Finally Feeling Fully like Fall...

Notice anything different? Yes...I've finally put up my new Autumn look. What do you think? I kept some of the blue, because I couldn't bear to completely get rid of it, but I did add some reds and browns. I love the feeling of my blog right now--still the same design, just tweaked for the Fall.

I've also rewritten my about me page, so I'd love for you to check that out. I've kept this design waiting for a bit, just making sure it was ready to put up. And since I was feeling a bit uninspired for a post today, I thought I'd put this up.

What do you think? Also, answers to the questions coming tomorrow...stay tuned. :)

Have a happy week, sweet friends!
--Hannah

Aspire Photo Challenge - Falling in love with Autumn

<a href="http://manyrandommusings.blogspot.com/search/label/Aspire%20Photo%20Challenge"><img vspace="none" hspace="none" alt="Aspire Photo Challenge" src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/ElvishAuthoress/aspirephotochallenge-1.png" align="center" /></a><a href="http://manyrandommusings.blogspot.com/search/label/Aspire%20Photo%20Challenge"><img vspace="none" hspace="none" alt="Aspire Photo Challenge" src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/ElvishAuthoress/aspirephotochallenge3.png" align="center" /></a>Like I said, I'm seeing Fall everywhere, so what better photo challenge than an Autumn one? Although red leaves are the typical fall photo, they do truly say autumn. Whenever I see them I'm reminded of leaf fights, hay rides, bonfires, a cup of chai in my mittened hands, woolen hats, autumn coats, a crisp, chilly, almost spicy smelling air, and late movie nights with the family. Mmm...don't you just love fall? I sure do. ;) As I've stated numerous times, it's my favorite season. What reminds you of autumn? And why? Tell me...or better yet, link up with your fall photo.

If you haven't played along before, choose a photo that you've taken that best represents the category for this week to you. Then make sure to grab a button to include in your post. And remember to bloghop around a bit; a photo challenge is more fun if there's an active group of photogs partaking in it, so make sure to visit at least three other entries and comment on them. You've got till next Friday night to link up, so have at it! Finalists will be posted on Sunday. :)

Stream of Consciousness

1. I love this guy.
As in, I seriously, completely, one hundred percent love him. And it seems like everyone we meet loves him. We were down at the orthaepedic center for my foot, and at least four people came up and remarked on his adorableness. One even said that he stole her heart.

Newsflash. He stole mine ages ago.

2. a Wardrobe Armoire. That's what I really need. I barely have enough room in my little closet for my clothes. But lately, I think I have a thing for boots lately. A week and a half ago, I got my boot, and now I'm getting some more boots from CSN. And my question to you is...which one do you think it is that I'll be reviewing? How well do you know me? ;)


3. I love snapple. Even the name is fun to say. Snapple, snapple, snapple. Try it. Snapple, snapple, snapple. Okay, I'll stop. Do you like snapple? Or no? Why? And if not...what's one of your favorite beverages?


4. Changes are coming to Aspire First of all--nothing major is gonna happen to the site/design. Just a few tweaks to give it a more autumn feel. Because, let's face it: it's not screaming fall right now. However...after the new design, well, let's just say that we'll see. Stay tuned! ;)

5. Amendment to ramble number 3. Coffee. As much as I love snapple, coffee has it beat. And Caribou? Mmm...:)


6. New photo challenge coming on Saturday. Get ready--another photo challenge will be up tomorrow. The theme this week? Autumn. What else? Get your Fall photos ready!

7. We've got photographers in our house... Brennan's taking pics all the time now. He wants to use my camera whenever he can. I love looking at the photos he takes. It's interesting to see his eye.


8. Thursday was a good day. A very, good day. Why? I got to go back to ballet! Only a half class, because I couldn't do anything in the center with my foot, but I got to do barre. Believe me, I was so happy. And my foot--my foot is feeling good. Ahh...so happy. :)

What's on your agenda today? Have anything special you're doing? I'd love to hear about it! Have a happy Friday, sweet friends!

I love breakfast, especially this...

If you're in need of something yummy...

And want to have that something that melts in your mouth...

