a fall home

It is safe to say that I have beat into your heads that "fall is my favorite time of the year." Well sadly, it dawned on me yesterday during a Target trip that I haven't decorated at all for the season! The apartment looks just the same as it always does with the exception of some candied corn in a dish {thanks to the roommate}, a fire in the fireplace each night and the sudden appearance of thicker blankets all over the place. 


I gotta get on it! But what to do? 
{Dear Pinterest...}

I am yet to own a wreath and I keep seeing them everywhere! I, of course, want to make my own. I like this look because {I think...} the pumpkins can be switched out for other seasonal items throughout the year

Speaking of wreaths...I think both of these are pretty cute as well. Love the orange! Where do you get the base of the wreath though? I am lost here. 

I don't even have a pumpkin this year...the only one that we had, I cut up and made into risotto! I love carving a pumpkin and eating the seeds- but this is really cute and looks much quicker to do

I do LOVE roasted pumpkin seeds {snacking on some as we speak}- this is 3 different flavors! Maybe I will carve a pumpkin...

{recipes} 

Back to decorating. How sad it is that I don't even own hurricane vases like this? Must buy some soon because I do love this look.

This is a very cute look without having to do the pumpkin thing. I really want the monogrammed vases! Really bad!

Way too cute. I love the white look and of course the gingham ribbon on top. Looks like another easy decorative piece that can be changed out for each season. I need. 

After seeing this online look all.the.time. I have finally seen it in person and I officially love it! But where would I hang it from? Fireplace mantle? Is that too much fire in one place? Decisions....

Oh those book page wreaths... It's about time I give this a shot. It has a nice fall feel too

Inspiration for next year:
{surely, I will have it a bit more "together" then, right?}

I sure do have my work cut out for me next year! 

:) amc

fall fairs & festive food

my wonderful fall weekend in pictures:

 Mom & I spend Saturday at the Country Living Festival in Stone Mountain, GA! We went last year and just loved it, so we had to go again- even better this time!

Also, I made homemade pumpkin risotto! 

Picture time :)

would love to have this many flowers

at the great pumpkin patch!

i love this chair to death and i actually really like the black and white striped pillow on it

i've never been one for animal prints, but i think this cow ottoman/bench is really great! 

i always love the table settings and vignettes that the CL team sets up in the pavilion

jessie and i found each other! how cute is her outfit?! perfect for a fall festival :)

i have this thing for glittery christmas decorations...and birds...and the color navy

we saw so many book wreaths- i really need to make one myself

photo opp!

i love this idea of framing a piece of tin underneath a piece of great fabric- makes for a perfect message board! bonus points for the itty bitty glitter paper clip magnets

wish i could make myself, but where do you find those glass containers?

lunch on a haystack couch!

meatballs on a stick :) fair food must always be on a stick, right?

mom bought the one on the right- too cute! so many different colored flowers in it would look fantastic

shopping!

ahh! i met cari cucksey of hgtv's cash & cari! she is so beautiful and nice!!!

love this fall table setting

i did come home with some great treasures! i will have to do a post on them soon :) 

once i got home from the fair, i was in a creative mood but very hungry- so good ole pinterest inspired me to cook up some festive food!

first, i gotta tell ya that we learned about the existence of "baking" pumpkins {awesome!} and we made our very own pumpkin puree! no need for that canned stuff

Roasted Pumpkin Risotto & Rosemary Skillet Pork Chops with Veggies

the risotto was very rewarding to make- so hearty and tasty. and let me tell you, risotto is the key to getting toned arms! its a tiring job

{recipe}

pork chops and veggies that tasted like they had been cooking away all day- but only took 30 minutes! i added a lot more ingredients to the recipe- spices, herbs, stock, wine, garlic, etc. My favorite part of cooking is adding whatever it is that i like.

{recipe}

off to manage Miley & Mason. It's true- cats & dogs aren't friends. :( 

:) amc 

passion & perfection

Hi, My name is Amanda and I am having a mid-twenties crisis. A Hopes & Dreams crisis at that. I am really hoping to hear that you all go through similar things...so give me some "misery loves company" please. :) 
Backing it up...I am not miserable. Nope, far from it. I think God would downright slap me in the face if I started to boo hoo about my life not "being all I want." Yes, he would absolutely slap me. So would my father. And Lord knows what my mom would do- that is scary! 


But... {there is always a "but"} I am a girl filled with passion and... a mouth to speak for it. It's good and bad because when I get excited {which is super often} I get fired up and I produce results. From recovering a cookie sheet to become a chic tray, to making the best dang dinner Wednesday night has ever seen to "work stuff," I get involved!!! When I am passionate, it's clear and it usually spreads. Josh always tells me I should give sales a shot {ehh}... 


Bad thing is...when I get passionate, I can also get very frustrated with myself. I want everything to be right and I want to produce perfect results. It kills me to let anyone down or to have anyone disappointed in me or my work, it is detrimental to my morale {I blame my parents disciplinary tactics, jk}. I also want everyone in on my goals and to give it their all too. Well wake up AMC, the real world is slapping me in the face. I can't always get my way, not every idea that I have will develop, not everyone will share in all of my ideas and goals, and I will mess up, I won't be perfect and I will {not on purpose!!!} disappoint people. 


The Real World is having a blast teaching me lessons this month. For all of you MTV The Real World fans: it isn't all hot tubs and shots. It's learning who you are and how you can share that with the world. 


For me...I still have more noodling to do. But hey, I am about one month from turning 25, and I don't think anyone expects me to have it ALL figured it out yet. Right? So I should relax. I will still strive for that "produce perfect results" mentality, but it's okay to keep hoping & dreaming while I figure this whole Real Life thing out. 


I can't leave you hanging without some happy, pretty pictures of things that I have been loving lately.This time it is all "Home" themed. Cause Home is where the Heart is, and I know where my heart is. 
Also these homes are nice looking :)

You know I love bright colors and a fantastic print. Well, this is just swell! Minus the sad and lonely white walls.

 Love this monogram! When my Hopes & Dreams happen :) I totally need some of this 

 Great! Great! Great! 

 I have this thing for entryways. This one is fantastic. That gray wall color is gorgeous and if you have ever worked with me before, you know I love a border!

 I like this bathroom because it is so "doable." Reminds me of the bathroom that Josh & re-did, but a girlier version. 

 A trellis printed bookshelf with pops of orange and white accents? You know I die! 

I love white. I love stripes. 

thank you blog for letting me release all of this. i love you

:) amc 

{and congrats to blogager/boyfriend Josh on a GREAT day/month/quarter at work! xoxo!}

cultural

Seems like it has been forever since I have written, makes me sad. I need to find more time in the days!

Tonight I am going to The High Museum of Art in Atlanta with my mom! 

Excited to be all cultural and such :) 

Be back later! :) amc