I'm falling hard...

.....for fall, y'all.

To say that I have welcomed it with open arms would be THE understatement of the year. Seriously.

First off, I've brought all the scarves out. Yep. Every single 46 of 'em. 

Okay, I don't really know the exact number..but I'd say that's pretty close. Too much? Nah, I don't think so either.

Secondly, I scooted my butt on over to Bath&BodyWorks to stock up on some fall-y scented wallflowers! I believe I got Cider Lane, Leaves, Cinnamon Nut Bread, White Barn Nutmeg and Spice, and Pumpkin Caramel Latte. ...Told you I stocked up.

Anyway, I'm currently burning Cider Lane and I l.o.v.e. it. For real. It's ah-mazing and I love walking into my room. Heavenly, I tell ya. Go get some NOW!

And what "welcoming of fall" would be complete without baking some pumpkin goodies?! None. 

So my sweet roommates and I have been baking up a pumpkin storm since Friday night and let me tell you, these recipes are NOT disappointing! And before I share them with you, let me just say that while I love to cook/bake, I'm not the best at it BUT so far, all of these recipes have turned out just perfect and if I can do it, I know y'all can. So don't let your fear of the kitchen (if you have one..) stop you! Get to baking!

Gonna link up with the beautiful and super sweet Michelle over at The Vintage Apple for Oh, How Pinteresting to share these recipes because I found them ALL on Pinterest!

Imagine that....

 

First up...

Baked Pumpkin Donut Holes

via

Y'all...to say these were divine, amazeballs, fan-flipping-tastic, so good they make you want to stuff all 24 of them into your mouth at the same time....STILL wouldn't do them justice. Yes, they're really that good.

I didn't change a dern thing in the recipe (except that I FORGOT to put the vanilla in. Whoops! And they were still amazing, so imagine how much better they would have been. Kicking myself, trust me). Do yourself a favor and go whip up a batch of these, pronto! 

Next up...

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

via 

I so regret making this. NOT because it didn't taste good, but because it tasted TOO good. I've had a piece for breakfast every morning since I made it and I just can't get enough of it. I put a little sugar free syrup on mine in the morning and it seriously takes me to Heaven. Or at least pretty darn close to it. But be warned, the recipe makes a TON! I halved the whole recipe and it still made a good 12 slices (about 3/4 inch thick). Also, I subbed egg whites for the eggs. Can't tell a difference at all. And I also didn't have allspice and ginger on hand so I just subbed more cinnamon and nutmeg for those. Again, tastes just fine! And one more thing..I used dark chocolate chips because they're my favorite, but the recipe calls for semi-sweet. Use whatever you like best! Maybe even try white chocolate??

And then there was...

Pumpkin Mousse Dip

via

 Mmmmm so good, y'all. I just whipped this up last night actually and it's so quick and easy to make. I subbed unsweetened vanilla almond milk for regular milk, just to shave off some calories. And I used fat free cool whip, too. Tastes all the same to me! I paired it with vanilla wafers, but ginger snaps, graham crackers, apple slices...anything like that would go perfect with it!

 Last but certainly not least...

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Krispies

 via

Just a little twist on the regular rice krispy treat! I love love love homemade rice krispies and I actually made a batch of those Friday night. But between 3 very stressed out college girls, they didn't last very long. Whoops. 

Anyway, we tested these out tonight and DING! DING! We have a winner, ladies. Absolutely de-lish. I didn't bother with the white chocolate drizzle on top just to save some calories. 

 That's a lie. 

I was just too lazy to melt the chocolate and get it in the ziploc and make a mess everywhere.

Sorry, I'm not sorry.

Now here are just a few other recipes that I'm dying to try this fall!

Pumpkin Cornbread

 via

Apple Fritters

via

Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies

 via

 And just because I don't want y'all thinking I'm a total fat kid for posting only desserts (I seriously just realized that...ouch)..

Baked Brown Sugar Wings w/ Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

via

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Are y'all as excited about fall as I am? Have ya'll already started decorating? Do y'all have any favorite fall recipes? Please share!!

P.S. You can follow me on Pinterest...here! 

P.P.S  I head to NYC in only 17 short days!! YAYAY! Can ya tell I'm excited?!

