Author: elspeththeblogger

My name is Elspeth. I'm young professional living life one day at a time. I have a passion for fashion, a love for living a clean and healthy life and I can organize anything.

Categories
Fabulous living

The Lazy Genius Life

Hello everyone! 

Happy Wednesday! How has your week been going? Feeling good and productive or just barely getting by? We are halfway to the weekend and nearing the end of October. I’m excited to continue to check off things from my fall bucket list over the next few weeks and weekends.

 

Another sign of fall, so many beautiful mums this time of year!

One of the things I am passionate about is personal development and growth. I truly believe no matter where you are in life or how old you are, you can be constantly changing, growing, and adapting. 

If you have been following my blog for a while you may recall I went through a big period of growth in college. I gained a lot of independence and really found myself in a new environment. 

I went through a similar transition when I started my first job. I went from a college student to a working professional, moved back home, met new people, and began my career.

Whether you are experiencing big or small changes, I believe we can learn and grow from them. 

One resource that I have really grown to love and learn from is the Lazy Genius Way. You may have heard of the podcast by Kendra Adachi. It has been around for years, but I found it within the last year and I have learned so much from her and this way of life. She also has published three books, (one just came out this month and I’m obsessed with it). Her tagline or mission is “Be a Genius about things that matter and Lazy about things that don’t”. I love the energy and kindness she brings to each podcast episode, book, newsletter and Instagram post.

She releases podcasts episodes every week and covers a variety of topics from starting small, time management, living in your season, and naming what matters. She also created thirteen principles to follow and steps to lazy genius your life. 

I look forward to her podcasts every week, they run between 25-50 minutes and are perfect for advice, life hacks, productivity, organization, time management and everything in between. Listening to her podcasts are one of my favorite moments throughout the week. I have even gone back and listened to older episodes or re-listened to my favorite ones. If you want to dip your toes in The Lazy Genius life, this is a great way to begin.

Let’s say you want to take it a step further, Adachi has three books that are informative, thought provoking and easy to read. I have found myself reading them in her voice. Her first book is called “The Lazy Genius Way” and in the book she breaks down the thirteen lazy genius principles, what they are and how to incorporate them into your life. This is a great building block to her podcast.

Her second book is “The Lazy Genius Kitchen”, it’s not a cookbook, rather it’s a way to use your kitchen, food, ingredients, and space to the best of your ability and a way that works for you. That’s another thing Adachi stresses in her books and podcasts, not everyone’s lives look the exact same, what works for someone else may not work for you and that’s okay. The Lazy Genius Kitchen is a great tool for navigating your space. 

Her third and most recent book is called “The Plan”, it’s all about time management, organization and most importantly, giving yourself compassion. What I love about this book is that she doesn’t give a list to follow or things to do to manage your time better, rather she gives you tools and examples that you can tailor to your life. I think this is such an important thing to remember. 

Some of the biggest lessons I have taken away from Adachi through her books and podcasts include starting small, naming what matters, compassionate time management, learning to pivot rather than plan and the importance of rest. I come away after an episode, book, or newsletter, learning something new and having tools that can help me in so many different avenues of life. 

I truly believe that you can always be learning and adapting in life and you never know how one person or book can change your life. I know I have changed my mindset and how I approach situations by using the tools I have learned from Adachi and The Lazy Genius Way. This is by no means a sponsored post, this is me simply sharing my love and appreciation for this new way of thinking. You can learn more about Kendra Adachi and the Lazy Genius Collective here. I hope this inspires you to check out Kendra or be open to a new book, podcast or concept, who knows, it may change your life! 

Happy Wednesday friends!!!

Categories
Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #116

Hello All! Happy Friday! I hope you had a wonderful week! I have a packed full weekend around the corner with family time, activities, and some fall fun thrown in there too! It will be a busy, but fun weekend. 

Pumpkin patches and farmer’s market stands bring me so much JOY!

