Where does the time go? We're entering a new month. A time of new Taylor Swift music, wearing oversized sweaters, re-watching Gilmore Girls, the smell of Autumn Harvest candle and the flickering of its flame in the night, the glow of golden ember colored leaves beaming with sunlight, festive-flavored lattes, Halloween movies or cozy Hallmark love stories that you can curl up to with a blanket on the couch. It's a chilly breeze in the morning as the sun comes up to start the day. It's Carole King floating through the speaker of your vinyl record player. It's flannel shirts, football games, gatherings for friends, good books and conversations, cooking new recipes you saw online, baking treats and dropping them off. It's all the goodness culminated in one month of the year. October feels like a warm hug. It's like being reunited with a friend or relative you haven't seen in awhile. Like coming home! I'm ready for all of its beauty and charms. |
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Lessons & Highlights from the month: |
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- “Being overlooked isn't a reflection of your ability. It's a reflection of the room. Of who gets heard, and who gets taken seriously.” I saw this on LinkedIn and it resonated with me. I always feel like I need to change my personality to be seen or stand out. But, it's really not about that at all.
- It's never too late to set new goals for yourself during the year. It's easy to set new goals at the beginning of the year when the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve. But, then the new-ness wears off and you have to figure out if you want to stay disciplined or if you want to quit because that's the easier way to go. It's comfortable. I've made a few new goals, maybe some are a little out there and will take more time, but it's on my mind. Something I'm working toward.
- I need to journal as a necessity, not just for the recreational purposes. I only journaled about 2.5 times throughout September and I noticed a big difference in my mental health and how I felt about everyday life. I was reading Modern Vintage News and this topic was brought up. Bethany Joy Lenz talked about how it was essential for her to journal, so she has to carve out time where she can, to do so. I'm the same way. And next month, I will be limiting my screen time (even more) or working on other things to process what's going on. It helps me make sense of the world around me and see what I'm actually feeling rather than letting things happen to me daily. It's also just good to document and keep track of life events and news in the world.
- No matter how long I live in California (my entire life, born and raised), I will never get used to the fact that it's still reaching temperatures of high 80s and 90s in September, even though the fall menu at Starbucks is out. UGH. I'm just ready for the sweater weather and hot coffees, sitting outside in the morning and letting the breeze blow by, or chilly nights where you need a blanket to curl up with.
- I really want to start something like a sort of physical magazine or pen pal writing or subscription box that finds ways to connect people. I think, more than ever before, people are craving creativity and connection. We're entering a new era of going back to simpler times of communication and authenticity.
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- Unknown Number: The High School Catfish
- My Life with the Walter Boys
- Gilmore Girls
- MOM
- Betrayal: Under His Eye
- Only Murders in the Building (Season 4)
- How I Caught My Killer (tried watching, didn't get very far)
- The Weakest Link
- The Summer I Turned Pretty (That finale!!!!)
- Thursday & Sunday Night Football (various games)
- The 1% Club
- Dodgers baseball
- Dancing with the Stars (Only for Elaine Hendrix, Danielle Fishel and Robert Irwin - we caught a couple of the other dancers just because)
- Impact x Nightline: Secrets of Sorority Rush (which led to more curiosity about sorority life…)
- A Sorority Mom's Guide to Rush!
- 99 to Beat
- The Truth About Jussie Smollett?
- PODCAST: Good Hang with Amy Poehler - Guest, Selena Gomez
- The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox (Playing catch up with the last few episodes -episode 5)
- The Floor (It's back on!)
