It is finally Fall! One of my favorite times of year is that sweet spot when summer is just leaving the air but the harsh chill of colder months hasn't set in yet. I have the best Fall memories from growing up. Saturdays were spent doing different seasonal activities, whether it was visiting a pumpkin patch or raking leaves to jump in at my grandparents' house. Sundays were spent with the windows open, football on all day, and always were full of yummy game day food. In my college years I would love sitting out on campus, with a hot latte just checking out the beautiful trees that were changing color and getting excited for all of the new opportunity of the new school year. 

Now I look at Fall as the ultimate time to get family and friends together. Everyone is back from their summer vacations and are winding down back into their routines. Everyone appreciates a get together a little more when it feels like something exciting to look forward to at the end of their week instead of an added event to jam into their summer schedule. Some of my favorite activities for Fall are football Sundays, outdoor wine tastings, and craft nights to make seasonal decorations. I love anything that lets me be outside and enjoy this perfect weather while I can.

One of my all time favorite things about Fall is shopping for it. I love layering cozy pieces and one of my favorite places to get them is Marleylilly. I recently just got a TON of stuff from the site and I feel pretty sure that I have something to wear for just about every Fall event. I may be just a little more obsessed this year because I have an excuse to put my soon to be new monogram on everything. I won't lie, the site can be an overwhelming endless abyss that can swallow you and spit you out a few hundred dollars later (in a good way of course), but I wanted to try and make this easy for you all. I have rounded up my favorite Fall pieces from Marleylilly along with where I would wear them and included the links below. One of my favorite things about Marleylilly is that they have such cute stuff that is actually affordable for those of us that are trying to stay on budget (aka plan a wedding hellllp). Enjoy my roundup, share with your friends, and happy shopping! (:

These things are all the rage with "basic" college girls everywhere. I'm not going to deny the fact that I am pretty basic but these boots really are so convenient for my lifestyle. They are perfect for taking the dogs out for walks even in damp weather, for frequenting the hiking trail near our house, and just to simply throw on with leggings while running errands at Target on the weekend. These boots come with two additional toppers that you can attach to the boots to change up your look or just wear them by themselves!

I love these as a staple to wear with everyday outfits. Whether you are pairing them with a blazer and dress or jeans and a puffer vest, they are sure to provide a classy, put together touch and really "make" the look. They also come in a variety of different colors so stock up.

The plaid detailing on this one totally stole my heart. I love this pullover for just about any Fall activity. I'm thinking a pumpkin patch, sipping some apple cider. Sign. Me. Up. This also pairs perfectly with either jeans or leggings so you can dress it up or down.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this piece so much. It is cozy, it is chic, and it has quickly become a staple in my closet. I love this for a wine tasting, a girls night, or for traveling. I actually really think this piece is perfect for traveling because it is so comfortable and blanket like. I am getting sleepy just thinking of curling up in this. Every time I've worn this I've gotten so many complements and people asking me where to get it. I swear this thing is like the Traveling Pants (please tell me you got that reference) but it looks good on everyone and makes you feel like a chic but comfortable monogram lover. 

Loafers are one of my favorite things. They are kind of "grandma chic" in the best way. They are comfortable, they are stylish, and from Marleylilly... they are monogrammed. If you haven't caught on yet, everything that I am really into is both comfortable and chic. These monogrammed loafers are so classy and perfect for the Fall weather. I would tell you exactly where I would wear these but the answer is literally everywhere. I haven't purchased them yet because they are brand spankin' new, but you better believe I am taking advantage of the shoe sale and these will be at my house in less than a week. 

Pretty gloves will always have a special place in my heart. My grandmother had a beautiful collection of them and I used to love trying them on when I was little. Now in my adult years I like to slip on a pair of classy gloves to instantly make me feel like a regal lady. I love the plaid print on these because they can add a fun and unexpected twist to a routine Fall outfit. 

This shirt describes all of my favorite things this season. I love this for movie nights with your S.O. or for tailgates or football outings. This shirt is so comfy but still so cute, you really can't go wrong. 

It is never too early to start thinking of adorable holiday gifts! As soon as I saw these cute jewelry trays I knew they were going to be at the top of my gifts to give this year. They are so cute, functional, and a great way to personalize a gift without being corny or over the top. I may have to pick one up for myself too....

Make sure to like, share, and spread the word about CrohnicallyBlonde.com! Also, please DM me on Instagram or comment on my most recent post to tell me what Marleylilly items you are loving right now and where you would wear them for Fall!

