Things I Love: October 7

Remember that Inspiration Sunday post I did? Well, waaaay back when I first started blogging everyone used to do Things I Love posts… especially Things I Love Thursdays (TiLT). It was a staple of blogging. When you had nothing else to write about, you’d do a TiLT. Boring week? TiLT. Feeling a bit bored with your blog? TiLT. It was easy. And, honestly, it was fun. 

Blogging can feel a bit stuffy now. Everyone trying to think of the best clickbait titles, trying to make the best Pinterest-worthy graphics, trying to write evergreen content. Siiiigh. 

In Blogtober, I wanted to take things back to what I originally loved about blogging… that sometimes you just put up… whatever. that you posted the things that were really happening in your life. Nothing glossed over. No perfect photos of your curated living room. No boomerangs of your vacation that ignored your lost luggage or the fact you cried for 20 minutes because you missed your dog. We wrote honestly back then. And while it’s not better or worse now, it’s just different—but I do miss a little bit of that rawness. 

I say, let’s bring back the TiLT. Let’s make this a thing again. Ok, I’ll make it a thing again. Here’s what I’m loving this week. 

1. My One Line a Day journal

I was inspired to get a One Line a Day journal by both Charlotte and one of my mom friends. My mom friend has a toddler a few months younger than Forrest and while we’ve both always been journal keepers, it is much harder to keep up on after having children. Some nights I can write for hours; others, I can barely lift the pen. It just depends! However, a One Line a Day format gives me the space to just write one fun or important thing that happened. Recent entries include Forrest saying something particularly funny or what we made for lunch together or how he made me sad that he destroyed the Halloween gingerbread house we built together. Just little things! 

2. Family Trips

My husband and I decided, before Forrest was born, that we would try not to do a ton of gifts for birthdays and Christmas (and other gift-focused holidays). We wanted to focus on creating experiences for him, whether that is a party, taking him on a day trip, or taking him on a longer vacation. For Forrest's birthday, we decided to visit the aquarium; I got him a few books for birthday gifts and our relatives got him some presents, but our gift to him was an aquarium trip. He loved it! And it was so much more fun for all of us to have a nice drive to the coast, visit the aquarium, get lunch together, and then get ice cream together. 

3. And That's Why We Drink

If you know me, you know I'm an absolute podcast addict. I have a weekly schedule and I look forward to my favorites every week. I've recently been binging a new favorite: And That's Why We Drink. It's a paranormal and true crime podcast. Sometimes in the true crime community, I feel out of place because I also love paranormal stuff--but this podcast combines the best of both worlds. Like My Favorite Murder, I love that it is a less serious take and is just two friends talking to each other. While I love podcasts like Casefile and In Sight, sometimes I just want something more casual and this absolutely fits the bill. I tip my milkshake to Em and Christine. 

Tell me your favorite things on Twitter! 

5 Easy Autumn Dinners to Make This Month

The truth is I’ve been hoarding Autumn recipes on Pinterest for weeks. About halfway through August, I started really craving soup. Two weeks ago, when it started to rain in Oregon, Danny had to remind me that we can’t eat just soup all week. Why not?! For that reason, I limited myself to ONE soup recipe in this round up. Why? Because maybe you aren’t into soup as much as I am or maybe you don’t own a crockpot. No matter what, these recipes scream Autumn—they are warm, cozy, and a little heavy. Enjoy! 

1. Crockpot tomato soup

This is one of my favorite soups of all time. I used to hate tomato soup—that is, until I started making tomato soup this way. I use the above recipe, but I changed a few things to make it my own. Mainly, I don’t use a parmesan rind (dairy free) and I don’t add any milk or cream. I do sauté the onions and garlic before adding to the crockpot. I add sweet mesquite seasoning, lots and lots of garlic, and a little pinch of cinnamon (you heard me). If you want to add some extra nutrients, a bag of spinach before you blend it up really punches up the health aspect. 

2. Butternut squash and spinach tortellini

I love a pasta, especially in the winter. One of my favorite ways to eat pasta, especially heavy dishes like fettuccines and mac’n’cheese, is to use blended up squash instead of something like heavy cream and cheese. This butternut squash and spinach tortellini recipe looks so good and it’s perfect for a weeknight dish when it’s a little rainy outside. 

3. Sweet potato & black bean tacos

A list of easy recipes wouldn’t be complete with tacos. Tacos are one of the easiest things to make on weeknights—and I love using Fall veggies like sweet potatoes, delicata squash, and butternut squash alongside black beans. I would also probably add some sweet corn if your local farmer’s market has any left! 

