currently.

running outside as much as I can before it gets too cold (which could be any day now).

highly enjoying the return of layers and tights and legwarmers.

reading as fast as I can get my hands on new material.

playing in the leaves with max on the reg.

drinking hot coffee every morning under a thick blanket in front of my dvr.

waking up in a tangle of puppy limbs.

using my new mug from raygun, which is awesome.

celebrating movember with the help of some cheeky mustache pencil toppers and my best friend.

baking individual pumpkin cheesecakes for Thanksgiving.

watching max sleep peacefully that last minute before I wake him up from his nap.

buying a bunch of comfy sweaters and scarves for winter.

getting excited for my Christmas trip to see R and some friends in England.

feeling better about Homeland now that the storyline is starting to speed up a bit and get exciting.

listening on repeat to the first few songs of One Direction's new album, which is out today (so by now I'm fully immersed in this entire album and just crying with excitement over new lyrics to memorize).

looking all over the place for holiday gifts for family and friends before I leave for my trip.

loving that the Christmas season is on our heels. It's the most wonderful time of the year, and the most inspiring + hopeful.

wishlist wednesday // target edition.

1. denim button down // 2. lace detail dress // 3. solid knit infinity scarf // 4. polka dot tights // 5. pave link bracelet // 6. ankle booties

Like many people, I'm obsessed with Target. I've had a love affair with this magical place for quite a long time, and over the years it has gotten better and better. It's now up there as one of my main sources of clothes.

I've been lusting over the olive ankle booties for a month or so now, so I decided to justify why I should buy them by putting together an adorable outfit centered around them. Now I just really want the other components (besides the denim shirt and polka dot tights, because I already have those!) I'm impressed with the bracelet especially, because it looks just like a gigglosophy piece that I've had my eye on for so long, but Target's version is less than half the price. I'm not sure what the quality would be like, but it looks pretty good in the picture.

I just love Target.

my travel essentials: carry-on version.

powermate for j.crew charger // longchamp le pliage large tote // soap & glory hand food // asprin // camelbak eddy water bottle // urbanears plattan headphones // breath mints // ponds clean sweep make up wipes // j.crew women's camp socks // pb teen fauz fur neck roll // fresh sugar lip treatment // kate spade davie large cosmetic // apple ipad

I am a pretty big traveler, mostly because R lives all the way in England, but also because I love taking trips no matter how far away or how long the trip will be. Read about two of my latest trips here + here. My next trip, no surprise here, is a trip to England to spend Christmas and New Years with R and some of our friends and his family. I am really excited for this trip (even though it means Christmas away from my family and home friends) because I love any chance that R and I get to have some alone time to just be us. When he comes to visit me, because I live with my parents (whomp), they're always around and we don't get a lot of time to ourselves. Since he lives alone we actually get to feel like a couple, and it's really nice.

But anyway, to get to him is a long day of checking in, checking bags, flying for seven hours, then waiting on a looooooong line to get through customs. On these especially long trips, I need to have all of my essentials in my carry-on bag for my sanity.

To be honest, I carry most of these things with me in my bag every day, but on a long flight, a neck pillow, comfy socks, headphones, and make up wipes are essentials that I don't normally have on me. Though I do bring my iPad to work for when Max is asleep and I have nothing to do, I wouldn't call it an essential item until I'm thousands of miles in the air and need a good book to snuggle into my airplane seat with, or a great playlist to keep me busy while I doodle on a cocktail napkin or try to rest my eyes. I am excited to go on this trip because even though planes scare me, I like the quiet, alone time. I just want the flight to go smoothly and get there in good time so I can jump into Rich's arms in the arrivals gate and make him carry my bag.

november book report.

I'm totally in a state of mind right now where I need a book to devour every week. The past few weeks have consisted of these three, and one of these has bumped it's way into my top five for sure.

Ender's Game // this book is kind of different from anything I've ever read - from the type of narrator to the concept entirely. I blew through this book, and I really liked it, but to be honest I have no motivation to read the other books in the series. I think this one kind of stands alone and the story ends in a place that I am happy with. I am kind of excited that they've made a movie from this one because there are so many complicated technological elements that I would love to see come to life. I recommend this book if you like science fiction, but even if you don't (I'm not a huge fan), you'll probably still enjoy it, and it's quick.

