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October Feels

AllyOctober 14, 20172 comments
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october feels
~All the October Feels~

Even though it’s currently still 80 degrees here in Atlanta, the fall feelings are in FULL GEAR.  Here’s what’s been going on recently in my October world ♥

But, before we get into all the fun stuff…

Is anyone thinking about Thanksgiving yet?

I’d love to invite you to take this quick Thanksgiving survey I made to help you this year! Just click the link below to let me know if you need step-by-step guides, gluten-free recipes, slow cooker shortcuts, or anything else! I can’t wait to hear from you 🙂

https://insights.hotjar.com/s?siteId=326248&surveyId=28960

Napa Trip

So, Taylor and I just got back from an AMAZING trip to Napa & Sonoma.  Thankfully, we got back right before the devastating fires, so I almost feel bad writing about the wonderful time I had there, but I’m going to anyway.

We flew into San Francisco on Saturday and stayed at this really cool hotel downtown, the Hotel Adagio.  It was about noonish, and after having been up for about 9 hours already my east-coast ass was HUNGRY for some lunch, so we set out walking in search of some grub. Maybe I’ve been living in the down-south suburbs too long, but I was just a little surprised by San Fran, (and not in a good way). It all felt a little dirty and grimy to me. Obviously I should have done more research, because it felt like we walked and walked and walked but couldn’t find a single place to stop that looked good. Does anyone else feel that way? I’ve never felt so uncomfortable and unsafe in a city before. Maybe it’s just me.
Anyway, our favorite comedian Sebastian Maniscalco (he has a special on Netflix- check him out!) was performing about an hour away in Saratoga, CA that night, so, unimpressed with our San Fran options, we decided to just head to Saratoga for the day.  We rented a Camaro convertible, put the top down, and zoomed down the highway feeling like movie stars.  Saratoga was much more our scene.  We found a great little Italian place, posted up on the little cobblestone patio, and ate, drank, and people watched for hours until it was time to go to the show. I didn’t get any pictures, but the show was at the most amazing venue I’ve ever seen in my life, Mountain Winery. Perched on top of a mountain, wine in hand, I don’t think I’ve laughed harder, and I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect first night in wine country.
The next morning we woke up, and drove our convertible over the Golden Gate Bridge and up to Napa. Now THAT was one of the coolest, most beautiful experiences of my life. HIGHLY recommend that itinerary for anyone who hasn’t been.  For the next three days, we drove up and down Napa, Yountville, and over to Sonoma and Santa Rosa. I think, by far, our favorite Napa winery experience was the Del Dotto historic caves. You go down into their deep, dark, underground tunnels and taste amazing wines right out of the barrels. Also they served pizza. They know the way to our hearts. In Sonoma/ Russian River county, we fell in love with DeLoach Vineyards, (because we’re getting married there, ahhh!!).
It was so sad to leave that beautiful part of the world, but it just makes me even more excited for our trip there next September.  It’s also made the horrible, tragic wildfires there even more chilling and sad for us, having only just left a day or two before.

October Essentials

Back at home, October, (and really the fall and winter months in general) to me are all about snugs. It may still be 85 degrees in Atlanta, but it’s autumn in my soul.  Taylor and I close the blinds, turn the AC on 67, and get our cozy on.  I’m talking leggings, giant fleece sweatshirts, enormous fuzzy blankets, and THIS CANDLE.

I am a candle freak and could go on and on and on and on about my favorite candles, (*makes mental note about future candle post*) but this candle is my ultimate fall go to every year. It’s at Target, no fear, you can smell test if you’d like, but this candle combines all three of my favorite cozy autumn scents into one PLUS IT’S CRACKLY. You can’t beat the snuggle factor on wood crackle candles. Also, go ahead and stock up on the smaller Bonfire Nights only version to get you through the whole winter. I think it’s my G.O.A.T. Target candle.

Ok, now back to my cozy list.  Once I have my snug zone all prepared with blankeys, candles, sweatpants, and a disheveled bun, we gotta get started on the extras. (Side note, we pushed our two couches together to make a mega-couch snug zone and it was an amazing idea. Try it.)

I’m a wine girl, and after Napa I’m ESPECIALLY a wine girl, but in October it’s all about spiked cider, baby.

Mulled (and Spiked!) Hot Apple Cider
Homemade, mulled and spiked hot apple cider is next-level delicious and super easy. Please pair with something delicious and hearty like Next-Level Perfect Holiday Pot Roast or anything with Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic to get your #winterbody ready.

31 Days of Halloween

So, what do we do every day on our megacouch/ snug zone? Taylor has my scary movie education underway.  We’re attempting a “31 Days of Halloween” movie marathon of all the essentials, and here’s our list. What are your must-watches??

