If You Say Pumpkin Spice Three Times...

Ah, the first day of fall. (Or Autumn, whichever word you prefer to use.)

While the pumpkin spice latte has been here for a couple of weeks now, today is the official start of fall. 

And I'll admit it, I'm your basic white girl when it comes to fall. 

Yes, I love pumpkin spice lattes (and the salted caramel mocha! Seriously, you could argue it's even better then the PSL), scarves, boots, hoodies, warm leggings, and crunchy leaves. This has become a bit of a trope in the blog world, and on the Internet in general. We white girls in the suburbs love fall. 

Poke fun at it all you want, but all things fall are my guilty/not guilty pleasure. And why shouldn't they be? 

This is all of the awesome fall brings to the world:

- The extreme heat is gone. I HATE long summers and extreme heat. Having a bit of summer is fine where the temperatures get really high and you can wear tank tops and hit the pool/lake/beach a couple of times. But after that, I'm done. Heat is uncomfortable, sticky, gross, and you can only take off so many pieces of clothing to make yourself feel relief. In the fall? Just throw on a sweater and you're good. It's awesome being able to step outside and feel a crisp breeze instead of choking on humidity. 

- The clothes. I always love the idea of spring and summer clothing. The light colors and flowy tank tops and such. But in reality? I just look better in fall clothing. Bring on the rich dark colors, blue jeans, and scarves. I can rock those. And don't even get me started on how much I love my boots. 

- Fall means all of the best holidays and seasons are coming! (At least here... sorry Australia and the rest of the southern hemisphere. Spring brings the best holidays and seasons for you!) You got Halloween, NaNoWriMo, Thanksgiving, NaNoWriMo, Christmas is just around the corner, NaNoWriMo...

- Food. Along with the awesome holidays and such, you get great food. (Other than the drinks at Starbucks.) Also, soup! I love me some soup. Yeah, I know, I can eat soup whenever I want. But, I always feel weird going to Panera Bread and ordering a hot soup when it's sunny and 95 degrees out in the middle of July. I just do. Maybe it's just me. IDK IDK. Besides, now all of the Halloween candy is out. Who doesn't love Halloween candy? And since I'm an adult, I can go and buy some bags and Mom can't tell me I have to save it for Halloween. 

- Fall TV shows! Need I say more?

So, yeah. I love me some fall, and I don't even feel bad about it. Tease me, call me basic, and make all of the memes you want. (Because they're true.) I don't mind! I'll just be over here, drinking my Starbucks, searching for Halloween/vampire themed things, wearing a scarf, pretending this is me:

Target Needs to Step Up It's Thanksgiving Game

I think I'm burnt out on writing from NaNoWriMo. But there's only a few days left and I will reach 50k - I WILL!

But this morning, instead of writing like I should have been due to not having to work, I decided to catch up on YouTube videos. Lately I've been going through my subscriptions and adding all of the videos I want to watch into my "Watch Later" tab and the number has now reached over 50.

This made me in the mood to make a video. Yay!

Sign up for Vlogmas at http://weblogwevlog.com/!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Things I Could Talk About

It's after lunch on Monday afternoon. I'm back at work, a large vanilla coke from the gas station at my side. Thanksgiving is over, and therefore, I have no excuse to not write a blog post.

It's not even that busy of a Monday morning as far as Mondays go.

I've opened and closed the Blogger tab on my computer several times already through the day and I've skimmed over everyone else's blog posts from the holiday weekend. How everyone else has time to post up all of their photos up on their blogs is beyond me. I brought my laptop along over the long weekend, but the only time I opened it for a significant period of time was to get my Christmas music uploaded onto my iPod.

Priorities.

It's not that I don't have anything to write about. There are several topics I could discuss on this Monday.

I could talk about Mondays and how miserable they are after a holiday weekend. Whether you're a student or you have a job, it's the worst.

I could talk about how even though I promised I would only put up my Christmas tree this year so I wouldn't have as much to pack when I move, somehow candles, pictures, nativity scenes, and bells somehow got placed all around my apartment.

I could talk about my favorite Christmas movies and how I've already watched four of them since Thanksgiving.

I could talk about how plans are coming along for changing my life and the big move right before Christmas.

I could talk about how every single weekend this month I have some sort of party and most of them are labeled as "Christmas", but they really are going to be about saying goodbye.

I could talk about winning NaNoWriMo some more and how I was so excited to win, but I was also really sad it was over.

I could talk about how the first Christmas albums I've listened to this season were Glee and NSYNC and poke fun at how ridiculous I am with my taste in music.

I could talk about Advent, a season that I hold close to my heart.

I could talk about how after all of the drama of getting my cell phone last year which was expressed through an abundance of GIFS... I had to randomly buy a new one over Thanksgiving. At least it's cooler than the other one. Also- way less drama. Let's just say I'm always going to the store that's NOT at my mall from here on out.

