Sub 100 temperatures: I missed you, Fall.

Tax Free Weekend, Back to School, Football Preseason...Fall is here, friends, and even though Austin, Texas is repping the Summer weather, I. Am. Ready.

I always am, but for the 18 years that I have lived South of the Dee Eff Dub, I have consistently been shocked that it's still so dadgum hot.

And so, to prepare for the cold fronts I am manifesting, I have done the following.

I traversed over to the Mecca only to stumble upon a new Austin transplant named Hannah who dressed me head to toe in endless outfits that I could never in my wildest imagination come up with.  I think I'm stylish when I wear more than one bracelet.  I walked out with this dress of which Devin said I looked like the church organ player from his Baptist childhood memories.  I returned it, but these I shalt not return. 

They are gorgeous and I can only assume Dr. Scholls' hip, trendy, great niece created the innards because I swear I could Prancercise in these blister free.

Secondly, I bought this.

Because I'll be able to wear it in 6 months for a good, solid 2-3 weeks.  Reasonable.

I think it's fair to say I'm drooling over all sorts of things for my kitchen...because if you gave me $1000 to spend, I would probably spend $950 on my kitchen, $12.95 on a new bone for Bird, and the rest on clothes.  I'm loving the plums and mustards that Sur la table has out, and I want every ghost and leaf and pumpkin cookie cutter ever made.  I decided to welcome Fall into my home yesterday with a little gluten free baking sesh- Pumpkin Apple Muffins in some super cute and unique papers from some expensive baking supply store Marshalls.

Dare to Be Thankful

For the Dare to DIY week 1, I decided to make something that I knew we would use and that reflected one of my favorite hobbies.

Wine.

So, I made some fallly Thanksgivingy wine tags.

Because my family likes some wine on Thanksgiving.

And because I don’t want anyone drinking my wine.

These were super easy, and I think they turned out pretty good. I just got some clearance leaves from a local craft store- I think I paid $1 for all of them, and I bought some hoop earrings in the jewelry making section. If you need some, my package came with 60. I do not need 60 of these.

Enough beads to last me long enough to pass them down to my grandchildren? Check.

Prepare for borderline bad pictures…

Pick a bead that has a bigger hole- the leaf and the ring have to go through that one.

Make sure to bend the end so they don’t come apart.

I might find a different way to put the names/initials on them- I don't know if I am a fan of the gold paint. Maybe a stamp? Maybe just different color leaves for each person.

I like them.

Cheers!

Fall Into Fall

Back in my sophomore year of college, Jinna and I celebrated Fall by sky diving. We called it Fall into Fall...annnnd…the rest of the title is irrelevant.

Check us out

My mom almost disowned me for that. Oops.

I love Fall. Or Autumn. Or Harvest. Whatever you prefer.

Houston is a hot-as-sin, as Devin would say, city. In the summer (summer meaning May through September), we average at around 100 degrees every day. I walk from work to the train, about a 45 second walk, and I am gross and outside-smelling by the time I am boarding. And I don’t even sweat as much as a normal person. Because I’m not normal? I don’t know what I meant by that. Regardless, it is miserable. So, when fall comes around, the temperature is just right, the humidity is not nearly as harsh, and even though it starts to get dark much earlier, Texans come out of the woodwork and frolic throughout the outdoors like a bunch of little girls wearing new tutus.

Come to think of it, if you want to put the blame on something for making Houston one of the fattest cities, let’s go ahead and blame the heat. Or the Mexican food.

Autumn brings colors that I cannot take my eyes off of.

Don’t think for one second that I took this picture. My brother, Alex, is a fantastic photographer. A natural. No training. Just talent. That’s what happens when you’re the first child. You get to pick the genes and talents you want and the other 2 get the leftovers. I am convinced of this. He is amazing. This is Central Park…in the fall of course. Gorgeous. Fall is my favorite time to visit NYC. Convenient for Kstan running the marathon this year? Yes.

I want to scoop all of those leaves up and leap right into the middle of them. Or pile them on top of Frisky.

Fall means Pumpkin Spice.

It’s not when school starts, or when new TV shows come on…It is when Starbucks busts out the Pumpkin Spice Latte in August. Then, you know it is fall.

If I may be very honest, I used to L*O*V*E this bev. I was reckless with excitement when I saw that it had arrived, but I tried it twice already this year, and it is not to my liking. I’ll have a Dirty Soy Chai please. Or just HEB Taste of the Hill Country. Delish.

William Sonoma makes really really simple and delicious baking mixes. I do not know this from experience. My coworker makes this every fall.

It is the most delicious bread to have your coffee with. I don't make it 1. because she makes it and why would I steal her thunder and 2. because Devin would eat it all and I probably would never get a bite, so at least I get one at work. I’m kidding. Sort of. Anyway, like I said, I don’t know how easy it is from experience, but I have checked it out when Devin wants to go in William Sonoma for samples and not to buy a single thing, and it looks super easy.

Fall clothes are my absolute favorite, especially the light sweaters. Thank you Jesus for a new light sweater. And coats. I love me a new coat. But, I don’t like just any fall clothes, meaning, a store can’t just make the same sweater they always make, in 3 colors (gray, brown, and black), and expect me to be excited for their “new and innovative” line. I need some variety. I need vintage. I need color. I need creativity.

I need (want?) J.Crew.

I need (want?) Anthropologie.

I apparently need more money for my taste. Actually, I get most things I love from these places on sale OR at the J. Crew outlet in San Marcos. I cannot bring myself to pay full price for anything at either one of these stores. But, I do know I love them.

Fall means Christmas is almost here. Which means my family will all be together again, and it will be my first Christmas as a Carroll. That makes me warm and fuzzy…like a new sweater.

What's makes you fall in love with Autumn?

P.S. I love your comments. All of them. Thanks for reading.