Before I hit the ground running today, I wanted to share some things that I have been loving (hint-most of them are fall and entertainment favorites) as I link up with with Erika and Andrea.

Light a candle, curl up with a blanket and let’s dive in!

The Simple Sophisticate– Shay Shull of Mix and Match Mama recommended this podcast on her blog and I finally got around to listening to it. Shannon Ables started the podcast after her blog back in 2014 and still continues with episodes to this day. The theme of the podcast is all about living a simpler, calmer, and French way of life. Ables has such a soothing voice and attitude that you will find yourself relaxing and feeling peaceful no matter what she is talking about. I started at the beginning of the podcast and I have been loving all the different themes and topics. Episodes vary from 30-60 mins. Definitely worth giving it a listen to over the next few weeks.

The Home Edit– I love following The Home Edit on Instagram and love their show on Netflix too. I decided to check out Clea and Joanna’s book during my latest library haul and learned a lot from it. They give practical advice and ways to organize your spaces. Not only do they write about ways to organize areas, but they have great photos to demonstrate it too. After reading their book, I wanted to do a massive purge and organization.

Fall Harvest Mix-If you have been following along for a while, you know I love a good festival or seasonal food. My local grocery store had this seasonal harvest mix and I had to give it a try. It’s a delicious combo of sweet and salty. There’s peanuts, M&M, cereal, and peanut butter cups. It’s by no means a healthy trail mix, but it certainly satisfies the sweet and salty tooth. 

Gilmore Girls- Watching Gilmore Girls was on my fall bucket list and I’m slowing making my way through it. I started the show last year, but then life happened and I never finished it. Well, now I am back on the Gilmore Girls bandwagon and I have been loving it. It’s the perfect fall show to cozy up and enjoy. I know this will also help me get through the cold winter months as well too.

Nobody Wants This- This new Netflix mini-series is what everyone is talking about. Nobody Wants This stars Kristen Bell and Adam Brody and it’s all about a couple who starts dating later in life after not having luck in the dating department. There are so many funny one-liners and relationship connections besides the romance between the two main characters. I really loved the message how you can have a relationship after you have worked hard in your career. There are only ten episodes and they last between 20-30 mins, perfect to binge watch in a weekend. 

If the weather is getting cooler by you, I hope these favorites gave you something new to try or enjoy this weekend. What have been some things you have been loving this week? Let me know in the comments below! 

Happy Fall Friday!

Categories
Fabulous living

What I Learned From Two Years of Gardening

Hello All!

Happy Wednesday! We are in full on cozy season here, but I am still trying to get outdoors as much as I can even if it’s just for a walk with my dogs. 

A crisp morning where you can truly see all the signs of changing seasons.

Speaking of the outdoors, I am just wrapping my second summer of growing a garden and year two went very differently than year one.

Here’s my post from the start of the season when I had high hopes for this summer.

This year I had a mix of seeds and plants for vegetables. I had plans to harvest pumpkins, squash, strawberries, onions, peas, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers (yes, I know, I had a lot of expectations).

I kept my plants in a mix of soil and pots in different areas. I checked on them every day and watered them consistently and made sure they had lots of sun.

Unfortunately, this year’s harvest was not as plentiful as my first year. I found that the plants that I purchased did better than the seeds. 

Halfway through the summer

Some of my seeds did not even produce vegetables, which was a bit disappointing. 

The end of the season

I did get some vegetables like a tomato, a cucumber, and some strawberries and they were delicious and so flavorful!

Some of the tomatoes I grew
My cucumber!
More veggies

Once again, it was a fun experience, but a bit frustrating when I didn’t get the results I was hoping for.

Enjoying some of the fruits of my labor

My plan is to try and grow more vegetables next year and I goal is to buy plants instead of seeds.

Some of my fruits
Even more fruits, small, but mighty!

If you are an avid gardener, what advice would you give and did you have a successful harvest? 

The last of my harvest

I would love to hear about your experience so I can better prepare for next year.

Happy Gardening!