But I'm not going to. For today, it's just a Monday after a holiday and I have to work. My hope is that I'll be done a bit early so I can spend some time with a friend this afternoon. I'll think about how I'm going to pack up my desk and that I need to begin working on cleaning out my office before Christmas. I'll check my emails and messages to be sure everything for the week is underway.

However, I'm caught up on everything for the most part, which is a good thing. Which means I can hear from all of you. How was your Thanksgiving (if you celebrate it)? What did you do this weekend? Are you hating Monday? Do you want to go get me Starbucks? Cause that would be great.

A Parade of Crock Pots

Ah, the end of  November.

I don't know about you - but I think I've eaten enough food to last me for a few days. As our family party of about 35 gathered together, we celebrated with tables of food and enough crock pots to feed an army.

It was wonderful.

Also, the reason why I haven't posted much this week. I've been way too busy eating, hanging out with my family, and wining NaNoWriMo.

Haven't I mentioned that part yet?

Yup. For the sixth year in a row I've written 50,000 words in 30 days. In fact,  I won on Tuesday. Which was always my goal. I knew that once I drove up North to see my family for Thanksgiving I wasn't going to get a single word written and I wanted to be done with NaNoWriMo before then.

I was so excited when I hit that 50k mark on Tuesday. While it's not the first time and I write all of the time, it's still an accomplishment. It's even something I'm somewhat proud of. For a first and incomplete draft that is.

There's still work to do. I have at least three chapters to write and a lot of gaps to fill in before I can say my draft is complete. But I still hit my goal which is awesome.

The number one question people ask now?

Can I read your novel?

My answer:

NOPE.

Which, I realize sounds unfair. I've only been talking about this novel for the last 30 days and preparing for it for even longer. I'm happy with what I've done and everyone has been really supportive. Everyone who has been supporting me should be allowed to read it, right?

Wrong.

Because it's still a rough draft. It's the FIRST rough draft out of several. There is no way this thing is seeing the light of day. At least not yet. Yes, I'm happy with what I've done, but there is still so much work to do before I feel like I can show it to anyone. Do you think JK Rowling let peering eyes see the first draft of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone? Probably not. If anyone did, it was a very select few.

As for now... I'm relaxing. I'm taking a bit of a break from novel writing, at least for the next couple of days. I plan on picking up the pen (or keyboard in this case) probably sometime next week because I've been daydreaming about how the rest of the story will go.

Until then, I'm hanging out with my family and some friends on my little break before the crazy of Christmas and loading up my iPod with Christmas music.

How was everyone else's Thanksgiving? (If you celebrate it.)

In Defense of Gift-Giving

'Tis the season of commercials, newspaper ads, coupons, giveaways, deals, and door-busters. While some people are planning their perfect Thanksgiving meal for Thursday - everyone else is planning their battle plan for Black Friday.

I think most of us can agree that Black Friday has gone out of hand. Example? My sister works at Victoria's Secret. The location where she works has it's own Pink store. (Yes, a separate Pink store. Her location is MASSIVE AND AWESOME.) A couple years ago on Black Friday when they opened their doors at midnight, hoards of girls stormed through to get their hands on the sales. A few moments later the store had to be evacuated because one of the workers was trampled.

She was eight months pregnant.

Yeah. A woman in her third trimester got trampled.

Now, I don't think this has happened at this location since and everyone has learned their lessons. At least at this store. So please no Victoria's Secret/Pink bashing, okay?

We can still agree- it's gotten out of hand. With all of the commercialism of getting the best gift and being sure everything is perfect for the holidays, it can make anyone want to give up all together. Which is sad, because Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) isn't about that.

Yet... I still like it.

Christmas, of course, but gift giving too. I genuinely like searching for presents for my friends and family. I enjoy thinking about what they want or need or what will make them smile. I don't have a ton of money (I work at a church... I have a decent paycheck and I'm grateful for it, but I also don't have wads of cash to throw around everywhere.) so I don't have a whole lot of opportunities to randomly buy things for people. Especially when there are so many other ways I can show people I care about them. I can do that through quality time, helping them out, babysitting their kids, going to a movie meeting them for coffee, sending a thoughtful note, etc.

But when I actually have the excuse to get something awesome for someone I care about - I like to take it.

Gifts can mean a lot. Sitting on my desk at work, there's a small crystal key-chain. It was a gift from a good friend of mine who spent a semester in Hungary and got me a little souvenir. It's nothing big, expensive, or special. However, I also know this friend HATES spending money. I mean - REALLY hates spending money. So the fact that they decided to spend money and got me something while they were away is special.

Also on my desk, is a booklet of Doctor Who sticky notes. (Thought Regenerators to be specific.) Nothing big. Nothing special. But it was a small gift from someone in my congregation who knows I love Doctor Who and when they saw it they thought of me. Because of that, it's special.

A few years ago, my dad got my mom a necklace for Christmas. It wasn't outrageously expensive, but it did have a few small diamonds. My mom cried when she opened the box. She hadn't gotten a really nice piece of jewelry in a long time and the fact that my dad went out of his way to get it meant something. It was special.

