Currently #81
Hi everyone! It’s the end of September and today I have a recap from this past month. It was all about getting back to routines and rhythms this month, plus the start of fall bucket lists, a trip to New England, and family time. Here’s a look into life lately!
What I've Been Up To:
I started the month by saying goodbye to summer.
I enjoyed a trip to our county fair.
I got to enjoy lots of time by the water.
From boat rides
And lunch by the water
The month began with continued marathon training.
I enjoyed outdoor walks and trips to my favorite coffee spot!
We ended summer with a final few nights of grilling!
I got away for a weekend getaway in the country which included lots of outdoor walks, veggie picking, board games, and good meals! Yum!
Fall is settling in which means darker mornings and later sunrises.
Labor Day brought another cookout and grilling and good food.
I still managed to enjoy more time outdoors before the weather turned.
Getting outdoors meant seeing the sun rise and set too.
I tried to eat outdoors as much as possible, even on the chillier days!
And I explored some new to me trails and parks.
I’ve been trying to add more protein to my diet which means changing it up with different egg recipes. These were scrambled eggs with peppers, onions, ham, everything bagel seasoning and some salsa.
The change of seasons meant later sunrises and earlier sunsets. One good thing about the changing weather.
Slower mornings also meant morning walks with my dog.
I did enjoy one last ice cream hurrah before summer came to a close.
And I enjoyed my first apple spice cookie a few days later…it’s all about balance right?
I enjoyed a trip to Boston, which included sightseeing.
A win at Fenway Park
Checking out the Boston Public Library.
The Boston Public Market
Downtown Boston
And Beacon Hill Books, a popular book store.
I went apple picking
Which led to lots of apple recipes. Yum!
After all of our picking, we had to do some baking! Apple crisp for the win!
What I'm Wearing:
As we said goodbye to summer and hello to fall, I tried to wrap up my summer wardrobe and keep it seasonal by wearing darker colors.
What I'm Reading:
Summer State of Mind- Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey was one of the books that I ended summer with. I got it from a recommendation by Mix and Match Mama. I thought the book was good, but not great. It follows the story of a young woman who moves to a small town to start over and ends up quickly finding herself immersed in the community and the dynamics with it. There was A LOT of topics covered in it from adoption, to broken families, new beginnings, falling in love, and family secrets. There was also a lot of characters to keep track of too. At times, I thought it was a bit too predictable and Hall-marky, but it was a good end of summer read.
Good People-Patmeen Sabit’s book, “Good People” was the book I needed to get me out of my reading rut. WOW! This books is told through a police report and from various witnesses and accounts about what happened to a family while they were on a trip and something tragic happens. This book was such an easy and fast read because you want to know about the tragedy and who was involved. Warning, the ending will leave you with more questions than answers. What a whirlwind of a book.
Our Perfect Storm- Carley Fortune’s books are a summer staple for me. I love reading her detailed thoughts on Canada and the slower way of life. Our Perfect Storm follows a woman who gets dumped before her wedding and her lifelong best friend takes her on her honeymoon where they help her get over her relationship and test the waters of their friendship. I read this book during Labor Day weekend and it was the perfect farewell to summer.
Whistler- Whistler by Ann Patchett was the second book I have read by by this author. I was drawn in from the beginning. It follows the story of a woman who reconnects with her step father. I loved the connection made immediately between Daphne and Eddie. I really loved how their relationship was explored naturally and it evolved. I loved the backstory of the accident and how the two grew a part and how life reunited them years later. It was a slow moving book, but well paced and not rushed. I was so enthralled with the story, I finished it in two days.
The Night We Met- The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez. I also love a good Abby Jimenez read. This book begs the question, what if you went out with the wrong guy. A girl starts to fall for her boyfriend’s best friend. They form a friendship, but must decide do they take it further or leave it as is. I really love Abby’s writing and finished this book in two days!
Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It- Brooke Averick’s book, “Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It” was the first book I read by this author. One of my friend’s recommended this book to me after I heard about from some blogs too. It’s all about a girl who wants to start seriously dating before she turns 30. I thought the book was cute, but a little cheesy at some points. There were a few potential love interests that kept you guessing who the main character would pick.
The View from Lake Como-The View from Lake Como by Adriana Trigiana was recommended to me by Mix and Match Mama. It follows the story of a young woman who comes from a large Italian family. She’s a homebody but strives for adventure. After death strikes her family she makes the decision to go to Lake Como, Italy where her family is from to learn more about her background and the family business. However, she ends up learning a lot more about herself. This book is all about digging deep, finding yourself, and gaining independence. I loved all the antics and personalities in her family. I listened to it as an audiobook, but I think it could work even better reading it.
Liar’s Dice- Liar’s Dice by Juliet Faithfull was recommended to me by Carly. It was published this year by Jenna Bush Hager’s company, A Thousand Voices. It’s all about twin sisters who were separated as young children and their journey to get back to one another. It’s heartfelt and heartbreaking when you read how these sisters managed life with and without each other. It was a good story, but not one of my favorite books. I really think the writing was well done, but it was hard for me to get into it, still I’m glad i read it after hearing such good things about it.