Halloween (OG 1978 version)
Halloween 2
Halloween 4
Halloweentown
Hocus Pocus
Scream
Scary Movie
Friday the 13th (Part 1/2/3/4)
Freddie vs. Jason
Nightmare on Elm Street
The Conjuring
I Know What You Did Last Summer
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
The Haunting
Paranormal Activity
Final Destination
The Blair Witch Project

Bone-Chilling Books

I wanted to round this out with one last thing: a book I just finished that CHILLED ME TO THE BONE, in true October spirit.
Behind Closed Doors: A Novel

This one is a little dark, people.  You’ve been warned. But it was scary, suspenseful, and totally addicting to read. I just NEEDED to know how it ended. I definitely recommend this one, (especially for this time of year!)

Alright, it’s 6:13pm on a Saturday and it’s officially time for me to get back into my snug zone life with Tay and Chewy.  Happy October, everyone!

october feels

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Ally
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2 comments

  • I stumbled on your website looking for new recipes to try. (Your spicy lunch bowls are cooling on the stove and on the menu today!) I feel we could have been friends in another life – your enthusiasm for meal planning, writing, all the autumn snuggles, and your foodie love language resonate in my soul, lol. Signing up to stalk you. <3 Happy Halloweening! (My husband Neil has got me celebrating SIXTY days of scary movies with him, smh)

    Reply

    • Jessica,

      First of all, 60 days?! Now that’s Halloween dedication. So happy you stumbled across my little piece of the internet 🙂 I hope you LOVE the chicken bowls!! So great to “meet” another foodie

