Lately in September ♥

Hello! ♥

About a year ago a very good friend of mine traveled to London.  She very kindly brought me back a box of London Breakfast Tea. I have adored this tea from my very first sip.  I love the taste, the smell, the packaging, everything.  Needless to say, I've been hoarding it and only allowing myself a cuppa when I really want to treat myself.  Well friends, today is a sad day.  I am currently having my last cup of London Breakfast Tea. The beautiful gold box is empty.  I'm gutted.  I just texted my friend and told her that she needs to go back and get me another box.  She jokingly said, "or WE could go" and you know, that's not a bad idea! : ) 

So now I'm sitting here in my cozy home office dreaming of a London vacation.  If and when that day comes, I'll definitly be going to the tea shop.  Until then, hopefully Amazon can help a girl out.  Fingers crossed! ♥

I've been drinking tea in the afternoons these last few days.  Of course I start my day with coffee (not to worry!) but as my mom used to say on days like this "it's a tea kind of day" and it has been.  Fall arrived overnight and it's been rainy, cool, a little gloomy but in a good fall-ish kind of way, and I've not minded at all.  

 

♥

The mornings are dark and chilly so I light my candles first thing.  I'm always a little sad when the sun starts to come up. I like the flickering candles in the early morning darkness.  Is nice to spend a few minutes in solace before the craziness of the day starts.  

I've been thinking a lot about my mom this past week.  She loved fall as much (if not more) than I do.  Clearly that's where I got it from. The other day I went into the basement and brought up some of her fall decorations to put around the house.  I lit one of her favorite scented candles (sparkling cinnamon) and thought about how much we used to love this time of year.  Now is when we'd go to HomeGoods and Michales and craft fairs and start buying things for the holidays.  We'd love to go out to lunch afterwards.  Usually for soup and salad.  The last time we did this she was in a wheelchair. I know she wasn't feeling great but we had the best time shopping, planning, and laughing.  It was raining that day and we both ordered hot tea at the restaurant as soon as we were seated...

because it was a tea kind of day. 

I think it makes my Dad happy to keep on with her seasonal traditions. It's nice to see the things she loved and made (like the lamp below).  I know it makes me happy.  And also, a little sad too.  I am finding it hard to balance my feelings sometimes. 

But I digress about that....♥

Occasionally the sun peeps through the clouds, just long enough for the birds to have conversations, and then it grows dark again and rains some more.  

Honestly, I have to say it's the perfect weather if you want MOODY Fall.  And of course I do.  

The books I'm reading feel a bit spookier and my couch blanket feels cozier than ever.  

It's like a hug every time I wrap up in it.  

And now the house is full of all things Fall.  Orange, red, and yellow everywhere I look. 

It's finally here and summer is a memory.  

I feel like I was just in Maine. It really wasn't that long ago, but it feels like it.  

The leaves are just beginning to turn now.  We have a long way to go.

Soon this will all be golden and I can hardly wait ♥

If it ever stops raining, I'll plant my mums and marigolds.  

Hopefully next week! ♥

I love my pumpkin spice coffee in the morning in my pumpkin mug...and my little Halloween lights around the window... and my plants that I always forget to water but I'm praying they won't die....because I love them too.  

It's the little things ♥

It's almost October! ♥

    

I have to get more seasonal soaps!  Thankfully I have a little of this one left over from last year.  

Isn't the bottle cute?! ♥

(It's Bath & Body Works) 

More baking! How I love it so!!  We have a date set to go apple picking (and pumpkin picking) in October.  It's one tradition I try to never skip.  The more apples I bring home the more pies & crisps I'll bake.  I also want to do caramel apples this year.  

This is a Susan Branch recipe I've made many times.  It's SO GOOD!!!!  

