Hello everyone! Happy end of October! We are days away from the end of the month. This month was filled with all things fall fun.
There was also some visits, family time and relaxing. I couldn’t have asked for a better tenth month of the year. Here’s a look into this past month.
What I’m Up To:
I took advantage of the nice weather by getting out as much as I could. My pup didn’t complain either!
Fall made its presence known with the leaves changing on fall walks.
I got in another round of apple picking and made some tasty recipes.
My pup enjoyed more fall walks.
Outdoor walks even when it gets dark were part of the routine for this month.
We decorated for Halloween for some festive fun.
Days off included lots of dog walks and changing leaves.
Something that my pup is a big fan of and it lets me clear my mind and gets my steps in.
Chilly mornings meant warm cups of tea.
Both indoors and outdoors.
Even when it got chilly, it was still nice to get outdoors as much as I could.
I made it to a fall fest this month, the leaves were changing and the temperatures were perfect!
My outdoor runs took me by some homes all decked out for Halloween!
So festive and fun!
We also picked out pumpkins to decorate!
And got plenty of gourds too!
I loved seeing the changing leaves and colors all over town.
The view from my desk in my bedroom has me loving this time of year.
What I'm Reading:
Etna- Etna by Paul Yoon will break you if you are a dog lover. This was a book that kept popping up on my radar. It’s a beautiful book told by a dog’s perspective about his journey to get home. This book will make you want to hug your furry friends even tighter. I love the way the story was told and it was a quick read too.
The Irish Goodbye- Heather Aimee O’Neill’s The Irish Goodbye is all about the dynamics of a family when everyone comes home for Thanksgiving. Three sisters are in very different places in their lives, but over the course of the holiday, secrets are told, truths are spilled. I listened to it on audiobook and went through the book very fast. It was slow and meaningful and a great book to read in the fall and winter months.
The Crown: A Companion Piece- I have had Robert Lacey’s The Crown: A Companion Piece on my shelf for months, but it looked daunting to start. I was in the mood for something different and after watching the special on Harry and Meghan (see below), I was in the royal mood. This is a great primer or companion for following along with the Crown to see what’s real and what’s not. I learned a lot more about the Royal Family after reading it and it has me wanting to go back for a Crown re-watch! A great book to switch things up with.
Tilt- Tilt by Emma Pattee was a book that sat on my to-be read list for a long time. It’s all about a pregnant woman who is shopping when a earthquake hits and how she tries to navigate out of the destruction and the internal monologue that is going through her mind. I thought the concept was interesting, but it wasn’t the right book for me. I wasn’t a fan of the main character and had a lot of unanswered questions at the end. Good story, but not for me.
Liturgy of the Ordinary- Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren was recommended by The Lazy Genius, it is a faith based book about finding God in everyday moments and seeing the beauty and God’s purpose in the world. I read a little bit of this book each morning and it was such a peaceful way to start my day. It had little bits of realistic joy in every page. I really loved this book and the concept. 5 stars from me!
Worst Case Scenario- T.J. Newman’s Worst Case Scenario. This is the second book I have read from T.J. Newman. It’s a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. There’s a lot of storylines and characters to keep track of, but once you get in the flow, it’s easy to follow. I really liked the storyline and will definitely be reading more of Newman’s books.
Strangers- Strangers by Belle Burden is a memoir about a woman who recounts the end of her marriage. She details how she was blindsided by her husband and how she looks to rebuild and move on after her husband leaves her. I loved the way Burden told her story and by the end of the book I just wanted to hug her. Truly a beautifully written book.
Golden Girl- Although it’s not summer anymore, I couldn’t help myself by listening to another Elin Hilderbrand book. Golden Girl was SO good. I love that Hilderbrand has meat and substance to her book with the easy summer feels. This book follows a woman who dies but can witness how her loved ones cope with her death for one summer. It loved the relationships and the plot lines and the description of Nantucket. So many highlights!
Nine Perfect Strangers- I finally got around to reading Liane Moriarty’s Nine Perfect Strangers. It has been out for years, but it’s all about nine people who go to a wellness retreat with the promise of having their lives changed. Their lives are changed, but is it for the best? This is a twisty, thriller, but very good. I am now onto watch the series!
Mattering- Mattering by Jennifer Wallace was recommended to me by Emily Ley. It’s a shorter book or listen all about connection, importance and feeling noticed. Wallace shares stories from different people or perspectives about feeling valued and wanted. I loved hearing all the personal stories and it changed my view on how we treat others and ourselves. I listened to it on Libby and loved that the author narrated it.
The Mother Daughter Book Club- I heard about this book from the podcast; Books, Beach and Beyond. The Mother Daughter Book Club by Susan and James Patterson. It’s all about a group of mothers and their daughters and their relationships.The story begins with the group meeting until their night is ruined by tragedy. They, then gather for the first time in years in Italy and the weekend brings reconnection, secrets, and forgiveness. There’s a lot of characters, but I loved reading about them all interacting. There was some big plot twists that really keep you hooked.
