Lately...

Halloween is upon us!!

To me, the entire month of October is Halloween, so expect some spooky additions to my decor like this lil black cat I picked up at Walgreens (and artfully hung some jewelry on) and these candles from Beans, Books and Candles, a mystical store near Five Points South.

One is Diosa Del Mar, goddess of the sea and the other is an "alleged" Jinx Removing Candle. 

I chose these because I really liked the design on the jars, haha.

I put them on my dresser in my room, which is starting to get cluttered with jewelry and knickknacks. 

Purple flowers from my guy :)

This delicious spread is from the annual Middle Eastern Food Festival at St. George's!

I had kibbee, which is baked beef mixed with spices, rice, stuffed grape leaves, a spinach pie, green beans, salad and hummus and pita.

I'm really liking this matte balm from Revlon. It's a red-orangey shade that has vibrant saturation and doesn't leave my lips feeling dry.

New arrow bangle bracelet from Soca Clothing in Homewood

Obsessed with my new turquoise and gold poison ring from Urban Outfitters

Closeups ;)

As well as my crescent moon necklace. I wore it yesterday and today with a lilac crystal necklace and a circle gold, diamond necklace from my grandmother.

Five for Friday

Gal date with Rachel at Great Wall on Valley Avenue.

AMAZZZZING, authentic Chinese food and kind staff.

My Fashionista Birchbox!

1. a FULL-SIZE Macadamia Natural Flawless oil conditioner

2. Cynthia Rowley Beauty Eyeliner

3. dr. brandt pore-refining "vacuum" clay mask

4. Naobay Body Radiance Lotion

5. Laura Mercier volume mascara

wore my Alabama Funk by Anne Conway necklace I got from the Little Forest popup shop at Sidewalk Film Festival last month

(with a dress from Free People and a crochet vest from rue21)

Lovin' my lil bb :)

Nails: 

Sally Hansen "Peach of Cake"from Target

Ruby Wing "Ride 'Em Cowgirl" from my Birchbox Going Glam sample pack

Rings:

Midi rings from rue21

"Faux-pal" gold ring from Birchbox

Five Favorites for Friday!

1. Fresh quilts make my bed so much more inviting

2. Aw look who was waiting for me to come home :)

3. Babysitting my friend's cat, Dot

(And wearing my favorite Mexican dress I got from Etsy)

4. Mom snapchatting me really ugly pictures of me when I was a baby

5. Hunter taking me to Little Savannah for the first time.  Local ingredients, so delicious and fresh-- I also got a peach-jalepeno margarita :)

Five Favorites For Friday!

1. My fat, witchy kitty, Sylvia

2. Going to Collins for dinner and drinks with my best gals

2. First purchase from Teavana, blackberry, plum, and mint green tea

Yummmm

4. Midnight Chocolate ice cream cone from Mountain Brook Creamery with my babes

5. With my bff, Hollie, at a pool party

Five Favorite Food Moments

Over the past few months, I've collected a personal archive of deliciousness found right under my nose, and I am compelled to tell the whole entire blogosphere.

Split a blackberry mint tart and vanilla ice cream with Rachel at Silvertron Cafe in Forest Park

Made myself a simple breakfast: turkey bacon and whole grain toast with avocado, black pepper, and feta.

The love of my life, Hunter, surprising me by having a pizza delivered to my apartment when I was having a not-so-great week.

Locally-made onion marmalade from Dixieland Kitchen, purchased at Local @ the Alys Stephens Center at UAB.  It's amazing on grilled cheese.

And now for my proudest moment:

Eggplant, onion, and garlic pasta with zucchini noodles, grilled chicken, and feta cheese, for Savannah and Heidi's housewarming dinner this past weekend.

The onions were sauteed in olive oil and black pepper with minced garlic, the eggplant was baked before being added to the tomato sauce, and the zucchini noodles were made using a vegetable peeler, and cooked in the microwave to remove excess moisture

Five Favorites For Friday YEAH

1. It's no coincidence that three of my five faves are food.  In my attempts to cut calories wherever possible, I've discovered Monk Fruit In The Raw.  

Let me just preface with this: I am totally against artificial sweeteners.  I think they're disgusting and carcinogenic, but this stuff is actually really dang great.  

No calories, and I put a packet into my tea or coffee daily and can't tell much of a difference in taste apart from real sugar.  Plus, it's natural.

I'm not a huge fan of sweets, so I don't use a lot, but it does the job nonetheless.

2. Macaroni + cheese grilled cheese plus a raspberry weiss brew from Trim Tab Brewing Co at Melt with my bff, Rachel

3. Black bean hummus and farmers market broccoli, plus not-farmer's market baby carrots for lunch at work 

4. My sweet boyfriend ordered some stuff from my Free People wishlist to be sent to my apartment! <3

5. AKA the best news of all, Hunter and I got our tickets to go to San Francisco next month.  As a person that rarely ever takes a vacation, I'm so excited.