Technically, the last day of autumn is December 20. In my mind, however, December 1st marks the beginning of the holiday season and therefore winter! Since it’s now winter in my book, I’m recapping the fall season by way of iPhone photos. There are many fun little moments each season that never make the blog or Instagram, so I think this will be a great way to reminisce and share those with you.

Exploring the National Cathedral

In October, I ventured to the National Cathedral for the first time with some friends. It was during the church’s Fall Festival, so they let the public roam the Cathedral. It’s the sixth-largest cathedral in the world and the views from the tower were beautiful! Now I want to do their tower climb.

Press-on Nails

Thanks to Annaliese and Heather, I got very into press-on nails this autumn! The brand I use, Impress, is easy to apply, lasts a full week, and only costs $8.

Celebrating 23 at the Wharf

On my birthday, Max took me out to dinner at one of our favorite spots, Hank’s Oyster Bar at the Wharf. Afterward, we stopped at Camp Wharf to roast s’mores, drink apple cider, and enjoy the fire pit. I think my face biting into the s’more says it all.

If you give a mouse a cookie…

For our friend’s Halloween party, Max and I paid homage to the children’s book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. People at the party instantly understood our costume, so we chalked it up to a success.

Experiencing the Newseum

The Newseum has been on my list for years. When Max’s parents visited in November, we finally went! It’s now one of my favorite museums (and not just because I studied journalism in college 😉). Sadly, the museum is majorly downsizing at the end of the year. If you have any interest in going, I recommend doing so before December 31st. The upside is that tickets are 15% off until then with the code ’15OFF.’ The view from the top floor alone is well worth the admission price!

Home for the Holidays

At the end of November, I got to visit home for the first time since I moved to DC six months ago. It was truly a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with puppy snuggles (my parents just got a third lab!), Top Golf, and quality time with family and friends.

Fall Bucket List Update

Back in September, I shared my Fall Bucket List of all the things I wanted to do during September, October and November. Here’s where I landed:

1. Go apple picking. Tried to do this during the second weekend in November, but all the orchards were closed for the year! Now I know better for next time.
2. Drink a Pumpkin Spice Latte (or a few). I didn’t have a single PSL! I switched completely from coffee to green tea eight months ago. While I thought I would make an exception for my favorite fall drink, I ended up never wanting to risk upsetting my stomach.
3. Attend a Halloween party. Check.
4. Find a church in DC. I haven’t found a home church yet, but Max and I will be going to one he likes leading up to Christmas.
5. Take a trip to Charlottesville. Done and I loved it! Read about the trip here.
6. Spend Thanksgiving with my family in South Carolina. Check.
7. Celebrate my 23rd birthday. Check.
8. Have s’mores at the Wharf. Check.

Overall, I think I did alright! It was fun to dream up a list of seasonal activities and check off as many as I could. While I don’t think I’ll do one for every season, you may see these bucket list posts from time to time!