Ta da, fall is falling!

     Was summer really so short, so brief, that we're already talking about apple recipes and chilly weather? The district today is seeing high temperatures close to the 90 degree mark, so it really doesn't feel that way. And yet, the calendar reads September 10th today! I had a serious discussion with my husband about when fall actually starts, the equinox or September 1, and my argument for September 1 is that we consider the winter season December 1 (or after Thanksgiving, at least). If we only start celebrating winter, then we're mixing holiday snowmen with scarecrows and harvest, and it just doesn't work. So I must be firm, year after year, argument after argument, even if the weather, equinoxes, or solstices don't agree. If it's between September 1 and Thanksgiving, I'm calling it Fall. Autumn leaves, I invite you to change at your earliest convenience.

     I like to focus on apples in September. It's back to school, bring your teacher an apple, bake that first pie--that kind of feeling. Apples help us warm up to the more serious harvest vegetables like pumpkins. Although surprisingly, my local farmer's market Heyser Farms claim that they receive fresh corn into October--who would have thunk it? Heyser Farms featured some amazing peaches this past summer--almost as big as my head!--so I'm looking forward to visiting them for their apple offerings. We sadly missed the Rambo season--I'm not sure how, we were there and looking for them--so we'll have to make our first pie with later-season apples. With apples on the brain, I'd like to share a couple of really tasty-looking apple recipes from Better Homes and Gardens. I appreciate how excited they are about the changing seasons--they share my enthusiasm! I think the savory recipes look especially enticing. If someone tries them before me, please do share your review of your results!

Sweetie Recipes

Classic Apple Crisp

Granny Smith Cobbler with White Cheddar Biscuits

Savory Recipes

Apple Cider Chicken

Apple-Sausage Rigatoni

Apple-Buttered Sweet Potatoes

Helpfulness and Cuteness

     Two quick links to things that I found useful and/or pretty. You'll probably be able to sort which falls under which category quite easily. The first is a link that I saw on Facebook, posted by the Organic Authority, and it is in regards to caring for and cleaning one's cast iron skillets. I have a collection of three skillets and one cast iron griddle, and I always blank on a few things, like soap or no soap, and exactly how to reseason it. so, I'm posting this link for both posterity and a PSA for you readers.


How to Clean a Crusty, Rusty Cast Iron Skillet | Sanctuary
     Second, a quick link to something I saw and really loved:


Rustic Stripe Tablecloth
At the intersection of classy with an autumn color scheme, Williams-Sonoma offers the Rustic Stripe Tablecloth. In the same color scheme, you can also find napkins, a table runner, and placemats, if one of those other table-dressing mediums would suit you better. This looks really cute, light, and casual, but able to be dressed up at the same time.

Halloween Candles already...oops.

     I just so happened to be by a Yankee Candle today, and they just so happened to be debuting their Halloween Boney Bunch 2012 collection in store. Again, August 4th--way too early, right? But I also just so happened to have a $10 coupon on my phone using the Key Ring application. This is the perfect storm of new candles.



     That would be two large jar candles, one in Pumpkin Buttercream and the other in Spiced Cocoa, a Black Cat Illuma-Lid, a Black Cat Jar Clinger and a set of Dreadful Drip taper candles.


     I think it's the jar clinger that got us the most. My dear husband, who is not a good influence on me, picked this one up. This little guy is sold out online, so if you want to find him, I suggest trying in-store.

Always getting a jump on things.

     August 1st was two days ago! Has summer been progressing slowly for me? Not exactly. It never does, since I mucky prefer the cooler weather. However, summer is pretty much what stands between me and the birth of my baby, so there's been quite a mix of eagerness, apprehension, impatience, and sluggishness. Summer is passing one day at a time for me, and that feels like just the right speed.
     But! As the advertisements for school supplies start to fill my Sunday paper, it's hard to believe that it's almost time for going back to school. I feel like I say this every year, but it is true--I long to buy glue sticks and crayons. I have no use for them for the next, say, five years, but I can't wait to buy them, just the same.
     A friend of mine just invited me to a Party-Lite party, and although I will not be able to attend (it's really close to my due date), I just can't help being excited over the really fun things that they are introducing for upcoming seasonal decor. Here are a few of my favorites.


