fall – The Sol Compass

6 Ingredients for a Perfect Fall Night

Whether it’s the weather or the PSL’s, it seems like everyone I know is in a perpetually good mood now that fall is here. It’s been a perfect time for me to unwind from a chaotic summer and have a few easy nights at home. Here’s everything I think you need to have the perfect one.

Face Mask. In my book, every perfect night starts with a face mask. In addition to being seasonally appropriate, pumpkin is packed with a plethora of skincare benefits thanks to the AHAs and vitamins. Essentially, it’s an exfoliant that brightens and smooths out your skin, while fighting sun damage and signs of aging. Yeah, kind of a big deal. I’ve been loving the Overtime Mask from Summer Fridays lately, but I also really enjoy the Peter Thomas Roth one that I was able to try in this kit!

Reading Material. Something about fall always makes me want to reread Harry Potter (B and I just marathoned all the movies over the past couple weeks, so that helped). I also have been loving the Dublin Murder Squad series, so I’ll probably be diving into Tana French’s latest The Witch Elm this weekend!

Bath Bombs. As a germaphobe, there is nothing I hate more than the idea of marinating in my own filth. However, it’s hard to deny the stress benefits of baths. Lately I’ve been having to force myself to run one every few weeks (even if it means I have to shower first!) I picked up a few of these bath bombs from Ulta and this Sandalwood Vanilla one just may be my favorite so far.

Mug. Whether your mug is for the perfect bedtime tea or seasonally appropriate chocolate…you do you. This one is from Target (I couldn’t find it online) but I also love this one and this one.

Candle. There’s a seemingly endless variety of autumnal candles in the world. This year my top choice is this Pumpkin Clove one from Anthropologie.

Playlist. I may have gone a little overboard with my spooky-pop playlist, since it’s 9 hours long. But that doesn’t change that it’s perfect for getting in the Halloween spirit.

Concord, MA

Hey everyone, happy Thursday! Last weekend B and I took a mini half day trip out to Concord, MA. As a couple of nature lovers and history geeks it was the perfect setting! Our first stop was the famous Walden Pond, we took the trail all the way around the lake and saw the spot where Thoreau’s cabin stood!

After Walden Pond we went to Minute Man National Park, where the opening battle of the Revolutionary War occurred! You can see the Old North Bridge (of “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” fame) and talk to some incredibly knowledgeable rangers who can give you a crash course in remembering the finer details that you may or may not have forgotten of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, or the war entirely.

In the area there’s also the Concord Museum (which has lots of pieces from the Thoreau family) and the Ralph Waldo Emerson House, which would be amazing to check out if you have the time or interest in either of these fascinating figures!

Outfit Details – Sweater: J.Crew Factory | Top: LOFT | Jeans: Lucky Brand | Shoes: TOMS

Thanks for reading! Hope you have a great day!

xo, C

Quechee and Woodstock, Vermont

Hello everyone, welcome back to another installment of our road trip through Vermont! We got off of 89 in search of Woodstock, but ended up finding gem after gem in Quechee, Vermont en route! After a short walk through the woods (less than a mile) we made it to the Quechee Gorge, the deepest gorge in Vermont!

There are some awesome restaurants in the area that we could have spent the whole weekend trying out restaurants in these two towns alone!

The Mill at Simon Pearce. What could be better than “America’s Most Romantic Restaurant”? One that uses fresh, local ingredients in a gorgeous setting!

Dana’s by the Gorge. A gorgeous brunch place located across the street from the gorge, Dana’s menu has a seemingly endless variety of pancakes, muffins, and even fried dough that I cannot wait to go back and try!

Worthy Kitchen. This burger joint has an assuming front a few minutes drive from the Woodstock center, but the inside is no joke. The gorgeous modern farmhouse interior is home to mouth watering burgers and a carefully curated list of local Vermont craft beers.

Mon Vert Cafe. This cafe was absolutely packed with tourists while we were there, but it is a great option for food in Woodstock. They have tons of sandwich and salad options, featuring tons of fresh ingredients from local Vermont and New Hampshire farmers! An older couple on a foliage expedition was kind enough to share their table with us and gave us some great lunch company in true Vermont fashion!

Bryan’s Outfit – Pants: Old Navy | Sweater: Old Navy | Shoes: TOMS

Down the road is the Quechee Gorge Village, filled with local Vermont treasures such as a Cabot Cheese sampling area, maple syrup, antique shop, and more!

