The days are getting cooler and the leaves are just starting to turn.
Your hot boyfriend is fixing to leave town and your cool girlfriend, with the crisp laugh, is just coming in. Soon he’ll have moved all of his stuff out and she’ll be here to stay … for a few months anyway.
Man, he’s a good time! He’s addictive, really. So full of adventure, your greatest memories and favorite spots are usually found with him. In the colder months while he’s away, you ache for his warm embrace. He’s fun and he’s sexy. He’s lazy mornings in cool sheets, afternoon mai tai’s and hot sweaty nights that never seem to end. You want him to stay forever and as you watch his toned and oiled body make its cyclical retreat, you can’t help but shed a tear and beg him to turn around. He is wonderful … but he’s a distraction from what you know you can accomplish and at times he can be stiflingly bothersome.
As you wipe your tears, you realize, that now is the time that you appreciate his absence the most. The structure, routine and sense of purpose are a hard but welcome change. Your girlfriend knows your boundaries best. She starts your day with a crisp start, knowing that you work best when you’re forced to move quick … and then slowly warms as your day goes on, reminding you that it’s not all business … there’s still room for play. She’s a freshly pressed pencil skirt, sangria and cool evenings. She hands you a stack of work and then slides you a pumpkin latté to get you through. She’s your advisor for a new job and your date at the Halloween gala. And man … she’s a good cook!
 It’s that in-between stage when you’re living with half of your winter wardrobe and half of your summer threads. You find yourself wearing socks and sweatshirts more often but shorts still work best during the peak of the afternoon. Bags of new uniforms and supplies are tossed haphazardly on the back seat floor that you’ve yet to vacuum the sand off of. The falling temperatures are a welcome reprieve from the oppressive heat yet a daunting reminder of the frigid days to come. And pumpkin flavored everything is the greatest consolation to the end of summer-time ease.
To help you with this transition…. Here are some Fall Sangria Recipes. I’ve included one red and one white. Both are tried and true. And just like the days of fall … they can be served either cold or warm. But they are yummy whichever way you choose to take them. Whether you’re hosting a weekend harvest party or you just need something to ease the exhaustion that always comes with a change in season. Find something to celebrate and enjoy! Every season has its beginning and its end … find its beauty while it’s still in town.
Honey-Jack Sangria
- 1 bottle Malbec
- 1 cup Honey Jack
- 1 cup Apple Juice
- 1 orange cut into slices
- 1 pear cut into slices
- 1 plum cut into slices
- 4 cinnamon sticks
Mix everything and soak overnight. Serve cold, topped with seltzer or slightly warm.
Apple Sangria
- 1 bottle unoaked Chardonnay
- 1/4 cup Everclear
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup peach Schnapps
- 2 oranges sliced
- 2 apples sliced
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 2 slices of fresh ginger root, peeled
- 5 cloves
Mix and soak overnight. Top with seltzer if served cold. Or leave it alone and serve warm.
For an extra treat … eat the fruit that remains at the bottom.