Change-o-Luminary, $28

     This piece can literally be used from September until February--half of the year! I really like all of the seasonal shadows that can be cast. I think the spider and snowflakes are my favorites.
     Here are more simply autumn-themed items (as in, you can use them September through November if you'd like) that I thought were worth mentioning.


Autumn Glow, $15
     Really cute. I bet this one casts pretty shadows.


Falling Leaves Centerpiece, $30
     There are a lot of pieces in the Falling Leaves collection, so be sure to browse around. Note that the picture above is two of the Falling Leaves Centerpiece, so if that's the effect you want, you'll have to buy two of them. It would be really nice to have two, though--I do think it is quite charming.
     There are quite a few very cute pieces for Halloween at Party-Lite right now, but my tastes run toward the spooky/classy types Halloween decor. I guess only one piece from Party-Lite really fit my tastes.

Halloween Night™ 3" x 5" Grooved Pillar, $15
     I just really like this candle. If you're trying to create a Halloween look with candles alone, this is your go-to candle.
     Unlike other sites that offer holiday decor (Yankee Candle, Williams-Sonoma, and so on), Party-Lite already has their Christmas offerings available. I think they have both some classy and cute things that you won't find anywhere else.


Enchanted Woodland Votive Hurricane, $45
     This one goes under "classy." I suppose it's more of a winter-themed decor piece than specifically Christmas, and that makes me like it even more. My dining room is decorated in grey-blue tones with black furniture, and my formal living room is soon to be painted a silvery-lavender color. I think this piece would look lovely in either of those rooms...but I'm leaning toward my dining room. Black and silver and winter nights just seem so cozy and elegant.


Village Square Tealight Trio, $30 for the set of three
     Is this piece pictured on a mantle? If not, it should be, especially for a home that doesn't have room or money for a holiday train setup. They're tiny and adorable. They also belong on my family room mantle. Tongue-in-cheek, whether they make it there remains to be seen.


Mr. Snow Tealight Holder, $30
     And finally, this is the one piece I actually already purchased...for my mom. I doubt she reads my blog, so we should be okay there. My mom has a penchant for snowmen, so although she is unable to burn Party-Lite candles (they make her ill), she can still enjoy the cuteness of this little guy.
     All of this cold-weather stuff is already available, and we're only in the first half of August! I hope that more lovely things appear as time progresses.

Fall-ified!

     We are two days into September, and my blog has been fall-ified. My desk has been mostly fall-ified, my candles at home are switched to the autumn scents, and my hand soaps at my sinks are of the new Bath and Body Works Autumn variety. I've made sure that my bathrooms are stocked with the limited edition fall-scented Febreze sprays. I've switched the scent theme of my hand sanitizers at work from beachy to Halloween-y (because those are the ones I have right now). My desk also holds a Renuzit Aroma cone in Apple & Cinnamon. Ladies and gentlemen, I am ready for fall.


Pretty soaps, all in a row.
     We have finally reached Labor Day weekend, and for this, I am glad. (1) Yay for the three day weekend! As my husband pointed out yesterday, summer, for some reason, is filled with straight working days and few holidays. So when you most want a holiday, there are none to be found. Autumn, however, is loaded with holidays. There are months of three- or even four-day weekends ahead of us. My husband works for the government, so he will eventually hit a point where he won't have to work a full pay period (two weeks) without a day off for the rest of the year. Holidays are so lovely. (2) Good riddance, summer! Cooler weather is bound to be around soon! I know, I know, the DC area is still predicted to hit 89 degrees this weekend, but so what! We will eventually cool off, and I have hoodies and sweaters in the eaves, just waiting for some action.

     So what are your plans for the holiday weekend? If I know my husband, we are going to bake. Remember the mixer I plugged a few scant entries ago? If you don't remember, don't worry--I'll plug it here:

LOOK AT THAT PRICE. In case it doesn't stay that way, please note that today, the price on this item, new, reads $225.99. You can see why we bought it--you can't beat that price! Especially when my husband and I pay for Amazon Prime. The price hit that low on Monday, and by Wednesday, we had a mixer. It's given my husband good reason to crack open the book my mom got him last Christmas:

All day today, he's been asking me all sorts of possibly yummy questions. For example, "Do we have cooling racks?", "Do we have Crisco?", and "Do we have heavy cream?" My husband learned the art of pie crusts from his mother, much to my mother's delight. How can you dislike a son-in-law that makes you apple pie? You really can't, especially when he's my husband.

