“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

―L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

I’ve always loved this quote, but this year it hits a little different. If you’ve been following along on my reading journey this year, I’ve been working my way through the Anne of Green Gables series (mostly as audiobooks). I saw this quote on Instagram last week and I instantly recalled it from the book.

Reading is cool that way. I always feel like I’ve “leveled up”, in a way, when I can hear something and recall exactly where it came from.

That being said, this beautiful, whimsical, delightful month is coming to a close, and part of me is a little bit sad to see it go so soon. Another part of me is eager for November and all the beauty and joy that comes with it.

Here are some of my favorite things from October!

baby shower

Early this month, my sister and mom threw me the most beautiful baby shower I could have imagined. It was “little pumpkin” themed (HOW PERFECT?!?) and I was surrounded by family who traveled near and far to celebrate our growing family. I felt like such a princess and it was honestly one of my favorite days this year.

baking

Okay, of course I baked a lot. Like I’ve said 1,000 times before, it’s one of my favorite stress relievers, plus I’m pregnant and I love bread. All signs point to yes. This month, I baked a pumpkin pie cake with a Biscoff crust, several loaves of beer bread and a new pumpkin banana bread recipe shared by Coffee with Keri. Again, I felt like my baking game had “leveled up” when I attempted the pumpkin banana bread, as I substituted several ingredients to make it a tad healthier, and because I didn’t have quite enough bananas when I doubled the recipe. It turned out great and it felt really good to have the knowledge from the last few years of baking to make those substitutions on the fly.

evening skincare

I recently tried a new skincare line, L’Bri, and I can say with absolute certainty that they make the best face mask I’ve ever tried. I’ve done it a few times a week for the last few weeks and every time, I feel like I have a whole new face. It’s delightful.

craft shows

Ever since my best friend, Kim, took me to a craft show two years ago, I’ve been hooked. I love supporting small, local businesses, and I love one-of-a-kind gifts that can’t be found on Amazon (no offense, I love Prime, but you catch my drift). It’s a fun thing to do on the weekends, feels like fall, and I got a head start on some Christmas shopping! I snagged a couple adorable items, and found an incredible new candle company, Henlopen Candle Works. I’m still a die-hard fan of Kent County Candles, another local candle company based in Delaware, but I was so happy to find another brand that was non-toxic and made my home smell like dreams coming true. I’m telling you, it took me a solid 25 minutes to decide which ones I was bringing home with me, because they ALL smelled so good.

midnights

I’m pretty sure Taylor Swift is making a habit of releasing new albums right around my birthday and I am not mad about it in the slightest. While Midnights isn’t my favorite album of hers, it’s got some fun, catchy tunes that I have enjoyed having on in the background while I’m working or baking. Sometimes I get stuck in a music funk and new music always makes me feel a little bit better.

october bucket list

For those of you who remember way back to the beginning of the month, I made an October bucket list. Did I get to everything? No. But I still have a few days left, and if I didn’t get to it, then I really didn’t feel like doing it. Hey, I’m pregnant - I get tired and it’s a lot more relaxing to have a chill afternoon at home than to go out adventuring. Here’s how it went.

1. Decorate front porch with mums and pumpkins - Mums, yes. Pumpkins, nope.

2. Buy a new fall candle and burn it while reading a book - Heck yes.

3. Visit an orchard. - Yes!

4. Enjoy a pumpkin spice latte. - No, but I did have a sip of a pumpkin cream cold brew!

5. Watch something scary. - Nope, tried it for 20 minutes and did NOT love it.

6. Bake pumpkin bread, apple bread and probably a few other things. Maybe an apple pie. Bake a lot. - 100%

7. Make homemade apple butter or pumpkin butter. Doesn’t matter which one. - Nope.

8. Visit a craft fair. - Two actually!!

9. Buy a new fall outfit - YES. I was treated to a couple new outfits for my birthday.

10. Host Halloween - Okay, this is obviously on Monday but it is HAPPENING. It’s my favorite.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” Ecclesiastes 3:1

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8