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)
Michelle Welch loves fall because it means: 1) summer heat in the central valley of California is OVER! 2) Colors may in the landscape reminiscent of my home in the Pacific Northwest. 3) Apples, pumpkins, soups, baked sweet potatoes in their jackets, stews, hot tea, pumpkin lattes,home baked bread, muffins, oh how i love to cook! 4) BIBLE STUDY TIME!! Ok, that should be first on the list, but the last thing on the list is the one you savor most. This fall we are studying Jesus, the One and Only! Ohhh how wonderful this study has been, and hard, and challenging, and incredible, and revealing, and, oh did I say wonderful?
My favorite thing about fall is the crispness of the air and the changing leaves
I am always a little late in loving FALL… I am resistant to seeing the sun go. However, once it arrives I FALL madly in love with the vibrant colors, cool crisp air, and that special cozy feeling of home it brings! God is absolutely brilliant to give us seasons!
Fall is my favorite season of the year. Every year I say the colors of the leaves cannot get better, but they do. I just love the vivid colors of the trees, the way the sun shines so brightly waking up on a Fall morning and the beautiful sunsets this time of year. I think God really shows off His splendor and creativity this time of year.
I also think that Fall is the way that God prepares our heart for the darkness of winter as it approaches, He is telling us hold on my child, because Spring is coming.
Sarah Brown – having all the kids home on break from school and baking sweet fall goodies!
I love almost everything about fall: the chill in the air, the fall colors, pumpkin everything, the fact that I can wear long sleeves, BOOTS-oh my the boots! I really can’t pick just one thing! Fall is the best season of all!
This giveaway is amazing! You all have impeccable taste, truly.
Is it selfish to say I love fall because my birthday is in October? Because I do. BUT, I also love the change of seasons, the focus on thankfulness, the hominess of early evenings, etc. etc. Thank you for your thoughtfulness toward all of us Siestas!!!
What I love about Fall is a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte (nonfat, extra hot), and their Pumpkin Scone!!
Ellen Castillo
Fall is my FAVORITE season so it is hard to narrow it down to just one or even a few things! I love the fresh crisp air of cooler mornings and evenings and warmer days! There’s nothing better than sweater and jean season! I love the bluffs and hills of Minnesota covered in the colors of fall leaves. I love that I get this incredible desire to cook and bake comfort foods. I could spend all day in the kitchen this time of year. I love that it’s apple and pumpkin season. Our family loves pumpkins! I love that it’s deer hunting season and I get to have a ‘date’ with my hubby in a tree stand! With three little ones at home I’ll take time alone with him any way I can get it! LOL! Fall is just the best, but it wouldn’t be so special if I didn’t get to experience the other 3 seasons! I can’t imagine not experiencing the changing of ALL the seasons and seeing God’s hand of creation in each one!
Tammy Stephens
I love the fall colors and the crisp fall air.
I love it getting cool! The summer temps of 100 degrees or more were too much for me. Then you have the start of Big Holiday season (Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas). It makes me very, very happy!!!
I love the cool crisp air, the colorful leaves, pumpkin spice anything, the smell of firewood burning when I go outside, football games, and my daughters and I love the fall fashions and boots!!!
Jen Cates- I LOVE LOVE fall baking, and fall clothes- scarves, boots, fun!
Fall is a bittersweet season…the carefree days of summer have come to end, flip flops and bathing suits must be put away. But also fall is the time for bonfires and Friday night football games. The cool crisp nights make sleeping so much easier. I LOVE sleeping in a cold house! And the crickets of summer have been silenced 🙂
But what I love the most about fall is the reminder that every season is a new beginning…every season has beauty. The leaves turning such beautiful, vibrant colors reminds me how God can make every season in our lives beautiful…even the tough ones. Fall makes me so grateful to be alive!
I love everything about fall, but mostly the cooler weather and baking with pumpkin! 🙂
I live in Texas and the biggest reason I love fall is “no more 100+ degree weather days”
To me, fall represents some new ‘stuff’ in my life. My man and I got married in September, and then four years later, I became a mommy for the first time, in that month. Then once again, with our 3rd of 4 kids, came another September baby. Also, we came to Christ in the month of September, 14 years ago. So for me, fall has great memories, along with some tough learning and growing in these mentioned ‘seasons’ of the fall. I treasure this time of year more and more with each passing one. (I also love the fall colors in Pennsylvania!) God is good!
There’s just something about the smell of fall. It makes me happy 🙂
Kristy
I love fall because I open the window for the cool night breeze comes in and I sleep better. I think it makes me a happier and probably more pleasant to be around. I like getting outside in the fall too. Right now I am on the way to Houston for the quilt festival. Weather report seemed warm to me…compared to Denver.
Oh, glorious fall! I love changing seasons and with autumn comes all things of delicious squash (I LOVE pumpkin! Not as pie, but all other forms of deliciousness), soups/stews, wearing sweaters, boots, scarves while walking through crunchy leaves. Love!
Julie Ratcliff, Texarkana I love fall clothes and the fact that it’s perfect weather for a trip to Starbucks!
I love fall because for two distinct reasons:
1. Summer is oppressive in southern CA. Fall segways to cooler temps and more modestly-dressed Californians.
2. Fall kicks off the holiday season.vand the holiday season is chock-full of pretty things with glitter. I ADORE glitter!
I love sitting by the fire with my family and drinking hot chocolate!!
My name is Stormy Dorsey.
What do I love about fall?
This is a really hard question for me. I love the colors that surround me at this time of the year. The sound of crunchy leafs under my feet. The Lord is really in every detail of each season. That is what I truly love most.
