Ahhh… October, at last!
The summer months often feel like a continual whirlwind for our family — not because we’re traveling or “too busy” but because there is always something fun going on, and rarely any defined plan.
Whether it’s neighbors coming to swim, family stopping by for dinner, starting a bonfire, going on a bike ride, or meeting friends at a park, it’s all fun things. There’s no routine or schedule to our days (it’s a nice change of pace, but challenging for my personality.)
Once school starts up in September, it takes me a few weeks to find my new groove and get all my ducks in a row again. But there are so many extra beginning-of-the-year meetings, kick-offs, and gatherings for school and church that my brain swirls trying to keep up with everything.
When October finally arrives, everything feels more settled (which I’m grateful for)… and this year is no exception.
I’ve actually finished all my daily to-dos for several days in a row, we aren’t as busy in the evenings, our weekends are more open, and holiday stuff hasn’t started yet.
Thank you, October! 🥰
FAVORITE MOMENT = Hair Tuck
It might not seem like a big deal… but I can officially tuck my “bangs” behind my ears for the first time in 12 years!
I still have a long way to go (pun intended!) but I think I’m over the most awkward stage — whew!
I continue to cut the back to avoid a mullet, but we’re ALMOST to the point where it will all start evening out. I can’t wait!
FAVORITE Routine = Solo Lunches
For the first time in many, many years, I get to enjoy eating lunch in peace and quiet a few days each week.
Not only can I eat whatever I want whenever I want to eat it… but my hot food is actually hot when I eat!
There’s almost no cleanup, no children asking me 57 questions or complaining about their food, and if I want the last cookie, I can have the last cookie. 🍪
Often, I read a book while eating — so luxurious!
Yes, I might look back and miss the days when all my children are huddled around the table for lunch… but I’ve still got breakfast and dinner for now, so just let me enjoy my solo lunches!
RELATED READING: Our Favorite Easy At-Home Lunches
PAST FAVORITE = Spider Spray
The one thing I don’t always love about cooler temperatures in October is the bugs that make their way into our cozy warm home.
I’m sure all homes deal with this to some degree, but the fact that our 132-year-old home has lots of quirks and cracks doesn’t help.
We see some giant spiders this time of year, and my job is to keep them outside. I use Ortho Home Defense spray every few weeks this time of year — spraying around the exterior foundation, window sills, doorways, and also in the basement.
I spray room-by-room inside as well.
It seems to work and I usually notice a decline in spiders/bugs almost immediately after spraying.
RELATED READING: How we prepare our home and yard for fall
FAVORITE CLOTHING = Trench Coat
In general, I think most things at Eddie Bauer are WAY overpriced, but I’ve gotten some amazing deals on super quality items by shopping their end-of-season sales.
That’s how I happened upon their “Girl On-The-Go Insulated Trench Coat” almost 6 years ago!
I was shopping their “end-of-season” sales in February (specifically looking for a new winter coat)with a $75 Christmas gift card. Thanks to lower prices on everything back then and a deep seasonal discount, I got the coat for less than $10 out-of-pocket!
I’ve worn this coat every fall, winter, and spring since.
In my (not-so-fashionable) opinion, this coat is dressy enough to wear with a nice outfit to work or church and casual enough to wear outside in the snow or on a farm field trip.
The removable layers and hood allow it to function well for almost any temperature… and it’s water-resistant, so it works wonderfully as a raincoat too (and washes up easily).
I’m not sure if trench coats are still in style these days with all the crop coats popping up, but this specific coat is still in the store by me (I specifically checked last week) and you can get it online too.
If you’re in the market for a workhorse of a coat, I highly recommend this one!
FAVORITE BOOK = Anne of Green Gables
I thoroughly enjoyed rereading this classic last week. I moved onto Anne of Avonlea this week.
Man, I love these books!
And how perfect to share it in October — when one of the most widely-quoted lines from the entire book is, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
I also really enjoyed the Netflix series, Anne with an E, a few years back.
If you don’t have time to read the book, treat yourself to the Audible version, read by none other than my favorite Rachel McAdams.
And this 6-book set (with accompanying journal) would be a fantastic Christmas gift for the young reader on your list.
READ THE BOOK: Anne of Green Gables
FAVORITE MEDIA = Where The Crawdads Sing
I know this is technically another book, but it’s also a movie and I read/watched both this past month… so I’m grouping it into the media category.
I’m normally not a “read this book because everyone is reading it” type of person… nor am I into “murder mysteries”, but a friend from church loaned me Where The Crawdads Sing after I realized there were over 300 holds on it within our library system (thanks to the movie).
Honestly, I couldn’t put it down.
Strange and sad, but well written and the plot just sucked me in.
I debated if I wanted to watch the movie or not… I was leaning towards “not” because I thought it might be too graphic. However, last week, the local library offered it free one afternoon, so I went with a couple of people from church and it was really good.
Personally, I think it should be rated R (not PG-13) but I guess that’s how movies are these days.
I’m glad I read the book before watching the movie — the book is better (duh), and I would have missed many little details if I had only watched the movie.
