September Favorites

October by far is my favorite month of the year.

It’s finally “fall” (though Texas doesn’t think so most days), and there are pumpkins and pumpkin-flavored goodies (like these truffles) everywhere.

I’ll be honest though, I’ve been decking out the house with pumpkins and eating pumpkin breakfast cookies since September 1st. Here’s the craziest things that happened in September:

• I drove 1500 miles round trip with my college roommate to Alabama to see our other best friend graduate with her pilot wings. You have to really like someone to drive that far together!
• WE FOUND A SNAKE IN OUR GARAGE. While I stood there for 10 minutes staring at it, it started to move (it was on one of those sticky pads). Nope nope nope. Also, another day I saw a praying mantis.
• I did a Tough Mudder with friends that was so muddy and insane that they had to call it about two hours in because it was too dangerous (medic ATVs were getting stuck). The entire course was literally 8+ inches of mud constantly. It was wild.

I installed the new iOS 12 update that has screen time limits, and I’ve been utilizing “down time” as well as limiting social media time. I’m writing a post about how things are going and how it’s changed my day-to-day. I can’t wait to share!

OKAY. Here’s the best things from last month!

Favorite Eats

• This Abundance Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing from Minimalist Baker that I made on a rainy day. INSANELY good, you guys.
• we’re very into cheese boards lately- partly because they look so pretty and partly because we’re adults and if we want to have a cheese board for dinner we can. I like this quick tutorial on how to make them.
• My Dallas/Fort-Worth peeps, I finally tried Spiral Diner and I’m hooked! My husband even at the nachos, y’all. I didn’t tell him they were vegan until the end! Teehee. I went another day for lunch and had their breakfast quesadilla and it was bomb. Even better than the nachos, IMO.
• One more quick thing: these Pumpkin Cacao Oats were very good.

Favorite Reads

• I’m such a nerd but this month I read Upstairs At The White House: My Life With The First Ladies by J.B. West, who was the head butler at the White House for several administrations. It was such an interesting read (and rather light). It gave such a neat perspective into what goes on in the daily lives of the First Families inside that big house (and how it’s changed over the years).
• Still re-reading Present Over Perfect before bed and I’m loving it.

Favorite Purchases

• Technically didn’t buy this hilarious dog mug but I need it SO MUCH and had to share it with you guys.
• After trying brand after brand of mascara from Sephora, Ulta, etc., I always come back to this drugstore one that’s the best. Sometimes you just go with what works!
• I ordered this clay face mask off of Amazon and I’ve been using it about once a week for a month. I’ve noticed such a difference in the smoothness and oily-ness of my skin and I’m also breaking out way less. It comes as a powder and you just add water to make as much or as little as you need.

Reader Faves

Here are the recipes y’all liked best this month!

• How To Make Chai Tea Concentrate From Tea Bags (hello, fall chai tea lattes!)
• Lightened Up King Ranch Casserole
• Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies – an oldie but a goodie!

I’m excited to bring y’all lots of good recipes in October and also share some fun pieces about my screen limit experiment and holiday budgeting!

I hope your week is off to a great start! Be sure to follow me on Pinterest and Instagram for more yummy recipes and lots of home decor!

P.S., like this kind of posts? Check out the August Faves here.

Happy October!