The Mountain Condo.

I've never really been one to live for the weekend until lately, thanks to back-to-back stays in our friend's mountain condo. Apparently, I just can't seem to stay away from Appalachian for more than a work week.

One trip was spent in Blowing Rock with the boys. This past weekend, it was just us girls. I've missed my hallmates so much! No shame in saying that we sang along to the Glee Christmas CD all weekend, while sipping on Moscato and catching up until 3 am each morning. We made a big pot of chili and corn bread muffins, which lasted us two nights, and only ventured out of the condo to do a little shopping, visit the cupcake shop, and drive along the parkway. We watched Bridesmaids on Friday night, which was very fitting considering the four of us are part of Kelsey's bridal party!

Laughter keeps you young, so this will be an annual occurance for the rest of our lives.

November.

Our street is looking festive - the leaves are at the peak of their golden lives and they are so beautiful!

My parents have been in Asheville for the past few days, and I've had the house to myself. I have a terrifying fear of being alone at night in a big house, so I made Caroline come home for a sleepover. She just joined the same sorority as I did in college, so we had a craft night (which might have been my main motivator behind joining a sorority in the first place).

I also experimented with the culinary wonder that is a 3 minute mug cake, and it kind of worked! Except next time I'm only going to microwave it for 2 1/2 minutes and take out the egg. It was a little too cakey, and not enough fudgey.

Also, I realized that I make a trip to a craft supply store atleast once a week. Yesterday, Caroline and I found these little rose cabochons at Michael's and went nuts making a million pairs of earrings for Christmas presents!

Oreos.

       

Milk's favorite cookie - the homemade version. They ended up tasting a little different than their pre-packaged cousin, but are equally as addicting. I've been gawking over this recipe for the past year, and finally found the time to make them! Mom thinks I'm crazy for making things like marshmallows and homemade oreos during the fall instead of pumpkin muffins and spice cookies, but let me remind you - I'm allergic and I just don't think spice cookies would taste the same without the spice. Oreos and marshmallows will suffice! Oh, but I did make a blackberry cobbler this weekend, which was a little more traditional.

I love fall for many reasons, but especially for the excuse to turn the oven on.

Kitteh cat.

When I moved into the basement, I simultaneously inherited Gracie. Although, if I could re-name her, I'd go with something more exotic to match her look. She was my grandmother's cat and I have adopted her.

I'm convinced that she has short term memory loss, because she rarely remembers who I am and it's been atleast 3 months since I moved back home. Once she finally warms up to the idea of having a roommate, she loves: forehead kisses, sleeping on my keyboard, watching me do crafts, and making funny faces when she yawns. If I leave the room for more than 5 minutes, I turn back into a stranger. Repeat cycle. She's funny.

BalloonFest.

Balloon Gazing.

After catching an inconvenient cold this weekend, I wasn't keen on leaving my bed - much less my house; but how can you turn down witnessing the launch of 50 brilliantly colored hot air balloons?! Well, you just can't.

The majority of the crowd swarmed the field, but we chose to scramble up the hill and get a bird's eye view. It was one of the most magical events that I've ever seen. Why hasn't this festival been at the top of my Fall Bucket List in years past? It will be now. Next time, I need to remember to bring a blanket so we can lay on the grass and balloon gaze. That, and 10 bucks in cash to purchase a giant order of ribbon fries.

Marshmallows.

Marshmallows are cute and sweet, and therefore - one of my favorite treats. I've discussed my love for them many a time, including here and here.

I'll take them in any form. Roasted over a fire pit until they are flaming and burnt. Sandwiched between two grahams and a chocolate bar. On a fondue stick, dipped in warm milk chocolate. Melted into Rice Crispie Treats. Shaped like a sugar-coated chick. You name it.

I had never thought about making them myself until recently. You have to admit, everything is better homemade. I followed this recipe from Smitten Kitchen. She is coming out with a cook book next year, and I cannot wait! The process was time consuming, but very easy and worth the wait. The end products (All 96 of them...yeah) look like little fluffy clouds. I can't wait to sip some hot chocolate tonight and every night until they are gone.

Parkway.

We had to take a rain check on our original plans to go skeet shooting this weekend. That should be interesting, when it happens - and it will. 

Instead, we decided to drive up the mountain for peak leaves weekend. Unfortunately, it snowed two weeks ago (say whaaa?), so half of them had already fallen to the ground.

Early July was the last time that I laid eyes on the parkway, so it was about time we reunited. The four of us had a delayed start on Saturday, but made it up to Boone just in time to smell the smokey scent coming from Woodlands Bbq, and crave a late lunch. We opted to get our bbq trays to-go and picnic on the parkway. Definitely the right choice. The weather was perfect, and the sky was clear enough to spot the Charlotte skyline, 105 miles in the distance! Most of the stores were closed by the time we made it into town, but we happily sipped our hot beverages and walked around campus until it was time to drive back home.

One afternoon was just a tease, I'm ready to go back! I belong in the mountains.

Changes.

Now this is what I like to see.

Can I just note: the best time of year (in my opinion) is simultaneously the worst time of year to be allergic to cinnamon. I can't enjoy a pumpkin spiced anything, and I will not sugar coat my feelings about this. I'm a little bitter. Not that I have anything against the dark chocolate godivas or chocolate chip cookie icecream sandwiches that I've been enjoying, but still, I'd love to sip a chai tea AND be able to breathe at the same time. That isn't asking of too much, is it?

I still love all aspects of the Fall season. I'm finally heading back up to Boone this weekend with Bud, Cait and Michael and my heart is smiling, just thinking about it. I've started planning a parkway picnic in my head.