The Walk That Lead to the Library

On this particular afternoon we went for a little stroll through fall and finally went down to our local library branch to get some library cards! Yea, I get excited about library cards. Cooler weather is definitely here, sharp on your nose and crisp in your lungs. I broke down and thrifted a couple fall/winter pieces since I really do need some warmer clothes! Welcome to the gang, new-to-me sweater!

I've been looking for THE pair of boots for years now, literally YEARS. Still with no luck. I want to 'invest' (aka spend more than I've ever spent of shoes) on a good pair of boots, but if I do that, they have to meet all of my criteria. Plus, I have a hard time shopping for shoes since my size is odd and usually goes out of stock right away - especially with boots. Long ago I gave up the dream of my perfect boots although I still go on searching, but these boots are probably the closest I've come! Even though they are pretty cheaply made and definitely wont last as long as a good pair of boots they were literally cheap - about 25 bucks!

I bought this sweater mostly because big wool sweaters are not something I have a lot of (any of?) and wanted to try them out. I really like the baggy sweater type layering but never felt like it suited my body shape. I've never been super comfortable in sweaters but since I've been working on body acceptance I was ready to try them out, and you really can't beat the warmth from a big wool sweater.

One of my best girlfriends gave me this empty pendant, I don't know the proper term - shadowbox?! It opens and the contents can be changed! I found this mini feather on the beach by my old house so that's what's currently inside mine, inside hers you'll usually find lichen! I wanted to wear it but found out I did not have a chain that would fit around the bulk of the sweater...so...I craft-macgyvered it and used my wrap bracelet! Feelin' pretty clever on this one kids! 

I had no idea what to do with my hair but I wanted to do something with it...apparently this is that something. After walking back from the library with armfuls of books I realized that with my glasses, sweater and braids I somehow, without even planning it, channeled a "library" outfit. Can't wait to dig into some books, what have you been reading lately?!

Volcom Rose

I fell in love with this shirt mostly because of the pattern which kept shouting to me from the sale rack. They look like like flowers but not at the same time, sort of a jumble of abstract flowers and leaves. I'm kind of at a loss on how to style it since it's not normally the type of shirt that I buy but then I realized that I should buy it for that very reason, as a challenge to myself. Its got an open neckline and the sleeves are tight at the bottom but sort of billow at the top, I just wear it with the sleeves pulled up. We may still be in that awkward new love phase but I still love it, it's just so darn comfy! 

So this is like the third or fourth posted outfit with flowers and stripes. I think I may have a problem. 

Both of these earrings were gifts, as most of my 'nice' jewelry tends to be. The second pair which is a little hidden were a gift from my sister and I love them! They are very simple, just a vertical piece of wood with a small green stone on the top but I can't stop wearing them! I love the second pair because it's a very funky, 'me' take on the classic pearl earring stud. 

Candy Stripes

I guess the rain is finally here or what everyone keeps telling me, dreary weather for the next 6-9 months. But honestly, it doesn't seem so bad. I decided that on the days it looks extra grey out, I'll just pop on some crazy colors. So thats exactly what I did. All day look I kept looking down at my colorful tights and just smiling! Bonus - they're super warm!

Once I had these tights on, I knew I wanted to whole outfit to just be fun. What's more fun than polka dots, octopi and hot pink rhinestone earrings?! Even if it ended up being a weird combination, I still had fun all day in the dreary-ness! I karate kicked my candy legs all day! Hiii-yah!

 I think the biggest challenge for me still is the severe lack of appropriate clothes! Oh coats, hats and scarves I miss you! I did buy this pair of tights and some warm socks so that should keep it going for a while but there's only so many times one can layer summer clothes... eventually you just have to face the fact that they are indeed meant for summer, duh. And rain boots! I'd really like a pair of rain boots, otherwise I'll have to start wearing my hiking boots with these tights and dresses...ooh yeah, hawt. Yup, that might happen.

Fall Fever

Is there such a thing as Fall overload? Definitely not! I for one am not sick of seeing Fall fever all around and even in the blogosphere. I'm having some serious Fall butterflies in my tummy, I'm just so in love! I've been missing Fall from my life for a couple years now so everyday I'm giddy to just see it everywhere around me! Normally I decorate and that's my inside Fall but this year it's reversed with TONS of Fall outside and I actually haven't been able to decorate at all. This of course makes me a bit little sad, but at least I can step outside and see real Fall decorating for me. Of course Pinterest is giving me serious Fall envy but at least if I can't actually do it I can want to do it, haha! So here are some of my favorite Fall decoration inspirations!

{Sources}

Roses in Fall

I love moving and becoming acquainted with a new area and the intimate relationship that is formed from exploring your new neighborhood. I find it's best as a slow process, often in short bursts, only taken in one direction at a time. One hour here, a few there - today we will walk only North and find out what lies there! Shortcuts here, hidden stairs there, everyday something new to add onto the mental map of my new neighborhood. On one such recent exploration we discovered that we are super close to the zoo! And, the Zoo has an incredible Rose Garden, totally free! 

 
I never plan on going to a rose garden, but somehow I always find a way there. I don't particularly like roses, they're difficult to grow and way to expensive. But I'm always surprised at how much I enjoy walking through them. Somehow all the roses, all together, they just take over your senses and everything just sort of becomes lovely. I'm always blown away by the variety and the colors, I feel like I see a new one each time. It's as if breathing in the perfumed halos surrounding each bush temporarily get you rosey high.

The most exciting part of this walk was the discovery of the Sensory Garden! Each plant had a unique characteristic  to convey through one of your senes. We stopped at each plant, sniffing, feeling, or marveling. The educational walkthrough is fascinating, bringing a huge variety of sensory flora with labels like 'textural interest.'

I'm definitely so glad to have found both gardens! Since they are so close I'm excited to visit often and watch the fall changes in the garden and along the walk. Fall is really when I like to walk with no purpose. I get giddy over each changing tree and each unique leaf changing in its own pattern, I have to stop and examine each leaf, see it veins, colors etc. Although it lasted hardly a few hours I felt happy to celebrate the fact that I'm learning to relax and and really appreciate the small moments. Cheesy Sunset Story in 1 Run-on: Walking along the top of a hill, the sun was setting, casting amazing sun love glow (yea thats a real time of day) and the clouds were still dark and heavy, waiting, but earlier rain had cleared the air and across the gleaming canal is a hillside speckled with houses and bursts of fall, yellow, orange, red, gold coming to a point at Salmon Bay, beyond is the Sound and beyond that, the sharp Olympic range swallowing the sun. It was just like, yea, I think I'll just stand here a minute.