I decorated for fall, y’all

I know, that post title is genius. So, as promised, here are a few more photos of the little fall decor touches around my home.  I didn’t want to spend a ton on new decorations this year, so while some of it is new (from Marshall’s!), other things are just fall-colored items I already had. 

Happy Wednesday everyone! :)

 

  

I want to wear a sweater.

Hello fall clothes.  I think of you often, and I cannot wait to wear you.  Sometimes I walk into my closet just to look at you, and then I cry a little bit.

No I don’t. 

But I AM sad that I can’t wear you yet. Today I tried a bunch of you on, just for fun.  It made me sweat a lot.  But it was still fun.

Gracie and Cooper are also sad that they are yet unable to wear their sweaters.  See?

It’s obvious.

 

Patience is not one of my virtues, sweater weather.  Get here already.

Fall sneak peak!

Fall is in the air here this morning.  Or perhaps I should rephrase that and say the temperature is comfortable and mildy cool here this morning which, in Texas, is the equivalent of “fall in the air.”  We take what we can get.

I’ve begun to put out some Fall decorations here and there, and it just makes me happy to see them around my home.  I’m not quite done yet, but here’s a little sneak peak…

    

I’ll show you the bigger picture SOON! :) Hope you all have a really nice weekend! 

Hello, September.

Hello, September.  You know, for a while there, it seemed like you might never arrive!  Frankly, I won’t be missing August.  Didn’t even give it a second glance as it went.  August here in Texas is… well… August here in Texas.  Not the most pleasant month, especially not this time around.

But September, you don’t really promise much, now do you?  The high today is still 100, and Lord only knows how long these temps will stick around.  Could even be ‘til October, really.  But September, when I walked out onto the patio this morning, just before the sun rose for the day, I swear it felt almost… cool.  It was a pleasant little surprise, and one that filled me with so much anticipation for the months to come.  From here on out, it’s my favorite time of year.

So, dear September, I know that for us it’ll be nothing like it is for those up north and east… we may not see a yellow leaf for another month or two, and any “cool fronts” we may have will likely be meager, at best.  But I just wanted to say that I’m glad you’re not August, and that this morning, you gave me a little burst of joy.

Yours respectfully,

Jenni in Texas

What better way to start September than with a couple slices of mom’s warm banana bread? (and a little extra banana, for good measure.)

P.S. Check out my guest post here on what it means to be a “professional” blogger.

P.P.S.  Thanks for all your wonderful comments on my sucky neighbor rant yesterday! I so enjoyed reading all of your responses. :)

The First Anniversary Of The Worst Day Of My Life

October 29th exactly one year ago will live forever infamous in my mind as the period of 24 hours during which I was dangerously on the verge of a nervous breakdown, a panic attack, and an aneurysm all rolled into one.  I almost had a relapse when I started to see these come out this year:

Let me back up. 

I am a control freak.  I don't play all that well with other children.  I like things done my way (because, obviously, it is the best way).  And when I am placed into a situation where I must work closely with others and share in decision-making with them, I get a little antsy.  In fact, antsy might not be the best descriptor there.  But let's just leave it at that.

So anyway, last Fall, during my final semester before graduation, I was enrolled in a course called Small Group Communication.  Almost the entire premise of the course involved working within a group of the same 6 students to plan and implement a fundraising event. None of us had any idea just how much work and stress this would entail; me especially.  It ended up being one of the hardest things I've ever done, and that career in event planning I had considered?  No way, Jose.  That dream was shot right out of the water once I realized how much I despise working with... well... people. 

Kidding! Sort of.  But let's just say that myself and one or two of my group members seriously butt heads, and because I so desperately wanted needed an A in the class to maintain the perfect GPA I planned to graduate with, there was a lot of "we-will-do-this-my-way-because-I-always-get-A's-and-so-help-me-God-if-I-get-a-B-because-you're-an-idiot."

