BIRTHDAY PARTY INSPIRATION

I'm turning 25 in two weeks (!), and have put off planning any sort of celebration because I have been so busy the last couple months. I turned to Pinterest for some inspiration (obviously) and have a few ideas in mind.

DIY BAR - I like the idea of setting up a bar for everyone to mix their own drinks, but I'm not sure if I should choose one type of drink, or an array. If anyone has successfully set one up, please give me some tips!

Martini Bar via Sunday Suppers

JELLO SHOTS - I found some pretty awesome sophisticated jello shot recipes. You can pour the jello into flexible molds for pretty shapes, who knew?

Fancy Shmancy via Savour

DISPOSABLE CAMERAS - My friends always buy a bunch for big events like Outside Lands. It's really fun to hand them out and let a bunch of people take photos with them. My favorite photos always come from disposables.

Disposable Camera from Urban Outfitters

WEEKEND LINKS

• Malala Yousafzai won the Nobel Peace Prize! She is truly an incredible young woman.
• I am LOVING Jacqulyn Clark (Lark + Linen)'s home tour on her blog. It's a great mix of high and low, 
• Melanie Griffith had a lion in the 70s. The photos are insane and gave me anxiety. 
• I cried laughing at this. Really, I did.
• I made this for dinner this week, it was such a good cold weather comfort.

SWEATER DRESS

I had just resigned to accepting that cold weather and pumpkin flavored everything were coming, but the weather had other plans. After a massive heatwave last week, the temperatures are very, very slowly dropping. I've been stuck in this strange place of being too cold without sleeves, but too hot with them. Such is life when I hike up big hills on a daily basis I guess! I've been on the hunt for sweater dresses though, because I feel like if my legs are bare I won't get too warm walking around. Plus they look cozy, and I don't like wearing pants.

Sweater Dress, Mango $40 - Scarf, New Look $16
Watch, Akribos XXIV $49 - Bag, Mango $40 - Boots, New Look $40

WHAT'S ON MY BAR CART

My bar cart seems to be in constant rotation of random bottles people bring over, random shotglasses collected from college and travelling, and an assortment of mixers. It was looking a bit cluttered, so I consolidated everything and put out my favorites.

1. SodaStream - I use this thing all the time, besides mixing drinks. I don't drink soda, so it's never in my apartment, but with a soda stream its really easy to make soda water, or add a syrup if someone wants a soda for a mixer (it comes with little syrups to make soda when you buy it). Plus it's just fun to use.
2. Booze - I like to keep a cheapie but good bottle of wine in case of emergencies (lolz). My current favorite is a Rodney Strong chardonnay I picked up on a trip to Sonoma. One of my friends introduced me to Hangar Lime Sodas and I'm hooked. I like to keep a bottle around to whip them up at home. The bottle of Blanton's actually belongs to my boyfriend... but I really like the bottle shape and cap so it lives on my bar cart. I do love a whiskey cocktail though!
3. Small Glasses and Jam Jars - Jam Jars > Mason Jars, that is all. I also love the art deco feel of the CB2 glasses, and they are on sale right now! For ultra, ultra cheap.
4. Cocktail Shaker and Bottle Opener - This is for when I like to feel fancy and/or impress people. This one is a nice clean shape and very reasonably priced. I love CB2 barware if you couldn't tell. While I really enjoy novelty bottle openers, it's just easier to have a bottle opener/wine key combo so I don't have to dig in the kitchen drawers when someone needs either.
5. Flask and Fun Straws - It reads 'May You Never Go To Hell But Always Be On Your Way'. I don't use it too often, but it looks nice and pretty out on the cart. As for the fun straws, I ALWAYS have them. I use them in smoothies, in regular water, in cocktails, always.

