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 my FAVORITE time of year. The cool freshness of the air… the leaves…I could go on. Georgia is a great place to be in the fall 🙂
We visited The Great Smoky Mountain National Park in October and enjoyed peak time for the leaf change. One church sign said, “God is painting the mountains”…. He did an AWESOME job.
Happy Fall Y’all!
A <
So many things to love about fall: 1 – College Football!!!! 2 – In SC we get at least a few days where we don’t have to run the air conditioner OR the heat! Just open or close the windows! 3 – The time change sort of forces everyone indoors earlier for more family time at night together!
Oh, nothing like the bright clue sky of fall with makestic cloud configurations!! Reminds me of a poem we had to memorize in grade school (when it was SOOOO much eaiser to memorize things!!!) about “October’s bright blue weather…” Yes, I know, it is now official November, but you know what I mean!! Clear, bright blue skys! Love them!
Awesome giveaway! Fall is a beautiful time to pause and reflect on all the blessings we have received from the Lord!
Fall has always been my favorite season of the year. As a little girl it was the beautiful colors and the smell of burning leaves in the cool crisp air. Our wedding anniversary is October 18 just so that I could have all the fall colors in my wedding – and that was 37 years ago before October was the new June!! Anyway, enjoy the cool crisp air (I’m live in North Texas and am trying to get as much as I can!) as well as the way the shadows fall differently this time of year, the glorious harvest moons, and even the overcast, still days that echo each word my husband and I share on our walks. God out-did Himself with fall! Kathy Walston
OMG!!!!!!! l love fall b/c it definatly shows all of God’s creative work! Painted on each leaf that falls… Time with family is the number one treasure, everyone MAKES the effort to get together. Its the best to be with the ones you love, thanking/thinking of the one who loved us first!!!
LOVE . . . Jumping in leaves, sipping hot cider, jeans and sweaters, football games, and pumpkin pies!
I love fall: the beautiful colors as the leaves change, the crispness of the air, taking in the outdoors without the presence of insects; but mostly, it also draws me back to my kitchen to cook and bake like there’s no tomorrow. Happy Fall!
I love the blessings of beauty all around me in the fall – as if God is calling us to worship him! The arching golden leaves bending over the road are like a beautiful canopy God has put over us to keep us safe and to remind us of his powerful presence! Oh, and I love chili and cornbread!
Walking through my neighborhood and seeing the amazing colors of the leaves. Particularly beautiful ones in my path seem like love notes from Abba.
Oh my, where do I begin? I will start off with my Pinterest user name all year is, LOVES AUTUMN, if that tells you anything.
I live near Boulder, Colorado. I love the Aspen trees that turn yellow and the flaming Maples catching on fire with blazing red leaves.
I love the color orange, found not only on pumpkins but an entire field placed in front of a back drop of the Rocky Mountains.
I love the smell of fallen leaves and the sound they make beneath my feet on my walks.
I love all pumpkin food, bread, pie, soup, stew, lattes, bagels, cream cheese, pancake,muffin, french toast …you name it, I love it!
I love acorns fallen on the ground and the squirrels who zip about to collect them. I love the sound of the owls on the roof. Yes, there are two on mine who visit often during the fall.
I love the smell of the candle named LEAVES found at Bath & Body Works. I love all of the colors of fall, so much so that my entire house is decorated in a Fall colors. I have a Grandma Moses painting named Halloween, framed and hung year round in my home. I love my annual setting up of my Dept. 56 Halloween Village. It takes an entire day to set up and it make me happy when I see it all lit up.
I love fresh caramel apples and caramel corn found at the local Fall festivities and I love corn mazes and haunted houses.I love cider, bon fires and s’mores.
I love chilly air and wearing jeans, big sweaters, boots and scarves. I love leaving my Phantom Ghost treats on my neighbors door step with goodies in the bag.I ding dong ditch them when the ghost arrives, so fun!!
I love Thanksgiving more than Christmas.
I will stop now. But, you asked….lol!
My favourite thing about fall, is walking with my husband and our four boys and marveling at the colours on the trees and also the crispness in the air. There is a smell to fall is unexplainable, but it is so very fresh and clean!
Love Autumn because it brings me to focus on being grateful for all we’ve been blessed with. Love wearing long-sleeved t-shirts, jeans and down vests!
