Favorite Fall Things

Hygge for Fall! It has taken its merry time to visit us this year, but I’ve found that even with the AC blasting away most of October, it can feel like autumn has arrived if you surround yourself with a few favorite fall things! Here’s my list for this season. 
Mulled Cider candle from Walmart! It smells amazing and I love the mustard color! Once you peel off the hideous label, it adds the perfect look and smell of the season. 

The Big One Super-soft Oversized Black & White Buffalo Check Plush Throw from Kohl’s last year! It’s a family favorite, and gets fought over. 

But this gold/mustard blanket from target.com has evened the playing field! It’s the epitome of cuddly. 

Home screen and lock screen pics. No explanation needed! 

This Soothing Caramel Bedtime tea just feels like sipping a cup of fall. Feel free to add cream! 

The adorable lil white pumpkin with its novelty stem from Katie, sitting by the basket of books entwined with twinkle lights. 

Gold metal deer that were purchased years ago at WeCare that stoically stand atop our little fireplace heater. 

Happy Fall, Y’all! 

Acceptance or Action

I’m feeling philosophical as I sit here in the shaded area of the parking lot of Atmore’s Tom Byrne Park, pondering again the thoughts that have been rolling around in my somewhat scrambled brain. -side note: {We should be strolling the aisles of Piggly Wiggly, plunking necessities into our cart, but Danielle fell asleep just before we arrived. So we did the bank run, then I decided to just sit and write a bit, while I let her have a 30 minute snooze.}

So! Is acceptance a muscle that gets stronger with use? Sometimes I think I pretty much know how to accept whatever comes my way, and that years of practice have made it easier. But then other times, I feel like I still fall way way short of accepting the little things that I wish were different about my life in general, myself, or others around me. When I look at the big picture, it’s perfect. I have it so, so good. A husband who adores me, (most of the time lol) a healthy happy entergetic daughter, a place to call home, and plenty to eat, just to list a few blessings! But then, I find myself wishing I would get more done, or be like so-and-so, or just change the way I am in this area or that! When simple, complete acceptance would bring relief and peace. But! What about action? Maybe a little mental shove is needed to actually spur a change that would bring happy results! Who knows? Like somehow sticking to a schedule! Or learning a new skill! This whole subject makes me think of the Serenity Prayer. It really can’t be said any better. Lend me your thoughts though! Do you tend to try to accept the things about your life or yourself that you wish were different, or take action to make a change?

Breakfast of Champs!

I know it’s almost lunchtime, but before I sat down with my breakfast,  I’ve tended the ill, made Ramen noodles, read snatches in my book from Dollar Tree, torn off countless pieces of tape for my tireless, craft-loving toddler, supplied a small spread of breakfast for aforementioned toddler to stare at, broomed up the floors, added items to our ever-growing grocery list, made the bed, and worked on my to-do list! And at last am sitting down enjoying the following breakfast which I felt inspired to blog about because I wish I would use my BlogTouch app that I am paying for every month, instead of posting statuses. Not that anyone cares what I eat for breakfast, but I just love to write about food whilst I’m eating it! 

Apple Tea actually from Harrods in London in my favorite London mug. #thanksjill

Toast with a thick layer of peanut butter.

2 brown eggs fried in bacon grease.

Several swings of homemade mango kombucha. #refreshing

And the highlight, a cup of pistachio salad with lots of toasted pecans! 

What broke your fast this Monday morning? I, for one, would love to know! 

Go Around Again!!! (Our Story of Fastfooding in Faith)

Ordering whatever the person ahead of you ordered in the fast food drive-thru is becoming a popular challenge! And rightly so! The thrill is similar to thrift shopping! You have no idea what you might (or might not) score! One of my friends had recently suggested that I do this and blog about it, and the other day one of my cousins (ask Mervin Smith about their experience!) regaled me with their tale of fastfooding it, piquing my interest even further. Since Mondays usually involve an Atmore errand run for me and Danielle, I decided that today was the day! Some people do a whole day of this adventure, but for us it was just lunch, rather late. I did no scouting or lingering to wait for what looked like a HappyMealdallic, but just slid in line at 1:20 pm behind a cream-colored Cadillac, hungry and hoping for the best! The voice in the box seemed a bit dubious of what I was trying to order, but soon figured it out and proclaimed that the car ahead had only wanted ONE VANILLA ICE CREAM CONE. "OK, that's what I want!" Stomachs rumbling, I slipped the attendant the cash, explained what we were up to, and asked if she was familiar with this challenge. She wasn't but wished us luck! I told her we were gonna "Go around again!" hoping to score more food! This time we were behind a small red car.... fingers crossed... but no bananas!!!! ONE LARGE SWEET TEA. Oh well, better luck at Burger King! Danielle, pleased to be eating dessert first, licked her cone in contentment while I sipped sweet tea and swung into the empty lane of Burger King. And finally we scored!!! LARGE CHICKEN FRY, BBQ SAUCE, LARGE FRY, and LARGE DR. PEPPER. We took the mother-load to the Magical Alleyway and feasted happily on our fry meal, I read in Educated, and Danielle found two kids books to borrow from the adorable little lending library that is now homed there. So the moral of the story is that life is an adventure if you are willing to look for it, but you might have to go around again, and again, and again! 

Third time's the charm, you know. 

Thankful on Thursday & Friday!

(I wrote half of this list yesterday and decided to finish and publish it today!)

Today I’m thankful for...

Cheap, chic $1.99 flip flops from Family Dollar...

Friends who are like family...

Ripe red garden tomatoes sprinkled with kosher salt...

Homemade peach milkshakes...

The  scent of Gain “Island Fresh” laundry detergent...

Doctors who care about you like a person instead of just a name on a chart...

Great Value frozen red raspberries...

Books that make you more grateful for your own good life...

Atmore’s splash pad...

Watermelons stands with crude spray-painted signs...

Family who are like friends...

The weeks that I actually make menu plans! 

The realization that we are all more alike than different. 

#thankfulthursday

I’m  thankful for...

• my blue bobby pin

• cans of cold raspberry bubly 

• local swim lessons

• friends who are real and raw

• chances to start over

• a foodie hubby who picks up fish & grills it

• Captain Smiley’s Seafood Market

• the pleasant sizzle of a new idea

• the comfort and perks of my job in the office at my parents’ home 

• AC

• the obvious hand of God in my life 

• Danielle’s timely reminder to “get gas!” today! Fuel light on, my mind off! 🤦🏼‍♀️

• Fresh blackberries 

• my silver satin pillowcase

A Tale of Two Tennis Shoes Continued

Brooks wins! Hands down! There are no words to even explain how much better these shoes are in every way over the Walmart runners. So! Go to brooksrunning.com and take their shoe finder quiz! Order the shoe for you, and become a runner! My results said I need a neutral, energize shoe. I scored these pretty Launch 5s on sale since they were clearancing them out. They fit like they were custom-made for my feet!

Finished the final 5k run today! This is the first exercise program I have ever stuck with to completion, thanks to having a running partner, Heidi Harms! We didn't physically run together, but encouraged each other and kept tabs on each other's progress. Knowing I was accountable to her was the incentive I needed. Now who wants to be my sewing partner?!