Down in Woodstock the main appeal is just strolling the village area. The famous covered bridge, gorgeous houses, and stunning foliage provided endless eye candy everywhere we looked.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Make sure to tune in next week for more of our adventures up north!

xo, C

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Tuesday Ten: Fall Finds at Nordstrom

Hey everyone, welcome back! Over the weekend I perused the Nordstrom website for a bit longer than I would like to admit. Among all the gorgeous fall finds, these are the ones that stood out to me the most!

One: Fisherman Cap I have been seeing hats like this one pop up everywhere from high end street style to suburban sidewalks. As a bonafide hat lady, I am 100% on board.

Two: Plaid Scarf Do I really need to say anything about this one? Plaid and scarves are two must haves during autumn, so why not combine them into one?! I love the colors in this one.

Three: Bandana I am all about keeping the bandana trend going, and I love the orange color in this J.Crew one!

Four: Triangle Stud Earrings I love triangles and I have been looking for some fun gold studs to add to my small earring collection. Also, the price point is gold.

Five: Robe I love my bathrobe, but it’s very lightweight and not very warm during the winter months. This gorgeous UGG one would be perfect for getting out of the shower on colder days!

Six: Pajamas Another necessity when the temperatures drop is a solid pair of pajamas. These ones come in several colors but I love the soft rose shade!

Seven: Bell Sleeve Dress If you have any fall weddings, showers, etc you can buy this dress now and thank me later. I love the attention to detail and the bell sleeves, but the color is just eye candy.

Eight: Crossbody Bag I am obsessed with the fact that a basic primary color such as ‘red’ is a fall trend this year. The detail and texture on this bag is gorgeous and perfect for the whole season, straight up into the holidays!

Nine: Block Heeled Booties Another trend I am super into is white booties. I’m not 100% convinced that I can pull it off, but these are so beautiful I may just have to give it a try.

Ten: Faux Leather Tote I use a tote bag to lug my work stuff around every.single.day so a seasonally appropriate piece like this gorgeous burgundy one is high on my fall shopping list!

What are you all looking to purchase now that fall is officially here? Let me know in the comments!

xo, C

Tuesday Ten: Fall Activities That Don’t Involve Apples Or Pumpkins

Happy Tuesday everyone! Today’s Tuesday Ten is pretty straightforward. If you’re looking to get in the fall spirit but don’t want to hit up a crowded apple orchard (I don’t blame you – Sunday was insane), then look no further. I have ten fantastic ideas for you to embrace and celebrate autumn’s arrival!

Get outside. Whether you’re going on a hike or just taking a stroll, fall is such a beautiful time of year to enjoy nature. On my list for Massachusetts is Walden Pond for a flat stroll and Mount Greylock for a hike (which I somehow have never been to!)
Bake. Whether your baking involves apples or not, fall is the perfect time to fire up the oven again (does anyone else hate how hot the kitchen gets when you use the oven in the summer?!) Personally I’m a fan of some warm cookies outside in the cool fall air, but whatever floats your boat.
Rocky Horror Picture Show. Rocky Horror is the only cult film I really follow along with, and I was absolutely devastated when Midnight Madness in Harvard Square came to an end (it’s just not the same Downtown!) Last year Jenn and I saw it in Austin at the Alamo Drafthouse (100% recommend checking this theatre out, read my post here for more info!) and the year before it we went to The Strand, a historic theatre out in Clinton, MA. Short story long, I definitely recommend trying to find a theatre with a shadow cast near you!
Go antiquing. Last weekend was the first weekend in a while that B and I didn’t have a single plan. We took this opportunity to drive with the windows down and stop at each antique store along the way. We met so many kind people and found items with incredible history and character. You really just never know what you might find at an antique shop!
Light a candle and read a book. After an active and busy summer, some down time is exactly what I need during September and October. My reading list has gotten out of hand, so I’m looking to put a dent in it finally. Whether your candle is fall scented or otherwise, it really puts me in the right mood to immerse myself in my book.
Have a bonfire and outdoor movie night. Bonfires are one of my favorite things, and I don’t have them nearly as much as I wish I did. I want to get some friends together for one last round of s’mores and fire up the projector with a classic film!
Food Festivals. There are so many awesome food festivals this fall that don’t even involve apples or pumpkins! This weekend there’s Fluff Fest in Somerville and Dumpling Fest in Cambridge! A quick Google search will give you a better idea of what’s going on in your area, but fall seems to always have a good number of food truck festivals at the very least!
Get Lost In A Corn Maze. Something about corn mazes has always excited me. Maybe it’s because I love puzzles, but if you can find a corn maze near you I promise they aren’t just for kids!
Make chili. While the days are still warm and sunny, New England nights have slowly but surely started to embrace sweater weather. I’ve been craving some homemade chili for most of September, and can’t wait to enjoy some curled up under a blanket!
Stargaze. Whether you go to an observatory or your backyard, the fall sky is absolutely breathtaking.

