Sadness, I'm Your Girl

 Here's what I wore for an amazing Lykke Li show over the weekend. (I'll tell you more about it in tomorrow's Vinyl Vednesday post!) Picking an outfit was a bit tricky because I'm in full-on fall mode, but it's been quite warm lately. Also, I always try to be comfortable (especially when it comes to shoes) but still stylish for shows. This dress has been in my closet for ages but rarely gets any wear, so it felt fresh. The short hemline and open back showed just enough skin, while the long sleeves felt fall-y. The over-the-knee boots added a fashion-forward touch, and they were nice and comfy. Success!

Dress: Secondhand

Boots: Target
Necklace: Vintage

Vinyl Vednesday, Volume 30

Vol. 30

The Record: Cibo Matto, Viva! La Woman

The Refreshment: White Pepper Grapefruit (recipe below)

The track listing for this record is filled with food references and potential cocktail inspiration. While they were many possibilities, I honed in on white pepper and built a cocktail from there. The interesting mix of flavors made for a dynamic drink, much like the layered sounds of the eclectic record! 

Ingredients

Gin

Grapefruit juice

Rose water

White pepper

Instructions

Rim your glass with white pepper. Combine 1.5 oz gin, 3 oz grapefruit juice (I like the Simply Grapefruit kind) and a dash of rose water in your glass and stir. Add ice and enjoy!

NFL Fan Style

I may not be the most diehard sports fan in the world, but I have been completely swept up in the sporty trend that continues to take the fashion world by storm! More than ever before, I find myself reaching for sneakers over stilettos and t-shirts over blouses. I'm drawn to primary colors, bold stripes and team apparel. Speaking of teams, I'm also all about hometown pride. Living in Kansas City, you can't help but feel the excitement in the air as the fall football season rolls in, and everyone cheers for the beloved Chiefs! So, when the NFL asked if I would represent my #NFLfanSTYLE by sporting some of their stylish apparel, I jumped at the chance! The NFL is launching the first ever digital NFL Hall of Fashion where fans can submit their personal #NFLfanSTYLE photos on Instagram for a chance to be featured on the @NFLfanSTYLE’s Instagram page. To purchase NFL Apparel, just go to NFLShop.com. No matter which team you're rooting for, there are so many fashionable options to show your fandom! 

For this outfit, I paired my casual ringer tee with some boyfriend jeans and high-top sneakers for a laidback yet fashion-forward feel. To give the look a fall-ready vibe, I added a goldenrod beanie and deep red lips. Go Chiefs!

This sponsored post is presented in partnership with the NFL. Thank you to the NFL for the opportunity and to my readers for supporting content that makes this blog possible!

Vinyl Vednesday, Volume 29

Vol. 29

The Record: Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

The Refreshment: A Liquid Cure for Landlocked Blues (recipe below)

My Vinyl Vednesday companion was absent this time, so I seized the opportunity to make selections he doesn't particularly care for: Bright Eyes and a hot cocktail! If I had to select an album to encompass my early college years, this one would definitely be in the running. I started listening to Conor as an angsty junior high kid, and my love for his music culminated with this twangy record. While I've failed to consistently keep up with his newer music, I always have the urge to revisit these old tunes in autumn. The cozy cocktail was a perfect accompaniment to the crisp fall evening. Recipe below!

A Liquid Cure for Landlocked Blues (Ginger Hot Toddy)

Ingredients

Whiskey

Lemon Juice

Ginger Syrup*

Hot Water

Instructions

Combine 1.5 oz whiskey, 1 oz ginger syrup and .5 oz of lemon juice in a mug. Top with hot water and stir. Sprinkle with cinnamon (don't accidentally reach for cumin like I did) and enjoy!

*Peel and slice fresh ginger and let it simmer in 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar for about 30 minutes. It's great in a lot of cocktails!

Rock Autumn

Fall came right on time this year, and it's been so fun pulling my sweaters and jackets out of storage. This fuzzy favorite paired with all white and my new Beatle boots had me feeling oh so cool.

Shirt: Uniqlo
Pants: Old Navy
Jacket: H&M
Shoes: H by Hudson
Shades: Ray-Ban

Flashback Friday

It's crisp and cool in my neck of the woods today. I'm loving the recent onset of fall weather! Since I didn't get any outfit shots this week, I thought I'd take a look back. Here are a couple of shots -- one from last September and one from the September before that -- featuring one of my fave vintage pieces.

Vinyl Vednesday, Volume 28

Vol. 28

The Record: The National, High Violet

The Refreshment: Gin, creme de violette, lemon, elderflower soda

With this album, I was faced with the unusual problem of having too many cocktail ideas! I ended up sticking with my initial inspiration -- a cocktail including creme de violette, an ingredient I have enjoyed at bars but never experimented with at home. See recipe below!

Ingredients

Gin

Creme de violette

Lemon juice

Elderflower soda

Instructions

Combine 1.5 oz gin, .5 oz creme de violette and .5 oz lemon juice and stir. Add ice. Top with elderflower soda*.

*I happened to have this ingredient on hand, but it's not essential! You could use St. Germaine and soda or just plain soda instead. 

Mad for Mod

Mod style will forever have my heart. Lucky for me, the swinging sixties aesthetic is also totally trendy this fall. I have no doubt that the simple striped shift will be getting a whole lot of wear this season. 

Dress: Forever 21

Shoes: Sam Edelman

Necklace: Sara Cramer

Vinyl Vednesday, Volume 27

Vol. 27

The Record: Peter Bjorn and John, Gimme Some

The Refreshment: P B & J (Pimm's, bourbon and juice)

Thanks to the popularity of the song "Young Folks," Peter Bjorn and John's Writer's Block became one of my favorite albums of my college years. But, as I am wont to do, I didn't bother to listen to the records that came before or after it. It was fun to get reacquainted with this charming Swedish pop trio! As for the beverage, it was light and summery with a bit of kick...a boozy Pimm's Cup. Recipe below!

Ingredients:

Pimm's No. 1 Liqueur 

Bourbon

Simple Syrup

Lemon Juice

Soda Water

Mint

Instructions:

Muddle some mint in your glass (or you can clap or slap it and add it last). Combine 1.5 oz of Pimm's, 1.5 oz of whiskey, 1 oz of simple syrup and .5 oz of lemon juice. Add ice and top with soda water. Stir and enjoy!