5 Things Fall: Brittany’s Favorites

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Brittany

It’s finally here!!! Fall has officially begun…and the ladies of HSE can barely contain themselves!! So to celebrate this lovely season we will be sharing with you some of our most favorite things of Fall. To kick it off…Brittany’s got her top 5 fall favs…Enjoy!

Fall, glorious Fall! It is finally here. I have missed this time of year, especially after the dreadful heat and humidity of Summer in the Southeast. Though, my love for Fall extends far beyond the cooler temperatures. So without further delay, a few of my favorite parts of Fall….

1. The colors

I love the feeling I get the first time I’m driving down the street and see the first pops of yellow, orange and red in the trees. Don’t get me wrong, I love the emergence of the flowers in the Spring too. But the explosion of the rich, warm colors of Fall are just gorgeous!

2. Hiking

If you have followed Her Split Ends for a while, then you probably remember that I hiked my way across California and Arizona during my honeymoon. {You can read more about that adventure here and here} My husband and I love to get outdoors, away from the chaos and traffic of city life and enjoy some fresh air, exercise and the beauty of nature. Fall really is the best time to get out and enjoy hiking, in my opinion. The cooler temperatures make the exercise part bearable and the colors of the foliage are beautiful.

We live not far from the north Georgia mountains and the southern termination point of the Appalachian Trail. In addition to access to the AT, there are numerous trails of all difficulty levels. Located near the AT is one of my favorite spots in north Georgia, Amicalola Falls! Amicalola Falls is a gorgeous 729 foot waterfall, the tallest cascade in the Southeast {see above photo}. Amicalola Falls hold a special place in my heart because it is the location where my husband proposed! Other enjoyable hikes near Atlanta include Cloudland Canyon, Tallulah Gorge and Panther Creek.

3. Anything and everything with pumpkin!

My love for pumpkin began at a young age. In the form of pumpkin pie, of course! I just couldn’t get enough of the stuff, between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Several years ago, I discovered the Pumpkin Spice Latte, from Starbucks. This delightful cup of heaven is such a treat and provided me with the pumpkin flavor from September through late Winter! And, thanks to Pinterest, my borderline addiction to pumpkin can really be satisfied this year! Check out all of these pumpkin recipes:

Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer, Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread, Pumpkin Smoothie & Creamy Pumpkin Risotto

#4 Fashion – Warm comfy clothing

I love Fall fashion! I love all of the rich jewel-tones and the warmth of a Fall wardrobe. I can’t wait to break out my warm, comfy sweaters, boots, cardigans and scarves! You can really get some mileage out of your wardrobe {casual and office attire} by layering basics and adding in color and patterns with scarves, a great blazer and belts.

#5 Apple picking with my hubby

Last year, my husband and I went on an early Fall hike near Amicalola Falls. After the hike, we were not quite ready to leave the beautiful surroundings of the north Georgia mountains {or hills, as the hubby refers to them}. On the recommendation of a ranger, we drove west toward Jasper, to pick apples! I had been to pick-your-own blueberry and strawberry farms in the past, but never apple picking. We had a really good time! We ended up at Reece Apple Orchards, which was far less crowded, but did not disappoint with varieties of apples and activities for people of all ages. The main barn had samples of each variety, bags of apples for sale (picked ahead of time) and an assortment of apple goodies (apple cider, apple fritters, apple danishes, etc.) to enjoy during your visit. They also had a petting farm and an apple cannon – fun for the kids!

Other pick-your-own orchards in north Georgia include Hillcrest Orchards, Red Apple Barn and Mercier Orchards. Prices vary somewhat at each of these orchards, so check out their websites for more details. Some charge an entry fee to the orchard, in addition to the cost of the apples. Also be sure to check the harvest dates, so you are able to plan your trip around the harvest dates for your favorite apple varieties.