4. Salmon & potato bake 

Creamy potatoes and salmon in one dish? Sign me up, I’m there. This would be perfect for a Friday night when you just want something heavy and warm to soothe your soul. 

5. Spinach & lentil fritters

I’ve been a little obsessed with fritters lately. Something about them is just very Autumnal to me. These lentil and spinach versions really back a punch. Serve with some pita or nan and some cucumber-yogurt dipping sauce and they’d be absolutely delicious. Or serve with mashed potatoes and roasted broccoli. Either way, serve them because they’re yummy. 

What's In My Make Up Bag this October?

I'll be perfectly honest when I say that my make up routine doesn't necessarily deviate from season to season. That being said, I have been trying to incorporate some new items for the Fall--and trying to leave my bright, peachy-coral eyeshadows for Summer. (This is truly a sacrifice because I love my Too Faced Sweet Peach palette.) 

Want to see what's in my make up bag? Here are my daily favorites right now. 

My face products are pretty much my usual. After applying my SPF mixed with a few drops of jojoba oil, I put e.l.f. HD setting powder all over my face with my e.l.f. Face Brush (it's the fluffy one). I then apply Wet'n'Wild Photofocus Foundation with my e.l.f. Kabuki Brush, then buff out with a beauty sponge. 

Recently, I've stopped contouring (just because I want a softer face for Fall!). However, I've definitely upped my blush game. I've been mixing Wet'n'Wild ColorIcon blush in Mellow Wine with my Pixie by Petra in Peach Honey blush/illuminator that I got in my ipsy bag. It mixes really well with Mellow Wine, which is quite dark, and provides a nice highlight. 

Once I've done my blush, I apply a layer of Smith's Minted Rose Lip Balm to help condition my lips while I do my eye make up. 

For my eye make up, I use my favorite Urban Decay Primer Potion as my primer. (I also use it as a lip primer sometimes!) Lately, I've been loving this little Clinique eye shadow quad that I got for free several years ago; it's called the All About Shadow Quad and includes the colors Olive in my Martini, At Dusk, Peach Pop, and French Vanilla. French Vanilla is the perfect color for setting my eye primer and At Dusk is such a gorgeous, rich gold. I will often use Buck from the Naked I palette in my crease and then just cover my lid with At Dusk--it's that pretty!

My favorite eye brushes to use are my Urban Decay two-sided blending brush and my rose gold Luxe 207 brush from my ipsy bag. I was really suspicious of the Luxe brush at first, but it works really well for blending out the edges of my eyeshadow once I'm done getting everything in place. 

I finish every eye look with my favorite mascara at the moment: Ulta Beauty Maximum Lashes. Super affordable and volumizing--my two mascara requirements! 

Lately, I've been using my Ulta Beaty Color Enhancing Lip Primer religiously. I love that it isn't too dry, so if I'm using a drying liquid lip, it doesn't make me feel like the Sahara is one my face. My favorite lip colors right now are: Too Faced Melted Metal in Violet (I actually got this for $3.99 at Marshall's!), Ulta Beauty Matte Lip Crayon in Soiree, and NYX Liquid Suede in Soft Spoken.

What beauty products are you adding to your bag for Fall? I've got my eyes on the Too Faced Just Peachy Mattes palette!  

My Goals for October

I’m a goal setter by nature. It’s just how I am. I operate best when I have small, easily digestible goals. (I’ve written about this before here.) 

For this Blogtober, I wanted to share a few of my goals, blog-related and otherwise. I always love reading other people’s goals and, especially when taking on a project as big as Blogtober, I think it’s really interesting to share what my hope is for it. Not only does it help with transparency, but it keeps me accountable!

Blog-related

1. Hit 1000 monthly views. This goal has been alluding me for months, but I think Blogtober is officially going to push me over the edge! 
2. Hit 1300 followers on Twitter
3. Post daily to Instagram (I struggle so much with this) 

Personal

1. Add Sunday back into my gym routine. I had been going to the gym Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday—but then dropped Sunday to spend more time with Danny. But now that Danny is back at work (as a teacher), he needs Sundays to prepare his classes and that extra gym day will do me good on Monday morning I think. 
2. Stick to my meal planning. I do a good job meal planning, but usually by Thursday, we’re eating turkey sandwiches or eggs and toast for dinner. 
3. Sign Forrest up for the music classes I’ve been meaning to call about for two months. 
4. Meet my monthly book goal
5. Spend time with friends
6. Take less naps in the afternoon (it’s becoming a horrible habit!) 

What are your goals for this month? 

My Absolute Favorite Autumn Activities (+ A Cute October Bucket List!)

