Monday Mashup: Tech Reads, Kid Stuff and Fall Fashion

Hey Peeps! I took a week off from the blog after my year anniversary. Not intentionally, it just worked out that way. I actually have some fashion related things to share this Monday, but first I want to tell you what I've been doing the previous week.
Last weekend I geeked out and spent my whole weekend reading IT Security books. This seriously distracted me from even caring about fashion much for the last week. If you're into tech books, fiction and non-fiction, I can recommend the following:
1. "Zero Day" by Mark Russinovich (fiction but could happen)
Mark Russinovich works at Microsoft in the Windows Azure product team as a Technical Fellow, Microsoft’s senior-most technical position.

Image from www.zerodaythebook.com

2.  "Cyber War" by Richard A. Clarke (non-fiction, wow!)
Clarke is a former presidential adviser and terrorist specialist

Image from Google Books

3. "Breakpoint" by Richard A. Clarke (fiction, but could happen)
Clarke is a former presidential adviser and terrorist specialist

Image from Google Books

Really good books on why it is so important to consider IT Security, even as an individual, and the impact technology has on our lives. 
This weekend was Homecoming at my children's high school. Morgan is always involved as any good cheerleader would be, so we went to the parade to see the float she and her classmates worked on. 

Class of 2014 

Saturday night they had the Homecoming Dance. In preparation for the festivities, I took Morgan for her very first professional makeup job. We went to the MAC counter in our local Nordstrom. They did a really good job of keeping her look natural while being glamorous all at the same time. 

 Below is Morgan with her date David. They went together as friends. 

 Jonathan wasn't involved in the parade but he did go to the dance with his girlfriend Jessica. Before the dance he made her dinner at our home. He is actually a pretty good cook. 

The first half of my weekend completely revolved around my kids. Sunday I got together with Tiffany. We headed off to the local Target to see what we might find interesting. I am looking for a brown or tan skirt. I had no luck in Target, but I did see where they still have Missoni items available. In fact, they are now on Clearance for 30% off! So much for jacked up Ebay prices! Next we headed over to Kohls. I only make it into Kohls about 3 times a year at the most. Tiff was interested in the Jennifer Lopez collaboration. I actually liked several of the items in the line but not enough to purchase any. I have to be a little stingy with my money right now so I am less inclined to purchase if it isn't a "have to have" item. Sorry JLo! The line is definitely worth checking out, though. I found a brown skirt on clearance for $16 at Kohls. It isn't exactly what I was looking for but worth buying at clearance prices. I may end up sewing the skirt I want as I haven't seen what I have in mind anywhere.
After our shopping excursion, we stopped to get outfit photos. We decided to walk down a new road that is still under construction. Both of us have been wanting to go down it and see what is what. They cut it through several neighborhoods and we wondered just where exactly.

I finally got the opportunity to wear the floppy hat I bought down in Williamsburg. It just happens to match these Baker's boots almost perfect! 

 I stole the plaid jacket from my husband's side of the closet. It is vintage wool that I found for him at a thrift store a couple years ago. I need to find one for myself! The top is a chocolate brown microsuede I found at Kohl's about 10 years ago. 

That catches you all up on what I have been doing with myself. It is time I got back into the blogging swing of things. 
Coming up this week: 
NutraNail Gel Perfect Review


Happy Halloween! Hope you all have a great week! 

1 Memory Lane: Favorite Outfits of the Last Year

I want to share with you my favorite outfits from my first year of blogging. Reviewing my fashion timeline shows how my sense of style has evolved (or not) throughout my year. It also serves as a great reminder of all I have learned throughout the year about blogging and photography. 
Fashion Sister Tiffany is included a few times too. Under each photo I will state why it is special to me. 

So let's take a look, shall we? 

Happy Birthday Fashion RECON!

Today is the one year anniversary since my blog was born! It is hard to believe I have been doing this for a whole year! I have learned so much over the past 12 months and made more friends than I ever thought possible. All due to a little ole blog inspired by a photo spread in the September 2010 Vogue! 
Here is the outfit that started it all:

After posting my first outfit I began to learn about the community of Fashion blogging. A debt of gratitude is owed. 

Monday Mashup: Fashion Finds and The Dinner Circle

The weekend started out with minimal plans but ended up being somewhat busy. I had nothing to do during the day Saturday but then Tiffany invited me to go to the mall. What's a fashionista to do? I got in my car, picked her up and we were OFF! 

We went into several different stores. I had been procrastinating on going to Sephora to pick up the Nails, Inc. "Magnetic Effect" polish I have been coveting. Since the mall Tiffany wanted to go to has a Sephora store, I finally bought it. I got the House of Parliament (purple) for me and the Chrome for her as part of her birthday gift. As soon as I take the time for a manicure I will post photos. We went into Forever XXI and that is where the trouble started. Currently, our local store is doing a BOGO on their clearance items. I found two fantastic sweaters. We just had a cold front come through so I have every intention of wearing them ASAP! 

While we were making our way to the exit, we saw the Epic store. We were both in Epic Shoe Heaven. I have found the first item to put on my Christmas list:

 Black Industrial Pump by Metropolis/Hades Shoes

Monday Mashup: Shopping Trip Finds

This weekend my husband and I went on our long-anticipated shopping trip to the Prime Outlets in Williamsburg, VA. Chris found nothing he was interested in purchasing except for a Pepperoni Pretzel and a soda. I didn't find as much as I had hoped but I did manage to buy some things. 
Even though I brought my camera with me to the outlets, I didn't manage to take any pictures there. I try not to embarrass Chris too much with my blogger picture obsessions so I just decided I would photograph my haul once I got home. 

Image courtesy of http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=89 

I had a list of stores I wanted to peruse for items on my Lust List. 
Aldo, BCBG, Papaya, Wilsons Leather and Michael Kors were listed as "must-see" stores for this trip. 

FBFF: Jumping on the FadWagon

I have been out of the Fashion Beauty Friend Friday circle for a couple months. I am so happy to be back in the loop. This week's questions concern following fads. 


1. Do you ever see a fad hit the stores and immediately dislike it?
Has that fad ever began to grow on you? 
I knew the Missoni for Target line was set to hit stores and I did not care one bit. Not crazy about the zigzags and I don't typically shop at Target anyway. 
The boots and winter shorts was a look I initially wasn't very crazy about. You don't wear shorts in the winter. The more I saw other bloggers doing it, the more I admired it and decided to try it myself.

I wrote a whole post about it here: http://fashnlvr.blogspot.com/2011/01/winter-short-take-chance.html

BDIB: Animal Instincts = Leopard

Today's post is part of Bloggers Do It Better™ series hosted by PrettyShinySparkly. "Would animal prints be as big as they are today without the power of fashion bloggers who rock it in the real world?", challenges Krisitina.  

I chose to stick to one print: Leopard! 

Monday Mashup: Fall Festival and Fashion

Today's post is sure to get you in the mood for Fall and is a bit longer than other posts but I have a lot pictures to share with you. I promise a wee bit of shopping and fashion at the end. 
This weekend the family and I headed off to the Apple Harvest Festival at Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville, VA. We had a perfect Autumn day for going to the orchard. The air was crisp and there were just a few clouds in the sky. The leaves are just beginning to turn their colors in the foothills.

Bebe Jacket, Papaya shirtdress, Express Tank, 7 jeans, Anna Michele boots

I finally got to wear some tall boots which I have been eagerly anticipating since September! Click through to view our festival adventure.