Categories
Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #115

Hello all! Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week and have something fun planned for the weekend. I am excited for all things fall this weekend as it will be a busy few days with lots going on. Needless to say, I am counting down to the weekend. 

Hint, this weekend will involve lots of festive, fall fun!

Before we get to all the fall fun this weekend, I wanted to share some favorite things of mine from this past week. Without realizing it, there’s a bit of a theme to today’s post, books and fall food, so if you are fans of either of those, you are in for a treat.

Speaking of treats, one of my most recent treats…snickerdoodles!

Let’s get to it as I link up with Erika and Andrea.

The Plan– Kendra Adachi’s third book The Plan is finally out. I got a chance to read it ahead of time and loved it. I plan on re-reading it now that it’s out in the world. Like Adachi’s other books, this one is very conversational and easy to follow. Not only does she talk about planning and organizing, but she gives real life examples and ways to get your life in order. She touches on her Lazy Genius principles and introduces some new ideas too! I will have a full post about the Lazy Genius way of thinking coming soon, but until then, go out and read The Plan today!

Fall Shows– With fall, comes the return of fall tv shows. Besides binge watching some of my favorite tv shows, I have been enjoying weekly shows like Grey’s Anatomy and The Masked Singer. I have watched these shows for years and always look forward to the weekly episodes. Even though I do love a good binge watch, it’s nice to look forward to a show every week to see what happens next.

Cook Books from the Library– I had a great library book haul a few weeks ago and that included some cookbooks. I love cooking, baking, and trying new recipes and often get ideas and inspiration from Pinterest. There’s nothing quite like flipping through a cookbook for new tastes and flavors. I recently checked out the second Magnolia cookbook by Joanna Gaines and have found so many great recipes that I can’t wait to try. 

Maple Granola– Speaking of food, I love seasonal foods and treats and can’t resist when I see something seasonal at the grocery store. I have been on a granola kick with yogurt and berries and decided to add some maple flavored granola to my rotation. It has been a delicious success. I enjoy granola on its own, but there’s something extra sweet with the maple flavor that screams fall. It’s a nice, subtle nod to the season. 

The Summer Pact– I have had The Summer Pact on my to-be-read list for the longest time and finally got around to reading it. It’s by Emily Giffin and I have read several of her books. She was recently on Books, Beach and Beyond to talk about her latest book and after hearing her talk about it, I knew I had to read it. It’s about three friends who go on a trip together in honor of their fourth friend who died while they were all in college. The three current friends are all at different crossroads in their lives and are all looking for clarity in their own ways. I really liked the book, but felt that it wrapped up a little too quickly. Just a warning, there is talks of mental health and suicide in the book. But, overall, well worth the read!

That’s a look into life lately and what I’m loving! I hope you have a wonderful fall-like weekend! See you back here on Wednesday!

Categories
Let's Look

Let’s Look: How We Prep for the Holidays

Hello all! Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a great week as we made it to hump day! I don’t know about you, but it is full on fall here, we have had rainy days, leaves falling and some sunshine peaking through, but the changing weather is getting me excited for the next few months.

Cool crisp fall mornings

This year has been flying by, I can’t believe we are already at the second week of October. It’s time for another Let’s Look, where we share different parts of our lives. Each month, I link up with  Shay and Erika to share my thoughts on different topics. 

Here’s what we have covered so far this year:

In January, we talked about How We Clean Our Closets.

In February, the topic was Things We Do Every Day

In March, it was all about what’s in our Grocery Carts

In April, we chatted about our Quiet and Prayer Time.

In May, we talked about Summer Staples.

In June, we shared our Summer Schedules.

In July, we chatted about our favorite TV Shows and Podcasts.

In August, we learned about our Pantry Staples

In September, we shared Easy Weeknight Meals

This month, the topic is how we prep for the holidays. I love all the seasons, summer is by far my favorite, but I do enjoy the “Ber” months…September, October, November and December. There is so much to look forward to, from the holidays, traditions, extra family time, and festivities. 

