Nautical Sweaters

It is FINALLY sweater weather here in Southern California. I have been wearing my favorite nautical sweaters (outfit post with my favorite whale sweater and favorite holiday sweater) and even my puffer vests (I get out of class after 930 PM two nights a week so I need it for the walk to my car!).

Here are some current favorite nautical sweaters
* post contains affiliate links *

Brag and boats cardigan, Modcloth, $83

Classic crew-neck sweater, Old Navy, $15

Whaleisle sweater, Vineyard Vines, $98

Whalebow patch sweater, Vineyard Vines, $148

Whale intarsia sweater, Vineyard Vines, $148

Anchor intarsia sweater, Vineyard Vines, $148

Low tide sweater, Boden, $59

Gwyneth striped pullover sweater, Lilly Pulitzer, $88 (also available in navy and pink)

Adair striped pullover sweater, Lilly Pulitzer, $88 (also available in navy and pink)

Skipper printed popover, Lilly Pulitzer, $98

Skipper striped popover, Lilly Pulitzer, $98

Breton striped sweater with gems, J.Crew Factory, $50

2015 Coastal Living Showhouse: Cinnamon Shore, Texas

The 2015 Coastal Living Showhouse is in Cinnamon Shore, Texas. You can see my in person tour of the 2014 Coronado Island showhouse here.

You can tour the Cinnamon Shore house through November 29. Tickets available here

The hanging bed looks so comfy!

Flamingo wallpaper!

Nautical Toys and Gifts from Land of Nod

I need to buy a baby gift for a friend and was browsing Land of Nod. There are some great nautical new arrivals!
* this post contains affiliate links 

Giant Simon sit on whale, $149:

Day trip plush canoe, $249:

Pirate ship set, $69:

Octo rattle (yellow) or (grey), $29

Wooden ship puzzle, $15:

Nautical differences game, $10:

Get reel fishing game, $49:

Recent Purchases

I have been slowly going through my closet and finding things I rarely or never wear, that aren't practical now that I am back in LA, etc. I also want to have more pieces that I can wear to meetings/interviews or in an office setting now that I am back in school and moving toward a non-nanny job post-graduation.
* this post contains affiliate links 

Mollie jacquard dress in blue, Boden (now $88, use code 4H7Y for 25% off)
I couldn't decide if I wanted the black or blue. I ended up getting the blue and I really love the color!

Hard to tell in the photo but the dots are super cute 

Vince Camuto peter pan blouse, Nordstrom Rack, $40
A few weeks ago one of my classes met at a local restaurant in Long Beach and I had some time to shop before dinner. This top caught my eye. I got the rose color but I really liked the black and white too. I can wear this with black pants and a cardigan for a more professional look, with jeans for a more casual look.

New Balance for J.Crew 620 sneakers*, $85
Pricey but the colors are so pretty and I have been looking for an alternative every day tennis shoe with more color than my converse

* I have always called this kind of shoe tennis shoes. Growing up I never said sneakers. Apparently this is location based? Do you call them sneakers or tennis shoes?

Life Lately

I can't believe it is NOVEMBER! The past month has been a blur of school, work, friends, and family. I celebrated my 29th birthday at Connie and Ted's and survived my first grad school midterms. Halloween day I saw Burnt and then attempted to do some school work before my friend stopped by with CANDY. I like waking up early on the weekend and doing school work then so I can  keep my nights free.

Birthday cake (there's an anchor on the front/side)

My birthday dinner at Connie and Ted's. I think it was still 90+ outside (will it ever cool down??)

I took this selfie to show my boss that I was using the bag she bought me for my birthday 

Happy birthday to my friend J. She had her party the weekend after mine (libras are the best!)

Baby Nautical got some nautical bedding for his big boy bed (quilt, sheets, and fish pillows are all Land of Nod)

Aquarium of the Pacific Night Dive

Earlier this month Leeann and I went to Night Dive at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. This was such a fun event! The Aquarium of the Pacific puts on this event three times a year. The event is 18+ (there's a bar for 21+) and there are food trucks, music from local bands, DJs spinning in the Aquarium’s galleries, and local artists sharing their collections. My favorite part was petting the stingrays. They swim right up to the top so you can pet them. We also saw a sleeping sea otter that was sucking its thumb. Nothing cuter than that! I could watch the jellyfish for hours-they are fascinating!