So, we worked extremely hard all semester (a few of us did, anyway - isn't that always the way it works in groups?  A few do the bulk of the work while the others coast?).  Anyway.  I'm not bitter.  We worked extremely hard to make our event come to being, and on October 29, 2009, it did.  Not without incident, but it did.

Here are a few pictures from the day:

You get the picture. 

It was a pumpkin carving thing, and it ended up being pretty successful.  All the pumpkins, snacks, and beverages were donated beforehand, and we made a considerable profit.  Naturally, I wrote most of our group's final paper describing the entire process, and after the final exam, I felt extremely confident that I would get my A and that the GPA-I-worked-so-hard-for would remain unharmed.  It was one or two of my other classes I was a little worried about - NOT this one.

I remember like it were yesterday when it came time for grades to be posted.  I had just gotten off work on a busy Friday night, and I plopped down in front of my computer anxiously.  I logged into my school account, saw that grades were up, and scanned the page. A!.... A!.... A!....

B in Small Group Communication??????!!!!! Hooooooowwwwwwwww???!!!!!

I cried huge, hot alligator tears for AT LEAST an hour that night and all throughout the weekend.  I screamed into my pillow.  I cursed that wretched class and all the wretched people in it, and I cursed myself for falling short of my goal after working so hard for so long.  Y'all I FREAKED OUT.

And I refused to go to my graduation primarily because of it.  Because I knew my diploma wouldn't read "Summa Cum Laude" like I had planned for it to.

And I knooow most students would be thrilled with graduating Magna, but that is not the point here.  In my mind (then anyway), I was a failure.  And I didn't forgive myself for a long time.

So what is my point here?  Not to brag about having a good GPA, I assure you.  My point is that sometimes we create such impossibly high standards for ourselves that we live our lives constantly feeling like we've failed.  Constantly feeling like we don't measure up. 

But my question for you is: MEASURE UP TO WHAT?  Who are we competing with???  It's natural and GOOD to want to succeed and to want to do the best you can.  But if you fall short of your goal and your whole identity comes crashing down around you, you have to ask yourself why your priorities allow no room for error and growth and HUMANITY. 

Perfection does not exist.  It is an unachievable goal.  But balance?  That is something worth fighting for.  And you know what they say... (cheesy and cliche as it may be, there is some truth to it...)

So THIS October 29th?  I'll be enjoying a wonderful "date night" with my husband... carving a pumpkin, roasting the seeds, enjoying a delightful dinner.  The past is the past, and we are not our failures.  We can learn from them, we can always improve and grow because of them, but every day we choose what to believe about ourselves.    

Believe that you're "among the stars," and have a beautiful weekend!!

J 

List of Ten Tuesday - You SO Don't Want To Miss THIS One!

Ladies and gentlemen - drumroll please - I am happy to announce that today is the day I will again bring you LIST OF TEN TUESDAY!!! I know, I know. Contain yourself. Interested in seeing my very first List of Ten Tuesday (if you haven't already)?  Check it out here.

I even made you a little picture in case you want to use it on your very own blog!  I sure would appreciate a link back to me if you do, but really, I would just be honored if someone used it at all! 

By the way, that's a cupcake from our wedding!!!  

Our photography was courtesy of Bend the Light.

Here's the rule for List of Ten Tuesday: there are no rules.  You may write about absolutely anything you want in the form of a numbered list.  Heck, there doesn't even have to be ten items.  Can't think of ten?  No problem!  Use eight!  Use twelve!  Use a hundred, for all I care!  Write about your ten biggest pet peeves, your ten blogging idols, your ten favorite ex-husbands (and if you have that many, YOU are the problem).

Or be like me, and write:
  

Top 10 Very Random Things About Me and/or My Life Right Now

(none of which deserve their very own post,

but all of which are certainly notable)

1. Last night we lit our fireplace for the first time this season!!!

 It was super cozy and romantic until my eyes started watering and the house started smelling funny (which, for a while,  I assumed was because I almost lit the oven on fire earlier in the evening), BUT it turned out that Matthew forgot to open the fireplace flue so smoke had been slowly filling our home with fumes.  No harm done though; we opened a ton of windows and before long we were good as new!