     If we don't jump straight into baking tomorrow, I imagine we'll visit Williams-Sonoma or Sur la Table, just to stock up on the last few hardware supplies we don't have, and possibly a trip to everyone's favorite grocery store, Wegmans, to get the best quality ingredients.

     In all honesty, I just can't wait to get home--it's going to be a delicious weekend!

     Please note that this post contains product links using Amazon Associates. Should enough people click the links and make purchases, I would get paid. Amazon Associates pays once your clicks equal $10; in my entire history with the program, I currently have about $3, so I have never been paid yet, lol. The biggest reason I use Amazon Associates is so that I don't have to use my own personal server space for image hosting when I refer to products, and to ensure proper and unbroken links for archiving purposes.

Back to school!

     I have two brothers. One is 18, eight years younger than me. We'll call him Ron Weasley. Ron is starting college this year, going to his sister's alma mater at a satellite campus. I did the same. He moved on to campus on August 20, and I have to tip my hat to him. As an 18-year-old freshman, I was way too scared to move out of the house. I'm proud of the kid. With a little help, he's going to be something really cool, and I'm glad that I could help.

     My other brother is 16, ten years younger than me. We'll call him Tuna (as he would prefer). He's starting his sophomore year in the same high school that I attended. I'm also proud of him, because he's doing much better than I ever did.

     There's something about back-to-school time that really makes me want to have a home-cooked dinner, and if I could have my way, it would be my mom's pasta. Once upon a time, she had a really nice set of pasta serving dishes. I don't think they were expensive, but they made pasta night feel really authentic. They were red, white, and green, and they had an Italian guy in the middle, harvesting something, and they said "Italy." I think. See, I can't quite remember, because they are about ten years old and they keep breaking. I've since bought my mom a replacement set, but they are more cute than authentic Italian, and not quite the same.

     Right now, though, Williams-Sonoma has a very nice set of pasta serving plates available.


Italian Recipe 5-Piece Pasta Set
These plates are "[...] Offering an authentic taste of Italy's regional cuisines, our limited-edition bowls are adorned with artwork by painter Marc Lacaze. They showcase five colorful collages, each combining original watercolor images of local architecture and ingredients with a classic Italian pasta recipe. Embellished with hand-painted borders, these versatile bowls are perfect for serving everything from pasta, risotto or polenta to your favorite salads and homemade stews. Four recipe cards are included with the set." I don't think I could have said it better. I saw them in person at my local Williams-Sonoma, and they are just lovely. While not being exactly what my mom had, they're a pretty quality replacement, and a set that I'd love to call my own.

     With comforting ideas of a long day at school followed by a tasty dinner, I wish all back-to-schoolers a great year.

Wait a minute, it's still August, right?

     I think I've made it pretty clear that I love the fall holidays just as much as the next guy. Probably more than the next guy, even, but fall has a feeling that I mostly attribute to the cooler weather. My friends, the temperature in DC is still in the 90s, so it is driving some very conflicting emotions within me to walk into one of my favorite stores, World Market, and see this:



World Market's Fall Theme, "Harvest Market."

and this:


A display of fall-themed leaves and owls.

and this:


Fall wreathes and tins of various candy barks.

and especially this!:


Bags of already-roasted pumpkin seeds.
Why do you tease me so, stores? Do you think I want it to be summer still, hot and sticky? Do you think that I do not long to turn my oven back on, to start making soups and stews again, to start baking spicy things to warm my apartment? I can't even buy a pumpkin for making jack-o-lanturns yet, let alone roast the pumpkin's byproducts into tasty treats. Seriously, I still have a watermelon on my kitchen table at home.

     Yankee Candle and Bath and Body Works have also already begun to taunt me by releasing products aimed at the Halloween season. Yankee Candle has fully released the new pieces in their usual "Boney Bunch" collection. Although I'm not particular to those pieces, I do really like their "Haunted House" collection.


