A Touch of Southern Grace

This collaboration has to be one of the prettiest I have seen so far. The colors chosen are just beautiful and can so be easily worn during the fall, winter, and spring months. 

Two// Anthropologie Christmas

I am slightly in disbelief that it is already time to start thinking about the holiday season and gift shopping… I know I have said this before, but I feel like it should still be summer! However, Anthropologie’s holiday collection makes this whirlwind year already landing us in October kind of worth it. I have already added so many things to my online shopping basket. I’m going to try to have will power and edit it, but no promises 

Three// Southern Living Pumpkin-Shaped Rolls

Is anyone else a complete sucker for seasonal food, especially when it is holiday themed? Because I am a 100% for them! I haven’t tried to make them yet, but these pumpkin shaped rolls are just too cute and look reasonably easy to make!

Four// J.Crew 30% Off Sweaters and Outherwear

Sweaters, coats and jackets is like 50% why I love the fall season so much! J. Crew has such a great selection right now, and this sale just makes everything that more tempting 

Five// Shopbop for Men

Shopbop finally added a section for men! I am so excited for this addition; it came just in time for the holiday season, making Christmas shopping that much easier!

If you haven’t read this book already, I highly suggest you do. This is the first book I have read by Sharon Cameron, and I cannot wait to read more of her books - absolutely beautiful writing!

Stefania, a Polish teenager, in the midst of World War II, is faced with many challenging decisions, but always chooses humanity and love over the easy the way during Polish life in the 1940s. Stefania takes on the responsibility of her six year old sister, and short after takes on the task of hiding 13 Jews in her home, despite the obstacles the present themselves throughout the book. 

The Hard Way Home, by Jean Grainger

This was one of the audiobooks I listened to last month. I have to say this book has a great narrator, but I honestly wish some things in this particular story would have turned out a little differently for the main character, Liesl. 

Liesl left Berlin with her brother at the start of the war in 1939 on the Kindertransport bound for Ireland, and has never truly felt at home anywhere since. She is presented with the opportunity through her University to go back to Berlin to compete in a debate contest. While there she has a chance encounter with a childhood friend that brings back a flood of good memories from her younger years and sparks a connection to her past that she hasn’t experienced in years. Unfortunately, what appears to be a whirlwind romance takes an unexpected turn. 

The Optimist’s Guide To Letting Go, by Amy E. Reichert

I feel in love with Reichert’s writing after The Coincidence of Coconut Cake {highly recommend}, and was so thrilled to come across another one of her books. I have to admit that I like The Coincidence of Coconut Cake slightly more than this one, but The Optimist’s Guide was a really great read as well!

After losing her husband, Gina does her best to make it through each day while trying to raise a teenage daughter, and is really only able to find comfort in her daily process of running her grilled cheese truck. When Gina’s mother suffers a stroke it forces her to look in herself and explore the unexplained and unanswered moments of her mother’s past, which takes both Gina and her sister on a journey, and the understanding the find in the past eventually sets them both on a happier life path of their own.

Malibu Rising, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

If you need a distraction from your own life, then this is most definitely the book for you. Without a five out of five star book – the character development, relationships, and storyline is something to be applauded. 

I have developed the worst sleeping habits over the past few months; I go to bed some nights around 2am, which, as you can imagine, makes me feel really sluggish the next day. 

Two// Read More 

At the start of the year one of my New Year’s Goals was to read 100 books, which at this point I’m pretty sure I’m not going to reach that particular goal… maybe in 2022… I am currently on book #38 & #39, so maybe I’ll be able to read 60 books by the end of the year. In August I read/listened to one book, this month I managed to read four books, which is a mark improvement from the previous month, so I am hoping I can read five or six books during the month of October.

Three// Exercise

I desperately need to get back into an exercise routine. Up until June, I either did yoga or went for a walk everyday, and I can so tell an overall difference in lifestyle when I do workout. My thinking is clearer and I sleep much better at night

Four// Stop Drinking Coke

Fact: Coke is my stress drink, which is so unhealthy, but I guess it is still healthier than beer, maybe? 

Five// Be Better At Saying No

I always felt so guilty telling someone ‘no’ – sometimes I honestly feel selfish in some ways when I do, and I end up neglecting things that I need to do. I just finished Malibu Raising, and one of the main characters in the book came to the realization that she doesn’t really live a life for herself, and that sentiment so resonated with me. Sometimes I feel like I get caught up helping someone with this and that to the point that I forget I need to help myself by saying ‘no’ and walk a path that is completely my own

Six// Take Better Care of Myself

I guess going to bed and exercising falls under this umbrella, but I also need to eat healthier, along with get back into a beauty routine, and not leave things to the preverbal ‘tomorrow’

Seven// Be More Organized 

For those of you who know me in real life, you know that being unorganized is completely out of character for me. I have been letting clothes pile up in my closet and email accumulate to a ridiculously high number. In other words I need to stay more on top of things

Eight// Post More Often On The Blog

I definitely need to be better about posting on here. Since the pandemic I haven’t done a very good job at being consistent with my posts and collaborations. To be completely honest I broke off an engagement at the start of 2020 – my life literally felt like a lifetime movie for awhile… the whole situation was just really disappointing on many levels… Once I started to move on from that my Grandmother’s health started to decline, and some nights everything just seems heavy that I just don’t really feel inspired to post. I really want to get married and have a family and sometimes I really worry about when that is going to happen, and I am so beyond ready to meet ‘Mr. Right’, but I have met some really nice people in the mean time. Even though I worry about it, I feel like I have a lot of good karma coming my way when I do finally meet him