Cooler Weather
By mid to late summer
I am praying for cooler weather. Something super exciting happened last
night... I got cold! What? Yes. I had to pull the blankets over my shoulders.
This is something to celebrate over when you live in southern California
Boots
Any kind for of boots -- ankles boots, riding
boots, rain boots! I can finally busts these out of the closets and not look
semi-ridiculous wearing them.
The Cabin
Whenever Dan and I have a free weekend we love to drive up to the mountains,
make a fire, ride around on the quad and sleep in. It's the perfect place to
relax, make Dutch
Babies for breakfast
and enjoy the autumn colors. I like to sit out on the porch and savor
every sip of coffee -- clear my mind of the list of chores back home
and just relax.
Layers
Yay for comfy sweaters
and warm soft fabrics. I have always been a fan of wearing what feels good. I dig the minimalist look vs. the chunky
layering. Light layers work better in So-Cal than the heavier coats and jackets
you’d wear elsewhere. We like to celebrate the seasons while still keeping our
cool.
Cozy Mornings in Bed.
This usually doesn't
happen until mid November or so, but I love cold mornings. The little house we
rent right now doesn't have any insulation, so we REALLY feel the temperature
change! Some mornings I can see my own breath! Since then, Dan and I invested
in a feather down blanket and a space heater to help deal with cold. One of my
favorite things is a cold Saturday morning wrapped in our cozy marshmallow bed.
If I'm lucky D will make some coffee or spice tea and we'll both just sit in
the warm sheets until we have enough courage to climb out of bed. It's Heaven.
Fires
I love spending time next to a warm fire. What’s more romantic than cuddling up to your love in front of a crackling fire or sipping cider with a
glowing hearth at your back? And the smell….oh man I live for bundled-up walks
around Balboa with the smell of smoky fireplaces spindling overhead.
Pumpkins Everywhere
Pumpkins are
everywhere -- carving pumpkins, roasted pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pie, pumpkin
spice lattes, pumpkin beignets at Disneyland
and these amazing Pumpkin
Fritters with salted caramel
sauce. Our nation goes crazy for pumpkins, which is odd because pumpkins are
virtually forgotten the rest of the year. I'm glad we have made it a tradition
to celebrate this autumn staple.
Stews & Soups
Awww yes a
savory tomato
soup or rustic white
bean, a spicy beef chili, creamy butternut
squash or pumpkin...I
love them all. It's a great way to appreciate the tastes and smells
of autumn while warming your bones. One of my friends makes
it a habit to feed her little ones a warm bowl of chili before they go
trick-or-treating each year...what a fun tradition.
Caramel Apples &
Cider
When we were kids, my
parents would take us to Riley's Farm every fall to pick apples and press
them for cider. I have the best memories of throwing apples into the grinder
while my brother worked the wheel. We would head to the barn for apples dipped
in a huge cauldron of caramel and cart home jugs of fresh cider and apples to
make a mile high apple pie. I always make sure we have cider
and caramel apples every fall.
Snuggly Book Weather
Because it's a lovely
feeling to be wrapped in a toasty blanket fireside with a good book.
Football Season
On most fall mornings
I am woken up by the sound of our high school's band practicing for the
big games. Dan and I like to cheer on our alma mater during football
season. Bring yo jackets, scarves and something warm to drink. It's
a fun way of diving into fall festivities while reminiscing about our early
years. Go Sailors Go!
Rain
Believe it or not,
it's a rare phenomenon around here. I think the grass is always
greener on the other side, right? Fall and winter bring hope of
rain for us...and by rain I mean a drizzly morning. Yeah, our weather is
fantastic but it's so exciting to get some rain around here!
Golden Hour
Every season has a
golden hour but I think it's best in the fall when the evening sun illuminates the
orange and red leaves. I love that
hour when the sun sits low in the sky and casts a magical glow over everything. It's almost as if God is saying "Hey girl...here's a hug just for
you." -- one of my joie
de vivre.
Hocus Pocus
I am a wimp when it
comes to scary movies. I just can't. But what I can do is Hocus Pocus. I used to watch it with my best friend and we'd pretend to cast spells and
ride around on vacuums (ß must see movie). I'll
watch the lighthearted
Halloween movies like
Nightmare Before Christmas and the Great Pumpkin etc. I
like to get into the Halloween spirit sans the horrendous nightmares.
Baking
Because a toasty
home that smells like pumpkin pie is a fabulous thing to come home to. Dan
works late...full-time plus extra hours building our two houses after he leaves
the office. Some nights I'll get home before him -- when I do, it's nice to make
something special. Freshly baked pies or other treats are fun to indulge in after a
long day at work + they'll warm up the house.
Trick or Treating
I just love seeing all
the cute kids run door to door. We live in a granny house so Dan and I put
extra effort into lining our walkway with jack-o-lanterns and an open gate.
Despite our efforts we only get a few brave souls that venture back (or repeat
customers). We'll let the kids take handfuls of candy and give the rest of the
bowl to a lucky kid around 9:00 or so. I love that one night out of the year we
can trust each other -- knock on a stranger’s door
and receive a treat. It's a strange tradition for such a guarded
generation, but I love it.
