Tag Archives: fall

Legends of the Fall

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Even though I am missing the weather in Las Vegas and San Diego like crazy- it hasn’t completely interfered with my love of all things Fall here in New England- especially with the foliage just starting to hit it’s peak color-changing potential. There’s still some green here and there- but everything has gradually been turning bright and beautiful shades of red, yellow and orange since I got back home. It’s my favorite transition between seasons- even though I know that transition is eventually going to lead into frigid and snowy winter in what I’m sure will feel like no time at all.

I’ve been putting in overtime at work since my return to the East Coast last week (planning an eventual cross-country move is gonna’ cost money, after all-) but Tuesday afternoon, after putting in a few extra hours at the office in the morning- I took the opportunity to take a long and winding drive to visit friends North of Boston. On my way, I stopped at the historic Wayside Inn in Sudbury to go on a little hike and snap some photos of the surrounding scenery.

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Hurricane Matthew had dumped quite a bit of rain on us recently (and I’m thankful that was the worst of what we saw here considering how bad it got down South,) but it couldn’t have been more perfect outside during my excursion on Tuesday. It was warm- but not too warm- and sunny. There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky- and it held out that way until the temperatures started to drop by the time the sun began to set just as I was finishing up a delicious Thai dinner in Melrose.

This coming weekend is the annual Rock & Shock convention in my hometown, so I know I’ll be too preoccupied checking it out with old friends to head out and take more pictures of the leaves until next week at the earliest- but I’m quite content with the photos I’ve snapped so far!

Next week I’m going to have the details for my Halloween Giveaway up and running- and of course a few more “Horrors of Netflix” posts, too!

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xx

Apple Cider Afternoons: An Autumn Playlist

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(Image via Tumblr)

Despite the fact that it’s been ridiculously humid out these past few days (if you need proof, look no further than my hair)– I’ve been very much in an Autumn frame of mind. I’m planning a trip to a local orchard this coming week to pick some apples, hop on a hay ride, and indulge in all things pumpkin. My boots- both ankle and knee-length versions- have made more than one appearance over the past few days as I transition out of my Summer wardrobe staples- and I’ve been compiling another calm and somewhat slow-paced playlist to match the cooler weather and overall more relaxed tempo of the upcoming season.

Whenever I put together a playlist, especially my annual Autumn ones, I like to select a nice mix of older and newer songs that I feel fit the theme/inspiration I’ve chosen. This year, I thought about brisk afternoons I’ve spent in the company of friends while we sipped cider (the regular and/or hard kind) and went for walks through the falling leaves together, or stayed indoors to bake everything we’d picked up during day trips to the orchard or nearby pumpkin patches- or simply gathered as a group to plan our over-the-top Halloween costumes and parties.

The result was this 10-track mix, titled “Apple Cider Afternoons”- which features artists like SOAK, Low Roar, Angel Olsen and Joseph- among others.

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I am!

xx 

“Slip Into the Autumn Shade…”

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Even though I’ve had to gradually add more and more layers to my wardrobe over the past couple of days because the mornings and evenings have been particular chilly- I have been having the absolute best time outdoors with friends hiking through the woods and past old cemeteries, as well as driving down leaf-lined back roads to farm stands and pumpkin patches. While many of the trees still have a lot of green on them, it looks so beautiful mixed in with the yellows, oranges, and occasional reds that are practically glowing on the branches.

On Saturday, I took a long and aimless drive to Brattleboro, Vermont (which isn’t much farther from my beloved Western Massachusetts) where I stopped numerous times to photograph the foliage, pick up a pumpkin for my mom’s front porch (it’s a tradition!), buy some locally grown vegetables and baked bread, and take in the cozy charm that only the small and picturesque communities in Vermont could offer.

… I also got to feed a baby goat- which had me in near hysterics with how cute it was. I’m such a softie for baby animals.

Each time I visit the area, I always end up asking myself why I don’t spend more time up there. It really is lovely. Especially this time of year.

