Happy (almost) Halloween!!!
I love this time of year. Crisp weather, the smell of leaves and fires burning (don’t get that in the city as much as at home), delicious hot drinks and candy on candy on candy. I bought two jumbo bags of Halloween candy for a little get together we had last weekend. I’ve eaten most of it on my own. You can tell a LOT about a person depending on the types of Halloween candy they buy. I saw a woman at Target buying a giant bag of Smarties yesterday and I think I actually shook my head. No offense if you bought/love Smarties. But I don’t get it. I want the real deal candy. I’m talking the stars of Halloween…the pumpkin Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins. Can I get an amen. Alllllll that peanut butter stuffed inside some gooey milk chocolate…my dreams are made up of peanut butter pumpkins.

I’m also all about the Twix/Butterfinger/KitKat. And of course all the fruity stuff: Skittles, Starburst, Sour Patch Kids. YUM. My jars of Halloween candy are staring at me right now and it is taking all the willpower I have to not throw my computer/cat from my lap and sit on the floor eating candy until I’m sick (not like I’ve ever actually done that…).

They had trick-or-treating in the West Loop (my hood) last week and Mikey and I stared out the window like creeps watching all the little princesses and monsters walk by. There were also those 5 star parents who dressed up too and I just wanted to run down and hand them a beer and give them a hug. They were giving zero F’s and I loved it. Your kid thinks you are SO cool and you should enjoy it while it lasts because pretty soon they will hate you if you show up anywhere in any type of costume. Except the dad that was in the full on giraffe costume. Never stop wearing that thing and being that guy, you’re amazing.

Since I am in full on fall/Holiday spirits I found some stunning pictures that I am loving on lately! Enjoy your weekend and make sure you eat at least ONE piece of candy (but preferably 34) because it is the one time of year that you can do it without any guilt! Mikey and I have a tradition that he gets to pick 1 scary movie a year for us to watch around Halloween. I hate scary movies (he loves them) more than anything and tonight is the night. I’m going to have nightmares for weeks.

Lets talk about things that don’t scare me…like this stunning outdoor tablescape in the woods. This makes me miss living in the country sooooo bad it hurts. I live for these types of meals. How beautiful and creative! Someday I’m hosting a party like this!

Next on the list are some SPPPOOoooooKKKyyyyyy cocktails. Click on the link and you will be given a list of 25 fun Halloween cocktails to make at your party tomorrow. Or for yourself right now…

Aren’t these cute! They are so pretty and festive and actually look like a caramel apple I would like to eat! The sticks are my favorite part and really take it from a basic candy apple to a beautiful (and tasty) decoration. 

I think I’ve posted this picture before but I don’t even care. It’s so autumnal and speaks to my inner Wisconsinite because it has cheddar cheese, brie cheese and beer in it (as well as other delicious ingredients). Half Baked Harvest is my blog-crush fo sho.

Last but not least (and somewhat similar to the dinner party in the woods) is this fall picnic in the woods. Can you sense the trend. I love to eat fall things in the woods. I’ll stop talking about it. Check out this gorgeous blog link to see more about how you can pack up a pretty basket of goodness and get out into the wild to enjoy the season. 

Hello Beautiful!
T.G.I.F
Can I get an ‘Amen? What a week. I have noticed a trend among my fellow friends and community and it seems like this has been a long and tiring week. BUT we made it and now we can take the weekend to recharge the batteries.

I plan to recharge mine tonight with a night in on my couch, some warm tea and a movie. Tomorrow we are going to spend some time with friends carving pumpkins and enjoying fall festivities. I feel like Mikey and I are constantly saying that we are going to slow down in the fall and I honestly think (and hope) that this is the start of the slow down. Let the healthy diet and exercise really start (fingers crossed) and spend more time relaxing and less time traveling and socializing.

I am excited for more time to bake and cook! I feel like it has been a year since I spent an entire day baking and cooking and I can’t wait to spend some time with my giant stack of new recipes!

No matter if fall is your busy season or if you too feel like you are slowing down now after a whirlwind summer, make sure that you find time to reflect on the season that passed. Good and bad, be thankful for the change that comes with each season as a sort of new beginning. Time to start a new hobby, mend an old friendship or create new relationships. Maybe you form a new routine, like going to get donuts and coffee every Saturday or reading 1 chapter of that book everyone has been reading. Whatever it is, make time for it. Make time for family, friends and always, always, make a little time to treat yo’self.

Like, especially treat yourself to donuts. Preferably like the picture below, drizzled with chocolate and STUFFED with peanut butter.

I love hats. I have a few hats (Mikey has way more) in my collection and I always wish that I wore them more. Now that I’m a yoga teacher I rock the sweaty bun most days, but often a hat is needed to cover up the mess of hair that appears after the sweaty hi-bun. I love the whole street style look with an edgy hat. So cute.

Warm drink season is here. I have not had it, but hear that Hot Buttered Rum is the best treat in the world. I’m going to make some tomorrow and I can’t wait. A drink that includes butter seems like a genius idea.

From afar this looks like a waffle. But really, it’s a Spaghetti Squash Fritter with Dill Yogurt Sauce. Yeah. Sounds great, right? Also healthy. Squash season is the best. I loveeeeeee to cook in the fall.  My favorite thing is to load up on seasonal fruits and veggies and mix them all together in new and exciting ways. You better believe I’m going to dig out my waffle iron and give these babies a go!

I’m typically drawn to all white everything when it comes to living spaces. BUT, I also love the contrast of super dark everything as well. I love this boho inspired room with the bright pops of color. It’s so unexpected and cool. I just want to become this homeowners friend so they invite me over for super fancy pizza and PBR. Then the neighbor from down the hall would come and play his guitar and it would get weird, but still feel cool because of the decor…(I think I watch too much tv).