Autumn falling and catch up

This week marks the official start of autumn here. It's crept up, but there's no denying it. Going barefoot at home in the evenings is no longer an option (I really should replace my uggs that fell apart years ago, but were never replaced, nor needed in L.A.) and the setting sunlight has stopped infiltrating my showers through the bathroom window at face level. Instead, it's been replaced by steam as I crank up the hot water.

I've started eyeing off the gas fireplace, wondering when it will be time to figure the damn thing out and and start using it. Back in my London days, I used to have similar internal dialogues - when is too soon to pop on the central heating? To bring out the scarves? The gloves? The heavier coat? I used to battle through October, too stubborn to concede to the increasing chill, because for some stupid reason I drew a red line under November as being the appropriate time to give in. If I gave in to extra layers and heating sooner, what I would I do when things really got cold?

I wonder if my ego will be as stubborn for this coming Washington winter. I just want to be warm.

The colder change in seasons might be is a depressing bitch, however there are a few things I'm enjoying right now.

New boots

A few weeks ago, I ordered some new rain boots online for myself and the girls. They had grown out of their boots from last winter, and as for me? I don't think I've owned a pair of rain boots since I was a preschooler. I certainly have no memory of ever wearing them, but if ever an occasion calls for it, it's going to be my first autumn and winter in the Pacific Northwest.

I found reasonably priced boots for the girls, but due to my own size 12 (US) feet the same could not be said for me. Cheap rain boots in my size? Nope, I searched but could only find fairly hideous and unflattering styles. I'm vainer than I usually let on, so I'm now the proud new owner of Hunter boots. I'll confess to eyeing them off for a couple of years now. In L.A, they seemed like a frivolous purchase which would only be truly needed from time to time, so I could never justify the cost. I know it'll be a different story here in Seattle and two days ago, I finally got to break them in. I felt pretty stylin', which is a rare feeling for me.

Food 

Cooler temperatures equals an increase in appetite, right? I'm digging the pears that are in season, but sadly they are the healthiest of my cravings and vices right now. There is a Metropolitan Market (kind of like Whole Foods) right near the Faery's new school, and parking there is certainly easier than attempting the nightmare that is anywhere closer to her school... so guess where I park most afternoons for the school run? It's especially convenient for grabbing bread and milk as needed, but also means the temptation for cheeses in all shapes and form (which they are currently spruiking all month long) is right there in my face. I can't resist.

I've also rediscovered the bliss of a baked potato that's been smothered in sour cream and sweet chilli sauce. It's totally the sort of thing I lived off as a poor uni student, and I've only recently found what an easy, filling lunch it is. The bad news is I no longer have access to a gym like I did in Los Angeles, nor have I found a (convenient) yoga class to join. We are heading back to Australia next month for my sister-in-law's wedding, and it's not looking good for my arse.

Leaves 

Of course, I have to mention the autumn leaves. Seattle has an amazing amount of evergreens, and that knowledge makes me feel a little happier about a winter that's not full of depressingly bare trees (I'm looking at you, London)... but for all the firs, spruces, cedars and pines - of which I mostly cannot tell the difference - there are still a lot of maples beginning to blush red, and each night of rain and heavy winds has resulted in beautiful swirly colours on the streets. I have a feeling there's a lot more to come, so I'll have a good excuse to get out my DSLR again. Definitely prettier than L.A. at this time of year.

Crime TV

With the darker evenings, I've become a little hooked on a couple of crime shows. This is a little odd because I've never really been into them before, but J and I stumbled across a remake of a Danish show called The Killing. I suppose the factor that pulled me in initially was that it's set in Seattle. Like many shows, it's not actually filmed here but a few hours away in Vancouver. Nonetheless, it has the Pacific Northwest vibe down pat. The story takes place in October and November, so all the outdoor scenes are chilly and wet. It's gloomy, grey, and the actors get around rain jackets, thick woolly jumpers (pullovers, sweaters, whatever) and heavy coats. It's dark and atmospheric, with a pretty cool female lead detective character - no makeup, hair pulled back, no nonsense. Watching it makes me want to curl up even more, with an endless supply of hot chocolate (or red wine).

Courtesy of BBC America, I've also been drawn into a smaller British whodunnit drama, Broadchurch, and caught up on Luther (which I highly recommend). I'm not even sure why these shows are appealing to me right now, but for now they are scratching the right spot. Next on my list of shows to catch up on is Homeland. Breaking Bad's finale is this Sunday, and I can't even go there - I've invested so much into that series and its characters that I have no idea how I'm going to deal with the inevitable conclusion. It's been a ripper of a ride.

