Happy Saturday!  What are you up to this weekend?

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Mostly I'm looking forward to the first day of fall

Here in Iowa, the leaves are starting to change, there's the first chill in the air, and I love the sunlight with all of its September clarity.  Walking around today it was fun to see lots of sweaters, corduroys, and pumpkin lattes

True confessions?  It's also my favorite time of year for seasonal candy.   I can't help but think of my grandfather, who always kept a candy jar on his kitchen counter when I was a kid.  In the fall it was filled with candy corn and the weird little pumpkins that I always ate first

I'm really looking forward to my Saturday morning trip to the farmers market.  It's always fun to pet new puppies, people watch, try something new for breakfast, and walk home with a bouquet of pretty flowers for the kitchen

But most of all, I want to pass the time doing a little of this, and a little of that.  You know .. sleeping in, a trip to Trader Joes, (hopefully) a smoothie, a dip in the Olympic-size(!) swimming pool at the YMCA, and a few hours on the sofa.  I wish that for you as well

Especially the smoothie

Photo Credit: Des Moines Downtown YMCA

For the weekend, a few things I've been loving lately

True confessions?  When I lost my job a couple of months ago I wasn't sure where to begin.  I didn't even have a resume and when I was hired for my previous position, I'd answered an ad in the newspaper(!)  After floundering around for a while, I signed up for an online career coaching site, watched all of their YouTube videos, and did everything they said.  Within three weeks I had an offer.  I can't say enough good things

I'm riding my bike pretty much everywhere these days and loving this messenger bag

On my nightstand .. Claire Tomalin's memoir.  My goodness, what a life she's had

Hooked on classic movies as of late.  Have you seen The Woman in the Window?

Excited to start cooking from my latest cookbook.  Especially the dumplings, pesto, and katletihi (mini meatloaf/meatballs)

Speaking of cookbooks .. there are so many good ones coming out soon     [via The Kitchen]

A woman in the elevator smelled so good that I couldn't help but ask what she was wearing(!)

May we all have a friend who offers us lip balm, a swig of her apple pie moonshine, and some really great advice

Is anyone else addicted to Weelicious's Smoothie Project?

I had a dinner date with my dad this week.  While it was fun to have him all to myself, mostly it reminded me how wonderful it is to have someone to share a meal with.  One of life's simple pleasures that I'll never again take for granted ..

Friends, whatever you're up to this weekend .. I hope you have a good one!

xo

(Featured photo: Lucy – September 2018)