Autumn, by nature, is basic. It’s the season of yoga pants, pumpkin-flavored anything & disproportionately big scarves. If you like apple-picking, Instagramming the foliage or even just wearing your favorite football team’s fan gear, you run the risk of looking a little bit basic–or in my case, a full-blown basic betch. Instead of trying to downplay your basic-ness (almost impossible during the fall), I’m encouraging you to embrace it. Grab your 5+ year old uggs, order that PSL & let your inner basic out. Here are the basic things I’ve been liking & favoriting to get you started.

The perfect pumpkin cookies

I made these cookies last year for homecoming and I’ve been waiting all year to make them again. They’re fluffy & soft, but aren’t overwhelmingly pumpkin-y (which you can totally change by adding more spice). They’re perfect for making on a dreary fall day. Recipe adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything.

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{Ingredients: 2 cups butter, softened |2 cups granulated sugar | 2 teaspoons baking powder |2 teaspoons baking soda | 1 teaspoon salt |1 teaspoon ground cinnamon |1 teaspoon ground nutmeg | 2 eggs |2 teaspoons vanilla | one 15-ounce can pumpkin |4 cups all-purpose flour | one container of cream cheese frosting–I love Pillsbury Cream Supreme}

Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 10-12 minutes | Makes 4 dozen cookies

Directions:

1. Preheat the over to 350 degrees.
2. Beat together the 2 cups butter with an electric mixer (my roomie and I love this little hand-held one) until the butter is light & fluffy. Add the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. *If you want that extra pumpkin flavor, double the amount of cinnamon & nutmeg. 
3. Beat until combined.
4. Add the two eggs and 2 teaspoons of vanilla.
5. Beat in the pumpkin.
6. Add in flour slooowwwly until all combined. (The dough will look wet–that’s okay!)
7. Scoop tablespoon sized dough balls onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Use a toothpick to check if they’re done (it should come out clean)
9. Let them cool!
10. Top with cream cheese frosting.
11. Become popular with all your friends at your next party because you made killer pumpkin cookies.

Bye dry skin

I don’t know about you, but as soon as the weather gets a tad cooler, my skin freaks out. I personally hate dry skin & have tried countless different lotions to fix it. I’ve always been a fan of Vaseline products and I just tried their intensive care lotion this past week. Verdict: I love it. Great thing about this lotion is that is scent free (perfect for guys & girls) and it’s thick but it sinks in super quickly. The bottle says it heals very dry skin in 5 days, but I saw a change after 3. Now you can have silky smooth skin all fall/winter long!

*I received this product for testing purposes, but all opinions are 100% my own.

Say yes to more starbucks

Did you really think I was going to get through a post titled “Let Your Basic Out” without talking about ‘Bucks? Ha. Starbucks is currently running a promotion that if you buy three (3) or more Starbucks products at a grocery store (in one transaction), you get a $5 gift card to any Starbucks location. Products include: ground coffee, K-cups, VIA Instant Coffee, Tazo Tea bags, Doubleshot drinks, hot chocolate and iced coffee. This is great because 1. You can stock up on all the coffee/tea forever 2. The promotion runs until January 31 and 3. There’s no limit to how many times you submit a receipt–you can get as many $5 gift cards as your heart desires. 

Fashion lessons from a fashionista

I pretended to be a fashion blogger last weekend & dragged my friend Haley to my mini Philly photo shoot. Haley is by far one of the most fashionable people I know (and works in the fashion industry so you know she’s legit), & taught me a little something about how to wear florals for fall. 

SHOP THE LOOK: 

Floral Tank Top, similar here, here & here

Faux leather bucket bag (original color sold out)

Strappy peep-toe booties, SIMILAR here, here & here

Bougie (budget-friendly) cheese plate

Post Philly-fall fashion shoot, Haley & I treated ourselves to some wine & cheese (of course). Our spread included: Brie Cheese, Giant-brand gourmet crackers (all about that store brand life), Craisins & a granny smith apple. Simple, a little fancy & hella cheap (I spent $13 total).

Bonus*: Cheaper & (relatively) healthier PSL

Just because I like you–bonus basic tip: how to get your PSL’s cheaper & (sorta) healthier. Instead of ordering a pumpkin spiced latte, ask for a misto with a pump of pumpkin. A misto is just coffee with steamed milk, but that one pump of pumpkin gives you that fall flavor without it being super sugary. Aaaaand you save $3-4. You’re welcome.

Liking coffee shops on dreary fall days & Favoriting drinking (you guessed it) pumpkin coffee.

*THIS POST CONTAINS Some AFFILIATE LINKS.