Ladies! I think a Friday afternoon deserves a celebration. We’ve almost made it through the entire work week! Woo hoo! We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. This is always the hardest part of the giveaway because we’d love to gift all 3,911 of you, but alas, we cannot, which I guess is what makes a giveaway so fun. With that said, join me in celebrating our SIX beloved winners for this fabulous giveaway. Believe me when I say we here at the office are coveting each of the gifts and almost threw a fit when we realized we couldn’t enter the giveaway ourselves. We love fun stuff like this just as much as you do!
So, without further ado, congratulations to…
Grand Prize Winner: Cara Koski
Second Prize Winner: Ansley DuRant
Gift number 3: Victoria Gelberg
Gift number 4: Kim Tipton
Gift number 5: Anne Dailey
Gift number 6: Leslie Wood
If y’all would please email me (Lindsee) at [email protected] with your mailing address we willl get these prizes to you ASAP. We love y’all so very, very much. Thanks for playing along. Hope you each have a beautiful, fall weekend!
DEAR SIESTAS! THE MERE THOUGHT OF YOU IS MAKING ME GO ALL-CAPSY.
It has been FOREVER and then some but I have been thinking about you. I know I haven’t been in this here blog-space much recently but I can assure you that I’m still at LPM. My days are full since I’m working and going to school part-time. AGAIN. Yes, again. Somehow even when I vow to walk away for good, I end up right back in the classroom in some capacity. This time around I’m working slowly on a M.A. in Biblical Languages at Houston Baptist University. When I’m not researching something for a project at LPM, I’m taking a Greek class in the Septuagint and a Hebrew readings class in the Joseph narrative. Oh, and how could I forget to mention Winston Jeffrey Fitzpatrick?! A little over a year ago Colin brought home a baby rottweiler and our life has never been the same since (even when I desperately want it to be!). Winnie is SO, SO bad but we love him madly.
Here is W posing in my dining room. Or demanding a filet mignon cooked over medium, I’m not really sure.
Here he is again furious about having to wear his birthday hat:
But really, enough about us.
I want to talk about YOU and a fall giveaway we are doing because we love you and appreciate you.
Now, I should mention at this point that if you are one of those people who is SO OVER all the talk about pumpkin-flavored anything, then you will want to run for your life.
RUN FOR YOUR LIFE.
Do I have a faithful fall remnant?
This weekend we had our first legit “cold-front” here in Houston. It was even down in the forties one night. Glory be! The crisp cold air in my lungs got to me in the best way possible and, of all things, I wanted to cook. There’s just something about fall that always brings me back to the kitchen. Nothing better than listening to a little Norah Jones or The Civil Wars with the windows cracked open, cool breeze dancing through the house, while a chili or stew simmers on the stove. I thought just maybe fall might do the same for some of you so the grand prize winner will get a red Le Creuset signature round dutch oven (red not orange like the one on the box).
I love it passionately and do not want to let it go. I even enjoy posing with the beloved dutch oven:
The second prize to be claimed is a $100 gift card to Pottery Barn because, let’s be honest, Pottery Barn during the fall season is heaven on earth:
Gift number 3 includes an amazing decorative pillow, fall flower arrangement, and Hill Country Home candle.
Gift number 4 includes a fun little clutch from Anthro, a scarf, several pairs of boot socks, and some gorgeous MAC makeup in fallish colors.
Here is Lindsee modeling the scarf. Love her and she can work a scarf better than anyone I know:
This MAC stuff is tough to photograph but fantastic (includes three eye shadow kits and two lipsticks in shades of Russian Red and Viva Glam III).
Gift number 5 has a bunch of fun stuff: Cook’s Illustrated Fall Entertaining magazine, kitchen towels, mulling spices, Hill Country Home candle (again this is one of my faves!), autumn cupcake decorating set, beautiful engraved silver dish, Trader Joe’s Pumpkin bread mix, and more.
Gift number 6 comes with a fun autumn welcome mat, potpourri, decorative kitchen towel, and my favorite ever mulled apple cider candle. DIVINE.
Here is Mom sorting out all the gifts. Isn’t she cute?
