Currently: Pumpkins and Gone Girl

follow along at @alexisandher on instagram 

The weather has officially started to cool off and I'm loving my first fall outside of southern Arizona. The leaves are changing and I'm starting to bust out long sleeved tops and cardigans and can't wait for some scarves and beanies. My favorite season will always be summer, but a close second is definitely fall. I love the candles at bath and body works: leaves and pumpkin pecan waffles (seriously go buy them now). Pumpkins are finally everywhere, all over grocery stores, instagram and in our drinks. It's a wonderful feeling, even though I'm not that big of a fan of the flavor and can't wait for the more exciting flavor for winter: peppermint. Gone girl tickets!!! For more on that see below. Denver Microbrew Tour Tickets that arrived in the mail a few days ago. I leave for Denver on Saturday for a quick girls trip with Christina and Priscilla. I plan on taking my heavy duty camera for some pictures, and am excited for a getaway that will require only shopping, sight seeing, and drinking some beer. Lastly, a selfie with my new haircut and yes I'm aware you can't see the cut, but it has layers and holds curls and I'm a happy girl.

Now for some Gone Girl talk

When I finished the book this summer I immediately wanted to gush about the entire book to everyone I knew and anyone who was curious about it. The book is SO good, but so hard to describe because there are so many small details that are so important. Well as we all know the movie came out two weeks ago and I waited to write a review so I could do a book/movie combo. First off, I thought that the casting was perfect. I can't think of anyone else who would have fit better or anyone that I was upset to see. I was really happy they went with Rosamund Pike over other choices. I don't know who was in the running but from Google images it looks like Reese Witherspoon was a hot pick and I'm so thankful it wasn't her. Ben Affleck is great for the "has always had it easy handsome, clueless husband" and other supporting roles were on point.

I was surprised by how well the movie followed the book. People often complain that there are so many differences but I didn't feel that that was the case with Gone Girl. Although that is not to say that portions or characters weren't missing, I just didn't think it was an issue come movie time. Ah! And now that's all that I feel I can say, too many details and so much to love. I have now seen it twice, once with my mom who read the book and once with a friend who hadn't and it was great both times. I obviously caught more details the second time, and only left the theater thinking how great it was. If you're looking for a great read or a great movie, pick this bad boy up!

The Grand Canyon

This past week my grandparents came to visit and we made the trek north to the Grand Canyon. This visit was exciting for a number of reasons; my grandparents were able to see my apartment decorated and in place (when they dropped off the cats there was only a bed and boxes), I was finally able to show my grandma the Raven and catch up over some coffee, and the three of us were able to relax and just be together, like old times. The weather was absolutely perfect for their entire visit, and the natural lighting surrounding the canyon made for some frame-worthy pictures. I can't wait for my grandparents to visit again, and to see what adventure we go on next!

Photo Credit: The 5th, 8th, 10th and 11th picture were taken by my grandma. Such great pictures, thanks for letting me share them grandma!

Seattle: The Second Time Around

The word Seattle makes my heart skip a beat; the city provided the most spectacular engagement last year, and my heart has yearned to go back since. Brandon and I recently spent a week in the Northwest, and this trip was more than I expected, and could have asked for.

 

Our time was spent with family, and friends, and the days were so packed that we didn't sleep much the whole time. (the sun also doesn't go down until after 9:30pm, and this proved to be a hard adjustment. if the sun is up, so are we)

 

The first day there was spent with family, catching up, shopping for the reunion. The second day was spent in Seattle, Brandon and I went to the Space Needle for brunch to celebrate our anniversary. The food was insane and the views were amazing. This trip up to the top was better for both of us this year; I wasn't as scared as I was last year, and Brandon didn't have to worry about proposing! :)

 

 I had French toast with Nutella cream, it was fantastic, but...

 

 Brandon had the crab eggs benedict and it was TO DIE FOR. Seriously the best meal EVER.

 

 After breakfast we met up with Anne, and hit Pike Place.

 We saw the gum wall for the first time.

(Really disgusting, but hey it's a tourist attraction, now we can say we have seen it!)

 

 

The next day was the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma.

The Point Defiance Zoo is the most beautiful Zoo I have ever been to, the green landscape and well maintained exhibits made the trip totally worth it. I was also able to see a WALRUS, which was a major to-do on my bucket list.

 

CUTEST ANIMAL EVER

 

 

 Belly up! Watching the animals interact with trainers was so special!

 

Next we went to the Rose Garden that is attached to the Zoo, it was so warm and green, we could have stayed there all day!

 Lunch at the Ram on the waterfront

 

 

 

The next day we went to the University of Washington in Seattle so I could tour the Museology Masters Program. The campus was so beautiful and the program sounded like something that I would love and would fit right in to.

 Our tour guide Andrea

 

 George Washington Statue

 

 Me in the graduate library, also known as the "Harry Potter Library"

 

 Brandon having fun with the UW mascot

 

After 4 amazing days in Sumner, Seattle, and Tacoma, we headed out to Seabrook, Washington for the Hughes Family Reunion.

 

 

 

 In Aberdeen (home of Kurt Cobain) we drove past a Star Wars shop and had to stop.

The owner of the store had a tattoo of Carrie Fisher, he then met her a few years later, she autographed his arm, and he then had that tattooed on his arm. :) we loved it!

The owner showing off his ink with Brandon and Noah 

 Finally!! We arrived in Seabrook to a much colder climate and a breeze from the ocean (which was right across the street)

 

Brandon, Josh, and Noah 

 Brandon and Luke, his youngest nephew

 

 Brandon and his beautiful mother



So happy to have time with Lynn, she is such a wonderful woman, and mother.

We went to Ocean Shores and wrote notes in the sand

 

Anne and I in front of the pool

Such a wonderful day with Brandon and his family

A map of Seabrook

Stairs to the beach

Brandon and his parents

 

The trip was insanely beautiful, peaceful, and full of love. I'm so blessed to have a wonderful man, and his wonderful family in my life!