Cozy ♥

Pumpkin heaven! ♥

The best! ♥

John's been making plans too.  There is a big Haunted House that he and his friends go to every year that he's looking forward to. And this year for the first time, he's going to be attending something called Scream Fest which sounds absolutely horrible to me, but he's excited about it.  It's at an amusement park.  Apparently, the park is taken over by zombies and monsters and they jump out and scare the life out of you around every corner.  No thanks.  I'll be home watching Charlie Brown that night. That's my kind of Halloween fun. LOL 

Last week I celebrated getting my annual mammogram with a pumpkin coffee and apple cider donut from Dunkin Donuts.  It was my treat for getting myself out of the house and at the doctors at 7:40 am.  It was well worth it.  

Side note: I got the results yesterday and I'm clear!  Yay! I don't have to do that again until next year.  

♥

Stunning colors at the supermarket.  If this doesn't say Fall I don't know what does! 

Maybe a black cat and a pumpkin....hmmm! :) 

So that's lately in September ♥

Tonight, Rob and I are attending an open house at John's school to meet his teachers.  We go every year.  It's hard to believe this is the last one.  I feel like lately I want to freeze every moment in time.  

Have a wonderful rest of the week friends! ♥

What are your plans for the weekend?  I hope you all stay cozy and if you're in the path of any bad weather, please stay safe! I have to do a little shopping on Saturday for a baby shower and a birthday celebration next week.  After that I hope to be able to cozy up and read some of my current book.  I'm thinking about making pizza on Friday night too.  

Love you! 

Byeeee! xoxo 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Blondies & a few fall favorites ♥

Hello Friends! ♥

Well, we made it through Monday and here we are on Tuesday! The weekend seems like an eternity ago. 

 In case you're wondering John had a great first weekend at his new job and officially LOVES it at the theater!  He worked Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to train and said the time flew by.  

He can't wait for his next shift. I'm so happy he's happy! : ) 

Rob and I had a lovely weekend too.  I did some house chores, errands, stopped by the farmers market (which is much more enjoyable now that the weather is getting cooler), and we managed to get out for a coffee date and a nice walk on the beach Sunday morning.  There was a classic car show going on which was quite fun too.  We love the classics.  Especially the old Cadillacs! :) 

♥

Remember I said I wanted to do some fall baking with pumpkin this weekend?  Well, I did!  

I remembered I had a recipe for pumpkin chocolate chip blondies that sounded like just what I was in the mood for.  It was the perfect little treat to have with tea while watching Downton Abbey! 

I had totally forgotten that a few years ago I made a YouTube video making this recipe!  I'd thought I share it again today, because this video is full of fall favorites and everything I love about the season.

I hope you enjoy it! ♥

 

Here's a link to the recipe and my original post:  pumpkin chocolate chip blondies

They are really yummy! 

Have a wonderful week my friends!  xo 

Fall Baking has begun! Cinnamon Apple Pop Tarts ♥

Hello Friends! Happy Friday! ♥

 How was your week? It went by so fast, I can hardly believe we're at the end already.  Well, John's first week as a senior was a huge success.  All classes are great and I heard no complaints.  And to top that off, he got a call on Monday that he's been hired at our local movie theater.  He applied for a job there months ago and they are finally ready for him!  He starts tonight.  For someone that loves movies as much as my son, it couldn't be a better job for him. He's in his element! 

We experienced some fall-like temps this week and it was glorious! I wore a cardigan sweater to work two times! I'm so happy to be back in my cozy clothes.  Little by little, we're getting there.  The last of our summer blooms are fading (but are still lovely) and I'm looking forward to planting mums and marigolds in our flower boxes very soon.  The supermarket has exploded with all my favorite pumpkin flavored things and I'm not ashamed to say I loaded up.  Pumpkin cinnamon rolls, pumpkin spiced oatmeal, creamer (of course), the list goes on and on and I'm not ashamed one bit.  It's who I am! lol 

I'm also thinking about some nice crock pot meals to make this fall.  My Pinterest boards are on fire! 