What’s on your bucket list for fall? Let me know in the comments! Have a great day!

xo, C

Bridging Seasons

Hey everyone, happy Friday! Today I want to talk about those times of year that are a bit tricky to dress for: transition months. My tried and true formula for September is to stick with warm weather basics (skirts, open toe shoes, etc) in autumn appropriate hues. I will hold on to every last bit of summer for as long as I can, but this look was a great way to start incorporating some of my new purchases while staying comfortable during the last days of summer.

Outfit Details – Tee: Banana Republic | Jacket: White House Black Market (old, similar here and here) | Skirt: JPR (more colors here!) | Heels: Banana Republic |

Thank you so much for reading! Have a great weekend!

xo, C

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Shearling

Bad things happen when I walk into Target. I go in for toothpaste and walk out at least fifty dollars poorer practically every time. When I went to get these darling Adam Lippes for Target pumps I walked by this vest and instantly grabbed it off of the shelf. It’s perfectly on trend for fall, incredibly cozy, and only $35. Sold? Yeah, so was I.

In other fun news, today is my last day being 23! It still feels sort of surreal. 24 is pretty much full-fledged mid-twenties, so I feel like I can no longer use the ‘well, I’m 23’ excuse for everything like I have been. I definitely thought I would have my life a little more together by 24, but I never knew I would have found a hobby that I love as much as I love blogging. So whether this is your first visit to The Sol Compass or you’ve been reading for the past year since I started, I want to thank you all from the very bottom of my heart for making this blog a possibility and a very real ray of sunshine into my every day life!

Thanks for reading! I hope you all have a great weekend!
xo, Caitlin

Black and Blue

Fun fact that you may not know about me: I go to a lot of concerts. Last year I went to eighteen, and I have three coming up in the next month. After lots of trial and error, I’ve developed a pretty good idea of what works for concert attire- especially during cold New England nights.

When you have to balance waiting outside in the cold with being suffocated by the body heat of a thousand other people, getting dressed can be a real struggle. I try to avoid using coat check (unless I actually wore a parka), so a little white tee and a faux leather jacket make for a perfect combination. This jacket is light enough that I can keep it on for most of the night and then just tie it around my waist easily, and a white tee never fails for any occasion. I love how stretchy and comfortable these Topshop skinnies are, and a pair of black Chelsea boots are necessary for any concert- both stylish and practical. These ones are incredibly comfortable and have become my go to shoe for anytime I leave the house lately!

Thanks for reading, have a great week!
xo, C

Flannel and Leather

The fact that suede and leather (of both real and fake variety) are everywhere this season is a dream come true for me. Leather has been a staple of my wardrobe for as long as I can remember, and I love embracing it in all its incarnations- well past the traditional leather jacket! After the pencil skirt and midi skirt, I have finally broken out the (faux) leather mini skirt and am so excited to find other ways to style it!

I buy at least one Old Navy flannel every fall. They are my absolute favorites, and I don’t even have to feel guilty about adding yet another to my wardrobe because of how affordable they are! I love the contrast the loose flannel gives the tight mini skirt- all about contrast this fall (as evident here, here, and here). I usually order the tall length, partially because I have a long torso but also because I think they look great with a tunic-esque vibe, especially if you plan on wearing them over leggings!

Thanks for stopping by!

xo, C

Pumped for Fall

These Adam Lippes for Target pumps are closely edging in on my Prabal Gurung for Target heels for favorite pair in my closet. The silhouette is perfect, the pattern is fun, they’re comfortable, and they’re only $40- what more could you want in a pair of heels?!

Two stores I frequently visit for office-appropriate clothing are The Limited and Banana Republic– The Limited for their timeless pieces that will go with any and everything for years to come (like this blouse), and Banana Republic for their chic, office-appropriate interpretations of seasonal trends (like this faux leather pleated skirt).