Fall Home Tour!!!

I feel like this is so me...

I typically start decorating my home for fall around September first. The reason I decorate so early is because I start decorating for Christmas mid November and I like to leave up my hard work long enough to enjoy... 

I know that It may seem so bizarre that I choose to decorate so early for each season but here's the deal- I have a TON of decorations.. and it is a PAIN to put them all up.. once they are up I love to sit back and enjoy them for a while. I am new to the "hosting of the holidays" so my given holiday is Easter..Since I don't host Thanksgiving or Christmas at my house it really doesn't matter if I have my tree up during turkey time now does it?? Nope. So I decorate...it makes me happy :)

This is our kitchen table.. this table is old.. and I don't really think it is very cute but when I think of how many memories this little table has held it makes me love it SO much. At this table some of the best bottles of wine have been shared, I served my husband ( boyfriend at the time) his first meal on this table, I cried to my best friend when something sad happened to me at this table, we hosted our first dinner with our new neighbors at this table, serious discussions and decisions have been made on this table..and if this table can stick around for just a teeny bit longer I think we will share some amazing first family memories on this table. So here is my decor for fall on this very old.. sorta ugly little table that I love :)

because pumpkins duh...!

This year our front door is painted!!! I think it makes such a difference with all of the Fall colors surrounding it :)

My little scarecrow girl... her brother didn't make it this year.. he was decapitated after halloween... 

#kids

My super cute fall pillow I found at Kirklands!!! 

we all know it is a good day in Texas when the Southern Living magazine arrives.. it is like the first taste of fall... even though it's a roaring 98 degrees! 

On my outside patio I found the cutest pillows ( once again at Kirklands) and bought them right up!!! I love how cute the saying is!

My fall cookbook quickly replaced my summer one.. This is such a great easy cookbook.. in fact I collect all of Gooseberry Patch cookbooks!!!!

Here is my coffee station.. pumpkins and more pumpkins... those are salt and pepper pumpkin shakers and my napkin holder.. OH and if you look closely enough I have some pumpkin spice K cups...because clearly I do not have enough pumpkin decor!

This was the other day... my coffee table is now complete with my fall edition of magazines.. 

This printable was one I found off of pinterest.. it was free!!! You can pick the size and then simply print it off!!! There were so many to choose from! The link is Here

See how cute it is on my dining room buffet?? I love it!

My dining room table... this centerpiece was made to match a portrait I have hanging in my dining room. A super talented and close friend of ours mimicked the portrait and made the arrangement for us.. I love using it every fall

We all know it is fall when casseroles and bundt cakes are sitting on the counter to cool..

this was a dark chocolate pumpkin nutella bundt cake.. and friends if you are pumpkin skeptics.. trust me it was SO good!

My favorite candle to burn this fall is "sweater weather" from bath and body.. surprisingly not pumpkin? It literally smells like cold weather.. Im obsessed

a pumpkin :)

another few pumpkins :) with candy corn

and because I have a problem..

more pumpkins!

my kitchen window..

part of my bakers rack!!! This is my Gooseberry Patch collection thus far.. I love these cookbooks for the simplicity of the recipes!!! Easy for weeknight cooking thats for sure!!! These little pumpkins were at Hobby Lobby this year!

A few fall leaves

My comfy kitty snuggled in the blanket... 

My favorite snack right now is fresh figs with goat cheese drizzled in honey... it's to die!!!

and because it is Fall...

THESE!!!!!!!

I have major plans for these babies.. I think they will be starring in our Christmas card this year... along with many other events. They are just so cute and comfy! I waited all year for the cheetah Toms to be back in stock.. and now they are :)

I think I posted enough about fall... 

just wait until Christmas!!!

Happy Decorating!

Life through pictures

I haven't blogged in over a week!!! I haven't even begun to post a recipe in quite a while either...I have been a slacker! No really it's because I was not feeling good and food was the last thing I want to mess with...so cooking was out!!! I do however promise to post a home fall tour AND my pumpkin muffins soon because who doesn't love a pumpkin muffin?

