Iota Chai Barn Bash 2012

This week was full. Stressful, tearful, coffee-full; full of tests, projects, party planning, and very little sleep.
But also, joyful. I wasn’t sure Friday would ever come, or that I would ever see the light at the end of the tunnel, but by Friday at 5:30 PM, I had finished midterms/projects, chili and cornbread had been cooked for an autumn party of 50 people, tables had been set up, lights had been strung, and the pumpkins were ready to be carved.

My co-activities director and I (for our social club Iota Chi) themed it “hipster” and served chai lattes, hence the title Iota Chai. We’re clever, you get it. We also had a pumpkin flavored dessert contest—my idea, since pumpkin anything is my favorite.

And what’s a partay without a photo booth?

 

I am thankful that the weather was perfect, that the chili turned out wonderful, that people had a good time, and mostly that it’s over and I can breathe.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to make some chai tea now.

it’s my season & it’s just so great

I was green with envy for my favorite Utah bloggers who were already in the midst of autumn while I was suffering through the muggy 90-degree days here in the south. Until today.

It seemed like the temperature dropped and the leaves changed overnight.

I am ecstatic.

My “Autumn in autumn” to-do list includes:

-going on a bike ride to see the leaves
-drinking cider and journaling on the porch
-wearing as much flannel as possible
-and of course my moccasins
-adding pumpkin into everything I cook
-carving pumpkins
-hitting up the corn maze
-sitting around a bonfire
-Heber camping trip
-hiking Sugarloaf mountain
-watching the Pretty Little Liars special
(I don’t need your judging eyes)
-celebrating my 22nd! (Nov. 1)
-watching the 13 Nights of Halloween
(it is my favorite holiday!)
-baking pies for Thanksgiving

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

punkin’

tis’ the season for pumpkin flavored delights,
especially breakfast for supper.

 

what’s your favorite seasonal pumpkin food?
and uh, share the recipe even?
pay it forward, ya know?

faking fall

 
I live in Arkansas, if you didn’t know. And well, it’s been 1700 degrees (guestimating) with a humidity of 200% since May. Like, you can’t go outside without your hair flipping out and your jeans sticking to you. And I have to wear jeans, because shorts aren’t allowed in class. I digress.

Yesterday, though, it was 73 DEGREES. The sun was shining. There was a breeeeeeeze (ahhh). The sky was blue. The most pleasant weather of my life.

So of course, I wore flannel and moccasins, ate black bean sweet potato soup for supper, and whipped up some pumpkin chocolate chip muffins (my specialty).

Also, I went to Starbucks twice.

It is not officially my season yet (get it? because my name is Autumn…) but I can fake it all I want until she’s/I’m here!

***

easy recipe for
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 package chocolate chip muffin mix
1 can pumpkin puree
Mix & Bake, y’all. mix and bake.

On This October’s Eve

Look, October is my favorite month and what do you do when it’s the eve of your favorite month?

You celebrate. Live it up. Party. Whatever the cool kids are doing, you do it, because IT’S OCTOBER! Well almost.

Arkansas hasn’t caught wind of the seasons changing and today was another warm one, so I opted for some large-print flower power. And sandals. Yes, all of you Fashion Police are like, “IT’S AFTER LABOR DAY!”

Whatevvvvver.

.

Tonight we whipped up some homemade Butterfinger’s. Which reminds me, tonight I discovered Pinterest. Let’s just call it what it is: an obsession, and I’m taking no prisoners.

Recipe? Only if you’re prepared to go into an intense sugar coma, because these things are no joke.

You’ve been warned.

 

Oh boy this night get’s better: we watched Bridesmaids, played The Marriage Game (one of the only card games I’m good at it) and that led to a lot of secrets being divulged.

As Brette says, “What happens on free travel stays on free travel,” so I’m saying: “What happens in Searcy 205 stays in Searcy 205.”

Welcome October, it’s good to see you again.

