Hello, and happy Monday!
This weekend was such a tease to Fall, but I’m not mad about it. We had weather in the sixties that stayed throughout the day. When I stopped into Starbucks before tennis on Saturday morning, a man was picking up coffee in his winter coat and a beanie. That may have been a bit much, but it still gave me all the fall feels. Of course, mother nature will snap back with 90’s temps this week, but it was a nice little break while it lasted.
Now that the dogs are walked and the coffee is made, it’s time to get this recap started ♥️ I hope you all have the best week and treat yourself to something fun.
I was excited about Monday’s adventure.
Becca and I headed out early morning to drive up to Triple Falls to check out the Bed and Breakfast where she’ll be celebrating her marriage in November! We walked around the grounds making notes about decorations, food, and all the fun party planning stuff. I can hardly wait to come back here and celebrate with her in November! All of this green is going to be oranges, yellows, and reds.
After spending some time at bed and breakfast, we headed to Triple Falls to have lunch before heading back to Charlotte.
We packed salads, fresh fruit, burgers, and ice water to have by the waterfall. This was such a relaxing spot, and the entire area was filled with butterflies! 
We stopped in Hendersonville (such a cute town) to grab a coffee for the road trip back. We’ve stopped there a few times because this town is so charming. It started to rain while we were walking the town, and when we walked out of the coffee shop, there were leaves all over the ground. It looked like we walked into a fall movie set. Of course, my heart was so happy! The fall tease this week was real. Since my dad took the pups out while I was gone, I had to bring him back a gluten-free carrot cake cupcake, his favorite!
On Wednesday, I ended up filming an updated “what I eat in a day” since my diet has shifted (for the better!) I’ve mentioned it a little on the blog that I’ve been focussing on whole foods and eating less added sugar. I haven’t been relying on protein powder, artificial sweeteners, peanut butter, oats, and other foods for energy and protein sources. My meals have consisted of vegetables, lean protein, fruits, nuts, and seeds. I decided to transform the way I was eating after finishing a round of Whole30. I have my Whole30 experience written out, and I’ll be sharing that later this week. Many people think the Whole30 is for people wanting to lose weight, but it’s not a weight loss diet at all. It’s an elimination diet to figure out what is causing discomfort of inflammation in the body. You shouldn’t be eating less, or lowering calories during the 30 days. I also wanted to have a chat with my doctor about her thoughts and what she thought of me doing it, and she was on board. I know many dietitians despise the Whole30, and that’s why I wanted to finish my round before I had anyone telling me not to do it. That’s the reason I didn’t choose to blog about it while I was doing it. Sometimes, it’s hard to stick to something when opinions are thrown your way a lot of the time. I wanted this to be my choice and not be influenced by the opinions around me. Now that I’ve done it, and have my own opinion formed from it, the opinions are welcomed. I know it’s not for everyone, and that’s why we have the right to make our own decisions. During my round, I found out that my body does NOT like soy, and I definitely had a sugar habit. My energy levels are up, my anxiety is down, my stomach is not bloated with pain at the end of the day, my skin is clear, and my joints aren’t stiff and inflamed as much. Now, everyone has their own experience with the Whole30, but mine was a really good one.
I look forward to sharing about it on the blog, and I’m excited about having an open discussion. 
The crazy thing is that I hardly crave sweets anymore. I used to think that I needed dessert every single night, but since going without added sugar, the fruit is the only sweet thing that I crave. The one dessert I like to keep in the house are these three-ingredient brownies. They aren’t very sweet, but sometimes they hit the spot when I wasn’t something chocolately. Kyle loves them too! So many of you have messaged me about how you love this recipe, and I love seeing your own twists to them! You can find the recipe here! 💜 
My tennis got rained out on Saturday morning, so my mom and I headed out for a shopping day. It was actually 64-degrees, so we headed into Bath and Body Works to grab our fall scents and some cozy candles! It was her birthday weekend, so I was happy we had the chance to hang out with each other!
We made reservations for one of our favorite places to celebrate her birthday, the Garden Cafe! I’ve been going here for the past five years, and it never disappoints! I always tell people that it’s worth the drive from Charlotte. This place has such a cozy and homely vibe. For my dinner, I had a garden salad with blackened chicken, balsamic and oil for the dressing, and hot tea! It was so chilly that night.
After dinner, Kyle and I headed back to my parent’s house to play a game of bags and spend all the time outside while the cool weather lasted! I never thought I’d be bundled up in sweaters in August in the south. 
