Healthy pumpkin smoothie

Fall is upon us and so is the season of pumpkin-flavored everything. I make this smoothie about once a week throughout the entire year because I love it so much but I find myself making it almost daily during the fall. Something about convincing myself that it's more appropriate this time of the year. Enjoy!

What you'll need:

1/2 c. pumpkin puree

1 small to medium size banana

1 packet stevia

1 tbsp. honey(or to taste)

1/2 c. almond milk or regular milk

1 cup crushed ice

1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie seasoning(or to taste)

pure vanilla extract(a few drops)

Add-ins(optional)

1/2 c. oats

2 tbsp. flaxseed

2 tbsp. plain greek yogurt

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Top with whipped cream and pumpkin pie seasoning. Throw on some mini chocolate chips if you're feeling daring. Makes one large serving.

Fall in Virginia

Apple cider donuts are heaven sent.

Fall in Virginia is a beautiful thing. The soft greens of summer are replaced by vibrant shades of Autumn painted all over the city. The colors come on suddenly and brilliantly and are gone far too soon. There's a line of cars a mile long through the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains to try to catch a glimpse before the leaves fall. The suffocating heat is replaced by cool, crisp mornings and chilly evenings. A sense of hope and excitement hovers in the air as stores start to prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas. People stand up a little straighter and if you look just right you can almost see a new spring in their step. The scarves are dug out and the boots are put on. You can find a pumpkin flavor added to just about every item on the shelf. The orchards are stocked full with their famous apple cider donuts. And these only start to scratch the surface of what it means to experience this season here.

When I lived in California the air grew cool in the fall but there were no other outward signs of change. When I lived in Florida the air stayed hot and the trees stayed green. So Virginia, we might not be on the best terms all the time and as time goes on I'm going to grow restless of your too small mountains and overpriced cost of living. But for now I think I'll keep you around because I might just be falling in love.

2 Month Update

Behold the many faces of Kai.

Age: 2 months

Weight/Length: 13lbs 1oz! (65th percentile), 23.5in (70th percentile)

Size: 0-3 month 

Diapers: Size 1

Eyes: Greyish blue

Hair: Dark brown

Sleeping: Better! On average the first stretch of the night he goes 4 hours then after that he's up every 2 or 3 hours. Unfortunately though, he is the loudest sleeper ever so we still don't get much sleep.

Eating: (Same as last month -->)Pretty good when his stomach isn't bothering him. When it is, he squirms and writhes around like crazy while trying to nurse. Needless to say, we're both in pain.

Loves: Most of the same things as last month! We don't swaddle him anymore though. Overall he is finally becoming a much happier baby in general(thank goodness, my sanity was starting to go).

Hates: Once again, pretty much the same as last month.

Truthful tidbits from my not-so-put-together life

I've had quite a few people tell me that my life looks so put together. That it's picture perfect. Well my friends, this may be attributed to the unfortunate and all too common mask of social media. As proof, here are a few random tidbits from my not-so-put-together life.

Truth: When I was a kid I used to pray to God every night that I would have blue eyes. Every morning I would rush to the mirror to see if my prayer worked only to be disappointed to see my brown eyes staring back at me again. Thanks mom and dad for those brown-eyed genes. It was quite soul-crushing as a child.

Truth: My fingers are turning orange because I eat copious amounts of carrots and pumpkin and it looks like I have a bad spray tan. Oh well.

Truth: Before I had Kai I was obsessed with my dog and cat. Now they are literally the most annoying things on the planet. If you think you have pets more annoying than mine, you're wrong. Mine win. According to my sister, this too, shall pass...in about 8 more months or so.

Truth: Kai frequently throws up all over me(it's part of his charm). I wipe off my clothes with a cloth and keep wearing them. Again and again. Because if we're being honest why would I spend time washing them if he's just going to throw up on me again, right?

Truth: I'm obsessed with plants. I want to fill my entire house with them. But if I don't end up killing them myself(which is about a 50/50 chance) my stupid cat eats them all. Fake plants it is.

Truth: Right before I got pregnant I chopped off all of my hair because I figured if I didn't like it my hair grows super fast. Well, I didn't like it. And my hair has grown about an inch total in the 11 months since. Saddest thing of my life(insert belittling comment about my vanity here).

Truth: Ever since Kai was born I've wanted to bake ALL THE THINGS. So I excitedly look up recipes and buy all of the ingredients only to have them sit in my pantry untouched because who has time(or brain cells) to bake from scratch when you have a newborn at home?

Truth: I've already decided where I want to move next. Not because Virginia isn't lovely or we won't have a job here after grad school but after a year or two in one place I'm ready to move on to the next. Too bad moving all the time without a real reason is expensive, time-consuming, and just not practical. Adulting is hard sometimes.

Truth: People come to my house and always comment on how crafty and creative I am. I'm not. I'm just really good at following directions off of the internet.

Truth: From high school until about halfway through college I ran 5-6 days a week. I would wake up every morning dreading the run for that day and I hated it. One morning I woke up and decided there were other ways I could stay healthy and fit so I stopped running. I felt like I had finally been released from prison and it was one of the most joyous moments of my life.

Truth: Hair products don't work on me. Messy hair is my birthright.

Now excuse me while I go perusing through cyberspace, full of beautiful and talented bloggers, wishing my life was every bit as picture perfect as theirs. Oh, and here is a picture with Kai, since I know this is the real reason you all visit my blog in the first place. =)