i hate the feeling of summer ending and autumn beginning.  the air is different…it’s still warm, but not humid.  there is no longer a desire to go to the beach, no longer a desire to get a tan (although i don’t want my current one to go away).  there’s no longer a desire to do all those summer things.  at least I’ll get another taste of summer when we go to puerto rico in October.

the changing of the seasons has made me reflect on how much I’ve changed over the past couple of years.  no longer do i want to participate in any petty drama between friends.  instead, i’d rather trade recipes!  it’s weird realizing that i’m growing up.  even down to the little things such as how i dress.  i’m stuck in between dressing like a 21 year old and dressing my age.  a 25 (almost 26!) year-old shouldn’t be wearing band t-shirts and flip flops all the time.  i guess i’m sort of struggling on how to dress my age, but still keep my personality.  i’m thinking i need to go on the tv show “what not to wear.”  i’m thinking i need some serious professional help – professional styling help that is! 

my interests have changed too.  i’m no longer spending all my money on impulse purchases, driving all over new england just to go to a concert, or blowing all my cash at a bar.  instead, i’m more concerned with what i’m going to make for dinner this week,  settling down for a night of netflix and a couple of beers with brett, watching all the wedding shows on the we network (i blame my friends on this, they’re all getting married!) and what kinds of things i need to save my money for.  most importantly, i’m more concerned with “we” instead of “me.” 

so, in grown up fashion, here’s what i’m currently excited about:  my new crock pot.  yes, a crock pot.  the first thing i’m making is a beer beef stew.  i cut up all the veggies today so that i can just throw everything in the crock pot tomorrow morning, turn it on, and have dinner be done when i get home from work.  i’ve found some other recipes that i can’t wait to try out.  i think this crock pot will be perfect for the winter.  what else could be more perfect than a warm bowl of beef stew or chili on a cold winter night?   

brett and i were pretty busy this summer.  he worked a lot, and we went to plenty of weddings.  i think his cousin’s wedding was by far my favorite.  it was held up in the finger lakes, and it was one of the most relaxing weekends i’ve ever had.  we went on a wine tasting to two different wineries and had a blast.  the ceremony was over looking the lake, and the reception was at a barn.  we had the best bbq i’ve ever tasted and there was nothing around except for corn fields and vineyards.  it was absolutely gorgeous and stress free.  we also went back to waltham a lot, for courtney and shannon’s weddings and bachelorette parties.  we’ll be back again in a couple of weeks for katie and warren’s wedding and again in october for my cousin’s wedding.  we were able to get to the beach a few times and went on a sunset cruise on the hudson.

so long summer!