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)
Hi ladies! Y’all are the sweetest gals ever! I love the fall leaves, scarfs, boots, fun socks, and slippers!
We celebrate our son’s birthday on October 29. He turned 30 this year. He was born on my birthday after five miscarriages. That morning I woke up because something didn’t feel right. I got out of bed at 3 AM and when I stood up my foot got wet. My water had broken!! I was singing The Doxology and Happy Birthday to ME all mixed up together because I knew that our baby should be born that day:) I had many reasons to rejoice on that day. So when Fall comes it is a reminder to me of God’s amazing Grace in sending His Son and my son. He is so good. And less than three years later he sent another son in July. Fall is also a reminder that after winter finishes, spring and summer will be back.
Fall – Many memories flooding my mind of last fall. Last fall my mother was living with me and I was trying to make everyday special. I filled the house and yard with over 35 pumpkins. Wreaths filled the house and smells drifted from the kitche of fall food dishes. Everyday was a joy to take care of her every need. She died in July of this year so the memories are flooding in like an early morning fog. I enjoyed her living with me so much.
i love football!!!! my beloved razorbacks!!
i love it when the kids get on that bright yellow school bus and it goes around the corner and then brings them home to me in the afternoon.
i love putting my heated mattress pad and down comforter on my bed in anticipation of many cold nights here in minnesota.
i love love roasting fall/winter veggies.
i love starbucks venti 2 pump mochas
i love coats
i love LPM
i love my living God, unchanging season to season for eternity
Would love to win one of these gifts. What a treat!
thanks for everything, LPM!
Oops. forgot to say what I love about fall. I love the colors of the trees!
Merri Coulter. I love Fall because of the changing colors of the leaves. Sometimes I just stand and stare in awe at God’s amazing handiwork. It’s truly amazing how all those variations of color just shine and sparkle in the sunshine.
I love all the sights & smells of fall, especially the taste of pumpkin.
I just love how God shows off with His brilliant colors of creation and then invites me to simply play. I love how the sun dances on my daughter’s hair, but dislike how soon it sets in the evening! I’m drawn to be outside and at the same time find myself drawing inward in a reflective way. Can’t seem to describe it, but I just love it!
What do I love about the fall? Fall in western New York speaks about red, yellow, and orange leaves; apple cider; winter squashes; a certain crispness in the air; colorful chrysanthemums; pumpkin pies and breads; my goldfinches changing color; and wondering when the first snowflakes will appear!
I love fall because it means that my husband’s busy season at work is almost over and we get to have him around more.
I love Fall because it reminds me of my grandmother, a true constant in my life. Our childhood wasn’t an easy one, but I knew once fall arrived we’d be at her house for football, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. She even had the audacity to tell my parents that we were allowed to eat ice cream for breakfast at her house, but you’d better put your napkin in your lap and keep your elbows off the table. She taught me the meaning if family. She was a blessing to me and to my daughters (who ever got to meet her). I miss her every year at Thanksgiving, but I also know it wouldn’t mean as much if it hadn’t been for my Bato.
Starbucks Pumpkin Spick Latte!
Enough Said 🙂
I’m with you, Melissa, on the pumpkin flavored anything. I recently received the Fearless Flyer from Trader Joe’s and could hardly wait to get the store and stock up on everything pumpkin. I finally made it today, to the new one on Shepherd, and ended up with everything squash, acorn, butternut…I especially enjoy the contagious excitement for fall that comes with the hint of cooler weather. Here’s hoping that it can stay a little longer before winter, please?
Andrea Walker
I love the smells of all the wonderful comfort folds cooking in the fall. Like stew and turkey. I also live when the colors start changing…its just so beautiful.
I love Fall because it signals the return of the Pumpkin Spice latte and warm sweaters!
I love fall because I can still remember giving my heart to Jesus when I just a 14 year old girl…I remember the smell in the air mostly and being really, really happy and feeling brand spanking new:)I will be 50 this year, and I remember that day as if it were yesterday…I love fall and I love Jesus!!
Fall…the best part of the year. The change of seasons also brings the season of THANKSGIVING. Giving THANKS TO GOD and counting our blessings one by one; too many to count. This will prepare our hearts to celebrate and welcome his birth in a few short weeks. It’s a wonderful
time of year!!
(Trying this again…hee)
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte!
Enough Said 🙂
p.s. Pumpkin Spick…..so much for my spell check!
Oh, fall! My favorite thing right now is running in cooler weather. Much more fun than running in August!
I love fall and squash soup!
Fall…cozy comfort food, snuggly reading time with my children, trees with shocking yellow leaves, pulling out my tried and true pumpkin bread recipe, lighting fall candles, decorating the house with warm touches, and finally sitting down around the Thanksgiving table.
I love the cooler temperatures 🙂
The changing of the leaves is definitely my most favorite thing about fall. I love how the leaves are their most beautiful in their death. And the death is simply to prepare the tree to come back to life in spring. It is my personal reminder of how this correlates to my own spiritual life as sometimes God has to require a “death” of sorts to my own stubborn, wandering will in order to make me into who He wants me to be.
No grass mowing, frozen cold ground. That’s my husband’s input. My favorite is warm sweaters and fireplaces.
I love fall because of the change in seasons and also gives me the opportunity to think about how the Lord has brought me through the different seasons in my life. One day at a time and one step at a time. Also gives me a reason to count my blessings!
My favorite part of fall are the beautiful leaves. My husband and I walk our two dogs (almost daily) and we often go to a neighborhood which the trees have been changing daily. It’s amazing to me how creative our Creator is. And that’s this side of heaven. Just wait sistas!!!!