If you guys haven't noticed I've really embraced Instagram Stories after a long while of shying away from anything following the Snapchat model. I never jumped on board to Snap bandwagon just because to me it honestly just seemed like a whole lot of work and set up for little to no ROI. Let me explain.... you have to make a conscious effort to make sure you are promoting yet another user name on another platform for your brand, you have to make sure you are keeping up adding brands you are going to promote on both Instagram and Snapchat, and it just was another app that I had to deal with. Sounds high maintenance but I also just couldn't get into the whole sharing every little thing in my life until I realized there was actually value I could add by doing so. I still don't share everything but I do get to share quick tips on products, funny things about my dogs, and give people a look at what my non curated life looks like. Not only does this leave my Instagram feed freed up but it also has helped me to connect with readers/followers of CB in a whole new way. I just love it now. I like that Instagram is already something that I utilize on the regular so adding a new feature is easily integrated into my social media habits. I love that I can just tag brands that I already love without having to go find and follow on another site and I love being able to see updates from not only my friends but businesses and bloggers I follow along with. Instagram you did it right. There are a whole lot of other things that I do not like about you right now but I will save that for a different post..... (in case you haven't heard, Google "Instagram algorithm" be prepared for lots of shade).

Basically the point of this whole rant is that I've been utilizing stories to share real time updates and finds so I think I have slacked a little on sharing them on here. I DO want to get back to doing that though because I think it really is important to have posts to go back to that round up the top content you are sharing day to day. So, takeaway #1- follow me on Instagram to see real time updates, #2- enjoy this new, updated post of all of my favorite new and now finds that I can't get enough of. 

​xx

I absolutely LOVE decorating for Fall. That being said, though, I don't like veering from my neutral color scheme and the usual fall colors don't go with my whole "look" I have going on at home. In the past I have been all about the white pumpkin decorating craze that dominates Pinterest but this year I switched things up to green pumpkins! They aren't AS basic as the white pumpkins but still fit my color scheme requirements. I picked up some cute decor for Fall (including green pumpkins, at Hobby Lobby and Target).

I got a sample of this product at Sephora the other day and have been so obsessed ever since. It is super moisturizing, tastes amazing, and adds a perfect finish to your lips if you are going for a natural look (which I pretty much always am). I can't get enough of this stuff and have been recommending it right and left to pretty much every person I meet. You can get it for yourself HERE. You won't regret it. 

I am so OCD about office/school supplies and the pens/pencils that I write with so when I found these I was skeptical at first but soon made a believer. I ordered these bad boys off of Amazon (I have the multi color pack) for writing and color coding my planner and for organizing my notes at work. The thin tips make it so easy to write neatly and the color selection is amazing. You can get them on Amazon and have them at your house in two days. Score.

I did a whole Instagram post on this stuff  but to give you a quick rundown.... this stuff is a miracle for whitening teeth painlessly. It is made of clay, it is organic, it is pain free, and you can get 30% off of your first order with my code "M30". Click here, you are welcome.

This stuff has become my go to. So far I have tried their Pinot Noir and the Rose and both have been heaven for my tastebuds. The wines aren't too sweet and definitely gets you a little buzzed with your first class (or is that just me?). Did I mention that they come in cans? Yup, cans. So they are great for bonfires and other outdoor Fall events. Especially for us gluten free folk who can't drink beer, these are a cool alternative so you don't have to look like the asshole drinking out of a wine class while everyone else has Miller Lite cans.

I always see Moon Juice products featured by The Skinny Confidential but haven't been totally sold. The other day I gave in and tried this Brain Powder one morning at work. I was pretty surprised that about 20 minutes after drinking the powder (I mixed it with caffeine free mint tea) I was more alert, awake, and focused. Usually it takes me a couple cups of coffee to get to that point but if this powder can get me amped up that quickly without the negative gastro effects from coffee then I guess it is worth it! Get yours here.

I am always on the hunt for products that will hydrate my skin without making me break out or have a reaction from it. ThirstyMud is heaven for skin transitioning seasons. I put it on for about 20 minutes while I am taking a bubble bath and when I take it off my skin feels plump, moisturized, and so smooth. A little of this stuff goes a long way so you can make the jar last. 

Charleston is obsessed with toys that we can stuff treats into and those things will keep him busy for hours. Kong toys are a lifesaver when we are trying to get things done around the house and need Charleston to be occupied. Rhaegar is a little easier to entertain. We put him in front of the window and he can stare for hours. I like to browse the different Kong toys at my local pet store to decide what is best for my boys. There are different ones for different ages and strength of chewers. 

It all started with Red Lentil pasta from Trader Joe's and then when I saw this stuff I had to give it a try. This has quickly become a dinner staple in my household especially when I need to whip something up quickly. While I usually opt for zoodles or spaghetti squash for a gluten free pasta alternative, this pasta is a great way to get your carb fix while still packing in protein and keeping gluten free. I usually just make this quickly with a bit of olive oil, garlic salt, and parmesan cheese. Perfect come home late from work week night dinner.

I was going through my makeup to organize it the other day and found an unopened Butter London eye pencil that I got for free a while ago and never had the chance to use. What! So I started using this in Earl Grey and have become kind of addicted to it. I like that it is a softer color than the black I usually use. It blends easily and is long lasting so I don't have to worry about it smudging throughout the day, even when my eyes are watery from allergies. I've used other Butter London products, all of which have been great, so I wasn't surprise when this stuff exceeded my expectations. You can get yours from Ulta.com. 