What I'm Watching:
I made it a point to watch all the Halloween movies and shows that I enjoy every season. Hello Charlie Brown, Hocus Pocus etc.
Harry and Meghan: The Return of the Prince-I watched the Hulu documentary, Harry and Meghan: Return of the Prince about the return of Harry and Meghan to the U.K. It was very informative and I loved hearing people’s perspectives on it!
The Shards- Last month, I read the book, The Shards and this month, I watched the series on Hulu. This was out of my typical comfort zone for tv watching, but after I read the book, I wanted to compare the series. I thought it was good, a lot of things were similar to the book which I appreciated, but it was a darker story for my liking.
Grey’s Anatomy- Fall has brought the return of fall tv and that means the return of Grey’s Anatomy. I have been enjoying the weekly episodes and the new plotlines.
The Diplomat- Season 4 of the Diplomat dropped in October and I binged through that pretty fast. Yes, I am still watching The West Wing so I really enjoyed seeing some of the characters appear on The Diplomat. There’s a lot of great television happening.
Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test- Every week, I still make time for Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. I love seeing how has what it takes to make it through the challenges and who falls short.
The West Wing- I am still making my way through the West Wing. I typically watch it when I am at the gym walking or running on the treadmill, hence why it has been taking me so long to finish! But I am hopeful to finish it next month.
What I‘m Wearing:
I have been wearing lots of layers. The fall and winter months means lots of layers, jackets, scarves, and vests.
Fall dressing has looked like lots of layers and blazers for changing weather through the day.
Another blazer and dress combo for work
A bright pink to round out the month!
Another pant suit look, this one a little more subtle.
What I’m Cooking and Baking:
I have been on a baking streak with lots of seasonal goodies. I went apple picking and used my apples to make homemade applesauce.
Apple Crisp Salad- I also used some apples to add to an apple crisp salad with chicken. I marinated the chicken with apple juice all day. The salad included lettuce, feta cheese, pecans, cranberries, and apples. Perfect for fall!
Spinach Harvest Salad- This was perfect for fall, spinach, grapes, cranberries, apples, and chicken. Yum and so healthy!
Pumpkin Muffins- Nothing says October than homemade pumpkin muffins, I added chocolate chips for some extra sweetness!
Homemade Pizza- One of my favorite nights where everyone can choose this favorite toppings for a fun dinner
Caprese Salad- Any easy, three ingredient salad that you can eat on its own or as a side.
Homemade Cinnamon Rolls- A must to celebrate National Cinnamon Roll Day and perfect for fall!
Homemade Apple Crisp- One of the many things we made with our fresh apples.
Chili- A must for fall, we used chicken instead of beef and it was just as tasty.
Pasta and meat sauce- Warm and hearty was a theme this month, hence the pasta and meats all the time!
Naan Breakfast Sandwich- I got this recipe from Half Baked Harvest. I love a good breakfast sandwich, but never thought to enjoy it on naan bread. It was extra flavorful and I loved the topping. I added some tomatoes for flavor.
Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup- I love to use my slow cooker and soup season is in full swing. This recipe from Mix and Match Mama was too good to pass up.
Sausage, Peppers, Onions, and Gnocchi- This was an easy one sheet dinner that was hearty for dinner. I got it from Breakfast Babs.
S’mores Granola- This was a tasty fall treat. The only problem, once you start? You won’t be able to stop munching.
Harvest Mix- Another tasty trail mix that combines sweet and salty! Yum! I got this recipe from Mix and Match Mama too!
Crock Pot Chicken and Apples- After chilly days, popping in chicken, onions, seasoning, and apples in the crock pot and letting it cook made for an easy night.
Orange Sesame Chicken and Broccoli- This was an easy dish and a healthy alternative for Chinese food. Plus packed with flavor with the orange and soy sauce.
Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins- We had family visit at the end of the month and these were easy for snacking and breakfast!
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread- No better way to close out October than with Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread. Add some cream cheese and you have yourself a fall treat!
What Inspires Me:
I am always in awe and inspired by Mother Nature and her beauty!
What I Accomplished:
I checked things off my bucket list, like seeing Practical Magic 2!
I also watched, It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, a classic!
And decorated pumpkins too!
I collected leaves AND decorated for fall this month.
I also saw Verity in the theaters. I read the book and was eager to see how it compared to the movie. It was very close to it and accurate. A good thriller that wasn’t too scary.
Goals from Last Month:
I also enjoyed lots of time outdoors with my pup and he was very happy about that!
We also enjoyed long, fall drives (in the passenger seat of course)!
Our views were gorgeous!
The changing leaves left me feeling so happy!
Goals for this Month:
This upcoming month I am looking forward to a visit to my husband. Plus some exciting work projects and then Thanksgiving! After that, we have the holidays to look forward to, my favorite time of year!
That’s a look into life lately. How has your October been and what are you looking forward to in November?
