happy halloween!

Outfit details: Mossimo turtleneck – $6 (orig. $17.99 price tag still attached) @ Clothes Mentor in Minneapolis; Belt – $0.99 @ Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store in Brooklyn Center; J.crew pants – $4.99 @ Goodwill in Coon Rapids; Xhiliration booties – $7.48 (on 75% off clearance) @ Target.

The only day of the year you can truly get away with such a color combo as this…

Happy Halloween, everyone! :)

what’s cookin’: pumpkin spice cake w/ cream cheese frosting.

This weekend my pumpkin craving struck yet again, and considering it was Halloween weekend, I had no choice but to make pumpkin cake… with cream cheese frosting (duh!) This is one of those recipes you simply can’t pass up during the fall season.

This recipe was adapted from Everyday Baking with a few added changes of my own listed below.

What you’ll need:

For the cake:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon pumpkin-pie spice
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch nutmeg (I omited this)
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar (I used brown)
1 (15 ounce) can solid-pack pumpkin puree

For the frosting:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 bar (8 ounces) regular cream cheese
1/4 cup honey (I used 2 cups of powdered sugar instead)
1 tsp cinnamonDirections:

• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter or spray a 9-inch square baking pan.
• In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin-pie spice. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, butter, and pumpkin puree until combined. Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture, and mix gently until smooth.
• Turn batter into prepared pan, and smooth top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool cake 10 minutes in pan, then turn out of pan, and cool completely, right side up, on a rack.
• Make frosting: In a medium bowl, whisk 1/2 cup (1 stick) very soft unsalted butter, 1 bar (8 ounces) very soft regular (or reduced-fat) cream cheese, and 1/4 cup honey until smooth.
• Spread top of cooled cake with frosting. Cut cake into squares and serve.

Preparing the cake mixture. (I forgot to take a picture of the frosting)

Pure deliciousness.

P.S. I bought my wedding dress this weekend! :)

this week’s dose of inspiration: Halloween edition!

caramel pumpkin blondies - yet another tantalizing recipe added to my list of “must-make recipes” {via two peas and their pod}

pumpkin “barf” - okay, kinda gross, but oh-so creative! {via streaming gourmet}

give pumpkins glam appeal using lace stockings {via BHG}

cat costume makeup; classic and simple. {via blissfully domestic}

a fun and festive way to keep beverages cold. {via home design modern}

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Have a great Halloween weekend everyone!

fall fashion favorites.

It’s hard to believe next week will already be November and snowfall is just around the corner (ugh… don’t remind you, right?!) But with that being said, I thought I’d highlight some of my favorite fashions from the fall season. A lot of these will more than likely carry over into winter-wear as well, but either way, here’s my fall faves:

oversized cable knits.

plaid, layering and slouchy collars.

colored tights.

blazers and wool fabrics.

bowtie blouses.

lace-up wedge booties paired with showing socks.

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What were some of your favorite trends of the season?

 

Psst… all images were found via Pinterest. You can check out my page here.

the colors of fall.

Outfit details: Vintage sunnies – $1.60 @ Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store in Brooklyn Center; Earrings - $3.80 @ Forever21; Liz Claiborne blazer - $5 @ MRCI Thrift Store in Mankato; Forever21 top - $2.75 @ TurnStyle Consignment in Minneapolis; Forever21 skirt – $9.80 @ Forever21; Socks - $3.99 @ TJ Maxx; Etienne Aigner boots – $6.99 @ Goodwill in West St. Paul.

this week’s dose of inspiration.

apple pie breakfast cakes. who can say no to dessert for breakfast!? {via how sweet it is}

i’m lovin’ this casual-chic ensemble; perfect for fall. {via j.crew}

a creative way to plan and display meals for the week. {via whipper berry}

lovely neutral makeup. {original source unknown}

oh so true. {original source unknown}

Have a great rest of the weekend, everyone!

xoxo

chic for cheap in all its glory.

Outfit details: Vintage sunnies – $1.60 @ Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store in Brooklyn Center; knot earrings – $1 @ Sophie Joe’s Emporium in St. Paul; Ella Moss blouse – $5.99 @ Arc’s Value Village in Brooklyn Center; LOFT blazer – $8 @ Clothes Mentor in Minneapolis; Vintage purse – $5.99 @ St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in St. Paul; Ring – $8 @ Nancy’s Nifty Thrifty New Brighton; Et Vous pants – $4.99 @ Goodwill in Coon Rapids; Mossimo pumps – $29.99 @ Target.

Hey everyone! TGIF right?! :)

This outfit showcases one of my new fave color combos – neutral tones consisting of nude, champagne, gray and gold. To me, these colors manage to exude a classy and chic vibe (see an interior design version here). And speaking of chic, keep in mind the title of my blog, “simply chic for cheap“ – a name that came from my love for creating ensembles that might appear as though they cost big bucks, when they’re actually fractions less than the average person could imagine… because as I always say, high style doesn’t have to come with a high price tag!

Keep it chic & have a fab weekend folks!

Until next time…

blackout.

Outfit details: D&G aviators – $6 @ Encore Consignment in Mankato; Mossimo turtleneck – $6 (original $17.99 price tag attached) @ Clothes Mentor in Minneapolis; Necklace – $5.80 @ Forever21; Vintage Coach purse – $6.99 @ Goodwill in West St. Paul; Antique cocktail ring - $12 @ Treasue Chest Antiques in Waseca; Elle jeggings – $13.30 (80% off clearance) @ Kohl’s; Xhiliration shoes – $4.98 (on clearance) @ Target.

brown & burgundy.

Outfit details: Vintage sunnies – $1.60 @ Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store in Brooklyn Center; Gap button-up – $2.50 @ MRCI Thrift Store in Mankato; Belt – $1.99 @ Goodwill in West St. Paul; Purse – free (hand-me-down from a  friend); Vintage wool skirt – $2.99 @ Goodwill in Coon Rapids; Socks - $3.99 @ TJ Maxx; Etienne Aigner boots - $6.99 @ Goodwill in West St. Paul. *Nail polish – Zoya in “Dree.”

this week’s dose of inspiration.

Open shelving and butcher block counter tops makes for a lovely farm house-inspired kitchen. {original source unknown}mustard, blue & burgundy – wonderful fall color combo. {via Forgetting Details}
Starbucks pumpkin scone knock-off recipe. {via Sweet Peas Kitchen}Winged eyes and red lips works as a fun way to shake up a boring makeup routine. {original source unknown}Adding glitter to nails; a simple way to go glam. {via Love Maegan}

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Enjoy the rest of your weekend!