bag love: truly, madly, deeply

 my bag collection is small, but it means the world to me.

sometimes, collectors don't have reasons for collecting. and after all, what constitutes a real reason anyway? aren't all collections a little silly and frivolous, be it stamps, shoes or old movie tickets? i revel in the frivolity of my handbag collection - but at the same time, it's very near and dear to my heart, and i'd be lying if i said i wouldn't try to grab them if my house caught on fire.

it started in highschool, near graduation. i fell in love. there was a skip in my step and a spark in my eye. all because of one man - marc jacobs. the classic q baby groovee was the light of my life, fire of my loi- err, you get the idea. i read reviews. i constantly searched for photos of her in action (pre purse forum knowledge, y'all) and longed to feel the leather beneath my fingertips. and then, i finally got her as a gift.

i thought that would quench the thirst, but it started an outright obsession. and it was then that i discovered no bag would ever be my "holy grail", my collection would never be complete, because a new bag would always appear on the horizon, filling me with a completely incomprehensible and totally irrational need. a handbag monster, if you will.

they're a constant companion, an outfit maker, a sturdy tool and something gorgeous to glance at in my passenger seat. it's the little things, y'all.

and you know what? i'm totally ok with it. we all have our vices. mine is leather handles and gold hardware.

what do you collect?

alabama women bloggers: a community

happy monday! for anyone who might not be aware, i live in alabama. having been a blogger for 10+ years, blogging communities (that are way different than livejournal blogging communities!) have evolved tremendously. a great group of women operate multiple state-focused blogging communities that aspire to connect women bloggers and spread their ideas.

i have recently become involved with the alabama women bloggers. the ultimate goal is to have an alabama women bloggers conference, a place to really build a solid network of fellow bloggers with strong roots in the state and the fabulous lifestyles our state provides. the whole point is to tell a variety of stories with a common thread: a love for writing, a love for alabama, and a love for connecting with others who enjoy the same!

if you live in alabama and you are a blogger, please join us! if not, check out the other states listed on the alabama women bloggers site & find yours. many of the communities are at different stages of growth and development and would love a volunteer to help out.

to get involved, visit www.alabamawomenbloggers.com, follow ALWB on twitter and like us on facebook!

review: jouer lip enhancer

years ago i received a sample of this product in a birchbox and i loved it. and on my quest for the perfect lip balm, i had totally forgotten about it! i reviewed dior's creme de rose, which is very similar to this product, but half the price.

at $14, essential lip enhancer still isn't a "run to the drugstore" lipbalm. but it's worth the extra effort! it's got a light rose scent - which is why i compare it to creme de rose - but features actual practical packaging, a tube, instead of a pot that can be easily contaminated and get icky after a while.

this product is thick on your lips, but i feel it actually makes a difference after some time compared to creme de rose. it doesn't fade away quickly like many lip balms or force you to feel the need to apply more after 30 minutes. this is going to be my go-to winter product, as it gets a little cooler in birmingham and i'm sure i'll need it!

i dunno about you... but i'm not 22

i turned 23 on sunday, october 13th. i was fortunate enough to celebrate the day with my closest and most incredible friends at the lovely chez fonfon in birmingham, a little french joint that's been on my "to eat" list for months. birthdays are starting to mean less and less and they're all blurring together... i've finally reached the age where nothing truly monumental comes with birthdays any longer. if anything, i'm just reminded that i am nearing my mid-twenties rather quickly. am i where i wanted to be at this age? yeah, i guess so.

at 22, i graduated college. i lost 30 pounds. i landed my first "real" job. i moved to a new city all by myself. i found out that the upkeep on a house is considerably more so than an apartment. i let go of negativity in my life and stripped away everything that was making me unhappy and holding me back. i began applying hand lotion religously. i formed an intensely personal relationship with my keurig. you get the idea.

i'm looking forward to making more mistakes, being ridiculous and still thinking i'm doing it right a year from now. here's to 23.

caramel apple cupcakes

hello blogging world. i took last week off, as you can see. and i kind of needed to. i was swamped at work, not feeling so hot and my birthday was on sunday, october 13th. but i'm glad to be back!

mmm, these are good. and they're so fun to decorate if you're into caramel. the original recipe called for some chopped apples, but i left those out (feel free to throw them in if you're into chunky fruit!).

for the cupcakes:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• a couple dashes of vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup plain yogurt
• 2/3 cup apple butter

preheat the oven to 350 degrees. mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon in a bowl and whisk. beat your butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, then add both eggs and vanilla extract. beat in yogurt. next, incorporate flour mixture and apple butter, beating in separate additions, starting and ending with flour.

spoon mixture into cupcake pans and bake for 25-28 minutes.

for the frosting:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 tablepoons heavy whipping cream

beat together butter, vanilla and whipping cream. add powdered sugar in separate additions until incorporated. frost as desired, or use a decorating bag and tip. top with a soft caramel candy and caramel syrup.

looking for other fall desserts? check out my posts on pumpkin butterscotch cookies, pumpkin spice cupcakes with cream cheese icing, + red velvet cupcakes!

recipe adapted from paula deen.

current obsessions {volume 2}

01. my new tory burch reva flats! i have lusted after these shoes for a while now, and got them as an early birthday present. they go with everything and are perfect for the office.

 02. my new monogrammed notebook from letterlovedesign. i love looking at it on my desk!

03. this sweater from loft. its my absolute favorite at the moment and i can't wait to wear it when it gets a little chillier! the jeweled peter pan collar + the fit truly make it. its very flattering.

what are your obsessions this month?

photo diary: late september

happy october! woo! my birthday is on the 13th, halloween is my favorite holiday, and if we're lucky enough, alabama gets a little chilly. and i know everyone says october is their favorite, but i feel like i've got some bonafide reasons there.

i spent the 23rd-27th of september in nashville for work & stopped by tory burch at green hills to get myself an early birthday present. if you follow me on instagram, you know what it is! when i got back in town on friday, my parents came up from fairhope to join my brother and i at the alabama vs. ole miss game in tuscaloosa. i love games, but... i think i'm good on alabama football for a little while (try going there for 4 years, ok, it gets exhausting!). on sunday, we ventured to whole foods and railroad park for the second annual trucks by the tracks, which was an awesome food truck event. after a mimosa, my weekend was kind of drawing to a close - i started feeling sick, like baaaad cold sick.

so now i'm battling sickness, grinding away at work and planning some neat things for the next few weeks.

sidenote: are you a woman blogger in alabama? why haven't you joined alabama women bloggers yet?! it's a great way to get involved, and we're hoping to set up an alabama women bloggers conference soon!