Did you know that leaves changes colors during the fall because trees turn off their photosynthesis processes? The bright green chlorophyll ‘factories’ in the leaves disappear, leaving the colors – which were hiding behind the green – behind. I like knowing that the yellow and red and orange hues are always there, all year long.
Breakfast, Bottles, Giggles
I whipped up a batch of pumpkin pancakes (by adding canned pumpkin to pancake mix – I use Bob Red Mill) and topped it off with some stovetop apples, almonds, and coconut.
To make the apples, I sliced up a Gala apple and cooked it on medium-high in a little bit of coconut oil.
The coconut reminds me of snow… here’s to hoping we skip that part of winter this year! I don’t get along with snow.
And then I fed the rest of the clan! Henry comes first, I eat next, and then it’s the puppies’ turn.
Since I already shared a little leaf factoid, I thought I’d share five fun facts about my life. Here we go…
Maggie cost $350 (from an independent rescue group) but James was a mere $75 (from the pound).
My first book (Operation Beautiful: Transforming the Way You See Yourself One Post-It Note at a Time) was rejected by 13 different publishers before 2 had a bidding war over it. Lesson learned –> Never give up.
When I was in high school, I picked out the next day’s outfit before going to sleep every… single… night. Otherwise, I blew 30 minutes trying on 10 different outfits in the morning (it definitely came frm a place of insecurity, not fashion).
I have really bad vision. My contacts are -4.75 and -4.25. I would never get behind the wheel of a car without my contacts or glasses on. I don’t even like walking around my house without them!
I vote for American Idol contestants every year. I feel really bad if I forget to vote for my favorite and she or he gets kicked off. When I was a bartender, I would put American Idol on and make everyone in the bar watch (my tips were always particularly bad that hour).
Share a little factoid about yourself. 
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{ 77 comments… read them below or add one }
I am -5.25! I would probable die crossing the street without my glasses or contacts. LOL
That is not bad eyesight…try -8.50!!
I always joke I am so blind I am one step away from a seeing-eye dog!!
Love the site
haha, I was coming here to say the exact same thing (same Rx!). Near-blinds, unite!
I’m a -9.0 in both eyes!
My eye doc told me I’m not “blind” until it can no longer be corrected with glasses/contacts. Luckily, contacts go up to at least a -12.0!
I’m pretty much the same. I don’t even get out of bed without my glasses … wouldn’t be able to find the floor. Or is that the lack of coooooffeeeeee? : )
you are correct…if you can still get to better than 20/200 with glasses and/or contacts you aren’t legally blind. and contacts can go even higher…like -20.00 or more!
Same here! Negative 8.50 in both eyes. Imagine literally not being able to see anything when you wake up! When I was a child I was always afraid that if someone kidnapped me while sleeping they wouldn’t let me take my glasses/contacts and I would be blind. Here’s hoping that I can have LASIK soon!
I was “legally blind” in my early 20′s and my astigmatism was so bad that it could no longer be corrected! I had custom LASIK and don’t regret it for a second! At least I can drive legally now.
Wow, if your eyesight is bad, mine is super, duper bad! My contacts are -10.25 in both eyes! I qualify as legally blind without them.
WOW! Mine are -10.00 in both eyes. I’ve never heard of anyone with worse vision. Thanks for making me feel just a tad bit better
I love going to the eye doctor, taking my contacts out, then have them tell me to go somewhere without assistance. They KNOW how bad my eyes are!!!
I am -11.0 in both eyes – i know just what you mean about the eye doctor – i am like really? you want me to go where?
You guys are both a bit worse than me! I am -9 and -9.5. wow!
Blind people of the world…unite! It feels good to not be alone in the blurry world without glasses.
I just turned 24, so hopefully my eyes will stay at -10.25 for a while now. (My eyesight is worse than my 52 year old mom! eek.)
My eyes are REALLY bad. Right eye = -6.50 and the left eye = -7.00; obviously I am NEVER without glasses or contacts (I thought about getting lasik before I knew I wanted to have kids…instead, after my daughter was born [now 7 months] I switched contacts to the ones that you could sleep since I was up so often in the night).
That’s the same as mine. Yep, legally blind!
Factoid: I always vote for Idol, too! Of all the winners (and finalists), Kelly Clarkson is my favorite. I’ve seen her in concert fifteen times since she won back in 2002 and have met her twice. She’s awesome!