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If Saturday’s excursion wasn’t enough nature for me- I also headed to the Middlesex Fells Reservation on Sunday afternoon with a group of my friends for a couple of hours of hiking and posing for plenty of photos before the sun began to set and we had to start back to where we’d parked before it got too dark out. The Fells is such a massive area to explore, and even though we were there for quite some time- we’d only covered a very small fraction of all there was to do and see. I’d love to head back in the coming weeks before it gets too old (or worse- icy!) to explore a little more. It’s simply awe-inspiring- especially when you catch a glimpse of the area (and the far away Boston skyline) from the top of Wright’s Tower.

All in all, I had such a relaxing and beautiful weekend. My photos just don’t do it justice.

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A day in the wilderness isn’t exactly easy on hair like mine.

xx

Crisp Air and Cozy Sweaters: An Autumn Playlist

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Apart from apple picking, visiting pumpkin patches, photographing the foliage, and watching terrible horror movies throughout the month of October (my ‘Horrors of Netflix’ series returns next month and I couldn’t be more excited to suffer for the sake of satire!) one of my other favorite Fall traditions is crafting a playlist of dreamy, calming, and soothing music to listen to while I go for long, lazy afternoon drives through the leaf-littered roads in Western Massachusetts or for when I bundle up in my favorite faux-leather jacket I’ve had since my late teens and a lightweight scarf and step out into the brisk morning air to grab a hot coffee.

I love putting together playlists in general (see my 8Tracks page for some of the ones I’ve created over the past couple of years!) but Autumn has always been my favorite one to create every year- and this year’s mix was no exception.

Inspired by throwing on an oversized and super-comfy sweater and stepping out into that crisp New England air (that always smells of pumpkins, apples, and spices this time of year,) I’ve selected ten tracks for my Autumn 2015 playlist: ‘Crisp Air and Cozy Sweaters’, featuring songs from Daughter, James Bay, and First Aid Kid- among others!

I hope everyone who gives it a listen enjoys it!

xx

“The scent of apples – I am drowsing off…”

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One of my favorite Autumn activities in New England is, without a doubt, going apple picking at any of the beautiful orchards located in the more picturesque parts of Massachusetts. I usually take an entire morning and/or afternoon for the occasion so that I can enjoy the scenic drive along back roads to and from the orchard and still have plenty of time to pick my apples while sipping a cup of warmed cider or nibbling on a freshly baked apple dumpling. It’s such a wonderful (and delicious) way to welcome the Fall.

This past Sunday, although drizzling on and off, was just as good as any other day to head to Brookfield Orchards (a longtime favorite location for my family and friends- and one I’ve been going to since I was a little kid,) and stock up on fresh apples for snacking and baking. The trees were unbelievably full- the most I’ve seen them in years- which led to a lot of great photos and quite the haul!

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Couldn’t resist a selfie!

I also made it a point to pick up a few of Brookfield Orchard’s very popular apple cider donuts- which you can watch being baked fresh right inside their country store. They’re pretty addictive, and taste amazing when paired with a hot cup of coffee or tea. I really need to find a recipe so that I can try to make my own at home one of these days.

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With plenty of apples to get me through the next few days (or weeks), I’m getting ready for my other favorite orchard/Autumn activity- pumpkin picking. I love piling into my car with my friends and going on a state-wide search for the biggest pumpkin imaginable. It’s a time honored tradition!

xx

Quick Eats: Salted Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie

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I fully and openly admit that when it comes to Autumn-centric beverages, I much prefer salted caramel flavored anything over the immensely popular pumpkin spice flavored drink/food. There’s just something about the perfect mixture of sweet and salty that can satisfy nearly any craving.

Of course, it’s still technically Summer here- and with the temperatures still steadily soaring high- it might be a little bizarre to walk into any coffee shop to order a piping hot salted caramel latte or hot chocolate.

Thankfully, there’s a colder alternative available that takes no more than 2 minutes to prepare, mix and enjoy. Best of all, this recipe can easily be tweaked to become sweeter or saltier based on your own personal preference.

