Goodbye August, Hello Fall!

I've been in an autumn mood for the past few weeks but I'm forcing myself to wait until August is completely over before breaking out the fall sweaters and baking pumpkin treats. I'm so not ready for summer to be over yet anyway. I definitely don't want to rush it away. I have, however, been unable to resist whipping up a batch of chai tea concentrate using the Pioneer Woman's recipe. It's my favorite coffee substitute. Actually, more than  a substitute since I seem to drink way more iced chai tea lattes than I would cups of coffee. It's cool spicyness simply sums up fall in tall glass.
So, here's a chai tea toast to the end of summer and the beginning of a beautiful autumn. Cheers!

Trader Joe's Macarons

Today we went to the Milwaukee County Zoo. On the way home we stopped to check out  Trader Joe's in Brookfield. Apparently Mike and I were both feeling french because among the handfull of items we bought were french macarons, french onion soup,  and french salted caramel butter cookies.
I haven't tried anything besides the macarons yet but I can tell you that I'm hooked on them already!
Eating macarons has been on my bucket list for years and today I finally had the opportunity to try them!  Who knows, maybe this was the closest I will ever get to trying a freshly made macaron france.
The package I bought contained salted caramel,  pistachio,  fig, apricot, coconut and lemon. It's probably a good thing that there was only two of each flavor,  otherwise I would have eaten way more! There are only two left as it is. My favorite flavors were salted caramel and pistachio. Followed by lemon or fig. But they all lived up to my delicious expectations. Have you ever had a macaron?  What flavor do you recommend?

Cactus Collection

I used to have a green thumb. I had a lot of plants around my house. I started many plants from cuttings and would sprout the plants for my garden in a small greenhouse each spring. But it all changed when I moved into our current appartment. I don't know if it's the poor lighting, the dry air, or my own lack of time. Somehow nothing thrives here. Nothing except cacti, that is. Here's the newest little guy I've added to my collection. Isn't he cute?

Black Tea Binge

My coffee pot broke a few weeks ago. Coincidentally,  my sister surprised me with an assortment of teas. There were alot of black teas in the mix, and I never realized how much I liked its boldness before. I mean any tea has always been ok in my book, but my first choice is usually green. Now I'm seriously considering postponing the replacement coffee pot purchase, and switching from coffee to black tea instead.
My favorites this week are Irish breakfast tea or lady grey taken with a splash of milk and a spoonful of sugar. What should I try next? What are your favorite teas?

1 Timothy 1:15 and Humility

The sermon theme at my grandfather's funeral was about humility. Which leaves me wondering how humble I actually am.
Is it possible to blog and have humility at the same time?
I know I want to write, but I must make sure that my motivation isn't to breed envy in others. So I am still unsure what feeling I want to create.
If you have any insight be sure to let me know!

Goodbye Juli

July, month full of life.
Colorful plants fruited, ripened, and were harvested in preparation for winter. Which, as usual, is coming way sooner than I want considering I'm denying that it is August already.
Ironically,  my grandfather was called to heaven in the middle of it all. It was sudden, but I know he is enjoying himself in heaven with other long passed family and friends. It's probably just coincidence but his middle name was Julius, July's namesake. It was his month, and what a beautiful month it was.