Fall, one of my favorite times of the year

As we get closer to the holiday months, I’m sharing how I prep for all the fun and I hope you will share some of your holiday prep hacks too! I don’t have my own home or family yet, so how I prepare may look a little different.

I always like to prep for the holiday seasons, by creating bucket lists, by writing a bucket or goal list, this ensures that things that I want or hope to get done, get accomplished. Some are big activities and others are little outings or things I want to cook or bake. For example, my fall bucket list includes celebrating Halloween, Thanksgiving, watching festive movies, enjoying holiday treats and Halloween activities.

I don’t know how I will celebrate Halloween on the actual holiday, but I do plan on making some festive treats, decorating and enjoying some Halloween movies. 

Some fall treats from last year

As far as Thanksgiving goes, we typically enjoy the holiday with family and then we have our own Thanksgiving dinner the weekend after. Preparations for Thanksgiving looks like figuring out what traditional dishes will be made, baking pies, and doing some decorating around the house. These are subtle ways to celebrate the holiday. There’s so much cooking and baking that goes into Thanksgiving that it is nice to just enjoy the time with family. 

A delicious, Thanksgiving spread!

Christmas always comes with the most prep. Once again, I make a Christmas bucket list of things I want to do around the Christmas season, from ice skating, baking cookies, shopping, looking at lights, and decorating. I like to make the most out of the Christmas season.

Prep for Christmas starts with decorating the day after Thanksgiving, it’s a tradition we have been doing for years and it’s always one of my favorite things.

I will also make a master list of people I want to buy for and set a budget. I keep a running list in my phone of who I need to buy for, what the gift is, the status of it, and how much I spent. Once all the gifts have arrived, I take time to wrap them all and watch a holiday movie. This method always keeps me organized.

I love to bake cookies around the holidays and one of the ways that I prep is by making one or two types of cookies a week leading up to Christmas. I will share some with family after I bake them and then store the rest for the holidays. This method ensures that I get all my baking done, but I’m not stressed getting it done.

After all the prep is done, it’s time to enjoy the holidays and relax. There’s only so much prep you can do, what matters is the end result and spending time with family and loved one around the holidays. They will be here before we know it, so I want to know what hacks you have to make the holidays smoother? Let me know in the comments below! Happy Holiday Prepping!

Categories
Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #114

Hello all! 

Happy Friday! 

I hope you had a wonderful week and are ready for the weekend. It’s the first weekend of October and it certainly feels like October. Fall is settling in which means several weekends of pumpkin patches, apple picking, leaves falling and cooler temperatures.

First signs of fall with the changing leaves

I’m excited to start crossing things off my fall bucket list. 

Before we get to a weekend of fall fun, I wanted to share some things that I have been loving this week as I link up with Erika and Andrea 

Midnight at the Pera Palace– The second season of Midnight at the Pera Palace came out towards the end of September and I have been slowly making my way through the season. It picks up right where season one end as storyline goes back and forth between the past and present. Although it can be hard to follow since it’s in a different language, the English dialogue does help, so do the subtitles.

Dot Pretzels-I was influenced by Erika and Shay to try these Dot pretzels and they are so good! I have only tried the original flavor, but I love the extra bite and zest they have. Definitely more flavorful than your average pretzel, but so delicious. I plan on trying on the other flavors too!

Large Lavender Lotion– I love lavender lotion and use it every night. I had been getting small bottles of lavender hand cream and lotion, but kept having to purchase refills more often than I would have liked. I decided to buy a large bottle of lavender lotion from Bath and Body Works. I love using a pump every night, it not only is softens my skin but soothes me as well. Definitely worth paying more for more product.

A Family Affair– Have you seen A Family Affair on Netflix? It stars Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron. It’s all about a widowed mom who falls for her daughter’s boss and let’s say things become quite the family affair. Although the storyline is for mature audiences, I really enjoyed watching it and I think the casting and chemistry was well done. Definitely a movie with adding to your watch list for your next movie night.

