[Autumn in Montana.]

Reading Little Bee by Chris Cleave. I'm only a few pages in, but I really like it already. This is really the first time that I can remember having time to read whatever I want, and I love it. I miss being in school and really miss going to class, but it's nice to just pick something and not necessarily have to write a paper once I'm done.

Watching the new season of Boardwalk Empire. I forgot how much I love this show. Anyone else? I love Jimmy's little son, want to punch his mother in the face, and think Margaret should just run away somewhere with that Irish guy!

Listening to lots of my Bon Iver station on Pandora. I "add variety" with Explosions in the Sky and Sigur Ros, and it's seriously the best station in the world. It's the perfect chilly weather music! Holocene will always be one of my favorites.

Thinking about how much I love running. I quit going to CrossFit when I started my job, telling myself that I'd give myself a chance to rekindle my relationship with running, and as of this week I've finally stopped making excuses and have started using my lunch hour to go on a run. Today was a little warm for my taste, but in general it's been beautiful out and it feels so good to go to bed at night feeling like I used my body.

Loving how much it feels like fall. My scarves are out and I actually need my morning coffee on my drive in to the office in the mornings. I don't use the AC anymore! My mom made chicken soup! Soon it will be time for stockings! I wore my trench coat and everything on Tuesday. But more than the clothes and the food, I just love the way fall makes me feel. It's hard to explain--it's like I get a chance to be exactly who I'm supposed to be when autumn comes.

Looking forward to seeing Rob this weekend! Being away from each other all week is hard, but missing a weekend together is ridiculous! I have so much respect for people whose partners are in the military or travel constantly for work--it's rough being away from the one you love, and Rob and I are lucky that we get to see each other every weekend.

Making me happy that I'm starting to pay my grad school loans back. It feels so good to be making enough money that I feel excited about making payments every month. And it doesn't hurt that the fact that I'm even making payments in the first place means that I have a master's degree and a job! "Real life," you might not be so bad after all.

What about you guys? Thanks, Dani, for always inspiring me with these posts!

I tend to teeter on extremes when it comes to packing--sometimes, I bring the perfect things, and not too many of them; and sometimes I don't bring anything good, and not nearly enough. I waited until the last minute to pack for Montana, and when it came time to change, I looked into my suitcase and thought I should have packed better. It didn't help that it was 84 degrees and then supposed to drop rapidly after the sun set.

We left for Ashley and Mark's rehearsal dinner just a couple of hours after my mom and I landed on the opposite side of the country, and I was feeling it. Luckily, the afternoon weather was lovely and I had this gorgeous skirt, a black tank top, and a necklace with a deer head on it somewhere in my luggage. I decided to go for it and just pack a big scarf for later. Then I had a few cups of coffee. And I mean, when you're a little jet-lagged and facing a jam-packed weekend, what else do you really need? Probably shampoo, I guess. But it was fine. I love a skirt with a high waist.

  

Tank: Ann Taylor LOFT

Necklace: Princess Vera Wang

Francesca Skater Skirt with Laser Cut Lace Detail: c/o Dahlia

Watch: Fossil

PS I have a few spaces still available if you'd like to sponsor Freckled Italian in October!

I took well over 200 photos this weekend, so I'm just going to show you the highlights. There were still quite a few highlights. I am tired, and it's good to be home, but it was quite a lovely whirlwind of a long weekend in Montana.