{Back to School}

(Clockwise from top)

Eugenia Kim rabbit fur hat, $385, Selima Optique glass shades, £280, Pouch wallet, $15, J Crew tailored shirt, $78, Victoria s Secret double breasted pea coat, $128, Sam Edelman lace up boots, $250, DV by Dolce Vita flat shoes, $70, Longchamp Au Sultan Bag, €480, J Crew striped sweater, $78, J Brand skinny jeans, £200

For the first time in a long time (17 years, but who (aka all of my life past toddler-hood) September doesn't mark the start of a new school year. It took a long time for me to accept this fact. No school supply shopping, no first day outfit and no new planner to fill with assignments. So depressing!

No matter what age you are, September does mark the start of fall, and the changing of seasons always warrants changes in one's wardrobe. This fall I'm loving updated classics, like a button-down in sophisticated leopard print or a schoolboy loafer in blue patent leather. Paired with quirky accessories like a pair of tortoiseshell librarian glasses or a felt, feather-trimmed hat, these twists on the classics are sure to carry you through the season and bring new life to your closet standbys. Maybe I only ever got excited about the start of school because of the prospect of new clothes and outfits?

Just because I no longer have a need for toting around an assortment of pens, pencils and highlighters (hell, who am I kidding, I still carry them around!) doesn't mean I can't stash my lipgloss and bobby pins in a cute pencil case, instantly made geek-chic when tossed inside a luxe leather bag.

{So Long Sweet Summer}

It is, sadly, not so hard for me to believe that this summer has already come to an end. Since I started my job a mere three days after college graduation, I didn't have much time to relax and get into summer-mode. Nonetheless, it was a wonderful summer full of friends, family and great times.

{Where it all began: my graduation from Fordham University, May 21, 2011.}

{Not too bad for an early morning commute.}

{Memorial Day Weekend at Ship Ahoy Beach Club.}

{Thomas moved into his apartment on East 22nd Street.}

{Mark Murphy, Ana Murphy, Dad, Me, John Robinson, Lindsay Robinson, Nick Ford, Blaike Ford. Graduating was celebrated with a Father-Daughter dinner at Rumson Country Club.}

{A lovely graduation party was held at my dad's house for Jack, me and the other cousins who graduated this year. Seven of us in all!}

{I can't believe Jack graduated from 8th grade and is starting high school this week! It feels like yesterday that he was baby. I am so proud of all he has overcome (and is still overcoming). What an inspiring young man I have for a little brother.}

{I made my first visit to Paris in June for a work trip. Not too shabby for a first job!}

{As a Mets fan, I was reluctant to attend a Yankees game. But hey, the tickets were free :)}

{Many a morning was spent at the Union Square Greenmarket on my way to the subway.}

{Trips to Brooklyn are always full of surprises, like this great "installation art" found in Williamsburg.}

{We had drinks and appetizers at a darling place in Brooklyn, Nita Nita. They had a great outdoor seating area with mismatched furniture that made youfeel like we were in a good friend's backyard!}

{4th of July weekend was spent on Shelter Island, New York with good friends from college.}

{Thomas and I trekked to the west side on 4th of July Monday to watch the Macy's Fireworks on the Hudson. They were unbelievable, as was the number of people surrounding us watching. I'm so glad we saw them up close and not on a TV screen, but I am also so glad we can say "we did it!" and don't have to deal with those crowds ever again.}

{View from a penthouse suite in the Thompson Hotel.}

{Liz, me, Mom. We spent an afternoon shopping at Bergdorfs and Saks, then ate dinner and saw "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" on Broadway. The perfect girls night!}

{Two of my best friends from Fordham, Cait and Anne, visited for a weekend. It was so fun to show them around my hometown.}

{My little sister, Hannah, and I baked a lot with our cousin Elizabeth, who has a new love for baking.}

{The weather this summer (for the most part) was beautiful, and we spent a lot of evenings at our beach club.}

{One of the things I miss most about the Bronx is Estrellita Poblana, a restaurant and delivery place with the best Mexican food I have ever tasted. Thomas and I spent a good part of this summer searching Manhattan for something just as tasty. We had a delicious brunch at Vamos, a restaurant near his apartment.}

{Tropical Storm Irene made an appearance.}

{My lovebug of a niece, Kendall, gets more and more adorable by the day! I can't believe she is almost a year old, and I can't imagine not having her in our family.}

{This is how Bullet spent his summer. Relaxing. Every. Single. Day.}

It was an amazing summer, but fall is my favorite season and I am so excited for the adventures to come!

