When it’s summer, I always say that summer is my favorite season.

Frist off, my birthday is in summer. I still feel like summer means “summer vacation”, even though I’m sort of an adult. It stays light out later, giving us all an excuse to be outside well into the evening, on a terrace with friends. Pools, lakes, the beach, etc. Outdoor grilling. The over consumption of watermelon, berries, tomatoes, and corn. Aaaand, if it’s been a good summer I usually have a tan and haven’t seen my colorist in months. All positive things.

BUT, now that we’re moving into fall… Guess what? Fall is my new favorite season.

Do I even have to tell you why? Is there anything better than that first beautiful fall day when the air is crisp, the sky is blue, and you have your cute fall coat on that you’ve been waiting all year to break out again? It’s the reintroduction of boots, and hopefully the beginning of over-sized cable knit sweaters, long, loose cardigans, plaid button up collared shirts, infinity scarves, and much, much more.

Ps – The fall window displays in Antwerp are killing me right now. I only want to shop. Why are clothes so expensive? And boots? WHY?

Another great thing about fall, FOOTBALL. College football, and South Carolina football to be exact. For those who are into the NFL thing, that’s cool too. Football season provides the perfect opportunity to have friends over, cook tailgate food, drink beer, and pretend we’re all still in college. We’re all in this together, right?

And speaking of food… there’s this exciting thing happening in the markets right now. I’ve already seen pumpkins! And I’m freaking out about what I’m going to do with them this year. I haven’t a clue yet, but last fall I went crazy for pumpkin, and I feel like I only scratched the surface. Also, the idea of cinnamon and apples comes to mind immediately. And hearty soups topped with cheddar cheese, or sour cream… or both.

And then I think about Thanksgiving and the endless possibilities this year as I brave my SECOND Thanksgiving in Antwerp as hostess. No more fear… just a lot more freedom!

There’s also that half marathon thing I’m doing at the end of October. The bonus here is that the weather should be perfect (if you will it, it will happen). Right now running in shorts and a light, long sleeve is marvelous. No more gasping for breath and feeling completely out of shape in the summer heat. Again… I had about two days like that this year in Belgium, but I do remember what normal summers are like.

It feels like the start of a new year. Like sitting down in homeroom the first day of class. It’s time to take on new projects, say yes to opportunities knocking at the door, and turn over a new leaf. Good things are on the horizon!

So yeah, I’m excited for fall! I’m done with summer and ready for the change. Whose coming with me?

If ever there was a summer to top last summer, which included our wedding and a move abroad… this was the summer that could maybe do it.

I know the season isn’t quite over yet! But the temperatures have become more fall-like and the move into mid September makes me feel like things are definitely taking a turn over here.

My in-laws have been with us for a few weeks now, our last of summer visitors. They took us on a cruise of a lifetime hitting some great countries along the Baltic Coast: Estonia, Russia, Finland, Sweden and Denmark. I can’t imagine a better way to see so many neat places in such a short amount of time. It was amazing.

Maybe I’ll recap all the cities in a separate post (or five). But for now I’ll just tell you that each one was distinctly unique, and they all offered something special. Helsinki was my favorite. It was clean and beautiful, with a great vibe and the most amazing outdoor market. I wish we would have had more time in Stockholm because there was so much to see that we barely scratched the surface. Though we did catch the Change of Guard at the Royal Palace and the Vasa Museum, which was pretty fascinating. Copenhagen offered a variety of sites including the free town Christiania. Whoa. At Nyhavn, I couldn’t get over the vibrant colors of the townhouses lining the harbor. There are no words for Saint Petersburg and all the glory that is Peterhof and the Hermitage. We took an evening boat tour there to soak up more of the incredible architecture just as the sun was going down. And I’m so glad I didn’t miss Tallinn, our first stop. The small and medieval city held tons of charm, and our cute tour guide proudly shared with us fairytales encapsulating the history of her prized Estonia.

Tallinn, Estonia

Saint Petersburg, Russia

Helsinki, Finland

It’s been a full year since we moved to Antwerp. We have traveled to over 10 different countries in that time. I am living my dream. And yes, I’ll allow you to hate me right now because I know… it isn’t fair. But I just keep thanking God for this moment in time.

Stockholm, Sweden

Copenhagen, Denmark

We do have a break coming up, though not quite yet. Tomorrow Garrett’s parents head back to the States, but next Wednesday we’ll be welcoming Garrett’s brother Mike. We fly to Munich for Oktoberfest that Friday morning where we’ll be joined by lots of friends, including Kim from South Carolina! It’s just a weekend trip for Garrett and I. Mike is traveling on his own for a few weeks before rounding out his European adventure in Antwerp for a final weekend with us.

Time sure does travel fast. I cannot believe it’s been a year, yet I feel like next year is already being planned out too! Visitors are booking their trips, and Garrett and I are allocating his vacation days so we make sure to take advantage of every single one. Still day dreaming about where we want to go next year, and stressing out that these three years are going to fly by way too quickly! It’s been quite a year and still lots to look forward to. Thanks for reading about our travels and joining us in our kitchen. Much more to come as we jump into fall!