      Reply
Backed by popular demand, my “hidden veggie” spaghetti and meatball recipe from my stories last weekend! Full recipe on my site, allyscooking.com. . Ingredients: 1 lb. ground beef or other meat 1 large onion, finely diced, divided 1 slice of bread, toasted then crumbled ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese, divided 1 egg, beaten 2 Tbsps minced garlic, divided A splash of milk Salt Black pepper ¼ cup avocado oil or vegetable oil 2 carrots, diced 1 zucchini, peeled and diced Crushed red pepper flakes 1 cup good, dry red wine (like cabernet or merlot) 48 oz. crushed San Marzano tomatoes Fresh basil, chopped 1 lb. pasta, for serving . Instructions: First, we make-a the meatballs! In a large mixing bowl, add the ground beef, ¼ of your diced onion, your homemade bread crumbs, ¼ of parmesan cheese, 1 egg, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, a splash of milk,1 tsp. salt, and 1 tsp. black pepper. Using your hands, gently mix until everything is just combined. . Divide your mixture into 8 equal sections, and then roll them into meatballs, gently packing them down and rolling between your palms until smooth. . Heat a large pot or dutch oven (mine is 6-quart) over medium heat. Add ¼ cup of your cooking oil and let it get hot for a couple minutes. . Gently add the meatballs in, and make sure not to over-crowd them. Allow them to cook for 2 minutes before flipping. You want them to easily release from the bottom of the pan and be golden brown. Carefully flip all the meatballs multiple times ensuring an even golden brown on all sides. Once the meatballs are cooked on the outside transfer them with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined dish to drain. . In your empty pot, add in the rest of your diced onion. Stir, and scrape up all the brown bits at the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. While the onion cooks, dice your carrots and zucchini. . Continued in comments 👇🏼👇🏼
Whenever I’m alone for dinner and actually cook, I love to make an extra serving for lunch later in the week because, ya know, efficiency. Plus sheet pan dinners are my jam. That’s my kind of meal prep. It doesn’t always have to be a 3-hour session on Sunday, cook once & eat twice totally counts 👌🏼 . . . No formal recipe, just working with the spices, herbs, and dressings I have on hand. Roasted the sweet potatoes alone first with za’atar spice blend, salt, pepper, and coconut oil spray for 25 min @ 400 degrees. Remove from the oven, toss and stir the potatoes, then add honey mustard dressing marinated salmon and asparagus pieces to the sheet pan. Spray a little more coconut oil, then put back in the oven for 15 min. I topped with cilantro & basil. COMPLETELY customizable!! . . . #sheetpandinner #sheetpanmeals #sheetpansuppers #easydinners #easydinner #easydinnerrecipes #easydinnerideas #healthyfood #healthymeals #healthyrecipe #healthyrecipeideas #healthyrecipes #healthydinner #healthydinnerideas #salmondinner #eattherainbow #eatyourveggies #mindbodygreen #buzzfeedfood #huffposttaste #atlantafoodblogger #foodblogfeed #alpharettaga #weeknightdinner #salmonrecipe #weeknightdinneridea #healthhmealprep #mealprepideas #mealpreprecipes
I’m at the level of smoothie making where I’m just trying to get the highest level of nutrition and veggie-action as possible while keeping it tasty and drinkable. Introducing the smoothie I’ve been making every day since June: ▫️1/2 cup baby kale or spinach ▫️1/2 zucchini, peeled and chopped ▫️1/2 avocado ▫️1/2 banana, preferably frozen ▫️2 Tbsp chia seeds and flax seeds ▫️1 cup unsweetened almond milk, (any non-dairy milk works) . Optional add-ins: ▫️ fresh ginger, for digestion ▫️nut butter, to make it extra hearty and filling ▫️pineapple, for extra sweetness . . This smoothie comes in around 400 calories and keeps me so full until lunch. Plus, check out these amazing nutrition facts: ▫️0 trans fat or cholesterol ▫️77% of your daily fiber ▫️only 7 grams of sugar ▫️11 g of protein ▫️74% of daily calcium ▫️51% of daily vitamin d ▫️contains 25% or more of all b vitamins daily needs . Plus so much more. Check out the new post on my site today (link in bio) for the lowdown on this bad boy. . . . #greensmoothie #smoothie #smoothierecipes #healthysmoothie #eatyourveggies #nutrition #vitamins #healthyliving #healthyrecipes #heathyeating #mindbodygreen #vegetarianrecipes #veganrecipes #lowsugarsmoothie #lowsugarsmoothies #healyourself #zucchini #zucchinirecipes #avocado #avocadosmoothie #flaxseeds #chiaseeds #spinach #kale #kalesmoothie #almondmilk #nutmilk #banana @elmhurst1925 @ninjakitchen @publix
A snapshot of August: . ☀️hot Florida days 🍹kombucha mimosas 🍉watermelon pool floaties 🎾catch with the doodle on repeat . Soaking up the last few days of 28 ✌🏼 . . . #goldendoodle #goldendoodlesofinstagram #goldendoodles #annamariaisland #summerdays #goldendoodlesofig #poolside
A little #smoothiebowl this morning courtesy of my raging addiction to @dailyharvest ...here’s what I did👇🏼 . Daily Harvest Pineapple Matcha Smoothie base (pineapple, kale, coconut, lime, matcha, vanilla) + Plus blueberries + Plus a whole avocado + A little @califiafarms almond milk + Topped with granola, chia seeds, and flax seeds . 😋😋😋 . . . #dailyharvest #smoothiebowls #smoothiebowlrecipe #basicbitch #cleaneating #veganbreakfast #vegansmoothiebowl #organicfood #healthybreakfast #eatclean #wholesomefood #dailyharvestsmoothies #happysunday #weekendvibes #summerfood #howisummer #thatsdarling #thefeedfeed #veganfoodshare #instasmoothie #instasmoothies #vegansmoothiebowls #smoothiesofig #foodblooger #foodblogfeed #eeeeeats #buzzfeedfood #huffposttaste
