autumn

Unconventional Halloween Movies

Audrey28 Comments

It’s no secret that I am not a fan of horror or violent films. I don’t mind creepy or sinister, but seeing people mutilate and harm other people isn’t my cup of tea. But I freakin’ LOVE Halloween. I love fake blood on the bathroom mirror, skulls on the mantel, bottles of ogre teeth and witches brew on the bar cart. LOVE. IT.

And I love watching films that put me in that spooky mood, even if they’re not traditionally Halloween movies. (Some of these are, though. I’ve written about my favorite Halloween movie before here.) This is the unconventional list that I’m planning to tackle this year!

Beetlejuice is one of my favorite films of all time. I’ll watch it all year long. | Every year around my birthday I watch the film Clue. I don’t know why I started this little tradition, but I did and I love doing it 🙂 | I don’t know that I’ve ever seen Rocky Horror Picture Show all the way through but it’s one of my mom’s favorite films. This year I plan to watch the whole thing. | I watched The Haunted Mansion a looong time ago- probably when it first came out. I love that it reminds me of the ride at Disney World! | Sleepy Hollow is such a strange film. It’s definitely not my favorite on the list but it’s spooky without being too gory. | Admittedly, Hocus Pocus isn’t my favorite Halloween movie (gasp), but I know it’s a classic and I still watch it almost every year. | I know Coraline is a kids movie but it freaks. me. out. Perfect for Halloween time. | I’ve never seen The Monster Squad but it looked cheesy and classic so I added it to the list.

I added some not-so-spooky but still fall-flavored films, too. Fantastic Mr. Fox is one of my all time favorite films ever in the history of me. If you haven’t seen it, go watch it. It has nothing to do with Halloween and it’s the most adorable, quirky, witty movie ever. | The Blind Side is one of those movies that sucks me in every. single. time. I always laugh and cry and worry like I’m watching it for the first time. | Last but certainly not least, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a classic and deserves to be watched every single year 🙂

**You can find The Monster Squad on Hulu & Coraline on Netflix. There are also a bunch of cute monster/Halloween kids movies on Netflix, too.

What movies are you planning to watch this fall?

The Fall Bucket List 2018

Audrey39 Comments

One Monday morning, not too long ago, a co-worker arrived & I greeted him cheerfully. He gave me a sideways look because a) it was a Monday and b) it was morning. Then I saw a lightbulb go off and he laughed and said, “You’re in a great mood because it’s cold outside.”

YOU BET YOUR ASS, I AM.

And that is my classy intro to this year’s Fall Bucket List.

This year’s list feels a little light but life has been busy and I won’t pretend like I’d enjoy filling all my free time with traditional fall activities. I tried to stick to stuff that I either enjoy doing or stuff that really need done.

Outside Stuff

  • Go to at least one festival
  • Take a vacation
  • Family Thanksgiving trip to Williamsburg
  • Get some mums
  • Get some pumpkins
  • Carve some pumpkins
  • Do a fall craft
  • Take a dog or two on a fall hike

Inside Stuff

  • Gather the necessary items for our costumes…
  • Host our annual Halloween party!
  • Decorate the house
  • Start & finish a project I’m working on with K
  • Try out three new recipes for dinner
  • Bake a new fall cookie
  • Drinks lots of apple cider
  • Meet my cousin-in-law’s new baby! (She’s due early Oct.)
  • Celebrate my bffs’ birthday!! (One in Sept. & one in Nov.)
  • Find a new fall cocktail to make at home
  • Get a PSL
  • Get 50% of my Christmas shopping done
  • Paint the house
  • Hang 90% of all art/pics once house is painted
  • MAKE. ICE. CREAM.(If I don’t do it this time around I’m selling my ice cream machine)
  • Scrapbook Year 4
  • Order Year 5 photos
  • Continue working on office & emptying my parents’ basement

Do I already have some things crossed off? Yes. Am I ashamed that I jumped the gun? Hellz no.

I’m working on my overhaul goals, too. This month has been… rough. But I’ll recap that during Kristen’s link-up at the start of October.

What’s on your fall bucket list?

Fall Stuff List 2017

Audrey32 Comments

Before I begin… Today, four years ago, we moved into our house 🙂
Also, Happy Birthday to my cousin Sam!