I love that fall tickled all our senses! The smell, the cool air, the colors! I love the whole package
I have always loved everything about fall – perfect temperatures, all things pumpkin, the scent of the air – so much that I moved heaven and earth to be able to get married in November. Which is now the thing I absolutely love most about fall – celebrating our anniversary! 5 years in a few weeks!
So many things to love about Fall- relief from the Texas heat, football, wearing jeans, boots and sweaters, sleeping with the window cracked with cool air coming in… Mmmmm
We were married August 24 shortly after we were taking a walk, I took a big breath and said “apples”, my husband then took a big breath and said “football”. I knew I was in for a rough ride. That was 45 years ago and I still smell apples and he still smells football !
Allison Perrine.
I love fall because its full of ups and downs. It’s my favorite season of all time and I live for october. But its also when I remember the day my mom went home to be with her Lord and savior on 10/24/11. Fall is hard, fall is beautiful.
My favorite thing about fall is that it is the time of year my husband and received one of the greatest miracles we’ve ever experienced. 11 years ago he was very ill and in need of a kidney transplant. At 5:30 in the morning of October 30, 2001 we received a call from the hospital that they had a perfect match kidney for my husband. God provided a miracle and I always remember that season of our life and the smells of fall as we walked through the healing only God could bring. Fall is my favorite time of year to reflect on His faithfulness!!
I have to say my favorite thing about fall is riding my bike in the crisp morning air and hearing the crunching leaves under my rolling tires and smelling the smoke of the fires coming from the houses I ride by…all the while taking in all the breathtaking colors!! Plus my birthday is during fall and that’s pretty grat too;-)
Marilyn Scheerer….I love the colors of fall!
I love Fall and I miss it terribly. After living in Chicago for 10 years, and enjoying the changing of the leaves, and the brisk Fall breeze, I don’t get much of a Fall here in Fort Lauderdale FL. God has taught me to be happy and content whatever my circumstances may be. I love it here too. This week the Lord gave us a glimpse of cool weather in the low 70’s an we were able to turn our A/C for 3 days and open the windows. Oh what a joy, to smell the fresh air coming in the windows. I guess the beauty is, our Winter is ya’ll’s FALL 🙂 So we’ll have the doors & windows open in December & January. Oh thank you for what a blessing you are to my heart Miss Beth Moore. I have adored you for years! Be blessed, and thank you! *tight hug* Shelly
Fallhas always been my favorite season. I love the colors and the cooler weather and the anticipation of all the wonderful holidays is the fall. Now that I am “older” I love that the old is passing with so much color and splash! I hope I can be this way in ny life–color and splash.
oh my goodness, what an incredible giveaway. thank you so much for a chance to win one of those awesome prizes!
what do i love about fall? well, everything! it is my favorite season of the year. i love the colors, the cool crisp air, the blue bird sky with puffy clouds. i love the way the trees seem to be playing a symphony to the Lord. some days my heart wants to burst with joy as i drink it all in and as i try to imagine, if this is so beautiful, what will it be like on the new earth when everything is in it’s perfect form. Maranatha!!
this year is an especially beautiful fall because my son just got back ( oct 4th) from Teen Challenge, a 15 month program for troubled teens. We are so very proud of him!
oh, did i say i LOVE fall! 😉
love you all too,
julie weis
There is the most fragrant air in the fall. I smell the earth and feel God’s presence in every sight and sound and smell.
Since we don’t get much of a fall in Texas, I have to pretend it’s fall by drinking Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes and consuming baked goods. I love savoring these things! Makes me think of family time, warm fires, and holidays. 🙂
Amanda Parét
I love the weather, warm days and cool nights….and FOOTBALL!
Hi!
You guys are just plain cute 🙂
I love me a good Minnesota Fall- my favorites are the crisp cold air and the sound of walking through a pile of leaves. My favorite season by far.
Blessings and hugs-
Megan
Living in the desert southwest, finally able to open windows and let fresh air in! Also gets me in the mood for fall baking and cooking. Thanking The Lord for all of our blessings at this time of year
I love how beautiful the trees are when the leaves change colors! 🙂
This is actually my first year to really enjoy Fall. For the past 28 years I lived in Illinois, and every Fall I began the descent into seasonal depression. But this July God moved my husband and I to Waco, Texas! Plenty of warmth and sunshine, and so far…no depression!!
I love so many things about fall but some of my favorites are spending time with family at Thanksgiving, seeing leaves float to the ground, and hearing the geese call as they fly south for the winter.
Cranberry and pumpkin anything!
I love fall because I love Friday night football games at my alma mater where I can watch my son play in the Liberty High School Grenadier Band, which is, by the way, probably the best high school band you’ll ever see. (I know I am biased, but if you don’t believe me, google em) I love singing the national anthem and then cheering on the team on a crisp cool ( and sometimes downright freezing) night anticipating the halftime show that both sides of the field look forward to.
Our varying seasons here in the Midwest remind me so much of the seasons in our lives. Fall and the coming winter need to happen in order for renewal to come in the spring and new life to the earth. The colors of Fall are glorious to behold. Seize them, appreciate them, thank God for the beauty! I love the crisp air, the laughter of my kids while playing in the leaves and my sweet sheltie romping playfully in piles of leaves. It is a beautiful picture!!
Fall is my favorite season. I love the richness of the colors, leaves changing and crisp air. I am in Montana everything gets so beautiful. I love the sound of crisp leaves crunching under my feet, so fun to play in. The air smells so fresh. I love the anticipation of winter. Hot apple cider simmering on the stove, family to share it with. I love that it is cold in the morning and then warm in the afternoon then cold again in the evening. All of the smells fill my heart with joy. Pumpkin pie, apples and lots of goodies.
Thanks for doing this – so fun!! 🙂
I have a reunion with 7 girlfriends from childhood each fall! I’m so thankful for the history we have. We call ourselves the Queen Bees! 😉