People We Meet on Vacation Casting– I’m a big fan of Emily Henry and I have read all of her books. Some are currently in the works to be made into movies or mini series, including People We Meet on Vacation! This is one of my favorite books by Henry and I can’t wait to see the adaptation. I’m familiar with some of the actors and actresses but I can’t wait to see them bring these characters to life. 

That’s a look into what I’m loving this week! As we fully embrace fall, tell me what’s on your bucket list for this month?! Let me know in the comments below! Happy Fall Friday!

Categories
Travel

Helpful Travel Hacks and Hints

Hi everyone and happy October. I hope your next few weeks are filled with fall fun, whether it be in the form of decorating, warm foods, walks, or corn mazes.

I’ve been spending as much time as I can outdoors while the weather is still nice.

I have been in a season of travel, from longer trips to weekend getaways and have been picking up some travel hacks along the way. 

If you are in a season of travel too or preparing for one with the holidays approaching, here’s some helpful hints I have picked up.

  • Packing Cubes– These packing cubes have been a game changer for me, especially for longer travels. I used packing cubes when I went to Rome and I fit so much in my carry-on. I had more than enough space for souvenirs to bring back and for all my clothes. They are also great for keeping dirty and clean clothes separated during and after your trip.
  • Travel Size Inventory- I have talked a lot about using sample beauty products when traveling. This is a great opportunity to use products you may be hesitant to try at home. I also try to use products that I am almost out of it and can throw away when I am away to save space coming back and to come home to fresh and fully stocked products. My motto is use it lose it!
  • Make a List and Take a Photo– I always make a list of what to pack when I leave whether it’s for a week or an overnight trip. I like to keep it in my phone, so I always have it with me. It also makes it easier when checking things off to make sure you have everything when you return. If you are a more visual person, lay out everything you want to bring and snap a photo. When you are ready to come home, check the photo to make sure everything is accounted for.
  • Pick a Color Scheme– I always try to be mindful when I am packing and that comes in the form of what I am bringing. I tend to choose a color scheme and stick with it. For example, in Italy, I wore black, white and red. This helped mix and match outfits and shoes. For a recent weekend away, I chose blue and white with a few accent colors, they were all neutral which made it easy to mix and match clothing items. Choosing a color scheme also made packing easier when you are only looking for a few colors, plus it helps with jewelry and accessories.
Black and white was my go-to colors for Italy
  • Bring an Empty Water Bottle– If you are flying or driving, bring an empty water bottle. This is very helpful when flying and you get thirsty as there are always places to refill your cups. If you are driving, it doesn’t hurt to have a cup to fill up at gas stations or rest stops, plus it saves you money and helps the environment.
This travel mug came in handy for a weekend out of town
  • Be Mindful of Your Bags– Think practicality over cute. I tend to be practical with what bags and luggage I am using, but I have fallen victim to choosing cute over practical and I faced the consequences. Rolling suitcases and backpacks may be the smarter decision when flying as opposed to totes. However, a tote could be great for a road trip for easy access for snacks and toys for kids. Always be thinking about what’s the best option for organization and practicality.
Practical for flying
Not as practical for flying…lesson learned

There you have it, some helpful hints that I have picked up when traveling. I am by no means an expert, so I am always open to new ideas. Tell me: what are some of your travel tips and advice? Let me know in the comments below! Happy Travels!

Categories
Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #113

Hello all! Happy Friday! I hope you had a wonderful week and it feels like fall wherever you may be. September started out with summer still holding now, but now as we get closer to a new month, fall is really starting to settle in. 

A crisp, fall morning by the water.