On to some fall time goodness…
I’m always more motivated this time of year and it’s reflected in my goals and seasonal bucket list. (Last year I killed it.) This year I’m combining everything into one list and I’m going to be more specific and intentional with each goal 🎃

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  • Go to at least two fall festivals (examples below)
    • Yankee Peddler Sept. 9 & 10, 16 & 17, or 23 & 24
    • Swiss Festival Sept. 29 & 30
    • Atwood Area Fall Festival Oct. 6, 7, & 8
  • Move into the new house! (We close the first week of Oct.)
  • Host our annual Halloween Party!
    (This is year it’s more housewarming and less costume. I know, I’m sad about it, too.)
  • Visit a nursery and get some mums for the front porch
  • Pick/buy pumpkins
    • Carve them
  • Get a bay of straw for the front porch
    (Sidenote: You should always buy straw for decorations. Hay is food for animals.)
  • Work on meal planning and try out these recipes:
  • Find a walk route in the new neighborhood with pups
  • Get a few rooms in the house decorated
    • Living room
    • Master bedroom
    • My office
  • Get 25% of my Xmas shopping done by the end of Oct.
  • Visit an apple orchard
  • Bake a new fall cookie
  • Drink some apple cider
  • Watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and Beetlejuice
  • Find cute booties (*part of 30×30 list)
  • Take a dog or two on a hike (*part of 30×30 list)
  • Scrapbook. Even a little bit. Just get something done… lol
  • Dog park with E (in Columbus)
  • Homemade ice cream, damn it

For the sake of consistency and closure, I guess I should touch on my summer goals and bucket list items…

Bucket List

  • Go on a mini-golf date with K
  • Finish Year 3 scrapbook
  • Beach house vacation with the whole family
  • DCI Championships with K in August
  • Finish backyard landscaping
    • & host a cookout for the company
  • Take Enzo to the dog park
  • Outdoor concert with K & friends
  • Garage Sale (#2)
  • Visit the farmers’ market
  • Make a serious dent in Erin’s reading challenge
  • Drink more water
  • Make homemade ice cream
  • Take the pups on an adventure

Recap: I sucked… Most of the things I crossed off were already in the works when I made the list. Also, Ly and Enz got a bunch of time at the dog park thanks to open houses and showings so…. I feel like that counts as “an adventure.”

Goals

  • Clean junk out of basement & utility room (Yay house-selling!)
  • Get spare bedroom clean and de-cluttered 
  • Wash cushion slips
  • Wipe down fans, baseboards, etc.
  • Go for a bike ride once a week
  • Go putt-putting/mini-golfing (With the fam, but not as a date with K)
  • Tackle three books per month (…ish)
  • Clean out/update my Spotify playlists
  • Finish Year 3 scrapbook
  • Order pics for year 4

Recap: Slightly better than the bucket list. Opening the house to strangers forced me to clean a lot.

For being an insane season at work and selling the house (twice), I feel ok about those goals. Plus, we all know I’m not that tough on myself anyway with these. *shrug*

What’re you hoping to accomplish this fall? How’d you do over the summer?

It’s Coming… 🍂

Audrey34 Comments

It seems that the majority of us are ready for a seasonal shift…

I am anti-wish the days away, but I’m so pro-fall someone should give me a crown and call me Queen of October. Seriously, though…

Today I bring you a list of late summer things that remind me fall is coming. (I feel like a GoT reference could be made, but I don’t watch it so I’m going to let that opportunity slide.)

Humidity-Free Breezes
You know what I mean. It’s that cool, fresh breeze that interrupts an 82 degree afternoon. We feel it, we suddenly crave more, and we obsessively check our weather apps to see if the windows can be cracked that night.

That Bonfire Smell
My husband says bonfires smell like ham. I don’t agree since I dislike ham but love the smell of burning logs.

Movies on Television (that are just a tiny bit premature)
My heart actually leaves my chest when I see films like Beetlejuice on TV. #MyFav

The Leaves
Most of ours are still green but if you look toward the top of the trees you have a few rebel leaves that are starting to protest in red and orange. Be still my heart.

The Produce Aisle
The squashes and pumpkins and other gourds are coming out to play. Is it too soon to carve a pumpkin? Asking for a friend.

I have zero shame in my fall obsession. I’m glad summer is packing her bags. Please Lord, give us a cool, breezy, uneventful fall.

Got any fall plans this year? Hopefully we’re moving houses, going on a small trip, and celebrating my b-day. (We’re definitely doing the latter 😉 ha.)

