10 Things That Happened in September

I look forward to the “ber” months all year long and I’m always dismayed to find that when they get here, they absolutely FLY by. I’m not ready for September to end! I need more time!

But, alas. Here we are. Tomorrow is the first day of October and, while I’m sad the first “ber” month is over, I’ve gotta say I’m looking forward to all of the fall fun! The weather is finally starting to cool off and we’ve got pumpkin patches and spooky movies and all sorts of excitement ahead of us.

But first, we’ve gotta talk about all of the stuff that happened this month.

10 Things That Happened in September

• We went to Disney World! Of course this has to be the first thing we talk about. It could probably count for all 10 things, honestly. We planned this trip for a full year, and it was just so special and wonderful and fun. It was our first time going with my parents (they had never been!) and it was truly magical. I wish I could invite every single one of you over to watch a slideshow of all of our photos (yes, I still do that), but you’ll have to settle for the recap post instead.
• I sewed a pillow. I feel like this was monumental enough to make it onto the official list, y’all. I grabbed this craft kit from Target and had so much fun making my own ghost pillow. Side note: It has awful reviews because the punch needle it comes with isn’t great. I had a few issues with it but most of them were user error, haha. It worked fine for me, overall, but you could grab a different punch needle if you want to try it!
• I made a fall bucket list. Normally I make a big ol’ list for the entire family but this year I wanted to focus on myself. So, I sat down and made a big list of all of the things that give me fall feelings (see it below). It’s been fun to slowly start working on it and really focus on myself. Of course, some of it is family-focused, too! It has big stuff like going to the pumpkin patch and small stuff like finally trying a PSL (I’m not a coffee drinker). If you want some ideas, here’s a post with 100 fall bucket list items!
• We played so many games! We love family games but in the chaos of summer and the beginning of the school year, we don’t always make time. As things start to get slower and cozy in the fall, I love a game night. We tried this one (so funny!), and played this classic a lot. Oh, and I’ll never tire of playing this one with Jackson!
• I did aaaaall the fall crafts. I’ve been feeling extra crafty lately and I’ve been really loving creating some fall decor for our home. I painted faux pumpkins (twice!), added some ghosts to art, and even have a couple more crafts coming up that I haven’t shared with you yet. Don’t tell anyone, but I made some ghosts for the front porch and the cutest Halloween village that I cannot wait to share later this week.

• I turned 36! My birthday is at the end of September, and it was absolutely lovely. We didn’t do a ton to celebrate (we counted Disney as a birthday celebration for both of our birthdays – we were there on Corey’s!), but it was wonderful just the same. My boys gave me some sweet cards, I ate nothing but tacos all day long, and I ended it on the couch chatting with my two besties. It doesn’t get much better!
• We started planning a BIG backyard update! I can’t give too much away yet, but suffice it to say this fall is going to be all about the back patio and I can’t wait. There are a couple of projects that I’ve been dreaming about for our patio since we moved in, but nothing has felt right. A brand collaboration opportunity came along that just happens to be the perfect fit and I’ve got some huge plans. On a related note, if anyone needs a grill or an outdoor sofa, hit me up, ’cause I’ve got some stuff to sell!
• We started watching all the scary movies! We love to do a bit of a thriller/horror movie binge during spooky season, and we started a couple of weeks ago! So far we’ve watched the X Trilogy (Pearl was my favorite – the ACTING!) and American Psycho (a classic). I’ve got a long list of movies to watch, so we’ll be busy in October!
• I got back to walking. I’ve talked about this before, but incorporating a habit of a couple of short walks in my day has really been transformative for me. It gets me outside for some sunshine and fresh air, lets me get some audiobook time in, and helps keep my anxiety in check. Oh, and it helps me get my steps in for the day. Some days I go for longer walks, but often I just go for two or three 10-minute walks around the block. Knowing that my walk doesn’t have to be this big, long thing helps me get out there and just do it, and I’ve been amazed at the difference it makes.
• Speaking of, I started to slow down. The pace of fall is one of the reasons I love it so much. As we approach the holiday season I always find myself slowing down and appreciating small moments more. I take a second to soak up watching my boys chat while they walk to school. I pause to take photos of the fall sunsets and changing leaves. I set my phone down and close my eyes to take a big whiff of my favorite fall candle with the windows open. I wish I could be more consistent about this all year long, but it’s something I really excel at this time of year. And I love it.

Top 10 Products From September

1. I tried some fashion trends this month and honestly loved them all. Baggy linen pants, a bow in my hair, and a sweater vest worn as a shirt were all favorites that will be on repeat all fall long.
2. Recently started replacing my regular makeup foundation with this most days, and I’m obsessed. It feels (and looks) so lightweight and is perfect for days where I don’t want a full face of makeup.
3. This is kind of gross (and maybe TMI?) but I started using this every morning and I’m addicted.
4. Got a a new end-of-the-bed bench and it’s so functional and pretty. I love it so much!
5. These fall slippers have been on my feet basically 24/7 all month long. Grant even made me order a similar pair for him.
6. Jackson and I are on the third book of this series and it’s been so fun to read it together. I love a book written for kids that keeps me entertained, too!
7. This wardrobe basic made me nervous for a long time (can I pull it off?!) but I finally ordered some and I find myself reaching for them all the time.
8. It’s not nearly cold enough for this matching sweater set yet but let me tell you – I cannot wait to live in this outfit come wintertime.
9. Haven’t shared it anywhere yet but I got this art for above our bed. I wanted to live with it a while before I said anything, I can officially declare I love it with my whole heart.
10. And this fall art set that I used for my DIY ghost painting is definitely a fall decor staple, even if you don’t add anything to it.