Third Thursday Thoughts and Quotes #4.

Hey Y'all. Once upon a time, sometime in the Spring of this year I started a brand-new monthly series titled "Third Thursday Thoughts and Quotes", probably not the smartest thing for me to do on the blog on Thursdays though, since Thursdays are the days for my Fashion Linkup too and the linkup also started the very first week of March (March 2nd), this year. Anyhow, the idea behind it is to post on the third Thursday of the month - a post full of thoughts (that come to me in the moment) and a few favorite quotes. I have been very bad at keeping up with it mostly because Thursdays have been dedicated to Thursday Moda (you can link up your latest style posts here by the way). But as you have noticed from the last couple of months, I think having the linkup go Live on Thursday's Eve (Wednesday nights at 8.00 PM Eastern time, usually) has worked best for me and I will continue with this schedule.

- Anyhow, today you get a brain dump from me, being September 15th, the middle of the month and all. Can you believe the first official month of Fall is already half-way through? Let's start with that - September symbolizing Fall. I love Fall, as cliche as that sounds, as much as I don't want to sound like all other style bloggers, I love Fall. As an adult especially I have always loved Fall though I liked it as a kid too since it symbolized the start of a new school year and I have always been fond of school and always loved new books and new school supplies. I like Fall not because of pumpkins everywhere (I only truly like salted pumpkin seeds and pumpkin pie), not because every cafe and coffee company tries to come up with new ways to mix coffee and lates, new recipes and new scones, not because of back-to-school sales, not even because of Fall fashion. Don't get me wrong I love Fall fashion: leggings, booties, blanket scarves, jackets, skinny jeans and puffer vests are my jam. But what I mean is that is not the number one reason I love Fall. I love Fall for its natural and unique beauty. Fall is truly a colorful, magnificent season and God was generous when he created Fall or Autumn (I have always called it Autumn when I first learnt English). I love Fall because it is by far the best, most mesmerizing season in all of Michigan. I am so lucky to live and experience Autumn in Michigan. If you ever visit Michigan, make it out here in the Fall, October especially is probably the best month. In a state surrounded by hundreds of lakes, lots of beautiful trees, greenery and flowers everywhere and some of the best apples in the world, you can't not love Fall. As a matter of fact I already made my first trip to one of the apple orchards near by, exactly two weeks ago. I already went apple-picking (and raspberry picking too). Heck, with the fun Fall activities (read: not watching football) even Vivi seems to like Fall.

- But simultaneously I love Fall because of two magic letters: TV. Fall TV is the best. That is when dozens and dozens of new shows get introduced each year - only about half of which make it through. But at the same time it is when your favorite shows return for a new season. And guys, I haven't watched a fictional TV show since the end of "Wentworth" (one of the best shows ever made, in my opinion) almost two months ago. My Summer has been occupied with a variation of "Bachelor in Paradise", "America's Got Talent" (which ended this Wednesday and it was great) and "Big Brother" with the finale next week. So, it has been all reality TV Shows. Last year I started watching 3 brand-new shows "Quantico", "Blindspot" and "Limitless". I liked all three, but I didn't get to finish any of them due to being busy. I have yet to re-watch every episode on Netflix but I plan on doing so these days since the new seasons are starting and I cannot wait for "Quantico" and "Blindspot" in particular. ABC had a golden TV season last season I thought. This year will be no exception with the introduction of three brand-new shows that have peeked my interest to start watching. The #1 I am looking forward to watching is "The Designated Survivor" with Keifer Sutherland which sounds superb. The other two are "Conviction" and "Notorious". I have always loved dramas that mix mystery, murder, politics, conspiracies, the court and the police together. Two other returning favorites for me are "Scandal" and "How to Get Away with Murder". Last but not least the new show "Bull" on CBS with Michael Weatherly sounds phenomenal. There are many court shows out there and there have always been but this one is unique because his character is someone who studies the behaviors of the jurors chosen for each case. 