I really love the snow, and would be sad to have a winter without it.
On another note, would you write a post sometime about how your gluten-free lifestyle is going?
Do you have any specific questions? I’ve been doing it for over a year now, it kind of still sucks but it’s not as bad as i thought it would be. it is more expensive at the grocery store!
My eyes are both -10.0! I can barely read the clock and always have my glasses on before i get out of bed.
Mine are both -6.0. I can barely see my hand without glasses. ; ) When we’re done having babies, I’m getting laser eye surgery!
FACT: Did you know that “Factoid” does not mean a little fact?
From wikipedia: – A factoid is a questionable or spurious (unverified, false, or fabricated) statement presented as a fact, but with no veracity.
ah really? i thought it meant little fact. little fact is way cuter.
Hah, I used to do that before school too. Oh, Killian! I never went to the 10-year reunion, btw. I don’t think I missed much…lol.
Additional leaf factoid: the same chemicals in the leaves causing them to turn red are the ones that give naturally red leaves their color.
Factoid about me: I pick out my outfits the night before in an effort to make my morning faster. It works 90% of the time. the 10% it doesn’t would be on days I don’t pick very weather-appropriately.
Fact: I spent 20 min picking out my outfit this morning when I had to wear workout clothes to class and then GOTR practice, talk about insecure!
I think we have practically the same prescription. LOL.
I relate to the AI voting thing, except with Dancing with the Stars. Back in college, I watched every week with my friend, Chanel, and the one night that we were unable to vote for Sabrina Bryan (Who is back for All-Stars!), she had a bad night and was kicked off. I still feel that if I’d been able to get online that night, she would’ve won that season.
I love random factoids! And I kind of wish the leaves were multi-colored all year long!
My favorite fun fact about myself is that I had a pet pig names Sammy when I was growing up. I think pigs are the cutest!
Haha, I’m with the other commenters — I rock -8.50 in both eyes and don’t qualify for Lasik anymore
I would have to get PRK, which isn’t a huge deal since it’s pretty common too. There’s my factoid! haha
I broke both of my arms at the same time falling out of a swing when I was in elementary. It’s pretty hilarious to look back and see pictures of this tiny body with huge casts on each arm!
I can’t believe you love the snow being from somewhere that rarely gets it! I live in Texas and always get so, so excited when we see flurries!
My eyes aren’t bad at all, except that one is near-sighted and one is far-sighted (-1.5 and +1.75). I legally am not supposed to drive without them, but I sometimes forget to put them in on the weekend.
Fact: I’m almost 33 and have never worn glasses/contacts. Never needed to. And thank goodness, because contacts totally FREAK ME OUT. I cannot fathom putting something on my eyeball. Eek!
But truth: I’ve noticed that I’ve been squinting a bit to read things that are far away, and I don’t remember doing that before. Boo. I may have to get in for a checkup.
I don’t wear glasses so when I googled “-4.75 vision” to see what you were talking about, the first thing up there? W-S Industries for the Blind! Google is so rude! LOL When I was little, I was told you can’t look directly at the sun and/or headlights. I took it as a challenge and would regularly stare into both. What the!??! It’s amazing I’m not currently blind. I blame these habits on my 20/20 vision instead of 20/15. I am also fascinated with people who see poorly. I’m constantly testing my husband’s poor vision. “Can you read that? … Really?!!” LOL Thank God I married a patient man.
Why are you fascinated with people who have poor vision? That is sick. Be thankful for what you have. My eyes are so bad that I am not a candidate for Lasik and am now facing cataract surgery.
LOL! Calm down. It is not a mean thing. It’s curiosity. All of the old people in my family have poor vision and my grandma was just diagnosed with cataracts. If my eyes don’t get worse, it will be by the grace of God. Best of luck with your vision.
Yesterday was my first year wedding anniversary! Yay! (We spent it packing up the house and moving. I thought it was going to be all drudgery, but when we got to the new place, my husband put our “1st Christmas together” ornament on the mantle and it made me all misty eyed. What a cutie!)
I changed my first name when I was 21.
Love the fact about the trees! Who knew they were hiding their beauty for all that time. Oh wow I’m pressed with your perseverance in terms of your book, that is so inspirational
A fact about myself hmm… I have broken my nose, my right arm and my left arm… twice 
My eyes are -9 and -10.25. I don’t say that to try to one-up you, but to make you feel maybe a little better about your eyesight
And I still pick out my outfits at night! It gives me the chance to sleep a little longer in the morning, knowing I don’t have to sift through my closet. (I also help my five year old pick out his clothes the night before as well – we have quick mornings in our house!)
