Links || September 16, 2022

You guys, September is upon us! Time flies when we're having fun, right? And working full time, and trying to keep up on the laundry, and mowing the lawn and grocery shopping etc etc until we're dead. 

I have two ways of opening up a blog - talking about the weather or talking about the passage of time, and I think it's because those are the two anxieties that do not just live rent free in my brain, they've bought up real estate and made it their forever home. And they're the kind of homeowners that put up signs in the yard, you know, so everyone knows their opinions. None of the neighbors like them. 

But September is one of the best months of the whole year and I am trying to just enjoy it. A glorious ratio (if we're lucky) of hot hot days and cool sock wearing days that for some reason, feels cozy and good now. It's also usually the last freaking bananas month at work and I am looking forward to the seasonal slowdown that accompanies cooler weather. Cozy up! 

But first, we had Labor Day and wasn't it wonderful. I just love how the summer is bookended with long holiday weekends that we've just sort of agreed signal the start and finish of the season. Go in and out with a bang. We had the usual plans - a houseful. And then Duke went back to school and all our old routines are falling back into place with a few new additions. I am once again packing a Spiderman lunchbox and taking calls from the carline, and this bit is new -  perching up to watch soccer practice and shopping for cleats and shin guards. 

Lastly, if it sounds like I've changed my whiny tune from the last post, rest assured, I haven't. I'm just forcing positivity because I think it works. I JUST LOVE THE SEASON THAT USHERS IN COLD WEATHER. See? We can be happy if we just put our mind to it. It's all really very lovely when it's time, but I'm hopeful for lingering days that will call for margaritas and drinking them outside.

Trying out the new Furnace Street Distillery in Elberta which has fine drinks, but the real money maker is the fleet of Adirondacks overlooking the Frankfort Bay in which to sip them. 

1 // ICYMI

In case you missed it

I mean, I have been writing (aka whining) this summer. Just not very consistently and even less regularly sharing it over to Facebook. 

Life Lately in July. 

I turned 34. It was anticlimactic.

Musings on this and that and the other thing.  

2 // SHOPPING

Got my eyes peeled for end of season patio sales. Maybe a new umbrella (with solar lights?!) and some new margarita glasses? We'll see. 

This stupid lounge set that I can't even think of a reason to need keeps popping up on my socials and I don't know how much longer I can tell myself it's stupid because actually I really like it. 

I would like to remind you that it's summer until roughly the end of September, but I'm still looking forward to fall TV. The return of SNL is always a highlight. 

Speaking of fall things, I have a wedding to attend the first weekend in October and I'm still shopping for a fall-ish dress that won't be uncomfortable if it's warm out, but won't be ruined with a sweater if it's cold. I'm waffling on this green one and or maybe this salmon-y colored one. 

3 // INTO IT

Inspiring me on Pinterest

Feeling very inspired to print some pictures and get them on the walls.  

Someone recently and kindly told me that green is my color and I've decided to believe them. 

For real though. 

4 // LINKS

Speaking of falling back into routines, what is your daily ritual? I wake up, drink a cup of coffee and play the daily Wordle. I say a prayer, tell myself that today I will not buy anything online, and if I have truly no self control, check my work email. Alternatively, I pep talk myself into not checking it and try to find a distraction, like online shopping.

Stunning university libraries for when you want to fantasize about being a student at Hogwarts. 

Pictures to make you laugh

The basics. 

Just in time for winter to turn my skin into sandpaper: An Exhaustive Guide to Skincare

I love board games and this one looks fun - if you have the right people on board. 

If you could win a year's supply of stuff, what would you choose? Some of these actual prizes are hilarious (L'eggs?!). Oh and assuming we'd all choose gas, groceries, and boring shit like that, my fun pick would be fancy shampoo or McDonalds coffee. 

5 // CONSUMING

Reading: I just finished Verity, which would tick the box for a spooky season read if you're into that kind of thing. Not amazing writing, but it had a "hook" and I was very curious to see how it would end, so I'd still call it a page-turner. An unknown writer steps in to finish the series written by a very well known, but incapacitated writer. Weird things start happening and like all thrillers, there's absurd twists and turns. It's also practically pornagraphic. Lots of descriptions! 

Listening to: My Favorite Murder and A Beautiful Mess. Both podcast's took a summer break and my morning commute especially is perked up by the fall return. MFM churns out so much content that I'm already behind, God bless them. 

Watching: Impatiently awaiting the return of SNL and The Crown (feels especially relevant now) this fall. Ryan and I watched the Manti Teo doc about catfishing on Netflix last week and that was wild. I'm still skeptical, but nobody's asking my opinion. Also recommended is the Shania Twain doc on Netflix. What an interesting collision of good luck, good timing, and good talent. 

6 // PLANS

Soccer practice first thing on Saturday morning, which seems criminal, but also very normal? I'll do it, but like, who decided it's a great idea to try and wrangle kids at 8am on a weekend? A precious WEEKEND day?!

Seriously though, this is the last free weekend for a while. Next weekend we have a baby shower downstate that will necessitate a lot of driving and then October is somehow booked with plans every weekend already. I am bracing myself for that sprint. And don't even talk to me about how close October is - speaking of criminal. But everything coming up is fun, and not obligational, so I think it'll be mostly just a whirlwind. 

So anyway, in preparation, I'll be indulging in lazy activities allllll weekend. Lots of reading, maybe salsa making (I'm inundated with tomatoes) and hopefully watching Dirty Dancing to bookend my summer. I introduced Duke to the Parent Trap this last weekend because it feels like such a summer movie to me. He was not impressed, but I sure was. I haven't seen it in decades and I enjoyed every moment of it. 

Happy Weekending! 

PS // Some of these links are affiliate links. You guys are smart, you know what this means. If you click the link, I might earn a couple pennies at no cost to you.