Brandon's Birthday :) August 29th ...we celebrated with In and Out burger and a movie... my guy is so simple :) He did however get the shotgun he has been lusting over so he had a pretty great birthday!

In & Out

The next morning we had breakfast at my favorite spot #BakeryLorraine in the Pearl Brewery...it is the cutest little spot to sit with your cappuccino and just people watch. We love it...and the macaroons are pretty amazing too!

After breakfast we went to the Japanese Tea gardens to hike and look at the pretty scenery.. I love it once it gets a little cooler..the views are awesome.

The three fall bags I am loving right now!!! I am so obsessed...I think my favorite is the orange :)

Fall Plaid! Headed to the movies!

At the ranch..Brandon was about to go dove hunting!

Friday Favorites Fall Edition

true..so true...

I love love LOVE me some fall!!! Maybe it's because it's the calm before the crazy Christmas storm or the fact that things are falling back into place with school starting and routines settling, or maybe it is just the fact that the weather starts to change ever so slightly and you can feel a little bit of cool creep into our Texas hearts..maybe...

I just love fall

Pure Autumn beauty right here ^^

My next post will be over my Fall home tour!! I have a few new fall decorations and cannot wait to show off my cute fall porch this year!!! Here are my Friday Favorites

1.    

I mean Starbucks PSL...need I say more? Def. A favorite!

2.  Spiced Pecan Pumpkin from William Sonoma!

Every year I scour William Sonoma for this stuff and it usually comes out mid August. I buy a TON for gifts, to make, and to share :) My teacher's at school LOVE when I bring this stuff to the lounge...it is def. A fall favorite!

3.  

Bath and Body works Fall candles are a must!!! I figured because it is only September, I can get away with burning a "fall-ish" candle but maybe my beloved pumpkin ones should stay put until October :)I literally cannot buy enough of these!!!!!!

4.  If you are not a subscriber to Southern Living I feel that you should remedy that ASAP!!!

I love reading this magazine..it has so many cute styling tips and yummy recipes for Fall food..the apple cake listed in this edition is to die for

5. 

I am in love with booties!! I bought the Toms desert wedge last year in all of the colors but this cheetah print is so cute! I am thinking of wearing these in our Christmas card picture this year:) Love 'em!!!

6. The true reason I really love fall is this

My wedding anniversary is celebrated during the beautiful season of fall. I remember it so clearly, how we stood underneath the pergola with a beautiful fall sunset shining down on us in all it's glory. The colors were the epidemy of what an autumn wedding should look like and it was just beautiful. I wish I could go back to that day all the time... I am so blessed to be able to share such a beautiful life with him. 

Next up Fall home tour and a pumpkin spice bread!!!!!

Book Review

 

 

Good afternoon!!!

 

I wanted to share a few of my favorite recent reads because I am one of those girls who will literally talk your ear off until you go and purchase/rent a book that I have just absolutely fallen in love with. Here's the thing, I am not a one type book kinda' person. I love thrilling mysteries, romances, biographies, historical renditions, autobiographies, Christian authors, and cook books. If it looks interesting I am going to try it. 9 times out of 10 I end up finding a new author that I really enjoy thus expanding my broad view of literature! This book that I am going to suggest today is one of the best books I have ever read.  The book " Bread & Wine" is written by Shauna Niequist, a pure genius in her writing where her words completely captured my heart. She writes about food and wine ( two of my favorite things EVER) but also about her memoirs of life. She is raw and honest in telling her tales of 3 miscarriages, life's beautiful moments with her family and friends, delicious recipes and friendships that gather together at her table. Intertwined with her lovely and truly page turning stories, she shares her faith and testimonies. I cannot quite put into words what the style of her book is like except that it's worth reading...try it.. grab a cup of coffee or glass of wine and curl up on your couch and read this book. I put it at the top of my review list!!!!

 

Other books that I suggest are

 

Liane Moriarty: The Husband's Secret, What Alice forgot, and Big little lies

 

She is a really easy read.. if you want something light, fun and page turning she is great for that.

