Easy Apple Cinnamon Biscuits Recipe (Egg-Free)

Craving a delicious biscuit that isn't terrible for you? Learn to make this easy, not-too-sweet, egg-free cinnamon apple biscuit recipe. 

Where to Find the Best Inexpensive Fall Decor

Autumn is on it's way! Are you looking to add to your Fall-decor collection, but you want to make sure your bank account stays in tact? Here are my top picks for where to find the best, inexpensive Fall decor pieces this season.

Fall Recipe Roundup for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Dessert (50 Recipes)

If you are looking for Fall recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, you're in the right place. This post is jammed-packed with both savory and sweet Fall recipes. Pumpkin and apple recipes are a must (of course), but don't worry, I've got plenty of non-pumpkin/non-apple recipes for you too.

How to Host Your Own Pumpkin Party | Fall Pumpkin Party Ideas

Have you ever hosted your own pumpkin party? Fall is the perfect time to practice hospitality. Learn how you can host your own pumpkin party this Fall with these helpful tips and resources.

October Love, Goals, + Updates

Happy October, sweet friends! I'm really baffled that October is already here, but I am also thrilled. It's my all-time favorite month and I definitely think it should be celebrated! Like, maybe there's no school, no work, and no responsibilities all month. We'll all just spend October huddled around a bonfire with pumpkin coffee and apple bread. Because that's realistic, right? 😋

I could spend the rest of the month just posting about why I love October. And other than the fact that it would get pretty old for you, I would.
But since that's not going to work, I decided to do an October goals post, September updates, and some things I am loving for October- all wrapped up into one. You're welcome 😉

September Update

September has been a strange month for me. Very strange. I finished up a nanny job that I was contracted on through the Summer. I got a VA job that I worked for two weeks, but turned out not to be the best fit. I gained another client that has been an awesome fit.
Then, my hip and back injury (which left me bedridden for 5 days last year) acted up again and still hasn't settled down. It's not as bad as the last time that I had problems, but I have been doing a whole lot of laying in bed with a heating pad the past few weeks. I'm really hoping that the steroid shot I'll be getting next week will do the trick!

And to end September, we spent last weekend of the month in the mountains with our family, friends, and our church family. We were celebrating our home church's 10 year anniversary.

I really didn't have that many goals listed for September, and I met 3 out of 4 of them. Taylor and I actually did much better at adulting (i.e. being responsible people who clean, cook, and go to bed at a decent hour 😂), I was able to see baby E three times, and I finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Woot woot!

However, I did not get ahead on my blogging goals, because of the hip flare-up, which causes a lot of pain that gets worse when I try to sit down for long periods of time. I'm trying to find creative, practical ways to still get things done this month to make up for last month.

October Goals

Get Ahead On the Blog

I am desperately wanting to get ahead on my blog posts, VA work, and social media scheduling. For October, I'm just going to try to get at least three blog posts ahead and to revamp two posts with new images.

Workout Four Times Per Week

A while back, my grandparents let us borrow their stationary bike that has some pre-made workouts built in. We finally started using it recently and I think it's going to be a really good workout without murdering my hip. My goal is to do four workouts on the bike per week.

Focus On What Matters

Guys, I am so bad about focusing on the wrong things when it comes to my goals. I spend so much time participating in threads and worrying about numbers, that I neglect the most important parts of blogging: namely, crafting blog posts and newsletters.

It's really easy to get priorities turned upside in anything we set our hands to, so I'm sure it's not just me who struggles with that. But this month, I want to focus on getting it right. It's hard, and I cringe when I have to choose between growing my social media numbers and creating new content, but it's clear to me what matters most.

October Love

Apple Pumpkin Bread

I know I mentioned this apple pumpkin bread in my roundup post, but my sweet friend Gracie came to Charlotte and made this recipe again and it was even better than I remembered. Seriously, you need this bread in your life!

Blue Bloods

I love Blue Bloods, and season 8 just premiered a few days ago. The first episode of the season was heart-breaking, but I am so excited that it's back on. I might be a smidge addicted!

Birthdays

October is birthday month for me, for Taylor, and for several of my awesome friends. Unfortunately, October and these birthdays always seem to come and go before I have a chance to blink, but I still enjoy it thoroughly. I have no idea what I am doing for my birthday, but I think Taylor's parents are coming down for his. It'll be awesome.

