Happy November my loves!
Saying that makes me do a quick double take over the last month and I wonder if it even existed. Is October truly over? Surely it can’t be! The fall activities will continue to be enjoyed this month, I refuse to let Ms.Carey rush me into the winter holidays.
October was a Jekyll and Hyde month for me. There were its ugly moments and its good moments. But I feel like I entered the month one way and come out much differently. As I writ this we have not fallen backwards yet, but in some way I feel I have fallen backwards.
Not in the sense of falling back into bad habits or old mindsets. But I have taken a step back to evaluate this year. Am I happy with how things have been? Where can I improve? How can I do things differently? No longer do I feel a rush to accomplish and check so much off, I am fine with meeting small goals. Or simply even starting some.
I am happy with the habits I have cultivated and the correction I received. I don’t think of this as a month of reset. Rather a month of reflection and sitting with the Lord and asking Him what have I missed. What was I meant to learn from certain events and moments that took pace over the course of this month and year.
I look back with a heart of gratitude not realizing how much I have grown, how much I gained and how much I have lost. I look at at it all the beautiful, the uncomfortable and the ugly with a grateful heart.
Thank you October.
reading
Reread kitchen by banana yoshimoto because in all honesty I just could not for the life of me pick up any new books to read
Loving this article from the new york times cooking section on eggs because as a person who despises certain foods just for existing and their texture I have grown slowly into liking eggs
hyperfixating on this topic of the obsession with customized drinks because seriously why do we feel the need to fill our drinks with half way with sugars and sweeteners and like a dollop of coffee? And this is coming from someone who thoroughly enjoys an iced mocha or peppermint hot cocoa once in a while but just seeing those dunkin donut coffee shorts makes my heart seize up (and not in a positive way)
eating
the yummiest pumpkin spice chocolate chip cookies from traders joes and chocolate chip pumpkin bread also from trader joes
My mother also made the most AMAZING beef stew that warmed me in both body and soul and I am begging her to bring back next month
Breakfast for lunch or dinner is back in I feel like breakfast should not just be limited to the mornings
playing
a LOT of stardew valley. you know the feeling of finding your old nintendo switch and remembering that random game? well i’ve been farming and fishing like crazy the entire month. ending my days with the fall candle lit, lofi in the background and stardew valley makes the evenings so cozy
this super cozy fall playlist during my commutes
the great pumpkin charlie brown and your elected charlie brown
mona lisa smile
obsessing
this sweater I got on sale from american eagle quite literally feels like a big warm hug
limited myself to one fall candle this year and found this one and absolutely LOVE it
the hot mess of secret lives of mormon wives. i don’t even think i finished it and if i did it must have been a train wreck cause you mean to tell me these women were of SOBER MIND acting this foolish? i think it was all the sugar from the sodas
the french tip nails + fall color combo
recommending
your local theatre - seriously if you can go the the theatre at least once please do so even if you’re not a huge musical theatre person see what stage plays they’ve got going on. dress cute, go see a show and eat somewhere nice afterwards
herbal teas to help fit the winter blues - we’re getting less sun and need those vitamins ya’ll
having a night routine- set a few habits for winding down and slowing your mind down for the evening
a moisturizing skin and body care routine
ginger hair on all the black girls please do it
the ORIGINAL gossip girl (sorry the reboot was not giving)
treating
fuzzy and slouchy socks (especially christmas themed ones)
a new everyday tea mug for the holidays cause I broke mine over the summer
a weekly self care date
cozy pajamas
a gossip girl week marathon filled with mocktails and yummy treats
a new “big girl” wallet
slow mornings and evenings
longform digital content and magazines
How has October treated you? If you were to fall back and reflect, what would you see? Who would you see? What thinks have you lost? What have you gained? Where does your gratitude lie in?
With much love, Brooklyne