November 1st (er, November 7th… whoops!!) I can hardly believe it!!! How did we get here?! This year is absolutely flying by and I just don’t know how to feel about it. The summer feels like a fever dream, yet it’s also just a matter of days before Christmas music starts playing in the stores. Does anyone else feel like the passing of time has gotten so much more confusing these past two years?

This month was a super busy one. We have been so go-go-go for the majority of October that I can hardly wrap my head around the fact that it’s over! Here’s a glimpse of the last few weeks:

things read

  • The People We Keep by Allison Larkin – I adored this book. I can’t even really explain it, but I can just feel that this one is going to stick with me.
  • Untamed by Glennon Doyle – this had been on my TBR list for so long. I’d heard all the rave reviews about it, but just never really felt compelled to read it until I picked it up at my local bookstore. Truth be told, it was a book that just felt nice in my hand and I felt like I needed it!! It sat on my bookshelf in my apartment for a couple of weeks and when I did finally decide it was time to read it, I devoured the whole thing in just a few sittings. Couldn’t put it down. My copy is now covered in sticky tabs and highlights. I couldn’t recommend it enough.
  • The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows – didn’t like this at all. I couldn’t get into it and never felt like I was fully invested in the characters or the story. Which is so sad because I know how much other people love this book!
  • Live Your Life: My Story of Loving and Losing Nick Cordero by Amanda Kloots and Anna Kloots – This book broke my heart. I am an Amanda Kloots stan through and through, and this book only made me respect her so much more. Highly recommend, but prepare for tears. Lots and lots of tears.

things baked

  • chocolate chip cookies from Claire Saffitz’s cookbook Dessert Person – quite possibly the best cookbook I ever bought myself, I flip through this one multiple times a week. These cookies were dangerously delicious and GIANT.
  • chocolate chip cookies from Ina Garten’s cookbook Modern Comfort Food – …and these ones were basically a total fail. I may or may not have used slightly expired baking soda and hoped for the best and it did not work out. I will say the cookies still tasted great (which almost made it worse) but they were so ugly I couldn’t bear to bring them to the party that I made them for LOL – do yourself a favor and replace your baking soda next time you go to the grocery store!

things made

  • I cannot even lie to you guys, we barely cooked anything this entire month. Happy to direct you to a plethora of wonderful Carroll Gardens takeout spots, though.

things drank

  • Starbucks Shaken Iced Espresso with almond milk, no Classic Syrup and 2 pumps of White Chocolate Mocha Sauce – saw this on TikTok and now it’s all I think about. Try it and thank me later!!! (See also: I think I’m becoming an espresso girl? TBD, stay tuned.)

things eaten

  • Bread Alone San Francisco Sourdough – I literally cannot stop buying this bread. It’s a staple in my grocery basket every single week and I can’t get enough of it.
  • Sartori Merlot BellaVitano Reserve Cheese – signs of a good month are when this section contains only bread and cheese. Kidding, but clearly we fell off the healthy eating wagon somewhere this month. This is one of my all time favorite cheeses and I felt like you guys needed to know about it.

things loved

  • Yogalicious High Waist Ultra Soft Leggings – you absolutely cannot beat these $19 Amazon leggings. I found these buried in the back of my workout drawer (very close to laundry day, hence the deep digging) with the tags still on at the beginning of the month. I’m not sure when I got them, but the fact that they have been crumpled in the back of a drawer since that day is UPSETTING! They’re my new favorite leggings – super soft and very flattering. They have just the right amount of suck-you-in, but without being uncomfortable. And I now need them in every color, which is convenient because, $19 and free shipping with Amazon Prime.
  • Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag – did you know you needed a belt bag? Because you do, you absolutely do. The perfect bag to throw on for your morning walk, whilst running errands or when you just generally want to be arms/hands free. It’s like having a shelf constantly at your fingertips. TY, KB for this one!!! 🙌🏼
  • The Claw Clip – didn’t leave home without one all month long. Can’t even remember a time where I’d leave my hair down for an entire day and not sure I will ever be able to go back. Buy some, or don’t because there’s no turning back once you do.
  • Tide Powder for CLEANING – went on a real cleaning binge this month and put a serious dent in my huge box of Tide. Every time I clean with Tide, I am absolutely amazed at how well it works. Our shower has never been cleaner. Here’s an article if you’re interested in how to use it!
  • new glasses! – for the first time in probably 2 years my glasses are the right prescription and it is life-changing. I can’t believe how much of a difference some new lenses have made in my life. Consider this your reminder to go and get your eyes checked.
  • The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Exfoliating Peeling Solution – picked this up at Sephora and feel like it’s made such a noticeable difference in my skin already, after only a few uses. It kind of burned a bit the first time I used it, but I haven’t noticed that since the first use – perhaps not for the most sensitive of skins! But my face is SO soft after using this ten minute treatment. And the best part is it’s only $7!

