Let me start by saying that I don’t like caramel apples. (I draw the line at sweets that are sticky… so no caramel, toffee, taffy, tootsie rolls, or cow tails for me. Yuck.) However, I find caramel apples very aesthetically pleasing, and they couldn’t be more perfect for the season we’re in right now. So today, five of my favorites – at least from the outside!

Top to bottom: classic caramel apples with twigs by Allyson Baker Design | caramel apples with sea salt from Martha Stewart Living | candied lady apples from Martha Stewart Weddings | Eery cinnamon candied apples by Matt Bites | caramel apple sundae from MSL

How about you? Caramel apples: yea or nay?

Wow! Thank you all SO much for your advice and insight on this post! John and I eagerly read through every comment. The most common suggestions were to take as much emotion out of the process as possible, and to hire a really, really thorough home inspector, but if you’re interested in this topic, you should definitely check out what everyone had to say!

I’m excited to say that we’ve been pre-approved for our loan (yay!) and are going to look at our first house on Saturday morning! I’ll definitely keep you updated throughout the process!

In the meantime, I wanted to tell you about something else that’s been occupying my time – Pure Barre! Starting some sort of exercise class was one of my 101 in 1001 goals, and I’m so happy to have checked this one off the list. The funny thing about being thin is that it’s easy to trick yourself into thinking you’re in shape, when in reality (at least for me), that is sadly, sadly not the case. Let’s face it: I’m about as weak as a newborn puppy.

So yes, the first class totally kicked my butt, but I’m excited to go back! For those who are wondering, here’s what Pure Barre is all about:

— The classes are one hour long, and you gogogo the entire time. I hardly had a chance to sip water.
— There is no cardio – the focus is entirely on creating long, lean muscles.
— You do a little bit of arms, some stretching, a good amount of abs, and lots of leg work. The fast pace and constant switching (we used the barre, a mat, a rubber ball, a stretchy elasta band, and weights at different points) makes it easier to keep going and stay focused.

If any readers are in the Triangle and want to try out a first class with a friend, just email me and I’ll let you know when I’m going!

Have any of you tried Pure Barre? What did you think? Do you tend to like classes or solo exercising better?

Southern Living

After months and months of scouring Trulia, FMRealty, and Zillow; debating endlessly about where, exactly, in the Triangle we might want to live; and going back and forth on our goals and how much money we want to spend, we have finally found a home that we both like. Like, really like. Maybe love. I am trying to not be under any illusions that this particular house might actually become ours (we haven’t even seen the inside!), but it’s enough to make the whole mortgage and home buying process much more real. We already have a realtor in mind; we’re knee-deep in wading through the sites of different mortgage lenders, and have reached out to a few options. It’s exciting, but also completely nerve-wracking!

Here’s what I would like to know: For those of you who have already gone through the home buying process, what is the ONE piece of advice you’d like to impart at this stage of the game? (If you have more than one piece of advice, I’d love to hear it, but I don’t want to tax you!) It can be super simple and easy, or something very specific and involved. What one thing do you wish you had known at this point in the process? We’re all ears!!

Of all the options out there for decorating with pumpkins, adding gold accents is my top pick. Five of my favorite examples:

Top to bottom: Country Living | Martha Stewart | Martha Stewart | Twig & Thistle | Martha Stewart

I particularly love when they’re mixed with cream and natural pumpkins — gives a little earthiness to this glam look! If you’re interested in trying this (I am!), I think the key is to get a darker, more yellow gold than white gold spray paint. I found some tips for gilding here, too, if you choose to go that route!

Have you picked out/embellished pumpkins this year? We’re hoping to get ours this weekend — since we don’t carve, they might last through Thanksgiving!