 

 

I am and cue the name jokes! “Hey, it’s YOUR season.” Right you are.

It's Great To Be Home

Alas, I am home from school for a much needed break.

The break started off wonderfully with some quality girls time with my best friend.

We went to a Miche purse party and then hit up the bowling alley for 'All You Can Bowl' night. I never go to the bowling alley because I am terrible at the 'sport' but it was very refreshing to do something I never do.

And it's always fun to make a fool of yourself, right?

This week I am going to think about school as little as possible and think about something infinitely better: Black Friday and pumpkin pie.

The holiday season is here, friends!

Annual Barn Bash

Rainbow!

Tonight was our annual IX Barn Bash.

Picture it: a field on an old dirt road in the country with orange and green lights lining the fences, and a fire for roasting hot dogs and s'mores.

When we had our fill of marshmellow and Hershey smashed between graham crackers, we loaded onto a hay-stacked trailer and were pulled through the black night.

It was so nice.

We laughed and relaxed and tried to find out which star cluster was the Big Dipper. (Which I'm still unsure about, if we're being honest)

Then we had a costume contest. Personally, as a participant of ROY G BIV, we should have won. Or at least placed.

But what can you do?

I'm not bitter Couple Who Dressed Up As BP Oil Workers. I guess you deserved first place.

It was a wonderful autumn night spent with friends!

(Plus, we got long-sleeve tshirts, and who doesn't love a long-sleeve tshirt?)

October Memories

October has always been my favorite month.

This year it has been extra special. I have made some amazing memories.

A few weeks ago the girls and I went to a pumpkin patch and corn maze. It was my first experience with a corn maze and it will not be my last!

The night was kind of magical. Crisp air and warm apple cider.

Another fun part of October?

Rush (dubbed 'pledge week' at HU).

It was so much fun to be on the other side of things this year. I grew so much closer to my Iota Chi sisters and made a lot of new ones!

The girls in pink are my 'little sisters'. They were precious.

And then of course, my birthday celebration which always starts days before Halloween!

Last night some friends and I ate at ZaZa, smoked some mango hookah and went to see Saw 3D.

My 20th birthday is tomorrow!

My mask on rough night. I scared some Iota Chi pledges!

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkins are a girls best friend

Nothing ushers fall in more for me than pumpkins.

Pumpkin smells, pumpkin foods, and

pumpkins.

On Saturday night the girls and I loaded up in the car and made the 30-minute drive to a corn maze and pumpkin patch. My roommate and I picked out this bad boy...girl:

On the back we painted 'IX' which stands for Iota Chi, the sorority/social club we are in. Iota Chi translates to Jesus Christ in Greek.

Isn't she the cutest spiritual pumpkin you have ever seen?

I wish we could have carved her but that smells, especially when it's confined to a dorm room.

Painting was fun though and it seems like a lot of people are painting pumpkins instead of carving them these days!

Do you paint or carve?

I'll Risk Everything To Save My Shoes

There are many perks to being born the day after Halloween.

Other than the obvious reasons of candy and caramel apples, I mean.

For one, it's All Hallows Day, or All Saints' Day.

How appropriate.

The day has also never left me high and dry when it comes to birthday party planning. When all else fails, a Halloween party will suffice.

Which brings me to All Hallows Eve, October 31 2009.

My friends and I got gussied up in sweater dresses and tights and dined at Chili's to celebrate 19 years of my precious existence.

We then decided to visit Little Rock's most notorious haunted house.

The location: an old, abandoned hospital for the mentally insane.

It was a dark chilly night. It was Halloween. It was a mental hospital. The setting was just right.

Chills chased their way up my skin as we walked up the sidewalk towards the entrance. The man at the door taking money was dressed in old patient garb.

Awesome.

We entered into a small room. There were people grouped up in anticipation. I stood behind my friend and fisted the back of her shirt.

"I'm standing behind you the whole time," I informed her.

Then the "tour of the hospital" began.

It was completely dark and I blindly followed my friend.

