Here & Where roundup: my weekly five week five
A DIY dried orange wreath, trader joe’s fall haul, and getting into the autumn spirit (even if it’s 100F outside)
Five things for week five! As we officially hit September, I’m ignoring the weather outside, and officially letting myself pretend fall is here! If I made myself wait until the temperatures felt “fall-ish” we wouldn’t decorate until after Christmas, so instead, we’re going for it now!
Baked: Salted Caramel Chip Cookies using this recipe
These turned out so good! They are the perfect mix of salty and a little sweet without being too sweet! I made one batch, and kept the other half of the dough in the fridge to make later today. Also, I subbed dark chocolate chips for milk, and that worked great!
Wore: These Eyepatches!
These have been a staple since my first postpartum (great for all stages!). They stay really cold feeling, and I feel like they’re pretty affordable for how many come in one tub. Plus, they are running a Labor Day Sale, so free shipping + free product if you spend $30.
Made: Dried Oranges for a DIY Orange Wreath
Last year I attempted to dehydrate oranges for the first time and learned a lot along the way! This year was less trial and error, but it did take around 8 hours of baking on 180F to get them totally dry without burning them. You can read more about the process here, and see the wreath I made last year! Still need to make this year’s wreath, but I’ve got my oranges ready!
Bought: Trader Joe’s fall haul
I’ve been waiting all year for this! It took some self-control not to buy all the things, but this was a good start! Here’s what I got/my thoughts:
Honeycrisp Apple Candle: heavenly! Fresh, crisp, light! I may go back for another… it feels like the perfect transition candle before the heavier, richer pumpkin scents!
Apple Cider Donuts: yum! These remind me of visiting the cider mill in Vermont a few years ago. Will definitely buy again!
Maple Syrup: a staple in our house, even when it isn’t fall… I find Trader Joe’s to have affordable, good quality syrup so I try to get it there.
Pumpkin Bread Mix: although I had a lot of fun making pumpkin bread from scratch (and will be doing it again!), sometimes you just need a quick mix that makes it easy. This one is my favorite, and I’m considering adding some chocolate chips or topping it with pumpkin butter next time!
Caramel Sea Salt Baking Chips: used in this week’s cookie recipe! A fun way to mix it up.
Fall Flowers: for a fun bouquet! Since our zinnias are all done for the season, I’ve been missing fresh flowers around the house, and this little bouquet was fun to make!
Thankful: School is back + a cozy home
This week, our son went back to daycare! It’s bittersweet because I had so much fun with him this summer, and it felt especially sweet knowing it was the last one we have before baby brother gets here. But, I won’t lie… having some quiet time in the house to clean, decorate for fall, and just rest a little as the third trimester hits was a gift this week! I’ve officially let myself light the fall candles, start Gilmore Girls, and really lean into the coziness of the autumn season, and it’s a lovely feeling!