 

If you are looking for something dark and twisted I invite you to read

 

V.C. Andrews The Flowers in the Attic saga

 

These are SUPER old books but are now recently coming back to life as I saw they created the saga in a movie series on lifetime. I read these books in College, and like I sad if you want light hearted these are not for you. This tells a story of a truly devious family secret, a hauntingly chilling story of four siblings locked in the attic.. try it you may like it!

 

Julie Julia Project

 

This is easily one of my favorite books ever.. I am sure you have heard of the movie Julie/Julia?? It is basically an collection of stories from a blogger who has decided to write her way through Julia child's famous cook book. Having recently received this amazing cookbook last Christmas I decided to read the novel that went along with it. I read this book in three days flat, it was cute, funny, and honest. Easy little read!

 

 

 

 

Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Muffins

As promised...I baked yesterday afternoon and perhaps made some of THE BEST muffins I have ever made. These little muffins are perfect for breakfasts on the go, an afternoon snack, or to share with friends like I plan to do :) My taste testers AKA Brandon and Elein said they were really yummy, so I am fulfilling my duty to my blog friends and posting them!

Easy Peasy!

Shopping List

* I substituted some of the ingredients to make ours a bit healthier so I will put my substitutions in Italics.

Ingredients:

•     1/2 cup butter, melted ( Instead I used two containers of cinnamon applesauce)
•     1 cup white sugar ( I used raw cane sugar found in the health aisle of your grocery store)
•     1 egg
•     1/2 cup chopped walnuts (  I discarded this for nut allergy people at my work)
•     1 cup all-purpose flour ( I used whole grain organic unbleached flour)
•     1/4 teaspoon salt
•     1/2 teaspoon baking powder
•     1/2 teaspoon baking soda
•     1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Mix well with your  mixer and pour into your greased muffin tin. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes!!!!

These taste like a little bit of fall heaven :) You don't have to use my substitutions, the original recipe will taste great on its own I just attempted to tweak it to make it fit our needs!

Tuesday Life Lately

I have not posted ANY recipes lately.. I have been super busy..

BUT ...today I am making Apple Brownies and I am going to post them tomorrow!

Since my friends told me it was to early to decorate my house for fall I figured I could at least start making "fall-ish" food...nobody will complain with some apple brownies :)

Happy Back to school everyone!!!!

Life lately...

Evening walks in our neighborhood are truly gorgeous..we live in the hill country and at certain points you can see a huge view of san antonio.. I love where we live.

This my friends is my first DIY project!!!!! My mom and dad are buying a house and I wanted to create a sentimental housewarming gift...that I did myself! I plan on distressing this bench and painting it a really cute color...then changing out the cushion and adding super cute throw pillows for either an outdoor porch or somewhere inside..either way I hope it turns out as I envision!!!!

This is my boy and me right before our walk :)

My husband Brandon and me out to dinner for an early Bday celebration!!! I will say that this Cali boy of mine is the most supportive and hardworking man I know. He is so good to me and I appreciate him...love you B!

Right before Meet the Teacher! I have the cutest group of kids this year!

The day that my annual Erin Condren planner arrives is usually a fantastic day. I live for organization..and since I am super OCD type A this planner is so necessary for my life. Even if you are not crazy-plan-girl like me this will fit your needs for sure!!! Visit her website HERE

I am binge watching Grey's Anatomy right now with Brandon... I know ya'll are like " GF you have been hiding under a rock with this Grey's Anatomy business!!!" I know...I just discovered what it is like to "binge watch". I am telling you there is nothing better than lazing on your couch on a saturday or sunday evening and watching your favorite show :) Happiness!

That's it for life lately!! Lots of Preschool teaching, playdoh making, and lounge time...I am ready for Fall, Pumpkins, and cooler weather. I think I may have stated this 3894385437859 times in  my last posts.. just keeping it real!!!!! #FALLROCKS #ITSTOOHOT