Happy Saturday!

I hope everyone is having a great morning and enjoying their long weekend!

I made my weekly trip downtown to the farmer's market and to get breakfast this lovely morning. It's bright and sunny here but kind of chilly in the shade. My parents went to Mackinac Island today and asked me if I would pick up some asparagus at the farmer's market (which I said I would gladly do). I also grabbed some honey. We used to have a huge thing of it that we got from someone local, but I haven't been able to find that anywhere and I've been dying for honey. My allergies have hit and I'm hoping this helps a little. I know you're really supposed to start eating the local honey a few months before your allergies start, but I've been putting off purchasing some in case I managed to find the stuff we already had. Oh well.

There's a ton of people in town this weekend for the holiday and for the Bayshore Marathon. It was really busy downtown (which was good) but I'm not ready for full on tourist season yet. I like having peaceful Saturdays when I don't have to wait in line to get coffee or miss out on pastries. Unfortunately, by the time I made it to the farmer's market this morning (at 10:15), the cream cheese pastry that I love (and was longing for) were all sold out (sad times). I ended up going to get a muffin from The Green House Cafe. I was lucky to be getting my muffin to go because there was quite a line in there too.

Lastly, here's a shot of my outfit today (ignore my unmade bed in the background). The flannel shirt is from American Eagle (quite a few years old), the black jeans are also from AE but they're newer, and the t shirt is one of my favorites from Urban Outfitters (which is also old) that says "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

-S

Can we talk about how much I love apples?

It's funny how much I disliked apples as a kid. Looking back on my childhood, I disliked a lot of foods that I love now. I think it's a fairly common occurrence, but it seems like a weird concept to me. Shouldn't it be the other way around? Wouldn't it make more sense if we started off liking/eating a larger variety of foods and then over the years cut out those items we don't care for?

(source) because I'm too lazy to take my own pictures at the moment.

Anyway I'm not really here to discuss the oddities of human nature, but to tell you just how much I love apples! I was pretty giddy on Saturday when my parents brought home a bag of red, juicy apples from the farmer's market. Apple season is upon us and I could not be more happy to see one of my favorite locally grown fruit. I'm still not the biggest fan of Granny Smiths but any of the red varieties usually appeal to me. Apples make for the best snacks, eat them plain or cut up with peanut butter, they fill you right up.

Unlike most of my other favorite foods, apples also happen to be good for you (Jeah boi!!!) Can't go wrong folks. I even came across this post on the Free People blog the other day about the some of the benefits of eating apples. Boost your immune system... maybe that will help my ear heal faster (one can only hope). Also consider me on board with anything that improves memory and could possibly ward off Alzheimer's.

(source)

I think my goals for autumn are to go apple picking and to bake an apple pie (maybe some homemade applesauce?). I'm also super excited about hot apple cider and harvest chai season. There are definitely benefits to being back home in Traverse City. Appreciate the resources you have around you and don't forget to eat some apples! After all, an apple a day keeps the doctor away :)

-S