Its getting cold

So I woke up about a week ago to foggy windows.. sometimes this means it's just really humid, but in late September it usually means that our short fall is coming, which then means winter.. winter means snow and crap. 
This morning?  Frost. 
You guys might go "ooo, sounds like a cute thing to wake up to!" 
Yeah. No. 
See while you're all enjoying your slow decline into winter, we are preparing for the worst.. Game of Thrones "winter is coming" kind of prep.. sans zombie ice beasts and beheadings. For instance, today I was googling how to winterize my windows, what shovel I should buy and work neighbor looked over and our conversation went like this. 
Dan: Hey, Acacia, do you live somewhere that you need to shovel snow? Me: Uh... yeah, North Dakota?  Dan: Oh no, I mean your home.. like do you need to shovel out your drive?  Me: Yeah, why? Dan: Can I get the address? I'd like to know where to setup and watch the show.  Me: Ha.. funny... you suck. 
I realize that this is my "first" winter where I'm relying 100% on myself and I will not have a garage. My workplace seems to enjoy the thought of the Arizona/Washington girl doing any of her own winter-type activities. 
But in all seriousness, I was raised as a kid to always have an "essentials" pack in my vehicle or on my person when doing anything outdoors. Water, sunscreen, mag-light and a hat were basic things my dad would tell us to keep in our car.. Now that I'm living in the frozen tundra I've found a few other things that are needed. 
First Aid Kit Bottled Water -or jugs- changed out on a 2 week basis. Blanket(s) Body Warmers (they are packets of joy)  Road Side Safety Kit i.e. flares, jumpers and such.  Ice scraper and snow shovel Tire Chains Tow rope Mag Light  - this is my dad's influence.. if you need a light, its a light. If you need a weapon.. its an awesome weapon.  Kitty Litter -just go with it, traction!-  Phone Charger - I recommend a solar one too-  Extra Clothes... no explanation needed. 
Now I also keep a pillow and a thick sleeping bag in my car during trips.. if it's going to be a longer trip I will actually pull a seat down in the back before I leave, why? Oh cause last year my trunks latch got stuck and I couldn't get to anything in my trunk for almost 2 months.. this made me worried.. I like my trunk. 
I've also learned that while I am great at driving, blizzards suck and no one is good at driving in those.. if you tell me you are, I'll call you a liar. 
Make a survival kit, be safe and enjoy the fall while it lasts! 

Fashion | Washington + Rain

So I've been in the PacNW for the last four years, Washington for three... and I have to say that for the first 3 years I didn't own a winter coat, rain jacket, umbrella, rain boots or anything remotely decent for rainy weather. I'm from Arizona, this mythical thing called rain rarely happens there.. and yet I moved to the raniest state.. genius award. 

Now things that you definitely should spend your money on? A good rain coat w/ the zip out liner. I recommend Columbia or North Face, both amazing, but Columbia is a little cheaper -at times- than North Face. 

Rain boots- just get some, trust me. 

Boots - I had some cowboy boots, till Bru ate one, now I have no boots and am sad.. bring on the sister and her $10 Frye boots! 

Umbrella, though I don't use one, I hear they work wonders! 

But just because its chilly and rainy doesn't mean you have to turn in your summer wardrobe. In fact I wear my summer/spring clothes year round by layering on with my fall clothes. These two style boards are from my pinterest that I absolutely LOVE. Though add more color if you live up here, seasonal depression is a killer. 

I hope to make more attempts at fashion blogging, with my sister moving up here I'll finally have someone that I can A. have dress me + update my style and B. take pictures. You'll more than likely see her fashions on here more than mine, but hey.. use your resources, right?! 

I hope you ladies enjoy the fall/winter, and those in the PacNW feel free to let me know your must haves for the rainy season. 

-Acaica

where have I been?!

I've been nannying, then I got let go, so now I'm ninja-ing. But really, I start training for a new job next Tuesday -wish me luck- and have been topsy turvy with everything else. 

The summer came and went, rather quickly, and fall is now upon us all. No getting kids to school, just getting myself ready for work. I bought heels.. that's a little short of a miracle for myself, I'm pretty much against being tall, I have an aversion towards it. But they were cute. 

Bru is turning ONE next month, A gets home somewhere around the start of all our festivities aka thanksgiving and Christmas. 

I learned a lot about myself, I've been thinking of going back to ombre hair, I used to have it.. then I was like "BLONDE" and now I'm all "CANT AFFORD!" So back to being cheap. 

I joined the Y just down the road, I'll be getting my workout on, lucky for me my schedule for the next 9 weeks puts me at work around 3 and off around 11pm (swing shift!) so I'll be able to workout in the mornings and still basically have a normal life.. when A gets home it'll be interesting, opposite schedules and all. 

I hope that this new shift allows me time to be on here, blogging and re-building a follower base. I am so sorry to have been gone. Life just gets in the way, all the darn time. 

-Acacia