I headed to play tennis with the group on Sunday morning. I was excited that it was still chilly out with no rain in the forecast. The tennis clinic lasted a little over three hours, and I was exhausted by the end of it. I changed real quick in the car and then headed over to the mall to meet up with Becca for a day of shopping. We wanted to pick out a few things for her wedding dinner tables. 
By the time 3 pm rolled around, I was so ready for an actual meal. I usually have a giant breakfast with eggs but missed out on that since I was running late for tennis. I did bring fruit and a bag of nuts to hold me over, but I was ready for a jumbo salad at Zoe’s.
I ordered their tossed greek salad with chicken and had them leave out the pita, pasta, and feta. I usually add extra chicken, too. 
While Becca and I were out, I saw these decorative pieces at Home Goods. I had been looking for something like this to go above my bed for so long! I needed something to replace the letters and wreath, but as having a hard time figuring out what to replace it with. I think I love these! I’m going fo the cozy cottage vibe 😊
Thank you for stopping by to read about my week! I have some fun posts coming soon with lots of Fall DIY, travel, and more! Oh, and that news I said I was going to share? I haven’t forgotten about it. I want to share so bad but we are waiting on a few more things to get finalized before I can. I thought I’d be able to share a lot sooner, so don’t’ worry, I’m just as annoyed with my vagueness as you are.
Don’t forget to subscribe and look out for the videos on my YouTube channel that’ll be coming this week as well.
Questions for you!
- Did you get a tease of fall this weekend?
- Are you looking forward to anything this week?
- If you had to give your bedroom’s decor a name, what would it be?
1. I packed for a trip to Lake Geneva but didn’t check the weather. I only packed shorts and it ended up feeling like fall 😂 I wasn’t mad about it but I’ll pack a pair of jeans from now on.
2. I’m looking forward to seeing my Grandpa this week when he visits!
3. My room would be “modern farmhouse with a cozy twist”
Oh no! Hopefully, you had some cozy blankets to help!
Awww that is so fun ♥️ Enjoy your time with your Grandpa!
LOVE that style
The views! Gosh, the photos are simply amazing. Thanks for sharing your experience with us, Taralynn! As for your questions – no hint of fall in Hong Kong at all yet – it’s still super hot and will remain so until like, December, haha! ❤️✨
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Thanks, Charmaine! Enjoy your week though! xo Hope you had a good weekend break.
I can’t wait to hear more about your Whole30. I’m so curious about it and want to try it. Do you think you’ll give meal ideas and tips for those who going to do one?
I’m from Winston-Salem and we loved the taste of fall weather too, minus the rain we got on Saturday.
Looking forward to Labor Day weekend and a beach trip
Our bedroom is a wreck and catch all for stuff. Definitely need to up the cozy factor!
Hi, Jennifer!
Thank you so much. I am sharing a huge post on almost everything I ate during Whole30 and I kept it SUPER simple! No big recipes or anything and I think that’s what made it more attainable. I’ll be sharing all of that!
Ohhh that rain was rough but luckily it stopped by late afternoon! The Friday night storms were unreal!
A beach trip sounds amazing!
lol it happens, girl!
Hi Taralynn!!
Love your recap and recipes!
We are in NM and it is still around 100 every day and we are begging for Fall to come around!!
Looking forward to keeping a good healthy routine and start Whole30 possibly or at least plan too, I have wanted to for so long and now am finally at a point where I can! I have 3 kids and they are all no longer nursing and I won’t be getting pregnant again so my body and lifestyle can take it!!
Our bedroom is…a mix right now. I want to add to it and make it more cozy. We have a large room so we need to have larger pieces to make it work!!
Have a good week!!
Hi, Carrie!
Thank you so much 😊
Hope you get some cool weather soon!
That is amazing! Congrats on your kiddos and all that you do for them! Whole30 was a really nice change and I think it’s helped me the most so far.
Hopefully when you get that cooler weather, you can get some motivation to make the bedroom cozy!
So happy to hear you tried the Whole30- I personally have done it multiple times and I am a huge supporter of it. I’m currently finishing up the last week of August Whole30 to reset after having a baby and and letting my eating habits slip. I love that it gives me more energy, a clearer mind, and it’s great for my mood. I don’t understand people’s aversion to it- it’s literally just whole foods! What our bodies are meant to consume. Nothing bad about that! For me, grains, sugar, dairy and processed carbs make me feel like a slug. Looking forward to hearing more about your experience. It IS a commitment so congratulations!
Hi, Aileen!