- As far as reality TV, one I have never missed a season of is "Project Runaway", duhh. Well season 15 just started tonight and I loved the first episode. Like most first or early episodes, the first challenge was the unconventional ones. I love getting to see what materials and unique things each designer uses and how they use them to make beautiful garments. I absolutely loved the winning look tonight and you have to see for yourself. Do you watch "Project Runaway"?! Have you ever?! I didn't agree with the judges' other picks for top 3 and bottom 3 though. What I noticed this year is that a lot of designers have very unique, unheard of names lol, some quite strange. Another thing I noticed (and Heidi did too) is that this girl named Jenni has the most unique, most loud, most ridiculous laughter I have even heard. I am not sure it even sounds like human laughter. I am sure her laughter will get very annoying soon. Another reality TV show I hadn't watched in years is "Dancing with the Stars". I had no idea this was season 23 wow! I did catch the first night though and I thought the opening dance act done by the pro dancers, by the Griffith Observatory in LA was phenomenal. One of the most beautiful dances ever done on this show and one of the most beautiful dances and art performances I have ever seen. I am sure you can probably even find the dance on Youtube. I watched it 3 times and loved it. I liked the first episode, eventhough all celebrities are lackluster for me (they usually are in this show) but there were some who could dance. I like Julianne Hough as part of the jury. I am not sure whether I will continue watching this season or no but we will see. I have no idea how and when I can fit all of these shows into my schedule but I plan on watching some now and some later.

- Fall fashion is everywhere. You cannot escape the ads either no matter if you visit Facebook, blogs, Instagram, Pinterest, Google, your e-mail address, you name it. September is also the biggest month of fashion and the moth for New York's Fashion Week. I love fall fashions and fall layers but to tell you the truth there isn't anything in particular that I must own or I must buy right now. There are three items I am looking forward to buying for the colder seasons: cognac riding boots, suede OTK boots and a new great coat but rather than that I don't necessary need or want anything else and that is big coming from me lol. I am even willing to splurge a little (more than usual) on those three because I think I want nice quality items that will withstand tough weather and any other conditions. Everyone that knows me, knows I am a shopaholic, but I had mentioned earlier this month that I was going to have a shop-free September. So far so good. It is already September 15th and I haven't done any shopping. I haven't even gone to any stores, neither have I had the urge or desire to go. And trust me as a shopper, fashion blogger and fashion lover, that can be very, very hard. The million emails I am subscribed too from the stores and boutiques I shop at and also the coupons or booklets I get in the mail almost daily, don't make it easy but I have a ton of clothes and I don't necessarily need a thing. I haven't purchased anything for Vivian either and don't plan on doing so at least until next month. Seeing all of your photos from Fashion Week adds to the difficult decision of not shopping but I know it is the right decision for me and I am very happy with it and sticking to it.

- Last but not least: pumpkin spice latte, I tried it only once 3 or 4 years ago and I didn't care much for it. I don't think pumpkin and coffee mix well. I am willing to try it once more though. Could all the hype be over nothing? LOL

Since today's brain dump was a lot related to TV, I decided to choose some favorite TV Quotes. Hope you like them too.

“On Friday night, I was reading my new book, but my brain got tired, so I decided to watch some television instead.” 
― Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

“Seeing a murder on television... can help work off one's antagonisms. And if you haven't any antagonisms, the commercials will give you some.” 
― Alfred Hitchcock

“Americans no longer talk to each other, they entertain each other. They do not exchange ideas, they exchange images. They do not argue with propositions; they argue with good looks, celebrities and comercials.” 

“If television's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who won't shut up.” 
― Dorothy Gambrell, Cat and Girl Volume I

“I'm the idiot box. I'm the TV. I'm the all-seeing eye and the world of the cathode ray. I'm the boob tube. I'm the little shrine the family gathers to adore.' 

'You're the television? Or someone in the television?' 

'The TV's the altar. I'm what people are sacrificing to.' 

'What do they sacrifice?' asked Shadow.

'Their time, mostly,' said Lucy. 'Sometimes each other.' She raised two fingers, blew imaginary gunsmoke from the tips. Then she winked, a big old I Love Lucy wink.

'You're a God?' said Shadow.

Lucy smirked, and took a ladylike puff of her cigarette. 'You could say that,' she said.” 
― Neil Gaiman, American Gods

“People are sheep. TV is the shepherd.” 
― Jess C. Scott, Literary Heroin (Gluttony): A Twilight Parody

“Encourage your children to read more and watch television less.” 
― Gordon B. Hinckley

“Difference between TV and the internet was how far you sat from the screen. TV was an 8 foot activity, and you were a consumer. The internet was a 16 inch activity, and you participated. I think the sitting down thing is similar. You're not going to buy an armoir while standing on the subway.” 
― Seth Godin

“To speak of television as 'neutral' and therefore subject to change is as absurd as speaking of the reform of a technology such as guns.” 
― Jerry Mander

I agree with these 2 final quotes for today, 100%. They are both so very true!