READ THE BOOK: Where the Crawdads Sing
FAVORITE HOBBY = Baking Bread
I almost always take a bread-baking hiatus over the summer months… simply because it’s too hot and I don’t want to spend lots of extra time inside.
I still grind grain and use my sourdough starter all year long for pancakes, waffles, quick breads, crepes, English muffins, etc. but I rarely bake risen bread or rolls.
However, thanks to cooler temperatures and a little more time, I’m back into my routine and it feels good. The house smells good, the bread tastes so fresh, and I’m excited to try out new recipes again — it doesn’t feel like “one more thing” I have to do.
I’m currently experimenting with half whole grain half white flour sourdough sandwich bread.
- mix up the dough after dinner (5 minutes)
- let it sit on the counter all night
- form it into loaves after breakfast (3 minutes)
- let it rise for 4-5 hours
- bake it after lunch
- eat it for dinner!
It takes time to rise and bake, but very little “hands-on” time.
I’m tweaking a few things yet, but I’ll probably share it once I feel it’s good enough 🙂
RELATED READING: My Bread Baking Recipes and Tips
FAVORITE RECIPE = Cheese Tortellini Soup
Speaking of recipes… our family’s favorite Sausage and Cheese Tortellini Soup is on this week’s menu plan (along with the sourdough bread I mentioned above), and I think we’re all looking forward to it!
I didn’t make this recipe over the summer, so this will be the first time we’ve enjoyed it in many months.
Dave and I are looking forward to leftovers for lunches too.
It’s the perfect throw-together comfort food for busy weeknights in the fall!
TRY THE RECIPE: Sausage and Cheese Tortellini Soup.
FAVORITE QUOTE:
Earlier this week, as I read through my favorite newsletter, The Pour Over, this quote caught my attention.
“There may be good reasons to be worried about this day, month, or year. God does not promise good days; He promises a great eternity. Stay focused on eternity; it changes everything.”
Their company motto is: “eternity changes everything”.
It reminds me of one of my favorite Bible verses: John 16:33 “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
FAVORITE ARCHIVED POST = Halfway – encouragement for the really long days
It hardly seems possible that it’s been 5 years since I wrote this encouragement for the REALLY longs days.
5 years since I realized I was essentially halfway between bringing my first baby home from the hospital and sending my last one off to school.
5 years since my oldest was 5… and now here we are, just finished celebrating our youngest’s 5th birthday.
Wow — what a 5 years it has been!
If you’re in a season of long days, I certainly hope this post encourages you too!
Read the full posts here.
Whew — that’s all for me this month. 😆
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Moira says
Hi Andrea,
I always enjoy your blog: good suggestions and a calm, relaxed, homey atmosphere that most definitely comes through and helps me slow down a bit!
What you’ve been sold as a trench coat is not one, in fact, but is a nice and warm-looking insulated coat with a hood. A real trench coat is double breasted, for one thing. Look at the coats favored in 1940s films noir: They’re usually tan, double breasted of course, belted, have no hoods, and are classics that never go out of style. I’m in need of a new one myself, and I’m on the hunt!
Thanks again for all the work you put into your blog for us.
Katie says
Lands’ End is a great place for coats too! Similar to the book bag deals, I shop clearance and wait for a good coupon (even better if I have a gift card too!) I just got coats for my 3 kids and spent $63! And my 2 girls are wearing women’s sizes now so 2 of those were adult coats. 🙂
Andrea says
Yes, we get all our swimsuits and backpacks from Land’s end. The kids still all have the backpacks they got in Kindergarten and they are all still in perfect condition!
Paulette says
Andrea, I think this monthly post is your very best IMHO! I’ve added so many of your favorite things to my favorites…like “Atomic Habits” and your baked sandwiches to name a couple. And you have great hair by the way. It looks good at most any stage. Thanks for taking the time to share your life.
Andrea says
oh thanks!
I love writing my favorite things posts… So I’m glad people enjoy reading them too!
stacie says
Andrea your hair looks great!!!
Andrea says
aww… thanks so much!
Ashley says
Your hydrangeas are beautiful! Thanks to your recommendation, I purchased the same coat a few years back and also love it! The “Anne” set is beautiful, such great books! Enjoy every one of your quiet lunches. I share all 3 meals with all 3 of my kids, so I very deeply feel the joy of eating in the quiet, alone, with a book, on my own schedule!
Andrea says
oh yay — glad you are also enjoying the coat!
Enjoy those rowdy meals with your boys — I’m sure they will look back with fond memories on your days together 🙂
Leanne says
I have this theory on the cropped coat… charge just as much as a full length, but gives half the material…more profit for the company… more profit for the medical community… I don’t waste money on fashionable coats…I would recommend to your readers that a LOT of companies give a discount to teachers, nurses, and other first responders… I always get 10% off at LLBean with their discount… and that makes an “investment” option more palatable! Your hair looks very cute!! loved this post!!
