Oh, Autumn

Remember how I didn't want fall to come?

Yeah, I'm over that.

I am dreaming of apple cider and pumpkin patches. I caught myself baking vegan apple pecan muffins a few days ago. I am dying to photograph the changing leaves and layer up in scarves. I am already craving pumpkin pies and winter squash. And do you know what else is lovely in the fall? Roasted veggies.

The October issue of Whole Living printed a recipe for Roasted Fall Vegetables with Lentils. I took inspiration from it and this is what followed....

Roasted Vegetables with Black Rice

Ingredients:
1 cup of organic black rice (I tend to buy from the bulk section in my local health food store)
2 1/2 cups of water
1 large organic red bell pepper, cut into 1/2 inch strips
1 large organic carrot, chopped into two inch pieces resembling homemade matchstick carrots
1/2 medium to large organic red onion, cut into 1/2 inch wedges
1 14 oz can of artichoke hearts, drained
5 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 tsp Dijon mustard
4 tsp apple cider vinegar

1) Place black rice and water into a medium size pot. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer over low heat for 55-60 min.
2) Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Arrange veggies over two baking sheets and drizzle a tablespoon of the olive oil over each baking sheet and season with salt and pepper (I also think chopped garlic would be good on here too. Feel free to add some). Bake for 20-30 min, rotating once. Keep an eye on the veggies as to not burn the bottoms.
3) In a small bowl whisk together remaining three tablespoons of olive oil, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar.
4) Toss cooked rice, roasted veggies, and dressing together. Enjoy!

Nevermind. I'll Find Someone Like You.

Guess where I found myself this morning.

The quaint coffee shop just off of campus where I sat studying my freshman year of college. The same coffee shop where I started my very first blog.

I needed to be inspired, so I went there. The whole place has been remodeled, but it still has the hardwood floors I dearly loved.

This whole day held an air of memories. It's only the last day of August, but it feels like fall. The moist air, the smell of smoke, and the coffee tastes richer. Coffee always tastes more rich in the fall, doesn't it?

I can't decided if I'm okay with this. Normally, I welcome the start of fall with open arms, and I am excited for it, but this year feels different. Maybe it's because we had such a cold spring and the weather didn't get warm until late June. I just feel like there is still more summer to experience. I'm not quite ready to trade the feel of the sun kissing my bare legs for tights. And I never got around to making a peach pie or cherry tart all summer.

I still wanted to go the amusement park and take a trip to Seattle. But I wanted to do those things with him. And maybe that's why I'm mad at summer's end. When the summer ends I know it'll really feel over.

He will go on with her. I will start my class. I will pour everything I have into my work. I will search for a job and an apartment. Hopefully, buy a new puppy. I will buy tons of kitchen equipment and cook fabulous things all the time. I will finally get around to reading all those Fitzgerald novels on my shelf. I'll explore more of my hobbies, rekindle my love to sew, learn more about wine. I will meet new friends and have plenty of good times with old ones. And slowly, I will do all theses things until one morning I won't be able to feel him anymore. He will be nothing more than a sweet, but vague memory of the man I once loved with every ounce of myself.

It's astonishing how knowledge of this is so heartbreaking and comforting all at once. That I will be able to move past him. I will be able to love somebody else. Yet, loving someone else means I will never love him the same way again. It will be further strained. Broken just a little bit more than it was before.

But I suppose even broken glass is beautiful.

So, rich coffee tasting, smoky, near fall day, maybe you will give way to a beautiful mosaic.

Post title from Adele's "Someone Like You"

What I Love About Sundays

"Touchdown" was my second word as a baby.

My whole family is crazy about football.

And every Sunday you can find me on the couch, cheering on the New York Giants.

Saturdays, I proudly wear maroon and silver in support of the Montana Grizzlies.

I cheer on the Georgia Bulldogs.

And I love, love, love the boys of fall...

Sunshine and Leaves

Eleanor Rigby and I had a wonderful afternoon yesterday. We...

Played in the leaves

Took these fun photos

Eleanor Rigby chewed on sticks...and then mommy got mad at her for chewing on sticks

And it was a lovely, fall day :)

Pumpkin Carving!

Last night I got together with the girls and carved pumpkins!

And for the umpteenth time I learned that I'm not very good at carving pumkins. I managed to break off the rhine (or whatever it's called- the green, stem thing) and the top piece fell into my pumpkin and got stuck.

But it was fun :)

Yankee Candle Love

If you really want to treat yourself and immerse your nose in a glorious scent, go buy Yankee Candle's Farmers Market and Spiced Pumpkin candles. In case you haven't figured it out I love fall, and these candles have been giving my home that wonderful Autumn atmosphere!

Now I can't wait to go pick out more Autumn candles, like Maple Pancakes and Be Thankful!

And of course Christmas candles like Winter Wonderland, White Christmas, and Peppermint Swirls :)

Fall in Love With Fall

This month I have done nothing but immerse myself in my love for the start of the holiday season.

From that first sighting of changing leaves, I have...

ate lots and lots of butternut squash soup

baked a pumpkin pie

made apple cider at least once a week

faithfully watched my New York Giants every Sunday after church

switched up my iced soy lattes for hot ones

made cinnamon cream "cheese"

attended my hometown's annual Apple Days festival

broke out the boots and scarves (!)

bought my Halloween costume

walked around my lovely town, photographing every color leaf in sight

and this Sunday evening, I plan on carving pumpkins with my friends

Isn't fall grand?

September Love

Fall is my absolute favorite time for fashion and there's no month I love more for it that September!

I find it to be so much fun to mix summer with fall.

This current combination of a tank top, summer skit, sweater, and boots is favorite. It's great to be wearing something so completely summery, but bringing small hints of fall in to the outfit with the sweater and the tones of the clothes.

It's gonna be a good season for beautiful outfits :)