If you’ve read the blog for a while, you know how devoted of a Gilmore Girls fan I am. My mom and I have watched the show since it aired live in 2000 and have since then rewatched the series…oh, half a dozen times. They never get old to me. If only I could live in Stars Hollow. That would be my absolute perfect dream town. Tiny, charming, New England town with one diner and one stoplight and the friendliest neighbors ever.

Well, thanks to Netflix and the Gilmore Girls revival series, I got to have a cup of coffee at Luke’s Diner last week! It was a “pop up shop” event, where 200 coffee shops across the country turned into Luke’s Diner for the morning. The show provided the coffee shops with signs and costumes, coffee cups and beverages.

The closest Luke’s pop-up was about 30 minutes from my house, so I woke up at my usual time. 4:30am. I drove down in the dark and stood in line at 6am. There were easily 100 people in line behind me when the doors opened at 6:30. It was still pitch black outside, but there we were – die-hard fans ready to get our cup of coffee and a picture of Luke’s yellow sign. Lorelai would be proud.

Behind the counter was the infamous “No Cell Phones” sign, and two baristas dressed in typical “Luke” style. Plaid flannel, backwards baseball hat, grumpy face, and a Luke’s apron. Each coffee cup had a quote printed on them with the episode they were from.

It was a quick event but well worth the wait. I love the fact that Netflix and Gilmore Girls included their fans in the countdown to the revival series which airs on Black Friday. I’m more excited to marathon the episodes than I am for Thanksgiving :)

Saturday morning I was able to run around 10:00am, after a cup of coffee and a granola bar. It was chilly enough to wear long tights and a long-sleeve but not so cold that my hands and face needed any layering. Prime fall weather! I ran through the quiet neighborhood, through a golf course, and along a canal which has now turned to still water. Winter is coming. After my 8-ish miles, a family friend invited my parents and I over for a BBQ in the most Halloween-decorated house I have ever seen.

Every picture frame in the house was replaced with haunted photos of skeletons demented children. Hand-dyed gauze draped with windows with spiders and blood. Potion bottles lined the kitchen counter. (Organic Bat Brain was my favorite.) A delicate appetizer of raw heart and brain awaited us at the table.

This is just the start of Halloween festivities! Later this week, some friends and I are headed to a corn maze. Then later, my company is taking a school bus out to a field where we get to defend ourselves from zombies with paintball guns. Then of course there will be a costume contest at work, and lots of pumpkin goodies!

Sunday morning I got in another 9ish miles in the same neighborhood with the most beautiful Autumn weather. I can’t help but stop and take pictures when the trees are this bright. It’s looking like they will be bare in the next week or so, and I want to soak it all up while I can!

It was a wonderful few days FULL of coffee, pumpkin spice and running. This week is looking like a blur with work, some fun evening plans, and one not-so-fun appointment. My wisdom teeth finally need to come out. :( I’m planning a solid three days of being lazy after the surgery. Which, for me, includes catching up with the blog posts!

Happy Pumpkin Spice Season!

XO Kenz.