Fall-licious...Again.

*I definitely just copied this post from my second post ever and added a few updates/improved the pictures. But in my defense I don't know that anyone was actually reading back then, so there you go. 

It just pretty much sums up Fall for me, I couldn't say it any better now than I did then, so I figured why reinvent the wheel, you know?*

So it's still about 99 degrees outside right now, but of course I'm thinking about my favorite season ever, FALL! Or Autumn, whichever you prefer.

I love absolutely everything about Fall. Not that we have much of a true Fall in Florida, but we can pretend, can't we? Besides, we do occasionally get some Fall color here! See, proof!

This is an actual tree here in Jax. 

Granted, it's from a few years ago and it was taken in December. Still, totally counts. 

A few of my favorite things about Fall:

1. "Cooler" weather- Yes, it does cool off in Florida somewhat. And after the sweltering heat of August, there is no better feeling than that first little bit of coolness in the air when you step outside! Of course, some years it takes longer than others to get here, but when it does arrive it is glorious!

2. Pumpkin everything- Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cake, pumpkin butter...I once met someone who doesn't like Pumpkin. I don't get it.

3. FOOTBALL!!!- Specifically Florida Gators football, but really just football in general. I used to not really care about football, I would watch the Superbowl but that was about it. But then Adam and I started watching it together and I started understanding more about the game and I was hooked!

There's just something about it, the excitement, the team spirit, the athleticism, and the tradition. Our favorite is college ball, but we watch NFL too. Pretty much if football is on, I want to be watching it! We try to catch as many of the SEC games as we can, but we also enjoy watching teams from other conferences like Oklahoma State and Clemson.

4. The clothes- Even though I live in FL and we don't get very cold, I still LOVE all things cozy, like boots, sweaters, jackets, long sleeves...Sigh...

5. The Fair- We go with a group of friends every year to the cutest little country fair you ever did see. We look at all of the animals, watch the 4H competition, and admire all of the adorable displays set up by local elementary schools. Then we consume mass quantities of funnel cake, corn dogs, cotton candy, and BBQ and follow all that up with a ride that spins us in circles until we feel naseous. It. is. awesome.

6. The movies- I have a list of "fall" movies we have to watch every year- The Adventures of Ichabod Crane; Haunted Mansion (the cheesy but awesome Disney ride turned movie); It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; Sleepy Hollow (I just have to close my eyes for the gross parts), and Mad Monster Party.

7. The food and drinks-Everything is just more cozy, including the food! Fall equals comfort food galore! Pies, cakes, all kinds of chili, chicken and dumplings, caramel corn, apple butter, apple cider, hot cocoa, ginger snaps, sweet potatoes, anything involving cinnamon...

I could go on and on, but those are the highlights! What's your favorite thing about Fall?

Random Thoughts Part Deux

I wasn't even going to blog today and then I was like, "But I miss it!" Great, I'm addicted to yet another thing. (Don't worry, I'm not addicted to like, drugs or anything. Just stuff like coffee and chocolate and reading and shopping and apparently now, blogging.)

So we'll try this kind of stream of consciousness thing and see how it goes...

I think I know what I want to be for Halloween! (Nothing like waiting until the last minute, right?) I have an old Dorothy costume that's still in really good condition because I've only worn it a couple of times and now I have a Yorkie who can be Toto! Is that not the awesomest idea ever?? Of course I haven't told Hurley he's going to be Toto yet, I may just spring that on him Friday night and see how it goes. He can be kinda moody sometimes...

At least I'm not doing this to him.

(And yes, I realize Toto was a Cairn Terrier, not a Yorkie, but close enough!)

So there's this position available at work that I am thinking about applying for, and my coworkers keep telling me I should totally go for it and I would be great, but it's something I haven't done before so I'm not sure if I should apply or not! But it would be better pay and more of a challenge (in a good way) and I could even work from home sometimes. Gahh, I hate being indecisive!

There's this darling pencil skirt at Target that's on clearance right now, and they have just one or two left of my size, but it's only 30% off now, and I kind of want to see if I can wait it out until it's at least 50% off. I've read about the Target clearance schedule and I think it's in the middle of their two week window before they mark everything down again. But I'm afraid if I wait too long it will be gone! So do I wait and hope it will still be there in my size or just buy it now? First world problems much??