So dear friend, for a chance to win one of the six prizes, please leave a comment with your first and last name and tell us something you love about fall.
We love you so much,
Melissa
(Lindsee not pictured here ONLY because she was out of the office when we snapped this photo)
Love fall and love the ministry of LPM! Fall is about the leaves changing, fall and trees reading for new growth…just like our lives! Love the smell of fall, football and smores!
I love Fall because of the cool crisp mountain air, changing leaves, football season, volleyball season, my birthday month (September), and oh so much more! Fall cannot be beat!!!!
I love fall because of the air is golden and smells delightfully crisp and smoky somehow too. I love the perfect red leaves that stand out from all the other leaves. I love snuggling up next to friends and sipping hot chocolate and cider. I LOVE fall!
Aaaahh fall!! I love the cool, crisp air and the way the breeze picks up the dried leaves and hurls them around the earth like a big heavenly fan. Most of all, though, I love the snuggling. Snuggling in my big, blue, fuzzy, “Yes, I’m a mom” housecoat adorned with red and green Christmas socks to match. I’m a sight, but I’m warm, and my man…well, he loves me, even in my mom coat. 🙂
Love Fall! Halloween, My Birthday, Thanksgiving! Beautiful colors everywhere! Just moved to the the Ozarks, our new house sure could use these great giveaways! But, loving the gorgeous fall colors on the lake and mountains!
I love pumpkins! Stacks of pumpkins and fields of pumpkins make my heart dance. The colors, smells, and tastes of fall are soul refreshment after a hot, humid summer. Sipping a pumpkin spice latte or some warm cider near an outdoor fire with a harvest moon is the best of all fall activities.
I love the changing leaves of fall. We live in Wisconsin and it is absolutely beautiful up here. I live to wake up and see Gods beautiful creation every morning. In our yard we have a tree that is a vibrant yellow and red and when the sun shines on it, it is absolutely beautiful 🙂
SWEATERS!!! It’s finally cool enough to wear layers and I do enjoy a cardigan on a daily basis! I love the cozy days that make me want a good book and a cup of tea. Love that Bible studies are back in full swing – I need my group of ladies!
Oh, fall! What a wonderful time of the year! Pumpkins, chili, warm fores with dear friends, Starbucks stops just for one more latte, long outing to the park woth the kiddos..I love it all. However, after the hot oppression of a stifling Florida summer the cool air of fall puts a skip in our step, a renewed energy. Reminds me so…that after the drought and oppression of sin in our lives, the cool refreshing life-giving gospel flows in, giving hope and joy! Grateful for cool air, grateful for hope in the precious gospel of Jesus Christ!
I love everything about fall, especially the slightly cooler temperatures and FOOTBALL! I love the tailgates, the crispness in the air, the beautiful leaves, and the chants H-O-K-I-E-S, HOKIES!
I LOVE fall, the crispness in the air, although I live in W. Texas although its not that crisp. But the best is the wonderful anticipation of the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.
Kristi McClellan, and I LOVE the cooler temperatures!
What I lvoe about Fall: the cooler weather that is not yet cold, cooking stews and chilis, preparing for the holidays in a non-rush manner, and there is a kind of refreshment in the turn of the season that is invigorating.
I love Fall when God whips out his heavenly painttbrush and creates beautiful masterpieces just to show off!!!! 🙂 As a matter of fact, my hubby and I are headed to the Smokies this weekend to take it all in!!!
I love all you girls!!!
I love Fall for the change in fashion to the beautiful wool sweaters, coats and scarves-the new fall colors in clothes with leather boots and the new colors of OPI nail polish makes me a happy girl!
I love the cold, crisp weather, eating soup, and watching SEC football!
I love fall and all the glory of our Creator!
I run a LOT so what I love about fall most of all is being able to run without ‘glowing’, so to speak. Oh, and football – gig ’em Ags!!
I love Fall most of all because the temperatures are finally getting under 100! The older I get, the less I care for summer and its endless drain of energy … Fall temps and smells make me burst alive and besides, I look really good in Fall and Winter clothes:) Not so good in Summer clothes, anymore!
