Fall Favorites

Everyone knows I'm not a fan of the cooler weather or the shorter days. But in the spirit of embracing life and looking at the positive, I've decided to list some of the great things I love about the fall. See also: it's happening and I have no choice so I need to focus on the great.

Football ~This one is obvious and technically it starts in the summer.  Tailgating (although we can't do it often) is one of the greatest inventions ever. At home, we have been lucky enough to have very few freezing cold games at the Bank.  A warm afternoon leads to a cooler evening.  It's nice to have seasonal weather that helps keep us cool when we are steamed up about our nail biting games that aren't decided until the very last second.



Warm Day in October 2010 wearing our Pink

Tailgating on a WARM fall day = LOVE

Changing Leaves ~ Each morning on my drive to work I go through a winding road where the trees are huge.  In the spring, I'm thrilled when the brown branches turn a beautiful green.  In the fall, they change into amazing fall shades.  I want to take a picture of them because they are gorgeous. But considering the road is winding and I'm not allowed to text and drive, I assume I'm also not allowed to photograph and drive. So this pic will have to do. It's pretty close to what I see daily.



Almost Dolfield Road on the way to the Castle

Seasonal Stuff ~ You know all of that great stuff that comes out for the fall...Pumpkin spice lattes, muffins, cheesecake, candles, hand soap and decorations.  It takes me a while to accept its presence, but once I do, I'm all in.  I've been stalking Pinterest for the perfect fall dessert for about 2 weeks now. Decorations, candles, treats...I go all in. It's true.

Candy Corn ~ Brach's only. 

Fall Fashion ~ It's hard to stuff my flip flop freedom tootsies into my ultra stylish but rather restrictive riding boots, but once I do, I'm pretty OK with it. This is primarily because the need to wear boots is more out of fall fashion fun over necessity.  Scarfs (my fave) are the ultimate accessory when the weather starts to turn.  Most of all it's fun to go through my fall fashions and become reacquainted with my old cozy friends...Sweaters, Ugs, cords and my ultimate BFF, sweat pants. 

TV ~ Admittedly, I'm not a huge TV watcher.  Unlike some of my other friends who shall remain nameless, but you know who you are (FF), I don't have tons scheduled to record on my DVR. But the shows that I do have, I get super excited about their return.  Sheldon gets funnier every year, this could possibly be the year I finally get to meet the mother, I can't wait to see what kind of messes Naomi gets herself into and out of and even though it's kinda boring and way too rainy this year, Blair being on Survivor has got me hooked.

Fires ~ Of. Any. Kind.  Bon, fireplace, gas fireplace, pellet stove, rooftop fire pits, whatev.  They all rock in my world.  If you serve smores and wine along with, I may never leave. Consider yourself warned.

Family Dinners on Sundays ~ Family dinners on Sundays are one of my favorite things in the world, especially in the cooler months.  My mama always cooked a cozy dinner on Sundays when we were little.  It's comforting and absolutely wonderful to smell dinner brewing all afternoon while football is on the TV. When the kids or boys come in from the cool, crisp air where they have been playing (or doing whatever it is boys do in garages), the house is warm and delicious.  Beef stew is on our menu this Sunday...CANNOT WAIT!

HOLIDAYS ~ The summer for me is a 3 month holiday. Every day offers something to celebrate and I'm typically vacationing as much as possible. My co-workers can verify this.  But in the fall, there are actual holidays every month.  You know what this means right??? Decorations, celebrations, family, friends, wine (I convert back to red this time of year, btw), gatherings, gourd ball, parties, Beer Week, baking, presents, Oyster Bowl - it's a holiday in our family, NYC shopping, also a holiday for us, pumpkin carving, mums, Halloween, Thanksgiving, turkey frying, and it moves us right into Christmas which is so exciting!!  Let the celebrations begin!!!



T-Swifty and Bamboo Halloween 2011

Gourd Ball with a stick instead of a bat Turkey Day 2011

College BFF and me on one of our Annual Holidays to NYC circa 2009

Basically anything to do with festive fun, family, friends and food makes me happy...no real surprise there. :-)  What's everyone else enjoy about the change of seasons??

P.S. Baltimore Beer week starts Sunday...how will you celebrate??

xo~
Elizabeth

1 Game, Game 5, Game 7...is it fixed?

Orioles Magic has taken hold of Charm City. The O's are in the Playoffs for the first time in 15 years!!

Much like when the Ravens are in the post-season, many city businesses are showing their team pride. Leg Mason is orange.  Natty Boh is orange. The Baltimore Sun is orange. Fans are sporting Orioles orange on the regular. People are on the bandwagon, myself included. And, most of the time, it's super fun.

But, to quote a witty friend, these games have been killing me smalls!!!  If it's not a rain delay, it's extra innings.  And, before the extra innings, we are winning through the 8th and some pinch hitter (who looks like he's straight out of a psycho-killer horror movie) comes up and smashes it out of park, twice.  Killing me!  We are either waiting around (in the cold rain) to watch or when we are not waiting, we are on the edge of our seats, couches or bar stools going into extra innings.  I'm so tired but I can't go to bed.  I have to watch.