We got new phones last night (nothing exciting like an iPhone or Galaxy, it's a Samsung Avant. It's ok, I'd never heard of it either) which the way T-Mobile does it we don't have to pay for the phones up front (yay!) it's spread out over time, so our bill will be about $20 more per month (boo!). But it was good that we did because both of our phones were starting to do weird things and freeze up and stuff, which usually means they're about to bite the dust.

We're going to a friend's housewarming party this weekend, and I am so excited to come up with a cute housewarming gift! I'm thinking a basket with cooking supplies or candles or something. It really doesn't take much to make me happy.

We STILL haven't carved our pumpkins and we bought them a week ago! Hopefully we will do it tonight or tomorrow, because after that what's the point?

Thanks for reading my totally random and not at all planned blog post!

Gotta get down on Friday...

You're welcome for getting that Rebecca Black song stuck in your head.

I'm so glad this week is over! I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to a whole week off of work!

Favorite Song:
I heard this on the radio yesterday and it just really resonated with me. I've heard it before but sometimes songs just hit you in a certain way that they haven't before. I love what it says about how powerful words are, they can tear down or they can build up. They can make someone feel loved and important, or they can make them feel worthless. And how important it is to speak life and truth, to point people towards God and His love for them in everything I say and do. I know I don't always do that, but it truly is my desire.

Favorite Food:
Pumpkin oatmeal cookies! These were so good, I think they might be my new favorite pumpkin cookie. A lot of the pumpkin cookies I have made are more of a cakey texture, which I like pretty well, but sometimes you just want a chewier cookie texture, and these deliver! And the maple glaze just take them to the next level! Recipe here.

Favorite Workout:
Upper Fix- I felt really strong on upper body this week, which is big for me because upper body is probably my weakest area. I still can't do very many real push-ups, but I'm getting there! And my planks feel really strong, as well as my chest presses and hammer curls.

Sun's out, Guns out

Favorite "purchase":
I got it for (practically) free, so I don't know if it counts as a purchase, but I got to try a Julep Maven box this week and I LOVE the colors they sent! More on that in another post, but suffice it to say it was a great little mid-week pick me up to get this in the mail!

Favorite Funnies:

Children of the 80's and 90's will get this:

You know this is totally what this cat was thinking: 

You know you've been there, don't lie:

I totally saw fried chicken: 

Everybody have a fantabulous weekend!! 

Link it up with us! 

 

 

Friday Favorites

Ohh, Friday you are a sight for sore eyes. Welcome friend!

Favorite Video:
Another video this week, this one is old but I rediscovered it this week. It just doesn't get much better than Bad Lip Reading.

Favorite workout:
21 Day Fix Total Body Cardio

 Kicked my butt in a good way!

Favorite Food:
Duh. Pumpkin cake.

Favorite purchase:
I raided the Target dollar section (hey big spender!) and found the cutest little accessories for my desk at work!

Favorite Funnies:

These Ermahgerd things just never get old.

Of course, Tuna

Does anyone know the difference?



Linking up with Meet at the Barre, September Farm, and The Farmer's Wife today!

Pumpkin Cake with Maple Glaze

This past weekend I couldn't wait any longer and I finally broke out the pumpkin! I made our all time favorite pumpkin cake. Normally we make this as a layer cake with cream cheese frosting, but this time I made it as a bundt cake and drizzled it with maple glaze, SO GOOD!

Pumpkin Cake with Maple Glaze

Ingredients:

Cake:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups pumpkin puree or cooked mashed pumpkin

Maple Glaze: 

• 2 cups confectioner's sugar
• 3-4 Tbsp. milk
• 2 1/2-3 Tbsp. maple syrup

Preparation:

For the cake: Combine sugar, vegetable oil, and eggs in a large mixing bowl; mix well. Sift dry ingredients into a separate bowl; stir into oil mixture, beating well. Stir in pumpkin puree.

 

Pour batter into bundt pan. Bake at 350° for about 60 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool for about 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto rack to cool completely. 

For the glaze: Mix sugar, maple syrup, and maple flavoring in a bowl with a whisk until smooth and drizzle over cooled cake. 

Serve with coffee or tea and enjoy! 

 

Link it up with us!