The fear

Halloween is tomorrow, and I thought I'd share this Time article about the things people fear in America. Oddly enough, the number one fear is corruption of government officials.

Looking at the list that was used to survey people, my biggest fears would probably be ridicule and talking to strangers.

What are yours?

The Rundown
Little Black Dress Old Navy similar
Striped Blazer Loft similar
Black Loafer Pumps Ferragamo via Roundabout similar
Red Willis Bag vintage Coach via eBay similar
Lariat Necklace Made by Me similar
Gold Wrap Ring gift from Meg similar
Sunglasses "Cat Eye Combination" Cole Haan via TJMaxx

Linking up with Jeans and a Teacup's Flashback Friday (One year ago today)
and
Linking up with Forage Fashion's Friday Finds

The last warm day

I can't deny how brilliant those orange and red leaves look, and I could not have been happier that the evening of my martini making class was graced with having the incredibly rare, yet stereotypical, perfect fall weather.

No, I was not silently shivering in my lace top, nor running to the shelter of a cozy coat hidden just outside the frame of the photo. It was perfect.

Culottes are sort of murky territory for me. I see others wearing them and I like them, but they never seem quite right on me. I even ended up exchanging this pair for the extra small so they would sit just a bit higher on my waist and be shorter in length, but do they work?

Honestly, I didn't regret wearing them, and I'd been dreaming of putting these pieces together for a while, waiting for just the right occasion.

The Rundown
White Lace Top Talbots thrifted and altered similar
Black Culottes Leith via Nordstrom similar
Leopard Pumps Sam Edelman
Leopard Fold Over Clutch Gap similar
Tassel Earrings Banana Republic similar
Pave Toggle Bracelet Banana Republic similar

Gold Herkimer Diamond Ring c/o Lumo

Chevron Ring Etsy via Silver Canyon Jewelry
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx

Linking up with Mix and Match Fashion's What I Wore to Work

and

Happiness At Midlife's Throwback Thursday (last time I wore this top)

Martinis with Absolut Elyx

Last week I was invited by Absolut Elyx to host a martini making class, which took place at the Polpo Restaurant in Greenwich Connecticut.

My two friends Meg and Abbey were able to join me for the class, where our bartender Noah mixed us up some Swedish Mules and gave us a little history lesson on the martini. The drink dates back to the 1800's and while it was originally a mix of gin and sweet vermouth, it soon evolved and expanded to be made with dry vermouth and vodka (and now a days, anything served in a martini glass).

We then got to try Absolut Elyx on it's own, which had a very smooth mouth feel with little burn. The vodka is made only from wheat from a single estate and is made in a vintage still completely crafted of copper. Only eight people know the specific recipe, and all eight must taste it and agree that it's ready before it can be bottled.

As all three of us were (are) novice martini makers, we discussed and sampled the different types of vermouth (we liked the 'wettest' of the three 'dry' versions) and the differences between a martini and a dry martini - which relates to the quantity of vermouth used. I decided to use equal parts and an olive garnish for mine.

I also spent a lot of time gushing over the copper pineapple which was specially designed for Elyx as a nod to both the copper still used to create the drink and the symbol of hospitality. The pineapples will soon be available for purchase for $85 each at AbsolutElyx.com. If you need another great reason to buy a pineapple (other than the fact that it's a copper pineapple) Absolut Elyx has partnered with Water for People and every pineapple sold will give people clean water for a month. Additionally, every bottle of Absolut Elyx purchased will give clean drinking water for a week, so even if it's as small a choice as requesting Absolut Elyx in your next drink out, you will be helping people gain access to clean drinking water.

To finish off our night Polpo treated us to some appetizers which included some amazing meatballs, lovely cheese, and their namesake, octopus.

I feel so much more sophisticated now that I know the difference between all the martinis, and how to mix my own - thank you for a great event Absolut Elyx!

Absolute Elyx hosted this event, my views and options are my own.

Think pink

Here are some details of the outfit I wore to the Tanger Sweater Weather event - of course I wore pink to show support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, thankfully this blush sweater is one of the few pink items in my closet, and Rocksbox just happened to send over this lovely pink Kendra Scott pendant.

The Rundown
Pink Sweater Banana Republic thrifted similar
Skirt c/o Vera Wang for Kohl's similar
Over the Knee Boots "Atilla" Ivanka Trump via DSW
Huntley Tote c/o Joie similar
Ear Jackets TJMaxx similar
Necklace Kendra Scott via Rocksbox (one month free with lydiaxoxo)
Cuff Gorjana via Rocksbox (one month free with lydiaxoxo)
Mini Punk Princess Bracelet CC Skye c/o Serendipity and Grace
Gold Wrap Ring gift from Meg similar
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx

Linking up with I Do deClaire's Confident Twosday
and
Cute and Little's on Trend Tuesday

Sweater Weather at Tanger Outlets

The Tanger Outlet shopping complex opened earlier this year at the Foxwoods resort casino in Mashantucket Connecticut, featuring 80 stores including all my favorites; J.Crew Factory, Kate Spade, Ann Taylor Factory, and Banana Republic Factory, just to name a few.

As the fall season is so clearly upon us, and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Tanger Outlets and Foxwoods invited me to their "Sweater Weather" event. The first part of the day was a shopping contest, everyone had a gift card and one hour to purchase as many sweaters as they could without going over budget.

I brought Meg along as my 'teammate' and we hit the stores. Shopping under a ticking clock is no easy task, but I knew I'd rather make purchases that would be quality closet additions rather than grabbing 10 sweaters for $9.80 each at Forever 21. We also had Tanger Outlets 'Power of Pink' 25% off shopping passes for ourselves and to hand out to other shoppers for free (normally they cost $5 and the money goes to breast cancer research).

Taking advantage of every sale and offer we could, Meg and I each got two sweaters, I picked up a teal merino wool blend sweater at J.Crew Factory and a super cozy plaid coatigan at Ann Taylor Factory. Meg got at turquoise wrap sweater at Ann Taylor Factory and a cardigan at Charlotte Russe. Coming in exactly 11 cents under budget and heading back on time, we were feeling cautiously optimistic. Of course we didn't win, the winner had 11 sweaters from Old Navy. Though for the sake of my closet, I think I made the right choice in getting two sweaters I really love.

The second part of the event was at the Cedars Restaurant at Foxwoods and it was a drink mixing contest. With some sound guidance from our bartender Steve, I mixed up a few of my favorite spirits, Hendricks Gin, St. Germaine, and champaign along with lime juice and rimmed my glass with citric acid.

While I didn't get to taste everyone else's drinks, I'm sure it was a tough competition, so you can imagine my delight when I saw that I'd won!

After that Meg and I sat down for dinner at Cedars with Cait of Cait Plus Ate and her friend, and enjoyed some delicious food and great company.

Thanks to Foxwoods and Tanger Outlets for hosting this event, as always my views and opinions are my own.

Some photos are my own, but most are courtesy of the lovely event photographer.

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Fall 

and

Monday Mingle