Since moving to Atlanta seven years ago, I’ve had the pleasure of spending three different weekends in Asheville, North Carolina. ⛰The city absolutely captured my heart the first time with it’s funky hippie vibe and gorgeous mountain backdrop, (it also happens to be where I fell in love with my husband, so maybe I’m biased 😏)After three visits, I’m even more in love with the city, and feel like I know it like the back of my hand. I most recently hosted a girls’ weekend in Asheville with my mom and sister, who are from Ohio and had never been before, so I just knew I had to share my Asheville Weekend Travel Guide with you! Check out my new post today on AllysCooking.com 👉🏼link in bio👈🏼 . . . @vrbo @omnigrovepark @biltmoreestate @wickedweedbrewing @tupelohoneycafe @highfivecoffee @doubledscoffee #ashevillenc #asheville #ashevillenorthcarolina #travelasheville #ashevillefood #ashevillebeer #wickedweed #biltmoreestate #biltmore #groveparkinn #dametraveler #sheisnotlost #wearetravelgirls #femmetravel #girlsborntotravel #girlaroundtheworld #girlsabroad #travelgirlsgo #thetravelwomen #ladiesgoneglobal #girldiscoverers #globelletravels #thefairytalebloggers #pinktrotters #girlslovetravel
There is something so satisfying about homemade creamy tomato soup and blacked chicken Caesar salad on a stormy night 🥗🥰🍲 and maybe like a whole bag of croutons between the two of them 🤷🏼‍♀️ . . Tomato Soup for 2- here’s what I did 👇🏼 - sautee 1/2 a diced sweet onion in 1 tbsp butter - add 1/2 a cup chopped carrots & season with a pinch of salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. -after 10 minutes, add 3 cloves of minced garlic & 1 tbsp tomato paste -stir in a 28 oz. can of crushed San marzano tomatoes and 1 cup unsalted chicken stock. Season with a pinch of salt, pepper, and add a bay leaf. -let simmer as long as you have, stirring occasionally. 10 minutes or an hour. -when you’re ready to eat, turn off the heat for about 5 minutes, then add the soup to your blender. Blend on high for 15 seconds. Then, add 1/2 cup half and half or heavy cream and blend again for 30 second on high, or until the soup is lump-free and creamy. -top with breezy basil, croutons, and Parmesan cheese. . . . #dinnerinspo #eeeeeats #whatsfordinner #caesarsalad #tomatosoup #dinnertonight #easyrecipes #foodblogger #instayum #eatingfortheinsta #instayummy #easydinner #dinnergoals #comfortfood #foodporn
This meal was up there on my favorite Buford Highway restaurants so far... @destaethiopiankitchen you blew us away! I’d never tried Ethiopian cuisine before, and found it to be so flavorful, spicy, and fun to eat! Instead of forks, you use a spongy flatbread #injera (top left) to pick up and eat your food 🥘 I got the Tibs platter with Tilapia, Gomen (collard greens), chickpea stew, and beet salad! Okay so who wants to go again next week 🤤 . . . #destaethiopiankitchen #ethiopianfood #ethiopiancuisine #ethiopianrestaurant #bufordhighway #atlantaeats #atlantaeatstv #atlantarestaurants #atlantarestaurantscene #eatingthroughatlanta #ethniccuisine #authenticcuisine #eatatlanta #eeeeeats #discoveratlanta #atlfoodie #atlantafoodie #atlantabucketlist #eateratl #eateratlanta #discoveratl #fila #iloveatl #iloveatlanta #eatbufordhighway #discoverbufordhighway
🚨New recipe coming at ya! And let me just tell you how much I’m feeling this Greek twist on taco night 💃🏼 Also, I want to tell you that just because it’s summer grilling season now doesn’t mean the slow cooker can’t still be your best friend! I feel like I forget that sometimes. And can I just tell you how good it feels to spend 5 minutes in the morning throwing chicken & seasoning in the slow cooker and knowing dinner is done? I loaded these babies up with tzatziki sauce, hummus, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, feta, and fresh mint 🤤 and let me tell you how pita bread makes a life-changing taco shell 🌮 Recipe below 👇🏼👇🏼 . . Slow Cooker Greek Chicken Tacos ✨ . ▪️Add boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs!) to your slow cooker and cover with 1/4 Greek seasoning mix, (recipe on AllysCooking.com if you need one!) some olive oil, and a splash of water. ▪️Set it to “low” for 7+ hours (great for going off to work!) or “high” for 3-4 hours. ▪️Shred cooked chicken with two forks. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice over it and stir. Serve on warmed pita bread with: -tzatziki sauce -hummus -cucumbers -tomatoes -red onions -black olives -feta cheese -fresh mint
The “floating” cold noodles illusion at @guskitchenatl today was legendary. Oh yeah, and so were the 🥟 . . . Another #worldwidewednesdays fun work lunch success on Buford highway! What are other must-tries there?? . . . #guskitchen #gusdumplings #bufordhighway #atlantaeats #atlantaeatstv #atlantarestaurants #atlantarestaurantscene #eatingthroughatlanta #ethniccuisine #authenticcuisine #eatatlanta #eeeeeats #discoveratlanta #atlfoodie #atlantafoodie #atlantabucketlist #eateratlanta #discoveratl #iloveatl #coolatlanta #iloveatlanta #fila #coldnoodles #dumplings #bubbletea #boba
Sunday night dinners over here are most often Italian because I can spend hours making my homemade sauce 👌🏼👌🏼 Tonight was baked chicken parm, @eatbanza pasta with homemade sauce 🍝 and some sautéed zucchini. My kind of comfort food 🙌🏼 . . . #sundaydinner #italiannight #homemadesauce #foodbloggerlife #eatingforinsta #eatingfortheinsta #buzzfeastfood #eeeeeats #instayum #foodporn #alpharettaga #eatbanza #chickpeapasta #chickenparmesan #homecook #foodandwine #sundaynight #sundaynightdinner
Tulum, you’re a big mood 💃🏼 🌮🦎🌞🌴That last picture though 🤣 . . . #tulum #tulummexico #tulumvibes #tulum🌴 #dreamstulum #dametraveler #sheisnotlost #wearetravelgirls #femmetravel #girlsborntotravel #girlaroundtheworld #girlsabroad #travelgirlsgo #thetravelwomen #ladiesgoneglobal #girldiscoverers #globelletravels #thefairytalebloggers #pinktrotters #girlslovetravel #gitanotulum #posadomargherita @gitanotulum @posadamargherita @dreamstulum
Written by Ally
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