What do I love about fall? Everything, the temperatures, leaves, fall clothes (well, sort of … I do live in Houston …), mums, football, trick or treaters, fall foods, fall colors, turkey decorations … Thanksgiving, because it’s a holiday that the only real gift required is the gift of your time to spend with those you love (even if you’re in the kitchen), and because it’s traditionally one of the 3 holidays each year when most families say grace at the table. A time for folks who don’t normally connect with God — what’s not to love about that?!
I love walks outside in the fall- the cool crisp air, beautiful colors, crunching of the leaves, hooded sweatshirt and holding my husband’s hand.
I love the color display! Only God!!!!!
Huntsville, AL…Fall reminds me of God’s greatness and splendor as I drive over the mountains and see the amazing fall colors, as I sit at my breakfast room table having my devotions and watch the sunrise. My little first graders and I also love the cooler temps that make recess time a lot more enjoyable!
I love Fall especially October which is my birthday month. There tends to be a chill in the air and the leaves are changing colors. When I was a little girl we would always go to the Cider Mill and get cider and donuts and pick out pumpkins. Now as an adult I love baking pumpkin breads to give to friends and family and have the aroma fill my home.
… and pumpkin everything … especially pie. Can’t forget about the pie …
I love fall! Something about the change of the weather a coolness in the air, getting ready for all the holidays It’s just so much fun and exciting! Oh and getting to wear boots!
I love the cool weather, fire in the fireplace. Watching football while putting up wreaths. Baking pumpkin pie & turkey. My favorite time of year!
What’s not to love about Fall! New beginnings, glorious colors crisp air, great food but my very FAVORITE, my first baby born 10-17-83,
My favorite thing about Fall is all.of.it starting on November 1 – ; ) Weather, excitement for the holidays, end of year approaching, recitals and a break from obligations…all good.
Everything! I love everything about Autumn. The cooler temperatures, the leaves changing colors, the scent of pumpkin pies baking, comfort foods like chili, bonfires, smores!!!
I love driving down the streets and am amazed at all the variations of the color of the leaves on the trees. If God is that creative with his trees and cares about them that much, how much more is he creative with us and how much more does he care about us those, in all of creation, on whom he has chosen to lavish his love through Jesus!
Melissa and Beth, I love your blog! I just moved to the Chicago from southern IN and reading your blog reminds me of home 🙂 thank you for this opportunity! I love the warm colors and clothes of fall, the cooking and pumpkin flavored everything, even pumkin spice Hershey kisses I saw last night! But my favorite part is getting all the family together from all over to be together and enjoy the good times and great food. I am counting down the days until I get to go home for Thanksgiving and see my family, the house I grew up in and my sister who lives in Georgia! Thank you for being such a blessing in my life and renewing my passion for this relationship I have with The Lord after taking your bible study Breaking Free. I simply can’t thank you enough, it changed my life!
I love the changing colors of the leaves. God out did himself this year.
I love fall because friends and family are finally settled back in after summer and we have more time to hang out together – in the kitchen!
Fall is my favorite season! I love the changing leaves, the color orange, pumpkin spice & gingerbread lattes, yummy candles, bonfires & hayrides with friends & family, boots & sweaters. Fall is also when I married my man. I love everything about fall!
I love that first day of fall that is just cold enough for jeans and a sweatshirt. After the oppressive Texas summer, those first cool fall days are such a long-awaited treat.
I love the cool, crisp weather and colorful leaves; walking through the woods and hearing the crunch of the leaves; and having cool nights to eat chili.
I have always loved the fall. Two years ago we moved to northern MI. My love of fall took on a whole other level when you add beautiful Lake MI in the background. This year though I love fall for a different reason. On September 6th we found out we are going to be adopting a baby girl in February. God’s faithful has been amazing this fall and with the changing of the season has also changed our lives forever as we begin this new family.
In beautiful South Carolina, fall comes while taking away our hot and humid air. I have always loved this time of year while getting a relief from the heat and taking in the beautiful scenery we have in the Lowcountry. I can see and appreciate God’s handiwork with the increased intensity of the colors of the marsh grasses, the blues in the skies and the clear and crisp mornings and afternoons. With the crisp, and sometimes cool air, I find a new energy that has been lost through the summer. Perfect for recharging my soul and spirit. God is so good to allow me to live in his beautiful world!