 Have a great week, y'all!! xo

I'm still alive, I promise!

 Hey y'all, remember me?!

I know you guys must have just been dying the past 2 weeks without me. 

TOTALLY KIDDING.

Kinda.

;)

Well, I found myself with a little free time today so I thought I would spend it playing catch up with y'all! I've missed blogging so much, so hopefully things will settle down a little more in the coming weeks and I can get back to blogging at least 2 or 3 times a week :)

I've got a jam-packed schedule until November -- wow, did I really just say that?

NOVEMBER?! Holy cow, where is time going...I just started classes like, a few days ago. (Or was it a few weeks? Whoops...)

Anyway, here's a little peek at what the next month and a half holds for me:

This weekend (Sept. 22nd) - UNC vs ECU football game

Now I've gotta be really honest with y'all here -- I was raised to cheer for ECU football and UNC basketball. But now that I actually attend UNC, it's only fair that I cheer for them, right? Right. However, I personally will be content with whoever wins because I love both teams. I cheer just as hard for ECU as I do for UNC. 

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 The next weekend I actually DO have free, but that will be spent doing some hardcore schoolwork. BLEH.

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 Moving on (Oct. 5-7th) - NC Seafood Festival  

Now y'all....being that I only live 2 hours from the coast, I LOVE me some seafood. And nothing makes me happier than a festival. And the beach. So...combine those two and I am in Heaven for a whole weekend. My family has been going to the NC Seafood Festival for several years and it gets better and better every. single. time. The food is absolutely ah-mazing, and don't even get me started on all the vendors selling homemade jewelry and crafts. Whew...my wallet always takes a beating that weekend. Can't wait to do it again this year!! 

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Next up...my personal favorite (Oct 12-14th) - NEW YORK CITY

  Ahhhhh! Excited doesn't even begin to describe the way I feel, y'all. I've been to NYC a couple times before (once with family friends, once with family), but I've never been with Jordan and that is exactly who I'm going with this time (plus her bf's mom, Susan, and another one of our great friends, Danielle)! We're actually taking a day trip. Yes, you read that right. We will leave home via charter bus around 11:00pm Friday night, arrive in NYC around 10:00am Saturday morning, leave NYC around 11:00pm Saturday night, and arrive back home around 10:00am Sunday morning. WHEW! These day trips are very common around home, but neither of us have ever done one before so we're both a little antsy about it, but we know that we'll have a blast no matter what! Oh, and this is strictly a shopping trip for us. We've both been to NYC twice so we've seen all the sights -- we just want to get the goods this time. Mhmm..you know what I'm talking about. Chinatown, baby. Pashmina scarves and knockoff handbags and sunglasses galore. That's my kinda "town". 

However, we do plan on making it by Ground Zero because the new memorial and Freedom Tower weren't there the last times we went. As I said before, excited doesn't even begin to describe it and I'm so, so glad that Jordan and I get to go together! Be expecting a full recap when the time comes! ;) 

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Finally, (Oct. 18-21st) - FALL BREAK/NC STATE FAIR

 Like I just told y'all earlier, there aren't many things that this girl loves more than a fair/festival. There's just something about them that I can't get enough of. Maybe it's the sense of community in all of the people, the atmosphere, or maybe it's just all the fried food.

Yeah. It's definitely the fried food. ;)

Anyway, our state fair always falls right in the same week as UNC's fall break, which is perfect for me since I only like to go with my Dad. It's just something that we've always done and since I'm free from class for a couple days, it's the perfect time for us to go. And as I mentioned before, the food is definitely my main reason for going. 

Here are my favorites:

-apple cider (cold during the day, hot at night)

-chocolate covered frozen bananas 

-homemade peach ice cream

-the BEST ham biscuits known to man

-ribbon fries (nom nom nom)

-fried shrimp sandwich (I'm already drooling..)

and of course...

FUNNEL CAKE!

Can't forget the funnel cake. That would be a sin.

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Well, guys...that's what I've got planned to kick off the fall season with! 

It's finally starting to get a little cooler here in NC (the high today is only 72 degrees!!!) and this chick could not be any happier. I'm ready to break out the boots and scarves, y'all!! 

Hope y'all have a fab Wednesday and hopefully it won't be so long before I make it back to blogland! 

xoxo