Have you ever walked past a tree full of ripe fruit and wanted to ask the owner if you could pick some? That idea’s not so crazy! Read on to learn more about the practice of gleaning : picking that unwanted fruit before it goes to waste.
Continue readingThis morning we shared a few favorite fair trade brands. Really we’re using that term as a catch all – kind of how society treats the word organic when it comes to food. By fair trade we mean companies not only providing fair wages, but also doing other great things like honest sourcing, impeccable waste removal, or B-corp certification.
Now we’re back with our comfiest picks for the season. You may remember these images from a couple years ago and while we like to keep it fresh here, Kate and I both realized we would still pick the same exact fall favorites. We don’t buy excessively, instead we choose items we truly love. Pieces that are timeless, work well in most situations, and are made with quality in mind. How do we know these pieces are timeless? All but two of the links still work four years after the original publication of this post! Bam.
See those clogs on Kate’s pic? She’s had them for ages and recently replaced the sole. That’s the kind of quality we’re looking for when we make new purchases. We buy items we love and cherish for years – I actually wrote a piece for another website all about my affinity for great clothing and gear.
As you can see, Kate’s outfit is a little more appropriate for the outdoors while mine would work well under a big fuzzy blanket. Details below!
The change of seasons always seems like a signal to shop. I try to resist the urge, only indulging in items that I know I truly need or have been coveting for quite some time. Last night I stopped by Nordstrom Rack. Before I knew it, I filled my feeble arms (they were seriously sore afterwards) with all kinds of sweaters and maxi dresses. I walked out with a new sweatshirt, the softest long sleeve, a flannel, and a maxi dress.
I love browsing Nordstrom Rack because they stock a bunch of designer brands and some of them are really conscious about sourcing, production, waste, and the like. I did spot a bunch of Eileen Fisher, but I really can’t afford it unless it’s used. Thankfully Seattle (and NYC) is home to an Eileen Renew store (think thrift shop, but only Eileen Fisher and obsessively quality checked). All that is to say, when I purchase anything whether it’s a pair of socks, a cup of coffee, or a new pair of shoes, I try to steer clear of fast fashion and towards brands that lead the industry in terms of production standards, workers’ benefits, and waste disposal. Continue reading
Happy fall y’all! The cool air and changing leaves launch me into a love affair with the Autumn season. How about you? This month I’m hosting an outdoor retreat in the Blue Ridge mountains and I can’t wait to revisit this range with my camera in hand. I’ll be photographing my guests and the natural environment all weekend, so I thought it’d be fun to give a little refresher on how to take better fall photos.
It’s that time again. Kate and I like to take a look at our favorite posts from the past season in order to appreciate the projects we’ve tackled and pat ourselves on the belly for making so many desserts without gaining twenty pounds. What kind of fun did you get into this fall?
Katie here : I had to jump in and state the obvious: time is going too quickly. I really feel it whenever we’re transitioning between seasons on the blog, but even so, I love these “Best of” posts, because they make me sit down and review the previous season. It’s always a nice reminder that we packed so much life, food, and fun into the previous three months. Yet the blog posts are just a snippet of our daily life; for example, seeing a post about pumpkin curry also reminds me that behind the scenes that was an early introduction of solid foods for Luc. Rather than be sad for how fleeting the season is, this moment of reflection gives me the motivation I need to jump into the next season with both feet as I get excited about all that lies ahead this winter. So, here’s our little toast to a fall well lived and the anticipation of a winter season full of promise.
Well, what do you think? Were there any favorite posts from fall that we missed? We love hearing what you enjoy reading here on Seasoned so give us a shout in the comments 🙂
Happy fall y’all. I’m positive that’s not the first time I’ve used that phrase here this year, but whatevs it’s fall and I live in the south, I can say type y’all all I want! Autumn is way up there on my list of favorite seasons, they’re pretty much all my favorites, except winter, winter is the middle child bratty step child, but we’re working on our relationship. For me, Autumn is a time of no excuses, I try to get outside as much as possible even in the rain.
