Fall.

Fall is....

- Pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks.

- Brisk mornings.

- Blazer weather.

- Fresh, crisp air.

- A pup with even more bounce in her step.

- The start of the holiday season.

- Visits with family.

- Changing of the leaves.

- Falling leaves.

- Apple cider.

- Tones of burgundy, rich chocolate brown, and rust orange in shop windows.

- Potted mums in shades of yellow and orange on doorsteps.

- Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

- Trips to New York City.

- Knee high boots.

- Beginning of the year's best fashion.

Philadelphia, PA. 2010.

Things.

Everything you would ever want to know (and that I'm willing to share)

1st installment of many

- I'm old school and like Times New Roman font- it's pretty much all I ever use.

- When I was young (as in elementary school and earlier), I wanted to appear not as a follower and stereotypically "girly" so I always said my favorite color was blue when in reality, it was pink.

- If not for the Sun-In catastrophe in high school, I may still be blond today.

- I prefer shopping alone. I like to spend hours, or not, but want the freedom to chose my own pace. I feel odd when shopping with others (usually), unless it's my mother.

- I tried wearing heels to work the other day. I'm pretty sure I've worn heels 3 times since I moved up north, 2 years ago. I lasted 2 hours.

- I wish I was that person who got up half a hour early in the mornings to read the paper and drink a cup of coffee, but I'm not. I wake up with just enough time to get myself ready. I probably never will be that person.

- I look forward to the holiday season all year.

- I have no problem listening to Christmas music in October (gasp).

- I love to vacuum.

- I spend about 10 months of the year wanting (or enjoying) cold weather. I spend only about a month wanting hot weather. I was meant to be in the north.

- Still, I take driving in the rain any day over driving in the ice and snow.

Camo

...something missing from my blog during the past 2 years- my scrapbooking creations. My scrap projects have been few and far between. Since I moved from Florida and started graduate school, life got in the way and I haven't had the time to scrapbook. I did bring all my materials and supplies with me (I had high hopes), but it has been an impossibility. The only things I have been able to create have been gifts such as the one below. I made this for my brother-in-law. It's their chocolate lab, "Camo." I thought John might like a piece celebrating one of the loves of his life. I included all his nicknames for him too. It's one of my favorite pictures of Camo. I really like the way it turned out and the color combination compliments the sepia toned picture well.

Now that I have finished graduate school (yes!!), I will have more time to devote to one of my favorite things. It's such a great release for me. Very therapeutic.

[click on images for a larger view]

10 things.

Things that make me smile:

Pinterest

Colin Egglesfield

Long walks with Giz

Days when it doesn't rain

Honey green tea

Rizzoli and Isles & Suits

Perusing design/decor blogs

Being able to scrapbook again

Brisk mornings (fall is coming!)

Fall product at PB

Would you like a lemon with that?

I took a trip to Florida during the end of June to visit my family and friends. The trip was well overdue. My dear friend Christina and I took a short trip to Mt. Dora. She had never been, and I've been many times before. I enjoy visiting the small town and knew she would enjoy its quaintness. We had such a good time together- catching up, laughing, complaining about the heat...she and I are so alike. Our time together always goes by too fast, but I am thankful for it.

View outside our hotel

Day at the Beach

Took Gizzie to the beach for the first time during my visit to Florida. I learned that, like her mother, she is far from a beach girl. She is definitely not a water dog! She hated it and looked terrified anytime dad or I put her in the water. In fact, her favorite place? With my mom on the towel, under the umbrella, as far from the ocean as possible. But she did make some furry friends...

Play time with a Westie puppy!

Ash and I

Wet and sandy- looking a little rough.

Yes, that's Gizzie trying to get under my hat, where it's shaded. Sweet girl.

She would much rather watch all the other pups having fun in the water.

A little modesty goes a long way.

I could not have put it better myself. True for me and true for the whole world. She has it right.

"I find the whole concept of being ‘sexy’ embarrassing and confusing. If I do an interview with photographs people desperately want to change me - dye my hair blonder, pluck my eyebrows, give me a fringe. Then there’s the choice of clothes. I know everyone wants a picture of me in a mini-skirt. But that’s not me. I feel uncomfortable. I’d never go out in a mini-skirt. It’s nothing to do with protecting the Hermione image. I wouldn’t do that. Personally, I don’t actually think it’s even that sexy. What’s sexy about saying, ‘I’m here with my boobs out and a short skirt, have a look at everything I’ve got?’ My idea of sexy is that less is more. The less you reveal the more people can wonder."- Emma Watson