I kind of really love fall. Arizona doesn't have a typical fall. Leaves don't really change. The weather isn't crisp. It just kinda stops being 100+ every day (which is a treat). BUT everything tastes and smells like pumpkin. Halloween decorations are everywhere. Horror movies start playing on television. And, most importantly, I finally get to wear clothing that suits my style much more. I'm just not really that good at shorts and tank tops. I just really love not looking like a sweaty tomato after stepping outside for 6 seconds. That said, I have a few fall go-to's which can always use a little updating. They are certified Nicole classics. Tried and true.

I don't think anyone who's followed this blog for a while, or maybe even recently stumbled along it, would be surprised to find out how excited I was to find out Chrissy Teigen was working on a follow up to Cravings. I've been steadily cooking my way through it for the last two years much to the enjoyment of everyone I know (at least I think it's enjoyable). But I was not expecting to get an entire cookware and tableware collection with this new cookbook. The second I found out I could only imagine what my credit card balance would look like after just one trip to Target. I haven't even bought the Cravings Hungry for More yet. Forgive me. 

By now everyone has at least heard of Goop. But in case you haven't, Goop is a lifestyle brand started by Gwyneth Paltrow. Goop focuses on wellness, women's health, fashion, travel, and design. Goop has a reputation for recommending some pretty strange health advice and recommending products that cost more than my car over the last few years. So when I heard about this collaboration with CB2, I was a little skeptical

When Target first announced they would be doing a collection with Magnolia & Joanna Gaines, I didn't think I would be this into it. Of course, I casually checked out all of the options available. I even picked out a few that I thought were the best of the best. The products I would 100% put into my own home and show off to anyone who would listen. Cut to about a year later, and this entire collection has been my go-to nearly any time I need something to spice up my kitchen or home.

I will be the first to admit, as a child I took having a fully stocked kitchen for granted. There was always a variety of fruits, vegetables, and snacks at the ready. As an adult, stocking a kitchen for myself, I find myself in a constant struggle between "I want that" and "Oh, I don't actually have that." It's a dance where I am juggling shopping lists, new recipes, and forgetting what I already have. How many containers of cayenne pepper do I currently have? Three. Yes, three. See what I mean?

Another month down. We just keep inching towards, arguably, the best months of the year. I'm really just looking forward to summer being finally over. Not only does fall suit my #mood and personality more, but it's not a sweltering sauna every day. But to be fair, this summer has had more rain and far fewer days under 110 so I can't complain (that much). August has been...interesting.

Right off the bat, when I hear the word sconce I immediately think about the lights that used to decorate my great-grandmother's bedroom. The tiny, yet stylish, lights that would softly illuminate the room when we used to invade her space to watch Bob Ross early on Saturday mornings. I always thought of sconces as an older style touch or simply just hotel lighting. Recently, I have seen so many stylish ones that I have completely changed my mind on them. I love the simplicity that they have. 

Somehow, someway my life has turned into a quest to try nearly every chocolate chip cookie recipe in the world. It might just be some way to compare my own recipes to those of others or maybe it's just I get sick of those recipes and want to try new ones. It also doesn't hurt that the holiday season is creeping up, and I'll need some new go-tos for the cookie tin. No one can resist a good chocolate chip cookie.  I found this recipe while browsing Pinterest for something completely unrelated. In fact, Pinterest showed it to me countless times in the pins I might enjoy section. Pretty much whispering in my ear "make these" every 2 seconds.

I can't believe there is only a little over a week of summer left. Unofficially of course. Truth be told, Phoenix doesn't even cool down until about...October if we're lucky. I guess summer nights will be sticking around just a little bit longer in these parts so I thought I would play around a little bit. Recently I've been trying to go out more. And I don't mean popping into Shake Shack for a bite to eat or stopping to pick up some wine at Trader Joe's before heading to a friend's house. I mean socializing in a public space with a variety of people.