TGIF: Fall Perks & Quirks ~ Tacky Sweater Weather Edition

Don’t these *Holy Cow Cats* just warm your ♥heart? Both Belated Bday Girl Stats Cat & almost-decade-old Grad Cat do mine! Almost reaching our ultimate goal: PhD for Dr. D …

To stay in the spirit for this season, I decked out with a little bit of my autumn aesthetics ~ ringing in the old with the new!

My little splurge to bring me cheer this time of year: this rad-in-plaid deer because plaid is on-trend (this one somewhat resembles Burberry) + it’s deer season (not that I’m a hunter) & reindeer season‘s just around the corner ~ so I’ll adorn it with special ornaments! Just to add to my eccentricity, I named this bad boy DOC to keep me motivated as I keep trucking along (more in high-speed) toward my doctoral degree! Along with Doc are A&A‘s *Dallas Cowboys* TD toy for football season & my classic Halloween decor ~ including Badtz-Maru pillow ~ on this plaid spread that accompanies autumn yet also is appropriate for winter as we approach CHRIS†mas in red & green!

Here’s more info on my fall favorites to take yours truly through this sweater weather & before the snow hits our neck of the woods …

☼Sunset☼ Selfie: I’m double-cheesin’ (at least without a double-chin) and have a Kool-Aid smile (without the Kool-Aid) because I had a superb dentist visit & cleaning! Coffee stains: gone! {My 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Paper Floral Shirt Dress works in any season & I ♥adore♥ these Smithsonian Cherry Blossom earrings with Swarovski elements from Mami Aya as the perfect color for Breast Cancer Awareness Month + I’m dolling Dulce Candy‘s fall braid-framed bun}

13 Pre-Howl-o-ween Fave Fall Things

1. What’s the best fall memory you have? ~ football games, both when I was in h.s. & when I’d see my *Dallas Cowboys* live (everything’s BIGGER in TX)
2. What’s your favorite book you’re reading (or have read) this fall?~ Guts Grace & Glory (football devotionals) that I received during Lent & am reading through football season
3. Which makeup trend do you prefer: dark lips or winged eyeliner?~ both (winged liner above in Exhibit B)
4. Best fragrance for fall? ~ Bath & Body Works Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin (above in Exhibit A)
5. What is autumn weather like where you live? ~ we’re still as ☼sunny☼ as Indian summer but anticipate a cool-down soon
6. Most worn sweater? ~ my tribal cardigan by ♫Maroon 5‘s ♪Adam Levine♪
7. Must-have nail polish this fall? ~ Sally Hansen‘s Miracle Gel to top off color because it seriously lasts a long time (I’m just barely removing my color after 45 days)!
8. Football games or jumping in leaf piles? ~ BOTH! (see No. 1 for football & Exhibit B for leaf piles)
9. Skinny jeans or leggings? ~ either or, as long as I don’t have a muffin top in the denim or camel toe in the tights
10. What is something that nobody knows about you? ~ I don’t mind digging into Ramen even if there’s other food in the panty (especially as comfort food now that we’re entering a colder climate), which I actually ate for lunch this afternoon while watching Wong Fu‘s major cook-off!
11. Combat boots or Uggs? ~ bringing on my Docs, baby!
12. Is pumpkin spice worth the hype?~ ¡Claro que sí!
13. What song really gets you into the fall spirit? ~ oddly enough, ♫Taylor Swift‘s ♪Wildest Dreams♪ because it could describe any desire (i.e., “tall” could be a tall order of Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha), fulfilled or fantasized about

Beauty Tuesday: Post-Summer Post ~ S is for …

Welcome, September! With school in full swing, I still have ☼summer☼ season on the brain!

☼Sunkissed Summer☼

1. What is your go-to product for a sunkissed summer glow?

natural ☼sunshine: *FREE* Vitamin D!

