the perfect hostess gift, or use it to wrap up the Holiday baked goods you bring to your favorite neighbors!

4. Theo Chocolate Holiday Bars $4. The local drug store here sometimes has these on sale for $1.99, so I stock up. Even at $4, these are an affordable and delicious way to let someone know you appreciate them.

5. Moon Phases Calendar from Moorea Seal $22. This calendar is kinda metal; kinda hippy. Perfect for all the cool people in your life. It's from one of Seattle's coolest new stores, Moorea Seal. It's like all my favorite Pinterest boards in one store.

Speaking of which, Moorea Seal has a Pin-to-Win going on. Create a wishlist pinboard and you could win a $250 to spend on awesome stuff!

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Look of the Day: Plaid Coat & Oasap Blouse

Every season, there are certain pieces I can't stop wearing. This coat is one of them, and this eyeglass patterned blouse from my sponsor, Oasap, is the newest piece. (Not shown: a thrifted Blumarine men's sweater I took off only for these photos. I live in it)

 There's something so graphically pleasing about eyeglass frames.

I just had my haircut refreshed at the Toni&Guy academy here in Seattle (yeah, I get my cut & color done at a school!). The lovely lady who cut my hair, Anita, is quite talented. Of course she's graduating next month! Luckily, she has a blog (So She Did) so I can at least keep in touch, even if I won't be able to afford to get my haircuts from her anymore. She's gonna go someplace fancy and expensive, I just know it.

Oasap eyeglasses blouse - vintage Ralph Lauren coat - Chloe flats - Watch c/o Timex

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Totally Late: Halloween

Happy Belated Halloween! This year I had the day off. I got to take my niece, Mathilde, trick-or-treating for the first time ever! She was a princess, obviously. Her mom made her felt crown! We had lunch together, then went up to Queen Anne to wade through the sea of costumes. She wanted to quit early, but we soon discovered it was because she thought she couldn't eat any candy till we were done. Silly kid.

I wish you could see the dogs! Otto was nothing but obnoxious and Coco was Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon. My mom made the costume!

Thank you to Dan and Stacia of Sparkfly Photography for setting up a photo booth! To see the rest of the costumes, click here! My favorites are the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe.

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Out & About: Filson SS15 Preview

 You guys... Filson invited me to preview their 2015 spring line. This may not be a big deal to you, but as a Seattlite, this is a huge deal for me! And even more so for my husband. He had a bit of a tantrum when I told him about it, because he thought he wasn't invited. He's lucky I included him as my "plus one" after that. I gave him a break, though, because I pitch fits about 1000 times more often than he does.

It's hard to choose between the Women's Explorer jacket I'm wearing in the first picture and this red plaid Seattle Cruiser. They both fit sooo well. Like, for once, I don't look like I'm drowning in coat. Right now, since it's getting chilly, I'd go for the red one, but I know the Explorer would be perfect for spring. It has a thin coat of soy wax, which is the old fashioned way of making something waterproof. It actually makes more sense than plastic raincoats. It's easier to repair if you get a rip and it doesn't feel all clammy. If you're in the market for a raincoat, definitely look into getting some waxed cotton!

The men's spring line.

Right: Men's Fashion Archetype from Fuck Yeah Menswear. Left: My husband, who owns all the shit to the right (except no Aldens. Yet.) He fit right in at Filson.

 On our tour, we also got to see an amazing collection of vintage Filson products. All well-used and much-loved. Most were sent in for repairs that couldn't be done, so the Filson archives became their final resting place.

This is more of a pile, and less of a fort made of Filsons (see my favorite tumblr ever)

What a treat, right? Amy and Travis, our guides, were completely awesome and so much fun to talk with. They love the brand as much as we do and treated us so well. The cherry on top was getting to take home this Market Tote in Red Plaid. If you'd like to learn more about the company's 117 year history in the Northwest, you can read up on it here!

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Look of the Day: Fawn & Red

Last Spring, I had the chance to style my friend, Ashley, for a shoot. This was my first time styling someone else, which was pretty exciting. Especially because she's actually a professional model! She's one of the newest faces over at Baby & Co., which is a super chic local boutique located downtown. When my schedule allows for it, I get to spend the day with her darling little boy while she goes to her modeling gigs. It's all pretty fun, especially since they're both such wonderful souls.

 In these shots, Ashley is wearing a vintage sweater by Illustrations and a pair of vintage high-waisted wool slacks by Moschery. The top is her own. Both the sweater and the slacks are part of my Autumn Fashion section on Etsy.

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Second Annual 29th Birthday

I've been "planning" for it all year, and now it's come and gone. My 30th birthday, that is. Bye, bye twenties! It's been swell!

 The whole theme was rocks and dinosaurs.You know, old stuff. I was first inspired by these cupcakes and eventually ended up sending out these geode invitations.

 I didn't feel like tracking down rock candy for my cupcakes (plus, it doesn't seem like it'd be too pleasant to eat a whole cupcake coated in the stuff). Instead, I spray painted little plastic dinosaurs! I found everything at Fred Meyers! Even the little star sprinkles are from the baking section. What flavors you ask? The yellow cupcakes are apricot and the mauve ones are fig-blackberry. Not my most impressive, but still pretty delicious.

I had high hopes of finding a table, but who knew people like to go to the beach on Sundays in the summertime?

The hexagonal plates are from Paper Source. I've been waiting like 3 months for a reason to buy them.

 My mom and sister came up, and of course, my niece, Tilly. She helped me get dressed! I would try things on and she would tell me either "Umm, no, not special enough" or "Yes, that's special!" The dress she's wearing is actually one of mine. So is the bracelet.

Such a perfect place to celebrate being alive.

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Look of the Day: Catie Colored

This dress is like camo for me, especially against this apartment building. If only the shadows were more dappled, I would blend right in and my prey would never see me. Maybe I can find a dress without spots and then I would disappear! Even my hair is the same color, haha. My sister-in-law always calls it "Catie colored".

Having much more luck styling the Birks. They look so cute with short baby-doll dresses! It's a great outfit for summer, too.

Leopard Print Dress - Birkenstocks - Vintage Coach Bucket Bag (similar) - American Deadstock O'Malley Glasses

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