seasons – Sweat & Sparkle

Can’t Wait for Fall

I am so ready to wave bye-bye to this hot, sticky, humid summer and finally welcome that first cool breeze of fall with wide open arms! Living in the south, I still have quite a wait, though.

But hey, today Bath & Body Works has their 3-wick candles on sale for $11.95, so I loaded up on fall scents: pumpkin, cinnamon, latte, apple, all the warm and cozy scents of my favorite season. I might just light a fall candle, crank the a/c, and bake cookies this weekend!

Let’s Take a Break!

Blame it on the most wonderful, beautiful time of year being right around the corner (fall!) Or blame it on me just being in a seriously good mood today. But I simply can’t concentrate at work today, so I am taking a break to do anything but concentrate on work. Take a break with me, you lawless rebel!

I have so much bouncing around in my head. I adore fall and then all the holiday seasons, so I have started checking out some festivals and events for the rest of the year, and jotting them down on my calendar so I don’t overbook us like I have done in the past (sorry, Husband Guy). I want to strike a balance between quiet, cozy time at home but celebrating all the seasons too.

I also have Christmas shopping on my mind. I start very early, over the summer, so a lot of my shopping is finished already, but I don’t have much for my husband yet. I have some ideas scribbled down, though, and I will pay attention to things he looks at while we are shopping or things that he mentions between now and Christmas.

One of the most rewarding personal changes for me this year has been shifting my mindset to stay laser-focused on what really matters to me: my husband, my home, the kids, my peace, our happiness. I have a limited number of days on Earth and don’t want to waste a single moment on anything or anyone that does not add value, peace, or joy to my life. It’s amazing how much more you can get done, and how much happier you can be, when you slam the door on all the rubbish and leave it outside to be miserable on its own.

Well, there are about 140 days left in this year. Sure, the larger part of this year is behind us, but there are 19 weeks and 6 days stretched out ahead of us. What do you intend to do with them?

Happy Spring!

The first day of spring already! It’s a rainy start to the season here, but this weekend is shaping up to be absolutely gorgeous. I’m itching to get outside, get dirty, start that seemingly never-ending yard clean-up before hitting the garden centers and bringing home as many colorful flowers as I can carry.

It’s a lot of work, but I look forward to it every year. I like watching the yard transform, one section at a time, as we spend time in it and give it some love. Every now and then, while we’re working in the yard, someone walking by will stop to tell us how cute our house is or how nice our yard is, and it makes my heart and head swell with pride. We put a lot into our home, and it’s cool when someone else enjoys it, too.

Happy first day of spring!

Go Away Already!

About a week ago, summer toyed with me. Temperatures dropped to the 70s, and a few mornings actually bordered on chilly. I got excited, climbed onto a stepladder, and sorted eagerly through the sweaters on the top shelf of our closet that I can never reach. I was hopeful that it was time to wave bye-bye to hot, humid, sweaty, muggy days.

What happened this week? It’s back up to 90 degrees, and to say that I am not happy about it is a massive understatement. For the love of god, summer, just go away already! You’re as bad as a clingy ex who won’t just move on (ahem).

It’s almost November, and it’s still summer here. Summer needs to take its suffocating self far, far away, and let my beloved autumn slide in, with its cool breezes, softly falling leaves, chilly nights, and cuddle weather temperatures. I’ve been waiting for fall a long time, and it can’t get here soon enough!