Pumpkin Patches

Last year, going to a pumpkin patch was one of the highlights of my Fall. I went twice with baby E and it was so fun! This year, I am hoping that Taylor and I can go together.


What fun things are you looking forward to during the month of October? Did you do anything noteworthy in September? Comment below!

Fall Roundup + Free Printables (Coffee Sips and Lovely Links)

*This post contains affiliate links. These links help support The Peculiar Treasure at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.*

Happy Friday, peculiar friends! It's been quite a while since I last did a Coffee Sips and Lovely Links segment here at TPT, but with Fall well on it's way, I decided it was time to bring it back.

I love Fall. And if you've been reading this space on the interwebz for very long at all, you probably knew that. I love the crisp Autumn air. I love the crimson, gold, and burnt-orange leaves that dance their way off of the trees. I love the pumpkin-flavored coffee creamer that always finds it's way to the shelves, the pumpkin recipes that clog my Pinterest feed, and the smell of apples and cinnamon that make their appearance in candles around this time of year.

Basically, I love #allthingsfall. And I could spend hours and hours on Pinterest just swooning over all the Fall recipes, the Fall bucket lists, and the cute Fall fashion ideas. But I doubt very seriously you want to spend that much time pouring over links, so I narrowed it down for you a bit 😉

Friends, you know what to do! It's Coffee Sips and Lovely Links time here at The Peculiar Treasure, so grab your cup of coffee and a fuzzy blanket, relax, and enjoy this Fall Roundup (and the free printables I've found for you)!

Coffee Sips + Lovely Links

Fashion

When it comes to Fall fashion, I love cozy dresses, blanket scarves paired with Jeans and Converse, and chunky, knitted sweaters.

Gingham has also made a comeback and I personally think I need a closet full of it. 😉

Recipes

When I was a teenager, I would ask my mom to make me a pumpkin roll for my birthday instead of a cake. They are my absolute favorite, and I love to slice off a piece and stick it in the freezer for about 45 minutes before eating it.

I made this creamy chicken tortellini soup last week and it was phenomenal! I cannot wait to make it again, and it will definitely remain on my meal rotation!

Last year, I went apple picking with my mom and I bought sooooo many apples. In fact, some of them went bad (🙈), so this year I know to buy less. BUT, one of the best things I did with said apples is that I made this amazing pumpkin apple bread. It was sooooo good. You need this recipe in your life. Just sayin'!

Fall Mugs

I am absolutely in love with mugs. I already explained my mug obsession and why I am not giving up coffee, but I still enjoy sharing when I find some super cute mugs online!

I found several on Etsy:

Morning Pumpkin

Sweater Weather

Fall Breeze

And then a few more on Amazon:

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

Pumpkin Spice Gift Set

Printables

Another thing that I love this time of year is all of the adorable printables that people make. So I figured this Fall roundup was not complete without showcasing some of the free printables that are available to you!

Fall Farmhouse Printables

Watercolor Printables (😍)

Pumpkin Patch Printable

"Life Starts All Over..."

World of Octobers Printable

Hello Fall Printable


I hope you enjoyed this Fall edition of Coffee Sips and Lovely Links. Hopefully, there was something here for every Fall-lover to enjoy! And as a true southerner would say: Happy Fall, yall!

September Goals + A Fall Playlist

If you're here for the Fall Playlist, it's at the bottom of the post, so just scroll down 😉

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Hey friends! When September hits, I start pretending it's Fall...despite the 90 degree weather where we live. I'm looking forward to decorating for Fall, cooking Fall recipes, and doing fun Fall community things - like having a pumpkin party. 

Those fun things are soon-approaching and I can't wait. But for now, let's talk about goals (both the ones I had for August and now the ones I have for September.

Goals For August

Grow my Blog Stats

PASS! Other than pageviews and Facebook likes, I met and exceeded my goals. Woot woot!

Secure One Virtual Assistant Client

YES! PASS!
I am now working part-time from home as a virtual assistant, and starting in October, I will fill the rest of my hours with a part-time nanny job. I will be caring for an infant.