I went ahead and made it the old fashioned way, so the recipe below reflects what I used and how many measurements it’d take to make one smoothie.

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WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

* 1 cup vanilla almondmilk

* ½ frozen banana

* 1 tablespoon cocoa powder

* 1 tablespoon peanut butter (creamy- not chunky)

* ½ cup ice

* 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder

* A pinch (or two) of sea salt

OKAY, HERE’S WHAT YOU DO:

1. Blend all ingredients (except the sea salt) until smooth.

2. To garnish, sprinkle the pinches of the salt on top. You can also use chocolate bar shavings and/or caramel sauce to make it look more presentable.

3. Enjoy!

How easy is that, right? I’ve been loving these lately- and they’re a great way to transition from Summer to Fall flavors without burning your tongue.

If you have any Summer-to-Fall recipes (including beverages) that you swear by this time of year- I’d love to hear them!

xx

“The Forest of Talking Trees…”

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I love the outdoors as much as the next person, but hiking in the woods in the middle of Spring or Summer is not my idea of an enjoyable time. The heat. The bugs. Sweating. The bugs. Pollen. The bugs. Even though I’m not a fan of the cold I’d much rather get my climbing cardio on in the colder months where I know I won’t get eaten alive by mosquitos or risk running into a spider (or a nest of spiders- which may or may not be an irrational fear of mine.)

This past Saturday had perfect weather for such an excursion. I headed out to Western Massachusetts with a hot cup of coffee and “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” soundtrack (so good!) on my iPod where I tromped through leaves and over snow to catch the beginning of the late afternoon sunset. There were a few other people wandering the trails, too- some with dogs that were awfully friendly and others with kids that were even friendlier. I had my camera with me, and snapped the above photos before it began getting too dark outside and I started back towards where I’d parked my car.

It was a beautiful ending to the day- made even more so after the fact with a quick stop in downtown Northampton before I eventually headed back home. I’d like to head back within the coming weeks to get a few more photos, preferably earlier in the day while I have the sunlight on my side- and before the snow gets here!

xx

Odds and Ends.

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In my teens, when I first began taking an interest in urban exploration- the Holy Grail of locations to photograph was undeniably Danvers State Hospital in Danvers, Massachusetts. Opened in 1878, Danvers State was notorious for it’s experimental, and often inhumane treatments for the mentally ill- and for (allegedly) being the first facility to begin performing pre-frontal lobotomies. After it’s closure and ultimate abandonment in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, the large, sprawling property, as beautiful as it was haunting- was left to succumb to the elements. It was also heavily patrolled. I can recall my friends and I being followed or stopped on more than one occasion by local police as we walked/drove by- attempting to snap photos or simply just gawking at how monstrous the buildings were from where we stood or sat- who warned us of no-nonsense arrests and steep fines for anyone caught trespassing.

What attracted me to Danvers, more than anything, was it’s architecture. It was one of the few remaining institutions left standing in the New England area that were designed under the Kirkbride Plan- the same layout used in another mental institution (now demolished) in my hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts, that was equally breathtaking.

Interest in Danvers State and it’s creepy, sordid history only intensified with 2001’s cult-classic horror film, “Session 9” (which gave us the greatest line ever uttered by David Caruso,) but despite it’s historical importance and efforts from the community to preserve it- the property was bought out a few years ago, and a large portion was demolished and converted into apartments.

Now, with no one to stop me (Take THAT, Danvers Police Department!) I like to head up to the main office, the former administration building- every so often to take in the beauty of the preserved Kirkbride structure and surrounding scenery. The photos above were taken a few days ago during a lovely, crisp, late afternoon. Even though the newly constructed condos clash with the brick of the main building- I do have to admit they did a good job with the overall renovations. It’s nice to see the space getting some use.

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When I wasn’t walking around the remains of a former mental institution- I spent a portion of this past weekend with my mom visiting a couple of farmers’ markets and general stores outside of Boston where we ate homemade fudge and maple-glazed jerky (delicious, I swear,) My mom snapped the above photo of me and my over-enthusiasm for finding what I think was the perfect pumpkin- but the real star of the picture is my navy Michael Kors bag, which has become my go-to purse for the Fall. It goes with everything.

