It's six in the morning, I'm still awake.

^^^^ Not really.

It's 7 a.m. and I most definitely went to sleep last night, but that song is stuck in my head.

I am coming down with something, like that special kind of autumn sinus infection. But this time, it is taking its SLOW time happening. Like every day I wake up still feeling pretty good, but noticing all the early symptoms of it taking over me at a snail-like pace.

Just do it already. I mean, really.

In other news...we spent a lovely weekend in St. Louis! I got a massage with my stepmom, we ate a lot of food, hung out at some wineries in the beautiful weather, and relaxed with family. St. Louis has some seriously gorgeous wine country.

This ^^^ is a photo of my dad, Tom and my stepbrother playing Magic the Gathering. I don't know what else to say about this except that I took lots of pictures because I felt it needed to be immortalized.

Oh boy, Thursday again.

Get here already, weekend! I've got Halloween decorations itching to be strewn about.

Happy Thursday!

Fresh from the garden!

Believe it or not, the same person who grew this...

Also grew these:

(All photos courtesy of Tom's sister Sam!)

15 pumpkins, guys.

15.

Aren't they the coolest? They grew from tiny seedlings I got for 65 cents at Target back in the spring.

But of course, this does NOT mean we are forgetting the pumpkin farm this year. That has to happen no matter what because well, I need apple cider donuts.

Oh man, I love the fall. 

Happy Monday!

In case you're feeling festive:

Pumpkin Season

This weekend I got to attend my favorite festival, The Morton Pumpkin Festival, not once, not twice, but THREE times!

It's the greatest thing ever. First of all, there is pumpkin-flavored everything. All over the place. Ice cream, chili, cake, cookies, milkshakes...all made from pumpkin. I wait for the pumpkin ice cream all year and it is so worth it.

Friday night, Tom and I went with a couple friends and had some delicious pumpkin jambalaya (it was Mardi Gras themed this year) and pumpkin ice cream.

The next morning, I showed up there at 5:30 a.m. It wasn't because I was eager; I wanted to volunteer this year. So I got up well before sunrise Saturday morning to help out at the pancake breakfast. I decided to be a runner, taking pancakes back and forth from the griddles to the plates. It was insanity, but I definitely want to get involved next year as well!

Saturday afternoon, me, Tom and his parents headed back to scope out the craft fair and enjoy the gorgeous weather. Tom and I decided to match:

And now, the festival is over and luckily, we still have pumpkin farms to attend to get our pumpkin fix. Well, aside from my own mini pumpkin patch growing in the yard, which is awesome.

^^^^ Yay pumpkins! I believe we have ten of them now. All their leaves are dead, courtesy of our month-long drought. Can't wait to get some carving done!

Happy Wednesday!

Thoughts on: Stay-at-home-moms/wives with degrees

Let's infuse your day with a hint of controversy, shall we?

This topic has come up a few times over the past few weeks in a variety of places, and I am interested to hear your take on it.

Some women go to college, obtain a degree (or multiple degrees) and later marry and become stay-at-home wives and/or mothers. (Obviously this can apply to men as well, I just haven't heard of any who have done so.)

I know quite a few people who are doing this or have done this, and it's interesting to hear how divided people are on the topic.

Here's what I believe:

Someday, many years in the future, if I am fortunate enough, I would love to stay home part-time with my children until they go to school. And when they're babies, I would consider staying home with them full time. Of course, working from home would be the ideal situation, because work keeps me sane. But ultimately, daycare costs are expensive, and I think it would amazing to spend those early years raising my kids full time.

Eventually, I would want to return to work because I enjoy making my own money and keeping my mind sharp in a work setting.

That being said...there are a few points I want to make.

1.) I believe we worship work in the United States. Yes, there are some people who absolutely cannot afford to work less because they need that money to survive. But for many people, they are working because they feel they should, they want some kind of status, or they want to afford frivolous things they don't really need. 
It's okay to want nice things and to work for them, but it is vital to think about it first. If you know why you want those things and feel good about those reasons, then your work is in balance with what you really want. But I think it's good to reassess your priorities every now and again.

2.) Working doesn't necessarily mean you are doing something beneficial with your time. I know people who work at a job they don't care about, come home and watch TV, and repeat the same thing five days a week. I also know stay-at-home-moms who put a lot of work into their home and families, and are also very active in their communities.
On the flip side, I know people who work long hours and devote plenty of time to their families, and I know stay-at-home-moms who barely pay any attention to their kids. I knew one lady who didn't work, sent her children to daycare five days a week, and used that time to get her nails and hair done. ALL.  THE. TIME.
At the core of it, work itself doesn't prove that you are being a successful adult human being, and neither does staying home. There is much, much more to it, and it varies from person to person.