things watched

  • Dancing With The Stars – I’m officially hooked and genuinely look forward to watching every Monday night. I wasn’t sure I could really get into a dancing show, but boy, have I been proven wrong. I still cannot get over this performance!!! Any other fellow DWTS-watchers? Who are you guys rooting for?!
  • The Voice – does anyone else cry at every single performer on every episode of this show? I seriously cannot help myself, I get so emotional watching! Something about talent shows – especially singing ones – just kills me.
  • Ted Lasso – I finally get the hype. It took a while, and we had to re-watch a couple of episodes that I spaced out watching, but I finally get it.
  • The Many Saints of Newark – ahhh, we loved this! After being let down by The Sopranos, we weren’t expecting to love this as much as we did. It kinda made watching all 6/7 seasons worth it just to be able to fully understand this movie. Once it ended we both agreed we could have watched another hour of it, and actually wanted to watch it again. Definitely an interesting watch if you’re a big-time Sopranos fan.

things listened to

  • BRIGHTSIDE and BIG SHOT singles off the upcoming Lumineers album and loved them both – true Lumineers fan girl over here.
  • Crutch by Band of Horses – a random track that’s been on repeat all month

things done

  • Smorgasburg – always a hit. I hadn’t been in a few years, but it did not disappoint. Highly recommend any and all of the dumplings and of course, Big Mozz – the biggest and best mozzarella sticks you’ll ever have.
  • Mt. Joy concert – this was such a good concert!!! Fun Fact: Ry and I actually saw them open for The Lumineers in Feb 2020, making it the last show we saw pre-covid. And this ended up also being the first show I had been to since covid. I just love them and it was so special to see them back on tour.
  • Harry Styles, Love On Tour – this was SO MUCH FUN! I cannot even explain how amazing this concert was. We had the best time scream-singing and dancing the whole night. It felt SO good to be at a big show again. And I think I can speak for everyone when I say that it only made us love him even more. 10/10 recommend.
  • Wedding Dress Shopping: A Saga – To be honest, I had been really nervous about going the very first day. But as soon as that first dress was on and off, I felt so much better and we really had such a fun couple of days dress shopping. Haven’t picked anything juuuuuust yet, but we are definitely zero-ing in on it and I can’t wait to cross this one off the wedding to-do list.
  • our engagement photos – finally got these done!! After being engaged for 16 months (whoops!) and they were just perfect for us. Cannot thank our wonderful photographer enough for making it such a fun day.

things celebrated

  • Duff’s Birthday – celebrated one of my favorite gals with gigantic cocktails and the most delish dinner!
  • Joe and Britt’s Housewarming – always looking for an excuse to be back on the Upper East Side because we love it up there so so much. Visited some of our old faves while celebrating some old friends’ new place!!
  • KK’s Bridal Shower – a special day for the next bride in our 2022 lineup ❤️
  • Jess and Adam’s Wedding – had the best time finally getting to celebrate these two and their postponed 2020 wedding. Lots of dancing, lots of cheers-ing, lots of tequila and the most amount of fun.
  • Halloween – spent the afternoon (and evening) at GYC with Ry, Court and Sam, drinking all the pumpkin beer and getting my yearly fix of candy corn. And just because I’m curious, where do you fall on the love-hate candy corn spectrum?

That’s a wrap on October! I don’t know about you guys but I am so ready for Christmas season this year. Ordinarily I am a strictly after Thanksgiving kind of gal, but this year I am ready to get festive ASAP – how are you guys feeling? Do you agree or are we waiting until after Thanksgiving to embrace the holidays?

sending hugs and a big dose of coziness for fall 🍂

with love, jak