I hope you have something fun or relaxing planned for this weekend. Before you jump into the weekend vibes, I wanted to share some things I have been loving this week as I link up with Erika and Andrea 

New Hand Lotion– As fall has settled in more, I have slowly been transitioning more of my scents to match the season and that includes my hand lotion. I tend to get dry hands, no matter the season, so I always have lotion with me. Gingham Glow has been my new scent for the fall months. I got it from Bath and Body Works and I love the subtle and warm scent it gives off. In the spring and summer, I prefer floral scents, winter I like pine or minty, but in the fall I like subtle scents and this fits the bill. I also love how the lotions come in different sizes, so if you buy a scent and don’t love it, you don’t have to commit to it long term.

New Mascara- I am always trying different makeup products and brands and decided to try Super Goop mascara. I love SuperGoop for suntan lotion and wanted to test out more of their beauty products. I have been pleased with it so far. This mascara doesn’t necessarily give full and voluminous lashes, but it does a great job of separating the lashes (if that makes sense), plus I have found the more you put on, the fuller they get. I also really love that it’s clean makeup with not as many chemicals in it. I will be using the mascara, but I’m not sure if I will reorder it. 

Swan Song– I know I mentioned this book in Wednesday’s Currently post, but I loved it so much, I had to re-share. I ended summer by reading Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand. This was her final beach read set on Nantucket as she decided to retire and I really enjoyed it. There were a lot of references to past characters from other books, and I loved the description of Nantucket and all the restaurants and hot spots. Those are always my favorite parts of her books. The book follows a couple who moves to the island and immediately makes themselves a part of the community, but there is a bit of a mystery to them especially when they hire a girl who has no connection to Nantucket either. I like how there is more substance to Hilderbrand’s books, they aren’t just light and fluffy. This was not my favorite Hilderbrand book, but it was definitely worth reading and I loved that I have really gotten into more of her books this year. Now, I just need to go and visit Nantucket after reading all about it. Add it to the bucket list!

Grey’s Anatomy Trailer and New Season– Grey’s Anatomy’s new season returned last night on ABC. After a shorter season last year due to the writer’s strike, I’m looking forward to more episodes this year. If you didn’t watch last night, you can check out the trailer here. This season looks like it will be a good one with more drama, romance and interesting patients. If you watch, what are you looking forward to most this season?

Selling Sunset– I’m not a big reality show person, but I do love Selling Sunset. I have been watching the show on Netflix for years and always look forward to when a new season drops. This season was filled with more girl drama in the office, bigger homes to sell and of course lots of drama and crazy fashion. This show is always a good thing to put on in the background for some mindless tv. 

That’s a look into what I’ve been loving this week. Tell me, what are some things that have caught your attention? Let me know in the comments below! Have a great last weekend of September!

Categories
Currently

Currently #57

Hello All! 

Happy end of September! By the end of August, I was so ready for September. This has been a month of adjusting, finding new routines, and self care, plus family time, travels, and time reconnecting with friends. The seasons changed from summer to fall and now we are in full fall mode and I am ready for it. 

As we get ready for a new month just days away, I’m sharing a look into life lately. 

What I’ve Been Up To: 

I have been finding new places to run this month. I’ve run by the water and in different parks. It’s been fun to find new places and try new terrain to challenge myself.

Beautiful days as we transition from summer to fall

I also hit a new milestone in my distance by running 9.5 miles, which I’m really proud of. 

Another highlight of the month was getting my new Simplified planner for 2025. I went with Blush Block and can’t wait for the new year to break out my new planner. 

I also got in one last zoo trip of the season on a beautiful day. 

What I’m Wearing:

I have been trying to wear all my summer clothes before it gets too cold out. I have been wearing lots of shorts and blouse sets for heading out to dinner or time with friends.

This was another outfit I wore for work recently as we transition from summer to winter. The blazers are coming back.

I wore this for a day out and about and even though I wore white after Labor Day, the layers made me feel very fall-like.

What I’m Reading: 

Atomic Habits–Atomic Habits by James Clear discusses the importance of building habits, creating routines, and starting small. He goes in-depth about the science and psychology of habits. He also gives real life examples of how to start small and build up to making life changes. I love and thrive off a good routine and rhythm and found this book fascinating. I learned so much and it really helped me better understand some of my habits and how I can build off them.