3.) Finally, education. I admit, it doesn't sound good to go to college, rack up $100,000 in debt and never use your degree. But you don't have to be a stay-at-home-mom to not use your degree. Lots of people do it. Sometimes who you want to be at 18 isn't who you want to be at 30. And paying off that debt is up to each individual and their significant other, or whomever they are sharing bills with, if anyone.
But a degree doesn't go away. Once you have it, it's yours. And that is such a momentous, wonderful thing to have that I would never regret it, even if I became a stay-at-home-mom for the rest of my life. Maybe I just get warm and fuzzy talking about education, and maybe it's because I'm lucky enough to not be buried in a mountain of debt (mine is more like a large hill...?), but I think my college experience gave me so much more than just a degree. I obtained skills I'll use forever, in relationships, business, logic and reasoning, etc. I think all that will be worth every cent of the debt I have to pay back.

All that being said, I would want to make sure my debt is paid off before I become a mother, but that's just my opinion. And I am too excited to see where my career ends up to never work again once I have kids.

But my consensus is I don't see much wrong with pursuing education, even if stay-at-home-mom-dom is in your future. You never know when you may be able to use those skills down the line.

What's your take? Is college only for those who will use their degrees in the workforce?

Gratitude

I started reading a book called The Magic, by the same author who wrote The Secret.

The Secret  is all about the law of attraction, but this book is centered on gratitude, and being thankful for what you've got.

I wasn't sure about the author. I am usually skeptical about self-help types, but I still find them interesting and occasionally, empowering. Sometimes I'm on board at first, but then I google "**Author Name*** scam" and there goes my faith in it all.

But I like this book in particular because there's not really a trick or a gimmick. Granted, there are lots of outlandish promises made, but the core of it is simple: take time to be grateful.

Now, in the five days I have been following this 28-day plan, I haven't won the lottery and my life hasn't changed dramatically. Nor did I expect it to, (or even want it to), though the author swears gratitude will change your life around. I don't deny it.

As for what has happened so far? For the ten minutes I spend every morning writing down ten things I'm grateful for, my anxiety dips way lower than usual. I feel...lighter. I feel a little healthier and more energetic. And when I'm thinking about what I do have, I stop focusing so much on what I have yet to gain. 

I wanted to pass on a couple easy tricks inspired by the book, because they really are helpful. And weirdly relaxing.

This week, try to do these two things every day:

1. In the morning, list out ten things you're thankful for. They can be the big things like family to the small things like pumpkin muffins. Whatever it may be, list it.

2. Before going to bed, reflect on all the things throughout the day you were grateful for. It's a good way to get your mind off of the endless to-do list thinking that seems to happen before bed.

That's all there is to it! Try it out. It certainly can't hurt.

I will leave you with this photo displaying our matching outfits at the pumpkin festival this weekend:

Yes, we are the coolest.

Happy Sunday!

Getting in the spirit!

I am a complete Halloween freak.

I have been my entire life. It's not even right. I love Christmas, too. And...pretty much every holiday. 

Think Will Ferrell in "Elf." About everything. I will celebrate anything. 

The instant those Halloween costume stores open? Boom, I'm there. They should just hire me because I know where everything is. Except that the decorations kind of freak me out a lot. Why did they need to invent jumping spider decorations? Was that necessary? It gets me every time.

So...never mind. I will just continue to show up at the store, walking aimlessly. I have been known to give friends tours about the store as well.

Anyway, we went there, and Tom and I got started on our Halloween costume(s). 

Here is a hint:

Hmmmm??

We also picked up a fun little hobby.

I put on scary masks and chase Tom around the store while his sister gets it on camera.

Fun!

Good luck sleeping tonight, friends!

The funny thing is, if I look in a mirror wearing one of those things, it has to come off immediately. I get this irrational fear that I will turn into that creature or something.

We took more this weekend, and I am eager to share those pictures, as well!

Ahh, long live autumn. Glorious, 96-degree autumn. Seriously chilly weather, hurry up.

Has anyone caved and bought a pumpkin spice latte yet? 

Happy Monday!

1. 
   

September

FINALLY!

I have been waiting for September since May. That is not an exaggeration. Ask Tom; he saw me watching Halloweentown on repeat over Memorial Day Weekend.

So to say I am excited that fall is very, very close would definitely be an understatement!

And every weekend from now through October is basically booked already! Trips to Chicago, St. Louis, Aledo, Ill., the pumpkin farm, a wedding, and at least two festivals. 

Oh, and the leaves are already changing. That could be from the drought we're stuck in, but I'm going to call it autumn anyway.

Hurry up and die, leaves! Stop being green and look like this! Via

To celebrate Labor Day, Tom and I visited my family near Chicago and had a grand time. We stopped by Septemberfest, my hometown's big annual craft fair-fun fair combo, and walked around the craft booths while it down poured on us. 

Later, we got ice cream and my mom did my hair, and the next day I had breakfast with good friends until the people at IHOP glared at us for sticking around too long.

My cousins and me. The little one is going to Merida from Brave for Halloween. Fitting, right?

Saturday also begins my ballet class, which should be quite an experience. I am not someone you'd call graceful, but dancing around in ballet shoes is still fun, and I'm excited.

I am so thankful for short weeks and long weekends. Except I have no idea what day it is.

Happy Tuesday, even if you've got a case of the Mondays!