If you've known me for more than 5 seconds you know that I LOVE Fall more than any other season. I even annoyingly talk about it's arrival all Summer (my least favorite of the seasons). I was in Africa for most of September and October has been a crazy month for me. I almost forgot that it was fall! It's been warm here in Sweet Home Alabama so that has something to do with my autumn absent mindedness I think. But alas it's almost November (my favorite month) and therefore I thought I'd share a few of my favorite favorites:

#1- Colors.
All of my favorite colors are fall colors. Red. Orange. Yellow. Brown. I love it!
I'm headed up to Boston next week and I am hoping there will still be some of this:


#2.- Scarves.
My signature.


#3- Pumpkin Spice Lattes.
I am definitely a Chai girl, but I cannot resist a good Pumpkin Spice Latte.




#4- Friday Night Lights.
I do love the show, but I am talking about the real game here. I love football. High School (Go Eagles), College (Roll Tide) and NFL (Go Pats!).




#5- Fires.
I am a sucker for fires. Whether it's a bonfire, campfire or fire in the fireplace. Give me a book, hoodie and cup of coffee and I am set.



#6- Cardigans and Coats
My second favorite clothing items. I bought these two at Anthropologie for the season.




#7- Thanksgiving.
Tied with Christmas on my favorite holiday list. I love all of the baking, cooking, and fellowship that comes with this holiday.




#8.- Grey, Cold Days.
I know.. call me strange, but I love grey skies and cold winds.





#9. Fog.
I love waking up to a foggy morning. And it happens often at my house on the mountain.

It's Fall. It's Film.

So I am super bad at this blogging thing, but this post will be the start of my awesome blogingness (word? possibly?) I am making a big jump in my career....one that will hopefully give me a boost into a new realm of the world of photography...

film.

I have started shooting a little bit of film and have fallen head over heals in love. Now I can't stop! I just recently purchased one of these from my good friend Stephen in NY. Cannot wait to try it out!

Until then I've been playing wiht a few film cameras that I already own but haven't had a clue what to do with.
These were shot on an old Canon Rebel 35mm... love the colors






These were shot on an old Kodak Brownie (Think way way back). I bought it for 4 dollars at a junk store because they thought it didn't work.




So needless to say I am super excited about diving into the world of film. There is just something special about it. I still have no idea what I'm doing, but I'll learn.

Further Explanation... Africa

I am going with a team of girls from Passion City Church to Watoto , a Children’s orphanage in Kampala, Uganda in the middle of September. Watoto is an organization that is raising up children to become the next generation of leaders in Uganda. To find out more about Watoto you can go to their website @ www.watoto.com.

They love having guests from around the world come and bring hope to their country in a practical way. Our team will specifically be involved in Baby Watoto. Our days will be filled with holding, feeding, bathing, and loving the 90+ babies under the age of 2. There is a good chance we will be welcoming in new little ones that have just arrived at their new home. Without willing hearts much of the ministry they do would not be possible and God has given me a willing heart for these little ones!

Each of us are paying our way (flights/room/board/etc) but Watoto has asked each team member to donate $1000 to Baby Watoto. That's where I thought you guys could get involved! You can write a check out to Watoto and mail it to the following address:

Rachel Jones
3733 Carisbrooke Dr
Hoover, Al 35226


I will collect all the money and send it directly to Watoto before we leave for the trip. This money will be used for medical supplies, baby items, and any other needs that they have. I am ready to see first hand the work of Watoto, experience another culture, and see that when people partner together, lives can be turned around.

Please pray for our team as we take this journey of a lifetime! I am sure we will never be the same again!

Africa Bound

We are selling T-shirts to raise money for our trip to Watoto Orphanage in Uganda. $20 a piece and all of the money goes directly towards a donation each of us have to make to Watoto to work with the babies there, if you are interested in ordering to support our trip, please message me or comment the size you want to order so we can get the orders in....

The shirts should be ready soon, and our trip is in September!! We are getting so excited!

to find out more about Watoto, go to http://www.watoto.com/home, our team of 14 women will be working with Baby Watoto the 10 days that we are there...

NATHANNAH Wedding- Alpharetta, Ga

This has been a crazy week and I am still in the process of sorting and editing the photos from Nathan and Hannah's wedding at the end of May. But just for now here are a few of my favorites so far

Think about it

Well as usual life has decided to take off on me. There has been a lot going on with my grandmother. As many of you know I am in the process of getting her moved to a long term rehab facility (nursing home) and that has been honestly a bit overwhelming. It isn't easy having to be totally responsible for someone else... much harder than I anticipated!

One of the most annoying side effects from all of this responsibility is the lack of "thinking" I get to do. I mean real thinking about real life matters such as love and the meaning of it all. My brain is just so tired by the end of the day and so full of to-do's that I forget to slow down and really think. It is sort of a cultural phenomenon i believe... the lack of thinking. We just say,go and do.. and half of the time we don't stop to think about why we are saying or going or doing. You follow? I think we are too busy of people. We could all stand to slow down a bit. So that's what I'm going to try to do. Eliminate unnecessary things to leave more room to actually think about the things that matter to me and matter to Him.

I have a friend at work named Rachel. We share a special little bond because, well, we are both Rachels with curly blonde hair :) This Saturday her husband was killed suddenly in a water skiing accident. He was a barefoot skier practicing for a competition. They got a new boat driver who was a bit inexperienced and as Stuart was doing a trick the driver swung too wide and slung Stuart into a dock. He was going backwards and didn't see it coming. In a second he was gone. That news really shook me up. I think I needed to be shaken a little bit. I had gotten a little to comfortable in the false promise of tomorrow. It really reminded me that we do not know when our last breath will be.

Yesterday would have been their 8th anniversary. I can't even wrap my head around that. My heart is so heavy for her, but I know that she is leaning on the Lord and that Stuart is in a better place. I just hate we had to lose such an awesome man. You don't find many men like him anymore (step it up boys!). Kind, servant of God but oh so accepting and relevant to the world and the people in it.

But all that to say... if you can take a minute each day to just think. It will change you I promise.

A Yummy Treat

So as some of you know I recently started working at Organic Harvest in the cafe. Organic Harvest is a local organic market and cafe located in Hoover off highway 31 by the new Starbucks and Publix (everyone come see me!). I love working there and I am already learning so much about food and health. No worries I won't bash you for your eating habits or bombard you with healthy living info overload, but on occasion when I find out something interesting I will pass it along. There is just so much to learn when it comes to food and health. We have a very detailed creator that is for sure! I know I am quickly realizing how poorly I've treated my body (lets see poptarts, easymac, snickerdoodles)... I know I know I just nailed about half of your daily food intake...but there are some awesome and really yummy alternatives to the stuff we've been running to for a sugar or carb fix.

Try this for example. I concocted a little signature smoothie at work (no worries I won't be spilling all of O.H.'s recipes on here, but since I sort of made this one up I thought I'd share). This is a great sugar fix and it has better for you ingredients than the typical candy bar or cookie. Give it a try I promise you'll like it!

Fruit and Yogurt Smoothie

½ cup Strawberries (or any berry you like)- Try to buy organic here, fruit is one of the highest chemically sprayed items out there!
¾ Pear
2 Tbls. Raw Almond Butter (raw is best, but natural will do if money is tight)
2 Tbls. Honey or Agave (natural sweetness)
½ cup Fat Free Vanilla Yogurt (once again organic is best)
1 Tbls. Flax Meal (fiber- good for your digestive system)
1 tsp. Vanilla
2.5 cups Ice

Blend and Enjoy!