the autumn lull

There's amazing things about this season - the leaves changing colours, the pumpkin spice lattes and hot chocolate, season premieres every week, putting on cozy clothes, not having to worry about breaking into a sweat three minutes after leaving your door, the smells of cinnamon and apple pie. 

But I find that every time September rolls around, I hit a lull ... that lull where I barely take any photos (compared to the spring and summer), feel tired at 6P.M. because the sun goes down earlier, and any plans to enjoy the fall weather - be it a fair or a hike - either gets ruined by rain or the to-do list that is slowly taking over my life. 

September is ending, though, and I've resolved to make October a month to enjoy by making New Season/Month's Resolutions. Take my camera out more; bake lots when it's miserable outside; take time to spend outdoors or indoors, solo or with friends; and, blog more. About the everyday things, not just recaps. And to restart that, I'm adopting a little blog challenge I first saw from Leesh from After 'I Do' - it's a ten day you challenge (though it'll probably span over twenty days hehe).

one picture of yourself

This photo was taken a little over a month ago in The Boy's hometown in Hungary. It might just seem like a silly photo of a girl riding a bike through a village, but it means so much more to me (that whole picture is worth a thousand words thing definitely applies here). Earlier that day, I was hospitalized from dehydration due to food poisoning. It was a scary thing for me, since (thankfully) I'm not too used to being in a hospital. The Boy was right there with me translating everything to the doctors and staying there as I got examined time and time again, had an ultrasound done to make sure my stomach and kidneys were OK, and sat next to me as I had water put into my body via a tube.

When we got back to his grandparents' house, his grandmother came by with mashed potatoes and bread while I watched Chasing Liberty on my laptop (cheesy movies, and Matthew Goode, definitely cheer me up) while The Boy went off again to the main part of town to get me medicine. 

That evening, I was up for going outside to get fresh air, and we decided to head off to his uncle's house (that had Internet connection) with a bike ride. I was honestly so thankful that I was feeling better, that the food poisoning didn't lead to something incredibly horrible, and was just stoked to be able to go on a bike. When The Boy took this photo, I was euphoric. And it reminds me that I need to find joy in the simple things all the time.

So, now I have to ask:

What do you do to spruce up your autumn months?

What are you looking forward to most in October?

Hope you have a great weekend!

where to begin...

Yesterday, I returned home from a month-long amazing trip to Europe. To say it was flawflee would be a bit of a lie, but experiences like food poisoning from a sketchy hot dog stand in Transylvania complete with a trip to a Hungarian hospital for an infusion where your boyfriend is translating everything just makes me love The Boy even more ... and want to avoid hot dogs with a passion for at least a good six months! Honestly though, it was an incredible month I will never be able to forget and will definitely recap over the next month :)

Today, it's my 23rd birthday! My twenty-second year was pretty darn awesome so here's hoping my next year is just the same but better! It'll be a jetlagged one for sure, though I already have a Starbucks gift card (I didn't see a single Starbucks in Hungary, felt so weird!) from my sister to stay awake when I go out for dinner tonight with girlfriends and then spend the night with The Boy. But the celebrations and parties can't go on all night, because ...

Tomorrow, I start teachers college. It won't be official classes, but the first two days are mandatory and full of orientation and meeting with your group and it's definitely a bit nervewracking. I know a bunch of people (including The Boy) who are going to the same college, just with different classes, so at least I'll have someone to share lunch with. Seems weird to get right into the busy with things but that's life, right-o?

For now, here's a brief glimpse into how I spent the month of August ...

I kissed a boy in front of a fountain ...

And kissed some fountains in my spare time, too.

Took some leaps in front of Heroes Square ...

And then just relaxed at a spa (Szechenyi Spa in Budapest).

Took a ferry across the Danube almost every day in The Boy's hometown ...

And also took a cruise along the Danube bend to Esztergom.

 Gave some speeches when I was in the mood to enormous crowds (cough cough) ...

But most of the time, just enjoyed cobblestone roads with an amazing travel partner.

How's your month been? I'm going to have to start playing catch-up on everyone's lives since I've been so out of the loop and my apologies for being so MIA but ... I am so grateful that I was able to spend a month in Europe and am looking forward to the next great adventure :)

I've missed you all!

Hope your September is full of great things, too :)

greetings from hungary!

The last few weeks have been full of crazy adventures ... lost luggage (eventually found though, no worries!), exploring the town where The Boy grew up, watching him get shocked by an electric fence when we got lost on a hike, finally finding strawberry and kiwi ice cream, checking out the largest lake in central Europe called Lake Balaton, and then venturing into gorgeous centuries-old cathedrals is just the tip of the awesome iceberg that is Europe.

At Lake Balaton!

But through all that ... barely ANY Internet access. I almost died when my cell phone said that it could only do emergency calls, which meant no updates or random times to check my e-mail. But I just thought I’d do a quick update and let you all know I’m still alive and having an awesome time :) The next few weeks will be full of Budapest, Vienna, and Transylvania, and hopefully I’ll do another update soon!

What have you been up to lately?

Hope your August is awesome so far!