Email theblondeprep@gmail.com with questions, comments, or concerns. Powered by Blogger.

This Week's Top 10: Halloween Weekend!


1. I voted early this week!!! Have you made a plan to vote yet? I found my polling place and voting hours soo easily on this website


2. Happy Halloween weekend!!! I know it probably isn't as exciting for many of us as past Halloweens, but I hope you're at least planning on doing something fun or relaxing! Tonight my boyfriend and I are making bucatini with my family's famous homemade meatball recipe! 


3. I decided this week to host a small friendsgiving in a few weeks! I am so excited and already thinking about how I want to set the table. These napkins are the cutest ever. Definitely considering this centerpiece, this simple tablecloth, these cute plates, and these.... place cards.... so chic

The Best Book I've Read Recently


I originally planned to wait until I read a few more books to write my typical round-up of recent reads, but I finished this a month ago and don't want to wait any longer to share. It's the perfect time to read this book as we round the corner into winter, and it's such a great one that a stand-alone post on it is well-justified. So, let's talk about The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah.

17+ Casual Chic Thanksgiving Outfit Ideas


this post was updated on 11/1/2022


oversized camel sweater // tweed pants


When I think of Thanksgiving outfits I immediately think of the Gossip Girl scene where Nate is playing football with his family and they are all wearing bougie little sweaters. I love the classic vibe that comes with not only the food and activities of Thanksgiving but the outfits as well. This year, even though we are all probably tempted to stay in the lounge sets we've been collecting throughout quarantine, it's kind of fun to have an excuse to actually get dressed up. I, for one, plan to get dressed this Thanksgiving! In what? Not sure yet. Hopefully, this post will help you as much as it's helping me get inspiration for Thanksgiving outfit ideas.

This Week's Top 10


1. Happy Friday! My week went by pretty quickly again, and with every day it feels less like fall and more like winter in Wisconsin... crossing my fingers the snow at least holds off until November 1st!


2. This week on the blog I shared my WFH schedule and explained a bit about my job / what I do! I am so excited because last night I signed onto my first official consulting project, which starts Monday! I am a little nervous but really looking forward to diving into my job.


3. Last night I made my favorite recipe: healthy avgolemono soup! It makes a ton so I'll be eating it throughout the week and I am hyped about it. It's so delicious and perfect for the cooler days we are having now... speaking of soup, if you follow along with my IG stories, you know I have been obsessed with grilled cheese + tomato soup for lunch this week. Really, is there anything better?

A Day in my WFH Life


The most requested response from my IG poll of blog post suggestions last week had something to do with a job update, WFH life, balancing work with blogging/social life/working out, etc. I'm glad many of you are curious about this, and I am excited to share my daily routine with you today. It has been quite an adjustment and I am so excited to share!

This Week's Top 10


1. Happy Friday! This week really flew by... I didn't do much but I'm happy the weekend is already here again. One thing I did do, however: watched Emily in Paris... and I have some thoughts.

Shopbop's Sitewide Sale

fall fashion sweater blazer winter whites

Now that I'm a ~working adult,~ I want to stop shopping for quantity and instead focus on quality pieces that I will have forever. One of the best places, in my opinion, to find fabulous, high-quality clothing is Shopbop! In college, I rarely placed orders at Shopbop for everyday clothing because it was just too expensive and too nice for outfits that I'd end up wearing to class. Now that I am planning a move to NYC and clearing out my closet, I want to fill my closet with nice pieces and their sitewide sale is a great opportunity to grab pieces that rarely get discounted!

Easy Fall Transition Outfit

Although it's mid-October, the weather is still pretty warm here in Wisconsin. I'm so happy not to be wrapped up in a puffer quite yet, but I have had to get a little creative dressing for these warmer fall temps. I'm so used to it already being fifty below this time of year! Introducing: an easy, seasonally appropriate fall outfit idea: sweater + shorts.