We thoroughly enjoyed picking apples and plan to go back a couple of times this year. The apples had much more flavor than store bought apples and seemed to stay fresh much longer. Which was good, because we picked a ton! I found a few apple recipes that I would like to try with the bounty of apples that we pick this year:

Apple Pie Dip, Crock Pot Apple Butter & Baked Oatmeal with Apples and Cinnamon

Now, it is your turn! Do YOU have any hikes (in Georgia, the Southeast or beyond!) that you enjoy and would recommend to others? Any favorite pumpkin or apple recipes? What do you love most about Fall?

~ Brittany

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{Guest Post} Bright From The Start

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Brittany

We’ve got a good one for you today kids!! My girl Brittany has been flexing her DIY muscles lately and is here to share one of her adventures. Talk about turning an inexpensive garage sale find into a fabulous one of a kind piece! Enjoy…

A disclaimer: This was my first-ever DIY furniture refinishing project. I am by no means a “pro”, but I’m very pleased with the results and would be happy to answer any questions about the processes that I used.

Pinterest has made me look at furniture differently. There are no shortage of AMAZING before and after pins, that have inspired me to add some character to an outdated piece of furniture and save a TON of money in the process. I picked up this cute hexagonal end table at a neighborhood garage sale for $10!! It was actually in great condition when I found it, with all original hardware and very few knicks or dings in the wood. But…the color was a bit dated for my tastes.

I started my project by removing the hardware (hinges and knob) and giving the whole piece a light a light sanding with 150 grit sandpaper, paying close attention to the details near the top and the insets on the doors. Next, I applied two coats of Zinsser primer. I neglected to photograph these first couple of steps – sorry!

After allowing the primer to dry for 48 hours, I was ready to apply the paint. I wanted to add a bright pop of color to the room. With the help of the lovely Jillian, I selected a fun shade of aqua – Reflecting Pool, by Sherwin Williams (SW 6486). Now, my husband and I tend to stick with fairly a neutral color palette, when it comes to furniture and wall colors. The thought of this bright color on a piece of furniture in my living room made me nervous. Mostly because I knew that my husband would not like it. But, once I applied a couple of coats of Reflecting Pool, I was also thinking it was a bit too much.

I LOVED the color, but it was just too bright for the room. So, I decided to tone it down a little bit. After reading a blog post about antiquing glaze on The Speckled Dog, I decided to give it a shot. Her technique involved using the Valspar Antiquing Glaze, in Asphaltum. It seemed like the glaze was easy to work with and an inexpensive fix to my brightness issue.

So, I gathered my supplies…

…and, started applying the glaze with the sponge brush.

And wiping off with a rag or paper towels.

It was just as easy to work with and idiot-proof as I thought! As the tutorial suggests, you have about 15 minutes to work with the glaze. If you apply too much, just wipe it off. Not enough? Add some more! It really was an easy fix for a first-time furniture refinishing DIYer.

About a quarter of the way through the antiquing process, I realized that I was wasting a good bit of the glaze, by using the paint-on-wipe-off process. In The Speckled Dog tutorial, her examples were fairly small objects, with a lot of detail. My project was the polar opposite – a large object with a large amount of flat surfaces and a little bit of detail. So, I abandoned my sponge brush and just started applying the glaze on with a damp paper towel, by dipping it in the glaze and rubbing it directly onto the furniture. Both techniques worked, but the second one conserved more of the glaze. In my opinion, the second technique seemed to go more quickly too. But, do whatever is most comfortable for you!

Once the glazing was finished, I allowed the piece to dry for another 48 hours. The final step was to add a couple of coats of Minwax Polycrylic protective finish, which I had left over from another project. I used the Clear Satin finish, to keep a low sheen on the finished piece.

Without further ado, I present the “after” end table…

I love how it turned out! By finishing the end table with the antiquing process, I ended up with the perfect color for our living room. I still have that pop of aqua, but in a muted shade that we could both tolerate long-term. I decided to use the original hardware, because the knob and hinges also looked aged.