Mix Master: Work-Appropriate Sweats

This week, I am really inspired by mixing the unconventional. I don't subscribe to one standard of style, or shop at one store in particular (J. Crew, though, does hold a large part of my heart, and closet). If I like something and think I will wear it (and if I can afford it) I buy it. To me, nothing is more fun than mixing your new purchases with old favorites, all while challenging common fashion standards.

This week's mix? Classic work-wear, such as gray twill pants, luxe jewelry and a sweatshirt! Sweats to work?! Trust me, when done correctly and tastefully, this look is both appropriate for the workplace and fashion-forward.

A crew neck sweatshirt in a solid color works best (try this one, from American Apparel) for layering. Hoods aren't exactly work appropriate, anyway.

The pants should be tailored and fit well, and tapered at the bottom to show off some killer shoes (these pants from Urban Outfitters are pictured above).

Your shoes should balance sex appeal and utilitarianism. Shoes that fit this description shouldn't be hard to find as this is a major trend for the season (I have these from Steve Madden, they are awesome in person).

With the key pieces of your outfit figured out, the ever-important accessories now come into play. A statement necklace adds a formal element to an otherwise casual sweatshirt, and is a nice juxtaposition to a man's watch and a structured bag.

The final piece just happens to be my favorite piece of outerwear for the season: anything faux fur, especially in leopard print! Leopard print is always a luxe and glamourous addition to any outfit.

Add a messy up-do and red lip, and you are good to go!

The key here is the mix of masculine and feminine elements, with a few unique touches added in to make it your own.

Weekly Obsessions

Just a few things that have made their way into my hands that I am loving this week...

{"Roman Equestrian" rain boots from Banana Republic, $98}

I have worn these every day so far this week due to all of the rain we have been having. I had been on the search for a pair of sophisticated rainboots that were both functional and work-appropriate, and these most certainly fit the bill. They keep my feet dry and toasty during rainy fall days while still looking like a chic pair of leather boots. Their price can't be beat, either.

{Men's Timex® vintage field army watch from J. Crew, $150}

I have been wanting this watch since I first saw it months ago, so I am ecstatic to finally have it on my wrist! Tom and I decided to check out the J. Crew Liquor Store (one of their men's-only shops) last weekend and it was so cool, and well worth it since we both walked away with watches for our birthdays! The masculine aspects of the watch mix so perfectly with the more feminine aspects of my wardrobe, and its just-barely-oversized size is perfect. While I love the deep olive strap it came with, I also bought a strap in blush stone for an added touch of femininity.

{Tom and I with our new watches! Please excuse the cell phone-quality photo!}

{"Boo" Spicy Pumpkin Candle from Yankee Candle, available at Amazon.com}

I bought this candle in late August, so I have been counting down the days until October rolled around and I could finally start using it. It smells so delicious, and adds the perfect amount of fall and Halloween spirit to any room. The design on the jar is super cute, too.

That is what I am loving this week, what are you loving this week?

{Dedicated: Martha Stewart}

It is no secret that I love Martha Stewart. Ironically, however, I don't ever seem to have the time to test out the many recipes, crafts, and tips this multi-faceted woman offers through her magazines, website, blog, TV shows, etc. Luckily, with my summer becoming more (unexpectedly) open-ended by the day, I think I am going to have ample time to delve into the seemingly endless crafts and recipes of Martha's that I have stored away, hoping to one day be tested out.

Though I truly enjoy working and interning, I am looking forward to at least a little bit of downtime to start crossing things off of my seemingly endless to-do list. My bedroom at my Dad's house has never been finished decor wise, and it has been over two years since I first started!

If you are ever in need of something, whether it be a cupcake or appetizer recipe to bring to a summer barbeque, or a quick-and-easy hostess gift, Martha has it all. Her website is very comprehensive, and the Recipe Finder is a great tool.

Here are some of the things I have been perusing for inspiration...

{So pretty! It is made from costume brooches.}

{I love all the fresh ingredients!}

{The wooden beads are perfect for summer!}

{The frames are decorated with beans. I am going to try this out in my bedroom.}

{Yummy! I can't wait to bring these to a Fourth of July barbeque!}

{What a clever way to display jewelry. I love the idea of using frames to "frame" unconventional items.}

What crafts, recipes or tips from Martha Stewart have caught your eye lately?