Contact One Brand For a Collab

FAIL
I didn't even try you guys...

Continue My Workouts with Mr. T

PASS-Ish.
Mr. T and I got some good workouts in during our Summer together. However, the heat deterred us more than I wish it had.

Finish Reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Ummm, I'm writing this post a few days before August is finished, so technically I have a couple of days left... but no, I have not finished. However, I am making headway and this weekend I am house sitting and will have plenty of time to read 😉

Goals for September

Stay Active

Now that I am working as a VA, one thing I'm a little nervous about is staying active. Mr. T kept me active, but now that he is in school, I won't have that extra push anymore. I really want to walk at least 3 times per week, and I would love to reach between 2-3 miles per week. That's really not much at all, so I feel like I have no excuse.

Adult

Taylor and I have been trying so hard to stay on top of everything. We aren't always the best at adulting when it comes to keeping our house spic-and-span and purging the things we don't need. For the past week or so, we've been trying to be better at adulting in every area: cleaning, healthy eating, organizing, money-saving, and spiritual health. It's a work in progress but we are in it to win it! 😉

Visit Baby E Twice

I knew I would miss baby E after being her nanny for nearly two years, but I had no idea how much I would miss her. That little girl completely stole my heart and I miss her every day. My goal this month is to visit her twice. I know it's hard to coordinate schedule's between two families, but I think that should be doable.

Read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

I'm finishing up book four and I hope to move on to this one by early September, and maybe even finish it. I'm so slow!


Friends, I'm excited. I'm so blessed and thankful to have found both a VA job and a nanny job that will work together well! I am thankful that I will have some down-time this weekend. I am thankful that Autumn is quickly on it's way. And I am thankful for strong, pumpkin coffee, which I have already consumed many cups of through August 😉☕

I'm excited for what the coming month holds. Are you looking forward to it, or do you feel like it's going to be a tough month? Comment below.

Click here for your Fall Spotify Playlist!

A Contented Hustle: November Goals

November? Really? How is it already November? In Charlotte, the weather is still in the low 80s, the leaves keep dancing back and forth between remaining green and going ahead and throwing themselves off the trees prematurely. I've got to tell you, it's turning me into a crazy person. Every day I wake up hoping the weather man was wrong, and that today will finally be the day that North Carolina wakes up and smells the Pumpkin Lattes. Maybe today it will be Fall.

But as much as I wish the weather would turn crisp and the leaves would change colors, I've still had a very good Fall. October was birthday month for me and Taylor and we both managed to surprise each other with the birthday festivities we planned for one another. And I actually made myself proud because I have already checked off half of the items on my Fall Bucket List!

What's left on the list?

• Roast pumpkin seeds
• Go to a bonfire
• Carve or Decorate a Pumpkin (I may not do this one- I'm enjoying my plain pumpkins. #fulldisclosure ;)
• Take lots of pictures (I will once the leaves change)
• Take a walk in the park (I've already done this but I'd like to do it a few more times).

I'd like to use November as the time to check those items off the list. It would make me feel really good if I was able to do them all. But even if I can't, at least I know that I have already had a very full Fall filled with pumpkin patches, pumpkin parties, and apple orchard fun (see full list).

Focusing on One Main Thing

November is going to be a ridiculously busy month for Taylor and I. He will be coming into crunch time for his school work, and I will be making a really large candle order (praise God!) on top of work and blogging. I also have several guest post deadlines and some posts I would love to create for the upcoming holiday seasons. It will be a month of hustling for sure.

But something I want to focus on this month is being content in the season I'm in. The Bible says that godliness with contentment is of great gain ( 1 Timothy 6:6) but I often (like, very often) find myself waiting for "that thing" that I feel will make me happy. I put so much focus on what I hope will one day be, that I forget to enjoy today.

Don't misunderstand- there's nothing wrong with a good goal, and you should work really hard for your dreams and what you are called to, but when hustle replaces our ability to be content, we've got a problem.

So in November, I want to learn to "hustle contentedly". I want to learn the art of being completely happy with this day, even if the leaves don't change color, and even if it's 85 degrees. I want to be so thankful and joyful about the blessings of this day, that I don't complain, I don't focus on "one day", but instead I live well TODAY. And yet, I want to learn how to do all those things, and still be working persistently, wisely, and passionately towards my dreams and goals-towards the "tomorrow" I look forward to.