Here is the cost breakdown on supplies:

Dated end table ($10.00, garage sale)
150 grit sand paper (already had on-hand)
Zinsser primer ($9.47 at Lowe’s)
Quart of Valspar Interior Satin paint, color matched to Sherwin Williams Reflecting Pool (SW 6486) ($6.88 at Lowe’s)
Half-pint of Valspar Signature Colors Antiquing Glaze, in Asphaltum ($8.47 at Lowe’s)
Paint brushes (already had on-hand)
Sponge brush ($0.50 at any craft store)
Old rag and/or paper towels (already had on-hand)
Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish, in Clear Satin (already had on-hand from another project)

So, my total investment in supplies, including the end table, was $35.32!!

Not a bad price for a much-needed end table that provides a fun pop of color and additional storage space in my living room! It is also worth noting that I barely made a dent in the bottle of the antiquing glaze or the Zinsser primer. I have since used both supplies on several other projects too. They were totally worth the investment!

Here is the before and after one last time:

- Brittany

{Guest Post} Go West!: You’ll Love It Here.

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Brittany

Happy Friday! I don’t know about you but I am READY for the weekend! Anyone doing anything fun this weekend…enjoying some beautiful weather…perhaps hiking the Grand Canyon?! HA…I wish!! So since most of us probably can’t make it out the Grand Canyon for a little stroll…how about we live vicariously thru Brittany and Mike while we pour over the last installment of their honeymoon recap – Go West! Enjoy & have a lover-ly weekend!!

We spent the last half of our honeymoon adventure in Arizona…and completely fell in love with this state! {You can read about the first half of our adventure here}

Using Flagstaff as our base camp, we were able to see quite a few areas in and around northern Arizona. First up….the Grand Canyon!

Day 5: Grand Canyon, South Rim, Arizona

My husband and I had both been to the Grand Canyon separately, but wanted to visit it together. Plus, I don’t think either of us could tire of viewing such a majestic and beautiful sight. Beginning at the South Rim, we decided to hike down into the canyon for a new perspective. We hiked the Bright Angel Trail. This trail is a maintained dirt trail that extends 12 miles into the Canyon, to Plateau Point. The hike was easy on the way down…of course! Aside from the occasional run-in with pack mules, it was quiet, peaceful and gorgeous. I drove my husband crazy, stopping every 10-15 feet to snap another photo. Good thing I did though, because hiking out of the canyon was strenuous, to say the least. A 2,000 foot elevation climb in 3 miles on a narrow footpath made me pack away my camera and focus on walking.

If you are up for a good workout, the Bright Angel Trail is a great way to see a whole new side of the Grand Canyon. Just be cautious! This trail is very steep and gets quite narrow at several spots. Carry plenty of water and food with you and start your hike early, especially in the summer. Check out the National Park Service website for more information on day hikes in the Grand Canyon.

Day 6: Page, Arizona

It was a purely an accident that Page ended up on our honeymoon itinerary. We had another spot on our “must do” list, but were unable to get a permit for that park. When the permit was denied and we searched for something else to do in the area, we happened upon a website for tours of Antelope Canyon. Antelope Canyon is a “slot canyon”, formed by rainwater eroding crevices into the sandstone. Over time, flash floods have eroded the stone into smooth “flowing” walls.

Antelope Canyon is located on Navajo lands and requires a tour guide to gain access. There are several companies that offer tours of the canyon, but we would recommend Chief Tsosie and his guides at Antelope Slot Canyon Tours! The guides are all Navajos that grew up on this land, are knowledgeable about the canyon and extremely helpful and friendly. We spent a little extra and booked a photography tour at the peak time (10:30 am). The extra money was well worth it! Not only did we have extra time in the canyon, we had a tour guide all to ourselves and he showed us how to change the settings to properly capture the photos of Antelope Canyon. Just take a look at our photos…amazing!

Following our tour, the guide suggested that we grab a picnic lunch and head to Horseshoe Bend for a picnic. We took his advice and boy…were we glad that we did!

Day 7: Oak Creek Canyon/89A, Sedona & Montezuma’s Castle

Departing Flagstaff, we jumped on the scenic Highway 89A south to Sedona. It was definitely worth a few extra minutes in the car. The views of Oak Creek Canyon and the fall colors were gorgeous! {we were there the first week of November} We did not stop much along 89A for photos, but I can assure you that you will want to take this route if you find yourself in the area. This article was one of the selling points for me and does a great job of illustrating the sights along 89A.

