I had a really nice, fall-ish weekend! When I say “fall-ish,” I don’t mean I visited a pumpkin patch or went apple picking. No, we don’t have that in Florida- although, I’m pretty sure it’s too early for those things just about everywhere right now. But those are things that never happen in Florida, so we have to make our own fall.
We may not have cool temperatures and falling leaves, but we do have football and homecoming! Saturday night was our high school homecoming dance, and my daughter went with two of her friends, looking amazing in her new dress. I got a lot of GREAT comments on my post about the suit vs. dress dilemma, including one from Julie saying that she wore a tux to her prom! For this dance, my daughter wore a dress- who knows what will happen in the future.
I dropped my daughter and her two friends at the dance, and I loved seeing all the kids dressed up. I also loved that these three girls didn’t feel like they needed dates- they were happy to be going together. I was excited that it was my daughter’s first high school dance.
I was also excited that after the dance, another mom was picking the girls up and bringing them back to her house for a sleepover. I knew that my daughter would be in good hands and I knew she would have fun- and my job was done for the night.
I got home just in time for the start of the Baylor game. It was gloomy and rainy outside (a typical South Florida evening in September) and my house was so cozy! We broke out the fall food and beverages.
We tried each of the beers: the Oktoberfest was very good; the Pumpking Ale was okay, and the Howling Gourds was terrible. The only one we actually finished was the Oktoberfest. It turns out some things just shouldn’t taste like pumpkin, and beer is one of them. But it was fun to try them all.
I LOVE chips and salsa, but don’t normally eat them. It’s one of those thing I can’t stop eating once I start, so I usually don’t let myself start. But I made an exception since they were “fall-themed” (holiday foods don’t really count, right???) and I loved them. The pepita salsa is delicious, and chips are always good. Plus they looked like fall leaves!
We also had this:
It was good. I mean- it was good for a prepared dinner. Elaborate cooking wasn’t in my plan for this night, so we definitely enjoyed these “heat and serve” enchiladas.
We watched Baylor win, and oh yes- I was wearing my new favorite pajamas.
After the game, I stayed up late reading, and finally crawled into bed, knowing that there was no work or school tomorrow, and no one would be needing me for anything. I could sleep as late as I wanted, and didn’t wake up until 9 am. It felt AMAZING.
After a nice slow start to the morning, Sunday got underway. I picked up my daughter, did the grocery shopping, and started thinking about plans for the week. I felt a little melancholy that the weekend was coming to an end. Sometimes everything just comes together perfectly. I know there will be more fun times this fall, but it’s possible that I’ll look back and say “Yes, that was the best night of the whole season.”
Are you starting to think about fall, or are you still in a summer frame of mind?
Pumpkin ale- yay, or nay?
25 Responses
It feels too early to call this the best fall weekend, but it does look picture-perfect –down to the pajamas! I love all your Fall-themed knick-knacks. And I must get some of that Pepita Salsa!!
I made soup today, so I guess, I’m in Fall mode too :).
That’s true- it’s not even officially fall yet. I’ll have to plan another “best” weekend once the season truly starts.
Oh, and I’m not very into pumpkin drinks, but I love pumpkin in cakes and casseroles, so yay?
Yes- pumpkin in sweet things, and I also have some pumpkin pasta recipes that are very good!
I always find the best part about having a day off is the evening before – which you can enjoy fully without worrying about the next day.
It’s definitely autumn here in Switzerland: it’s cold and drizzly, the first fresh snow fell in the Alps and I’m back to warm layers when going out running. I like it!
I agree Catrina- the best thing about a day off is the night before. And, it definitely sounds like fall where you are! I’m very envious.
I was thinking of you yesterday because I picked my first pumpkin! And my first butternut squash. The weather is beautiful here, the daytime temps are warm and sunny, and the mornings are crisp and cool. I guess it’s fall!
It sounds lovely. And, I’m very happy that picking a pumpkin made you think of me!
Those PJs are adorable! What a great evening you had. I put that casserole on my TJs list to try, it looks good.
It is definitely good- you could also jazz it up a little with guac or salsa.
Well first of all, we’re going to need Julie to post pics of her tuxedo!
