Five Things
I have a confession to make. I spend the few weeks before Fall dreading the decline of temperatures, the months-long pause in soaking up the sun rays, and ALL the leaves from our giant Oak trees falling all over our patio and backyard.
My birthday and Anniversary are both in October, followed by Thanksgiving and then Christmas, two of my favorite holidays, so it’s not that I dislike Fall as much as it is that I love Summer sooo much and need to be reminded why Fall is just as special.
Well, I am here to tell you, the temperatures are beginning to decline, and I am here for it!! My love for Fall has, once again, been restored! What did the trick, you ask? Let me show you!
1. Fall Amazon Finds under $50
Maybe I should have just listed Amazon as my number 1 because it's pretty great, and you can't beat 2-day prime delivery, but I especially love Amazon when it's Fall!! The sweaters, the home decor, the flatware...I LOVE it all, and every item on this list is under $50.
Shop the photo:
2. Fall recipes I am loving
These Fig & Brown Sugar Ham Sliders were a big hit, and for good reason! Slider sandwiches are just soo good. They’re easy to make and carry to events; kids love them, and like this recipe, they’re super simple to dress up when you’re in the mood for something different. The fig jam and brown sugar I used for these does just that, and it makes these popular sandwiches taste like candy. They’re delicious, so try them out and don’t forget to check back in and leave a review to let me know what you think.
Fall is also the beginning of soup season—the season of every busy working mom’s dreams. Recently, I shared a recipe for my Creamy Chicken, Mushroom & Wild Rice Soup, and it’s just about as comforting as it gets. I love using fresh herbs, and this recipe is loaded with fresh thyme leaves, my favorite, so I’m fairly certain you’ll love it!
3. Fall weddings
October is my wedding month, so I am a BIG fan of Fall weddings. I could also scroll through a feed of Fall event florals all day long and never get bored. Much like the world of charcuterie, one designer’s event florals will look totally different from another’s, and each designer has his or her own signature look. It’s art, and I love it.
October 17, 2020. The day I married my best friend. Photography by Shonta Harper / Floral Design by Leah Galloway
My sister-in-law just so happens to be an incredibly talented event florals designer, and she spent this past weekend showing off her talent and creating the most beautiful Fall wedding arch and bridal bouquets and I think everyone should see these!
Photography by Sarah Spencer & Leah Galloway / Floral Design by Leah Galloway
If you have an upcoming event, need some inspiration, or if you’re like me and just enjoy mindlessly scrolling through photos of beautiful floral designs, find Leah on Instagram or Facebook.
4. Music
Honey in the Rock— Okay, so this song has been out for a few months, but it’s still one of my favorites and it’s been on my daily Alexa playlist these past few weeks.
There's honey in the rock, water in the stone, manna on the ground, no matter where I go. I don't need to worry now that I know, everything I need You've got. There's honey in the rock.
I’m a big fan of those lyrics. Behind the scenes of this blog, I’m staring straight ahead at another round of firsts without a parent. 2020 marked my first birthday, Thanksgiving & Christmas without my mom, and now, they’ll be my first without my dad—without either parent, and there’s often a whole lot of uncertainty rolling around in my head. It’s songs like these that help remind me God’s got my back, and He will help me through this valley like He has every valley before this one. If you haven't heard this song yet, follow the link above and let me know what you think. Hopefully, it'll help you remember God's got your back, too.
5. Memories
One of my favorite annual events is happening this weekend, and while it falls on my birthday this year, it’s not my birthday I’m excited about. Instead, it’s time for the Annual Dryden Hayride & Picnic in the “Holler.”
My dad’s family prioritizes spending time with one another, and I couldn’t be any more thankful for them. They are the reason for the vast majority of special memories I have of growing up in Tennessee. This coming weekend, like the many before, we will gather at Granny’s, the house where my dad and all of his siblings were raised, and we will pile onto a trailer full of hay to ride down to the red barn where we will eat, have a corn-hole tournament, and visit with one another.
If you can’t tell from last year’s photos, we all enjoyed this weekend, especially my sweet dad, and I look forward to adding a few more pics to my Dryden Family Picnic stockpile.
