oh, look. a blogger talking about picking apples…your mind is blown, I’m sure.

Saturday was one of those perfect days. We got to sleep in and when we woke up, without the aid of an alarm clock, there was an adorable ball of fuzz peeking out from under the covers. At Caribou, the barista put exactly the right amount of syrup in my pumpkin latte. The car radio played three good songs in a row and it was a perfect 68-70 degrees all day. The whole drive to Pataskala, we held hands and told jokes and ranted about the election and smiled at each other and it was a perfect day.

This is our fourth autumn in Ohio and, hands down, our favorite thing about Midwest autumns is apple-picking at Lynd’s Fruit Farm. You may remember the apple juggling from last year?

Awww, that smile…oh-em-gee, you guys…so in love with him.

Are those not the most beautiful vegetables you have ever SEEN? We even found cheese cauliflower, which is deceptively NOT cheesy but just cheese-colored.

So now that I have gloated in my perfect autumn bliss, tell me what you’re doing to celebrate October where you live!

love, elizabeth

Five for Fall

The National Weather Service apparently doesn’t know this but…fall is officially just days away. I’m a big believer in the seasons and celebrating them but like a lot of you, I’m on a small budget so I’ve compiled a list of five free (or almost free) autumn-inspired things to get you in the mood for fall.

1. You can track fall foliage with The Weather Channel this autumn. Beginning in mid-September, you’ll be able to click on the U.S. map to find the best spots to see the changing leaves. Also check your state’s visitor or national park sites for fall foliage trackers. Some states even have apps for the smart phone crowd (you know you are). If you don’t live somewhere that gets a lot of fall color, be sure to check out some of these cool web-cams.

2. Mini candles at Bath and Body Works are just $3.50 or 2 for $5 right now and their fall scents are sooooo good. My favorites: Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin and Farm Stand Apple.

3. This recipe for Brown Butter and Ginger Ale Apple Dumplings from Alli ‘n Sons.

4. The Dollar Tree, people. The Dollar Tree. I have not previously given this store due credit. Right now, they have snazzy fall decorations like these adorable ceramic pumpkins. Oh, and did I mention it’s The Dollar Tree so everything is, in fact ONE DOLLAR?

5. Want to start gearing up for Halloween? You can stream lots of scary movies online for free on sites like Crackle or Hulu. Check out Dracula or The Ape Man or Dracula vs. Frankenstein.
Bonus: Kristin over at Vignettes is hosting her annual Fall Friendship Swap and YOU can be a part of it.



I’m sharing my fall-inspired playlist with you. You are sooooooooooo lucky.




How is the internet helping you get excited for another fall?
love, elizabeth

If you build it, fall will come?

Remember this scene from Field of Dreams? Maybe if I decorate my house for fall, fall will come. Yes?

I mean…get it together, September. You have 17 days until it’s actually autumn, officially, and it is going to be 90 degrees today. That is not okay.

So in an effort to bring on the fall, I did a little bit of homemaking. I baked some bread. I lit some candles. I made a playlist. You get the idea.

Aaaaand the blogging dry spell continues. I’m still figuring out how to balance my schedule with my home life and the blog. So thanks for bearing with me.

I think I’m going to go turn up the air conditioning and put on a sweater. Summer, I cease to acknowledge you. I answer only to autumn.

love, elizabeth

Making My Own Sunshine

Source: Uploaded by user via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Yesterday, I talked about suffering from seasonal affective disorder (you can read that post here).

I want to talk about fighting it. I have to consistently remind myself that while the weather is out

of my control, I can exert control over some pretty important things. I call it my battle plan.

Eating right. Part of my effort to fight SAD this winter is to make a conscious effort to eat good,

high-nutrition food instead of blowing through empty carbohydrates in an effort to control my

mood (especially in the evening). I started Weight Watchers just before the new year and so

far, I’ve felt really successful at managing my mood swings and cravings. WW is great for me

because I don’t feel like I have to deny myself when I’m hungry but it’s great for helping me

determine portions.

Creating safe refuge space. Keeping the apartment neat and the clutter to a minimum keeps

me from feeling overwhelmed at night (when I’m more likely to be depressed and anxious).

Comforting scents. Along with some woodsy, cozy candles, I’ve been using more scented

lotion this winter. I’ve noticed that smell has a lot to do with my mood. And though I tend to

stay away from fruitier or more tropical smells, I’ve been using lotion with coconut in it because

it reminds me of sunscreen (and inevitably, the beach).

Strategic lighting. I avoid fluorescent or harsh lighting at night and instead opt for softer lamps

and candles after dark. I’m also trying a combination of grow/sun lamps for short intervals in lieu

of actual sunshine. Eventually, I may have to try professional light treatment through my doctor

but I’m going to try this for a little while first.       