Over the next couple of days, I’ll have another “Horrors of Netflix” review, as well as an in-depth review of a skin care line I’ve been testing out over the past few weeks!

But before I get to that:

Have you entered my Halloween Giveaway yet?

There’s still a few days left to enter!

Rainy Autumn Morning – A Fall 2014 Playlist.

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Some might say it’s a little early to be rejoicing in the upcoming arrival of Autumn, and sure- it’s been hot and humid these past few days where I live- but anytime after Labor Day is fair game for Fall enthusiasm, in my opinion. I’ve already prepared my warmer, layered wardrobe. I’ve already stocked up on plenty of pumpkin-scented body products to get me through the next couple of months- and I’ve already compiled a playlist for the season- this one inspired by those gray, rainy mornings after the leaves have started to change colors and there’s a slight chill in the air. Those are the mornings I like to curl up by my window with a hot mug of tea (or cider,) and listen to slower, soothing tracks- some included in this playlist from the likes of Elliott Smith, Angus & Julia Stone, and Birdy- among others!

I hope you all enjoy it!

Autumn is Awesome Tag!

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Even though we’re in the midst of the season’s last death rattles, and that familiar Winter chill has already crept up on more than one frosty morning in recent weeks, it’s still technically Autumn. The lovely Imogen over at Imogen’s Typewriter tagged me in this quick questionnaire, “Autumn is Awesome!” to bid farewell to what is no doubt my favorite time of year.

1. Favorite/least favorite thing about Fall?

There are so many things I love about the Fall that it’s hard to choose just one. Halloween, the cool, crisp weather, the fashion- but I’m going to go ahead and say that my absolute favorite thing is the fall foliage. Some people who have grown up in, or who have lived in New England for a long time tend to become so accustomed to the leaves changing color every year that over time it loses it’s luster- but I still get as awestruck as ever whenever I see the first flickers of reds, oranges, browns, and golden yellows on the trees.

My least favorite thing about the Fall would have to be Daylight Savings Time and losing the sunlight so early in the day. By the time I leave my office during the week, it’s dark out, which is a bit of a downer.

2. Favorite clothing item for Fall?

Big, cozy sweaters, and fluffy scarves! You’ll rarely see me out and about in the Fall without them. I love to pair them with a simple pair of skinny jeans and comfortable boots. It’s my go-to chic, classic Autumn look for everything and anything- from running errands to a casual night out with friends.

3. Favorite makeup trend for Fall?

Deep red/wine colored lips. I wish I could wear it year-round without looking too vampy, but it suits me very well in the Fall/Winter.

4. Favorite fall food/drink?

I think my favorite fall food would be apple crisp or anything pumpkin flavored- like pumpkin muffins or pumpkin bread.

My favorite Fall drink is hands down salted caramel lattes/hot chocolate, followed closely by warm apple cider.

5. Fall TV show premiere you are/were looking forward to most?

It should come as no surprise to anyone that it was The Walking Dead! I was practically counting down the seconds until the season premiere in October, I was so excited.

6. Favorite Fall tradition?

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Brookfield Orchards, 2012.

Every Autumn I love to bundle up and go to the orchards out in Western Massachusetts to spend an afternoon picking apples and pumpkins, drinking cider, going on hay rides, and browsing antiques. I usually go with friends, or with my mom, or even by myself- and it’s always a nice, relaxing time with a beautiful view of the picturesque scenery.

For this particular series of questions, I tag anyone reading this who wants to participate before we head into December! Just let me know if you do, and I’d be more than happy to see what your answers were!

Lastly, I hope everyone celebrating Thanksgiving this year has a phenomenal one (and also, Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends! Thanksgivukkah? Hannukiving?) I’m spending the day with my mom and some of my relatives. I’ll see you all when I wake up from my turkey/tryptophan food coma.