The "Yankee Manor" Haunted Mansion Multi Tea Light Holder and "Dreadful Drip" 12-inch Taper Candles
Although I don't own either of them, I really like both of these products. The "Dreadful Drip" 12-inch candles are a Yankee Candle classic. When you start to burn them, the wax below is red, and as the candle burns, the red wax drips, giving the candle a bleeding effect. It's really cool and kind of creepy. I like the Haunted Mansion tea light holder, because it looks like it could cast some really great shadows.

     Bath and Body Works's too-early contribution to the Halloween celebration is a little smaller.


A Halloween assortment of Pocketbac Deep Cleansing Hand Gels
Scents from left to right: Zombie Squad (White, Marshmallow); Bat Bite (Green, Green Apple);
Vampire Blood (Red, Plum); Spider's Web (Black, Licorice); and Candy Corn (Orange, Caramel)
I'm going to pick up one or more of these this weekend. Probably Candy Corn. BUT! I'm going to save it until at least mid-September, and probably longer. Autumn does not begin until September 23rd this year, and in DC, it is going to be warm up to and probably past that date. As much as I'd like to pull out my sweaters, I probably couldn't bear it. Until the weather cools, unfortunately, my excitement over autumn must cool as well.

Quick Post: Williams Sonoma Sale!

     Although it is currently 92 degrees outside here in DC, I must give all the heads up regarding an email I just received. Williams Sonoma online is having a 75% off summer sale, and when I browsed over to see what they were offering, I found something I had to have:





Essential Oils Collection in the scent of Spiced Chestnut
     I posted about this set last October, but didn't pick it up then. The original price of that set was upwards of $35. If you catch it soon, you can also pick it up for $14.99. I can't wait for fall to come--I'm already fully stocked and ready to enjoy it.

Where have I been all November?

     Why, getting married, of course! You are now talking to Mrs. Miller, but you can still call me tishtacular. :)

     And as I've been talking about all autumn, my wedding had a fall theme. Below, I'd like to share a few pictures with you to show how that was accomplished.

Item 1: My Centerpieces

Twenty-two of these were lovingly created by my mother and my aunts.

Item 2: My Favors

Yes, that is a leaf-shaped bottle of maple syrup, purchased from The Maple Guys, a company that was a pleasure to work with. I'd recommend them for all of your maple-syrup-favor needs.

End Result: An Indoor Fall Wonderland

This photo was snapped during the ceremony.

     We really had the best time, and although it went quickly, I truly appreciate the effort and joy that went into making the day so special for us.

     And finally, I found what looks like an awesomely easy dinner recipe: Tortellini Stir-Fry. As I'm trying to keep to my budget this month, I'm going to try not to charge anything else until Monday. I've got $20, my pantry, and my freezer to cook dinners for the next six days. I'm sure the Thanksgiving holiday will help! :)

November!

     We've made it to November! How was your Halloween? Mine was great! It was just as I remember it from my childhood, with a few special changes. My fiance and I got to spend the holiday in Pittsburgh with my family, which I haven't done since we moved to Washington DC. We were really in town to finalize the wedding plans (12 days away!), but it was still a good excuse to enjoy the fun. I didn't realize it, but my mom had invited my entire family over for the festivities, just like when I was younger. I wasn't expecting this, as both of my brothers are too old for tricks or treats. It was a nice surprise. I scoured the house for Halloween-themed movies (we ended up with cassette tapes of Monsters, Inc. and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!, which fit the bill nicely). My youngest cousin is nine, so he went trick-or-treating while we all stayed home, talked amongst ourselves with pizza, extra candy, and mulled cider. My two aunts were working on the fall-themed centerpieces for my wedding, and even that was fun. My fiance and I, in the middle of the trick-or-treating frenzy, took my family's golden retriever for a walk in the dark. It was perfect--just like trick-or-treating for adults! We got to see all the costumes and greet my candy-laden neighbors, and look at their decorated houses. The night was cool and dry, which was perfect. Kids didn't have to wear their winter coats, but it wasn't too hot to walk the hills of the suburbs. All in all, it was really the perfect way to spend the night.

