so pretty

I had no idea this stuff even existed 15 minutes from my house. So, so pretty...here are some pictures from our little outing to what most people call Turkey Lake Park.

here it comes....

December...and it's like a freight train. I almost can't look, but I'm plugging on, well, more like charging on. I can't not charge. So much is about to happen and well, not happen. Work will end soon and then the new work of finding new work will take over. Being with my adorable 1 year old every day all day will surely be eventful, but I am really going to have to get serious. Make spreadsheets or something....plan meals, do more laundry more often, get out my winter wear, take more pictures, make more lists. It's a little overwhelming to say the least. Please, please, please don't let me get sucked into the facebook vortex...please!

isn't it amazing?

I find it truly amazing that at a time when I should be panicking, feeling alarmed, sad, worried, etc. I am actually excited, hopeful and struck with anticipation. I may be heading for a rude awakening, but it's almost like I don't even care. Something woke up inside. Right before my baby turned one. Something, or possibly someone, tapped me on the shoulder and said "you are doing a great job and even if you are struggling to keep your head above water it won't phase you. You have come too far and your future is bright." It is bright. My daughter is truly amazing and I have a wonderful family. I know come December life will be difficult, but it will be worth it. I will feel relief even though I will be stressed. I will just keep thinking about days like these.......

Almost better than paper dolls...

Little Goodies

So, I asked my friends for their top ten favorite things about fall and guess what......they responded. Here are some of my favorites (not in any particular order):

• making an autumn wreath
• even though it's only every four years, the excitement of Election Day.
• Soup!
• Get to rock your hoodies! (confession: I'm a 30 year old who loves hoodies more than any 16 year old)
• cool mornings and breezy afternoons.

Ok, so I remember telling someone recently that I don't own any hoodies, but after seeing Tiff's hoodie confession, I remembered....I do have a couple. Not sure if they would still fit this post-baby body I'm sporting now, but I will give it a shot soon. Cool weather is not far off. I can tell, it's coming and I have hot chocolate waiting.......

This makes me want candy corn even more!

Thanks for reminding me of 10 other great reasons to love fall! Reasons I (read: Erin's best friend) love the fall 1. Opening the windows in my home and turning off the a/c. 2. Cool weather camping and actually needing the campfire at night. 3. No more mosquitos. 4. Going for walks after dinner and not sweating. 5. Wearing my favorite sweatshirt for the first time. 6. Pumpkin bread with chocolate chips. 7. Knowing that everyone up North is starting to freeze and we're not. 8. Even though it's only every four years, the excitement of Election Day. 9. Handing out treats instead of candy on Halloween and seeing how excited kids get. 10. Monkey #1's birthday.

In the spirit of autumn........

I give the you BEST pumpkin bread recipe I have ever found.......YUM......try it out as soon as humanly possible! PS--if you also LOVE chocolate as much as I do, do yourself a favor and add some miniature dark chocolate chips! You will not regret it! INGREDIENTS 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree 4 eggs 1 cup vegetable oil 2/3 cup water 3 cups white sugar 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 7x3 inch loaf pans. In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans. Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

In other words....

I LOVE FALL....particularly the second week in September. Well, it's the first moment of fall I feel and dare I say if I lived somewhere other than Florida, I'm sure I would love spring, summer and fall, but right now I just love fall. I love fall and I will tell you why. I have summed it up in a top ten list. I would love to see other people's top tens for fall! I could fall in love with many other great "fall" things and then the next 3 months would be spectacular :) Give me your top tens! Top 10 Reasons I Love Fall 1.Pumpkins and pumpkin flavored everything 2.The second week in September when you think it might be getting cooler just by the "light" outside 3.The first week in October when you realize it's not getting any cooler, so you can still go to the beach! 4.A good fall festival complete with farm animals and hay 5.Candy corn and candy pumpkins 6.The sun feels golden instead of red hot 7.The neighbors want to chat more 8.New school supplies 9.Black Friday 10.Thanksgiving dinner