2. Speaking of Matthew, he has totally been holding out on me. 

A couple days ago I was complaining that it's the first fall we've been married and in our new home, and we hardly have any fall decorations so, unfortunately, I would have to go to Pottery Barn to buy some because it's an investment; and that's when he said "oh! I have some fall stuff from my old place.  It's in a box in the attic!" 

Imagine my dismay.  Fall decor from the ole bachelor days, dear?  This should be interesting.  And it was, actually.  He had some pretty good stuff, and I was like a kid in a candy store going though his box and decorating with it today.  Here's a few things I found:

 This cool fall berry stuff to put on the fireplace mantle

Some cute pumpkins 

Two big bags of pine cones, which I arranged in a bowl with some fall ribbon 

This AWESOME cornucopia, a cool little metal rake, and some colorful paper mache leaves

More orange ribbon I tied into bows, and a jack-o-lantern!

So to my husband: I apologize for doubting your fall decorating abilities.  But I still need to stop by Pottery Barn...

Which leads me right into #3...

3. I am obsessed with Pottery Barn's new fall and winter collections!!!

Pottery Barn's Website

Just go there.

4. I adore Earl Grey tea

This doesn't need much expanding upon, except to say that there is something divine about this tea. The flavor, the aroma... simply makes me happy.  

5. 

YUM. I am making these TOMORROW!!!

6.  I HATE lunch.

That's right, I despise the meal of lunch.  It is an inconvenience, an interruption, and lunch food just overall sucks. Unless you can afford to eat out every day of your life, which very few people can.  

Although it certainly is an inconvencience and an interruption, the main reason I hate lunch is just because of lunch food overall.  You don't want to put on a big production for lunch, you don't always have leftovers, and honestly?  I am so sick to death of sandwiches that just thinking about one makes me sick.

The solution?  Breakfast.  Breakfast for lunch, that is. I love breakfast food, but I NEVER make breakfast because my husband is hungry the second he rolls out of bed whereas I need a good hour or more to slowly ease my way into the world (as I sit, glassy-eyed, clutching my cup of coffee).  Therefore, he is too impatient to wait for me to be "ready" to cook breakfast, and we both just end up eating cereal. 

Matthew is working from home right now and since lunch is a constant struggle for us, two days ago we decided to start eating breakfast for lunch.  We both love breakfast food, it can be nutritious and satisfying, and there is lots of variety to choose from.  Today we had omelettes, fruit, and toast.  See? Proof:

   Fyi, that's a spinach and ham omelette with tomato, avocado, and feta cheese on top.  Delish.

7.  I am slightly addicted to blogging.

I  really love to write, and I think it's especially amazing when people I don't even know stop by my blog and leave me sweet comments.  I've been blogging a few years now, but I never really knew about the whole blogging COMMUNITY until I recently started reaching out to others and found that they, in return, normally reach out right back.  It's such a thrill! Bloggers are the coolest people ever!!! :)

8.  My favorite blog?

I knew you were wondering!  My all-time favorite blog is The Glamorous Life of a Housewife. 

Whitney just seems so incredibly nice, and her posts are always up-beat and encouraging.  I found her blog shortly after getting married and beginning my own life as a "housewife" (for now anyway),  except I started out as more of the grumbly, grouchy kind.  I didn't exactly show my disdain for my role outwardly, but sometimes I felt disdainful inwardly.  After reading about Whitney's super-positive perspective on it all and how she literally cherishes her role, I had a major attitude adjustment.  So Whitney, if you read this: thank you!!!  I am proof that a simple blog really CAN change someone's life!

9.  I hate spiderwebs.

If you hear me screaming bloody murder and see me slapping at myself like a crazy person, it's probably because I just walked into a spiderweb.

I also sort of dislike Halloween.  I don't like ugly, scary, evil things.  Sue me.