I Need Help

Honestly, that sounds impossible to me right now. I have no idea how to do both. I tend to be a woman of extremes. I can either focus on contentedness OR I can focus on passionately pursuing my dreams... I don't know how to focus on both. But since I believe that the two being combined is actually what's best, what's ideal, and what's intended, there must be a way. This is where the prayer and trusting God part comes in. I cannot- no way, no how- do this on my own. 

I know though, that God is pleased with my wanting to learn to do both of these things. It's really just a matter of kicking my own butt into gear. God will help me on this journey, but I have to make sure that I am also willing to put in the work. I can't sit around thinking about how sad I am that I haven't met ______ goal yet. But I also can't sit around all day sighing happy sighs because I am just so dang content. I still have to hustle- just in the right way.

Do you have any goals for the month, my friend? Do you find balance to be hard for you in the areas of contentment and pursuing your goals? Comment below- I'd love to hear about it!

10 Realistic Fall Bucket List Ideas

Fall! Fall! Fall! When I hear those words, my spirit does a little happy jump and I get just the tiniest bit giddy. I can smell the cinnamon, taste the pumpkin, feel the crisp air on my skin, and hear the crunch of crimson and gold leaves under my feet. Fall is one of my favorite things on this beautiful planet.

Like anything else though, it's so easy to breeze right on through Fall, going about our daily lives. We don't stop to smell the roses pumpkin pie, and we miss out on a lot of fun. Then one day, we wake up and realize that Fall has left us just as quickly as it came.

It's easy to do. We spend so much time working and being busy that when we do have free time, we just want to lay in bed and do nothing. But if we don't get out there and enjoy all that the season has to offer- what everyday has to offer- we will surely regret it later.

So I have put together my own little Fall bucket list. These are things I want to do this Fall, but I know that it will take a concerted effort to actually do them. I will have to do things when I am tired, and I will have to force myself to leave the house on my lazy Saturdays. But once I start, I know I'll be glad I did.

My list is simple. It doesn't have a ton of different activities on it, because let's be real- ain't nobody got time for a Fall bucket list with 50-100 different items on the list. Most adults are crazy-busy, and when given a huge list of fun things to do, it's easy to end up feeling like a boring loser if a bunch of things on the list are left undone. But Fall bucket lists are meant to create fun, not sadness over what was not accomplished.

So enjoy the simple things. Do what is fun to YOU, and do as much as you can of those things. But if winter rolls around and you haven't done as much as you would have liked, decide to be thankful for the fun you did have instead.

Happy bucket-listing! Make it fun and make it count!

Healthy Chocolate Pumpkin Protein Shake

In lieu of it being the most wonderful month of the year, I decided I needed to crank out some more pumpkin recipes! 

I don't really post a lot of recipe's around here. Most of my blogs are focused on Christian living. However, when Fall rolls around, I cannot resist  posting more- because, well... #pumpkin.

Nuff' said ;)

One of my favorite healthy snacks is my "Nana's Protein Shake". It's packed with vitamins and protein so it aids in both health and in hunger cravings. I usually like to keep the shake "as is", but I discovered that the pumpkin-y-ness is pretty awesome too. Not to mention, including pumpkin in the drink adds a lot of vitamin A.

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To make this shake, combine the following in a blender:

1 Cup chocolate soy milk (I use the light version of Silk when the store actually has it...)
1/2 scoop of vanilla protein powder (I use Spirutein soy protein)
3 Tablespoons pure pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling!)
1 Cup of ice

Blend together until ice chunks are gone and serve. This makes about 16oz.

Nutrition: * 183 Calories* 28 Carbs* 3 grams fat* 13 grams protein* 22 grams sugar*

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And, since it is October- have I mentioned that it's the greatest month ever?- I decided to find a few other pumpkin recipes for you. You're welcome.

Pumpkin Recipe Round-Up

Pumpkin-Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkin Buttercream Frosting

Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins

Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin-Nutella Cookie Bars


Hopefully, these will get you started on the basic human need for pumpkin everything :)

Enjoy!

Hello, October!

