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Hi A is for Ampersand readers! This is Cassie from The Veda House and I'm guest posting today and sharing a fall wardrobe suggestion, something I'd love to have in my closet. Over the past year I've oooing and ahhhing over fashion blogs and admiring their ability to put seemingly simple outfits together. I'm no fashionista, but I do have my fall wardrobe go to items like ankle boots, layers upon layers, warm color palettes, and scarves!

Because I'm a petite gal, finding clothing items can be a challenge and usually means I have to do some extra searching. Collecting inspiration on the internet and putting together mock outfits has proven to be a good way to piece together a wardrobe that is well thought out (saves money and time too!) I'd suggest getting your staple fall items (mine are mentioned above) and then adding a few fun items in there to spice things up (hats, jewelry and a fun blouse.)

Feel free to stop by my Passion for Fashion mood board on Pinterest to see other items I've been eyeing.

I hope you enjoyed some wardrobe inspiration. Stop by the blog and see my latest redesign. I'm pretty happy with it.

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If you haven't stopped by Cassie's INSANELY beautiful blog, be sure to stop everything and go NOW. Her photos are gorgeous, her design sense is spot on, and I'm a huge fan and know you will be, too. Thanks for sharing your fall wardrobe staples, Cassie!

While perusing I came across the J. Crew collection, and I tell you what...it's absolutely lovely.

I think I need a lair of loafers with socks, don't you think? What are your thoughts on the sock trend going on right now? I think I'm lovin it!

Happened just today when these beauties arrived. Can't wait to style them! (since I'm blogging from my phone I won't leave a link but they're the Garren platforms from Blowfish!)

I keep seeing Jeffrey Campbell wedges everywhere I look, and I just can't.get.enough. I'd be pleased as punch for any of these absolute beauties:

and these aren't wedges, but I'm digging clogs, too. Ah! So 70s and fabulous.

Unfortunately, J. Campbell wedges are in no way financially viable for me, so instead, I got these lovely booties from ModCloth with a gift card I won. Holla! So so lucky.

Eeee! What are your spring shoe crushes?

Firstly, I came across an interesting article entitled, "Civil Rights are for Every Body: Celebrate 'Love Your Body Day' with a Discussion about the Size Acceptance Movement." I mostly loved the title of the article because, well, I would definitely consider this body image foolishness killing women a matter of civil rights. Why should we have a lower quality of life in the pursuit of being thin? Not happening, kids. No way no how.

My favorite point of the article is this:

"You invest in the myth that if you have a perfect body, you'll have a perfect life. But the tasks of body perfection often drain money, energy, and time from the real investments women could make in their education, development, financial security, and so forth."

I think this is what bothers me the most about this whole issue. We waste SO much time bummed out about our bodies and miss out on SO much that's SO much more important. Like the 7 years I battled the eating disorder, you know? I could have been living it up with raucous times and debauchery like my peers. So many missed opportunities, and I'm not going to miss out anymore.

Now that the serious part is over with, why not honestly celebrate my little Luff Your Body Day and do something nice for yourself that makes you feel like a lady. Here's a mini DIY roundup of things I've seen from the bloggers I admire:

Try a new hairstyle like these lovely LOVELY milkmaid braids from Sometimes Sweet:

Give yourself a lacy manicure like Chelsea from Seablanket.

Make a pretty braided flower for your hair with Rachel's tutorial. (or make yourself a turban from my DIY! Seriously the BEST accessory for the worst hair day. You gotta make one!)

And my personal favorite? Make one of Miriam's reverse applique t-shirts! I made a duck one and love it more than anything in the universe. I loved it so much that I later made a coyote one.

So many good things to do for yourself. So, lovely readers, go forth to the weekend loving your body and yourself! Do something nice that makes you feel good. And if you feel like it--tell me all about it! What do you like to do to make yourself feel real, real nice?

Anyway, all this Project Runway watching has me itching to sew AND getting more into fashion. As if I really needed more things to obsess about.

I saw this collection from Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti. Retro + pastel + shiny gold, fur=everything I love in life.

Really just so lovely, wouldn't you say?

(And if you haven't entered my giveaway yet, you've got until tomorrow! Scurry on over to LDC Designs and snag yourself a long cat and a fabric journal!)

Anyway, I'm chugging away at work on a bajillion holiday projects and chugging even harder at the most glorious freelance project. I can't wait to tell you all about it so you can support this crazily talented girl and learn all you can from her mad skills.

Anyway, between the madness here and there I've sneaked some peeks online at some things I'm pining for this Christmas. Pining. See what I did there?

Oh, J. Crew. Always always killing me with wants. Olive and gray is blowing my mind right now. Must be why I bought those olive tights last week.

And anthropologie. Don't even get me started. I walked in there last week to dream, as I often do, and left filled with a stronger than ever desire to learn to sew. That shiz is expensive. Like this dress and cardigan. Oh, to die for.

And these are called teal good time boots. They also have "Amy" written all over them.

Of course, these things will never happen, but a girl can dream. Or sew.

But my little fingers are crossed to the bone hoping for these...

A record player! Oh how I need one so! As a girl that listens to music pretty much 24 hours a day, I do believe it's just necessary to my existence. I have no idea what one I even want. Any suggestions? All I know is I want a full vinyl library ASAP.

And lastly....

A bernina! I don't even know what model. I just pulled this random picture of a bernina, so don't laugh. I'd love suggestions on this one, too. Emily? Any particular model I should shoot for?

Here's to Thanksgiving arriving quickly so I can officially decorate my house. Heaven knows I've already got big plans of Christmas grandeur floating around in my head.

I've had my eye on this baby for sooooo so so very long, and The Dainty Squid is doing a giveaway for one right this very minute! Huzzah! I get extra entries if I blog about it, so you should go enter and then blog about it, too so we can all win glorious hoodies!

That is all.

Sigh.

I know.

I'm addicted.

I walked past these lovelies about 6 times before I realized they were on sale and they were the last pair and they didn't belong on anyone else's feet but mine.

Six pairs of toms. Out of control? Maybe. But definitely happy-making? Most definitely.

(And continuing on the trend of monetary happiness, I bought myself a whole new wardrobe on Saturday. Huzzah! Easily the best feeling in the whole world. Hooray for bonuses!)

a cute little lace dress with the pockets and boxy hips, some olive nylons, some amazing oxfords, and a muchly needed purple cardigan. gold.mine.

currently in love with the $4 shoes.

Sometimes when you're in a rut you just gotta spend a little cash money on some ridic deals, know what I'm sayin?

Werd.