Pumpkin Spice Lattes & Other Great Loves of My Life.

Like most of the country, around the end of September, I fall into a deep love affair with pumpkin spice lattes and, even better, the creamer that makes it taste like I'm having one every morning at home. Now that Thanksgiving is next week (YES, NEXT WEEK. How this has happened, I do not know.), peppermint mochas are on the horizon. Since we're about ten days from all Christmas, everything, I thought I'd write one more post about how magical fall was and how it brought several great loves of my life, not limited to the pumpkin spice latte.

Pumpkin Butter. Hello, heavenly spread. I don't know why I've never bought this before this year, but I'm in love. I've spent the past two months trying to figure out just how many things I can get away with putting this on. The verdict: A lot. (PS: I got my pumpkin butter at Trader Joe's). 

Pumpkin Tea. Being pregnant comes with caffeine limits (unfair, since it also comes with being exhausted), so cup after cup of pumpkin coffee wasn't an option this year. Pumpkin tea, though, is fair game. Plus, it's lighter than coffee and creamer, and still a way to cozy up with a hot drink that smells like fall. 

Apple-smoked Chicken Sausage. The only way you're getting me to try a healthy alternative to anything these days is if it's delicious and requires extremely minimum effort on my part. This meets those requirements...it's delicious, and I can legitimately have dinner made in 8 minutes. That's what winning looks like, friends. 

Marshmallow Pumpkin Latte Lipgloss. Alternatively titled: The shiniest way to taste pumpkin. 

Leggings, Boots, & Oversized Tops. Honestly, I would dress like this all the time if I could. And now that I'm seven months pregnant, I most definitely can. Thank you, little babe, for letting me decide that leggings are pants, even if only for a short time. 

Candles. The fall-scented candles are always my favorite, and I look forward to them all year. But this year, I've been lighting them as soon as I wake up so I can pretend I'm drinking my coffee by a fire place. It's cozy and magical. 

Having a Clean House. Maybe it really is nesting (it's gotta be something, because I am not one to enjoy cleaning), but lately I can't get enough of having everything clean. It's just so much more relaxing to be in an environment that's clean and clutter-free. I know my mom is reading this and cursing the high-school version of myself for never feeling like this. 

What were the great loves of your life this fall?

A Love Letter to Fall.

I fall in love with different things about different seasons. I love that each season has big, defining things that everyone recognizes, and also little things that just make it perfect, even if it's just perfect to me.

Right now, I'm having a big love affair with fall. It happens every year-why shouldn't it? For a season, everything is just about as perfect as it can get.

I'm in love with how alive everything makes me feel in the fall. The colors, the smells, the sounds. They're all so extremely alive. When I see all the fall colors of the decorations around my apartment, I feel like magic is real. When I smell pumpkin coffee, I want to wake up and enjoy the day. When I listen to the Autumn in New York station, I want to chase every dream I've ever had. Fall just makes me want to celebrate being alive.

I'm in love with the pumpkin and apple flavors that overtake everything this time of year.

I'm in love with the tiniest chill that starts to visit with the wind and makes me feel like I could stay outside, dreaming all day long.

I'm in love with the soups and the hot drinks and the baked desserts.

I'm in love with the glow of the candy corn lights hanging in my kitchen. With the smell of the seven different varieties of pumpkin-scented candles that make my tiny little apartment seem so cozy. With the fact that no matter where I am in my apartment, there's a pumpkin in sight.

Fall, I'm in love with you. There's so much to look forward to and be thinking about, but today, I'm just going to be overwhelmingly in love with fall.

What parts of fall do you love?