I love putting away the summer clothes and getting out jeans and sweaters. I also love Pier 1’s spiced cake candle. It’s the perfect fall scent. And this year, my most favorite thing is a baby girl due to arrive any day. She’s taking her sweet time but is eagerly anticipated by me, my husband, and her two big brothers (ages 4 & 6)!
I LOVE Fall!!!! It is my favorite time of year because: I LOVE sitting by a fire with my hubby and my three boys with HOT CHOCOLATE and SMORES allowing so much more family and snugglin time!
I LOVE a pot of soup (simmering in a Le Creuset pot would be FANTASTIC!)and warm crusty bread.
I LOVE the changes in scenery including God’s sprinkle of color in the landscape and the POP of color in the mountains!!!
I LOVE the Fall wardrobe including scarves, jeans, cords, boots, jackets, hats, and mittens! (so much better than bathing suits!)
I LOVE fall because my skintone has always leaned towards the side of “warm” make-up.
Finally, I love Fall because of the more settled schedule that allows me to embrace Eucharisteo- Giving Thanks! Gratitude to our God for the many blessings!
Happy Fall! Love you Gals!
I love the colors of fall. The yellows, oranges, reds, greens against the backdrop of various shades of blue (and sometimes white) skies. So stunningly beautiful!!!
I love fall because I think it is a comforting time of year and the temperature is perfect.
I posted something yesterday but it doesn’t show up so I will try again. A few years back, God spoke to me directly through His creation and the fall foilage here in New England. I blogged about it (http://www.gigglesgiggling.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html) but in a nutshell here is what was revealed.
I was sitting by the lake being quiet before the Lord when a leaf caught my eye. I sat and watched it as it floated downwards from the sky. It twisted and turned as it gently descended to the ground. Then I watched another leaf as it tossed and turned and than another and another.
God ordained that leaf to fall to the ground at that particular time. Out of all the leaves of the Fall season, He called that specific one to fall at that specific time. Before it was even created, God knew exactly what color it would be and its size and shape. He even knew exactly when it would fall and how many times it would twist, toss and turn… and He knew where it would land. What an amazing thought! Then the wind blew and a bunch of leaves began to fall. All of them where falling at different speeds, with different twists and turns and God knew each one of them. Then I thought of how many Fall seasons I had been apart of – never mind before I was born and after I leave this earth. God ordains them all!
As I sat in ah of this new revelation, God showed me His sense of humor because one leaf landed on my knee. I felt God say to me, Oh Pam, if I know this leaf, if I have ordained it to be here at this time, to be this color, and I know how many tosses and turns it will take and where it will land… how much more do I know the tosses and turns of your life and where you will land. I sat with tears in my eyes at the awesomeness of our Heavenly Father.
I love the chill in the air – everything seems so crisp! You all are so fun for thinking of this 🙂
Elizabeth Allison
I love fall cause of the beautiful colors Jesus paints on the leaves. It reminds me that underneath the surface there is beauty to behold… You just have to wait to for it to be revealed.
I love the approach of the holidays and enjoying Friday night lights with a chill in the air!
I love fall because as the leaves change color it is a time for me to reminiscence on the change that has occurred in my life. I am so thankful for Jesus and the transformation that occurred and continues to occur in my life. Not to mention, fall is perfect excuse for cute boots and scarves! 😉
I love fall because of the beautiful color change in our trees and snuggling under blankets with my boys.
I love the cooler weather, changing leaves, yummy soups…everything!
Fall is like new beginnings. New school year – anticipating the holidays and of course no humidity here in South Carolina. I am so thankful to God for changes of seasons and this glorious creation he provided for us.
I LOVE fall candles. Autumn Wreath by Yankee Candle Co. and Leaves from Bath and Body Works are some of my favorites! (I think my love of fall-smelling candles stems back to my college days when I would come home on fall break after being away for a while, and my mom was always burning them!)
P.S. Cute dress Melissa!
I love fall because it reminds me of when my husband and I stated dating. We reconnected at a soccer game. Our falls are still filled with soccer games and that special memory!
I love autumn because it gets dark earlier, making it easier to get the kids to bed at a reasonable time!
I love that the weather turns really, really crisp and cool and then we get Indian Summer and then it turns cool again.
I love everything about the fall! The colors, the football games, bonfires, jeans and sweaters, soups and stews….