Fall Fall Fall

Audrey42 Comments

I’m currently listening to my husband fight/argue with our oldest dog … She keeps barking during his favorite TV show. I feel like this is a window into our future with a teenage daughter… Ha.

Hi ya 🙂 I totally bailed on Monday but I had a busy weekend and a lot going on and I just didn’t want to throw together a half-assed post. But I’m here today & that’s what matters.

So let’s talk about fall. (You might be sick of fall talk… If that’s the case maybe don’t come back here until Monday… #sorrynotsorry)

I’m waiting to post my fall goals until Steph and Sara‘s link-up on Friday, but I wanted a fun bucket list for the season so that’s what we’re doing today! I also added some fall inspiration at the end, too- just in case you haven’t gotten your sweater wearing, scarf draping, latte sipping fix 😉

Audrey’s Fall Bucket List:

  • Go to a local apple orchard & bring home a bushel small bag of apples
  • Get all the fall decor out & around the house
  • Visit a few fall craft shows (preferably with Mom)
  • Pick out some bright orange pumpkins
  • Carve said pumpkins (preferably with Fred & Christina)
  • Drink lots of apple cider
  • Get a PSL DONE 😉
  • Host our annual Halloween Party (theme coming soon!)
  • Take the dogs to a local park or nature trail for hikes
  • Visit a haunted house
  • Bake a few new fall cookies
  • Fall vacation with the husband
  • Add a few classy, seasonal pieces to my wardrobe
  • Watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
  • Create & enjoy a fire pit area in our yard

Some of these are already in the works (the Halloween party, our fall vacation) but most of these are fun things I try to plan every year (and usually fail). A few of these might double as goals on Friday’s post, too. Meh. That’s just how it works.

And now for some Fall Inspiration! (Follow me on Pinterest for more!)

Style

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link | link | link 

Noms

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link | link | link | link

Halloween!

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link | link

What’s on your bucket list this season? We’re SO CLOSE to the first day of fall! ❤︎

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Fall About Me

Audrey4 Comments

What better way to finish out my favorite month than with a “Fall About Me” post?! I stole these questions from Lindsay at Bourbon, Lipstick, and Stilettos but I promise the answers are all mine 🙂 I can’t wait to share party-goodness with you guys next week! Monday I will update you on my movie challenge progress (spoiler alert: I’m not doing so hot…) and Wednesday I will talk all about the party! Then every Friday in November will be “Thankful Fridays” in honor of Thanksgiving! Ok, on to the good stuff!

Have a FANTASTIC Halloween, friends!

Favorite Candle Scent: Well, I just bought “Lakeside Sunrise” from Bath & Body Works, but I really love any fall scents. I think I might wander back into the store soon and stock up. (I keep buying Christmas/winter scents… oops!)

Best Fragrance for Fall: I never wear name-brand perfume, but my mom bought me Dior for my birthday and I really love it!

Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate? Coffee in the morning, hot chocolate while relaxing, (decaffeinated) tea in bed!

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My Halloween Kitty Sweatshirt

Favorite Thanksgiving Food: I love all Thanksgiving food (except cranberries… ick!), but I am a sucker for real, homemade mashed potatoes. I could eat them everyday, forever and ever.

Best Fall Memory? Shoot… I love fall and have so many memories. Camping with my dad, raking leaves with my brother, carving pumpkins every year with my brother, haunted corn mazes with my friends and K, my birthday parties in the past, Trick-or-Treating with my friends… Every fall memory is a good one!

Favorite Pie: I don’t actually like pie… The only kind I will eat is pumpkin or peanut butter cream pie, but they have to have a graham cracker crust.

Most Worn Sweater: I have a white sweater that I wear often, but you usually can catch me in my Mount Union or Bristol sweatshirt! Love me some sweatshirts!

What is Autumn like where you live? We typically start the day with a little frost or chilly dew. Temperatures tend to hang out in the 40s and 50s until early afternoon. Some days we see 70 but 60 degrees is perfection in Ohio during fall! Our evenings drop back into the 40s and you can smell the strong hint of campfire or bonfire on every block.

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Football games or jumping in leaf piles? Umm… band competitions? When I was in high school Fall meant marching band. But it also meant football games. Our rival game is actually tonight! Go Phila! Beat Dover!

What song really gets you in the fall spirit? Halloween by Dave Matthews Band!

Which makeup trend: Dark lips or winged liner? I don’t have the make-up to do either of these… but I would probably go with dark lips- it’s so bold and sexy! (And I’m horrible at eyeliner… getting it on, getting it to to stay on, etc.)

