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)
Fall is God’s gift to those who love color but don’t paint. I love the change in colors, the fresh brisk air and the why concern is more viable for those in need.
There is three things that I love about fall where I’m from Rockford, IL. I’ve have been in Atlanta for the last two years and I have yet to find these three gems here. First on my list there is a highway that stretch from Rockford to Galena, IL the trees are so beautiful during this time of year. There is an array of fall colors which makes the drive very scenic. Second on my list is Edwards Apple Orchard in Caledonia, IL where I go to buy some of the most prettiest mums(of course I get my mom a mum) and the best apple cider donuts are sold here. This is where my family picked our apples for apple pies and different apple dishes. YUM YUM I can taste it while I’m writing this comment. Last on my list, having my two boys rake the leaves in our backyard into large piles and them diving into them. Great fall memories!
I love everything about fall! the food, the cooler weather, the baking, getting together with family!
I love everything, even the cold about fall. The colors warm my heart and cause me to long for time raped in a favorite blanket with something warm to drink and a good book to read.
Thanks for all you do to help us become the woman that God created us to be. In Christ Julie Hodges
I love the amazing colors of fall in Michigan. The colors this year were spectacular and God’s hand could be seen everywhere. Apple cider and donuts are a must at this time of year. It is also a great time to remember all I have to be thankful—God is so good.
Fall – the riotous color in the bed of pansies right outside my door, knowing they will brave the winter freezes and still pop their beautiful faces up every morning; free spirited gold, rust, and red leaves, whirling carelessly; football games; children playing; steaming hot tea; study sessions at the coffee shop; soup, soup, soup every week starting with the first cold snap!
I love the way the shadows fall across the autumn leaves on the ground, cool evenings and the smell of first fires burning. …..and oh yeah, I surrendered to Christ in the fall,so it’s a special time of remembering!
Fall is my absolute second favorite season. It reminds me that we need to gather and be ready to hibernate in the winter!! I am so thankful for all you do for women all over the world. Your influence is far-reaching!!
fall is a wonderful season
the beautiful tapestry of amazing colors that God paints for us when the leaves change
God is so good to us..
My birthday is in October and it always makes Fall special to me. Even at 39 years old, I can still get excited about my birthday!
Wearing sweaters and boots!
What I love about Autumn is all the PUMPKIN flavored stuff! I ♡ all things pumpkin! I also love all the baking and trying tons of new soups. Also all the beautiful colors God puts out there for us to see when we step outside, the mums and trees look beautiful and it never ceases to amaze me!
I love fall because it makes my coffee taste even better!!!! Isn’t coffee even more wonderful when its cooler out than when it’s hot out?? 🙂
Fall is my very favorite season
The morning sky is crisp and clear
The star formations and stages of the moon always remind me of my God.
We return to BSF in September
So starting a new study with dedicated women always “gets” me.
Getting my sanctuary winterized.
Harvesting vegetables and flower bulbs
Raking the leaves and planting mums and pansies.
Making plans for Thanksgiving!
And time to remember our blessings with family.
What’s not to Love!
I love the colors of fall and all the things you can decorate with like pumpkins, squash,leaves. And the weather is wonderful no extreams. I also love those one dish meals like stews, chili and pumpkin pie. Also love bring out those fall clothes.
I love the cooler temps after hot Louisiana summers, colors (in the decorations if not on the trees:) and cooking for family and friends!
Happy fall y’all!
I love the gorgeous fall leaves. They always make me pause in awe of God’s beautiful creations.
Thanks so much for this-love you guys! I love the smells of fall, pumpkin, apple, apple cider and of course the beautiful leaves.
Living in Florida, I am sooooo excited about the cooler temps. I know you can feel my pain being from TX, ha! Also, the spicy, pumpkin smells just warm my heart. I may have gone a little overboard on the Pumpkin scented Wallflowers this month, ha.
I love Fall – I love the cool air, the leaves, the coffee and cider, the fair and candy corn. I love the smell of pumpkin and the thought that Christmas is just around the corner!!!
I love fall because is is tied in with Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be thankful for.
I love the smell of the air, the leaves falling, the wonderful spicy foods, and Thanksgiving….a day set aside to reflect and realize how very blessed we are!
I think I could type for days listing all of my favorite things about fall! I love the beautiful colors of the changing leaves, mums, pumpkins, cooler weather, sweaters and tall boots, football, apple and pumpkin flavored treats! Fall is by far my favorite season 🙂
I love fall because it includes our wedding anniverary, my husband’s birthday, two of my three children’s birthdays, my birthday, Thanksgiving, crisp fall air, our frisky golden retriever after a very hot summer, a beautiful pallete of leaf colors…..it’s my favorite time of year!!!
I love the cool temps, and most of all the beautiful colors of everything as they change! I don’t understand how anyone can say they don’t believe in God when they see what he does with nature!!
I love the color God splashes around us in leaves, and am so thankful We get to see a little of this in Texas. Also God breathing the cooler air on us, (Lord knows we have enough ‘hot air’ in this nation ;). Thanksgiving also falls in this time so people are more thankful. So Blessed & thankful for you and your ministry.
I love fall! It has the perfect temperature for walks in the day and getting cozy in the evenings.
My name is Bethann aka Bubba Marchionna. I love my cozy turtlenecks and homemade Chai Tea! thank you JOY OF JESUS to you
That wonderful time of year….Fall means my birthday celebration, colors changing, apples and loving the pumpkin stuff!! I think this is Gods favorite time of year because He sure shows us His power and beauty!!
