Pumpkins

I know i haven't posted in awhile. I'm so terribly sorry. This thing called life keeps happening, and I've decided that I want to experience it as much as possible. So I've kind of neglected my blog. For that I am sorry.

I decided to be festive in this post.

There you go. It's a pumpkin, 'cause it's fall and stuff, y'all! I love a good pumpkin pie, cheesecake, bread, cookie, or muffin. I love the way it smells when it's baking. I love the smooth flavor. It just tastes like autumn should taste. So today I salute the pumpkin.

Today I started planning my Thanksgiving menu. I love to cook Thanksgiving dinner. The turkey and I, we spend quality time together. I'm especially looking forward to this year because instead of just me and M and the Hubs, we're having some very special familial guests. For that I am extremely thankful and willing to go out on a culinary limb. That's right. I'm going to make my own pumpkin puree instead of buying the canned stuff. All I know so far is that I need to buy a pie pumpkin and not one of the big jack-o-lantern pumpkins. Once I figure it out, I plan to post pictures of the process and maybe some tutorial tips, so stay tuned.

Fall is my favorite time of year. What's your favorite time of year?

PS My friend Lauren is doing an awesome giveaway this week of a vintage Coach bag from Orange Twine. Make sure you check it out!

Whatever Happened to Thanksgiving?

I love autumn. It is my favorite time of year. The air is cool with just a bite of winter to it. I get to wear my sweaters again. I start making soups and hot cocoa. The leaves turn and fall from the trees. Kroger starts selling cinnamon brooms. Everything smells like pumpkin. Like I said, it's my favorite time of year.

So it makes me sad that after Halloween everything becomes about Christmas. It's only fitting, since my favorite season is autumn, that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the simplicity of it. I love how it's just focused on family and giving thanks for the harvest, friends and family, blessings in general. It's relaxing. It's a turkey slow-roasting in the oven while M and Hubs watch the Macy's parade in their pajamas on the living room floor. After dinner we put up the tree and trim it. M loves it.

I was sad today. I went to Wal-Mart to buy some dish detergent and the store was completely decked out in Christmas. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, too. I just wish that Thanksgiving could get its due. We have seven weeks until Christmas. Do I already have to have candy canes and tinsel shoved in my face? Hobby Lobby had their Christmas aisles set up in July. JULY! I was still wearing flip flops and dying from heat exhaustion.

So I'm pleading with everyone to just STOP with the Christmas-ing already. We have a whole month after Thanksgiving to focus on Christmas. Just stop right now and be thankful for what you have; for who you have. It's time everyone took a step back from the commercialization and just focus on their families for awhile.