Fall is probably one of my favorite times of year. I love the smells of fall….the fallen leaves, spices, pumpkin…on and on. The crisp air and bon fires together with family.
You guys have the most amazing giveaways EVER! My favorite part of Fall is celebrating Thanksgiving and watching how excited my kids are about all our Fall family traditions.
Our local dog park is phenomenal in the fall: hiking trails full of blazing reds and oranges, and happy trotting pups everywhere. A few weeks ago, I managed to snap a shot of PURE DOGGY JOY as Harley appears mid-prance with Danny and the gorgeous trees and sky behind him. I ended up using the pic in my prayer letter, which you can find here: http://eepurl.com/pZOvD The pic is currently the desktop on each of my family members’ computers – brings a smile every time!
The mountains surrounding our little valley burst out with vibrant colors, reminding me what an incredible artist God is.
I love fall for sweat pants, candy corn, yummy candles and football! Hooray!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Fall because it gives us such refreshment from the heat of summer. I love walking out in the morning and the air is crisp and just breathing it in. I love my favorite jean on and a long sleeve tee. I love my coffee with pumpkin spice or gingerbread creamer. I love that after summer where it is hot and sunny, which I’m not so fond of, it actually refreshes my soul with the coolness, the rain, and fog.
I love fall because it reminds me that seasons change. Even hard seasons will pass. Our faithful God delights in new beginnings! Falling leaves, cooler temperatures, Thanksgiving coming soon and Christmas around the corner. It’s good to stop and give thanks!
I’m Elizabeth Stewart and am proudly the same age, and first name, as our beloved Ms. Beth!
I love fires in the fireplace, candlelight on dark rainy days, fall stew with cornbread, hot cocoa, the sound of rain on our roof….so many things to love and to be thankful for!
I love fall because of fresh apples (yes, I’m an apple snob! no mealy, diluted, pitiful apples for me!) and fresh apple cider (hot or cold!) and being able to wear scarves and boots and sweaters, all the while eating an apple outside while hiking through the woods with my family (do you notice a theme here???) So please and thank you – even if I don’t win – but simply for the fruit you bear in so many lives each and every day!!!
I love the colors, the cool air, college ball with the fam, the food…..etc….pumpkin spice, I love it all!
I love the cool air, crisp leaves, apples, football, bonfires, cooking soups and stews and the snuggling on the couch, of the season! Love and Blessings to all today!
Fall is my favorite time of the year! I am a red head and I have had to endure the summer of pinks and pastel colors. I look forward to “my” colors! I love the makeup colors at the cosmetic counter, that make me say “Yes!” to the fall season! The colors of the leaves remind me of what an awesome God He is to show off His glory in such an amazing way!
I love the autumn air and fall sunsets!
I love EVERYTHING about Fall!!! The colors….the sights…the foods…..the pumpkin-spiced lattes……don’t get me started!
Thanks so much for the chance to win!
Fall is such a beautiful time of year to really admire God’s work around you…from the changing of the leaves to the weather! How AWESOME is He!!
Fall Favorites ~ Return of the Red Cups from Starbucks, fires in our fireplace, and starting our Thankful Tree!
After a busy summer of going and doing, I love that fall allows us to slow down and begin to hibernate a bit. The coolness of the air, sitting in front of the fireplace, bonfires, football, and time with friends and family are all things that I love in the fall.
Fall is my favorite season! It means snuggling weather with my hubby or my 5 yr old son, hot chocolate with the perfect number of little marshmallows added, brisk breezes so we can open the doors and windows of the house, and Football!! We are football fanatics! We watch it all, NFL, college, and even the original football-soccer!
Love Fall Fashion- favorite knee high boots and a big cozy sweater Love Fall Soup- Pumpkin, Squash, Stew- Love Fall weather – breezy chill kissing the tip of your nose and ears- Love Fall leaves- such beautiful colors everywhere- Love Fall colored nail polish- Most of all I Love God for allowing me to be born in this century every time we celebrate Thanksgiving. Quite frankly I would have been a terrible Pilgrim. Fall reminds me that I serve a living God because he understood my limitations and he was a ok with it!
Tori Easom
Fall Favorites: cold weather, Starbucks, watching football with my man, & entertaining for family!!!
Love cooking warm chili in the crock pot, setting out
Cute pumpkins and drinking hot chocolate ! Love getting
together with friends for hay rides, pumpkin carving and
Seeing the Arkansas leaves change!
I enjoy my back porch with the fall crisp air. I love running in the evenings now with it being cooled off.
There is a saying in Montana we have winter and road construction. So not sure how to answer a question about Fall, I guess I would have to say oven meals, hunting season, bible study starting again, and knowing that road construction season will come again in 9 months. 🙂
I love the cool temperatures and fall colors of the leaves changing. Time to ride in the classic Mustang convertible and let the breeze blow through my hair, the glorious sun shine on my face (with sunscreen!), and time with my best friend and hubby.
Fall is the most beautiful season here in Minnesota. The leaves are changing from their lively green to hints of gold, amber and red before falling off to create a giant leaf piles for the kids and the parents to run and jump into. I love that fall gives us the opportunity to actually see the seasons change and we are able to witness the great imagination of the Lord God Almighty. I love the brisk mornings, the warm sun and towards the end of fall, I love the fresh new snow that reminds me of His mercy new each morning. He is so good, all of the time.
I live on a college campus that is absolutely gorgeous in the fall! Walking to class through the leaves makes going to class a lot less miserable (and you get to wear cute jackets, scarves and boots)! Coming home for the weekend to get caramel apples with my family and then going back to campus with some of my mom’s famous pumpkin bread is my favorite!