Speaking of Pinterest, I did a little fall baking on Sunday. I was craving apple something and I found an easy recipe for apple pop tarts.  I know, right?!  Instead of cutting them in the traditional rectangle shape, I found an apple shaped cutter that I had in my pantry and used that instead.  

All you do is many an easy apple filling on the stove and let it cool.  Get some pie dough (homemade or Pillsbury works just fine too!), fill, crimp, and bake.  These were so easy and came out delicious!!

I posted some pictures on Instagram and some of you were looking for the recipe so here you go!  

Cinnamon Apple Pop Tarts 

The smells of FALL! Ahhhh..... ♥

 

YUM!!! ♥

 I did make the cinnamon glaze to go on top but was too busy eating and I forgot to take a picture.  If you make these, I highly recommend the glaze.  It's so goooood and such a nice compliment to the apple filling! 

Such an easy treat and a perfect way to kick off fall baking season.  I realized I need to stock up on a few spices and things before Christmastime, so I'll be doing that very soon.  

Next up I think will be a pumpkin coffee cake or muffins because I have a can of pumpkin in my pantry just staring at me, begging to be opened!  I didn't feel very much like cooking or baking over the summer, but now that fall is here (in my mind it's here!) I feel myself getting my mojo back.  And that makes me very happy!  Not good for the little muffin top I've suddenly acquired, but I'm willing to ignore that for the sake of my love of fall and my happiness.  It's all about priorities : ) 

Well, that's it for me today, my dear friends.  This weekend will be filled with (aside from the aforementioned baked goods) cleaning, laundry, errands, a haircut, and a coffee date with my hubby on Sunday.  Tonight, while John is working, I'm continuing my Downton Abbey rewatch.  I've just started season 3, which we all know is a devastating season. I mean really, this season collectively destroyed us Downton fans.  How did we get over it?  I don't think I have, but I'm ready to put myself through it all over again.  And for those of you who haven't watched Downton yet, I highly, highly, recommend it.  It's streaming on Amazon Prime - you will not regret it! 

With all the chaos in the world today, I'm grateful to be able to turn all that off for a while, wrap myself in a blanket, and be completely enchanted with another world.  It's nice and much needed.  

Have a lovely weekend everyone! ♥ 

Xx 

John is a senior! ♥

Hello Friends! Happy Friday! ♥

Well, no matter what the calendar says, Fall has arrived at my home.  There is that little hint in the air that things are changing.  Thankfully it's gotten a bit cooler this week, especially in the mornings, which I love.  I like to have a sip or two of coffee on the back deck and breathe in some of the fresh air.  The leaves are beginning to change, and the birds and animals are preparing for the new season. 

It's a nice way to start the day.  

And speaking of starting the day....today is John's first day of school.  Senior year!  I still can't believe it. I can tell it's going to be an emotional year (for me!!:).  

He's very excited about his class schedule this year, which includes film criticism, comedy in literature, psychology & sociology, economics, statistics, music theory, orchestra band, and jazz band. 

I don't remember being that busy in high school! LOL  

What comes next we still don't know, but it will be an exciting journey figuring it out : ) 

First day of 1st grade.  It went by so fast! ♥

I dropped him off at 7:30 this morning and am dying to hear about his first day.  Funny he starts on a Friday, but nice to have the weekend off right away.  Ease into the getting up early schedule and all that....: ) 

As for me, I have a busy workday ahead.  I'm in my cozy home office today! I have a pumpkin coffee and my comfy slippers on so I'm good for the day.  I'm looking forward to the weekend! I want to do some fall baking tomorrow (let's make the house smell good!) and Sunday after church we are going out to breakfast.  What falls in between I'm not sure yet.  I'd like to read some of my book and maybe watch a movie or take a good long nap.  As you can see, it doesn't take much to get me excited for the weekend!