Half-way into the tour I decided it wasn't that bad. If I kept reminding myself that it "wasn't real," I would be fine.

People would grab my feet.

It's not real.

Objects would fly out.

It's not real.

We finally got to the end of the tour and I relaxed, releasing my friends shirt.

We were laughing at how scared we were when we heard a loud noise.

RRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMM!

I glanced behind me to see a man running towards us with a chainsaw. Terror I had never known filled my body and my feet started moving faster than they ever had.

Everything was whizzing by me.

I was aware of things jumping out to scare me.

Oh no, nothing was stopping me.

I was getting out of there.

My feet continued to propel me forward when,

WHAM!

I ran right into a glass door.

My body flew backwards from the force, knocking my shoes off and ripping my tights in the process.

In a flash, a friend picked me up and drug me as she ran.

"My shoes!" I screamed and ripped away from her.

As I ran towards the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, I realized that I am the dumb blond bimbo in horror movies that people throw popcorn at.

That's me.

I was risking my life (ha-ha) to save my pink flats.

My personal revelation didn't slow me down any. I had my flats scooped up and was back to my friend before the man hacked me to pieces.

We reached the car and looked at each other as the moment came rushing back.

We were breathing heavy and the October air was coming out in wafts of steam.

Then, we burst into hysterical laughter.

I never saw that door coming.

Boo! (hoo hoo)

I know you came to my corner of the blogosphere to hear me complain, so why deny you the experience you were expecting?

I am so busy.

Actually, I have been so busy which has made busy become the norm.

SO busy that I haven't had the chance to decorate my room for my favorite season yet. I have no spider webs hanging, no pumpkins sitting around, no ghosts made out of Kleenex's and tootsie-roll pops.

I have managed to get a Creamy Pumpkin wallflower from Bath & Body Works.

Score.

SO busy that I do not have time to be writing this post. I just didn't want you to think I died. And I wanted to make sure you got to hear me complain about my oh so busy college life.

I'm off to study Quantum Reality & Perennial Philosophy.

Don't go wishing you were me or anything.

Complaining on Monday Night

a. I am in a

rut. A deep, depressing funk. Half of it is probably sleep deprivation, but the other half is legitimate. I am tired of school and studying and all of the stress that comes with it. Today I thought about what my life consists of- the 3 Step Survival Guide For College, if you will.

Study, Shower, Sleep.

I have been in a running rut too.

I am so worn out.

b. If you're new around here,

you probably don't know my love for Utah & Mormons. My friend Jill sent me a link to this Etsy shop. This is the shirt:

This is the desciption of the shirt:
"Love Utah? I do and you can show your love for the beehives, honey and mormons of Utah when you wear this..."

I'm thinking it was made for me.

c. The weather here has been

amazing! It has been in the 70's during the day and 60's at night. I am loving every minute of it. Autumn is my favorite season. Nice work on naming me, Mom. Very fitting.

d. I have been taking

prenatal vitamins because I am really anemic. They are doing amazing things for my hair and nails! I have had several good hair days and my fingernails are growing pretty fast. That's very exciting for a girl who has always had short, stubby nails.

e. Thank goodness

Monday is over. It was unpleasant.

I Have a Love For All Things 'Autumn' and Utah.

This hot, sticky, humid 106 degree-Arkansas weather makes me long for dry, 88-degree Utah weather.

I am not only longing for Utah weather, but for my favorite season- fall. Or autumn. How appropriate.

Which got me curious. What does my favorite state (Utah) look like during my favorite season? Glorious, I'm sure. Since I can't see for myself, Google image will have to suffice.

It steals my breath. The mountains are amazing enough, and then to add red, gold and orange leaves?

I know, you are all wanting to move there with me now.

It's okay, let the power of Utah overtake you.

And now,

to pack our bags.

Lets meet in front of the Provo Temple.

And then lets eat at The Training Table, with

vaNIElla cupcakes for dessert.

See you soon.