Currently #69

Hello everyone!

Happy Wednesday! Can you believe that we are at the end of September? My goodness, this month went by fast. September started out cool, we had a few warm days here and there but by the end of the month, I could definitely feel fall set in full time. Now, that we are officially at the end of September, it’s time for me to embrace fall. I just got back from a beautiful weekend away in New England, it still felt like summer and I was here for it. I’ll get to more of that in a bit.

Fall is here

Here’s a look into life lately.

What I've Been Up to: 

I started the month off by ending summer with Labor Day. I kicked off the farewell to summer with grilling, ice cream and s’mores. Can you beat that?!

Perfect pincic

Desserts

Sweet treats

September included cooler mornings for outdoor runs, that’s the one great thing about fall.

Look at this sunrise!

Cooler temperatures for longer runs. 

Here’s  a look at some of the places I went running. 

September also brought trying new spots for meals.

Eating as much seasonal fruit outside as possible!

I was on the go one day and stopped by a local crepe spot and picked up a ham, egg, cheese, and spinach crepe.

I got some authentic tacos out with my mom for lunch. We ate outside and enjoyed the nice weather. 

My family and I had a pizza night and stopped at a place where you can build your own pizzas. Yum!

I got to meet up with some friends for meals and visits which is always a win.

I made a trip up the East coast to visit my fiance for a long weekend. We spent time in Downtown Boston for a chance to enjoy the city, skyline, and the water!

The waterways

Charming city streets

No trip to Boston is complete without Dunkin

The downtown area

We also took a day trip to Cape Cod for the day which was so quaint and charming.

We ventured into bookstores.

So many books!

Went into a Penny candy store

Visited a lighthouse

And went to the beach!

And enjoyed some classic breakfast spots

It was such a fulfilling trip with lots of adventures and quality time together!

What I'm Wearing:

As much as it pains me to say it, I have been back to leggings and pants with cooler weather. I also have been getting a lot of use out of my rain jacket for rainy mornings.

I did manage to get a haircut, so I’m loving my new, shorter do. 

Here’s a look at some outfits from my trip to Boston. One day felt like summer and the other felt like fall.

A cold front led me to breakout the blazers once again for work.

What I'm Reading: One of my goals was to spend more time reading and I have tried my best to keep up with that.

The Third Gilmore- I listened to Kelly Bishop’s  The Third Gilmore Girl as an audiobook and really loved it.. I learned so much about the actress, including her time on Broadway, her love life, and of course her time on Gilmore girls. I really loved that she narrated the book. It was the perfect companion. 

The 7:00 Club- I consumed The 7:00 Club by Amelia Ireland in a week. I didn’t know what to expect about a book all about grief. But it surprised me in more ways than one. It’s all about several strangers who meet every week for group grief counseling, but as the reader and the participants soon realize, there’s a reason they are all meeting. This book deals with death, spirituality, coping, loss, and understanding. Although, heavy at times, very well done.

The Perfectionist Guide to Losing Control- Katherine Morgan Schafler’s book, The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control has been on my to-be-read list for the longest time. As someone who is known as a perfectionist, I was eager to dive into this book. The author discusses the different kinds of perfectionists, what things can be learned from them, and she brings in different stories of how people cope and even overcome their perfectionist tendencies. There were a lot of takeaways that I found myself applying to my own life. It was a fascinating read and a different book to break up my rom-com books.

Say You’ll Remember Me- Abby Jimenez has done it again with Say You’ll Remember Me. I loved this book, I devoured it in three days. A girl and a guy have a perfect first date, until she breaks the news that she’s moving away the next day. They try to do long distance while both dealing with their own emotional baggage. As someone going in a long distance relationship, I related to this book a lot. I also loved the themes of love, family, and doing whatever it takes. Such a good book and message.

The Comfort Crisis- I listened to The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter as an audiobook after Mix and Match Mama recommended it. It’s all about the challenges that humans no longer need to endure due to the modern comforts of life. The author describes his time on an expedition and how being in the wilderness really showed him how much humans are distracted in life. I really learned a lot about pushing ourselves into discomfort and the benefits. I really liked listening to the author read it.