Happy, happy, happy October! My favorite month is here and just knowing that makes me ecstatic! I'm doing a little jig over it ;)

October is when the leaves really start to change. The gold and crimson hues and the crisp air overwhelm me. I tend to feel lighter, perkier, and more optimistic during this time of year.

In addition to the beauty of it all, October holds my birthday, my husband's birthday, one of my best friend's birthday, and mine and my husband's dating anniversary. Lots and lots of good stuff!

I have several goals for October, but first, lets take a peek back at September.

September Goals

1.) Watch Florida football with Taylor
Ehh, kinda. We went to one game at a WAY too crowded bar in downtown Charlotte. We also watched one game at home. He's been working during all of the games, and since I only watch for him, I haven't been watching without him.

2.) Decorate 
Check! I put up my fall decorations about three weeks ago :)
I'd still like to make a fall wreath.

3.) Blog at least four days per week
I did pretty well with this. Twice I blogged 4 times, once 3, and once 2. The only week I wasn't proud of was the week where I only posted twice, simply because I didn't meet my goal.

4.) Get Outside
Yes! My nanny job is awesome because they live fairly close to a park. I take baby E to the park to play and I get a nice walk in.

5.) Plan Another "Get It Together" Challenge
Check and Check! I planned it and we are in the middle of the challenge. I have been so proud of all the ladies who are participating!

Now, let's get to October, shall we?

October Goals:

1.) Read the Bible 2 times per week

I have such a tough time getting myself to read. It's frustrating, and I have been saying for years that I need to get better. Taylor and I read together at night several times a week and I am so thankful for that. But I also need my personal quiet time. For now, my goal is twice a week, with the hope of getting better at consistency.

2.) Meet my Weight Goal

I organized and started my Get it Together group last month. It has been going really well and I enjoy facilitating. My weight-loss goal by the end of the challenge is to have lost 10 lbs. I weighed today and I've lost just under 5 lbs in 15 days. I call that success. And I want to lose the other 5 by the time the challenge is over :)

3.) Cook at least 4 times per week

Taylor and I are really bad about either going out for fast food or doing simple boxed-meals. There's nothing wrong with boxed meals, and they can be yummy, but I am a pretty decent cook, and there is no reason (other than laziness) not to cook more homemade recipes.

And with fall here, there are so many soups, chili's, and pumpkin-thingies to make!

4.) Blog 4 times per week

This was my goal last month, and here it is again. I am happy with blogging 4 times/week. I would like it to eventually be 5, but 4 times/week is a good amount and it is realistic.

September was kind of a tough month for me personally, but I was very proud of myself for accomplishing the goals that I set for myself. Small victories add up!

How about you? How was your September? Is there anything you are excited for in October? Comment below :)

Apple Picking and an Update

Hi guys! I am so happy you are here! Thanks for always joining along with me in this big ol' blogging world. You're the best!

I've mention a lot on Instagram lately how excited I have been that my family and I are living closer together again. Having them so close has been super exciting! We've been able to spend so much time together even just in the past month.

In fact, this past Wednesday, my mom and I were able to go apple picking. The apple orchard that I always went to in college is only an hour away, so we drove to Flat Rock (just outside of Hendersonville, NC) and picked apples together.

Mama had never been picking and I was so glad I was the person who got to go with her on her first trip to the orchard.

Their were mostly Fuji apples to pick when we went, which was fine with me because I love em'!

It was so nice to be in the mountains again. I love the crisp air and beautiful views.

After we were done picking, we headed inside to see if there were any other types of apples we wanted to buy. I ended up with the Fujis and mama ended up with Ida Reds. We bought a few Asian pears too (YUM!).
Oh, and there was also a giant pumpkin :)

We also tried a homemade apple slushie and bought a half-dozen apple cider donuts that the orchard makes right in front of you. Seriously, they are absolutely fantastic!

I am so thankful for this time with my mom. I feel like we are catching up on all the time we missed while I was in college. Six hours apart doesn't sound like a lot, but it really is when you are as close as we are.

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Now, for a brief Charlotte update:

We have been in Charlotte for over a month now, and I am loving my job. Baby E is the sweetest little one ever and her mom and dad are great too. We have a great time playing outside, listening to music, and hanging out with the family dog.