Mmm those pumpkin pancakes look great. I had some pumpkin waffles a la trader joe’s mix and it was heavenly. Yours sounds like a much less artificial delicious mix!
I loved learning the little random factoids! So fun
My eyes are on the other end of the spectrum. One is -1.25, the other -1.50. I never wear glasses or contacts in the house, and I’ve caught myself a couple of times driving out of my neighborhood w/o them. My eye doctor always reminds me that I still need correction to drive.
My husband makes fun of my eyesight but it’s only -3.75 and -4.25. Now I feel a bit better. Ha!
I have -3.5 and -3.75…still pretty blind without glasses or contacts. A few weeks ago my contacts were bugging me (I wear disposable ones) at my boyfriend’s house, so I threw them out…..not remembering that I would have to drive home (a good 40 minutes in LA traffic) in the morning. Let me just say, thank god for construction. Those bright orange cones were about the only thing I could see. Worst. Decision. Ever.
You want to talk bad eyesight? My prescription is -10.25 (contacts) and -10.50 (glasses). The whole world is literally a blur without contacts or glasses! My brother jokes that, if I was alive during prehistoric times, I would have been dead a long, long time ago because I wouldn’t be able to see a tiger coming for me.
I know this is totally off topic – but saw your medela bottles and wanted to ask – how do you personally clean them? handwash and drying rack? boil in hot water? medela microwave bags? dishwasher? just curious…. use the same bottles and not sure of the most efficient way of cleaning them!
love your blog. and sweet henry!
Handwash and dry rack. Occasionally (like every three weeks) I boil them.
thank you!!! need to pick up a real drying rack.. babies r us here we come!
Your “Super Mom Potion” mug is soo cute, love that you made it. I did the exact same thing in high school….and STILL felt insecure about what I was wearing when I got to school. SOO glad those days are over!
Okay, I seriously think you are awesome for being so honest about your book rejections. I have my proposal out to 2 publishers so far and already had one rejection and felt pretty crappy about it. But now hearing from you and other published bloggers that it takes time and many rejections makes me feel so much better.
I absolutely love snow, and wish I lived somewhere that got it regularly.
Fact I was the first to coach GOTR in Madison, WI
Cool!!!
Fact: I always get really excited for the snow (I live in Colorado, we are supposed to get snow at the end of this week!), until I have to take the bus to work because I am a nervous wreck driving in it!
Wow, I didn’t know it cost so much to get a dog from a rescue group! I think my cat cost $50 from the pound and my 2 puppies cost significantly more since they came from independent breeders.
Interesting fact: Growing up my absolute favorite food was noddles with butter and salt. Thank goodness my palate has expanded since then.
I’ve never been told what my eyesight actually is, but it’s not 20/20. I do know that my left eye is worse than my right, though. I got glasses starting in junior high–I think 7th grade? Maybe 8th. Back then, I was far-sighted. It’s changed to near-sighted since then, which my optometrist said was pretty normal. I don’t think I will ever wear contacts, mostly because the thought of something in/on my eye kind of terrifies me. There are times I won’t wear my glasses while I’m reading (like now, for instance), which my dad hates about as much as he hates me reading with little to no light. Oops.
I’ve started wearing my sunglasses when I’m driving now. I didn’t wear them for a while because I have the ones that fit over your glasses and they look a little silly, but what’s looking silly when you’re saving your eyes in the long run? Hah. Unfortunately, since I got new glasses, my sunglasses don’t fit as well, but they still work.
I’m with you regarding contacts – the idea of having a piece of plastic floating on my eyeball freaks me out. Although, the idea of punching holes in my ears also used to freak me out, and now I have 3 in one ear and 4 in the other, so maybe someday…
I’ve been wearing glasses since 5th grade, I’ve never really paid attention to my prescription but I think it’s -2.5 or something like that? I have to wear glasses to drive, and I can see stuff but can’t read things very far away. I can sorta read average-size text at reading-length away, but it’s a little blurry and much easier to read with my glasses on, so I mostly only take my glasses off to sleep and shower.
And I forgot to add – through high school, although I didn’t hate my glasses, I didn’t really like wearing them, so in classes I just always sat at the front of the room so I could read the board/projector without glasses. Now though I feel naked if I don’t have them on!
