Pumpkin Spice

I love pumpkin spice.  I'm not ashamed to admit it.  It seems like the mention of pumpkin spice exacts a few eye rolls from someone.  I'll agree that the amount of pumpkin spice products on the market each year has gone way overboard, but I'm not going to change my tastes just because something has become blasé to the masses.  

Instead, I'll stick to my stance on moderation.  The only time of year I indulge in anything pumpkin spice related is from October to December.  That's it.  When it's over it's over.  But, for those three months, I have to insist on enjoying at least one or two new pumpkin spice scented or flavored treats each year.  

This year I've treated myself to a pumpkin colored gingham to go along with the season, although this dress may be the exception to my rule as I intend to wear it all throughout the year.

Shopping Info: Dress from: SHEIN

Thankful Everyday

"Don't wait until the fourth Thursday in November to sit with family and friends and to give thanks.  Make everyday a day of Thanksgiving." ~Charmaine J. Ford~

What are you thankful for?  What do you whisper a word of thanks about before you close your eyes at night?  What gets you out of bed each morning, eager to work to be worthy of or to take care of?  If your answer is nothing, I want to challenge you to change it.  

That's not just a topical quote up there; I agree with Charmaine's words.  It's a sentiment I've had for years on the subject of friends, family, and being thankful for this precious life we've been given. 

I'll never forget the night that I in the middle of a severe depression, grieving over a painful loss and I called home not searching for comfort, but just for some distraction from the numbness that had settled in over my heart.  The last thing my mother said to me was, "what if you woke up with tomorrow only what you thanked God for tonight?"

Her words shook me.  I hung up the phone, stunned for a moment at how wrapped up in my problems I'd become.  In doing so I had completely forgotten how many good things there were in my life too. I immediately dropped to my knees and thanked God for all the things that my depression had kept me from seeing and appreciating.  I'll never forget that night, because the next morning, when I woke up, everything was gone.  Life as I knew it, and had finally remembered to appreciate it, was gone. 

I've devoted a number of posts to that not so distant time in my life when I lost it, when I was lost, but loss is only permanently tragic if we cannot turn it around and gain some wisdom from it.  My story is not unique, not in the least.  Grief and loss are eventually part of everyone's story.  Because that, my dear friends, as I've come to know so well, is how life goes.  Everything we are given is only for a season: family, friends, youth and health--everything breaks, everything fades, nothing lasts.

Please don't think I'm saying all this to try and bring you down, quite the contrary.  I say all this to lift you up to that place where, in knowing the impermanence of all things you'll remember to stop and be thankful not just one day a year, or even one day a week, but every single day, because each day, each moment, and each person in this life is a gift...there's even a lesson to be learned from the really annoying people.  

So, how about it, what are you thankful for, not just today, but everyday?  Comment below :)

Shopping Info: Top from XXI, Skirt is handmade

The Beauty of Falling

Campfire Mug, Gingham banner, Fall Centerpiece, Log Candles, Crochet Garland from Etsy.com 

October's already made her exit, leaving only the two lovely sisters November and December here to dance and shine in their own beauty with deep hues of orange, red, and gold.  I can hardly believe how this year has flown.

 Sometimes it grieves me the way that in spite of all my efforts to slow down and enjoy life to the very fullest, it still seems to being hurtling past.  I'm not dreading the passing of another year, but I'm also not trying to rush it.

Sometimes it takes all my mental fortitude to remember that I can't control things, that I can't make time speed up when things are stressful or slow down when things are good.

I cling to certain moments of seasons in life far too long, like those last crunchy leaves clinging desperately to the tree when all the others have gone.

I have to remind myself to Stop.  Breathe. I try to remind myself that I can learn a valuable lesson from this season.  Which is that sometimes the greatest beauty comes from letting go, learning to fall with grace and take my time to enjoy the ride.

 Shopping Info:Velvet Short Sleeve Mini Dress-$19.99 from Forever21, Heels and skirt are old from ModCloth

Autumn and Everything

Are you experiencing beauty fatigue?  You know what I mean, it's that feeling that arises when the world has just too much gorgeousness for you to soak it all in.  