The red rocks of Sedona are breathtaking. Unfortunately, we did not have more than an afternoon to enjoy the scenery. We hiked the Cathedral Rock trail, which was more like rock climbing at times. We were blown away by the view at the end {below…top left photo}. Totally worth scaling up rock walls with a purse slung over one shoulder. What?! It was labeled an “easy” trail…

After our quick tour of Sedona, we continued south toward Phoenix. Along the way, we stopped off in Camp Verde, to see Montezuma Castle. Montezuma Castle is a 20 room dwelling, built by the Sinagua people, into cliffs that border Beaver Creek. It is believed that the structure dates back 600 years. Kind of amazing, considering it was built in the side of a limestone cliff without the use of modern building equipment.

We ended our road trip honeymoon journey in Phoenix. It was bittersweet, for sure. We fell in love with the little bit of the west that we were able to visit. So much untouched natural beauty, just off the beaten path. Those residents of Arizona and eastern California sure are lucky to have such a gorgeous backyard!

We can’t wait to plan another road trip adventure! It provided us with so many wonderful memories and experiences. We spent hours in the car, marveling at our surroundings and having some great conversations about life….our dreams for the future, our favorite moments from the wedding and everything in between. It is not for everyone, but I would recommend trying a road trip at least once. And, if you really want to make it an exciting trip….Go West!

~ Brittany

{Guest Post} Go West!: Find Yourself Here

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Brittany

Now, how exactly did we arrive at a road trip across California and Arizona for our honeymoon?! As I mentioned in my prior post, we absolutely love to hike and be outdoors {and were on a budget after our wedding}. When our budget eliminated Hawaii and Italy, we turned to another place that was pretty high on our must-see lists: Yosemite National Park. After consulting some maps to see what other sites were in the vicinity, we discovered that Yosemite was within a day’s drive of the Grand Canyon! Awesome! Then, we saw Mojave National Preserve was between the two. Sweet! And, if we visit the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, we will be so close to Sedona! And, look, Phoenix is just a couple of hours south of Sedona! We could just rent a car and start in San Francisco… Before we knew it, we had planned quite an adventure and we were pumped to see so many amazing places!

This was my first road trip. I may be easily entertained, but I think it is an awesome way to see this beautiful country that we live in! Without further ado, I present our road trip {and a fraction of my 1,300 photos from the trip}…

Day 1: Fly into San Francisco.

It was my husband’s first time visiting the city, so we hit the typical tourist attractions: Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf for some chowder and feeding the seagulls {husband’s bad idea}, viewing the sea lions at Pier 39, watching the sun set over the Bay and the city and then warmed up with Irish coffees at Buena Vista Café.

Day 2: Drive to Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Forest.

After breakfast in San Fran, we started our road trip adventure! The thought of a road trip for a honeymoon is probably not appealing to some. But, let me tell you….the scenery was just amazing! We saw {and hiked} a few of the places that we have always dreamed of visiting. With the way we mapped out our trip, we only spent about 3-4 hours in the car per day. And with views like this, we didn’t mind those few hours in the car.

Yosemite Valley did not disappoint. It was breathtaking!! I fell in love with the waterfalls, the Aspens, Half Dome, the fresh air, unspoiled nature and…the peace and quiet. We saw all of the sights in the Valley, took the short hike to Mirror Lake and just enjoyed our surroundings.

Day 3: Upper Yosemite Falls Hike & Mariposa Grove

After a quick breakfast, we decided to hike the Upper Yosemite Fall trail. The trail was incredibly steep, with countless switchbacks right at the beginning of the hike and spectacular views of Half Dome, the Valley and an up-close view of the Upper Yosemite Fall as your reward. If you are physically fit, make time to do this hike. You will not regret it!