The Night Circus // wow. That's all I can think to open with. This book was so magical, and has made be want to believe in the impossible. I read this in two days, which probably would have been a matter of hours if I didn't have a full time job to attend to. This story - of a circus that is only open at night, which elicits all of the emotions that make attendees feel like magic is everywhere - was so wonderfully written and beautifully constructed. The circus is the venue for a duel between two magicians, which is only known about by few characters, and all that revolves within and around this circus are (usually unknowingly) part of the game. The narrator is fairly omnipresent, which gives you insight into things that a lot of the characters are unaware of, and watching all of the events unfold is amazing. I loved this book so, so much, and I think most other readers will as well.

Catching Fire // this is the second time I read this book, and man, am I glad that I did. Not only am I glad that I cleared up some fuzzy details before seeing this in theaters later this week (which should be phenomenal if the reviews are even half accurate), but also because it reminded me why this second installment of the series is my favorite. You see so much more from the characters, you feel so much more of Katniss' struggle, and you really start to get a feel of what this world is like as a whole, not just within the games, in district 12, and in the Capitol, which is really all you are introduced to in the first book. If you've never read this, or any of the books in the series, I can't speak highly enough of all of them. And if you have already read them, I definitely recommend reading this second one again before the film if you're like me and enjoy having the details in the surface of your memory before seeing a screen rendition.

I crossed off most of my 'want-to reads' from this post, but am always looking for more recommendations if you've got 'em.

gold, glitz, & shimmer.

ban.do heart hair clip // rebecca minkoff cory pouch // sincerely jules celfie tee // deux lux luka weekender // lulu guinness glitter lipstick pouch // gold lipstick mug // threshold for target cheers tumbler

So apparently there's a theme with the things that I am coveting right now. (I should be super easy to buy Christmas gifts for). I love small pouches for make-up and traveling, or even just as an evening clutch. I am dying over that celfie tee, which could be dressed down with leggings or dressed up with a blazer. The sequined heart clip would look darling secured to a top knot, and the mug and tumbler, no matter what's inside of them (spiked coffee, anyone?) are chic as anything. I would pack everything shown in that adorable weekender bag, and that's a wrap, folks. See other products I love and lust after here.

november playlist.

I'm super obsessive with music. Once I like a song I love it and if you could be a fly on the windshield of my car you'd probably wish I'd crack a window and let you out. I play the same songs on repeat, a lot of the time one song on repeat for a whole drive somewhere. It's sick, I know, I just love when I love a song. These songs are a few of those 'on repeat' songs and some are 'to be on repeat soon' songs that I've just gotten into because of a tv show, spotify or pandora, or when I'm lucky (and get to drive the boss' car), pulse radio on xm. Whenver I can get my hands on new music I hoard it until it's unhealthy and obsessive. I've even got Max giving me playlist requests in the car when I pick him up from school ("Best Song Ever and Best I Ever Had [a million times] please?" Yes Max, yes we can do that. As your nanny I take full responsibility and am proud of your choices). Listen to this playlist over and over and over on spotify.

*disclaimer: I am not a Miley fan. For those of you Miley lovers out there, I'm sorry, I can't stand her. But Wrecking Ball is suuuuch a guilty pleasure. Sometimes you just gotta give in.

obsession: fall nail colors.

left to right: sew psyched (army green, obsessed with this color this season) // shearling darling (the perfect blue/red) // smokin hot (a beautiful dark grey) // incognito in sausalito (the most beautiful navy according to this navy blue hater) // smoke and ashes (the perfect subtle sparkle black) // licorice (jet black staple. need.)

I am a chronic nail polish buyer. No matter how many bottles of polish I own, I always think I could use just one more because it's perfect and I need it. False. But I'll never change, sorry not sorry.

pumpkin rice crispy treats.

A couple of weeks ago I took my rice crispy treat game to a new level - pumpkin. I made cake batter rice crispy treats last year and they were a hit with all of my friends, so I figured that for a pumpkin carving party I would make fall sensation pumpkin flavored rice crispy treats. They too, were a hit (obviously).

These were just as easy to make as the cake batter version and can be whipped up right before a party or event.// 3 tbsp. unsalted butter
// 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
// 10 oz. bag marshmallows
// 6 cups rice krispies cereal
// 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
// 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
// hearty shake of pumpkin spice
// pinch of nutmeg1// melt the butter in a heated sauce pan, then mix in the pumpkin puree until combined.
2// add in the vanilla, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and nutmeg.
3// add the full bag of marshmallows and once melted almost completely, take of the heat.
4// wait about ten minutes or until the marshmallow looks a little too sticky, then add the rice krispies a cup at a time.
5// mix everything well, then transfer to a dish for cooling.
6// once cooled, use a buttered knife to cut into pieces, and serve.

