A Comprehensive List of Things I Love About Fall

Because everyone needs a list detailing the season that they love. Also, the photos below are NOT mine. If you'd like to know where they're from (aside from Google) just email me.

1. Pumpkin spice lattes. That includes ones made by Starbucks and those made at home by Coffeemate
   
   
   
   

1. Boots. I collect boots. Now I can wear then without looking like a freak.

   

   Yes, I want these

2. Decorating for fall. Soon my entire downstairs will be decorated with autumn colors including the mantle...especially the mantle
   
3. Pumpkin spice candles. It smells better than cat litter.
   
4. Halloween. Not so much the trick-or-treating but the decorating and the candy. I especially enjoy shopping for Halloween decorations.
   
5. Pumpkin spice Oreos. Yeah, you read that correctly.
   
6. ABC Family 13 Nights of Halloween. Don't judge, I love Hocus Pocus.
   
7. Apple Cider. Spiked or not, specially warm, it's good stuff.
   
8. Gourds. This weekend I plan on going to a local farm and buying many. And by many I mean enough that it take several trips by myself to get them from the car to the house and then several hours to decide how to arrange them.
   
9. Pumpkin-cranberry bread. It's the only seasonal thing I can bake and I didn't make any last year. WTH???
   
10. Carving pumpkins. Alister and I aren't masters at it but we can come up with some good pukey pumpkins.
    
11. Pumpkin pie. Yum.
    
12. The weather. I can wear jeans! And boots! And scarves! Oh my!
13. My dogs no longer hate going out. In other words it's cool enough for them to enjoy a walk without overeating, and lie in the sun without panting to death.
14. The leaves changing. They're more beautiful up in the mountains but any glimmers of gold and orange make me happy.
    
15. Camping/hiking. The mountains of NC are perfect for this.
    

I hope everyone is enjoying fall as much as I am!

Candles and Fitness

The other day my youngest sister informed me that she had sent me something from Bath & Body Works. Since I rarely ever shop there I was definitely curious as to what it would be, and I admit, I was guessing some kind of bath soap. I was then pleasantly surprised yesterday by a semi-heavy B&B box waiting for me on my front porch. Always the typically impatient person, I ripped into the box and was treated to 2 very nice candles, both ironically named "Lakeside" and "Boathouse Row" (she knows me so well!). I immediately lit the Lakeside one, partially out of curiosity and partially because one of the dogs had horrible gas and the scent was becoming overwhelming. Needless to say, both candles have a crisp refreshing scent, and based on their sizes, will hopefully last for several burns.

I've also been spending the past week exercising way more than I usually do. While AB claims he loves the way I look, I feel like the only muffin in my life should be the one I eat. In addition to continuing the Couch to 10K program, I started doing Jillian Michaels' Ripped in 30 DVD. I've had several of her DVD's for months now (okay, maybe even years) but aside from a brief attempt at her 30 Day Shred back in nursing school, they haven't been touched...actually, I think several are still in their wrappers. I digress. The "Ripped in 30" program is 4 weeks worth of workouts, designed to be completed for 5-6 days/week. As of today I will have completed Week 1 (with my super heavy 3 lb weights) and am secretly dreading Week 2 (she doesn't mess around). Between the DVD, running 3 days/week, and doing the elliptical 2 days/week, I've managed to lose 2 lbs without changing my eating habits. I know I should, but I love my beer and baked goods, so if I need to work out more to compensate then I guess that's what I will do! I will update again in another week; I don't want to jinx anything and I seem to do better sticking to things when I keep them to myself.


Day 1 without FB: No desire what-so-ever to look at it. I think it helps that AB gave his up too.