Terrain

Have you ever visited Terrain? I stumbled across it the other day and since then I can't stop going back. I haven't purchased anything yet but I have my eye on a few things. I love the simplicity, yet unique and beautiful colors of many of the items. Gardening has always had a special place in my heart and there are some amazing outdoor items on the site. Here are a few of my favorites:

Engraved Vines Copper Cocotte

Floating Wall Terrarium

Starburst Mirror

Jadeite Cake Stand

Patchouli Powder Box Candle

United States Chalkboard Map

Lyric Chrysoprase Necklace

Be sure to check out their blog, The Bulletin, for ideas, inspiration and easy DIY projects.

Autumn Leaf Festival

I think everyone in the world knows how much I love Clarion--the town, the university, the scenery, it's all completely perfect to me. I spent four amazing years there and I still think about all the memories, friends I made and skills I learned. The Autumn Leaf Festival has been going on forever (I'm not going to even try and guess the year it started). My family used to take me up when I was younger--one year Chris Kirkpatrick from N'SYNC, a Clarion local, was in the parade--I obviously attended while I was in school, and now I've gone back the past 3 years as an alumni.

It's become something that I look forward to every year. My roommates and best friends from college and I get a hotel room, go up Friday to walk around the craft show, eat at our favorite places, enjoy a few or maybe more than a few beers at our favorite bars, and wake up anxious to talk about the night before--something that we always loved doing when we were in college.

Since so many of my family members attended Clarion, and almost all of them were Greek, it's always exciting for us to go back and visit with sorority sisters and fraternity brothers, meet the new people in the chapter, and see the floats in the parade! Seeing all the beautiful new members and hearing all the amazing things the chapter is doing always makes me so proud of my Zeta Tau Alpha sisters! Three Zeta's were on Homecoming Court this year and of course a Zeta was crowned Queen!

Seriously though, even if you didn't go to Clarion, ALF is definitely worth a visit. Actually the drive alone is worth it--all the leaves are changing and it's just so peaceful. And make sure you get a Poorman's Caramel Apple, Vinny's Buck-A-Slice, a beer at the Loomis, wings at Toby, and maybe a coozie from the school store. Ahhh I'm already counting down the days until next year :)

Photo by Clarion University 

Photo by Clarion University - ZTA and TKE Float

Photo by Clarion University

Roommates! Excuse the hotel room-haha!

Drive to Clarion.

Outside of our "home," 518 South.

My handsome cousin Caden!

The Loomis.

iPhone photo-Kev.

My mom and Uncle Rich--founder of KDR at Clarion!

Being silly with my cousin Richie!

More great pictures on the Clarion University Facebook page.

Find Your Stylescope

Need some inspiration? Take this easy Home Goods Stylescope quiz to learn how to find your style and cheap and creative ways to make it come to life! I ended up being "The Traveler" with a touch of "New Country," and I have to say Home Goods was pretty much spot on. I'm "curious about all corners of the world, whether she's visited them or dreams of going." Um, how did they know?

Allegheny Green & Innovation Festival

Yesterday I had the largest event I've ever planned in my life--and I've done a lot of event planning! It was the 3rd Annual Allegheny Green & Innovation Festival in conjunction with Hartwood Acres Hay Day. It's an event put on by Allegheny County to help promote the importance and convenience of going green and to educate families on how to become more sustainable in every day life. Hay Day is a fall, family festival with tons of free kid's activities. Together, the event saw about 9,000 people come throughout the day! 

Not trying to toot my own horn, but the day was pretty amazing. We had over 80 green & innovation exhibitors providing information and interactive demonstrations, the I Made It! Market coordinated the craft vendors who all used recycled, repurposed and organic materials, 8 sustainable food vendors, and 15 children's activities including face painting, a fire truck, balloon art, trackless train, petting zoo and much more. The entire event was powered by solar power from the guys at Zero Fossil and Zero Waste helped make it a no-waste event!

It's really a great event for people of all ages, and best of all it's free! I'm already anxious to get started planning for next year. As I was walking around I had to keep jotting new ideas down and changes for next year. Since Allegheny County doesn't have an official "county fair" I like to tell people that this is our take on a county fair--with a modern twist! Here are some pictures of the event. If you want more information, visit the Allegheny County Green website here.

I want to thank everyone who came out and supported me today! I appreciate it more than you know! I'm lucky to be blessed with such great people in my life!

Go Red for Women Pittsburgh

If you're from Pittsburgh, I can't stress enough how awesome this event is. I'm a volunteer for the Go Red for Women campaign with my main focus on this fashion show. We had such a great turnout last year--audience members, models, vendors, silent auction baskets, it was all perfect! This year will be no different. So, mark your calendars for November 14 and get ready to donate and support an important cause! Plus it's fun and you get to see great fashion from Macy's on models who have all been affected by heart disease or a healthy lifestyle change! For more info, email me or call the number listed!

The Rachael Ray Show

I had the awesome experience of going to the Rachael Ray Show two weekends ago! I've been going back and forth with this post for this reason:  Rachael.

The audience was small and we were part of the taping of the new season--this means we were one of the first audiences to see her new set! Which is awesome by the way. But, because of the small audience, and probably the fact that we were front and center, we really got to see and hear Rachael. Everyone knows about Rachael Ray, happy, smiling all the time, scratchy voice, and not built like a supermodel. Well, two our of four ain't bad. I guess you could say she was smiling all the time on air--behind the scenes was a different story. I went with my friend Kaitlyn and two other girls, and we were all completely surprised with her attitude. I'm sure her life can get stressful, but come on, you're Rachael Ray! I'll never forget the poor young man who was very clearly in a low-level job--she had no patience, raised her voice and was down right rude to this poor boy. 

Like seriously, Rach--you're devoted fans are here watching you and you're constantly disappointing them with the bad attitude towards your staff. I just don't get people like that. Anywho, we got to see some fun recipes, fall fashion modeled on audience members, and celebrity Chef Marcus Samuelsson. He had the cutest outfit on and was so happy to be there. Regardless of Rach's tude problem, we still had an awesome time! And I'm very thankful for my great friend to think of taking me with her : )

Here we are--same row as Rachael, I'm second to the right (blue dress, long blonde hair). And of course, we spent the day in New York City.

Before the show!

A little bit of Pittsburgh love to our host.

Her studio is right by FIT.

West Village

Unreal.

Vinyl.