Love that it’s been a success for you! I think it’s truly helped me and given me a whole new perspective towards food. I agree with everything you said. I love being able to eat foods that make me feel good! And that’s what it did for me. I am excited to share my journey and I was a bit hesitant to di it, but hopefully, it can help other people who have questioned it! Thank you for sharing all of that!
No fall here in southern California, it was surprisingly muggy in Seal Beach. But I can’t wait and one of my barista friends told me PUMPKIN SPICE is supposed to start this week so I’m looking forward to that. I love getting a pump or two in my iced coffee or cappuccino so it’s not to sweet but just enough. Also for our bedroom I would say that the inspiration is french farmhouse, with lavender, white and gray.
Hi, Ashton!!
Wooooo! That is awesome. I have a pumpkin spice latte recipe coming to the blog very very soon!!!
Ohhhh your bedroom sounds like a dream!
Those brownies look amazing!
Paige
http://thehappyflammmily.com
Thank you!!
I thought Becca was eloping?
She is eloping in October! & then celebrating her marriage with friends and family at a bed and breakfast for the weekend.
Love that fall vibes in this post. <3 I'm here for it.
Ooh, I did Whole 30 in January. I've always had a sensitive stomach, and the Whole30 route is a good way to pinpoint sensitivities, once you add the foods you cut out back into your diet. I wasn't trying to lose weight, and I knew that If I did, I would likely gain it back, so that wasn't my goal either! You should totally share some of your fav meals you had while on it!
Have a great week!
Woo! 😊
I love that you had a good experience with Whole30! I think people think it’s a weight loss diet, which is what I thought it was for years until I read more on it. I am sharing all of the meals I had and I kept it SUPER simple.
I’ve never tried the Whole30, but I am so glad that you’re feeling better overall. That’s all that matters. 🙂 I love the bedroom decorations and I have to try those brownies soon!
I definitely got a tease of Fall, and it was pretty nice. Summer is my favorite season, but I’m craving a pumpkin spiced latte and the leaves turning colors again.
Thanks, Ashley! 😊 ohhh, and those brownies are our favorite right now!
I couldn’t agree more!
Sadly we won’t see fall temperatures until November. Today’s high in Phoenix is supposed to be 109. It’s been a mild summer thus far though…I think the hottest it’s gotten has only been 115 and we’ve only seen that maybe twice.
I can post here, but not on my own social media, but I’m flying back to see my mom on Thursday. I haven’t seen her in almost two years. I’ve spent the last year flying back to VA to spend time with my mother-in-law while she was battling colon cancer. Sadly we lost her in June. My mom lives in VA as well but she understood why I wanted to spend time with my husband’s family. She has no idea I am coming though. I’m just going to show up at the house and I have been struggling to keep it a secret every day that we talk to each other.
My bedroom, unfortunately, is hodge podge. We have spent the last year getting the other rooms all organized and the only room left is our master bedroom. I still have my grandparents furniture that I inherited, but it is so past time to let it go. It’s super heavy oak furniture and we live on the lake in Mesa and I want something light and airy. Since my husband’s family is coming to visit us for the first time this November, we will probably go ahead and start looking for a new bedroom set and finally be done with it.
Hi, Amy!
Yikes!! Hope you get cooler air soon.
I’m so sorry to hear about your Mother in law 😞 I can’t imagine how hard that is. I bet your mom is going to be thrilled to see you, and I’m sure you miss her! What an amazing surprise. I hope you come back and tell me all about your trip.
Seems like you saved the best room for last, though! Have fun decorating it. I’ve been in my house three years and still don’t have mine finished.
1. Definitely got a tease of fall this weekend! It was high 60s, low 70s all weekend, and the nights were just perfect! My windows have been open since Thursday, lol.
2. I’m looking forward to the first Iowa Hawkeye football game of the year on Saturday!!
3. Probably ‘modern country cabin’! It’s rustic yet cozy – light cream colored plaid quilt comforter, etc 🙂
Side note: I know you have been air frying recently, and I’m contemplating buying an air fryer. Just wondering what kind you have or what brand you recommend! There are so many options to choose from!
I love that fresh fall air ❤️
YES!!! GO HAWKEYES! 😊 We are doing buffalo wings for the game!
Your room sounds gorgeous.
I use the DASH one! 🙂 I got it on Amazon! & LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I’m contemplating on buying another.
Yep, definitely getting the fall vibes up in Michigan while we’re on vacation this week and I love it! This week I’m looking forward to relaxing and resetting on vacation, and taking some day trips to the gorgeous dunes up here! I really love the bedroom decor you found. I’d describe our bedroom as cozy/farm/cottage!