     Now that we're into November, it's time to really buckle down and think about the holidays coming up. What's great is that they're largely food-based holidays--hooray! I'm looking forward to starting my cookies and thinking up side dishes to bring to Thanksgiving dinner. Tonight after work, I am going home to make some chicken soup (to guard against the colds and flues that we always seem to find in Pittsburgh), and then I'm going to start to clean and plan for the holidays.

     If you're looking way forward to Christmas, note that the Countdown has already begun at Organized Christmas. I could not recommend that site more highly for helping to keep things organized so you can keep the true spirit of Christmas in sight. As my wedding falls right in the middle of a major Christmas-planning month, it's good to have that site to remind me of the things I'll need to take care of, as the world does not revolve around my marriage! I've already sketched up my budget, I have my Christmas cards bought from last year's end of Christmas sales, I have my new Christmas card return labels printed with our new married names, and I'm just waiting for the Christmas postage in the mail. Once you hit November, it's really a relief to have all of that stuff out of the way so you can enjoy the entire month of December. Don't let these times rush by! Relish them!

     I found a great holiday recipe resource. Visit the Recipe of the Day Calendars page at MyRecipes.com for many themes--Cookie Countdown, the Season's Best Pies, and Your Daily Soup, just to mention a few. I'm receiving new cookie recipes daily until 2010, so I'll have no trouble finding something special to make.

     We're now in the holiday season, friends, so it's time to plan a little and enjoy a lot! If you can stay focused, you'll have a lot of fun this year! If you have any other ideas, please let me know.

     Until next time!

Autumn Appreciation: A few of my favorite things

     I think it's safe to say that we are officially in the heart of fall. I think that the Pennsylvanian peak was over the last two weekends. Say, from October 16 to October 26. DC's peak may still be a week out, as the ten day temperature report still predicts temperatures in the 70's. DC cannot officially be in the heart of fall until I have to break out a jacket. :-P

     I took this photo last Saturday on my cell phone. It is on Rt. 99 between State College and Altoona.



My fiance says that it looks like the vibrant colors of the trees may have been muted by the snowfall that State College received over the October 16th weekend. While that might be the case, the view is still spectacular. I bet it was even better on Sunday, when the clouds were replaced by sunshine.

     I recently picked up Whole Living: Body + Soul magazine in my lunch room at work, and I'd like to share with you the goal for October.

Change is in the air. You can see it, of course, with the colors transforming and all of nature's moving marts starting to shiver and spin. But you can also feel it--the elemental shift that happens internally, viscerally. You begin to crave warmer foods and cozier corners. You find yourself growing quieter, more aware, each sense sharpening. Indulge in this richness while you can, letting the shift in season invigorate your health, enliven your home, draw you more completely inside. This is, after all, what harvest time is for: reaping what yous ow, gathering up your treasures, and holding them, with gratitude, in both hands.
--Terri Trespicio

If you have the opportunity to read this magazine, I recommend reading the article "12 Ways to Get Ready for Fall" as well.

     So, while everything still feels "fall-y," I'd like to share three things that really help make the season for me. I already own the first two, and the third I plan to own soon.

     First on my list is products from Bath and Body Works.



Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin! As the site says, "...This fragrance brings together all the sweet and spicy scents of fall – apple, cranberry, cinnamon, pumpkin, and clove." I can attest that I have been using the bodywash daily since I purchased them in late spring, and the smell in the shower is really great. I use the lotion and body spray less frequently, but I always enjoy the rush of warmth that they bring. It's a great way to incorporate fall into some of the everyday things you do for yourself.

     My second favorite fall thing--Yankee Candles! I like Yankee Candles because I find that I am pretty sensitive to whatever's in the wax of other candles. I've burned candles and developed asthmatic-like symptoms, so if I find a brand that doesn't make me sick, I'm likely to stick to it. My mom is the same way, and also likes Yankee Candle.