Is pumpkin spice worth all the hype? No, it’s not. I like the lattes on occasion and my grandma makes an AWESOME pumpkin cookie, but other than those two items I can go without it.

Favorite fall tv show? Once Upon A Time, The Mindy Project, The Muppets. K and I are also thinking about investing in Quantico.

Combat boots or Uggs? Combat boots. When Uggs were just popular I was gifted a pair and I wore them to death, but I’ve never felt the need or desire to replace them.

Skinny jeans or leggings? Skinny jeans. If I’m hanging around the house I tend to wear athletic shorts (and K does not approve of leggings in public), so when we go somewhere I usually have on skinny jeans!

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My Parents’ Pond

Halloween: Yay or Nay? Well let’s see…. Um… YAY! I’m so excited for our party tomorrow! I think I’ve always loved Halloween so when my friends humor me with costumes and parties it warms my little heart.

Thoughts on Black Friday? I could take it or leave it. I have 25% of my Xmas shopping done, so I’ll probably be more attentive to cyber Monday, but I will be out working on Black Friday since my part-time job is retail… yaaaay…

Fall mornings or evenings? Both. Because fall is fall. I love brisk (weekend) morning walks with the dogs and sitting around a bonfire at night.

One fall 2015 trend you’re loving: I love that sweatshirts are in right now. I love scarves and leg warmers and boots. And I love how “in” Fall is in general… pumpkins and corn mazes and festivals!

See you Monday!

Happy_halloween

-Louise

My Friday Fall Favorites

Audrey9 Comments

Keeping with the fall theme, today I’m offering up three of my favorite things about fall!

Honeycrisp Apples
In the days of my youth I knew not the difference between a peach and an apricot. Nowadays I’m like a pro. (Kidding. I think the difference is the fuzz. Is there anything else? They’re like the same thing.) A few autumns ago Erica and I went to an apple orchard in Amish Country and I learned the difference between honeycrisp apples and all the rest. The difference is HC apples are the tastiest and the others are average. That’s really all you need to know. I love munching on the sweetness of a honeycrisp apple! Go try one if you haven’t yet!

aples

Sweatshirts
When I wear one of my million sweatshirts my husband likes to inform me that the 90s called and they’re pretty peeved that I still have their sweatshirt. To this I say, “Poppycock.” In high school I loved my hoodies, but as a young adult on the verge of average adult on the verge of soccer mom (love this hair cut), I can’t get enough of the good, ol’ fashion, non-hooded sweatshirt. I prefer wearing scarves and hats with the basic design of this beefed-up long sleeve shirt. I like that it makes me feel vintage. I like that they’re in style for now. (And when they fall out of style I’m staying strong and holding on tightly to my Lion King crewneck and my Gryffindor alum sweatshirt!)

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Outside
When I was a kid my dad and I were members of the YMCA program Indian Princesses. (Yellow-knifes forever!) This meant that we met monthly with other dads and daughter to make crafts, have fun, and bond with our dads. Twice a year we did a weekend campout at a YMCA camp, one in fall and one in spring. I will always remember these weekends with a smile. First of all, all my best friends were in Indian Princesses. Secondly, our activities consisted of canoeing, bonfires, horse back riding (not a highlight), fire-cooked foods, hot chocolate, guitars around a fire, late nights, sneaking around, cute & sometimes-scary rituals, and staying up way too late, getting sick, and coming home covered in mud. We also had a super serious water balloon fight each year. (Seriously, I was almost abducted once by an enemy tribe!) This is before 10 and 12 year olds had cell phones, so we were totally disconnected from home/internet. This was a weekend away with our dads who pretty much let us get crazy dirty and lost in the woods (when they weren’t with us canoeing, hiking, or also getting lost). Fall has always been my favorite, possibly because of Indian Princesses & my dad. I love being outside in October. I love sitting around a blazing outdoor fire. I love looking up and seeing nothing but a moon and a million stars.

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So those are my favorite things about fall (plus pumpkins, scarves, boots, warm drinks, the colors, mums, gourds, apple cider, cool air, open windows, marching band, Halloween, Thanksgiving, frost, leaves, bare trees, four wheeling, hiking, haunted mazes, parties, festivals, my birthday…. ).

What’s your favorite part of fall? Do you have any fall date nights planned? Maybe a trip to see some changing leaves?

-Louise