October-ly

It’s almost the end of October. How did that happen so fast?? But not so fast, winter!! I have another few weeks before I have to actually remember that you exist. Right? I do, right? My exams are now just 3 weeks away. I’m starting to look forward to it a little bit. Kyle’s heading to Colorado this weekend to visit his family since we won’t be able to spend the holidays with them. I’m going to miss him but I’m also a teensy bit excited to be a lady bachelor for a few nights. I’m expecting it to be heavy on the cheap wine and N’SYNC solo-dance party.

love, elizabeth

a puppy playing in leaves…need I say more?

Apparently Madigan’s definition of “enjoying the fall color” is snacking on leaves. And then gacking them up all over the living room carpet. Nice, Madigan. Real classy.

love, elizabeth

Days of fall fly faster

The fall colors have been incredible in Ohio this year and so Kyle and I snuck away to eat lunch at the park and play in the leaves. I’m really glad I didn’t forget my camera because the light was so great.

I needed a little bit of sunshine this week. ESPECIALLY because…according to the forecaster…we may be seeing our first SNOW next weekend. I don’t know if I’m ready for that.

Madigan was such a funny fuzzball the whole time we were there and I took so many pictures of her that I’m going to give her her own post.

Are you getting to spend any time out of doors before the real cold hits?

love, elizabeth

Fall Swap

So excited to be linking up with Kristin over at Vignettes today! Kristin has been hosting an awesome fall swap this month and today we finally get to show off all of the fall goodies our swap buddies sent us! My package from Emily over at Husband and Wife was totally amazing. I was so touched by the amount of thought she put into this box. I will never stop being amazed at how much you can connect with someone you’ve only met through the internet. She went out of her way to send me thoughtful, unique fall surprises and I loved everything.

Emily sent me a pumpkin carving kit which is PERFECT because we just bought our pumpkins for Halloween and I am planning a carving night here in the next weekend or so. Also, who knew they made pumpkin-patch Pop Rocks? And how did Emily know that I love Pop Rocks??

She also sent me this cozy yellow scarf which I have been wearing to class a lot since it’s just starting to get cold here in Ohio. Which is why I am extra, super-duper excited about this cook book! I love making soup but I sometimes get stuck making the same two or three recipes over and over so I’m totally jazzed about learning to make something new. I’ll definitely post a recipe/review once I’ve tried something out!

In case you didn’t already know, Emily is also amazingly talented and creative. Look at these beautiful cards she made! I love personalized stationery and I am already using it. Emily, you’re probably way too busy these days to start a business but I would totally buy these cards if I saw them in a store. Just saying…

And she tucked in this beautiful candle that smells like someone bottled everything I love about fall into a tin and mailed it to me. So good.

Emily, it was an absolute joy to swap fall boxes with you and, if you want to, I will totally send you a box again next year!

Kristin, you are awesome for hosting this – it was a wonderful experience.

If you haven’t had a chance to meet Emily or Kristin, I encourage you to go visit them now! What fall treats are you loving right now?

love, elizabeth

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

And when October goes…

No secret that I love fall but it’s slipping away so quickly! Made a trip to the mall last week and was alarmed to see that Christmas (the commercial version, anyway) is in full swing.
Trying to savor the autumn sun and the last of the beautiful leaves before it gets freezing and gloomy until April, Ohio-style.




This time of year makes me think of this song by Nancy Wilson…



What about you? Anyone else thinking seriously about Christmas yet?

Oh, and be sure to stop by tomorrow for the vintage giveaway...it's going to be rad. And stuff.

love, elizabeth

Spooky on a Monday

I finally hit the Wall of Stress over the weekend so blog posts may be a little thin this week.

Stress or no stress, it’s October 31st and I’m making some room for a few moments of ghoulish cheer.

Here’s one of my favorite covers of an old classic, just in time for Halloween…

 

Hope whatever you’re doing, you’re having a (safe) blast doing it.

Happy Halloween!

love, elizabeth

Inspiration of the Month: Kate

Well, now that October is almost over, it’s high time for another inspiration of the month! Meet Kate.

Kate and I have been friends for eleven very full, very exciting years. We’ve seen each other through some of the worst and best moments of our lives (Kate was my maid of honor five and a half years ago!).

There are so many inspiring things about Kate but here’s a biggie on my list…

Not only is she an amazing career woman and amazing friend, she’s also an amazing wife to a United States Marine. If you’re in the military or married to it, you know what this means.

Long separations, weird hours, lots of moves, some extra worry, and a great deal of sacrifice. I’ve been so thankful to get to keep up Kate and Garrett’s love story over the past few years. As Garrett prepares to deploy, I know they are spending as much time as they can together and preparing for this new part of their love story. Kate and Garrett have a saying that’s been with them since their wedding ceremony…“Stuck together until the end of forever.” It’s become a playful reminder of a very serious commitment. “You married me,” Kate tells him. “That’s it. It’s in the fine print. There are no loopholes. You’re stuck with me!”

Five Fast Kate Facts

- Kate loves dogs but she became a cat person in college. Her cat, Boo, is the second love of her life.

- Her first kiss was in the choir room in 8th grade while practicing a song for the talent show. Uh-huh. Practicing.

- She prefers popcorn to chocolate.

- Kate went skydiving a few years ago. When they threw her out of the plane at 17,500 feet, she cried. She totally wants to go again.

- Halloween has special significance in her love story so she and Garrett went to three haunted houses on their wedding night. Sexy.

You should definitely go follow Kate’s sweet blog, Love Not Distance where she shares her triumphs and struggles as a young military wife. She makes me laugh and I love her honesty and practical applications of love.

Who’s inspiring YOU lately?

love, elizabeth

Colorado in the Fall

Kyle flew home to Colorado last week and while he was in Steamboat Springs (his hometown), snapped some amazing shots of the fall colors. These were some of my favorites.

I’ll have more Colorado pictures to share this week PLUS our October Inspiration, a giveaway, and I may or may not have…cough…judged a beauty pageant this weekend. So lots to talk about!

What about you? Anything especially exciting going on for your blogs this week? Gimme a heads up!

love, elizabeth

Pennsylvania in the Fall

Kyle and I spent the weekend in rural Pennsylvania, near the Allegheny National Forest. Here’s a few of my favorite shots from the road…

 

The fall colors were just gorgeous…this was such a great drive.

Had to show this cowl off. Mom just knitted it a couple weeks ago!

Madigan’s pulling a Tyra here and smiling with her eyes. That’s fierce. Or maybe she’s just mad that she’s stuck in the car with us for 5 hours.

Boy and dog at play. Running through the leaves…doesn’t get any better than that.

I’ve got some great pictures from downtown Warren, PA AND the wedding so I’ll be back with those next post!

How was YOUR weekend?

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