Have a cozy Friday, my friends! ♥

Xx 

Ogunquit, ME (i.e my new favorite place ♥)

 Hello my lovely friends! Happy Labor Day! ♥

It's a slow day around here today and I couldn't be more pleased.  I'm so happy it's finally September.  But before I gush about Fall and how I spent all day Saturday decorating (there will be plenty of time for that) I want to tell you about our mini getaway to Maine last week.  It turns out I love Maine!  Specifically, Ogunquit Maine.  The quaintest little Hallmark movie town I've ever seen.  We stayed at a lovely hotel, ate lobster rolls, visited darling shops, enjoyed ocean views, and had an overall wonderful time.  It was just the vacation I needed and the perfect way to kiss summer goodbye.  

Our first stop was Kittery, Maine for some outlet shopping.  It only took under two hours to get there from Boston.  Kittery is known for its shopping.  There were plenty of stores to browse.  My favorite was the Lindt Chocolate shop because they were giving out samples.  From this moment on I knew it was going to be a good trip! :) 

Is this not beautiful?! ♥

From here we headed to Ogunquit, but first stopped for lunch at Nubble Lighthouse.  

It was a little overcast, but I did not mind at all! 

Of course I had to get a lobster roll (and a cup of lobster bisque).  It was delicious!!! 

Could be the best one I've ever had ♥

We went on this trip with Rob's parents, my sister-in-law and her family.  They booked long before we did so we were in different hotels.  We stopped at theirs first, which was literally on the water.  This is their balcony. 

 

It overlooked Ogunquit beach.  

The views were spectacular, and the grounds were so pretty. 

We had some snacks and then Rob, John, and I headed to our hotel which was just 10 minutes down the road.  

It wasn't ocean front, but we couldn't have been happier.  It was adorable and we were greeted with coffee and fresh baked cookies!

And look what was on our door....they must had known I was coming! Lol! 

For the next few days, we explored the town.  

What I really appreciated was everything was mostly in walking distance, so we were able to visit the shops and restaurants mostly by foot.  

Walking along, everything is so beautiful and cozy....♥

I did see hints of Fall here and there too, which made me very happy!

It made me excited to get home and decorate, which is exactly what I did : ) 

The next day we walked the Marginal Way which was breathtaking! It ends in Perkins Cove for more shopping and iced coffees.  

I'm not an outdoor girlie (at all!) but I was completely obsessed with the scenery here. 

Our hotel included breakfast which was a nice little treat.  The waffles were yummy!

Our final day we stopped in Kennebunkport (another place I've never been to) which was absolutely DARLING! I wish we had more time to explore here. Another time for sure.  

This is the Bush compound.  It was quite something.  I've always wanted to see it. 

We browsed the quaint square for a bit and then hit the road.  Our final stop was the Stonewall Kitchen flagship store in York, ME which I wish I took a picture of, but I didn't.  It was the best! IYKYK! 

Rob and I have decided to go back to Stonewall at Christmastime to do some shopping, because that place really deserves an entire afternoon.  There is a little cafe there so we can have lunch too.  

♥

My overall thoughts of this mini vacation were that I learned I truly love Maine.  I think too I was really ready for a vacation, whereas when we went to NH last month I wasn't as much.  This time I was able to relax and enjoy myself a little more. 

We enjoyed being with our family so much!  At night we gathered in my in-law's room and played games, told stories, and had so much fun. 

Also, it was fun exploring and falling in love with a new place.  We have already decided to go back next summer :) 

And NOW my friends, the time has come.  It's officially a BER month! Sweater weather season is upon us (ignoring that its 80 today....just don't think about it!).  John goes back to school on Friday.  He's ready and so am I!  I need to bake something fall-ish this week...apple or pumpkin? Stay tuned!

After having one of the worst summers of my life...the first without my mom among other things, this trip and the start of Fall are just what I need to feel happy again.  

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend and a beautiful start to September!!  Let's enjoy this season together.  I pray is takes its time so we can truly enjoy it ♥

Love you! xoxoxo