Monday 10 October 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mmm Thanksgiving Weekend...
This (horrible picture) pretty much sums it up. Following tradition, me and the rest of the family enjoyed a very quiet weekend filled with long walks, farmers markets, cooking and eating. Lots of eating.
We LOVE a good turkey meal (look how happy they look!). My sister was up from Lethbridge for the long weekend, which was great because one of my favorite parts of big family dinners is watching her get REALLY excited over the turkey...
                                       
And dessert! You better believe she was excited about this one. Almost as stoked as I was.... 
                                       
Why don't I make pumpkin pie more often?! Every time thanksgiving or christmas rolls around I'm reminded of its deliciousness, yet I still only eat it like twice a year. Why?! Also, as I baked this baby (plus another and a bunch of little pumpkin tarts) the whole house was taken over by the indescribably amazing smell of buttery pastry and pumpkin spice. Best smell in the world. 
Followed by the best reaction by my family to a dessert ever! I am laughing really hard as I type this thinking about my dad's LOVE for this pie. I think he's eaten about half a pie (plus 4 tarts) over the past 24 hours and he savored every, last bite with his eyes closed for "maximum focus and enjoyment." I love my dad.
Before sitting down to turkey dinner round 2, we took the dogs for a loong walk. 
Obviously I should also have a fashion blogged based on the above picture. Lookout the scarf/sweatpant/ugg combination is making a come back. 
Anyways, it was absolutely gorgeous! We found this perfect, sunny, golden spot and if I could I would stand in that spot forever.
As cheesy as this is going to sound, I am so grateful for that spot. It made me want to breath and be ALIVE. I am grateful for every day I have to live and love the family, body and beautiful world God has given me.
Happy Thanksgiving :)  

Saturday 8 October 2011

It's my favorite month!

It's October! 
...well it has been for 8 days actually, but I'm a little slow (still working on becoming a more dedicated blogger). Regardless I'm still VERY excited about this!
I looove October!
Always have, always will.
Reasons why:
1) The Weather
Even though I live in Calgary, it is still absolutely beautiful! I love feeling the brisk morning air on my face and seeing my breath cool in the air as I crunch through piles of fallen leaves. As corny as that sounded, I don't care...it makes me incredibly happy!
 2) Thanksgiving and Halloween
Turkey, pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes, cranberries, m&ms, reese's peanut butter cups, candy corn and sweedish berries. Enough said.
3) Pumpkins!
Nature's greatest creation! I cannot even tell you how much pumpkin I have consumed in the past week. Mostly in the form of pumpkin oatmeal and this Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Pie Loaf. Besides eating them, I just like to look at them.
It's starting to sound like I have a weird pumpkin fetish. I don't. I just really appreciate their existence okay?!
4) Running outside
Now that I have made my official return to running, I am LOVING outdoor runs! The air is perfect, cool and smells crazy good! (rotting leaves?) I have always found running outside to be more challenging, but I've mapped out a few beautiful routes and I have been finding the fall scenery super inspiring!
5) The semester is halfway over
Thank the good Lord.

Also I found a new great blog that I am loving following! Check out www.hungryrunnergirl.com, I've found it very inspiring and Janae, girl you're hilarious! Right now she's giving away a sweet pair of runners so make sure to enter her shoe give away!
Hope you're having a great October :)