Ditching Class

Alright, so I admit it. I ditched Marple's class on Sunday and went to a festive Oktoberfest in a small mountain town.

They had live music, complete with lederhosen. Lots of polka, folks. Lots of polka.

And since I have a little German in me (okay, maybe a lot of German), I had to eat the authentic fare, like this kielbasa with kraut and apple strudel for dessert.

Caesar, unfortunately, did not get to enjoy the food like me. Although he really wanted to. Really, really wanted to.

Of course there were some events to attend to as well. Like this mug holding contest, which looks harder than it is. The main reason to enter? Free beer.

I couldn't resist snapping a shot of this Giant St. Bernard, complete with his fancy German necklace.

Finally, we caught some of the traditional dancing (again with the lederhosen) right before we left.

Our stomachs were full with beer and brats, our legs were tired from dancing (okay, so maybe just my legs...), and our noses were burned from the warm Colorado sun (okay, so maybe just my nose...).

Sorry Mrs. Marple--I'm sure you had a good class. But was there beer and lederhosen? I doubt it. You just can't compete...

Is it Fall Yet?

It happens every year, ever since I was a kid. The weather is still blazing hot, with blue skies and warm nights. It's shorts and sandals weather for at least another 6 weeks. But do I want to wear shorts and sandals? No. I most certainly do not.

Tempted by all the back-to-school fall merchandise, I want to wear jeans and cute chunky sweaters and jackets and boots. I want scarves and hats and plaid and argyle. And I want to wear them Now!

Of course that would just be plain silly because it's 80 degrees outside. So instead I'll have to make my back-to-school fashion list (I know I'm not still in school, but does the shopping have to end? I think not!) and wait for the weather to cool.

So here are the fall fashion and home designs I'm currently craving:
Like these knit sweaters from the Fall 09 issue of Interweave's Knits magazine.

I saw the magazine when I was hanging out in the grocery store waiting for the pharmacy, and knew that I had to buy it. Don't you LOVE the back of this tunic? I want it. I want it now.

And how about this cabled cardigan? Something tells me that I might be making a trip to the yarn store very soon...
Speaking of cables, don't you think this knit pillow from Simplemente Blanco would look perfect on your bed--all cozy and warm during a crisp fall night?

As would this fleecy throw, also from Simplemente Blanco.

I couldn't resist adding this photo, even though it is technically a ring pillow from the summer issue of Weddings magazine. I think the structured ruffles remind me of silk corn husks, and somehow I'm going to figure out a way to apply this idea to a handmade fall handbag. I'll do it--you just wait and see!

Finally, no fall cravings are complete without leather boots. I'm currently coveting the knee length flat styles coupled with tights and skirts. Very soon, friends...very soon.

Of course, some of you might consider it sacrilege to pine away for the Fall when summer still lingers. And yes--it is true that I am trying to soak up as much summer as possible before the season ends. But that doesn't mean I can't be ready for a new season. An extremely fashionable one, I might add.

Previous Related Posts:
Soaking up to the End
Dress Me Up
Ode to Pillows

Farewell to Summer

Well, it's finally here.  The end of summer.  Yes, I know that technically fall doesn't begin until mid-September, and the weather is still warm.  But for me, the season is over when Labor Day commences.  Football starts, and the days get shorter, and it won't be long before I have to add another blanket to my bed at night.

Summer's end, of course, marks the end of the Summer Squeeze series where I celebrated all things fun and leisurely.  Fun and leisure isn't over, per se, but it's time to refocus for the fall.  

I've been talking all month about starting a Back to the Basics series in September.  This series, starting next week, will focus on one thing: making sure our "home base" is solid.  By home base, I mean the home.  And by solid, I mean that it is strong enough to provide us with the peace and energy we need to tackle the busyness of fall and the holidays.  My theory is that we need strong roots so that we can be strong leaders.  As HGTV says, we'll "Start at home."

You'll also notice a few changes to this blog, like a new title.  Yes, I'm still passionate about domestic life, and we'll still talk a lot about it here on this blog.  But I'm also passionate for community leadership and female entrepreneurship, so we'll be talking about that too.  

Other changes are happening even now on stephaniehillberry.com, and you can expect me to be mentioning my website a lot in the months to come.  Why?  Because it is a hub for all of the ideas I mention here on this blog, and I'll be adding new resources, testimonies, and activities frequently!  I invite you to check it out, and keep visiting, to find "lifestyle inspiration" and opportunities to share!

Though I am a little sad to see the sun set on summer, I am excited to jump into fall.  I hope you'll jump with me!  See you next week!

Fall Harvest--A Second Chance for a Bad Gardener

I wrote earlier this year that I was embarking on my first ever backyard vegetable garden.  I was all excited about the idea of growing my own food, saving money, and being environmentally mindful.  

Being a "just do it" kind of person, I didn't really do any research.  I went to the garden center, bought my plants, and plopped them in the ground.  I was thrilled when my spinach took off and my cauliflower grew by leaps and bounds.  I was less impressed with my sad basil and underachieving tomatoes (they've since improved their performance!).  

Of course, when it comes to gardening, a little research does actually come in handy.  I learned this the hard way when I discovered that half of my garden was planted too late and in too-warm weather.  I never did get a chance to actually eat the cauliflower I planted (it went to flower), or the brussel sprouts (my most favorite veggie).  Apparently Martha Stewart I am not!

Fortunately, I have a second chance to replant these cold weather crops as the fall sets in.  This time I'm taking my cues from people who know better than me, like Better Homes and Gardens.  Their "Plant a Fall Vegetable Patch" link from the home page lists the crops I need (incidentally, many of them are the same ones I planted in June!), and tips for fall harvesting.  

So, if you were like me, and jumped on the home garden trend this year, but kind of forgot to do your research (who can be bothered with rules when inspiration hits?), maybe these links will help.  And if you are not like me, and know a lot about gardening, please feel free to email me at shillberry@comcast.net to give me some pointers!

This post is part of August's Summer Squeeze series.

Stay tuned for September when we jump Back to the Basics!