Andrea says
haha — that was my thoughts exactly regarding the cropped coats (and all cropped shirts in general)!
And yes, we did find out about the 10% teacher discount a while back so we’ve used that a couple of times. However, I buy most of our clothing from thrift stores –and they don’t take teacher discounts. LOL!
Leanne says
they should!!!! glad you are back blogging!!
Rebecca B. says
These posts are my favorite! We are so similar! From lack of routines being hard on us, to not liking to read crazy popular books (that family is alwaysss trying to get me to read!) I’m just starting out with littles and your posts are encouraging, funny, and give me a little hope for one day being able to read while I eat lunch! Happy October!
Andrea says
well, I won’t ever tell you to “enjoy every moment” because I know that’s not possible. But as someone who struggled through the infant and toddler years, I can say that LOOKING BACK, it felt like it went quickly. I would not have agreed when I was right in the middle of it though (so it’s completely normal for you to hope for quiet lunches some day!)
Happy October to you too!
Rene says
I always enjoy your posts so much! I have breakfast all by myself every morning when it is quiet and I just enjoy it so much. I love breakfast food, so I’ll make myself a special breakfast, sit outside on the deck overlooking the ocean and reading only one chapter of the book I am currently reading. It is a very special time that has become a tradition for me! My kids are much older, Grade 12 and grade 7, but that absolute solitude is bliss! Enjoy your solo lunch, it is very special
Andrea says
Thanks Rene — yes, I’m loving my quiet lunches! You keep enjoying your quiet breakfasts (I often eat breakfast foods for my lunch!)
Chris says
I really like that coat! Awesome that you got such a good deal!
I have that exact soup recipe from your blog on my Fall Pinterest board. Looking forward to having it again.
I love Anne of Green Gables. L. M Montgomery also has some other good books, such as Rilla of Ingleside, and there are some movies from some of them like the book Jane of Lantern Hill made into a movie, Lantern Hill.
Sullivanmovies.com has some of these movies, I believe.
Even though I don’t have kids, I don’t want to watch movies with profanity, sex, etc. So I like to look movies up on kids-in-mind. It is very detailed in what is included in a movie in profanity, sex, violence, etc. It also defines profanity.
One year my husband and I got the series Tales of Avonlea from the library and really enjoyed it.
Andrea says
Thanks Chris — another person mentioned the Sullivan Movies — I’ll have to check them out for our family movie nights 🙂
Meghan says
I reread all the Anne books when life was slower in 2020. Such a gift during that time!
I’m glad October is a “slow” month for you all. In our home, it is about as crazy as May. I just asked a friend to pray for me because I feel like I can do it all. . . Until I can’t. Lol
Andrea says
I re-read all the Chronicles of Narnia during “lockdown” in 2020 — that was fun too. I definitely got SO much more out of them as adults than I did when I read them in middle school. Blessings to you as you navigate your busy month of October! I hope you are able to find little pockets of rest in each day 🙂
Amanda says
Ahh, Anne of Green Gables, yes! A timeless favorite here too! I was just listening to it on librivox with my daughter, while we were working in the kitchen. Anne makes me laugh and sometimes get teary. And now I want to read, “Where The Crawdads Sing”! Thanks for the encouragement you share! I’m excited to hear your method for the sourdough bread. I’ve been interested in trying that for a while, but thought it would be a lot of mess! You make it sound pretty simple!
Andrea says
I think everyone makes sourdough seem SO STRESSFUL, but it’s really very simple once you have your routine down. As with all things, there’s a learning curve — and truthfully, it can be really messy if you spill (because the starter is SOOOOOO sticky) but I’ve never had issues with it 🙂
Nancy says
The three things I’ve gotten at Eddie Bauer have been spectacular and I’ve had them a long time. One dress since 2001, I bought it for my Dad’s funeral. It’s perfect for weddings, funerals, mother of the whatever and you can’t wrinkle it.
Andrea says
oh wow – I didn’t even realize they had “dressier” dresses. That’s amazing that you’ve been able to wear a dress for over 20 years (good for you for staying in shape too!)
Janice says
I so enjoy reading your posts! I purchased Eddie Bauer’s Girl on the Go all weather coat years ago after it was recommended by Francine Jay in her book The Joy of Less (or maybe it was her blog.) It has been a keeper over the years and I have recommended it to my family and friends!
I just gave my granddaughter the Anne of Green Gables DVD set (Kevin Sullivan’s version) after she read Anne of Green Gables over the summer. GazeboTV has it where the trilogy can be downloaded for $30. Sometimes they offer discount codes too.
Andrea says
Good to know about the Anne of Green Gable’s downloads 🙂 I’ll need to look into that. Nora read one book over the summer and loved it 🙂
Glad you are enjoying your coat too!
Michelle says
That’s a great coat … but I can see why you’d want to buy it on sale!!!
Andrea says
yes, I rarely buy “new” clothing (usually second-hand) but if I buy new, it’s always deeply discounted. I just don’t love clothes enough to be willing to spend so much money on them! They are necessary, but not something I feel passionate about 🙂