Go there...

I rise this morning without my favorite early-morning friend, the sun. This reminds me that the days are changing, the days are getting shorter. I will have to wait a little bit longer for it to appear from behind the horizon of buildings that I see to my left. Paired with the lack of a 5 o'clock sunrise is the presence of a cool breeze that wafts in through my three windows, pushing the scent of freshly brewed coffee to every inch of this space. With the breeze comes the sound of crickets, a sure sign that I've achieved my goal of getting up before the day actually starts. And since my coffee is too hot to hold onto, let me share a few things that I have discovered since my last post. 


There is nothing better than a good mug...filled with coffee of course. There's something about the large, sturdy mugs that makes me want to wear slippers and sip java all day long. And since my last post talked about my favorite thing to pair with coffee for the coming months (remember, the sugar-free pumpkin syrup?), let me show you a few of my fall mugs picks that I know will hold that delicious pumpkin coffee perfectly: 

TARGET: $11.99/4-Pack

TARGET: In Store Only

OVERSTOCK.COM: $30.99/4-Pack

Just like there's nothing better than a good mug of coffee, there's also nothing better than fresh produce from a farmer's market. I made my way up to the Green City Market yesterday and discovered a ton of vendors with fresh fruit, veggies, baked goods, cheese, you name it. I, of course, scoped out a farm from Michigan called Seedling and traded the friendly guy a few dollars for a bag of Jersey Mac apples. Breakfast this morning will be Greek yogurt with apple slices and cinnamon. Very fall-inspired and very delicious. 

Going to the farmer's market reminded me of fall more than ever, even though the 75-degree sun was beating down on me during my journey. There's something about the abundance of apples, homemade jellies (specifically the apple jelly), and the farmers from Michigan that reminds me of my favorite season. And makes me want to go to a place where I can find all of this, plus amazing views, wineries, and most likely that cool breeze that I love so much. 

There is one thing better than a good coffee mug, fresh produce, and apple jelly; that is time with family. I discovered over the past couple of unplanned and disheveled weeks that at the end of the day, the only thing that truly matters is the people closest to you and your relationships with them. Suddenly schedules are not important, to-do lists are not the center of your day, and life is looked at from a different perspective. However, it really makes you sit down and think about where you are, where you're going, and where you truly want to be. It is there that you will find happiness. So go there. 

Morning thoughts...

As I get myself settled in this new environment, my mind does the same with my thoughts. Although there is no window for me to sit in here, I have found comfort on my freshly made bed under a cozy blanket. A mug of coffee waits patiently for me to take another sip. I've made it a goal of mine to get out of bed before 6 AM, to rise with the sun. Even if I find myself returning here to document my thoughts. My reasoning behind this is simple; I feel much better about myself and my day when I get an early start. Not to mention that partial-darkness haze that fills my space in the morning, which motivates me to do it again tomorrow. 


My morning cup of coffee has slipped into my favorite season, which is right around the corner. You guessed it; fall of course. I join my coffee whenever possible and long for the upcoming days of being engulfed by the comforting scents, tastes, and sights of the fall months. I'm done with the hot, uncomfortable days. And so is my coffee. This morning it's sporting my favorite sugar-free syrup, along with its typical splash of soy milk and sprinkle of equal. The final touch of cinnamon transports my mug and I to mid-October. 

http://www.davincigourmet.com/products/product_details/?productID=232

Since my coffee has already crossed into the next season, it's time for me to prepare myself for the transition. I'm anxiously anticipating pulling out my fall wardrobe; leggings, over-sized sweaters, boots, etc. Although these lingering sticky days are preventing me from making the switch, there's no reason why I can't browse for new additions to this cozy wardrobe. Here are a few scarves that I'm drawn to (and can hopefully get my hands on):

With my obsession for cool weather comes my love of pumpkin...anything. My mission for this fall is to create as many pumpkin concoctions as possible, take full advantage of this excuse to do so. It just so happens that my next break from school falls during the last week of September; so you better believe I will be visiting this website and whipping up these guilt-free pumpkin recipes. I'm especially interested in the Roasted Pumpkin-Apple Soup:

And of course, while my soup is cooking, I will be curled up on the couch next to a burning pumpkin candle. Surely I will be needing a good book to read. Which means in the next 5 weeks I will need to get my hands on one that I've recently learned about through my girls at Good Housekeeping, The Happiness Project. The author, Gretchen Rubin, made it a goal of hers to spend 1 year doing something that made her happier every day. And then she wrote a book about it.

So there you have it. A quick recap of my thoughts and ideas for now. From here, I move forward, full force. The next 5 weeks will leave me busy with projects, work, weekends spent with family, and hopefully a little bit of fall-preparation shopping. It's time for another cup of coffee and another beautiful day.