Tiny seahorse! 

Annapolis Wedding

Earlier this month I headed east for a friend's wedding. H was a year ahead of me in elementary school and then we reconnected working together at a summer camp. My camp name was Pink and her camp name was Ariel :) I had booked my flights before I started school, not knowing what my work load would be like. Fortunately I was able to finish all of my reading on the plane and then typed everything out once I got to my hotel (I have to do outlines every week-they are the WORST!). Back to the wedding...
I flew into Baltimore Friday and then headed to Annapolis to check into my hotel. Fresh, warm cookies at night and free breakfast in the morning equals a good stay at Country Inn and Suites. There was a mall nearby so that was nice too-I did some shopping Saturday morning. The wedding was Saturday afternoon. The ceremony was at a cute little church called St. Margaret's. We then took shuttles to the reception. The reception was at the Sherwood Forest Clubhouse. Gorgeous location! The photo below doesn't do it justice-the clubhouse has a barn feel and was just so cozy and pretty-the lights, the big windows, beautiful!

Loved this nautical touch

With the beautiful bride during the cocktail hour before dinner 

The most flattering selfie ;)

I flew home early Sunday morning so it wasn't a long visit but I am so happy I could celebrate with the bride and groom. Congratulations H and J!

Sea Bags Halloween Buckets

How adorable are these Halloween buckets made from recycled sails? There are two designs available: candy corn and black cat. Each bag is $45

candy corn

black cat

Fall TV! The most wonderful time of the year!

I always give the same spiel when I do this post. I love TV. I love coming home from work and turning on a favorite show. I love having friends over to catch up on Revenge or Pretty Little Liars. DVR=best invention ever! I rarely watch live TV. I think I have actually cut back on my TV watching because I am not turning on the TV and channel surfing. I go immediately to my DVR and catch up on favorite shows. There will be some shows that I stop watching mid-season (because they get canceled or just plain suck!). OR I will have multiple episodes on my DVR until winter hiatus and then catch up when nothing else is on. I do not have time to watch all of these shows every single week! Let me repeat: I do not watch hours and hours of TV every night! (between work and school it is impossible!). In the past I had time for one or two episodes a night. Tops. Well grad school is going to change that! Two nights a week I have class until 9:45 so those nights the TV probably won't be on at all. But luckily I have my weekends mostly free!

I'll watch the first two episodes of a new show and then decide if I want to continue watching. New shows in BOLD. I am including shows that premiere in September and October only.

Helpful links: TV Line Fall TV Preview | TV Line Fall premiere dates/calendar | E! Fall TV preview

Which new shows are you most excited about???? Which ones should I add?

MONDAY:
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, CW, 8 P.M. (hearing this is good but not so sure about the premise-a musical comedy about a crazy girl?)
Castle, ABC, 10 P.M.
NCIS: LA, CBS, 10 P.M.

TUESDAY:
Grandfathered, Fox, 8 P.M.
The Muppets!, ABC, 8 P.M. (likely the first to get dropped if I run out of room on my DVR)
Chicago Fire, NBC, 10 P.M. (I like PD more but if I have room on my DVR I will record. Otherwise OnDemand it is)
Wicked City, ABC, 10 P.M.

WEDNESDAY:
Modern Family, ABC, 9 P.M.
Law and Order: SVU, NBC, 9 P.M.
Nashville, ABC, 10 P.M.
Chicago PD, NBC, 10 P.M.

THURSDAY:
Vampire Diaries, CW, 8 P.M.
The Originals, CW, 9 P.M.
Scandal, ABC, 9 P.M.
How to Get Away with Murder, ABC, 10 P.M.

FRIDAY:
Reign, CW, 8 P.M.
Undateable, NBC, 8 P.M.

SUNDAY:
Blood and Oil, ABC, 9 P.M.
Quantico, ABC, 10 P.M.

Nautical Paperchase collection at Staples

Thank you reader, Lindsay B., for the tip! You can view the whole collection online here. Most items are only available in store but some are available online too. I finally saw the collection in person and everything is so cute!

Binder | Desk pad | Foldaway bag | Notecard set in box

Pencil cup | Zip pouch | Photo albums | Anchor notebook

Lobster linen journal | Binder | Memo block | Seahorse linen journal

Umbrella | Ahoy tote bag | Coupon file | Photo album