Style Inspirations: Color Me Mine

Every spring and fall season, Pantone puts out their Fashion Color Report. Basically it's the colors that will be most popular and were featured in various designer collections during fashion week. 

This years theme for the women's color report is called Sensible and Spirited:

Taking cues from the great masters, sepia tones of old Hollywood, Chinese opera, cityscapes and countryside, designers are paying close attention to texture, contrast and color for fall 2011 – pairing menswear with feminine twists, warm prints with cool metals, incorporating both old and new influences, and creating an intriguing balance between colors.

Some of the colors might scream spring to you, but they are a great way to add color to the black, greys, and other various neutral colors that is worn during the fall/winter season. They bring in some much needed color during those long winter days. 

Here are some outfits I created, using some of the fashion colors as inspiration.

Deep Teal

Pantone Deep Teal by somedaysmarter featuring a silk ruffle blouse

Orchid Rush

Pantone Orchid Rush by somedaysmarter featuring high heel shoes

Honeysuckle 

Pantone Honeysuckle by somedaysmarter featuring low rise pants

Quick and Easy Pumpkin Cupcakes

One thing that immediately reminds me of fall is pumpkins. I love it pie, latte, and even in ice cream. So when I came across this pumpkin cupcake recipe on Pinterest, I immediately had to try it. The cool thing about this recipe is that it doesn't use any oil or eggs. It's just cake mix and pumpkin puree.

Recipe adapted from Big Red Kitchen.

Ingredients:

• 1 box of yellow cake mix
• 1lb can pumpkin puree
• 1 1/2 tsp of nutmeg
• 2 tsp of cinnamon
• 2 tsp of vanilla extract

 Directions:

• Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees F if you are using a non-stick/dark baking pan. Pre-heat to 350 degrees F for a glass/shiny baking pan.
•  Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix. 
• Bake for 30 minutes.

Once the cupcakes are cooled you can either sprinkle powederd sugar over them or frost them with some cream cheese frosting. I used this frosting recipe from Paula Deen, but I cut the powdered sugar to 2 cups because it made it less sweet. 

There you have it, some wonderful pumpkin cupcakes that you can make during the fall season. 

Visual Friend Friday: The Perfect Fall Outfit and A Blogger Milestone

 Dress (worn as a top): Express

Cardigan and Skirt: Old Navy

Necklace: H&M

Boots: Reflections

Full disclosure, I did not wear this today. I just took these outfit pictures and soon after changed back into my shirt and shorts.  Despite being the middle of October, it was 92 degrees today. So unlike the rest of the country, fall isn't making its way to Southern California. But if was 20 degrees cooler this would be one of my fall uniforms; skirt or dress, comfy sweater, and boots. The other one is jeans tucked into boots with a top and cardigan/blazer. Seriously I just want to start wearing my boots again!

This weeks Visual Friend Friday was hosted by Iris of 260 Days No Repeats. Head over to her blog to see what other bloggers feel is their perfect fall outfit.

Another thing is that not only has it been four years since I started this blog, but this is my 500th post! When I first discovered fashion and style blogs, I was completely fascinated by them and would spend hours pouring over them. Some of the blogs that I first started reading; Liebemarlene, Ringo! Have a Banana, and Sally Jane Vintage, I still read today and the first post I ever wrote was on Zooey Deschanel. So while some things never change, other things have. 

In the past four years, I have discovered new things that I now fawn over immensely on this blog, tapped further into my nerdiness, finally visited NYC, had my heart broken but have become a little more wiser because of it, and rediscovered hobbies I used to love to when I was younger. Yes there's a certain amount of narcissism that comes with blogging, since I do post outfits and I sometimes I do get down on myself for not being as popular as other bloggers. But I wouldn't change it for anything. This is just a little facet of my life where I get to share my interests and hopefully others will be drawn into it. On that note, I have made some blogger friends that I hope to one day meet in real life. It's great how something like blogging and other social media outlets can connect you to people who share the same interests. It just shows that sometimes the world isn't as big as you think it is.