- Law and Order: SVU (it's back for the fall premiere)
- Dateline season premiere
- Bedknobs and Broomsticks (wow, that was weird…2 hours I'll never get back)
- Under Wraps (a Disney Channel Halloween classic, watched part of it)
- The Golden Bachelor Season 2 premiere
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- The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O'Clover
- The Extra Life of Beth Behrs by Beth Behrs (substack)
- Feeling! Magazine by Jenna O'Brien (another substack)
- Deep in My Feels by Jennae Cecilia
- Between the Pines by Amber Palmer
- There's Pumpkin About You by Athena Carstairs
- Notes On 💌 by Hannah Connolly (especially her zines) (yet another substack)
- Discontent by Beatriz Serrano
- Bluebeard's Castle by Anne Biller (in progress)
- Do I Know You? by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
- Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca
- If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia (reread)
- Claire from Online (substack)
- Modern Vintage News (A newspaper, yes a real physical newspaper to hold in your hands) created by Bethany Joy Lenz - so much goodness and an escape from the world, but also addresses real problems, including uplifting and hopeful content.
- Liner Notes by Taylor Swift Style (substack)
- The Slow Living Lane by Sadie (substack)
- Poems & Prayers by Matthew McConaughey
- Awake: A Memoir by Jen Hatmaker
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- Naps (If I have any extra time, I will curl up on the couch and take a nap, whether it's 30-45 minutes or a couple of hours)
- Started ESPN Fantasy Football (Year 2) with my coworkers
- Getting more crafty - scrapbooking and creating collages.
- Reading poetry
- Watching documentaries
- Trying to balance all of the newsletters and emails and social media posts at work…And then I'm the genius who gives myself more newsletters to do…For fun. It's been incredibly overwhelming, and I'm trying to figure out my limits and what balance looks like.
- Making fancy coffees with Scotty P's Coffee (Luke's Diner Blend, Lavazza Coffee), Torani Coffee sauces and putting in clear cups to make it feel like I got a fancy coffee at an actual shop.
- Going to women's retreat at a church in Santa Clarita with a few good friends
- Visiting and swooning over Manhattan Beach area - watching the sunset while spending time with God is indescribable.
- Freaking out that Hilary Duff is making new music. Millennials are truly winning right now!
- Making social media templates for the release of “The Life of a Showgirl” by Taylor Swift in just a couple of weeks - Coworkers/friends and I are going to one of the first showings on Friday, Oct. 3. I'm also planning the aesthetic of my outfit of course (minus the bodysuit and feathers, you know? HA).
- Working on solving Murdle (Vol. I) mystery logic puzzles - a way to get a little screen break and focus on something else for a few minutes.
- Went to coffee with a couple of coworkers that I don't always get to spend time with since we're in the office on different days or just have busy schedules.
- Focusing on hydrating more throughout the day.
- Getting more involved in Bible studies with various organizations (one with church, another with Proverbs 31-First 5 and At the Well Community).
- Back on my Word Search game (I found one of The Office at The Dollar Tree).
- Tried to keep my dog from going through the fence of our neighbors' house with the cutest little doggy; Rory does not seem too fond of it.
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- Nashville Canyon, Pt.2 by Jessica Simpson
- Play (Extended Edition) by Ed Sheeran
- The One Day LP by Tate McRae
- Hilary Duff's discography [Metamorphosis, Hilary Duff, Most Wanted, Dignity]
- Just in Love with You by Joe Jonas
- That Was Us Podcast with Chris Sullivan, Sterling K. Brown and Mandy Moore
- Gilmore to Say Podcast: I Solemnly Swear These Are The Best Episodes of Gilmore Girls
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FAVORITE SNAPSHOTS FROM THE MONTH |
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SEPTEMBER → OCTOBER I'm looking forward to: - Taylor Swift's new album, “The Life of a Showgirl” and celebrating the release with friends - the night of the release and the next night with the behind-the-scenes film and gathering with coworkers/friends;
- House/dog sitting;
- Watching the episode of Shifting Gears that my aunt and I saw taped;
- Celebrating the Gilmore Girls 25th anniversary with all the things - events in LA, new merch and more;
- Pumpkins!!!!!! (eating the treats, carving them, taking pictures of them, all the things);
- Halloween;
- Baking more;
- Cooler weather and oversized sweaters;
- Coloring nights with friends
- Spending time with my nieces
- …So much more! You just never know what kind of excitement is going to pop up during these moments.
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Stars Hollow Ct.
Bakersfield , CA 93311, USA |
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