Yay for kid free nights with a TJ’s spread. I got those same chips the last time I was there. I’ll knock back a pumpking or two this fall, but other than that I will steer clear of the pumpkin beers. I’m ready for fall! The leaves are starting to change, though not too much yet, and the mornings are crisp and cool.
Oooh… crisp and cool. I’m so envious. Julie has a blog post from long ago about her prom with a photo!
Oh, it is DEFINITELY fall where we live and you know I love it!
I also love how you lean all in to holidays. Love the PJs. Love how you embrace all things pumpkin. Love how you decorate for football Sunday. It’s little things like that which make such a difference in boosting our happiness! So…yay!
And sleeping in until 9 am sounds like exactly what you needed and deserved. Now wishing you many more happy weekend experiences like this in your future <3
Thank you Elisabeth! Leaning into the holidays definitely makes me happy!
Sounds like a fun fall-like weekend! It is actually starting to feel like fall here — we have high temps in the 80s for the first time since at least May, and overnight lows in the 60s so my morning runs might actually feel a bit chilly. I’m ready to start breaking out all the fall foods!
Yes, you definitely get cool weather before we do! 60s for a morning run sounds amazing.
It has been unseasonably warm and humid here this week. A friend texted a group of us about legging suggestions this weekend and I responded and said I could not ever THINK about leggings when it was almost 90 degrees and humid. Where are you fall? I don’t want what comes next but I am tired of humidity. I ran this morning and my legs felt like lead and I was sweating like it was mid-August. I am sure the lead legs were related to my race on Saturday so I cut my run short.
I love all your fall foods! We made chili for dinner last night even though it was a very warm day. Sometimes you have to just ignore the weather and pretend it’s fall. It looks like it will cool off here next week, though.
I’m glad your daughter went to the dance and had a sleep over afterwards to enjoy, too! I love that kids go to dances with friends rather than feeling like they need a date!
I also ignored the weather and made chili on Sunday! I hope you get a cool down next week- it has to come soon, right? And then your runs will suddenly feel amazing.
I am definitely not in a fall frame of mind yet. It’s been so hot here. BUT! Things are trending towards more fall-like weather and then I’ll join you in gourds and pajama pants. I’m trying to soak in these last HOT days because winter is coming. DUH DUH DUH.
At my IRL book club on Sunday night, the host made a pumpkin dip and it was delicious, so I am all in for pumpkin foods even though it feels like the height of summer still.
Mmm! Pumpkin dip??? I’m intrigued. I know you’ve had a heat wave in the midwest… it should cool down soon.
Fall can’t come fast enough. My son brought a pumpkin plant home from school and it did produce four pumpkins that are usuable for carving (if the squirrels stop nibbling on them). I am assuming it was was planted a little too early and now it’s already ready. I got a skeleton at Target the other day but I will wait with the Halloween deco until October. Trader Joe’s had some really good pumpkin cider the other years. I have to look if it is back already. I would give the pumpkin ale a try, too.
I was sorry I missed the suit vs dress dilemma. I would have had to say something about that. My daughter definitely is more a suit kind of person and she would most likely go with a friend group rather than a date to a school dance. It sounds like your daughter has a good group of friends and that is definitely worth a lot.
I think Trader Joes did have pumpkin cider! I just didn’t get any (maybe I should have?) I also won’t put my Halloween decs up before October. But that’s so fun you grew your own pumpkins! Keep them away from those squirrels.
I LOVE those chips— they’re delicious and really cute. I definitely might be on bag 2 of the season.
I am ALL ABOUT FALL right now! The weather is going to be miserably hot, but the fall decorations are out, I’ve drunk my weight in PSLs, and I got really excited when I saw our local pumpkin “patch” (which is just really a stand to pick out a pumpkin, haha) was getting ready for October! EEKS. I love it.
Your whole Saturday evening/Sunday morning sounded GLORIOUS!
Oh what a fun fall themed evening 🙂 I love your pjs 🙂
Honestly, I am not into fall mode yet. It’s still too warm here and I am hanging on to summer a little more. But I know that once October hits, I’ll switch modes pretty quickly 😉