Last month, the director of my group invited our small team to his cabin for a mini Oktoberfest, hiking, plus hunting. We drove 3.5 hours outside of Boston to a serene part of northern New Hampshire, where he owns a few hundred acres of land. It felt wonderful to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a weekend.
I wore this outfit for indoor social activities, and packed green jeans and old sneakers for the wilderness. Layers are necessary for staying comfortable in fluctuating weather, and also to shield sensitive skin from itchy sweaters. As long as my vital organs are warm and toasty, my legs can tolerate being bare up until late fall.
Mixing textures and adding a hint of pattern keeps a basic outfit from being too basic.
The host went all out and ordered massive amounts of food from GermanDeli.com…the sausages hot off the grill, tangy sauerkraut, plus sweet and hot specialty mustards were delicious together. 
Liverwurst, cold cuts, and cheese also from that website. It was my first time trying liverwurst, and personally found it to be quite tasty – especially when spread on a warm pretzel roll. 
I engaged briefly in shooting practice, but lacked skill and stomach for the real thing. Instead, we ended up going on a 2 hour hike out of the host’s backyard…it sounded leisurely, thus none of the guests were prepared for the steep terrain, untamed trail, and crater-sized moose tracks. About 5 minutes in, I decided to stop expending energy on pretending like I wasn’t completely winded. I have newfound respect for those who hike such trails for fun!
Stein mugs that each hold 3+ beers, brought back from many trips to the real Oktoberfest in Germany. 
I was impressed by the kitchen prowess demonstrated by all the men on the trip. The host “prepped” his game birds then trussed them with bacon, while others baked pies from scratch and grilled up a mountain of veggies.
Fresh pies and hot apple cider to accompany Scattergories and Taboo after dinner. I caught the host seasoning our cider with cinnamon sticks and a generous pour of something.
The next morning, I woke to the aroma of another boss whipping up blueberry crepes. Not one to be wasteful, I dug out grilled asparagus, mushrooms, and cheese leftover from dinner, for a savory crepe filling that the cook is now hooked on.
Left: Wild boar sausage patties from a previous hunting trip. They were interesting. Right: Leftover pie just as good the next morning.
Readers – Thank you for reading these posts from my weekend getaways. In my opinion, fall is the most beautiful time in New England…I only wish I took more photos of the scenery (was probably too delirious while hiking) to share!
Hi! I stumbled on your blog in Pinterest. I'm a fellow petite. Just under 5 feet, 95lbs and size 3 feet. Yep, the shoes are a killer…there are very few choices and whenever I find a pair I just grab it.
Love your blog, thanks for sharing.
It's finally cooling off in SoCal, so I expect the boyfriend's pork and kraut in the crock pot soon. He's German and Irish in descent, so food with beer is a mainstay. We're expecting rain this week for the first time in months! I'm so sick of 80+ degrees.
Lovely post! You have such an elegant and chic style – I love the Ferragamo flats! That food looks lovely too!
beauty-and-the-best.blogspot.co.uk
I love the guy's outfit! (Is that Nick?) I always worry about pairing green and red because it might look too christmas-y. I'm going to try this out on my boyfriend!
your outfit is super cute but it was the enormous wine chalice that really caught my eye!
xo julesinflats.com
Hello!
Since we're getting into the winter weather, I was wondering what do you wear to commute to work in the cold, slushy mix of winter when flats are not the best option for the most part?
Thank you for the response! That sounds like a great work environment to be in, I'm really hoping for a similar situation. Definitely makes work a lot more fun!