Just for the Summer– Abby Jiminez’s Just for the Summer was a really easy book to get swept into. It’s about a man and woman who both have the same issue, they date people, break up and then the person they are dating find their soulmate. The man and woman decide to date with hopes of finding their soulmate next. But life throws them both some curveballs. This wasn’t your typical beach read, there is a lot of depth and meat to it.

Swan Song– The final Elin Hilderbrand, Nantucket book, Swan Song  follows a couple who moves to the island and immediately makes themselves a part of the community, but there is a bit of a mystery to them especially when they hire a girl who has no connection to Nantucket either. I like how there is more substance to Hilderbrand’s books, they aren’t just light and fluffy. here were a lot of references to past characters from other books, and I loved the description of Nantucket and all the restaurants and hot spots. 

The Lazy Genius Way– I have been a big fan of Kendra Adachi and listen to her podcast weekly. I finally got around to reading her book, The Lazy Genius Way and I loved it. She goes in depth with a lot of the topics she covers in her podcast. I love how she writes very conversationally. I also got a workbook to go alongside it and found myself taking notes along the way. If you are looking for a book on how to work and live smarter and not harder, this is it.

The Five Star Weekend– I was on an Elin Hilderbrand role this month between watching The Perfect Couple, reading Swan Song and listening to The Five Star Weekend. I really loved this book, it’s all about a woman who invites four friends from different points of her life for a weekend on Nantucket. I loved hearing how all the friendships came to be and about the weekend itself. The description of Nantucket makes me want to visit. I also loved the storyline and the unexpected twists and drama too. It gets 5 Stars from me.

The Rom Commers- I ended the month with the Rom Commers by Katherine Center. It’s about two screenwriters (one very well-known and one newbie who are paired together together to write a screenplay for a romantic comedy together. There’s tension between the two at the start, but in typical rom-com fashion, feelings begin to bubble. I really liked the character development, but there were a few plot points that seemed a bit far fetched. But the concept and ending were worth it.

What I’m Watching: This past month I have been catching up on shows as the weather gets cooler. I finished season four of Emily in Paris which was really good. I liked the second half more than the first., but overall it was a good season.

My boyfriend and I have also been making our way through Breaking Bad which has been a new genre to us, but a good show and I’m glad we are watching it. 

 I also watched the mini-series, The Perfect Couple which is based on Elin Hilderbrand’s book and really loved the series and it followed the book pretty close.

What I’m Cooking: I have been back on the cooking train and have really been enjoying cooking with seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Grilled Chicken and Peach Salad– This was such a flavorful meal. I loved the mixture of fruits and vegetables with the protein. I also have been adding feta cheese or almonds or pecans for some extra flavor. 

Ham, Cheese and Apple Flatbread- This was an easy lunch. I used sliced ham, provolone cheese and sliced apples on a flatbread and put it in the Airfryer for a few minutes. I loved the mix of flavors and the crispness of toasting it. This was a great fall-like meal too. 

Grilled Chicken and Roasted Zucchini– Another easy, flavorful, and healthy meal. I really loved the mix of vegetables and the flavor of the chicken combined with it. It also took less than an hour to make, super easy on a busy night. 

Chickpea Salad- i found this recipe on Pinterest and made it for my lunch for work. I really loved the chickpeas mixed with the vegetables and Italian dressing. It was very filling and healthy too, plus a great source of protein. 

Shrimp Stir Fry– This was an easy one pot recipe that was very filling and flavorful. It took under 30 minutes to cook the shrimp, rice, and veggies and combine them all.

What Inspires Me– I have been inspired by the warm weather and by trying to get outside for as much of the month as possible. 

A crisp, fall morning by the water.

What I Accomplished– I’m really proud of the time I have devoted to reconnecting with friends and family and myself. The summer, especially towards the end, was super busy and I got out of my routine and I’m really glad to have gotten back into a good rhythm this past month. 