My eyesight is -8.50 in the left & -7.00 in the right. Someday I’ll get them fixed, but I don’t mind wearing contacts & glasses. I’ve been wearing them for so long that it just seems normal.
My contacts are -4.75 and -5.25…I wear my contacts from morning until night…I won’t even get in the shower without them (due to the fear there may be a spider in there I won’t see!)
I think I’m going to make pumkin pancakes tonight! Mmm!
Love learning about you!
I also set out my outfits–but so my sister and I wouldn’t wear the same thing in a row (She’s 2 years younger and we shared clothes). Hah!
And, fact: I have 9 siblings!
Fact about me: I have broken both legs and both arms (four times in each arm), three ribs, a toe, and my tailbone (this summer while teaching in the Channel Islands, CA)! Kind of accident prone and had calcium deficiency from undiagnosed Celiac for 15 years. Being a horrible figure skater while still trying to compete didn’t help things either!
Another factoid: I live in WI and love winter because the snow is so beautiful and I love snow shoeing but I am SO freaked out to drive on the snow! Slipped a few too many times!
Fact #1- When my husband is away for work for an extended period of time, rather than go out with the girls I save up all my really trashy shows on TV (Real Housewives, Scandal, Revenge, etc.) and watch them all in one night with a glass of wine and takeout.
Fact #2- Also when is away I have nightmares that someone is going to break into my apartment on the 23rd floor, at the end of a long hallway in my doorman building (so logical) so I double bolt the door and build a pillow barricade before I go to bed.
Fact #3- I spend more buying workout clothes than work clothes.
Fact #4- When I was 5 my favorite color was pink….it still is today!
I like learning these facts about you and your readers Caitlin, although the eyesight stories are freaking me out! I don’t need glasses (yet).
I can knit while walking. I taught myself because walking between the car and the office is sometimes the only knitting time I have during a day. It works until it gets too cold — I’ve not figured out how to knit while wearing gloves yet. Yet!
The part about picking out your outfits the night before–I still do that every single night (during the work week, not the weekends). I like going to bed knowing I have one less thing to think about in the morning. I even decide which jewelry and shoes to wear the night before, too!
Monday FUNday! Love it.
Hmmm…let’s see…I put my makeup on in my bathroom without the lights on. It just looks so much better at the time, even though I sometimes end up going a bit crazy with the blush and come out looking like a total clown!
I love these facts! Soo many about contacts!
Random fact about me- I’m 5’11 and taller than every girl I know, but I still love heels and will wear them whenever I can! But then I’ll look at group pictures and be surprised by how much taller I am than everyone else. It also doesn’t help that most of my close friends are 5’2!
Hahaha I like the American Idol fact!
My vision was nearly TWICE as bad as yours. Then I got LASIK and the world will never be the same!
Those pancakes look divine!
Definitely have the same issue with eyesight – really hoping to lasik sometime in the future!
Um…your vision is practically crystal-clear compared to mine. My right eye is -6.0 and my left is -5.75! I feel like I’m blind without my contacts in or glasses on! I dream of Lasik surgery, but I’m terrified that I’d be the one in a million person who has some horrible outcome like blindness or the inability to make tears. Or something.
Growing up I had a big tree in my front yard that had rich, purple leafs all year round. I still don’t know what type it is but I’m pretty sure it will always be my favorite tree =)
I used to wear glasses from 4th grade until mid-high school when I was told I didn’t have to wear them to drive. To me that meant I didn’t have to wear them at all. Thankfully I only ever had them for focusing as I can see well.
I have not-so-great eyesight, too–3.25 and 3.75. There’s no way I could walk around without glasses or contacts!
I’m -4.75 and -4.5. I feel your pain
“Fun” fact: Nothing makes my brain blank more than when I’m in a public situation and everyone is supposed to get to know one another. “Share one fact about yourself” causes panic that sends shivers up my spine!
Fact: Today (10/22) is my 1 year anniversary! So exciting! Husband and I had an awesome time celebrating.
Your 5 fun facts made me giggle! I totally get what you mean about that high school thing. I used to spend hours fixing my hair- until one day I decided to grow it out and simply tie a ponytail to school everyday because the entire process always left me feeling worn out (as well as it eats so much time)!
My contacts are -4.50 for both eyes! I can’t see a thing without them!