Happy Fall Y'all!

 

Good-bye Summer!

 

 

"Give yourself permission to immediately walk away from anything that gives you bad vibes. There is no need to explain or make sense of it. Just trust what you feel." (Author Unknown)

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

 Can you believe it? Today is literally the last day of summer. As I sit here, sipping my iced coffee (still clinging to those summer vibes, clearly!), there's a whisper of crispness in the air, a subtle shift that tells us… it's time. Time to trade those breezy sundresses for cozy sweaters, flip-flops for ankle boots, and those long, sun-drenched evenings for golden hour glows and pumpkin spice everything.

But here’s the thing: It's not all bad. In fact, it's pretty great. Fall is like a big, cozy hug from the universe. It’s the perfect time to trade in our sandals for a comfy pair of boots and our light dresses for oversized sweaters. Think of all the amazing things fall brings: apple picking, pumpkin spice everything, and the excuse to stay in and binge-watch our favorite shows without feeling like we're missing out on anything.

 

This new season is also an invitation to slow down and reconnect. It’s a chance to get back into our routines, yes, but also to build new, cozy rituals. Maybe it's a weekly coffee date to catch up, a weekend hike to see the leaves change, or a night in with a good bottle of wine and a great movie. This is the perfect time to gather our favorite people and make new memories.

 

So, let's not mourn the end of summer. Instead, let's celebrate the beginning of fall. Let's embrace the crisp air, the beautiful colors, and the chance to get a little cozier. I can't wait to see what this season holds for all of us.

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

Just the Facts #30

 "Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is." (Bullet Bob Feller)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!  

 

 And just like that, it's our last Friday Funday before the holiday blogs take over. Can you believe it? Even with the weather still feeling like summer, we’re about to be plunged into a world of pumpkins, pies, and festive cheer.

 

So, let's talk about all things fall!

 

1. One autumn in high school, my dad was raking leaves in the backyard and asked for my help. I was sporting a fresh set of press-on nails and a less-than-enthusiastic attitude about yard work. As I was stuffing handfuls of leaves into a trash bag, I suddenly stopped dead in my tracks.

My eyes scanned the chaotic pile of leaves, a mix of vibrant reds, oranges, and browns. Panic set in. One of my precious nails had popped off and disappeared into the leafy abyss! I got down on my hands and knees, sifting through the leaves like a detective searching for a crucial piece of evidence. It took a while, but I finally spotted it—a tiny, shiny piece of plastic triumphantly recovered from nature's clutches.

 

2. The chill in the air always brings back a flood of memories. As kids, certain foods and drinks were a sure sign that the colder months had arrived. My mom would whip up creamy bowls of Cream of Wheat, savory pots of chicken soup, and mugs of fragrant spiced tea. Even now, when the leaves start to change, those familiar cravings kick in. It's a tradition that has warmed our family for years, one delicious bite and sip at a time.

 

3. Growing up, a simple tradition filled our family with so much joy: we’d pile into the car, a cooler packed with snacks and drinks, and head for the mountains. The four of us would drive for hours, mesmerized by the stunning, golden spectacle of the changing Aspen leaves. After our drive, we'd find a charming little mountain town to spend the rest of the day in, exploring local shops and enjoying a cozy lunch together.

For years, life got in the way and those trips became a distant memory. But the year before my dad and Bella passed, we spontaneously decided to do it all again. We packed up the car and drove into the mountains, just the four of us, chasing the vibrant colors one last time. It was a day I’ll cherish forever, and I’m so grateful we got to create that beautiful memory together.

 

4. As the weather turns crisp, one of my favorite little luxuries is snuggling into my bed. I'll swap out my light summer comforter for my thick flannel sheets, but I'll still wear my thin summer pajamas. The mix of the cool fabric on my skin and the warm, fuzzy sheets feels like a perfectly cozy secret, making for the best night's sleep.

 

5.  When the weather turns cool, I love to make a big pot of menudo. This hearty Mexican soup, with its rich broth, tender tripe, and plump hominy, is a labor of love that's worth every minute. While many swear by it as a hangover cure, I just love digging into a steaming bowl on a chilly day. It's a time-consuming dish, but the end result is pure comfort in a bowl.

 

6.  I had my very first hayride in 8th grade. It was a blast because I was with all my friends, but it was also the day I discovered I had allergies. I sneezed the entire time! Afterward, we gathered around a campfire, but to my dismay, there were no s'mores. I still haven't had one to this day, and I've never been on a hayride or a horse since.

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

In This Life

 

Just the Facts #29

 

 

“If Friday were a rainbow, it would be a double one.” (Keith Wynn)

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

 This week, we're diving back into my high school journey. Last week, we covered the freshman and sophomore years, which were a blast. But this time around, things get a little darker. My junior and senior years were a struggle, with more downs than ups. So, let’s get into it.

 

1.  Junior year was a major turning point for me. Up until then, I was putting up a facade of being the "perfect" person I thought everyone expected me to be, but it was all a lie. All that pressure to be something I wasn't made me miserable and depressed. I became so unhappy that it started to affect my schoolwork. I went from being a straight-A student to skipping classes and not caring about anything at all.

 

2.  By the time my senior year of high school started, I was really struggling. My parents eventually found out I was skipping school and not doing well in my classes. My drinking and drug use had gotten out of control, and I knew I needed to get help. The week of Halloween, I checked into a teen rehab facility and ended up staying there until about two weeks before Christmas. That was the turning point for me—the moment I decided to change my life for the better.