House Rules- House Rules by Myquillin Smith is a list of 100 rules to follow in your home. She breaks down different ways to make a house a home and raises questions of how your can best live in the space. I learned so many things and I will definitely be incorporating some of these ideas in my own home.
The Shards- The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis was a dark and twisty book about life in the prep school world in the 1980s. It’s a coming of age book that involves intense relationships, sexuality, drugs, murder, and lies. It was a bit too intense for me, but I heard a lot of good things about it, so I wanted to give it a try. There is a tv series that just came out this summer which I may give a try, I’ll keep you posted!
The Seven Pillars of Catholic Spirituality- The Seven Pillars of Catholic Spirituality is one of the latest books from Matthew Kelly. I have read some of his other books and really enjoy his message and writing style. This book is all about ways to incorporate God, faith, and prayer more in your life. I read a little bit each day and it was a great daily companion.
Wreck- Wreck by Catherine Newman is the sequel to Sandwich that came out a few years ago. We meet Rocky and her family a few years later, but this time at their home. We explore more of the family dynamics and personal issues in the family. It’s a slow moving story, but realistic in how life unfolds. This was such a good fall read.
What I'm Watching:
Sterling Point- I started the one season show of Sterling Point. It’s a hit on Amazon Prime and it’s about a girl who learns she has an entire island left to her with some secrets that come with it. It was very light and kinda cheesy. Definitely more for teen or college audiences, but after hearing the hype, I wanted to try it for myself.
Outer Banks- The final season of Outer Banks was out. I didn’t start it right away at first, but once I started, I was hooked. I finished it in less than a week. Again, the show had some lighter and unrealistic moments, but since I started the show years ago, I wanted to see it through. I was satisfied with how everything wrapped up.
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials- I was looking for a short series to watch one weekend and this did the trick. Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials was just what I was looking for. Great acting, only three episodes and intrigue. This netflix series is based off the Agatha Christie book and is very good. You can watch it in a night or a weekend.
What I’m Cooking and Baking
It was a great month for cooking and trying new recipes.
Easy Egg Bites- This was a super easy meal to prep and pop into my lunches for work days. I added eggs, ham, diced peppers, onions, and tomatoes for easy egg bites. The original recipe was from the Simplified cookbook.
Shrimp and Grits- I went southern for the night with Shrimp and Grits. A lot faster to make than I thought. I added cajun seasoning for some extra flavor. Yum. Recipe also from the Simplified cookbook.
Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce- This was a perfect fall meal that was warm and cozy to eat and hearty too. I got the recipe from the Simplified cookbook.
Meatloaf Muffins- I used leftover ground beef from the Spaghetti squash for Meatloaf muffins. Super easy lunch and they freeze great too! Another recipe from the Simplified cookbook.
Peanut Butter and Banana Muffins with Chocolate Chips- These may be my latest favorite muffin. I love how these food items taste together. Not too sweet, but very fall and hearty. I got the recipe from Mix and Match Mama, but added the chocolate chips on top. Yum!
Grilled Chicken with Blueberry and Pears- I got this meal out to lunch earlier this month and tried to replicate it and I was pleased with the results. Sweetness, protein, crunch, fruits, and veggies…all things I am looking for in a salad!
BBQ Chicken Quesadillas-This was a different take on a mexican dish. I used the slow cooker to make BBQ chicken and added that to a quesadilla for a different take on a delicious dish. I got the recipe from Mix and Match Mama.
After all the apple picking, I had to do some apple baking.
Apple Spice Muffins- These were a hit from Mix and Match Mama. She always has so many tasty recipes and they are so easy to make. I loved how these turned out.
Apple Crisp- This is a family recipe that’s so simple and fairly healthy, you just slice apples and add butter, flour, and sugar on top. Yum!
Slow Cooker Applesauce- Another hit from Mix and Match Mama. You just slice some apples and put them in the slow cooker and blend. So tasty to eat on their own or over ice cream!
What Inspires Me:
As the sun starts to rise later and go down earlier too, I have been inspired by quiet, peaceful mornings.
I’ve been enjoying the slower mornings post marathon training days.
What I Accomplished:
Deep cleaning my car was a huge accomplishment this month, just in time for fall and winter.
I also managed to squeeze in another Trader Joe’s haul this month!
I got in another visit with my husband
New England was beautiful in the fall!
Goals from Last Month
I ran my first marathon. It was challenging at times, but I was so proud of myself for accomplishing it and crossing the finish line. I learned a lot about myself through the training process and the race itself. You can read all about my experience here. This was a bucket list item for sure! Nothing could steal my joy as I crossed the finish line.
I also accomplished some house projects, like hanging photos and postcards from my recent travels. I love how they turned out!
My Bridal Bouquet pressed and framed so I have it forever.
Goals for this Month:
Doing all the fall things. I have started to make my way through my bucket list, but I still have a lot more to accomplish. I am looking forward to more baking and cooking and leaning into the cozy few months. Here’s a look at my fall bucket list in case you missed it.
I got a jumpstart on my bucket list with apple picking.
That’s a look into life lately as we fully transition from summer to fall. As we are in full fall mode now, what are you looking forward to in October? Share with me in the comments below!
