Imagine we’re catching up over coffee and I’m gushing over what I’ve been Lovin’ Lately…
Happy October!!!!1 ✨🧦🍂 Here’s a glimpse of highlights from the past few weeks, I’d love to know what’s been good for you as autumn has lifted off, please share in the comments.
And to those affected by Hurricane Helene, my thoughts are with you 🙏— if you were affected by it and need support, please send me an email.
I had a wonderful time celebrating my birthday over the weekend with my little family. It started Friday night with a delicious coconut and caramel birthday cake that my husband surprised me with from our favorite local vegan spot (if you are ever visiting the Burlington area be sure to check out Pingala, they were even featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives!). On Saturday, after my boys’ soccer game, we ventured up to Stowe for a day trip. After grabbing hot apple ciders on the way up we made a stop at Bear Pond Books where I, gasp!, didn’t buy any new books for myself, but I always love to browse and see what bestsellers are featured. My kids each chose a new book, and I picked up a new Halloween picture book for our collection. I also added a Vermont-based cozy mystery to my wishlist. After that, we grabbed lunch at Ranch Camp and rode the gondola to the top of Mt. Mansfield (Vermont’s tallest mountain!). We skipped our mini-golf plans and instead took a walk along the recreation path, where our boys ended up swimming in a creek…fully clothed. Thankfully, they had dry clothes from soccer to change into, and it ended up being the highlight of the trip for them. We capped the day off with dinner at Sushi Yoshi—veggie sushi and dumplings— and I was in bed by 9:30pm which was glorious.
I'm still resisting the modern streaming world (though the new Love is Blind will test my resolve). Instead, I’ve been watching comfort movies. Last weekend I watched Bewitched with Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell, and it was just as enjoyable as when I first saw it. So far I’ve spent my weekend screen time enjoying: When Harry Met Sally, Legally Blonde, It’s Complicated, Bewitched, and Mystic Pizza. And I’m excited about my October list next. If you haven’t done this yet I highly recommend writing a little list of older movies you’d love to watch this season.
October 1st feels like a holiday to me, so we celebrated by pulling out our Halloween books and watching It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown while snacking on pumpkin spice popcorn. I also played the soundtrack on vinyl while writing this (highly recommend this cozy autumn jazz playlist too!).
We brought down our Halloween decorations which are mostly handmade crafts from the kids over the years 🥲, three ceramic monsters my freshman year college roommate made me (that my kids love), and a glass pumpkin I’ve had since probably 2009 that I fill with candy (P.S. Run, don’t walk, to Trader Joe’s for their Halloween gummies). We also pulled out our Sanderson Sisters’ LEGO cottage that we will be rebuilding— all the little details are so much fun, and this is an activity that is equally as fun for the adults as it is for the kids.
I recently scored the perfect oversized men's Levi’s denim jacket at a secondhand shop, and it’s quickly become my go-to fall staple. Pairing it with a loose tee or slouchy waffle knit, black leggings, and tall socks has turned into my fall uniform. Plus, it's roomy enough to layer with a sweatshirt on extra chilly days.
After rewatching When Harry Met Sally a few weeks ago You, Again by Kate Goldbeck has been a delightful follow-up read. It’s essentially a gender-swapped modern retelling of the movie. What’s more romantic than autumn in New York?!
🎨 A new start after 60: it took 70 years to find my inner artist. At 82, I’m in my studio every day— a reminder that there's no age limit to pursuing our passions, despite societal expectations.
🕯 My 4yo and I made these air dry clay ghosts the other day and they turned out so cute! It took a few tries to get the clay the right width (too thick made it too heavy, too thin tore easily) but once we figured it out they were fun to form.
🪡 Master the art of mending clothes with this guide. This is comprehensive, bookmark it!
🍄 The farmers abandoning big ag to grow mushrooms and herbs— I will happy give all my money to all the farmers for all the mushrooms. I also appreciate how this article touches on the often neglected narrative behind big ag which is the impact the conditions can have on the people who are involved with them.
🍪 The PERFECT pumpkin chocolate chip cookie— mild pumpkin flavor, maximum fall vibes.
🤔 Can underconsumption be aspirational? I am here for the underconsumption trend and personally benefit from the regular reminders that we don’t need more.
keep this topic at the forefront of her newsletters too.⏲ Sign me up for any and all 10 minutes meal content, kid’s sports season is no joke.
🧣 3 sweater hacks for colder weather— FWIW I didn’t think the first look was boring. 😂 But what do I know?! I’m a millennial who likes to pretend that being fashionably late to fashion trends is actually fashionable. (Eventually thats true, right!?)
🤳🏼 Your phone’s camera roll is a mess. Here’s how to clean it up. —I need all the help I can get, my camera roll exceeds 100k 😱
👗 This is very cute, maybe I can sew something similar for myself.
🍴 The foods that fight inflammation, no one wants inflammation.
📚 Do you prefer spooky books in October or cozy books? I like spooky in October and cozy in November. Here is a “spooky October” reading list from
(many of these are on my own TBR), or if you prefer your books more on the cozy side, here are some delightful cozy book recommendations. Or if you’re in the mood for something a little more significant, ’s list of the books that made her is an eclectic mix of genres and stories.Hello, 38— 3 goals and a project for my next trip around the sun
Sunday Menu no.19— the apple dip you NEED this autumn
And coming later this week— what I read in September and graphic novels perfect for October.
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Thanks for being here!!
Cheers to October—
yes that is the appropriate amount of exclamation points and not a broken 1 key. 😄
Love your movie list. I need the encouragement to watch more "retro" films. I watched "Dan in Real Life" last week per our sister in seasonal living, Jo Bratt. I'm going to try to work through your list next!
Your birthday sounds so fun! I'm glad it was such a nice weekend. And I love the idea of watching older movies this time of year. We recently watched Mona Lisa Smile and Dead Poets Society and they were nice companion movies.