I’m baaaaaack! As I mentioned earlier, my grandma celebrated her 90TH BIRTHDAY and I went back to Minnesota to party hard with her. Okay, get together with family and reminisce while eating lots of food because party hard when you’re 90 means something different than when you were 21. 😀 A responsible, forward-planning Tanya would have prewritten some posts but I ain’t that gal. Some day. Maybe.
The world seems extra crazy right now — which seems almost impossible but here we are — that I struggled to figure out what I wanted to share today. Ultimately light and fluffy won out (hey, it surprised me too!) because it’s what I need right now. I suspect some of you may too.
3 Things: The Leaves Are Falling Edition
Fall is my favorite season so it seemed like a great opportunity to share some Fall factoids.
Favorite Fall Activities
The cooler Fall temps make it so much easier to venture outside, turn on the oven and just live it up! Also, I am boring so my live it up is pretty low-key.
Glorious, Fall Food: Summer foods are great but the hot temperatures make it limiting to me. Now I’m ready to turn on the oven and make some hearty casseroles, stews and bake some yummy treats. And drink gobs of apple cider. Lots and lots of apple cider.
Halloween: Los Angelenos love Halloween. I mean love it. I love it mostly for buying (and eating) way too much candy for the trick-o-treaters that never materialize, although I remain internally optimistic that ghosts and goblins will grace my front door one day. But, if we’re being honest, I love it most because the Max Man dresses up. It’s possible I enjoy the latter a bit too much.
Max really hates Halloween. Hates. It.
Bonfires: I am weirdly a little scared of fire but I love a good bonfire, especially one by the ocean. It’s both cold and toasty warm and made even better with some ooey gooey s’mores.
New Fall Activities Planned
Let’s call this my Fall Bucket List, also I am known to make bucket lists and promptly forget them too. 😀
Try New Apple Dessert: Apple desserts are sort of my jam but I’m craving something different than my go-to apple crisp, so I’ve been scouring Pinterest in search of the perfect Fall dessert to make this weekend. If it’s successful, I’ll share it next Thursday with you!
Watch a New-To-Me Scary Movie: I used to deeply fear scary movies but now I kind of like them. The new Halloween movie looks really good but I generally avoid watching scary movies in the theatre because I can’t run around like this …
I’ve got a few scary movies DVR’d, Split, Conjuring 2 and Annabelle Creation, so I’m going to watch one of them — if I’m brave enough.
Brunch with Oktoberfest Theme? We have a girls brunch scheduled but haven’t decided where to dine. I’m thinking an Oktoberfest theme would be fun. I’m not a huge fan of beer (okay, I don’t really like it as a beverage but baked in bread or in a cheese dip — hell ya!) although I love German food. But I hate nazis. Just want to make that clear.
Favorite Fall Movies
Besides the first movie, these aren’t “Fall” movies but movies that represent Fall to me.
Hocus Pocus: I watch this movie a gazillion times during October because Freeform plays it a gazillion times and I must watch it every time it’s on. I believe that’s called an addiction. My name is Tanya and I am a Hocus Pocus addict.
Creed/Creed 2: Creed definitely has nothing to do with Fall and I’m pretty sure Creed 2 is all about Drago, rather than Fall leaves. But the movies premiere(d) in the Fall so … yup, Fall movie. Also Creed is my happy movie because ogling Michael B. Jordan during the training montages is apparently my happy place. I expect to feel the same way about Creed 2.
The Breakfast Club: While I can’t say with 100% certainty that the movie takes place in the Fall, I’m placing it here regardless. For whatever reason, high school movies always scream Fall to me. And this is my favorite high school movie and my blog, so Fall movie it is.
Favorite Fall Foods
Food is just one of those things I look forward to at all times and some of my favorites are very fall-flavored.
Apple Galette: Tis the season for apples! My parents have an apple tree that is … well … very, very generous so I grew up eating lots of apple desserts. This is one of my new favorites as I really love the flaky crust.
Apple Cinnamon Zucchini Muffins: My Mom also grows zucchini in her garden, which means every year she has an overabundance of zucchinis to use. These muffins are delicious, tender and feel-good food.
Crockpot Beer Braised Sausage and Kraut: Oh my gosh. This is the simplest and most delicious recipe ever. It’s perfect whether your tailgating outside a stadium, watching the game at home or just need an easy meal.
Fall Dislikes
Fall may be my favorite season but it ain’t perfect either.
Bugs: I intensely dislike bugs and normally they are just a minor nuisance, except in the Fall. Somehow, every year, a few flies manage to sneak into my apartment and wreak havoc. Max is a good fly exterminator but still those wily bugs are a huge pain in my you-know-what.
Wildfires: I imagine beyond pyromaniacs that everyone dislikes wildfires but Fall is always the worst season for them. It’s even more frustrating when they are intentionally set or our own actions (hi, global warming) make them worse.
Winter: Fall is the best season and Winter is the worst. Period. I even feel that way living in California, even though winter is barely any different than Fall, which is only moderately different than summer, which is only a smidge different than Spring. Still, the Winter hate remains strong in me. 😀
Your turn! Tell me some of things you love and/or dislike about Fall or what you’re most looking forward to doing in the upcoming months!
Tanya
Well, I’m happy I’m experiencing a true fall here in Boise, but I’m not sure I’m looking forward to a “real winter.” I think that might be the straw the breaks the camel’s back. Either I’ll embrace it or think, “uh wtf did I do?!?” lol! I always look forward to pumpkin everything except PSL. They don’t taste right to me. Also looking forward to all the Oscar films (going to see A Star is Born tomorrow)! But with no job I’ll be on a SUPER tight budget.
So what kind of winter does Boise have? Like a Michigan kind of winter, which I assume is somewhat similar to a Minnesota winter? Even though I lived in Minnesota for 30 years, I am now super scared to drive in snowy or icy conditions. I kinda freak out to be honest! Hopefully, you’re braver than me! Uh, I take it something happened to the job? How was A Star is Born? I’ve heard great things about it. It looks good but it’s a rent kind of movie for me.
The galette and muffin recipe were just printed – they both look amazing! The Conjuring 1 and 2 were pretty decent. I’ve seen Anabelle too. Dolls in horror movies creep me the F out… but it was good.
Yay! I hope you love them as I certainly do. It’s actually been awhile since I’ve made them and now have a real craving for both of them. 😀 I loved The Conjuring and started watching Conjuring 2 but got a little freaked out for some reason (I can’t remember why) so I stopped but eventually want to finish it. Dolls creep the heck out of me in horror movies so I’m a little nervous about Annabelle. Maybe I should just stick to Hocus Pocus, LOL!
I’m with you – I DESPISE Winter with a passion.
So have you always been afraid of fire?
I cant believe I’ve never seen Creed. The hubs watched it & loved it – I just never got to it yet.
I can’t believe its the 4th & I’ve still not seen hocus Pocus yet – haha. I could watch it every day.
Give me ALLLLLLL the apple desserts. My favorite!
I’m just a not a winter fan. Nothing about it appeals to me. At all! Glad you can relate! Well, I’m not so much afraid of fire but more matches. Matches terrify me. Like trying to light one? Nope. No can do. Oh Rebecca. You must watch Creed but Michael B. Jordan is mine, so mitts off! LOL! I have not yet sat down and watched Hocus Pocus from start to finish but I’ve caught bits and pieces of it already. The month is still young!
Ooooh, I love the promise of winter after fall 🙂
Max is the CUTEST Halloween-er! I love his little leggings!
All that food sounds de.lish.ous.!!
Oh Audrey. I’m not sure I can be friends with a winter-loving gal. Kidding. I still love you but I don’t love winter. 😀 Those little leggings were a little tough to get on a feline who was not impressed with them, at all!
how can max hate halloween when he looks SO ADORABLE.
i need to buy cat costumes.
mmm apple desserts are my jam as well. yum.
i can’t do scary movies. you have fun. haha.
mmm those sausages look so tasty. now i’m hungry.
I know, right? He is so freaking adorable that I just can’t help but laugh and coo at him. 😀 Your cats will be so mad at you but if you do buy them costumes, I expect to see a ton of pictures! Apple desserts are the best part of fall. Screw you, pumpkin! Well, I try to do scary movies. Sometimes I can handle them and sometimes I’m Kevin from Home Alone and running around my apartment, waving my arms. The beer-braised sausages are so good and so easy. Seriously, seriously easy to make.
in Edmonton, it’s been snowing since Oct 2. they got over 20cm of snow that day EW.
God bless Canada. That is all. LOL!
Hello, I’m new to your blog. I LOVE the colours in your header!
Awww, your babe Max in his costume is the sweetest I’ve seen for years!!!!! He looks a LOT more comfy than my Ester did in her Christmas hat.
I also dislike winter, and winter is definitely the downside of fall/autumn. I actually couldn’t enjoy the autumn in the last few years, because the winter was around the corner. So sad because I’ve always loved autumn! This year is different because we’ve had a crazy fantastic summer with real summer weather for once, and also because we’re preparing to move to a country with a short and mild winter. (I’m Swedish and in Sweden winter is a lot more serious than in California).