October in Instagrams || Personal

October treated me well; with lots of road trips, adventures and cider. November is here now [one of my favorite months!! :)] Is it appropriate to start listening to Christmas music yet?!

1. My dear friend Masha has been in the hospital and her faith journey has started a movement. Read about it here. 2. Kari Jobe & All Sons & Daughters in one night. Such a cool time spent with friends. 3. My new home :) So excited to move to the city next year! 4. Just one of the many photos from my time up north this month. 5. Sunsets in the wilderness...nothing like it. 6. It's boot season and I couldn't be more happy about that. 7. Last night in the woods : pumpkin tea, pumpkin bread and Ephesians, fireside. 8. Walks by the lake. 9. God is the best artist. I love rainbows. 10. I voted today! Have you voted yet? 11. Lunch breaks on the path are my favorite. 12. Who says that sunsets in Illinois aren't any good?! I literally gasped at this one.

So that's my October. How was yours?! Are you ready for November?

Alison

Into the Wilderness Again || Personal

Fall is definitely one of my favorite seasons. Crunchy leaves, apple cider, pumpkins, apple picking, jackets, scarves, and Trader Joe's having everything pumpkin flavored (I'm kind of addicted to their pumpkin ice cream!) There's no better place to experience fall than in the north woods; the leaves are prettier, the wind is fiercer and the distractions are few. 

On Friday morning my good friend Sarah and I bundled up and made the road trip up to my lake house. Some good mix CDs and coffee to accompany us, there was not a moment of silence. I can talk for hours with that girl about Jesus, future and our love of pumpkin. The best part about our arrival...we got there just as the golden hour was starting! Perfection. It was a great weekend of small town, serenity, heart-to-heart, late night chatting, midnight baking, Jesus goodness.

We made pumpkin pancakes every morning and explored the small town before it got dark around 4 in the afternoon. Homemade pizzas and plenty of baking every evening. We sipped on pumpkin tea and cider throughout our hours and hours of challenging and inspiring chatter. Weekends in the wilderness always do my heart well.

Shannon || Studio

Studio photography is just not my thing. Not a fan. I'd rather be in fields of flowers than in a stuffy, hot, bright room...but hey, that's just me! But last week in class I had tons of fun shooting this Hollywood styled shoot. Take a peak... (Shannon was such a phenomenal model!)

Friday Favorites || October

Fall crept up on us and October is already here. I absolutely LOVE October and can't believe September has come to an end. October means pumpkin patches, apple picking, sweater and beautiful leaves. Here are five of my favorite October things:

1. Pretty stinkin' pumped to see Kari Jobe & All Sons & Daughters this coming Sunday...it may be a bit of a road trip but it will be worth every second. I have seen All Sons & Daughters many times before and I can hardly wait to see Kari Jobe for the first time. Their music has blessed me in SO many ways! 2. Eeek sweaters! I've been eyeing this sweater for far too long...I think it's time to buy it ;) 3. The leaves have started changing color and there is nothing more beautiful. Driving through crunchy leaves...nothing like it :) 4. PUMPKIN EVERYTHING! Last time I went to Trader Joe's I kinda freaked out :: pumpkin cream cheese, pumpkin bread, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin yougurt, pumpkin cereal bars, pumpkin pancake mix. Ahh! 5. Oh my word, All Sons & Daughters new EP "The Longing" is brilliant. I highly recommend buying it and being so blessed by it. This duo is so ridiculously talented. My favorite from their latest EP is "Called Me Higher."

What are you looking forward to this month?!

Urgency | Fall Mornings

Fall mornings are my favorite. Starting the day with a perfect cup of coffee and Isaiah [on this particular day]; there's nothing like it. 

Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws,

we wait for you;

your name and renown

are the desire of our hearts.

-Isaiah 26:8

Day after day, hour after hour, minute after minute...we wait. We wait for the Lord to return. But we don't just wait and sit there. At least, that's not what we're supposed to do. Our number one priority should be to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:16-20). This isn't just an empty, idle, boring waiting. This is an "I am so excited for Jesus to come back so I have the urgency to tell everyone about Him so they can go tell more people and so on..." We have this urgency. His name and His renown are the desire of our hearts. Not our name and our renown. Not that everyone would know me and that everyone would remember me but that the one impact we have on the world is simply Jesus. 

Reading Isaiah 26:8 just puts everything back in perspective. All of this doesn't matter; fashion, making a name for ourselves, status, etc. What a relief that we have the gift to walk in His direction for our lives. Day after day, praying that the desire of our hearts would be His name and His renown rather than our own. Christ created us to be significant for HIM. What a relief and what a sweet life!

7 Things I Love Friday || Inspiration

I am so excited to start featuring 7 things I love on the blog every friday! The best part is that you can share with me all the stuff you love!

1. I ordered some Warby Parker glasses 2 months ago and I love mine! I got the Japhy in Whiskey Tortoise for only $95...say what?! Such a steal!
2. The treat receipt is back at Starbucks! Get my morning coffee and drop by after class or work and get a cold grande for $2. Woot! My favorite is a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino with 2 shots-so good!
3. If you don't know who John Mark McMillan is, what are you doing?! His voice is so unique and I am loving his album Economy. Check it out on Spotify.
4. Fall is fast approaching so it's time to put the dozens of sandals away. In the fall, boots are my go-to staple. But I went out on a limb and bought a pair of loafers! I am absolutely loving loafers. What do you think?
5. While at camp this summer I broke my watch...all the more reason to buy a new one ;) I have been eyeing this one from UO for literally two years.
6. I started class this week and while I do like to use Evernote I am always carrying around a Moleskine notebook. Always have something to write down!
7. Last but not least...this is definitely my favorite. I've been using this gem for a few months now and it is a life saver! I've tried a lot of self-tanners out there and none of them have worked well for me. This stuff is $15 for 6 fl oz. and it looks completely natural. I always like to keep a bit of a glow and this has worked so well for me! I can even use it on my face. Check it out!

Now that I've shared some of my favorite things with you, what are your favorites this week?