I’m really looking forward to your whole 30 blog!
Woo! Michigan has a gorgeous fall!🍂
I’m all about the cozy cottage farm decor! ❤️
xo xo have fun on your vacation!
Girl! you are inspiring me to do the whole 30 again! I felt so great when I was on it, but didn’t follow the reintroduction correctly because I was on vacation and ruined the whole thing 🙁 Also, I am loving your style and your decor! I’ve been in the process of updating our house and it’s harder to pin down a style than I thought. I like so many different things! 1. Our weather felt like fall too! I live in Missouri and it was in the low 70s all weekend and hardly humid for once! 2. I’m looking forward to having people over for the beginning of college football this Saturday. 3. The ambiance I was going for when painting and decorating our bedroom is summer storm. Sounds weird, but we just painted the walls this dusty dark blue and I’m accenting with green.
That is awesome, Sarah!
I am the same when it comes to pinning down a style. I’m already redoing the living room 😂
I’m excited about college football this weekend, too!! 😃 GO IOWA!
I love that! & the colors of a summer storm are my favorite.
Fantastic recap. Love the fall photos, we are heading into spring so all my bulbs are starting to bloom and we had snow this morning, it crazy weather. This week I am looking forward to being back at work after a mini vacation, and I am starting to work out my travel plans for Florida next year. My room is very modern with lots of colourful art hanging on the walls and a vintage dresser I inherited. Looking forward to your blog on whole30, I have been researching it for my dad as he is diabetic and want to give it ago. Hope you have a great week
Hi, Harriet!
Thank you so much.
It’s crazy you’re heading into Spring! Ohhhhh what parts of Florida are you visiting? I’m down there in two weeks 😊
I bet your room looks gorgeous! You’re always good at fixing things up.
Have a great week! xo
I was just wondering which experience was better for you – plant based or Whole30? I see there are ways to combine both which could be tough!
I think that’s a tough question because I did them for two completely different reasons. I enjoyed the food for plant-based January, but overall my body felt better while doing Whole30.
I love the Black Cherry Merlot hand soap from Bath and Body works.. it’s my FAVORITE!!
I can’t get enough of the smell!!!!
Where did you find your headboard. I love it.
My dad and I built it 😀
Hi Taralynn! I know you aren’t asking for advice when you do your weekly recaps, but you should consider staying away from the artificial fragrances of Bath and Body Works products. You are essentially constantly breathing in chemicals when burning those candles and using Wallflowers. I just mention it because you like to strive to be your healthiest self. Thanks for writing! I love reading these every week.
Hi, Nicole!
Thanks for the advice. I don’t burn the candles/fragrances all the time, but now and then I do because I enjoy them. Thanks though! 😊 Now, if they can make essential oils smell more like them!
Ahh I am sooooo excited for fall 🙂 This past week I did not get a taste of fall at all but I was in a rain forest so there wasn’t any pumpkin or fall leaves to see haha BUT I did find a pumpkin chocolate bar that I purchased! Can’t wait to read your Whole 30 post next! As for soy, I am right there with ya. A year or so ago I started to see a correlation between me feeling sick and eating tofu.. since then I have realized that I am pretty sure I have a soy intolerance.
Anywho, I missed reading your posts this week while I was away and am glad to have the chance to catch up on reading your posts 🙂
SO many things I loved about this recap, but my favorite is that you love my hometown of Hendersonville! I tell people all the time that it’s like living in Stars Hollow. You have to come back for my favorite event on Main Street! It’s called Art On Main, and it’s on September 28th. Tons of local artists and photographers set up booths and show off their amazing creations! We have great coffee shops- next time try out Appalachian Coffee Company! Fall is glorious in this area, so come back soon!
Hi, Tori!
So cool you live in Hendersonville. It’s one of my favorite places to stop! I’ll make sure to check out Art on Main! & Appalachian Coffee Company! Thanks for your recs!
Hey Taralynn,
I love your blog and your pictures! Amazing! I was wondering what kind of camera you use?
Hi Taralynn! What a gorgeous recap with the cosiest early autumn feels. Tripple Falls is stunning, I couldn’t get enough of photos. (and what a gorgeous cat!) Your parents are so amazing and having followed your blog probably for the whole time of its existence (Yep, I’m a veteran in that sense :))))) I can honestly say I feel so much respect and admiration for them both. Please pass them the best wishes from the UK.