I truly love hiking all year round, but there’s something spectacular about walking through the woods during fall. The air is cool, crisp and clean and the colors can keep my camera and I occupied for hours. The summer humidity and bugs are almost nonexistent and there seems to be activity in the thick of the woods. Animals are bulking up before hunkering down to wait out the winter. Just like the woodland creatures, humans are stocking up on food and hunting as well. If you are going to hiking during the fall, and you really should, besides extra camera batteries, here are some things to keep in mind:
Oi. It’s dark outside and it’s 5p.m. even though this happens every year, there’s no way I can get used to it. To offset the outside, I’ve been sprinkling candles about and making my living room a bit more cozy for fall. In Nepal, most of the landscape was lush and green, but during the Annapurna Circuit trek, there were two days that looked distinctly like autumn. Here are some of the snapshots I took. Enjoy! 
You can upload one or all of these photos to use as your desktop background or even as phone and tablet wallpapers. Simply click on the download link below each photo and save the image. Enjoy!
Click for shrub scenery. 
Click for Annapurna Peaks.
Click for her horse. 
Click for horses.
Click for suspension bridge. 
Click for Yak Kharka.
Hope you enjoyed this month’s Seasoned View. Have a great week!
It’s so lovely to be home when the leaves are changing. Autumn is a season I can’t stand to miss. This week I drank almost two gallons of local cider, took the pup for a few hikes, and edited photos from Nepal for at least twenty-five hours. Usually it’s equal parts amazing and agonizing to edit travel photos, but this time there’s a bit of inspiration in the mix. I’m finally pursuing my goal of being a travel writer and while I won’t say too much more right now, I’ll keep you updated on that front.
I also came up with a Halloween costume yesterday, which means I’m scurrying around trying to put it together on the cheap. Each year, Chapel Hill has a huge party on Franklin Street, an amazing people watching (and meeting) event to celebrate the holiday. Check our Instagram on Saturday to see the result of my last minute decision 🙂
Katie has been busy keeping this blog afloat while I was trekking and traveling home so I’m sure her bits reads something like this, “Naps, naps, nappity naps since that stinkin’ Sarah is finally home to help with our labor of love.”
Happy Halloween my friends – be safe out there!
ugg! Today’s been quite a day so far, and I’m running on too little sleep…. but – I’m SO HAPPY SARAH’S BACK! Can’t wait to give her a big squeeze in person!
September is a great time to take a hike. The extreme heat disappears, rain moves in and cooler temperatures arrive. The damp woods are bursting with fungus. You could even think about joining a mushroom club or going along on a foray this month. If you’re trotting along you’re sure to see squirrels and chipmunks gathering nuts and seeds for the winter months. Overhead you’ll hear birds migrating, check out this post to see how to properly prepare for those on the move. If you’re interested in following along with this season’s migrations, the Cornel Lab of Ornithology produces a bird migration forecast. You’ll learn what species you should expect to see traveling in different regions of the United States. Migrations are heavily dependent upon weather conditions. The best times to see large flocks are directly after a cold front passes and very early in the morning. That’s why birdwatching groups always meet at the crack of dawn, if you wake up early, head to the nearest native habitats with lots of water.
Bats are also on the move this month. As fall approaches big brown bats are looking for a place to hibernate. Cool nights with fewer insects are the primary force that starts the migration to hibernation. Some of these migrations may be very short, only a few miles from their summer homes. At this time of year, big brown bats are plump, healthy and ready for a long sleep. Unheated attics are actually ideal hibernation places for bats so keep an eye out in case some make their way into your home. You’ll want to have them removed before they hibernate or else you shouldn’t disturb them until spring!
I don’t know about you, but for me fall seemed to creep along during September and October, and then November passed in a flash! I can’t believe that Monday will be December. I can’t put my finger on exactly what’s making it seem different this year, it probably most definitely has something to do with Little A being old enough to start enjoying the magic. Anyway, while we’re excited to jump into winter with both feet, we also love taking a moment to look back and relish all things fall.
Any favorite posts that you didn’t see on the list? Let us know in the comments 🙂