SodaStream $99 - Rodney Strong Chardonnay $14 - Hangar1 Keffir Lime $36 - Blanton's Bourbon $45

Glasses, CB2 $2/each - Cocktail Shaker, CB2 $20 - Jam Jars, Fish's Eddy $2/each

Flask, Izola $27 - Fun Straws, Gracious Home $4 - Corkscrew, Wursthof $16

GET THE LOOK: COZY BALCONY

I love this cozy little balcony. The oversized chair was a smart choice; if I lived here I probably would have gone with small chairs as to not crowd the space. But, the large chair makes the balcony inviting. Add in lots of candles, and this is definitely a space I would want to hang out in.  

Metal Lantern, Dot & Bo $50 - Wood Lantern, House of Fraser $47 - Lights, CB2 $40

Basket, Target $18 - Silver Tea Light, House of Fraser $19 - White Tea Light, Bliss Home $13

Chair, Ikea $350 - Throw, Burke Decor $30 - Pillows, All Modern $30 Each

Plant, Pier1 $12 - Flameless Candles, Casa $12 - Large Hurricane, Williams-Sonoma $50

Table, Dot & Bo $140 - Book, '36 Hours in New York' $40 - Candle Holders, H&M $3-$11

FALL FITNESS

This month I signed up for Classpass, which is a service that lets you pay a monthly fee and you can take unlimited classes at participating gyms and studios. The only exception is you can't visit the same studio more than 3 times in a month. So far it's working out really well! If you want to give different types of workouts a try without committing to an expensive fee, I definitely recommend it. I finally got to try Surfset, which was so much fun. With the weather cooling down, I've been on the hunt for light weight jackets and sweatshirts to pop on during my walk to and from the gym. I especially am digging ones that you could throw on with jeans and flats as well. I also love wide headbands or beanies to keep my ears warm if I am going to an early morning or late night class. On top of that, most of my workout wardrobe is very bright neons, but I really love this burgundy top for fall (plus it's 50% off!). 

Sweatshirt, H&M $30 - Tank, Patagonia $24 - Pants, Adidas $45

Shoes, Nike $80 - Bag, Forever 21 $30 - Headband, Under Armour $12

Water Bottle, Lifefactory $20 - Cleansing Wipes, Neutrogena $7 - Kind Bars

FRIDAY LINKS

So right when I was ready to give way to Fall, San Francisco decided it was summer. Seriously, the weather has been in the high 80s, probably the warmest it has been all year. However, a new boba shop opened up right next to my work and they serve horchata with a shot of espresso and boba, which tasted pretty dang perfect on such a warm day. Silver lining, ya know?

I would like these made for every special occasion for the rest of my life.

• Like the rest of the world, I am in awe of Amal Alamuddin. Mostly because she is a badass, intelligent lady. Also, because her style is so ridiculously flawless. i loved every single look from her wedding weekend so much that I could not pick a favorite. 
• Um, can I have this baby please?
• I AM SO EXCITED FOR GONE GIRL TONIGHT! Holy smokes. I loved the book and I have been waiting for the film to come out for months now. Word on the street is the ending is different, I keep wondering how and what! Agh. Anyways, here are 7 other books to 'scratch the gone girl itch'.
• I love Youtube workouts for days when I don't get to the gym. I usually stick to Blogilates and XHIIT, but here are a few more channels I want to check out.
• A Fur Lagerfeld? I'll take it.

LUST/MUST

Lust:

Vita Fede

J. Crew

Joie

Must:

Bauble Bar

Old Navy

Gap

OCTOBER !

I feel like I start every month this way... but wow! I cannot believe it is already October! Where did 2014 go? I love the Fall and Winter because there is constantly holidays to decorate for. I already picked up a few halloween decorations for our little abode.  Now if only it would cool down so I could break out the sweaters and boots!

Bra Set, North $99 - Stripe Tee, Uniqlo $30 - Colorblock Sweater, BlackFive $29

Sneakers, Nike $85 - Nail Polish, 'Mandarin Orange' Marc Jacobs $18 - Phone Case, Etsy $20

Earrings, 14th & Union $10 - Candle, Voluspa $24 - Bag, Marc by Marc Jacobs $325

Pillow, Global Bazaar $86 - Mug, ThumbsUp! $14 - Lipstick, 'All The Way' Marc Jacobs $30