I am a Tory Burch flats girl through and through. Call me basic, but I love how comfortable and durable they are. I have worn some variation of a Tory Burch flat almost everyday to work for the past year or so. My black flats are on their last leg so I wanted to replace them but try something new. I have been loving monograms lately, especially with my new monogram (I am so corny, I know). When I saw that I could get monogrammed flats from Marleylilly I had to place an order ASAP. I am so picky about my shoes but these definitely are up to my standards. They are cute, comfortable, and unique to you. 

I can't wait to hear what you guys end up trying or have tried from this list! Also, please feel free to message me any recommendations on new things to try! I am always game for a new product. 

​xx

In light of the recent, devastating hurricane I have teamed up to help promote Knack's efforts to Uplift Houston and give back to the community. There are endless families and individuals that are displaced, waiting in shelters to rebuild their lives, and mourning the loss of what they once called their home. Knack is doing what they can to give back and ease the pain of those suffering. By purchasing one of their three Uplift Houston gift boxes, they will donate an identical box to a hurricane survivor in need or provide a monetary donation of equal value to a shelter. 

I think this is such a cool way to donate and honestly it is such an easy way to make an impact. The boxes range from $81- $136 and not only are you donating but you are also getting a box for yourself.  I know that we shouldn't need personal incentives to help our fellow humans who are struggling but this is a great way to take advantage of a special gift and give it to someone special who is close to you. In times like this where people have lost their loved ones and are struggling through serious hardships, it is so important that we take an extra moment to appreciate those close to us. 

Knack in and of itself is an amazing brand that focuses on lifting up others and conveying how much you care in the perfect way. I love what they are doing for our friends down in Houston so I am urging you to get involved! 

The link to the boxes is HERE!

Let me know which box you choose to send! 

Crohnically Blonde is sending lots of love and light to those impacted by Hurricane Harvey and those who are in the path of Hurricane Irma. 

​xx

I have this whole motto where my blog is about kicking chronic illness's ass. Usually I think I am pretty good at it. But recently, I have been getting my ass kicked. I hate admitting that because that's not who I am. I am not someone who spends a long weekend unproductively on the couch. I am not someone who lets physical defeat get me down mentally. But you know what, I am realizing that maybe that has to be a part of who I am now. I exhaust so much mental energy being upset that I am "not productive" or "I'm shitty because I didn't make it to the gym". I am so damn hard on myself. But it is against my nature not to be. 

I also get frustrated REALLY easily when things are not in my control or I can't solve a problem. A blessing and a curse I supposed. Recently, a lot has been out of my control. My symptoms have escalated and I am having more bad days than good. The thing is, it isn't my gastro effects of Crohn's that are crippling me from living a normal life. It is the fatigue, joint aches, muscle pain and all of this is just getting worse. I am so thankful that my Remicade has definitely helped my gastrointestinal issues but I can't help but wondering, what else is going on? There has to be something else. There is no physically possible way that a 26 year old should feel this way.

I have went through the motions, gotten blood work done, MRIs, CT scans, sonograms. Somehow I am a perfect specimen of a human on paper now. But my body is telling me otherwise. I thought, maybe I just need to go to the gym more and be more active and my joint pain will go away. Wrong. I made it 30 minutes into a gentle yoga class before my wrists were swollen my knees were aching and my one knee actually gave out when walking down the stairs when I got home. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. Coming from someone who used to frequent 90 minute intense hot yoga classes, frequented other classes at my local gym, and have a serious collection of Piyo programs that I loved to do at home, this was a wake up call. Even during periods of time where I wasn't working out as frequently I could drop in for a HIIT class and hold my own, and now I can't even make it through a damn gentle flow yoga class?! 

I scoured through my blood work to see if there were any signs of something that maybe my doctor was missing when she told me everything was "fine". I also in a fit of range sent her a probably not so nice message explaining that "fine" is not what I would use to describe my situation right now. I am not blind to the fact that with one autoimmune often comes others. Many doctors have speculated there is something else that is going on behind the scenes but they have never been able to pinpoint it. I have a recommendation to go see a Rheumatologist which I supposed I should but somehow I feel like its just another dead end. I have been frantically researching my symptoms (I'm long past being concerned about when WebMD says I'm on the brink of death), and have found some theories that I will share as I go through this journey of, hopefully, diagnosing what else is going on. I am not only going to see the recommended Rheumatologist but also a specific Lyme literate doctor as well so I can make sure I am covering all bases.

I have some theories of my own which I don't want to share until I am sure, but let this serve as another example of why taking control of your own health and doing your own research is so crucial. You have to be your own advocate.

I will make sure to keep you guys along on this journey with me and as always I appreciate anything that you guys have to say as far as questions or comments. If you have been in this similar situations and have stories of your diagnosis I would LOVE to hear those stories and pieces of advice as well. 

I do also have to close this post out with addressing the mental impact that this whole thing can have. It can literally make you feel crazy because on paper you seem fine but you aren't! People start to act like it is all in your head. But it isn't. I know that, other Spoonies know that, and what has helped me so much in staying sane through this is leaning on the online support community and hearing about other people's similar situations. Us chronic illness fighters have to stick together and support each other, which comes back to the reason why I started Crohnically Blonde in the first place. 

​xx