It’s a Love Story- I still like to enjoy a light beach read and cute rom-com and It’s A Love Story by Annabel Monaghan checked all the boxes for me. I really enjoyed her past books and was eager to try this one. I enjoyed it, but I preferred her other ones more. It’s all about a former teen actress now turned movie executive hoping to get her former crush to perform a song for her movie all with the help of someone she doesn’t necessarily get along with at work. I really loved the family dynamics that’s weaved through the book, but I was hoping for more substance at points. Still worth the read.

Miss Manners’ Guide to a Surprisingly Dignified Wedding- I was given Miss Manners’ Guide to a Surprisingly Dignified Wedding by Judith Martin as a gift and really learned a lot about wedding decorum, advice, etiquette and overall tips and tricks. My fiance read it as well and we were able to incorporate a lot of things into our future wedding plans. I recommend reading it if you are in the wedding planning season yourself.

What I’m Watching:

This has been a great month for shows for me. September included tuning into the Emmy’s for a special reunion. I’m still making my way through Gilmore girls, but I’m almost there!

I finished up season two of “With Love, Meghan”. I really like some of the guests she had up for season two and the topics she covered. I always finish an episode feeling inspired and I definitely learn a lot about hosting, cooking, and crafting.

I also watched the docu-series on Lifetime, Chrisley’s: Back to Reality. I watched their reality show when it aired and was curious to learn more about the behind the scenes of the family and their dynamics during and after life in prison.

Like so many others around the country, I finished watching The Summer I Turned Pretty, without giving anything away. Did you watch it and were you pleased with the ending?! Plus, what did you think of the idea of getting a movie!?

What I'm Cooking:

I had a successful month in the kitchen. Now that it is cooler, I am eager to spend more time in the kitchen. Here's some meals that have been hits.

Grilled Pork Chops for the win!

Chipotle Chicken Nachos- I got this recipe from Every Day with Babs cookbook. It was a hearty way to enjoy nachos and healthy to with lots of veggies and protein. Plus, with one sheet, it was an easy clean up.

Spinach, artichoke and bean bake- This recipe was also from Every Day with Babs cookbook. Once again, super easy to prepare and cook since it’s just in one dish. Also, very healthy with lots of veggies and beans, plus perfect for fall since it’s so hearty.

Watermelon Cupcakes- Before we said goodbye to summer, I made these watermelon cupcakes from Mix and Match Mama. They were so moist and flavorful, the perfect end of summer treat!

Sloppy Joe Bowls- I have been wanting to try this recipe for the longest time. We had a lot of ground beef and this was the perfect time to try it. Mix and Match Mama’s Sloppy Joe Bowls was super easy to pull together and filling too, a great meal for transitional weather.

Autumn Applesauce- I was getting into the fall spirit with Homemade Autumn Applesauce by Mix and Match Mama. It tasted great and the house smelled even better after.

Apple Chicken Skillet- I also got into the fall spirit by enjoying an Apple and Chicken Skillet. I loved the sweet and savory mix this dish provided. Another hit by Mix and Match Mama!

What Inspires Me: I created my Fall Bucket List and I have been inspired to checking things off my list.

The first day of fall was on Monday and it certainly felt like it.

I also have been inspired for the new year by getting my new Simplified planner in.

This quote/story from a book recently inspired me.

Lastly, I have been doing some cleaning and decluttering and I have been inspired by clean spaces and the changing of the seasons.

What I Accomplished:

I accomplished a lot by seeing friends, seeing family, and doing some trips too. I also made a dent in my fall bucket list and have been doing better at getting back into a routine after a busy summer.

I also got to visit Cape Cod, a new place for me, which was neat!

Goals for this Month:

I want to continue to work on my Fall Bucket List. I am still very much into wedding planning and ideas. 

Goals from Last Month:

I am proud of everything I got done in the month of September. From have-to goals and hope-to goals. I made the most of September and had some fun along the way too.

It’s always a good month once travel is involved!

That’s a look into life this month. What have been some highlights for you?!

Hello Fall!