Taylor Mullins- I love the fall because it is an awesome reminder from God of the different seasons in our lives here on Earth and the multi-colored leaves are so beautiful! It is especially wonderful to know when you are going through hard times that things always change just as the seasons do! Praise God!!
Love hiking in the crisp air and beautiful leaves during the fall. Thankful for your ministry! ~Ronda
Cindy Childers
I love fall now for a whole new reason. My beautiful, third born child, Levi Christopher Childers was born on October 19, 2012. He’s 14 days old today. He is absolutely the apple of my eye!
I love the fall because having lived in Alabama or Georgia all my life,it means SEC football,boots and scarfs and outdoor fires!
My Favorite thing about Fall is watching my kids make GINORMOUS leaf piles in which to play. My youngest daughter watches the trees so closely in the spring as the leaves start to pop out, and anticipates all summer long, the fall days when they make their way to the ground and she can play until her hearts content. What a blessing and joy for this Mama to see.
I love the colors and smells of fall. As the air cools the beautiful colors that dance before my eyes in the trees are a constant reminder of God & his creation. I can’t help but think of him and give him praise everytime I am in my car or outside. I also love the smell of a fire in the fireplace. As it gets cooler people starts using their fireplaces more and more. That smell means my bday is coming (40 in 15 days!) followed by thanksgiving. I love taking time to focus on the blessings in my life!
I love Fall because my favorite season Winter is a short distance away!!!
This is so fun! I love the leaves and the first few rainy days. Walking in the cool crisp weather. Thank you Melissa for a fun post.
Happy November!
Kierstan Dodd
Portland, Oregon
Fall is the time I love for the warm comfort foods I can cook reminding me of the times my mother cooked for me! Hot pumpkin spice coffee and a great book or bible study to cuddle up with. My bible and a pair of warm slippers, Oh Fall I love you <3
I love transitioning from summer foods of grilled items and tons of garden veggies to comfort foods of soups, stews, casseroles and homemade bread. I also love how God takes out his paintbrush and colors the leaves into a beautiful palette of reds, yellows, and oranges. And the crisp Friday nights at high school football games listening to the excitement of the crowd as we cheer our team to victory and watching the talents of the marching band warms a special place in my heart in the fall, too.
I love the smells and sounds of fallen leaves!
I love fall because of all the occasions to get together. Last year we started our first annual Be Grateful dinner where we invite six people we are grateful for and we simply share with them why we are grateful for their presence in our lives. We are excitedly looking forward to this years event!
Here in the coastal south, fall isn’t as glamorous as it is in other parts of the country. The only tree around me that actually reveals fall color is a “trash” or tallow tree. My dad keeps plowing these things down from our cow pasture, and I keep begging him to let them stay! It’s so sad to see me marveling at its resplendent color, dreaming it’s a beautiful maple up in Tennessee! My husband took me on a wonderful birthday trip to the Smoky Mountains one October several years ago because I was desperate to “see the leaves” and pick apples straight from the orchard. My heart skips a beat just recalling the memory of a train ride through the mountains and my husband’s selfless gift that allowed me to experience fall in all God’s glory. While he couldn’t quite understand my passion for fall, he surely enjoyed the fact that he was considered a hottie at the Louise Mandrell concert…maybe it was because we were the only people under 40 in the room!!!
I love the changing colors of fall. I live in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains and it’s awesome to look out at the mountains blazing with the colors of the leaves changing. In the wake of the destruction Sandy has left behind she left a touch of beauty also in the form of snow at the highest elevations, which has turned some areas into a winter-wonderland, with snow capped mountains we can see from here in the foothills. It seems to me snow is especially beautiful when viewed from a distance rather than on your driveway! 🙂
Family always family and games by the fire.
Wendi McPike from Maine.
What’s not to love about fall. I love the colors, the smells, the air. I love the feeling of change everywhere. I love pulling out the sweaters and quilts and fleece jackets. I love a hot cup of tea by the fireplace in the evening. I love watching the Canadian geese fly over our home. Oh, and I love that there are fewer bugs ( do not like the influx of stinkbugs, however). I love fall!
“Autumn, the year’s lsst, loveliest smile.” (WIlliam Cullen Bryant) Isn’t that the truth?!
Living in Alabama, one of my favorite things about Fall is saying “goodbye!” to the heat and high humidity of Summer.
I love fall for the Texas Friday night football!! (this year actually the Thursday night Junior High football b/c my sweet girl is a cheerleader)! As a kid I loved fall b/c my daddy was a farmer and as the air was cooler and winter came, I knew he would be home more, pick us up from school, and take us for ice cream when it snowed!
I love fall because God shows us all the beautiful colors He made for us with the changes in the leaves. I love all things pumpkin and although you really can make pumpkin muffins/bread/cake anytime it’s just not the same as when it’s chilly outside! I really love getting out all of the warm sweaters and scarves. After the hot, hot summer in Charleston, it’s nice to cozy up next to the one you love and just enjoy the blessings of family. God has been so very good to me.
Fall is my favorite season because having lived in NC for the last ten years (after almost as long in the Houston area :), Nevada and CA) I am loving the distinct change of seasons. I love everything pumpkin, the breathtaking colors and beauty of God’s creation and the fact that the cooler temps both invigorate us and bid us to slow down and enjoy a hot drink, or a bowl of chili with cornbread as our family did the other night! I love the look of ‘snowing leaves’ and the unkempt look of the streets that remind me everything in life must not always be perfectly manicured to be beautiful. This world is messy and it is ‘okay’. Love you Beth and your taking time to encourage us with your very FULL life! Doing “James” right now and loving it!