Emily

We're not the only ones in this house feeling the cooler air. After a humid summer, especially with our bedrooms upstairs, Emily The Cat has decided that our bed is once again the place to be overnight. In typical aloof cat style, over the summer she'd deigned our laps too hot for her in the evenings when we were watching TV, but suddenly our laps are back in hot demand. Emily-laptime and crime TV have been going hand-in-hand recently. Don't tell her, but I'm kind of enjoying her furry hotwater-bottleness again.

I haven't linked any of my posts in a long time, so when - after having half-written this post already - I noticed that the first of this week's writing prompts on Mama Kat's Losin' It was to "share something fall related that you did", it seemed the perfect time to join in.

Click HERE for link.

Happy Birthday to me

Make my own birthday cake? Yeah, right. This chocolate raspberry baby was bought from Porto's this morning, an amazing Cuban bakery which has me drooling every time I set foot inside.

We're talking chorizo pies, potato balls (with spicy meat on the inside, like deep fried balls of spicy shepherds pie) and guava cream cheese pastries (refugiados) ... a force of divinity which words cannot do justice to describe. They make huge cups of fresh OJ, something I can be very picky about (I love it just-squeezed and not from a bottle, which too many places are guilty of serving, yet calling it 'fresh'). A bonus? Their coffee is pretty good. Porto's is always packed to the the brim with people, and justifiably so. There is never a 'quiet' time to go.

Lastly, I love hearing so much Spanish all over the place. I like to pretend for a moment that I'm somewhere in Latin America.

I'm not sure if I can wait for J to come home before I get stuck in... but either way, I'm confident that this cake is going to be fabulous.


....then... San Francisco, here I come!

Victoria's Snot

About a month ago, I made a promise to myself that when I'd finished for good with breastfeeding Miss Pie, I'd treat myself to some pretty new bras.

I am well and truly over the bras I currently wear. I've had most of them since I was pregnant with the Faery. That was five years ago, and I hung onto them for round two, buying a few more when needed. So, in this five-year period? I've been through two pregnancies, and a combined total - so far - of thirty-three months breastfeeding. That's more than four years of wearing boring, unflattering maternity bras.

Time has not been kind to the bras. They have lost what little shape they had to begin with, stretched and faded, and ride around my ribcage in an annoying fashion. Most likely, they are not the correct size for me any more but at this stage of the game, I can't justify buying new maternity bras. I weaned the Faery at eighteen months and - in the name of fairness - intend to do the same with Miss Pie. That will be only three months away, so I just need to suck it up for now.

Then... hello underwire! Hello again to proper support.

When I made myself this promise last month, I decided the ideal way to treat myself would be to make my new purchases from Victoria's Secret. I mean, I'm living in the US now, so why not take advantage of what's on offer?

I will buy my new bras in person - I don't trust making such purchases online - but I want to have an idea of what styles are being sold, so I decided to order a catalogue.

Why not just look at their website, I hear you ask? Well, although it's just browsing at this stage, it's still part of the plan to spoil myself. Sitting hunched over a computer to look at potential new bras? Nah. I want to put my feet up, with a nice beverage - which may or may not be alcoholic - and flick through glossy pages.

Ordering this catalogue was done through the Victoria's Secret website. When the request was done, I was sent a confirmation email, informing me that the catalogue would arrive within 7-10 business days. Fine by me, I'm not in a hurry.

That was a month ago. Three weeks later? Still no sign of the catalogue, so I emailed them to let them know. The reply I received was both apologetic and amusing. They apologised and said they were sending another catalogue. In the mean time, they wrote, did I know they have a website which could be viewed? (a link was provided) Okay, maybe those weren't their exact words, but it was something similar to that effect.

Umm... let me see... yes, I did know about their website because it was the only way I could request a catalogue.

This ramble is going somewhere, I promise.

The catalogue arrived today. I retrieved it from our mail box, and once inside, began to flip through it.

Here's the problem: both girls have been sick with a cold for the last few days, and I appear to have caught their germs. Awesome. I am covered in streaks of toddler snot, my own nose is running like a tap, my eyes are itchy from all the sneezing, and I am pretty sure a beauty of a cold sore is starting on my top lip.

My moral to this tale is this. Looking at a Victoria's Secret catalogue for inspiration when feeling decidedly unattractive and under the weather? Not a smart idea. Now I feel even less like hot stuff.