That's so nice that you get along so well with your coworkers enough to hang out with them on the weekend. What do you do/what field are you in?
what a great post – i'm glad you had a wonderful weekend and that you got to enjoy good food and good company.
the outfit you wore is perfect for this occasion – feminine but so appropriate for the environment! *and you look like a pro in your shooting lesson picture!*
phiphi's blog
Too cute for words! I love this green for fall. Looks like you had a great time with lots of yummy food that weekend. : )
Looks like such a fun weekend. Your outfit in my opinion is THE perfect autumn outfit.
creamyclothes.blogspot.com
Great sweater (:
♥♥♥
i love this post. you look great!
pozdrawiam
ewa
http://thirtiesinthecity.blogspot.de/
What a fun and cute post! It's great that you are working at a place that encourages this type of coworker connection. You inadvertantly brought up a good point that I am finding a lot in my career: these team building/bonding experiences that tend to be guy oriented (for me, it's golf, but I once had to pass on skeet shooting since I am clueless too).
I'm also very happy to see that the men didn't get pass the kitchen duties to the "ladies" of the group. I make a conscious effort not to be the default note taker at meetings or the coffee/sandwich orderer. I may seem unhelpful but it's one of those small tasks that when a woman does it seems administrative but when a guy does it, no one notices or cares.
As you are moving in your career, are you finding that happening?
Cute outfit. I FINALLY signed up for a crash course in sewing and will be signing up for their fit/fashion class and hemming course too. Your blog inspired me this weekend as I went thrifting. I passed on the usual oversized fashion tshirts and picked up a cream tweed jacket and a nice stripped blouse.
I love what you wore, it's casual yet still professional since you were with coworkers. So glad you had a great time! 🙂
xo, Yi-chia
You looked adorable! Perfect for the setting with coworkers. Wow, a few HUNDRED acres of land?! Dang! And how cute were you yielding a shot gun with that cute outfit. Ha! Glad you had a good time!
This post is amazing, and I love your blog. It's great to have such good relationships with co-workers.
xo
Rachelle
http://pinksole.com
Hi Jean! I love your blog! This is my first time commenting bc I'm wondering what you recommend girls wear when they're just hanging out at home with their significant others. I usually just wear ill-fitting old clothes (i.e. "home clothes") but I'm really wondering how I can step it up on the fashion notch while still being practical & able to do dishes/clean etc. (Is it possible to be fashionable at home?) Would love to get your thoughts or see a post. 🙂
Thanks! Kaye
Fun reading and great outfit. Thank you!
Those Hofbrauhaus steins are the size of my head. When my husband and I were in Munich, we sat at a table with a bunch of German college kids, all of whom insisted we drink at least three of those steins. I don't think it's physically possible to do that.
Love NH in the Fall. I spend a lot of time in North Conway this time of year. Beautiful! Looks like you had a great time 🙂
Nice autumn look!
Love to read Your blog, keep it coming!
Kisses from Bosnia!
milna89.blogspot.com
Looks like fun! Beautiful pics. Thanks for sharing.
I hope you don't get mad Jean but I think your boyfriend is so so cute!!
Great outfit! I am seriously in love with the JCrew Edie bag, but I've committed to not buying leather. If you see a non leather version, or vintage one in camel/brown, let me know 🙂
vegfitrn.blogspot.com
I love this outfit! perfect for fall in California!
Hello and thank you from japan! I was about to prepare brunch when I read your post, and all of a sudden I'm as starved as a beast: )
All those juicy meat and baked goodies are not easy to find here, so for now I'll feast on your photos.
I know that hundreds of people have already informed you, but you are a great inspiration, and probably not only to petite women! Here in Japan, I would probably not be categorized an extra petite, besides clothes on the market is waaay smaller than in the states, and still I have fitting issues. Your blog educates me to have keen eyes on every aspect of fashion items: the fit, design, durability, price, etc.
I am your junior by two years and I sure hope that at your age, I would have the matureness you show us.
Thank you again for the effort and care you put into your blog!
Please know that your fans are all over the world 😉
I have been an avid follower of your blog for years now and I just now decided to comment on your blog (I know…this is a terrible crime, haha). I just want to thank you for all of the amazing posts that you publish here on your blog. I've come to terms that my closet was no where near interview/work-worthy so I would always come to your blog for that extra boost of inspiration.
