Basic Autumn

Whenever I go into a store, I unfortunately pick whatever catches my eye and rarely take enough time to think how that particular item fits into my wardrobe. Lately though, I have been trying to be more deliberate with my clothing choices. In addition to my closet edit challenge, I went online-window shopping for a "dream" selection of basic pieces that would help me create a versatile autumn wardrobe. Though I don't have the budget for these pieces right now, I still put a lot of thought into them, an exercise that helped me learn more about my style and preferences - knowledge that I hope to apply for future purchases.

1. Dagg & Stacey Cambridge Coat, CAD$388
2. Laura Elizabeth Jewelry Elm Earrings in Gold, $112 (Real leaves!!!)
3. Amour Vert Tanu Red Peace Silk Blouse, $99
4. Matt & Nat Barnes Bag, CAD$245
5. Del Forte Dark Blue Wide Leg Laurel Organic Jeans, £135
6. Hovey Lee Yakima II Bracelet, $55
7. Viridis Luxe Bamboo Drop Back Cinch Waist Dress, £143
8. Elle Plain Bamboo Tights in Black, £10
9. Jackpot Presta White Cotton Shirt, £45
10. Curator Darling Dress in Oxblood, $150
11. Komodo Moira Organic Cotton Hemp Skirt, £55
12. Branch Fair Trade Knitted Snood Scarf, £25
13. People Tree Orla Kiely Teacup Skirt, £70 (Teacup print!!!)
14. Beyond Skin Kenzi Black Faux Suede Heels, £124, £76
15. Mudd & Water Newport Breton Style Knit, £59
16. Elroy Apparel Brya Jacket, CAD$110
17. Jackpot Manitha Cotton Cardigan, £98

• A few pointers that I kept in mind while picking my favourites •

I can truly see endless possibilities with these items, but I wanted to put together a few outfit ideas that I'm most excited about:

Happy Days: Little Smiles

• A few roses from a plant my parents got for their wedding anniversary •

These past few weeks have been quite hectic at school; with the end of the semester quickly approaching, assignments and exams have been pouring in. Now that only a few final exams still stand between me and winter break, I took a little time to focus on the blog. I've planned many new posts for the rest of this year that I really hope I'll find the time to put together and share over the next month. For the moment, these are a few of the things that have kept me positive and smiling through the busy times of late.

• A new collection of mini nail polishes •

• The message of this song truly speaks to me and I've been playing it every time I feel discouraged and need a bit of extra motivation •

Edit Your Closet

Recently I've become more interested in the idea of creating a well-edited closet: one that is not overflowing yet still has plenty of options available for me to get dressed quickly, all while keeping it eco-friendly as much as possible. With this thought in mind, a few weeks ago I decided to tackle the task of editing my own closet and it proved to be quite a fun & freeing experience.

• Though still quite full, I can now see - and wear! - clothes that I didn't before • 

My goal was to remove all the clothes that I didn't plan on wearing in the coming weeks, leaving plenty of space for the rest and thus, creating a manageable "temporary" wardrobe that would make it easy to pick well put-together outfits. In order to keep the length of this post within reasonable limits, I decided to show just how I did it now, and leave the discussion of why and what I hope to get out of it for a later time.

How I pared down my closet:

• First, I took out all the special occasion pieces that are not in constant rotation.

• For similar items - colour or print - I chose just some of them to keep close.

• Then I packed away out-of-season items that I won't remix into my wardrobe anytime soon.

• For lack of space, I folded all the clothes that I took out and stored them in my suitcase.

I plan on rotating items once I have exhausted most combinations possible and no longer feel inspired by the clothes I have out or when the weather forces me to add some thicker layers.

Mild November

This week started out with such a mild Monday morning that I couldn't resist dressing up in a skirt and heels - even though going to class was all I had on the agenda. There won't be many more such opportunities this year and I had to take advantage of it.

• Top via consignment store • Joe Fresh skirt • H&M belt • Payless high-heeled oxfords • Gap trench coat •

I purchased this top over a year ago from a consignment store and shamefully, this was the first time that I wore it. At the time, I couldn't resist the pretty colour, soft fabric and tunic length and I was envisioning pairing it with some skinny jeans or leggings. However, I've discovered that it doesn't go too well with jeans, and I have yet to find the perfect pair of leggings to wear out. So instead, I decided to tuck it into one of my favourite skirts, then add a nice belt, some high-heeled oxfords and a pair of tights and go about my day.

Such a rare occasion that in November a trench coat is all I need to stay warm!

Coco-Nutty

My love for coconut started over the summer when I bought a bag of roasted coconut flakes and since then, it hasn't subsided much. However, since I tend to think of it as more of a summer treat and have already indulged my taste buds plenty in the past few months, I decided that the best way to keep the love alive during the cold season would be with some all-natural, coconut-scented beauty products.

1. Pangea Organics Tunisian Olive Oil & Coconut Soap, CAD$8

2. Badger Vanilla Coconut Everyday Moisturizer, CAD$19.95

3. Hurraw! Coconut Lip Balm, $3.79

4. Balm Balm Super Light Coconut Cleanser 100mL, £13.25

5. RMS Beauty Raw Coconut Cream, $18

6. Rocky Mountain Soap Coconut Lip Butter, CAD$4.49

7. Wembe Coconut Exfoliating Blend Soap, $7.50

8. Dr. Bronner's Lavender Coconut Lotion, CAD$9.91

9. 100% Pure Honey Coconut Milk Shampoo, CAD$20

10. 100% Pure Honey Coconut Milk Conditioner, CAD$20

I am looking forward to trying at least one of these products in the coming winter, and would gladly consider any other recommendations!

Healthy & Green

On the search for a cake recipe earlier today, I rediscovered the Rodale website. I had bookmarked a page off the site a few months ago but then life got in the way and I completely forgot about it. After I finally found the recipe I wanted - a healthy one too - I got lost in their articles that cover everything from health and food to living, environment and fitness. Just like the catch phrase suggests, it truly is a place "where health meets green". I could have spent much longer on there, but instead I decided to tackle my to-do list for the day and share a few of the articles that caught my attention; as it turns out, plants of all kinds - edible or not - are on my mind:

• The Nickel Pincher: Enjoy Your Fresh Herbs All Winter Long - Once the cold weather arrived, I was sad to see the vegetable garden that my family and I planted go; this article has some great tips about how to keep a green thumb throughout the winter by growing some fresh herbs inside. 
• The 6 Best Plants for a Healthy Office - Though I don't work in an office - unless the desk in my room can be counted as one - I've been particularly enjoying our indoor plants these past few weeks, and it was interesting to learn which of them are best for cleaning the air or lifting a not-so-good mood.
• The Wonder Herb You Aren't Using - This article talks about the benefits of lemongrass - an herb that I indeed am not using; how did they know? - and shares a few ideas for yummy, healthy recipes that incorporate it.