let's talk thru: november

on a social media break thinking it would give me more time to write.....

….it did not. Or it did, but I didn’t prioritize writing well enough.

I toe this line between wanting to share thoughts and think about my month, but the thought of writing it sounds like it will take SO LONG, and then all the doubt comes in. So then I don’t write, and then I wait until the last minute to write this and instantly regret not taking the time to write this as I go. Maybe I will learn in some month, but that has not happened yet.

So here we go with November!

READ

Like I said in the subheading, I have been on a social media break. Which means I read a crap ton more. Reading was something I reached for instead of scrolling and, may I say, life-changing (I am working on a whole post about this break and my always-changing thoughts on social media).

So I was writing all of these reviews, and it’s a lot! So it will be a whole separate post coming out next Friday.

REALIZE

It’s been a really good month for my brain.

ORGANIZE

I have been in a MOOD with organizing lately. I am NOT pregnant, but I have what nesting must feel like. I want things gone, I want things in a place, I want everything to be easy and straightforward.

I haven’t purchased anything to help with this, but I have noticed a huge mood shift when I just simply take care of my ish. When my spaces are organized, my brain feels at peace.

I talked about this in my post for Chloe Liese’s new book, but I have considered pursuing an ADHD diagnosis. I haven’t yet, but I have been trying to notice things more. One of the things I have noticed is that my brain feels calmer when I can find things easily and when I take the extra few minutes to clean up (my husband is reading this and laughing because he’s the cleanest human in the world and has been telling me this for years).

I love the idea of a Closing Shift to ensure the right things get done.

BUY

It was an expensive month, so I didn’t purchase a ton. Connor got a sweet tattoo that wasn’t cheap and we purchased Airbnbs for an upcoming trip (will discuss in Travel)! So great things, but nothing to report that you should consider!

EAT & DRINK

I’ve been on a tiny bit of a healthy food kick. I’m not cutting out or overhauling anything, but I am trying to make small, smart decisions in my eating life. Because here’s the thing, I really love food, and I’m not going to tell myself I can’t have something unless it hurts me to eat (I’m looking at you fried chicken). I will make some swaps, like starting to make our own protein bars.

My biggest discovery in food is blended cottage cheese. Have you tried this? I love cottage cheese, I know it is polarizing, but I love it. But blended, it almost has a cream cheese consistency with a little of tang. It spreads lovely on toast and topped with fruits, nuts, and honey.

WEAR

The only reason I think I have ANY photos of my outfits this month is because

Hannah Moerman

asked me for outfits. To which I am thankful.

November is when I begin to THRIVE with my clothes- give me the layers, give me jackets, and I am happy.

WATCH&LISTEN

Thanks to my lovely reading club, I added Be There in Five to my podcast lineup. I JUST started it with Jamie B. Golden’s episode because I love her, but I think I will like it.

I watched Far From the Maddening Crowd, Please Don’t Destroy’s movie on Peacock, Fall of the House of Usher. All were solid watches for me! And I will be adding Far From the Maddening Crowd as a comfort watch.

TRAVEL

We are going to Portugal! We are so excited because we mostly thought we wouldn’t be able to. Points valuation and the flights were NOT good a couple of months ago. We told ourselves we would reevaluate in January but had secretly resigned ourselves to not going. During a night of insomnia, I decided to look up United flights, and lo and behold, they were doable with our points!

We are flying into Porto and then going down to Lisbon. I have started my spreadsheet, and I truly feel like it will be one of our favorite places.

If you have been & have recs, please share! I want all of them!

MEMORIES

🎤 Songwriters night at our local theater for a nonprofit we support was so fun and going out on a Tuesday? We felt young
🎨Pasta & paint night with friends
🎾Good amount of tennis!
🕯️We’ve been leaning into the cozy this season and it makes me happy