2. What book would you recommend for a summer read?

Dulce Candy Ruiz‘s The Sweet Life to inspire anyone & Dr. Karen Kelsky‘s The Professor Is In for fellow grad students

Backyard Post-Bday Brunch to bask in ☼sunshine☼ + organize my HK planner & pleasure-read (intended ~ I ended up just working)

 both of which hit bookshelves exactly 4 weeks ago!

3. What’s your signature summer scent this year?

Victoria’s Secret Bombshell Summer Edition (since 2012) ~ I also store Sephora samples in my handbags

4. The sun is shining and it’s time to get outside! What’s your favorite thing to do?

simply bask in the ☼sunshine☼ through ALL of my senses ~ including the smell of fresh air

5. You’re on the boardwalk and starving! What’s your go-to summer beach food?

banana ice cream, paletas (popcycles) or raspas (snow cones) ~ anything frozen treat to beat the heat!

6. What’s your dream summery date?

watch a blockbuster & ☼sun☼ fun run or walk on the beach + chow down

7. After a day in the summer heat, what do you do to cool off?

chillax with my shows + consume cucumber ~ on my eyes & in H2O #DISPObustAFlow

8. How do you wear your hair in the summer?

braids for days

9. What’s your must-have nail polish for summer 2015?

this Tiffany Blue hue

Fitting name for this shade

as Audrey Hepburn tribute

10. What shows do you recommend for summer?

my share of sizzling series: network nighttime dramas + home/real estate reality TV

11. Do you wear liquid foundation, BB cream, or tinted moisturizer in the summer?

occasional base but more powder to offset sweat

12. Sunglasses or Hats?

Exhibit shown below

I tip off this hat & show school team spirit!

I always must sport ~O-O~specs~O-O~ anyway ~ I usually rock my Coach transitional lenses nowadays + still have my Fendi & Gucci frames*

13. What is your summer jam this year?

• ♪Let’s ♫Marvin Gaye♫ & Get It On♪ (not that I’m trying to make love or babies ~ I just like the ♫rhythm♫ & ♪tune♪)

• ♫Locked Away♪ (not that I’m doing anything to get locked up ~ I really dig the ♫beat♪ & ♫Adam Levine‘s ♪singing)

• ♪Bad Blood♫ (so cliche, but I ♥heart♥ the graceful ♫Taylor Swift♪ ~ not to mention that you can’t take the ♪hip hop♫ out of this chick)

14. Do you have a summer bucket list?

mainly to finish my doc docs (paper & PowerPoint to prep to present for dissertation defense) ~ since I’m not completely caught up, my Plan B is to have them done by Labor Day now that Fall is upon us and the BiG Day draws near + added bonus: relatives reunion, check √

15. Bikini, tankini, or one piece? Show us your fave bathing suit this year!

I’ve already built up quite a two-piece collection through the years but wouldn’t mind adding a monokini to the mix ~ my fave of the moment: my VS chevron top & ombré bottom (see No. 5 “paleta” link for sippie selfie in said swimsuit)

16. What’s your favorite sweat proof product?

Banana Boat Baby Faces ☼sunblock

17. If you could create your own ice cream flavor, what would it be?

Champ Hoop Scoop ~ to score an ice cream dreamy combo of my faves:

• Nutella
• caramel
• nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts)
• coconut
• pineapple

S also is for …

• Sticking to Schedule

Filled up in August & as we approach September

• Spiritual Supplies including *Star* Hole Punch

Champ Catechesis student’s First Communion reception gift goodies

• This Season’s Shoes & MORE Score ~ especially the A+ collaboration between ALDO & Target (coming to stores on ☼Sunday, September 6th/countdown in 5 days)
• *Specs & ☼Sunglasses now that Drew Barrymore has released her Flower brand exclusively with Walmart ~ some timing as I’m in need for new Rx eyewear!
• Speaking of which, Sofia Vergara glasses & shades are offered at Sears!

$ Therefore, S also is for: Savings $

NO

• ♫Summertime Sadness♫ or
• ♪Wake Me Up When September Ends♪ here!