You definitely want to make sure that you let the marshmallows cool a little bit more than usual because the pumpkin gets very hot, which makes the cereal get a little soggy. Let everything cool in an open environment and the cereal should stay nice and crispy. These are the perfect addition to a party, great for a snack with your PSL from starbucks, or just as a sneaky little snack.

story of my life.

Ladies and gentlemen, One Direction has done it again. It is an understatement to say I am proud of these boys. It is so typical that a fan of One Direction would praise the crap out of them, but considering my typical music preferences, I am speaking as a well-rounded music lover when I say that these boys have grown up. If 'Story of My Life' is any indication of the maturity level of this next album, Midnight Memories, I will be one happy girl (I'll be happy either way because I love them, but this song takes them in a Second Direction - get it?!)

'Story of My Life' was released last week as an audio video, and as soon as I heard it I teared up. It sounds so grown up and much more mature as a piece of music. I played the song on repeat all week, and starting a few days ago, the band's twitter rep was announcing things about the video being released this past Sunday. I woke up Sunday morning and the first thing I did was get on youtube to watch. I sobbed. I am typically not a music video person. I think they're a little bit silly usually, the stories are weird, and the acting/singing always looks fake. There are a select few videos that I really love, for example 'Give Me Love' by Ed Sheeran, 'We Found Love' by Rihanna, and 'Beauty and a Beat' by Justin Bieber. I know there's a few more, but I can't think of them off the top of my head. However, this video for SOML has completely topped them all. I like most of One Direction's other videos because they normally go a sillier route that makes me laugh and enjoy the song even more, but this more serious song came with a serious video and it is fantastic.

The video starts in a dark room where the boys are developing old family pictures, until finally they are in a giant dome with pictures hung all over the place. The real photos are then brought to life with present day versions of the boys and their families. Each boy has one picture transformation, and the last one you're shown is Louis' family photo (when I teared most), in which he and his four grandparents are smiling. But in the transformation two of his grandparents slowly disappear when the photo is brought to present day. I think the video is really clever, and it is relatable to anyone watching whether they like One Direction or not. Everyone has photos like the ones shown in the video and everyone wishes they could go back to the times that they were taken to spend just another minute with their loved ones in that exact moment that the photo was snapped.

Watch the video below, and bear with me as I analyze the parts I love from second to second, much like I did with the 'Best Song Ever' video because I just can't help myself. I love these boys no matter what the 'stereotype' of loving them is. I appreciate them and their hard work and how little they get to see their families to take pictures and enjoy the little moments because they are so busy making music for the fans that they love.



:17 Zayn's facial hair
:22 Harry's smolder
:44-49 my favorite line of the song and Liam's forearm tattoo, which I love
:53 Zayn's baby face
:56 Zayn's photo transformation
1:07 The amazing room of photos
1:18 Harry's face. Always Harry's face.
1:22 The way Zayn looks at his baby sister
1:32 tiny Louis with a baby
1:36 baby Niall
1:37 Niall's photo transformation and the fact that he's so much taller than his older brother now
2:01 the way Liam tugs at his suit
2:06 Liam smiling at a picture of his younger self
2:12 Louis' smile
2:23 baby Harry
2:31-36 the way Harry looks at his mom with so much love in his eyes
2:42 the way Niall looks at his brother
2:58 whoever that baby is (Niall?) with the spaghetti all over his face (I wish they transformed that one into present day)
3:08 Zayn's suspenders. I loooooove a good looking man in suspenders.
3:19 baby Louis
3:24 when Louis' grandparents disappear I really lose it. That one hits home for me.
3:27-29 the way he looks back and forth to their missing spots. Rip my heart out and throw in on the ground.
3:42 Harry and his mama laughing
3:49 Louis laughing
3:52 baby Liam and those cheeeeeeeks
4:00 Zayn hugging his little sister

So lots of trends there in the parts I like and the things that caught my eye (#typicalalessia).

Their full album comes out at the end of this month, but three more songs are due to be released before that date, so if you love them, be sure to keep up with me over here because I swear that on this blog that I intended to post crafts and recipes on, One Direction makes more appearances than anything DIY or edible.