~FALL MOOD...FASHION PICKS

These comfy clothes are facilitating an autumn feeling ☺

Aaaah, old-fashioned/romantic yet modern cardigans...

{Available at Cupshe}

This sweater, which was also available from Cupshe at some point, appears to be sold out--oh well, you snooze, you loose.  It's so cute though...

Francesca's has some versatile-looking sweaters...

{scalloped sweater wrap}

{cable knit tunic sweater}

Along with some adorbs boots...

I'd like a couple of Anthropologie scarves, please...

{one in a pretty print}

{and one with sequins, of course}

I'd like to find some clogs like these, but for about a quarter of the price ;)

{Calou Stockholm "Katty" in Burgundy}

Here are several sweaters from Gap in various shades of cream...

{honeycomb cable knit sweater}

{patchwork turtleneck sweater}

{sherpa collar sweater vest}

And this Gap Pintuck Popover is cute...

More cute boots...

{Sole Society "Brigitte" in Chestnut}

{Aldo "Kycia" in Rust}

Seychelles "Lucky Penny" in Gold Distressed and Pewter Suede...

Love the color of this American Eagle fringe cocoon cardigan...

And this AEO scarf is spiffy...

What a pretty blouse!  I guess a cream-colored cami would work underneath...

Old Navy has some attractive offerings...

{relaxed open front long sweater}

{turtleneck tunic pullover}

{classic printed button-down}

{plaid flannel shirts galore}

{An adorbs ensemble = 

field jacket + pintuck swing top + denim}

{A fall sunshine-like dress} 

I really like these pants for fall--the color and design details on them are nifty... 

They're Jax Moto Jeggings by Call Me California, and they come in all sorts of fun fall shades.

{source}

I don't have any jeggings, much less moto pants (which is short for motorcycle pants), but they're probably really warm, due to the fact that they cling.  Honestly, my cold-weather go-to in that area is looser-fitting jeans and knee socks.  I've found some really cute ones at Target for next to nothing in recent years, and they'll sometimes show (buy fun colors and patterns!) if you wear them with clogs, which I also love.  

I just usually prefer my jeans to fall out over my cold-weather shoes, and I think I always will.  Maybe it's more flattering for my body type, after all.  But this type of thing would be so cute in mild weather with bare feet in flats or in cold weather with tall boots.  

As a matter of fact, I need to get some knee-high boots (preferably with a chunky heel or a wedge, just because I like my shoes thus) and try wearing skinny jeans tucked into them...

#wardrobegoals ☺

~ ~ ~

~HEALTHY SIP FOR THE DAY: CHOCOLATE-BANANA-STRAWBERRY NUTRITIONAL SMOOTHIE

In an effort to add some extra, supa'-powered vitamins and minerals to my diet without swallowing horse pills (ugh, they make me want to gag--can't stand that grassy supplement taste), I decided to try a nutritional powder.

A brand called Vega is sold at Whole Foods, and I went with their All-in-One Nutritional Shake.  It's available in individual packets, so you can buy it and try it without purchasing an entire container of it, which ain't cheap ;)

I use only a half of a packet at a time, which means I get half the listed nutritional content, but I'm fine with that.  I'm a petite person, and sometimes more isn't better for me; in fact, I've had to stop taking multi-vitamins in the past because I completely lost my appetite while on them and kept losing more and more weight--once I stopped taking them, my appetite came back.

Initially, I just stirred the powder into a glass of almond milk, but the result was untasty, gloppy, and hard to get down.  So now I make a simple smoothie...

~ ~ ~

~ 1/2 packet (1/4 cup) chocolate Vega shake

~ about 1/2 cup chocolate almond milk* 

~ 1 smaller-sized banana

~ 8-15 frozen strawberries**

I mix these ingredients well in a blender, and the result is tasty-good!  My recipe yields a tall glassful, which is about all I can get down in one sitting.

*I've also used vanilla almond milk for this smoothie, and though it's perfectly fine, the whole chocolate thang is bumped up with the chocolate milk.  I'd also like to try dark chocolate almond milk (as long as it dosn't have too much caffeine in it--I can't eat dark chocolate because I'm caffeine-sensitive). 

**I used to use a handful of fresh strawberries along with about 1/2 cup of ice instead of frozen strawberries, but I was amazed at the result with the frozen ones; the consistency of the smoothies is thick and super-creamy--you would think full-fat ice cream is in them.  I suppose frozen instead of fresh banana would also work well, and, as with the strawberries, you wouldn't have to worry about using your fruit at the exact time that it's fresh and possibly end up having to throw out and waste overripe fruit.

I do like my smoothies to have a cold, milkshake-like quality.  With ice I got a more slushie-like consistency (though it was creamier than a slushie, of course).

I think I might try adding in a teaspoon or so of flax oil in the future.

~ ~ ~

Next I'm planning to try the vanilla powder with peaches and either blackberries or blueberries.  I also hope to make some of the yummy-sounding recipes that are on Vega's website.  These include sips that are well-suited for fall, such as Pumpkin Pie, Caramel Apple, Gingersnap Cookie, and Spiced Cranberry Apple smoothies, along with holiday-themed drinks for Halloween, Christmas (*this minty one would be tasty year-round), and Valentine's Day.

*I would think that similar nutritional powders from other brands could be subbed in for Vega's while achieving the same result.

*You might want to visit my pinterest board which is devoted to nutritious sips and bowls of all sorts.

Here's to happy and healthy sipping, sista's! ☺

"Be better on your own terms, one small change at a time."

~ Vega's website ~

~ ~ ~