Finally, not to get too sappy, but I want to thank everyone that has read my blog. I really appreciate those who take the time follow and read my ramblings. I hope to continue this blog with my regular features such as Sunday Videos and Style Inspiration along with my outfit posts and pop culture ramblings. Plus my blog is going to get a mini-makeover soon with some help from Nikki of Design Coyote. If there is anything else you would like me to write about, leave a comment or contact me via e-mail. 

Thanks again for your readership and here's to another 500 posts!

Friend Friday: Fall Trends

This weeks Friend Friday is all about our top five trends for fall. For spring trends I created Polyvore boards, so this time around I wanted to a vlog. I have to say being the first time I did one, it was more time consuming that I thought. There were a lot of outtakes, but hopefully if this one is successful, I'll do another one. First time for everything. 


So here are my top 5 trends and I hope you enjoy it. 




What trends are you looking forward to this fall? Don't forget to check out ModlyChic to read what trends are on other bloggers minds.

*I also found a way to make a Doctor Who reference. Yeah I'm a nerd.

Fall Style Inspiration: Teen Vogue 2004

Although I'm way, way past my teen years, I still like to flip through Teen Vogue every now and then. The way the clothes are styled fit in my life so much more than the high end styling that's featured in Vogue. One fashion layout spread I really liked in particular was the one with Alexis Bledel and Adam Brody in Teen Vogue's 2004 September issue. Even though the issue is seven years old, everything they are wearing still looks current. Fashion is cyclical after all. Plus it makes me all nostalgic for The O.C. and Gilmore Girls, but that's a whole other post.

(source for all scans)

The Perfect Coat

I love this coat that Natalie Portman wore on her way to the Letterman Show yesterday. Everyone else can have camel. Navy is my fall color of choice.

I Want to Jump in a Giant Pile of Leaves

It's finally starting to feel like fall with the mild, sometimes rainy, weather that's been going on for the past couple of weeks. With that in mind, here are some of the items on my fall wish list.

Untitled by ineedclarity featuring a cable knit sweater

Gap Cable knit sweater, $60
Shop-A-Matic -- Sweaters -- Hand Knit Cable Sweater by Steven Alan
Gotta Have It: Cable Knit Sweaters, ll bean, $40

Untitled by ineedclarity featuring knitted skirts

Chiffon Double-Layered Full Length Skirt, $58
Sparkle & Fade Long Knit Skirt, $49
Tiered Maxi Skirt, $18

boots by ineedclarity featuring vintage boots

Charles David Regiment, $352
Sam Edelman Sanford, $254
Platinum Boot, $195
Autumn Awakening Boot | Mod Retro Vintage Boots | ModCloth.com, $262
Shoes | Mod Retro Indie Shoes & Vintage Shoes | ModCloth.com, $70

Boot Scootin' Boogie

One of things I love about fall is the plethora of boots out there. So many different styles to choose from. One style I'm currently into are buckled/biker boots.

They have that look that says, don't mess with me. It's also the perfect compliment to floral dresses and basically anything girly.

Here are some boots I found in different price ranges:Rosegold Walt Midcalf Moto boot, Loeffler Randall Cale Mid Shaft boot, Jeffrey Campbell Rilla Lo Lace Up boot, Frye Engineer boot Shearling Lined Riding Boot, J. Aldridge by Sea of Shoes Tall Buckle Boot, Mixed Media Boot, Wanted Ballard Brown Lace Up Boot

Frye Rogan Engineer Boot, Jeffrey Campbell Shifter Brown Studded Boot, Buckled Biker Boot

I actually bought the last boots a few days ago. You can fold over the top so it's like getting two boots in one. Plus when I wear them, I feel like I can kick some butt. Haha.
I'm planning on getting them in gray when they have my size in stock.

*I also shortened my url. You can now follow me on www.somedaysmarter.bloggspot.com

Wishing and a hoping...

I think I have found one of the loveliest skirts for fall.
I'm not sure if it was the color or the artsy floral design.
But when I saw it in this month's InStyle, I knew I had to have it.
It's a shame that the skirt, from the Olsen's Elizabeth and James line, is $300.
Maybe I'll find a skirt similar to it, or fate will let me cross paths
with it and I will have the funds to purchase it.
But for now one can dream and use
Polyvore to create two outfits around it.