There's something really awesome about being able to pick out something for someone you love and seeing their face when they receive it. Because it's an act of love.

It's when the gift-giving becomes stressful, an obligation, and a competition when it becomes a problem. We get caught up in wanting whatever we give to be the biggest and the best or the most expensive. (Or at least appear expensive because you actually got it a million percent off on Black Friday.) It's when we use presents as a way to show off and be all "See? I'm the best because I got you the best gift." That's a problem.

But using gifts as a way to express and share love with others because you genuinely care about them? I see nothing wrong with that.

I know not everyone feels the same way, and that's 100% okay. I've heard of people giving up giving presents all together. Or donating to good causes instead of buying presents. Or buying experiences vs. physical gifts. Those are all awesome things because they're each a unique expression of how people share their love this time of year.

So yes, I will probably go out on Black Friday. Not with all of the crazy people trampling each other at midnight or on Thanksgiving night as many stores are doing now. But later in the afternoon when things have calmed down, yeah, I'll probably be there. My sister and I have actually talked about researching some of the deals so we can go in on some gifts and shop together while I'm in town over Thanksgiving.

Because in a way - giving something to someone you care about is another form of giving thanks, and that's the whole point of the turkey on Thursday, right?

Calm Before the Storm

Weather- wise, I think nearly everyone in the country can agree that it was wacky this weekend. 

At least for the mid-west. In the 70s and tornadoes in mid-November? That's crazy talk, yo.

However, before it got too crazy, Saturday morning was wonderful. The calm before the storm if you will. 

There's something beautiful about a melancholy autumn day. There was a bleak wetness in the air and gray clouds covered the sky signaling that rain was coming soon. All of the colors were muted. The bright reds and purples and oranges the leaves had only a few days ago were gone and had fallen to the ground. 

The trees now have hardly any leaves on them. Some are hanging on for dear life, avoiding falling to the ground at all costs. 

Yet, it's oddly beautiful in it's quiet, sad, and muted way. It's that odd transition time between fall and winter. The time between the crazy of Halloween and the crazy of Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's the perfect time to catch your breath, read a book, (or write one in my case), and take in the last few moments before the storm hits.

 Maybe I like it so much because it fits the mood of my NaNoWriMo project so well and it feeds into the feel I want for my story. Maybe I like it because it's the signs of change coming and we all know my life is in for some huge changes the next few weeks. Maybe because it's calm and I can catch a breath. Maybe I just read too many books and find romance in weird things.

Maybe it's all of the above.

But it won't last. Eventually all of the leaves will fall to the ground and the branches will be covered with snow. The winds will howl and people will hide in the basement and wait for the weather man to tell them it's okay to come out again. Crunch time for NaNoWriMo will arrive before we know it and writers everywhere will lose sleep trying to get their word counts in. Thanksgiving will be here complete with traffic, family, and food. Then right behind it we'll be at Christmas and  before you know it none of us will know where the weeks went.

Change is coming. But for now, enjoy the beautiful and melancholy calm.

I Just Realized, I have Plot Holes and My Writing Really Sucks

So... I'm super behind on NaNoWriMo. Instead of writing, I made a video about it last night. Cause you know... clearly that will get words onto the page.

I didn't get any writing done last night. Oops.

My Thanksgiving - Not Thanksgiving - Post

I feel like Thanksgiving has taken over the world.

Granted - it's in two days. Therefore, it should be taking over. Or at least it's been taking over my Facebook. (I don't think corporate America has gotten the memo that Thanksgiving happens BEFORE Christmas.) Every single day my timeline has been flooded with the daily statuses of thanks. Which is a good thing. It's been awesome to see people appreciating all that they have. I started to do this by linking up every week with my friend Rachel on her blog Life In the Moment.

That lasted about a week.

The truth is, I've been a brat. 

I know I have a lot to be thankful for this season. I have a wonderful family, a job, a roof over my head, food on the table (even if it is just mac and cheese sometimes), clothes on my back, fantastic friends, supportive co-workers, the best dog ever, etc. But to be honest I haven't been in a very thankful mood lately. 

There really is no explanation for it, other than I'm a brat. 

When it comes to Thanksgiving, I feel like I'm that annoying kid at the end of the school year who only shows up to class because their parents are forcing them to. 

I leave for Chicago in 16 hours. Not that I'm counting or anything.

All I can think about is how I'm going to be in Chicago, I'll see my family, eat turkey, hang out with some old friends I haven't seen in awhile, see Les Miserables at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, and basically... not be in Missouri.

Even then, I start to complain about how I have to drive six hours up there and how it's a major cut into my NaNoWriMo writing time. 

(Which even that I've been having a hard time focusing. I'm 2,032 words behind by the way. Although I am beginning to get out of my bad writing rut I've been in for the past week or so.) 

I'm just so... so... over it.

I Am [blank] Because...

I found this idea from the blog Lily White.

I am weird because...