Taylor got a job working at a Gourmet hot dog shop in Charlotte. He stays so busy and so tired, but I am proud of him and we know it will be worth it :) He is loving seminary and we are both working towards making friends and finding a church to call our own.

Thank you to those who are following and supporting our journey.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Merely Existing

It's so easy to float through life, waiting for the next moment of bliss. But while we are waiting, we miss out on our life.

Sometimes, I just want to sit around and do nothing. I want to wallow in my struggles, be lazy about my goals, and avoid anything that would challenge me. Bettering myself, though a desire of mine, tends to fall second to laziness and the comfort that comes with it.

On my days off, I keep thinking, "I could crochet a scarf today", "I could make candles today", "I could go for a walk at the park", "I could go read my bible", or "I could get ahead on my blog". Instead, the end result is usually me watching Netflix for far too long, eating salty, fattening foods, or giving in to negative thinking for hours at the time.

Oscar Wilde once said "To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people just exist." Honestly, this quote sounds like something that would end up on a refrigerator magnet or a Facebook cover photo. But if you really think about it, there is a whole lot of truth in that tiny little statement.

Each day, we get out of bed and immediately start hoping that the day goes by quickly. We wait for the end of our work day before we even get to work.
On Monday morning, we are already waiting for Friday afternoon. And the day after Christmas, we start waiting for Thanksgiving. We are a culture of unsatisfied creatures, always waiting for the next best thing.

Living in such an unsatisfied state keeps us from being effective in the here and now. If we are constantly waiting for the clock to hit "go home" time at the end of each day, we are probably missing all sorts of small moments to connect with people, to go the extra mile in our work, and to take advantage of our talents.

When we exist, we float through and half-heartedly participate in our own lives. When we live, we thrive!

Living means:

- Actively searching for ways to improve our lives: How can we change our bad habits? How can we improve our attitudes? How can we strengthen our faith?

- Looking purposefully for ways to make a difference in the lives of others.

- Using our talents: how can we use our gifts more effectively today than we did yesterday?

- Enjoying the little things: our spouse's smile, our dog's slobbery kisses,
the sunshine's warm rays, and the boldness of a cup of coffee.

-Pursuing goals and dreams: even if it seems impossible, we should search for ways to make our dreams into reality.

Existing means:

- Refusing to change: staying exactly the way we've been, with no interest in improving.

- Ignoring opportunities to help others.

- Avoiding, ignoring, or not being open to using and growing our talents.

- Choosing to complain about little annoyances.

- Believing that our dreams will always just be dreams.


If we want to thrive, merely existing can no longer be our way of living. We must dare to dream, strive towards those dreams, and constantly improve ourselves. Every single person on the planet could stand to improve. Ghandi and Mother Theresa could have even improved. We all have flaws, and until Jesus returns, we always will, but we can constantly strive to do better. And working towards that in every sphere of our lives is, in fact, living!

It's really tough sometimes to get into the right mindset, or to push ourselves to be our best. It can be difficult, frustrating, and sometimes even scary, but the alternative- the not living- is far more frightening!

We are all capable of great things. We have the potential to change the world through our character, through our faith, and through our talents. We have been given gifts that can make an impact- if we use them, sharpen them, and put them into practice. The question is, do you want to change the world, or merely exist in it?

Live your life. Live it fiercely and purposefully. Do not just exist.

Mug-spiration Monday *Vol. 13*

Was anyone else just absolutely thrilled by the weather yesterday? I know I was!
I pictured myself frolicking in a meadow, but one must be able to run to do that, so I settled for rolling the car window down ;)

The weekend was filled with a lazy, Bones-binging Saturday morning. Then my mom, dad, and brother came for a late afternoon visit. My brother spent the night with Taylor and I, and the next morning we got up and went to church.

Church searching is getting a little old. No church is perfect, but our tiny little church in Waynesville was truly the best church I've ever been a part of. And as we try new churches, I am seeing more and more how blessed we were.

After church, we headed over to the farm to hang out with my parents and brother and eat Sunday lunch. We hung out with the chicken, ducks, and goats, and I swang (swinged? swung? are those words?) on the farm swing, which was so fun!