The fall brings three blessed events in my life: our fifteenth anniversary and our two precious boys’ birthdays. The fall brings family gatherings for not only those anticipated events, but also for another favorite: Thanksgiving. God’s gifts are truly amazing!
I love the feeling of renewal and the comfort in the chan yes. Autumn is one of the few things in life where change overwhelmingly accepted as being beautiful. I’m reminded that this is God’s plan for us all the time. Even though all change isn’t so beautiful as the colorful leaves, God will bring beauty and renewal through it all.
Fall is one of my favorite seasons because the leaves are turning and my baby girl (almost 2 years old) curls up beside me to get warm. I know she won’t always want to cuddle and sit in mommy’s lap but I am savoring every ounce of it right now. She is one of the many blessings that God gives me daily!
I was born in Autumn. I just love the smells of the leaves and pumpkins. I also think of Thanksgiving and that it reminds us to be thankful for our friends and families. I look outside at the colors and think WOW! God did this for us. It just feels me up with so much gratitude. It also is my son’s favorite season as well. He’s ten years old with asperger’s and he just loves to jump in the leaves and take out walks on the weekends through the park enjoying all that God has shared with us.
I love the damp chill in the air and my eyes delight in the turning and dropping of the leaves. With a cup of hot coffee in my hand, I love the last gift of my roses as they keep trying to offer a little color before they depart for the winter. Ahh. Fall.
Karen Shivar…Am a lover of fall. After the hot humid days of summer, the clean crisp air of fall is so refreshing. And, the colors of fall are some of my favorite…red, orange, bold yellow and even brown. Ahhh!! Thanks for such a fun opportunity.
I love Fall fashion,(boots,scarves etc.)drinking Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes, spending Thanksgiving with my family, Waching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Watching Charlie Brown, watching the colors of the leaves change, and the crispness of the air. Lol there’s so much I love about Fall! But probably my favorite thing about this time of year is going to the Cheesecake Factory with my mom, grandma, and little brother. It’s become a tradition! 🙂
I love the family get togethers, the food (can somebody say pecan pie!), and teaching my kids to be thankful and to give. I love that this season brings out generosity in just about everyone! And God loves a cheerful giver.
What do I love about Fall? My favorite thing is simmering cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and orange peals on the stove. My house smells so good!
God Bless,
Lisa Nicholson
I love everything about Fall. The changing leaves, colors we wear, time with family for holidays. The best part for me is knowing in just a few short months everything will be new again.
Very thankful for Gods blessings.
Amanda Cross
I love the changing of the leaves, getting out warmer clothes, cooler weather (Arkansas summers are HOT!), pumpkins, and Thanksgiving. :O)
Raelene Munn. Love the cooler weather, fall decorating, and layers of clothing! Oh, and football. 🙂
I love fall most of all. My husband and I celebrate our anniversary then each of our three kiddos’ birthdays right in a row! So much to celebrate in the best weather of the year right as we lead up to the holidays season! Plus we live in a “Fall Back” time zone, so we add an extra hour of sleep this weekend!! Definitely something this mom of 3 kids under 5yrs old needs!!
I love the Smell of Fall…… Autumn colors fall to the ground! The smell of
Those colorful piles of leaves underfoot smell so good BECAUSE
that smell brings me straight back to grammar school!!
Walking to school and back crunching leaves underfoot– and that smell!
To me dry leaves — the crunch and the smell is pure fall!
I love fall because of harvest time!! I recall getting off the school bus and running up the lane into the house to change my clothes and get back outside to ride on the combine with my dad. My grandma would be unloading grain into the bins. It was a very busy time but I loved it. And now that I am grown, I really miss that time with my family.
My name is Crist Welch I LOVE fall. The best part for me is the crisp cool air. In Louisiana we certainly need a break from the humidity. If I lived further North my favorite part would be the fall colored leaves, but down here we dont see too much of that beauty. Happy Fall!
I love anything pumpkin flavored – especially coffee drinks! I love the chill in the air, wearing hoodies and scarves and mittens. And I love football! Our high school team starts the playoffs on Saturday – Go Dover!
