Happy Friday guys! I have had so much buzzing through my brain this week, so I’m excited to get it out in this 5 on Friday post today! This was week one of FASTer Way to Fatloss and with the fasting and running I’ve been doing, I have so much energy in the mornings!
Fall is in full swing here in London and I have to say I’m really, really loving it. Yes, I miss apple orchards, pumpkin patches, and the Fall-mania in the US. Luckily though, there’s a lot of beauty and fun here in England too! Next weekend we’re even headed to the country with friends to soak it all in.
{ONE} Songs that remind me of home
I’ve been doing this super indulgent thing lately… I’ve been taking a shower BY MYSELF with music blasting. Parents, you understand here, especially when you have 400 square feet upstairs and a teeny tiny bathroom – my kid always ends up in the shower with me or on the potty next to me.
Usually, I crave calming jams during this indulgent time and recently there are 3 songs I find myself willing my Spotify to play over and over. Then I realized, it’s because they remind me of home! They’re also just awesome songs…
American Honey – Lady Antebellum
Maybe I’ll make a “home” playlist. What other songs remind you of South Carolina / Charleston / The South / America?
{TWO} UNIQLO
We live just a few minutes from Kensington High Street and I’ve passed a store called UNIQLO so many times. I’ve always been intrigued, but didn’t pop in until my friend Sarah wore a coat from there I really liked. So in I went one day and let’s just say I wanted to buy the entire store. It is full of THE best basics and down items I’ve ever seen.
I held back though and only sprang for this ultra lightweight down vest that’s under $50 and literally folds up in your pocket. It’s SO great for running while the weather is wonky. I also love, love, love my charcoal thermal t-shirt which has the cutest 3/4 sleeves, a sloped sidecut, and is $15.
Needless to say, I’m now a huge fan! Anyone else love this brand?
Left: Thermal 3/4 Sleeve Top // Right: Ultra Light Down Vest
{THREE} Wearing Lately
The weather in London lately has been 40s-70s, so a pretty big range. I get a lot of questions on what to pack for London and figured this would be the best way to show you what I actually wear. This doesn’t include my workout gear I run out the door in about 4 mornings a week because I run with Sully or after dropping her off at school.
One :: Black Trench (similar that I love more!) / Striped Tee / Jeans (I swear by these and have them in 2 colors) /Hunter Boots (fancy grocery “trolley” from Ikea haha)
Two :: Cashmere Travel Scarf (color sold out) / Striped Sweater Tee (old, similar here) / Jeans / Mint Green Tennies / Tote / Airpods
Three :: Cowl Neck Top / Black Trench (similar that I love more!) / Jeans / Flats (bought in Morocco, similar style) / Airpods
Four :: T-Shirt Dress (similar) / Vest (old Lilly, very similar) /Flats (bought in Morocco, similar style) / Bag
Five ::Cowl Neck Top / Vest (old JCrew) / Jeans / Flats (old Tory Burch, love these pink ones)
It’s so funny when you take photos and realize how often you wear something – like stripes, my dark jeans, that grey top, my black trench, and those Moroccan flats!
{FOUR} Recent Reads (+ Watched ;))
Educated by Tara Westover :: Woah guys. I didn’t want to like this nonfiction novel about a woman who grows up with a doomsday family in Idaho where they’re so extreme they deny their children education and medical care because the government controls those things. Flash forward and she ends up going to Cambridge and Harvard! It’s such an interesting story and very inspiring in the end.
The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood :: I read this one on my Kindle and I didn’t see the last page coming, so I ended up being disappointed in this read. I hated the way it ended – I need closure people!!! Interesting ideas and I do feel like it’s just one of those you have to read sometime in your life. Definitely wasn’t a favorite though.
Digging into Next:
The Towering Sky by Katharine McGee :: You guys! I am SO excited for the third and final book in The Thousandth Floor series. This is one of my Young Adult series that I indulge in and just love. Anyone else with me?!
And can I tack on a “watching lately” to this one? Very Cavallari is my JAM. Just binged it over the past few weeks when Ryan wasn’t home and I just love everything about it. Kristin Cavallari and her life in Nashville the dream!
{FOUR} What Makes your eyes so bright?
I got this question in different versions a few times when I posted an Instagram Story asking what else you guys wanted to know about today. First off, I think my healthier ways are really paying off y’all! Water and avocados really make a difference, seriously :).
Second, I wear this eye cream every day and love it.
Third – and this is truly what it is – this concealer is THE best. I’ve been using it for four years now and every time I think I should change it up, I always go back.
I also like to follow this up with either some BB cream for a no-makeup look or my ByTerry foundation when I’m putting on full makeup. By the way, I am loving this foundation, but do have to put a little veil of powder over it otherwise I get shiny. It can’t be beat for travel and fast application though!
Coming soon… an update on week one of FASTer Way to Fatloss! Plus, I have a guide to the lavender fields in Provence coming too. Don’t worry Morroco peeps, I haven’t forgotten about y’all, that post is chugging along too.
PS: Did you catch my latest blog post on our thoughts on living abroad for 6 months? It’s a good one!
Such fun stuff! It is sunny and 60 in DC today, and yes, we are going to the apple orchard/pumpkin patch this weekend, ha! I have been living in basically the same outfits, though. Miss you!