Along the way to Mariposa, we came across Tunnel View. Tunnel View is a lookout point as you are entering/exiting Yosemite Valley to the South, which offers this stunning view:

Continuing south, we arrived at Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. These trees are ENORMOUS!! We were in complete awe and disbelief at what we were seeing.

It was impossible to capture the size of the Sequoias in photos, for comparison purposes. But, I was able to get a couple of shots that give you an idea their scale {see below}. In the picture on the left, you will see three giant Sequoias, with a ranger house {yes, A HOUSE} on the right. The house is barely taller than the exposed roots. Amazing. The photo on the right is of my sweet husband, wearing a grey t-shirt and backpack on the right, walking past the base of a giant Sequoia on his left.

Day 4: Mojave National Preserve

Okay, visiting Mojave happened almost accidentally. We only elected to visit this national park because we literally had to drive through it or around it to get to Arizona from Yosemite. I’m so glad we did, because we really enjoyed Mojave! We hiked the Teutonia Peak Trail, at the north side of the park. Along the trail, we saw acres and acres of Joshua trees, cacti, tumbleweeds, etc. As you can see in the below photos, the Teutonia Peak offered a spectacular view of the desert below!

Our next stop in Mojave was a unique experience. We headed south to Kelso Dunes, which is a towering group of sand dunes that pop up out of nowhere in Mojave. The trail is a modest 3 miles roundtrip, but entirely made up of deep sand. I thought I might die trying to make it up the face of those dunes. It was quite the cardio and leg workout. But, we made it! Once again, the hard work brought a huge payoff. We could see mountains, desert and Joshua trees for miles.

But, do you know what we didn’t see? We didn’t see tall buildings, traffic, subdivisions, we didn’t hear horns, cell phones or any other noises. It was so serene and beautiful. That is what I call a vacation.

Stay tuned for the second part of our adventure in the next installment of Go West!

~ Brittany

{Guest Post} Go West!: the Adventure awaits

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Brittany

Howdy! My name is Brittany and I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Jillian since we were young and careless carefree {good ‘ole college days}. We met through our darling husbands, who have been friends since high school. Jillian and I share oodles of great memories and have seen each other through the good, the ugly and just about everything in between. {the woman has more blackmail on me than I care to think about}

I was delighted when she asked me to be a part of a new endeavor that she was pursuing – blogging! Knowing my love of exploration, Jillian asked that I guest blog about traveling. I love to travel and honestly would be content spending every penny of my discretionary income on traveling. But, the responsible adult in me limits that fund to a couple of trips per year. Sigh…

Because we share a love of nature and hiking, we thought that I should write about my honeymoon trip. Some would say that my honeymoon was a bit unconventional. I guess that also somewhat defines my relationship with my husband and our way of life. We are nature lovers and we enjoy exercising, especially when we can get in some outdoor exercise. So, naturally, our honeymoon centered around being outdoors, seeing this beautiful country that we live in and a daily hike.

Now, would we love to have taken a two week trip to Italy for our honeymoon? Of course! I mean, who wouldn’t?! But, after spending loads of money on a wedding…the honeymoon funds were pathetic limited. Not to mention, the dollar to euro exchange rate was not exactly in our favor at the time. The fact that we are not the sit on a beach and sip cocktails for 7 days kind of people eliminated other obvious honeymoon locations. The beach is lovely…but, after a couple of days, I get a bit antsy and have to go explore. We wanted to do something different!

So, we flew out to the lovely west coast city of San Francisco and began a road trip journey. We spent each of the next 8 days in a different location across California and Arizona, winding our way down to Phoenix, seeing some of the most beautiful and breathtaking scenery this country has to offer. To some, I’m sure that a road trip for a honeymoon probably does not sound like a great way to relax and unwind. But, we LOVED every second of it. I planned it out so we never drove for longer than 4 hours at a time and we did not have a defined itinerary. We had plenty of time to leisurely explore and enjoy our surroundings at each location. And, the scenery from the car was nothing to scoff at either! The car time provided for lots of great conversation too!

Here is a sample of a few of our stops along our journey: