It’s Fall, Y’all.
Is it even Fall anymore, or just PSL (*Pumpkin Spice Latte, for those who don’t know) szn?!
The air is (slightly) crisp, the humidity is slowing down, and palm tree leaves are changing colors, JK who am I kidding, I live in Florida, the state of one season all year. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE it here, but part of my soul (probably the Michigander in me) longs for those cool, fall days where the seasons are changing in the blink of your eye, as you sip on a hot apple cider and enjoy a good ole’ cinnamon sugar donut. However, I have come to realize that FL really does have it’s perks, like being able to do anything outside at anytime during the year (well… not summer, unless you want to feel like you took a shower from how much you sweat). As I’ve shared before, I’ve always been an outdoors girly, and when it starts to finally cool down here (cool for me is like below 90 FYI), it is time to get myself out into the woods. Yet, something I’ve never set myself out to do is a hike, and I mean it, I’ve never hiked a mountain, trail, woods, of that sort. So, I decided ,heck time to check off something on my bucket list ✔️
I loaded up on the bug spray, put on some hiking boots (or decent outdoors boots I found on Amazon), grabbed my water bottle, and challenged myself to being and probably getting lost in nature. Here are my results, some of FL best trails! By easiest to hardest- because I’m not trying to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, just yet. Here is a list of 3, there are quite a few that encompass this list, although, if you’re a beginner like me and just want to see a few to start, here ya go!
Easy
Baynard Trail and Seminole Trail
📍Location: Hillsbourgh River State Park
The trail is mostly wide, flat paths with some narrow throughways. The first two miles are along the river and then the trail crosses over the suspension bridge. It’s a great path for those looking to escape into the woods, especially in the summer heat. There are many opportunities to view wildlife and local flowers along the way (All Trails, 2024).
the deats: distance- 5.5 miles, 75 ft elevation gain, time to hike- 1 hour 38 minutes., $ fee required, pet friendly (on leash), kids welcome, camping, forests, & rivers!
tech friendly: download the app + open the app, download the route, share your live activity (with friends/family if you’d like!).
Moderate
Black Bear Wilderness Area Trail
📍Location: Seminole County, Stanford area
Hike this scenic and relatively flat loop that is abundant with wildflowers and various wildlife. This is a shaded trail that travels through beautiful wetland areas. The trail can become muddy during wet conditions, and waterproof shoes are recommended. The trail is very well-maintained otherwise. Bug spray is recommended due to the number of bugs present in the warm months (All Trails, 2024).
the deats: distance- 7 miles, 29 ft. elevation gain, time to hike- 2 hours, no fee!, pet friendly (on leash), kids welcome, hiking, rivers, forests, & birding.
tech friendly: download the app + open the app, download the route, share your live activity (with friends/family if you’d like!).
Hard
Torreya Challenge
📍Location: Loop Liberty County, Bristol, Florida.
I’m wondering if they named it ‘challenge’ due to the fact, that many reviews classify this trail as hard, the name is fitting at least. Up for the challenge, be my guest. This route provides some of the roughest terrains that Florida has to offer, which is unique for the area. With dramatic cliffsides and primitive backcountry camping available, this is the perfect route for a weekend trip. The two loops showcase the natural surrounding beauty of this area and some of the highest elevation changes in the whole state (All trails, 2024).
the deats: 12.5 miles (yikes!), 1653 ft elevation gain (double yikes!), 5 hours 18 minutes, $ fee required, pet friendly (on leash), kids welcome, camping, forests, & rivers!
tech friendly: download the app + open the app, download the route, share your live activity (with friends/family if you’d like!).
All of that is said and done, so which trail are you going to pick?! I’m curious to know.
Monthly reads & Key Takeaways
My perspective evolved after reading the book “The 5 AM Club,” by Robin Sharma (2020), where I encountered the 20/20/20 formula. Yet, it makes most of us ponders what does 20/20/20 even mean? In simple terms it is broken down into: 20 minutes of exercise, 20 minutes of reflection (journaling, meditating, or quiet contemplation), and 20 minutes devoted to growth (reading, reviewing your goals, or studying a topic of interest). The three components of this hour prime your body and mind for a productive day. But how does this actually help us? Well in the hustle and bustle of our busy world, we don’t take enough time to tune into our mental and physical facilities, or when we do, we don’t put enough emphasis on truly connecting with how we feel in those moments. Such as finding joy in that 20 minute nature run, or really connecting to ones’ thoughts while journaling for 20 minutes, or tuning into pure silence in a deep and thoughtful meditation for the last 20. In order to attain true success, productivity, and happiness, we must nurture four core aspects: the “mindset,” the “health-set,” the “heart-set,” and the “soul-set.” These components collectively enable us to acquire knowledge, maintain well-being, achieve success, and experience joy.
How can you challenge yourself today to incorporate the 20/20/20 method? Maybe that means getting up one hour earlier, or putting your children to bed one hour earlier so you can focus on this fantastic formula?
Focus on: dedicate 20 minutes to move, 20 minutes to reflect, and 20 minutes to grow.
This is not and ‘all or nothing’ approach, if you aren’t able to complete all 20(s) daily, thats okay, start with one 20 and work your way up to implementing the whole hour into your schedule. I get it, life is busy, and this can be intimidating, but it truly is helpful to make a change that you might be needing.
Here is an example from Sher Shah Rahim (2023) describing their 20/20/20 motto for the day
Monthly Free Resource | From my Recipe Book
Did you say treats! Apples galore here we come. It’s time to whip out the apron, because apples are in season and ready to cook.
While all fall things are in flare, these two apple recipes will always be staple.
🥧 Mini Apple Pies
Ingredients
Apple Pie Filling
▢ 4 Apples Tart Apples, like Granny Smith or Honey Crisp Apples.
▢ 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice, or Bottled.
▢ ¼ cup Sugar Granulated White Sugar.
▢ ¼ cup Flour White Flour.
▢ 1 teaspoon Cinnamon Ground Cinnamon.
▢ 2 tablespoons Butter Salted Butter.
Pie Crust
▢ 2 Pie Crusts Store-Bought or Homemade Pie Crust.
▢ 1 Egg Large.
▢ 1 tablespoon Water
▢ 1 tablespoon Sugar Turbinado Sugar or Granulated White Sugar.
Directions
Apple Pie Filling
Step 1: Peel, Core, Slice Apples. Peel, core, and slice 4 apples into ¼ inch slices. Place the apples into a large bowl.
Step 2: Add Lemon Juice. Toss apples with lemon juice.
Step 3: Make Apple Mixture. Mix cinnamon and sugar, and flour in with the apples, so that all the apples are coated evenly.
Step 4: Stew Apples. Transfer apple mixture to a medium sized sauce pan, add butter on top, and cover with a lid. Over medium heat, bring the apples up to a simmer and stew them until they are soft.
2. Prepare Bottom Crust
Step 5: Roll Out Dough. Take 2 sleeves of store-bought pie crust and carefully unroll them out onto a lightly floured surface.
Because they were taken out of the refrigerator at the start of the recipe, they should be easy to roll out without breaking the dough.
If the dough breaks, just patch the pieces together and use a rolling pin roll the creases smooth.
Step 6: Cut Mini Pie Crusts. Using a large biscuit cutter, cut 12 - 3.25-3.5 inch circles out of the dough.
Step 7: Line Muffin Tins. Carefully press a dough circle into the bottom and sides of a muffin tin. Do this to line all 12 muffin tin cups.
3. Add Apple Pie Filling
Step 8: Fill Muffin Tins. Fill each muffin tin with a little bit (~2 tablespoons) of the prepared apple pie filling.
4. Add Lattice Crust to the Top of Pies
Step 9: Cut Strips and Weave Lattice Crust. Cut ¼ inch strips from the remaining dough for the lattice top. Remove every other strip and weave them cross-wise with the other strips.
Step 10: Cut and Lay Mini Lattice Top Crusts. Using a 2.5 inch biscuit cutter, cut 12 lattice top circles and place one on top of each mini pie in the muffin tin.
5. Finishing Touches
Step 11: Brush With Egg Wash. Whisk together egg and water to make an egg wash.
Use a pastry brush to dab a little on the top of each mini pie. This will give the freshly baked pies a golden brown shine.
Use the stiff ends of the pastry brush to gently tamp down the edges of the dough to give it a uniform, finished look.
Step 12: Sprinkle Sugar On Top. Sprinkle the top of each pie with a little turbinado sugar for that finishing touch.
6.Final Step
Step 13: Bake. Place the muffin tin pan on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to catch any baking spills. Bake for 15 minutes at 400°F until the top of the mini apple pies are golden brown.
*Preheat oven ahead of time so pies are ready to go. Enjoy!
Gratitude to Seanna Borrows (2024) for the recipe.
🍎 Apple Crisp
Ingredients
▢ 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
▢ 1/4 c. packed light-brown sugar
▢ 1/2 tsp. salt
▢ 1/2 c. plus 2 tsp. granulated sugar
▢ 1 stick unsalted butter, cold, cut into small cubes
▢ 1 c. old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick-cooking)
▢ 3 pounds apples cut into 1/2-inch chunks
▢ 2 tbs. fresh lemon juice
▢ 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
Part 1: Crisp
Step 1 Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Step 2 In a large bowl, mix together flour, brown sugar, salt, and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar.
Step 3 Cut butter into flour, using a pastry blender or two knives, until mixture is the texture of coarse meal.
Step 4 Add oats, and use your hands to toss and squeeze mixture until large, moist clumps form.
Step 5 Transfer to freezer to chill while you prepare apples.
Part 2: Apples
Step 6 Apple Mixture: In another large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice, cinnamon, and remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar.
Step 7 Transfer to a shallow 2-quart baking dish, and sprinkle with topping mixture (crisp mixture above).
Step 8 Place baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until golden and bubbling, 55 to 65 minutes.
Step 9 Let cool 10 minutes before serving + enjoy!
Gratitude to my grannie, Nonnie for being the best baker ever (1994)
*Disclaimer: All recipes are on my ebook. Many are crafted homemade by me, while some are from other bakers with credit and authorization, of course.
Today’s Inspiration: “Life starts all over again, when it gets crisp in the fall” - f. Scott Fitzgerald
So long for now, I hope you enjoyed this month’s news as much as I did, especially those Apple goodies, though. Check back for spooky season soon, See you in October!
XX Allie
