Happy first full week of September. I hope you had a great Labor Day weekend and soaked up the last big weekend of summer. I still plan on keeping the shorts on and enjoying the sunshine for as long as I can this month.
September is always a month of transition, from getting back into a new routine being back to school, to the changing weather, this month can be a busy one. Over the next few weeks, I have some day trips planned, lots of appointments that I scheduled for when things calmed down from the busy summer and then some friend dates. I’m looking forward to crossing things off my to-do list and starting my fall bucket list!
Speaking of bucket lists, here’s a look at my summer bucket list all completed:
I got so much accomplished this summer, both on my list and doing things that came up through the summer, needless to say it was a fun and packed full summer. From trips to New York City, Toronto and San Diego, to lots of walks and picnics, grilling and pool days, it was a memorable summer!
Summer is a photo!
Now that we are slowly saying goodbye to summer, it’s time to start thinking about FALL!
I started a fall bucket list at the beginning of the month and will add to it over the next few weeks, but here’s what I hope to accomplish over the next few months.
My Fall Bucket List
Apple Picking
Fall Walks
Collect Leaves
Make Apple Recipe
Try A New Recipe Once a Week
Bonfire
Football Game
Pumpkin Patch and Carve Pumpkins
Celebrate Halloween
Make Chili
Use Kitchen Aid
Read Fall Books
Go to a Fall Fest
Celebrate Thanksgiving
Enjoy Apple Cider
Hockey Game
Soup Recipe
Kinzua Hike
Elk Watching
That’s just a start into what I hope to accomplish over the next few months. I love to make to-do lists and bucket lists because they give me ideas of things to do for fun and it encourages me to take advantage of my hometown and the season. I hope this gives you some ideas of fun things to do in the fall season.
Tell me, do you have a fall bucket list? What do you hope to accomplish?
Here we are at the end of another year. At the beginning of this year, my motto or phrase of the year was “Building the Best Version of Me”. I really wanted to lean into my routines and rhythms that I established at the beginning of the year and stick to them and I was happy I did that.
It’s been said before that the older you get, the faster the years go by and that is certainly the truth.
This year has been busy with growing in my job, time with family both at home and away, building friends, enjoying hobbies.
I’m using today’s entry as a both a recap of the past year and a favorite things of 2022 post.
So, let’s begin with a recap:
The beginning winter months of 2022 brought me out in snow and soaking up with outdoors with ice skating, winter walks and trying cross country skiing, something I haven’t tried in years.
Starting the year off with time outside, like skiing.
Time spent ice skating.
And cross country skiing…
Seeing the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit.
I also took in some local theater.
It also brought day trips to Pittsburgh for a trip to museums and time with family. As the weather got warmer, it meant more time outdoors with walks, picnics and trips to the local zoo and different parks.
Time in Pittsburgh in the spring
I love taking in all the architecture.
First zoo trip of the year.
Celebrating Easter traditions.
Both of my brothers graduated in the Spring, one from college and one from high school, so it was fun to celebrate their milestones as a family. I also celebrated my 24th year around the sun.
First signs of spring.
Cheers to 24!
I tried to spend as much time outdoors as possible in the summer months, from walks, to reading outdoors, picnics, and countless meals outside, our winters are long, so I tred to take advantage of the summer as much as I can.
I went to the National Comedy Center this year.
Summer picnics outdoors.
Drive-in dates.
I met up with friends through the summer months for dinners, or coffee or walks. I also did some traveling with day trips with family and my boyfriend and then some meet ups with friends too. My family and I got away for a few days with and went to the ocean which was such a fun escape.
Beach days in the summer
One of the many places I went for hikes for in the summer.
It felt so good to relax for a few days at the beach!
More zoo trips!
Fair fun!
I spent so much time reading outdoors.
I enjoyed sunrises and sunsets.
The summer was also filled with baseball games, strawberry picking, zoos, bonfires, beach days, and grilling. I tried to head outside as much as I could when the seasons changed from summer to fall.
Day trips to Pittsburgh
Lots of burgers on the grill.
Beautiful night for baseball
Strawberry picking summer fun!
Bonfire nights.
In my happy place!
I went to my first MLB game this summer.
And ice cream nights!
I fell in love with avocado toast this summer too.
I enjoyed farmer’s markets this summer too.
But as the winds changed, I had to layer up for fall walks, leaf peeping and apple picking. I tried to do as much baking as possible when I was cooped up indoors.
Fall drives.
Lots of fall baking
Enjoying Beautiful Fall Walks
Apple picking fun!
First time seeing this majestic waterfall.
Making Halloween treats too.
The last chunk of the year was filled with all things holidays. From Halloween movies to family at Thanksgiving and all the Christmas and holiday cheer. The last few months are always my favorite time of the year.
Family movie night for Halloween.
More fall baking.
Hello holiday cheer!
All the Christmas spirit, from movies to decor, to hot cocoa.
Holiday fun!
That was a bit of a recap, now here’s some of my favorite things from the past 12 months:
Favorite Show: This is Us: the Final Season
Favorite Binge Watch: Downton Abbey (both the series and the movies)
Favorite New Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid (new to me!!)
Favorite New Movie: Elvis
Favorite Artist or Song: Taylor Swift’s Midnights
Favorite Adventure: First MLB Game in Cleveland to see the Guardians
This is a snapshot of this past year, it can be easy to forgot or not recall all the little moments that make up the past 365 days. This year has been so fulfilling and fun. I don’t know what the new year will bring, but I’m ready to embrace the change, take opportunities (even the scary ones), and make every moment count.
Hey guys! Happy Wednesday! I don’t know about you, but there is something so sweet about baking in the fall and trying new recipes after a nice long walk!
Happy Fall!
After doing some apple picking, I couldn’t wait to search Pinterest for some new recipes to try. I made this Apple Cinnamon Swirl Bread a few weeks ago and it was a hit. Although it is a bread, it’s so sweet and flavorful, you can serve it as a dessert with a scoop of ice cream or on its own.
Without further ado, here’s a look at this tasty apple recipe.
Ingredients
1/3 cup of brown sugar
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
2 medium apples
2/3 cup of sugar and 2 tablespoons
1 stick of butter
2 large eggs
1 ½ teaspoons of vanilla
1 ½ cup of flour
1 ¾ teaspoons of baking power
1 teaspoon of salt
½ cup of milk and 3 tablespoons
1 cup of powered sugar
Directions
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×5 pan with cooking spray, place parchment paper and then spray.
2) Mix brown sugar and one teaspoon of cinnamon in a bowl and set aside.
A look at your dry ingredients
3) Toss chopped apples with 2 tablespoons of sugar and one teaspoon of cinnamon and set aside.
Apple mixture
4) Beat butter and 2/3 cup of sugar with mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs one and a time and vanilla.
5) Whisk flour, baking powder and salt in another bowl, add to cream mixture and blend. Mix ½ cup of milk until smooth.
6) Pour batter into loaf pan, add half of the apple mixture, sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon mixture on top.
7) Continue to layer and swirl the mixture once complete.
8) Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes and check with a tooth pick.
9) To make glaze: mix powered sugar with milk and pour on top of bread once cooled.
10) Serve!
This recipe was so easy to make and so tasty! I know I will be making it more this fall season. You can eat it for breakfast, lunch, a snack or dessert.