Now we are back to the work week. Even though I am tired and dragging this morning, I am thankful that I really do like my job. I am thankful that I don't have to do the whole "office job" thing in order to provide for Taylor and I. I am also thankful that during the baby's naps, I am allowed to work on this blog. That is a huge blessing!

But regardless if you are a nanny too, or if you work in an office, at a school, at McDonalds, or even if you are the CEO of a major company, you can choose your attitude for the day. You can choose to be grumpy because it's Monday and you don't want to go to work, or you can choose to be thankful you are living another day, and thankful that you have the opportunity to do great things and be a good influence today. The choice is yours, but my recommendation is to skip the grumpy ;)

Mug-spiration Monday Inspiration

Spiritual Inspiration- God is with his children always.

Creative Inspiration- Make some art.

Work Inspiration- Dream dreams for yourself, and have a purpose.

There is enough negativity in this world to last a lifetime. How about we decide to be the light in the darkness, and the perky amidst the grump-monsters?

Have a wonderful day, friends!

September- The Teeter-Totter Month

Happy September!

September has always been a month that evokes mixed feelings. When I was younger, September meant that it was time for school to start, and time to give up Summer vacation. But September also meant better weather, seeing friends, and playing basketball.

And even now, at 24 years old, September is still a teeter-totter month.

Fall is my favorite time of year. It makes me ridiculously happy to breath in the cool air, stare at multicolored trees, and have all-things-pumpkin back in my life.

I have an excuse to drink pumpkin coffee, make pumpkin bread, and decorate the house with pumpkins and gourds.

But September isn't quite there yet...it isn't fall, yet it stands there tempting me, teasing me, telling me that fall is here, and yet it's still hot, the trees are not yet painted, and no one is selling pumpkin coffee creamer. Darn you, September!

But I'll give this frustrating month a little credit- September gives me more time to get ready for October (the best month around). It gives me time to enjoy my fall decor before Christmas decor goes up. It gives me time to plan for Fall festivities like apple-picking, harvest festivals, and birthday parties for both me and Taylor.

I know I'm probably over-thinking this whole month business, but it's how my brain works. You're welcome :p

And even though I am looking forward to October, there is so much to enjoy about each day, each week, and each month, that I have decided to make a list of September goals. I need to find things to do, enjoy, and plan on for this month, instead of waiting until a better time (month) comes along!

September Goals

1.) Watch Florida football with Taylor

My husband loves the Florida Gators. And now that we don't live close to his family and we don't have cable, he has no place and no one to watch his beloved Gators with. Never fear! Super wife is here!

I really don't enjoy football, but it means a lot to him, so my goal is to at least watch a few games with him. And a friend of ours recently told us that one of the bars in Charlotte is a designated Florida Gators bar, which means that if there is a Florida game on, they will be showing it. I plan to spend some September Saturdays in that bar, watching the game with my cute hubby :)

2.) Decorate 

I have a few fall-decor pieces that I bought last year. I want to get those up in our living room, along with some pumpkin and apple cider scented candles. I'm swooning at the thought!

3.) Blog at least four days per week

Over the summer, I absolutely failed at my blogging goals. I could not seem to get on a schedule or get fully motivated, which really held me back. If I can keep myself blogging 4-5 days/ week, I know that my blog will soar a lot higher than it has been recently!

4.) Get Outside

There is a park not far from my job that is so pretty. It's got several nice walking paths, a large pond with ducks and geese, and a nature center. We also live fairly close to the White Water Center, which I just found out has paddle-boarding! I want to get out and get active now that it will start to cool off, but I also want to paddle-board before the summer weather is gone completely. I have got to get active, and I need to get outside.

5.) Plan Another "Get It Together" Challenge

For a month over the summer, I organized and ran the Get It Together challenge via Facebook. I had some friends, some family, and a few fellow bloggers participating in the group. One girl lost around 12 pounds in a month, and another lost around 8! I was so proud of what the girls accomplished, and several of them expressed interest in  having another challenge soon. I would like to get that organized so that we can have a challenge before the holidays.

I want to get better at actually doing the things I set as goals... instead of just making a goal. That does nothing.

Do you have any goals for this month? Comment below and tell me about them! Do you have a plan to make sure you accomplish those goals? Let me know!