So, with all these autumn pics, are we there yet?  I vote No, and I hope you do too, because I can't get enough of the colors this time of year.  

My only real regret is that there just aren't enough outfits to really make use of all these beautiful backdrops.  Even places that are pretty bland the rest of the year are suddenly bursting with color.

It's just too, too lovely and I particularly like the fact that it requires very little photo editing from me.  Nature is my photo shop and lightroom all rolled into one.

But, I can't give nature all the credit when StopStaring makes such lovely dresses that looking great is a piece of pumpkin spice cake.

So, if you haven't done so yet, and if you're lucky enough to still have a few leaves on the trees, go out and soak in some of that beauty while it lasts.

Shopping Info:  Stop Staring Dress (old) from StopStaring.com, Heels from ModCloth (also old)

Shopping Info:  Stop Staring Dress (old) from StopStaring.com, Heels from ModCloth (also old)

Cat's Eye

When it comes to how I feel about cats, put me down for "it's complicated."  I like nice cats; I don't like mean cats.  I think pretty cats are pretty; I think ugly cats are ugly.  I think mean cats that are pretty are ugly because they're so mean and ugly cats get much prettier when I find out how sweet they are.

I mostly like cats when they're outdoors, but the same could be said of all animals and even some people.  It's just easier for everyone if we all have our own space and I don't have to eat cat hair because no matter how much I dust and vacuum it's everywhere.

 My relationship with KarinaDresses Cat's Eye print dresses from the Bewitched Collection are far less complicated.  I'm crazy in love and fully committed to having them in my home and in my life. 

When it comes to KarinaDresses, every dress is a gem.  Today I'm wearing the Nora Dress in Cat's Eye print and for the occasion, I thought I'd wear a whimsical cat ears headband to be in keeping with the theme.

 Pearls are always a classy accessory, and though I didn't style it this way today, a yellow cardigan would look fierce with this dress.

One of my favorite things about the Nora dress is that it has pockets!  Love, love, love!  Practical and stylish.

I'm 5'6"/168cm and the Nora dress falls just at knee level for me, which I think is the perfect length.  Not too short, not too long.  it also has some ruching at the shoulders and a fitted waist, which are both wonderful, figure flattering features.

The T-strap heels and the hosiery with lines down the back give this look a vintage feel and of course, red lipstick never goes out of style.

And there you have a perfectly uncomplicated, stylistically unique look  for autumn.  

Shopping Info: Nora Dress - Cat's Eyes from KarinaDresses.com, Claire's Lace Stone Cat Ears Headband - Black - $7.99 

The Day Autumn Disappeared

What happened to autumn?

Nobody knows.

Oh, won't somebody find it,

Before winter snows. ~by Leandra ;)

Silly little poem aside, autumn has all but disappeared.  It's a pity really, because this one looked to be lovelier than ever.  Instead, I manged to get these few photos as the temperature was rapidly dropping and then I had to go indoors and defrost my fingers and toes.  

After warming up, it started sleeting and within an hour, I got the message to come and pick up my children because school was letting out early.  So, I bundled up again and headed back out into the cold.

By the next morning there was a thick layer of ice and sleet covering the ground and all the leaves had blown off the trees.  Life is full of moments like this, where if you don't act quickly you'll miss your only chance.

It's tempting when those opportunities pass us by to sink into a despair, even if it's mild, at what will never be.  And while it's perfectly normal and maybe even healthy to grieve those losses for a moment, it's also good for the soul to then let it go and turn your attention instead to everything good that's all around you and all the potential that lies ahead of you.

I may have missed my chance at fall photos, but the snow day did present the opportunity to cuddle up with my children next to the fire for card games and cocoa and lots of pets for that fat drowsy old cat we let come in for the winter every year.

So, autumn may be over and I don't have as many photos as I wanted, but what I do have is a growing collection of so many great memories.  And that's far more precious to me than pictures.

Shopping Info: Outfit from: SHEIN