Especially if you love icing...

Plus cinnamon...

Then I would suggest making some Cinnamon Rolls.

They're yummy and oh-so-deliciously-flaky, and when you spread the icing on on them, it melts and creates a sweet, sticky mess.

Heaven.

Look at that...perfection on a plate.

What's your favorite breakfast food? and why do you like it so much? I'd love to know!

Lovely Photo Wednesday - I'm happy

<a href="http://manyrandommusings.blogspot.com/search/label/Lovely%20Photo%20Wednesday"><img vspace="none" hspace="none" alt="Lovely Photo - Wordless or Not-So-Wordless Wednesday at Aspire" src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/ElvishAuthoress/LovelyPhoto.png" align="center" /></a>Welcome to this week's Lovely Photo Wednesday! Feeling a bit apprehensive today. I'm going back in to get my ankle checked out and if I get the all clear, then I can go back to ballet. It's been a long past week and a half for me with no dance.

But enough of that--clear or no clear, it's a good day. And there is so much to be thankful for. It may sound crazy, but Wednesday is one of my favorite days; it's the turning point of the week and I always wake up feeling so refreshed. And there's some lovely fall leaves right now that are just starting to drop lazily to the ground. So I'm happy. :)



If you haven't played along before, link up your lovely photo and tell us a bit about it, or none at all. Write what you want or don't say anything, but share a picture and link it up below. Then, remember to bloghop around a bit and comment on at least three other entries. Ready? Go! ;)

Grateful

Sometimes I am amazed at the delicacy of some things. Of how fragile they can be. And how the simplest, ordinariest, and humblest of things can be beautiful. Beautiful.



My tagline is celebrating beauty. living vivid. I think I might have to amend it in order to say what I mean even clearer. Celebrating beauty in the everyday. All the little, humble, ordinary, beautiful things that make up our days. And that we often pass by.



How much sweeter would our days be if we looked past the sticky fingers and looked instead to the leaf collages? Or if we ignored the mess in the backyard and instead said, "hey, that's a cool fort that you made," to our nine year old sister and her friend?

Or if we simply took the time to sit down with a cup of coffee or chai and just drink it all in--all the beautiful, sweet and good things in this life that we've been given.



Like water droplets decorating a spiderweb; better than any bedazzled jeans that you could buy or make. It brings a whole new meaning to this verse "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." (Luke 12:27)



What are you grateful for today?
-hannah

ps. have a question? head over to my q & a post and ask me!

I see Fall everywhere...

I love Fall. It's always been my favorite season. I know there are some who love Summer, or Winter, or Spring, but Fall...well, I'm an autumn gal, through and through. It's the time when you pull out the glue sticks, glitter, and construction paper, grab a few leaves and make a sticky mess decorating for Autumn with kiddos who are practically bursting with excitement. Where you tape up cut-out pumpkins on your windows because, hey, your nine year old sister wanted to welcome Fall. And it's when you go through Caribou (or Starbucks, for those of you who don't have a 'Bou near you), grab a coffee, and then pull on a woolen sweater after seeing the first frost dust the ground.



There's a chill in the air, a crispness that penetrates through the smell of apple cider and the smoke from a bonfire, and an overwhelming sense of revitalization that filters through every single breath. God's glory is proclaimed from every scarlet leaf and every tree bursting with apples.



And it's good. Life is so very good that you can't even describe it. And God is gooder--who cares if it isn't even a word, because it's true. I feel like grabbing a bunch of leaves and throwing them around the house, scattering them like rose petals, because life is good.



And now, with the falling leaves, I'm seeing autumn everywhere.

In candles...


and copper...


On a bottle of glue...


In gourds scattered across our deck, just waiting to be dried out enough for maracas...


as well as corn that's getting ready to be popped into popcorn...


pumpkins...


and this. definitely, completely, one hundred percent in this.


What's your favorite season? Why? And where have you seen fall appearing lately?

life is good. and fall is beautiful.
-hannah

ps. the winner of the Joy photo challenge is Krystle! congratulations. thanks to everyone who played along. be sure to stop by sometime next week for your new assignment! :)