Heather Moats
Fall is my favorite season, especially since I live near the Smoky Mountains. We love to spend family time in the mountains all year, but especially in the fall because the fall leaves are absolutely breath-taking! I also love pumpkin EVERYTHING!!!
Pumpkin cream cheese! Yum! Apple Crisp! What is it about Fall that makes food taste better?
I am one of those who love all things “pumpkin”!!!! Dunkin Donuts has got me covered when it comes to pumpkins – pumpkin donuts, munchkins, hot coffee, iced coffee, lattes, cappuccino’s – you name it just about!! And they are just down the street from my house. Kind of a nice reminder of living in Tennessee since we moved to Florida almost a year ago!
Fall is the best!!!!!!!! I love fall football, changing colors of leaves, jumping in piles of leaves, lots and lots of homemade soup, boots, pumpkin spice lattes, carving pumpkins, making s”mores , fuzzy socks, cool crisp air, Praise God for Fall!!!!!! 😀 simply beautiful
Fall…I think Nichole Nordeman says it best: “And even when the trees have just surrendered – to the harvest time; forfeiting their leaves in late September – and sending us inside; Still I notice You when change begins; And I am braced for colder winds; I will offer thanks for what has been and what’s to come; You are Autumn.” This is what Fall is to me.
Angie Sharp – I love fall because of the cooler (even chilly) temps. that allow us to enjoy roasting hot dogs and marshmellows over a fire in the back yard with my family, the crisp air, the beautiful canvas of color God splashes the Earth all around me in…..oh I just love fall!! 🙂
I love the splashes of all the bright colors that God paints in the fall, the cooler weather, the smells, and curling up on a rainy day with a good book~~ just a few of the many things I love about fall.
What DON’T I love about fall?! Definitely my longest list of loves is associated with this season. From sweaters to scarves to literally anything pumpkin to cooking. As you stated, there is something about this season that inspires me to cook and I will pile up cookbooks with pages tabbed with all the wonderful creations I’d love to cook but, sadly, never get around to all of it! There just aren’t enough days!! 🙂
I LOVE Fall colors!!! And I also LOVE the crunch of leaves when I walk through the yard….of course, I’m not the one who has to clean them up.
I love the magnificent, vibrant colors of Fall; they always make me think of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and love. This is because he did not have to bless us with such beauty, yet he chose to do so. I also love the nip in the air that makes my cheeks rosy and requires a snuggly soft scarf around my neck. This crisp air also allows me to nestle my face into the warm, soft hair of my horse’s neck, strenthening our bond. Something about these things just gives me such peace. Lastly, the cool air makes for a great excuse to settle down with a warm blanket, my dogs, and a hot cup of something yummy, which always warms and settles my heart for a deeper, richer quiet time with our amazing, generous, loving God. Fall is no doubt my favorite time of the year.
Carol Crabtree, Dallas
What I love about the fall – the crispness in the air. I feel so rejuvenated and like I can conquer my to-do list in a single bound =) when the weather turns cool-ish. And, speaking of the air, how about the special blue of the sky on an autumn afternoon? And the sun rays coming through the turning leaves? Truly, it is a beautiful seaon.
I love the colours of fall and snuggling up beside a roaring fire!
Living in central Florida, my favorite thing about fall is the way the light softens on the lush green landscape. Everything all of a sudden looks more serene, picturesque, and lovely. Of course, I love Florida anyway, but fall just
makes it glow!
Blessings and joy!
Becky
There is an image I’ve had in my mind for a long time. When I think about how much I love Jesus I picture being in the outdoors with all the beautiful fall colors covering the trees and landscape. There is an edge of a cliff where I am standing, my iPod playing worship music, and my arms stretched out as wide as they can go…much like a child telling their mother or father, “This is how much I love you.” I love to tell Him that I love Him. I love telling my best friend what He means to me. I also love nature and being outdoors. Somehow, when I am in the midst of all of God’s beauty I can think and listen better and see clearer. The fall sets that tone for me. This season reminds me to be still and know He is God. I’m encouraged and strengthened by His words and love. What an amazing God to create such a portrait of beauty for His children! I am honored.