Is it still summer? Technically, yes. The autumnal equinox falls on Sunday, September 22 this year, officially marking the change of the seasons. Lately there’s been a fall-like quality to the end of summer. Or maybe it’s a summer-like quality to the beginning of fall. Mid-September is one of my favorite times of year for this very reason. Somedays it’s hot and humid, other days it rains, and a few days are absolutely perfect, just like today. It’s a beautiful, breezy, and sunny 60° outside, which is the kind of day that makes me want to lie in the grass with my favorite pooch and watch the clouds roll by. In an effort to be productive,, I chose to film a video outside to take advantage of the glorious weather and get some things down simultaneously. I enjoy the randomness of what each day brings in mid-September. Every day is a surprise!
Summer’s Last Push
I’ve been running a lot more lately now that I’m fully recovered from the injury that sidelined me from my favorite exercise this spring. It took all summer, but I finally feel like I’m back to running shape where I can comfortably make it through a 3-miler and am able to push to longer distances. I really enjoy running outside. For me, it’s an integral part of my running experience (plus, I just can never get the hang of the treadmill). Variety is always fun when running, whether it’s different mileages, routes, scenery, or some combination of these. I was so happy to get the chance to run in the country surrounded by mountains when we spent August in Utah. It was fun to come back home to my usual neighborhood routes, too. I even had the rare opportunity to run in downtown Chicago last week. Don and I spent the night of our 8th wedding anniversary at the Trump Hotel, which just happens to be located near one of my favorite city running routes. Even though it was incredibly hot (still summer!) I couldn’t help but want to keep going to see more of the lakeside sights. I was happy and proud of my newest post-injury milestone of 6 miles. I have the beautiful cityscape to thank for motivating me to push through! I was hoping to go for 7 miles yesterday, but the rain kept me inside (see face above 😉 ). I only managed 5 today, but still hope to complete a 7-miler by the end of the week. The cooler fall-like mornings definitely help!
First Peeks of Fall
Even though summer is still hanging on, I’ve been enjoying the little peeks of fall that have pushed their way through over the past week. The leaves are still pretty green in our neighborhood, but the tippy tops of a few trees have started to turn yellow and red. The nights and mornings have been cool enough even on the hotter days to leave the windows open and air out the house. You can find Don watching the Bears football games on television on Sundays. I’ve started to bring out some of my fall-time bath favorites, including autumnal themed bubble bath, candles, and tea. I even spotted Halloween candy at Target last week, including a new offering this year – Pumpkin Spice M&M’s! I bought a bag, but haven’t tasted them yet. I hope they’re as good as they sound!
Eight Years and Counting
My most favorite thing about mid-September is that it is when Don and I celebrate the anniversary of our marriage. We were married on September 10, 2005. This year we celebrated our eighth anniversary at a fantastic suite at the aforementioned Trump Hotel in downtown Chicago. I actually filmed a vlog chronicling our anniversary, which you can see here if you’re interested. We were surprised by the stunning room the hotel upgraded us to! We had a fantastic meal at one of our favorite Chicago restaurants, Sixteen, which is located right inside the hotel. When we came home, Don surprised me with a breathtaking bouquet of pink roses. The light pink roses with slightly darker tips were what I carried on our wedding day eight years ago. He’s such a sweetie to remember! I’m still enjoying their beauty and smiling at the wonderful memories of our special night out. I count my lucky stars each and every day that I am married to my soul mate. We grow closer and more in love with each passing year. There is nothing more dear to me than our bond. I look forward to many more happy anniversary memories we will make together.
As much as I love summer, I am ready for the joys of fall. What I look forward to most is crisp morning walks with Winnie, the perfect running weather, cozy sweaters, skinny jeans and boots, mulled apple cider, the beauty of the changing leaves, snuggling on the sofa with Don to watch our favorite fall shows, and spending Thanksgiving surrounded by loved ones. I’d love to know what you like most about fall if you care to share! I hope you enjoy the last dog days of summer 🙂
