SARAH TREMAIN / PHOBYMO / LARK+LACE

I still haven't shaken the chill that lingered in my bones from this day. Surrounded by only two lovely ladies, an umbrella, and my huge (but still not big enough) Madewell tote bag, I cowered in a corner of rainy and nearly empty Rittenhouse Square to change outfits. It was exhilarating.

Birthday Vibes

I turned 24 this weekend. (Remember?) B took me to dinner at one of my favorite joints, I spent Saturday with my family in Bucks County, and I had lots and lots of puppy cuddles. It was a dream come true. I didn't realize this until I was putting on this dress before we left for dinner Friday night but I haven't had a good reason to dress up in so long! It's a lot of fun... and I think I need to do it more often. (Even if I don't have a good reason.)

24.

A few years ago, when I turned 21, I decided to write a letter to my 16-year-old self. The fact that it exists on the internet makes me cringe... so I don't know why I'm bringing up up again. (But who doesn't love some self-deprecating humor... if that's what this could even be called?) When I wrote it, I felt like 16-year-old me could learn a lot from almost-21-year-old me. Now, it feels like the other way around. The past three years have gone by so quickly and have been so tumultuous.. I figured it was only best to write a little follow-up.

PLAYLIST: Every Leaf is a Flower

Albert Camus once said, “Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower." He was so right-- it's just as beautiful but kinda different. Fall makes me feel a certain way. In a rare moment, I had the house to myself last night. I sat in the living room with the window open, reading a a book about economics, sipping on some tea with whiskey and for that brief time, I felt okay. I was happy, I hadn't a care in the world. (Which is saying a lot... but we can talk about that later.) Since I haven't shared a playlist with you guys in a while, I figured I'd share the music I was listening to last night in my moment of Autumn bliss-- plus some more. I don't really know what these songs have to actually do with fall except for my strange connection with the season. Basically, these songs put to music all of the feels I get from Autumn.

Feels Like Fall

The weather here in Philly has been wonderful. It's that perfect time of year when it's cold enough to wear boots... but Spruce Street Harbor Park is still open. It's a perfect instance of summer and fall harmoniously blending into one another-- and I'm not planning on wasting a single moment of it.

Lady Date: Not Another First Friday

I always talk about how much I love First Fridays. To be fair though, what's not to love about them? There's free booze, a reason to browse through art galleries, and prime people-watching. I always feel like I need to step up my outfit game for First Friday because the Philly's most fashionable all emerge and descend upon Old City for the occasion.

Etsy Lovin'

I love me some Etsy. Whenever I need to find something extremely specific, (and often highly improbable) it never lets me down. I mean... where else could you find a ring with Nicolas Cage's face on it? I've been browsing a lot because it's time for me to buy some wedding bands but I apparently lack the self-control to not fall down the Etsy rabbit hole. Here are some of my favorite things I've discovered during this free fall.

Farm to City Saturdays

Ah, Saturday mornings. Ah, late summer. I cherish these times. I don't get to Rittenhouse Square much in the height (and heat) of summer but once September hits and those brisk late-summer breezes start flowing, it's my favorite place. If you're one for local produce, fancy baked goodies, and fresh blooms there's a really great farmer's market every weekend that's absolutely worth checking out. This weekend, I made my own bouquet, which I triumphantly toted around the square. (And on a little coffee date with my bestie.)

Autumn Around Philly

Fall makes for such typical blog fodder. Everybody loves it and it's just so Instagrammable. The moody hues, the oversized scarves, the hand-warming hot beverages... it's disgustingly picturesque. I know it gets played out very quickly so I'm going to try to get my "OMG AUTUMN!" posts out of the way early on. With (allegedly) millions flocking to Philly in a few short weeks to say "hello" to Pope Francis when he stops by, I figured I'd make a mini list of some of my favorite fall(ish) activities. This is by no means an all-inclusive list so be sure to keep checking back!

Tips for Taking (Painless) Outfit Photos

Can I let you guys in on a little secret? I really, really hate having my picture taken. More often than not, I'll be really feeling myself and decide to take blog pictures... only to be horribly disappointed when I see what I actually look like. It wasn't until recently that I started getting the hang of posing for pictures. (It being a necessary evil for fashion blogging and all.) Since I know I can't be the only one struggling here, I've got some tips.