 

3.  While I was in rehab, my world was shaken up by some tragic news. A few of my friends were in a bad car accident. There were some serious injuries, but there was also one death—a sweet little girl named Megan who was about five. I used to watch her sometimes; she was my little shadow, always following me around. My parents and the doctor came to my rehab to tell me what happened, and I was given a 24-hour pass to go to her funeral. Being there broke my heart. It made me realize just how fragile life is, especially because there was a very real chance I could've been in that car, too. A part of me will always wonder if things would have been different if I had been there with her.

 

4. When I got out of rehab, I didn't have much of a say in where I'd finish high school. My parents lived right across the street from my old one, and they really wanted me to go back there. I felt totally different.

The first week back was a nightmare. Everyone treated me like I was made of glass and could shatter at any moment. I hated it and, after a month, I just stopped going and dropped out entirely.

 

5.  My high school journey was a little unconventional. I actually dropped out for a bit, but I went back to a cool program downtown that was designed for people like me who needed a different path. It was all self-paced, and I ended up finishing in less than a year!

 

6.  I have to end on a high note! I was talking about going to a concert every month, and I can't forget the time Def Leppard came through with their incredible "in the round" tour. They even filmed the show for two music videos, "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Armageddon It." The whole concert is on DVD, and I swear I caught a glimpse of myself in the crowd!

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

Always Remember, Never Forget

 

 

 Hello, my lovely friends! 

 

Every year I post this poem in honor of September 11, 2001. This is a day that we should always remember and never forget.

If I Knew
By Unknown

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
and certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

Just Be You

 

In an Autumn Mood

 "Rest but never quit. Even the sun has a sinking spell each evening. But it always rises the next morning. At sunrise, every soul is born again." (Anonymous)

 

Hello my lovely friends!  

 

     I'm totally ready for fall! The moment September 1st hit, I was all in on the autumn vibes. Even though it's still warm out and we're getting a second dose of summer heat, last week gave us a beautiful sneak peek of what's to come. The cool, crisp air was a perfect preview of the season, and I'm ready to cozy up for good.

 

    The autumn air is getting crisp, and my brain is already buzzing with fresh blog ideas! I've decided to kick off my holiday blogging on the first day of fall, which is right around the corner. We've even started watching spooky season movies to get in the spirit. I'm finally excited about the holidays again, and I can't wait to share all the fun with you!

 

     You might have noticed my page got a little cozy—I just couldn't resist swapping my summer look for some autumn vibes. There's just something about the crisp air, warm colors, and all things pumpkin spice that makes me feel right at home. It's getting so good, I'm starting to wonder if autumn might be taking over as my favorite season. Could it finally be time to dethrone winter?

 

 While the crisp autumn air is calling my name, I'm still getting some strong summer vibes! The heat is back with a vengeance, and my yard is definitely showing its exhaustion after a long, hot season.

 

 As the days grow shorter and the air gets crisp, my garden is bursting with vibrant autumn colors. I love this time of year, but I'm ready to embrace the coming season. I’m putting the garden to bed for the winter, and I’m so excited for a break to enjoy some lazy days.

 

    This autumn is extra special because my friend Mike is coming to visit for a week! We're already making plans to get the house ready with all the cozy, spooky feels. He's had a really rough time lately, taking on a lot with his parents’ health issues and the unexpected loss of his stepdad, Greg. It’s been a lot for him to handle, so I'm hoping this trip will be a much-needed escape from all that stress. We both want him to have the perfect, relaxing getaway.

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again.

Just the Facts #28

 

“However enjoyable the holidays may have been, there is always a pleasurable excitement about going back to school.” ~A. Q. Carter

 

Hello, my lovely friends! 

 

    The week has flown by, and it’s already Friday Funday! Today we’re diving into the rollercoaster that is high school. It was one of the best—and worst—times of my life, but it absolutely molded me into who I am today. Let's get into it.

 

1.  My sister and I are four years apart, which meant we never spent a day in the same school. I'm actually grateful for the gap, because we're total opposites—she's an extrovert, and I'm an introvert. Our personalities would have certainly clashed. She graduated high school in June 1986, and I started my freshman year that August.

 

2.  My school stopped offering special programs like Gifted and Talented or Club 34, but I was placed in AP English and AP Math. I also made a plan to finish all my core classes during my freshman and sophomore years. My goal was to have my final two years free to take electives and more interesting classes, and it mostly worked out as I had hoped.

 

3.  I never quite fit into any one group in school because I was friends with everyone. Our class was a diverse mix of backgrounds, with most of us growing up together from kindergarten to high school. The majority of students were Black and Mexican, with only a small number of white kids. We were briefly separated in middle school, but we all came back together for high school.

 

4.  I took French for a number of years, starting in middle school and continuing all the way through high school. While I still remember the fundamentals and can read and pronounce the language, my conversational skills have gotten rusty. I'm hoping to refresh my memory and regain some fluency by taking a few lessons.

 

5.  I was on the Speech and drama teams. I competed in debate, and placed in a few meets on the weekends. I took drama all four years, but only tried out for one play, "Dracula." I got the part of the maid, and had to learn an English accent. I learned my lines and the accent by watching wrestling and copying the British Bulldogs.

 

6.  Back in the late '80s, I was a total metalhead. I lived for the hair bands: Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi, and Guns N' Roses. They were the biggest thing around, and my friends and I would go to a concert almost every month. We'd pack into one car and sleep in the parking lot just to snag tickets. There was a core group of about 20 of us who were at every show, and we all became good friends.

My mom was cool with it and always wrote a note for me to excuse my absence from school the next day. One time, the school office tried to deny the excuse, but I told them to call my mom at work. They did, and she set them straight—I got my excuse note.

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

It's All For You