10.  I have 575 pictures in my phone and 380 of them are of my dogs.

Yes, I counted. 

Here are a few examples:

Have a fabulous rest-of-your-Tuesday!!!  Looking forward to seeing all of YOUR lists!!! :)

J

List of Ten Tuesday

Ladies and gentleman, I would like to introduce LIST OF TEN TUESDAYS!!!  (Shout out to Bryce for giving me my inspiration!)  FYI, there's really no rhyme or reason to List of Ten Tuesday - in fact, I reserve the right to write a List of Ten on ANY day of the week, or include more or less than ten items in any given list!  And ALSO, if I have other, more pressing matters to write about on a particular Tuesday, I may then choose to exercise my right to DO WHATEVER I WANT CAUSE THIS IS MY BLOG!!!!  ;)

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the first in what could be a very long line of fabulous Tuesday Tens!

Ten Twelve Things to be Super-Psyched About This Fall

(in no particular order)

(because ten just wasn't enough)

(and by the way, did you know tomorrow [Wednesday] is the first day of Fall? You do now!)

1.  The First Crisp Day

Forgive me for beginning with the obvious.

Us Texans haven't really experienced this one yet, but believe you me, when we do, we ALL bust out the scarves and sweaters.

It's actually quite pathetic.

2.On that note, Hats and Boots and Scarves

(Oh my!)

I'm aware that this picture sucks, but it's the only one I have where I'm wearing a hat, boots, AND a scarf.

 
3. Hot Apple Cider

Totally my fave thing about Fall - I kid you not.

To make some really amaaazing cider, fill a crock pot or another large pot with store-bought cider, then add a whole, large orange stuck with 5 or 6 whole cloves. Throw in a few cinnamon sticks and then let it simmer (covered) a couple hours; before long, a g-l-o-r-i-o-u-s aroma will fill your entire home.

Set some cider on before a party and all your guests will be salivating as soon as they walk through your front door!!!


4. Cuddling
Because isn't cuddling SO much more pleasurable when it's cold outside?

My moods are easily influenced by my body temperature, and consequently my husband and I don't do a whole lot of cuddling during the summer months. He grudgingly calls me a "little furnace" and always reminds me of how much he looks forward to fall when body heat from cuddling doesn't turn me into a complete crank!

PS: We DO have AC, but the bill would be about $2000 a month if we kept it as cold as I'd like!

5.   Seeing Stuff Like THIS At Grocery Stores:

Good gourd! (Sorry, I couldn't resist)
  



6.  Fall Baking/Cooking

Another obvious one, but hello?  YUM!

7.  The Turning of the Leaves

Again, no way has this has happened in Texas yet (and when it does, it sure doesn't compare to the northeast).  But we can dream.



This was in New Joisey

8. Bubble Baths

Because just when you thought a bubble bath simply could not be improved upon, here comes a chilly autumn day...

 slipping into that hot, sudsy water could NOT be more divine!



Say no more.

9. Fall Scents at Bath & Body Works

Does this really need much expanding upon? I think not.

But Click here to find out how I really feel about Bath & Body Works!

10. Soup

Because somehow, delicious soups and chilis just don't have the same appeal when it's 103 degrees outside.  A few of my favorites?

Plain old Campbell's Tomato Soup (with fresh or dried Basil added), chili like the first one listed here (sub or add whatever you'd like; that's the beauty of chili, you can do whatever you want!), or Potato Soup like the one pictured below (from Cooking Light magazine).



11. Family Get-togethers

If your family is anything like mine, you're sprinkled all over the continent and tend to only see each other once or twice a year around the holidays.

Another fabulous thing about fall is getting to catch up with those loved ones you don't always get to see!!

12. Finally, and this one is most obvious,

Starbucks Holiday Drinks

No caption necessary.

Hope this list gave you something to get excited about!  Can you think of anything I missed??  Leave me a comment with your own ideas (or just tell me how awesome mine are).  Have a great Tuesday and a have a happy first day of fall tomorrow!!!

J