Fall Home Decor

This post has been in my drafts for weeks now and I am excited to finally hit publish today. It's crazy to think that just a few months ago I still planned to move to NYC for the start of my job last month. As grateful as I am to be home with my mom who does seriously everything for me, there are a lot of things I enjoyed about apartment living in college. I really look forward to the day I can finally make it out to the city and have my own space, and I know when I get there it will have been well worth the wait. Until then, I am loving all of the Halloween and fall decorations in my house and wanted to share a roundup of some fun fall decor that maybe will inspire you to spruce up your own current environment.

Professional Growth Advice (From a Special Guest!)


Professional growth topics are something I have been wanting to make more prevalent on this blog for a while now. Career fair season is here for many of you college gals, and post-grads around my age are either job hunting or just starting a new job like I am, so what better time to chat about all things career-focused? 

This Week's Top 10: Mostly Random Things I Bought


photo via pinterest


1. Happy Friday!!! I am so excited for this weekend. Tonight my boyfriend and I are trying a cute Italian restaurant in my neighborhood, and then tomorrow I am heading to Chicago to hang out with my best friend from high school and my brother! They went to college together so they are good friends as well. I am excited for the three of us to hang out together again!


2. THANK YOU all for your love on the apple photos on Instagram!! This one is now my most liked photo of 2020 (so far!)


3. My friend Lucy's Instagram (formerly daily dose of prep) was hacked this week and she lost everything! I am so sad for her. Please consider following her new account here

Girls' Night: Apple Picking Recap


On Tuesday night, three of my best high school friends and I went apple picking after work and had the best time. We picked apples, took photos (duh), and got tacos + margs after for dinner! I am so excited to share these photos with you -- it was such a fun night and I love how we captured it!


Expanding My Self-Care Routine


You guys know I love a self-care moment. Whether I’m going for a morning walk, trying new skincare products, or painting my nails, I love to practice a variety of self care, and today I’m excited to partner with RepHresh Products to share some new ways you can expand your self-care repertoire!

Fall Weekend Recap

 


This weekend went by quickly, but it was still really fun! Between dinner with girlfriends on Friday, a fall adventure on Saturday, and watching football + field hockey on TV on Sunday, it was both relaxing and full of activities. Does it get better than that?!

This Week's Top 10


1. Who watched the Presidential debate this week? I did, but I couldn't get through the whole thing... it was appalling and honestly, it just hurt my ears. This is a great article (in my opinion) from the New York Times (aka the most unbiased news source in journalism these days) that recaps the event.


(breaking news! President Trump and the First Lady just announced they tested positive for COVID)


2. On the topic of the election, I found this article to be really helpful when trying to determine the difference between facts and media baises surrounding this election. It provides a variety of resources and information to make you a more informed voter, and less of an "influenced" voter.


3. Wednesday night my mom and I watched The Glorias, which is available on Amazon Prime video here. I found it fascinating as I previously did not know much about the story of Gloria Steinem. Especially after Ruth Bader Ginsburg's recent passing, this was a great watch because it really highlights the power of women and how fortunate we are as women to have the rights we currently do... but also where there is still room for improvement.


Speaking of RBG, Jess shared this obituary written a friend of RBG. I am looking forward to reading it today.


Okay, that is more than enough political talk for me. Moving on!

October Moodboard (Desktop Wallpaper!)


Happy October! I truly love Octobers and I feel particularly excited for the month ahead. Now that I've started my job, I feel really settled and present in the current moment. 


I have no plans for the month, and especially not for moving. I'm not worried, I'm just enjoying where I'm at and will figure it out when the time comes. This weekend I'm hoping to kick off the month with (more) apple cider donuts and maybe some sort of cute fall activity... other than that, the rest of the month is going to be a fun fall surprise! How about you?


 I love making these mood boards every month... I think it's so fun to set them as my desktop background, as you can see below! They just give me such good vibes for the month. If you do the same, tag me and show me, I'd love to see it! 


(To set this as your desktop wallpaper on a Mac, right-click on the image at the top of this post -- it's higher res than the one below -- "save image as..." to your desktop, then go to your desktop, right-click the image, and "set desktop wallpaper" !)



xoxo