Not leaving important decisions/difficult work for late at night. As a grad student, this is difficult

but I’m trying to change my study habits to manage my depression.  

Making fun plans with people. It gets easy to isolate myself in the winter but I’m working hard to stay

involved with friends and make time for fun outings with Kyle and other couples.

And if all else fails…fantasize about how amazing spring break is going to be in Myrtle Beach.

If I close my eyes tight enough, I can almost feel the rays. March can’t come fast enough.

Source: imgfave.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

love, elizabeth

Haunted Pinecones, etc.

This weekend was definitely a fall-ish one for us here in Columbus. We’ve received some sad news from home and Kyle will be flying back to Colorado next week so we thought we’d soak up as much of the autumn as we could.

We carved pumpkins with some neighbors. They’re two-faced. Uh, the pumpkins. Not the neighbors.

Some of our centerpieces.

I decided to hang twinkle lights in the living room to bring a touch of light and warmth into the room at night. They make me happy. I have seasonal affective disorder and I deal with some mood swings in the fall and winter months. Warm lighting helps!

Cupcakes from scratch.

And last but not least…a story. I spotted these scented holiday pinecones in the Giant Eagle this afternoon and was just putting them in my basket when I heard an ominous voice from behind me…

“You’re going to regret that.”

I turn around to see a little old man staring at me.

“Ex-excuse me?” I asked.

“My wife bought those. I made her throw them away.”

“Because…?”

I waited for him to ominously explain how the pinecones were poisonous or caused rashes or were haunted by forest ghosts or something. But apparently, the gentleman found their scent completely overpowering and determined that they were “stinking up the whole house.”

I smiled politely and left as quickly as I could WITH my pinecones. Drat. I was really hoping for some forest ghosts.

 

How was YOUR weekend?

love, elizabeth

Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to do the laundry or not do the laundry

So here’s a question for the pondering…is “being productive” a by-product of productivity itself or the superpower whereby things actually get done? Think on it. Get back to me.

Anyway, today and tomorrow I need some of this “being productive” juice in my life. I give you…my to-do list. If it in any way scares you, well, be assured…it scares me, too.

Source: media.photobucket.com via Jaimee on Pinterest

To-Do (the hyphen makes it more serious)

1. Laundry

If anyone would like to commiserate with me about the horror of communal laundry rooms/laundromats, feel free. I found short black hairs ALL over all the washing machines when I went to start a load this morning. This is inexplicable. And gross.

2. Grocery-shopping

I have been putting this one off so that I could clip coupons. This is my first serious venture into the coupon-ing. It could get ugly. But I need to do it soon as there are about three edible things in my fridge and one of them is ketchup.

3. Paperwork/filing

This one boggles the mind. Seriously, HOW do I accumulate so many random things to be filled out, filed, stamped, mailed-in, returned, printed, and photo-copied?? I don’t understaaaaaaaaaaaaaand.

4. Donate to Goodwill

Kyle and I cleaned out our closets and storage pretty well this summer. And somehow all the donations pile has taken over our hallway and is just sitting there, mocking me. It needs to go.

5. Food bank donations

I have nothing snarky to say about this except that, while it was very nice of us to buy things for the food pantry like baby food and evaporated milk, it is not nearly as nice to leave it in the trunk of your car for a month. I’m sure all the food bank visitors will really be able to appreciate it there.

6. The dining-room

Notice the lack of verb. It’s because I don’t have one right now. Something is just WRONG and needs to be corrected. I’ll let you know when I figure out what.

7. Update day planner and wall calendar

My days and nights are about to get 1,548,972X more interesting (read: insane). This does not bode well for my Sharpie’s longevity.

8. Organize the pantry

I’ve recently discovered extra room to store canned food which is really good. In theory. Maybe this one deserves a post when I’m done.

9. Plan my curriculum for Wednesday nights

I’ll be teaching a little theatre class for 6-11 year-olds in the afterschool program at our church. Or I will if I actually get my act together. Get it. Act.

10. Enjoy Doppler 10 Chief Meteorologist Chris Bradley’s Columbus forecast: “Temperatures will rise into the 80s on Monday and Tuesday before a strong cold front brings fall-like weather.”

Chris Bradley, has anyone ever told you how handsome and distinguished that blue screen makes you look?

 

Source: None via Elizabeth on Pinterest

 

I realize that this is riveting reading so you’re if still awake, lay it on me! What’s on your to-do list?

love, elizabeth

PS: Stay posted for giveaway news. Um, yeah. It’s going to be magical.