And, to make matters more interesting (read fixed) several sports...baseball, hockey (if they ever play again) and basketball, all have a series of games in which to win the chance to play on. 5 games or 7 games....that's a lot of games. Winning a series of games requires us to have patience....Which I do not have. And, while there is some comfort in knowing that it's not a one and done situation, it sure is hard to believe that things aren't fixed to go the distance.  Let's face it, the longer the series the more investment there is. And, now our O's have to play all 5 games because, we aren't going to lose this series. That is not an option.  We are talking about Orioles Magic afterall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWwDkSgB53c&feature=related

Football gets right down to business. They play in the rain, snow and cold.  Overtime can happen, but it doesn't seem to be as common.  You win or you go home. Absolutely no question, the loss is a swift kick to the tip. Ok for girls we don't have tips but you get the picture. It really stinks.  But it's quick and dirty...no lingering, no patience...just winning (or losing) and moving on. Instant gratification.

Maybe it's the lack of sleep talking. Maybe my enthusiam about winning has taken over my rational thoughts. Maybe it's that our city and our team wants and needs this more than the suite wearing non-fans to the north.  Maybe it's that the best teams make the best match-ups and that is why the series are so close and they go the distance.  Yea...That has to be it...sports can't possibly be fixed.

Let's go O's!! 2 more games until you can bring it home to Charm City.  We'll be waiting for you...in the rain or in the cold, wearing our orange and cheering you on.

http://vimeo.com/50932233

Can you smash some out of the park tonight??  Please and thank you.

xo~
Elizabeth

Oh My Aching and Other Disturbing Facts

Those of you who know me, know I enjoy a good workout. I enjoy exercising and being healthy. I'm in better shape now than I was in my 20's.  Awesome, right?  Yes, of course.

But over the last 6 months, I've notice several disturbing things.

1. I'm hungry all the freaking time.  I drink a ton of water and it does not help.  I seriously think I have a worm or a hunger problem.  And, I'm super grumpy if I don't eat. It is not pretty people.
2. I have more aches and pains that don't go away so quickly.  Of course, when you stress your muscles, they get sore. That's normal. They recover and get stronger...that's the purpose of overworking them. What's not normal is my that my hip stiffens up upon sitting and I look like a grandma getting up from my desk on the regular.  It's funny and painful at the same time. I refuse to accept that this ailment is age related. And, I press on.
3. I'm more competitive than ever.  You might say to yourself, competition is good, right?  Well, yes...when it is under control, it is a good thing.  I've always been competitive with myself.  In college, I hated getting anything but A's.  I like being good at things.  For this reason I really don't enjoy doing things I am not good at.  See: beer league softball, kickball, football, etc.  I tried to practice catching fly softballs, once.

When thinking about this 3rd disturbing item, I've noticed now, that I am not only competing against myself, I find myself competing against others...namely some pretty hot cheerleaders who regularly attend my bootcamp class.  Not only are they smoking hot with straight white teeth, 12 pack abs and buns of steel (See also: how do they always have perfect spray tans, impeccable nails, rocking falsies and workout clothes that look custom made, but I digress), they are some serious athletes. They can smoke a mile run, kill the push-up drill of 150 push-ups, smash out 50 flutter kicks- full range-with perfectly pointed toes all with make-up in tack, and not looking sweaty, haggard, red-faced or worked-over after.  

This disturbing on many levels.

1. First, I sweat like a fat dude on an August day.  It's disgusting. Even my legs sweat. 
2. If I wear make-up to class, it's gone by the time we finish the warm-up mile. See above.
3. I must wear a pony tale to workout. How they can run all around with their Pantene-fresh shiny hair down and flowing, is beyond me.  Me and my sweaty-heady pony tale are a hot mess within 10 minutes.
4. I'm am completely inflexible and uncoordinated.  I'm nearly 5'9" and I have long ape arms, yet somehow I'm still unable to touch my toes.  It's ridiculous. So my legs are never straight, my toes are rarely pointed and I'm gangly when it comes to anything involving something other than moving in a straight line.
5. These chicks are almost 20 years younger than me...GASP, GAG, HOLY SHIT. 
6. You really want to hate them, but you can't. They are sweet, kind, nice, inspiring and they work their cute, hot buns off to have those bodies.

My competition level is at an all-time high. Not only am I competing with myself, I'm now competing with them in my head.  I don't so much care if I beat them (although it would be nice to be the abs model in class), but I want to be as good as them.  I don't want to be last. I don't want to be beaten. At a minimum, I want to keep up with them.  And, this could possibly be why I have my first and second disturbing issues...starvation and granny hips. It's a vicious cycle readers. 

As my trainer reminds me (ALL THE TIME) it's me against me.  It's not me against anyone else.  It's me doing my very best and going where I want to go.  I'm better than I was at their age.  I'm better than I was 10 years ago.  I'm faster than most women "my age"  although that's of little consolation. I can be better today than I was yesterday.  Yea, yea, yea...I know all that's true, but don't you think I can stick with them?  20 years is nothing, right??

I'm hobbling off to lunch now.

xo~
Elizabeth

Me and one of "them" racing through ladders in March. I think this one ended in a tie. :-)