I took last week off from blogging as we had family in town and a packed schedule and to-do list. Now there’s a lull in our lives between autumn and the holiday season, perfect to fill with election anxiety perfect for catching up on all the optional-but-fun things for a few weeks! (Don’t remind me how many leaves need to be raked in the front yard right now.)
I haven’t done a favorite things roundup in a while so I have some good stuff to share with you today 🙂
Favorite read: The Open-Air Life, by the author of There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather. I loved her first book and I’m enjoying this one too. And comforting my election nerves with the thought that I can always move to Sweden and live in a little red farmhouse in the woods if everything goes haywire here, right? Our Norway visa is still good until next fall too… just saying.
Favorite wear: These sweatpants from L.L.Bean. I also bought a quarter-zip sweatshirt from this same line. A little expensive but sooo soft and comfortable—perfect for postpartum and cozy days at home!
Favorite kid/baby purchase: One of my favorite small businesses is closing so naturally I had to place a last order. Alpine Baby Co. had their final release a week or two ago but they still have some items! I grabbed a couple pairs of holiday leggings and the “sugar and spice” shirt for my 2-year-old (because boy is it ever accurate these days lol).
We also bought a BabyBjorn infant carrier to add to our carrier collection and love it. So comfy to wear and I love that there are no funky inserts/adjustments to use for newborns.
Favorite song: Ireland by Ben Winwood. I heard it in the Princess of Wales’ cancer update video and have been rocking Baby C to sleep to it ever since. Absolutely gorgeous.
Favorite pasttime: Christmas shopping 😛 and Christmas Buy Nothing-ing! I found the cutest activity cube for Baby C for free on our local page. We don’t go all out for Christmas but I love shopping within our parameters. I will also have alllll the shopping for our extended families to do in November and December so it’s nice to spread out the expenses a bit.
Looking forward to next month: Finally moving our (secondhand) piano to our house. I haven’t touched a piano in about eight years now and I am SO excited to get back to it. Eric and I have taken a combined 28 years of lessons between the two of us and our oldest has expressed interest in learning—so I’m excited to start teaching him too.
I’m also looking forward to Thanksgiving—the goal is to make it to both my dad’s and uncle’s houses that afternoon—and my 30th birthday! I know some people dread the big 3-0 but I’m looking forward to my 30s. I feel like I’ve mentally been in my 30s for about ten years already anyways haha.
What’s one of your favorite things lately? Have you started preparing for the holiday season yet?
xx Claire