Books, Beach and Beyond is one of my favorite podcasts to listen to while I run

Goals from Last Month– I really wanted to establish new routines and spend more time with my hobbies and I definitely did that. I’m also proud of all the time I have spent catching up with friends.  Plus, I did some traveling too which was fun!

Some of the places I have run.

I also accomplished a goal of creating a photo album from my family’s trip to Italy. I made on back from when I went in 2019 and created an updated one. I was so happy with how it turned out.

My mom and I had a girl’s night in and my pup crashed the party.

I ended the month with a weekend getaway that felt very fall-like with rainy and chilly temperatures.

Goals for this Month– I am looking forward to fully being in fall mode. I’m excited for fall fests, Halloween, plus some fun activities sprinkled through the month. I am also looking forward to accomplishing things on my fall bucket list.

That’s a look into life lately. Fresh starts, getting back into routines and the start of fall. What has your September been like? Are you ready for the new month? Let me know in the comments below! Welcome October!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #112

Hello All! Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week and are ready for the weekend. I know I am! I have some fun travel plans for the weekend that I have been counting down to for weeks! I am hoping this will be a picturesque fall weekend. 

This week was brought to you by an unexpected zoo trip before the end of the season

Before I get to my plans, I wanted to share some favorites of mine from the past week. I have some fall finds, some entertainment fixes, and a bit of seasonal fun too!

Let’s jump into it as I link up with Erika and Andrea 

New Candle Scent– Since September is a transitional weather month, I’m not quite ready to break out all the fall scents yet. Maybe in the next few weeks, but not today. I needed a new candle scent for my room and found the perfect transitional scent in French Vanilla. It’s a mix of vanilla, musk and amber and it’s from a local shop. One of my favorite things about this company is that in addition to the name and scent of the candle, they will tell you what scents make up the candle. I also love all the sizes the candles come in, this way you don’t have to commit to a scent long-term if you don’t love it. I have a mini size candle and it’s been perfect for me. I also couldn’t resist the cute mason jar it came in. This was a great choice as we transition from one season to the next.

Jewelry Pouch– This has been a recent life hack that has helped me immensely. I wear jewelry every day to work, but sometimes after work, I will go to the gym, for a run, or out for an activity and I don’t want to lose my jewelry in my car or purse when I take them off. Enter jewelry pouch! I always get these cute pouches from different pieces of jewelry that I purchase, but I never know what to do with them. Now, I keep a pouch in my car so whenever I get in my car and I need to take off my jewelry if I’m not going home right away, I can do it without worrying about losing it or it getting tangled. Then when I get home, I bring the pouch inside, unload the jewelry and put the pouch back in my car. Such a small change, but one that makes a big difference. 

Seasonal Fruit– As we say goodbye to the summer season, I have been doing my best to get all my favorite seasonal fruits in. Peaches have been a favorite of mine as of late. I have been eating them with my lunches, in salads, and on ice cream for dessert. They are such a sweet treat and I have been savoring them since I know we have such a short window for them. 

Wallet Switch– I carry a purse with me for work and for outings, but I also keep a wristlet with my credit cards, cash and keys with me wherever I go. I try to swap out my wallets each season so they don’t get overused. I have been using the same wristlets for year (usually a mix of Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Coach etc.) but when I was in Italy, I picked up a new one. It can fit everything I need and I love the light brown shade. It matches my purses perfectly and it’s a beautiful fall tone. Definitely a fall favorite!

Breaking Bad-This is by no means a new favorite, but my boyfriend and I started watching Breaking Bad and we are hooked. It took a little while for the show to get moving, but once it did we were sold. It’s a totally different concept than we are used to but we have been enjoying the drama and craziness that comes with the show. We just finished season one and now are onto season two. I’ll keep you posted on our progress.

That’s a look into life lately and some recent favorites. As we make our way through September, what are some things you have been loving? Let me know in the comments below! Have  fabulous Friday and fantastic weekend!