I love this post a lot as I can get socially awkward with coworkers. I keep thinking to myself that coworkers will always be coworkers and nothing more, but after reading this I realized that it's a relationship that gets built over time (without crossing the line of professionalism, of course).
Thanks Jean for another +1 inspirational post!
That sounds like a fun weekend! Its nice when the boss/ company makes an effort for the co-workers to bond together apart from the usual office environment as we spend more time with them than our actual spouse! I love the New England fall!
I love the foliage during the Fall season in New England. Love the skirt and how you paired some texture and print in the top!
xoxo,
Suzie Q
http://www.StyleCueBySuzieQ.com
I kind of feel the color of the sweater doesn't fit you so well. Well, just my 2 cents.
cute outfit !!
Why so serious nick? You never smile in pics!
This was an incredible post to read! I love that you infuse your blog with your outside life…although my career plans don't have much in line with the corporate world, it's always very intriguing to read about your experiences. You looked like you had a wonderful time! Too bad about the hiking, though. It's a great pastime.
How did you achieve such pretty loose curl
for your hair? So beautiful !
This was such a fun post to read. You lucked out having team members that you get along with both at work and socially. This sounded like a great bonding trip for you all!
Even though you didn't participate,the hunting aspect of your trip made me very sad.
As always, your blog is great. And your hair looked great!
This is one of the cutest outfits I've seen on you!
Oh my. Hunting? Glad you skipped that part.
i'm an infrequent comment-leaver, but i adore this outfit. you look fabulous!
Sounds like a wonderful weekend getaway. I love your outfit. And you pulled off red and green quite expertly without looking too Christmas-y.
I love your blog and I love our shared passion for the Fall season! I do have one request – would you mind sharing your current hair styling routine? I couldn't help but marvel at your lovely locks (especially in the first photo)! I know you have dedicated past posts on your daily hair routine, but I was just wondering what it has been lately. Styling techniques? Products used?
Thanks so much and I look forward to reading more of your posts!
Love your outfit- especially the mix of textures. I love fall if party because of layering and all the cute sweaters that you can pull out. I'm working at my first 'real' job so I appreciate all the inspiration you provide 🙂
Love this post! Looks like so much fun 🙂
That's a great question (one that has been asked a few times by interviewees) and I have to say it depends largely on the size of your team and the personalities that comprise it. I have also interned and worked at a few different environments myself, and the current one is the most congenial and "flat" structure I've been in. It's a really small team (~14 ppl) that spend a lot of time together at work, and happen to have personalities that mesh together well outside of work. However, as someone who sits on the lower half of the totem pole, I still think it's important to stay in a semi-professional mindset even when vacationing or out imbibing with colleagues.
I really love your outfit there. Classy but not basic. 🙂
Fall is my all times favorite season of the year. I love the crispy cool weather with a hint of romance in the air.
Perfect for mix matching colors and pattern. 🙂
I probably should have checked out this post after I made dinner…now I am extra hungry! Loving all the food/drink pictures you captured. That chalice of wine looks amazing!! And great idea adding the leftover veggies to the crepes. 🙂
Good thing the picture of you and the gun was on the right of the dog…would have looked a little funny otherwise. :p
As a university student entering my last year of studies in finance, I always find work relationships interesting. I've interned at a few companies and never saw this kind of thing between coworkers and bosses. Is this supposed to be normal in the workplace? Just wondering out of curiosity as I want to know more about workplace etiquette to better prepare myself.
I LOVE your blog, although not petite myself, it has really helped me get my business wardrobe going! I absolutely adore fashion and always worry I can't be 'fashionable' and work appropriate at the same time.
Festive! Loves it.
Was it just u and a bunch of hombres? Ahaha cool.
Xoxoo
Diana
This comment has been removed by the author.
If anything, pie is BETTER the next day after the custard filling has had time to cool down and properly set!
Sounds like a fabulous weekend. I'm super jealous! Well, not of the outdoorsiness, but of all the food, and the work-team bonding 🙂