     I think that scent is a really important part of really feeling a season, so I purchased the following large candle:



and my fiance convinced me to buy the following votives, since they were a dollar each:


Autumn Fruit, Fall Festival, Autumn Leaves, Be Thankful, Cinnamon & Sugar, Farmer's Market, and Harvest
I keep the big candle in the middle of my dining room table, and I burn the votives in my kitchen while I'm cooking. I really enjoy the very personal and warm aromas they create in my house. It makes my small basement apartment feel full and cozy, even though it's only me, my fiance, and the kitties.

     The final thing I'd like to mention is a set of kitchen products made by Williams-Sonoma. Oh, Williams-Sonoma, if I had a fortune, it would be given to you entirely in exchange for your many treasures. Although I can find one of your $20 potato mashers at the local hardware store for $3, I still value your presence and presentation.

     The item of fall interest is:



The Essential Oils Collection in the scent of Spiced Chestnut. If I had my way, I would purchase the cleaning kit, which includes the liquid hand soap, hand lotion, dish soap, and counter top spray all int he warm inviting spiced-chestnut scent. I'm hoping that I'll decrease my mess-making proclivities in the kitchen, and rather replace them with cleaning aromatherapy. Perhaps a Pavlovian response will devlop, and my stress relief will correspond with cleaning my kitchen counters! A girl can dream...

     Those are my three favorite items for encouraging the celebration of autumn! In closing, allow me to urge you to tune in to your local ABC affiliate this evening or next (Tuesday or Wednesday night), as they will be showing this year's It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!. Tonight's showing is an hour-long special, but if you miss it, there will be another broadcast tomorrow (but it will only be a half-hour long). My fiance is a Peanuts fan, and the broadcasting of Charles M. Schultz's Peanuts cartoons really highlights our holidays. We like to be prepared with blankets on the couch and warm drinks. I'm thinking some apple cider may be the trick tonight. Enjoy!

Autumn in DC?

     It could finally be, but it's difficult to tell with all the rain the East Coast has been receiving. In my beloved State College, Pa, they received almost nine inches. The city is most likely in the height of the autumn foliage, but I imagine it will be difficult to see under all of that snow.

     I apologize for being so delinquent posting! I have been very busy lately. Last weekend was my bridal shower, and my girls know me so well. It was decorated so beautifully in a--you guessed it--fall theme! I had to travel to Pittsburgh, Pa from Washington DC, and along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I picked this up:



     As you can see, I have already pinned it up in my cubicle. The post card is not an exaggeration, either--the leaves of the Pennsylvania mountains are spectacular. If you've ever seen the miniature train set at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh (and if you haven't, I recommend that you visit it if you get the chance), it really looks just like the fall section. I love it!

     Today, I've spent the day making a bolognese sauce. I really wish I had one of these to finish off the meal:



     This is one of my future mother-in-law's apple pies. It's amazing.

It's finally October!

     Hooray! Today is October 1^st, and when I woke up this morning in the usually sticky city of Washington DC, the temperature was 52°F--a pleasant surprise! I think the temperature is raising in this city later in the week, but for now, I am pacified. Most people are affected by seasonal affective disorder when things are chilly--I think mine, if I have it or were to have it, occurs May through August.

     October 1^st is officially the day when people stop giving you weird looks for putting up your Halloween decorations. It is officially the start of the celebration of the Halloween season! So many holidays occur at the end of the month, and you really don't get to enjoy them adequately if you only start celebrating around the middle of the month. I fully advocate that if your holiday occurs at the end of the month, you may start celebrating at the beginning of that month--it is fair game! Everyone, start putting up your Halloween decor if you haven't already.

     If you are like me, you spend much of your time in an office. That doesn't mean that you can't celebrate the season, though! Today, visit the American Greetings website and find yourself a (free!) new computer desktop background and screensaver! For your desk, it might also be nice to add something that smells of the season. If you could have candles or hotpads, that would be awesome, because there are so many candle scents from which to choose. I am not allowed to have these things, though, so instead, I have a Renuzit:


Mmm...Apple & Cinnamon.

On my filing cabinet, I also have a nice set of decorations that I got from CVS two years ago. I put them on my filing cabinet so that my co-workers can also see them and enjoy something different than our drab office:



I'll also add candy occasionally to lure co-workers into my (lair) cube for friendly conversation. That is what this season is all about--joining together in friendliness as the weather grows colder. Enjoy!