My birthday is October 20, so it’s safe to say that my birthday always has memories of Autumn activities: pumpkin patches, hay rides, carving pumpkins, making costumes… you name it, I probably did it on my birthday! I love pumpkin pie, apples, popcorn balls, and anything cinnamon spiced; I never pass up an opportunity to go to a pumpkin patch. 

I’m a certified Fall Baby. 

For this reason, I always have an Autumn bucket list that I like to turn to. This year, I decided to separate it into two months: October and November. These are two distinct lists dedicated, really, to my two absolute favorite holidays. What’s my October Bucket list? Keep reading!

…But first, let’s talk about my top 3 favorite Autumn activities. 

1. Picking out pumpkins.

The time for pumpkin patches is so short, I really like to get my fill as early as possible—mostly to avoid having to tromp through a muddy field! By mid-October in Oregon, the rains have usually set in, which means pumpkin patches can be a bit of a mess. I like to go early and find the perfect few pumpkins (I always get a large, round pumpkin, a smaller round pumpkin, and then a “funky” shaped pumpkin—just because I worry no one wants those ones and they deserve love too!), then spend future visits just taking photos and walking through the farm stands. 

2. Making my first batch of October cookies. 

What is it about baking that’s…different in October? My favorites cookie recipes in October are my super soft ginger cookies or s’mores cookies (you read that right). And while I make these outside of Autumn, they just taste different when it’s a little bit cloudy out and a little bit cooler. 

3. Collecting leaves. 

I always press a few leaves into my journal in the Fall—usually if I find any vibrant red or orange ones, I like those best, but I also don’t mind the more common yellow leaves. I make it my mission every year to find a larger variety of shapes and color variations, then I press them in my encyclopedia and paste them in my journal. This is something I look forward to all year long. 

Want a copy of my bucket post? Just click the image to download it!

4 Easy Autumn Outfits Perfect for October

To really kick off blogtober, what better than to post some gorgeous Autumn outfits? 

The thing I look most forward to every year when it comes to Fall is finally being able to wear my flannel shirts, sweaters, and huge collection of boot socks every single day. It really doesn’t get better than that to me! I decided to round up some of my favorite Autumn outfits from around Polyvore to show off some of this year’s best trends. (And pssst, I made all of these ones!) 

1. Cozy Grandma

Grandma Autumn by wiredphosphenes featuring a white cami

The hippest grandma you’ve ever seen! I’m a sucker for a cozy cardigan and you can find ones like this for great prices at Maurices right now. Add in a flouncy floral skirt, an easy tank top or t-shirt, and your favorite oxford heels (I know these are a little 2012, but I still think they’re cute!). As it gets colder, you can add black tights, a heavier undershirt, and your favorite coat to keep the cuteness going. 

2. Colorblock & Jeans 

A Winter Day by wiredphosphenes featuring Kevyn Aucoin

This may be called A Winter Day, but it works for a breezy Fall day too. I love a color blocked sweatshirt; you can find similar ones here and here. Add in your favorite skinny jeans rolled up over some cute boots for a very punk 80s feel and you’ve got yourself a cute outfit for milling around the house, going out to lunch, or going to the pumpkin patch. 

3. Jumper Madness 

School Break by wiredphosphenes featuring Michael Kors

Listen: I love these overall skirts. I love them. I own two. That’s right: two. This one is originally from Topshop, but you can find a similar, all black one here. Add a cozy long sleeve (or a turtleneck!), some cute flats, and your favorite bag and you’ll rock that 1970s Autumnal university student vibe. 

4. Sweater Dress

Out and About in Autumn (3) by wiredphosphenes featuring Bobbi Brown Cosmetics

I’m obsessed with this sweater dress, but unfortunately, it’s sold out. I found some other, equally cute dress options here, here, and here, but none that really fall into that “chunky knit, baggy sweater dress in a perfect mustard yellow” niche. (But trust me when I say, watch this space, because I will find a better sweater dress option!) Pair with some cozy over-the-knee socks and your favorite pair of booties, and this is such a cute date outfit, it actually makes me want to plan an Autumn date ASAP. 

Do you have a favorite Autumn outfit? Share with me in the comments! 

Inspiration Sunday: October 1

It's been so long since I've done one of these posts. The few readers that have followed the evolution of my blog(s) for the last several years will remember it, possibly. Basically, Inspiration Sunday posts were sort of chatty posts I used to put up every week; they included photos I was loving, articles I'd read, memes I found exceptionally funny. All kinds of things! It's just a fun little post, nothing too crazy. 

Hopefully, you'll find some funny tweets, some pretty pictures, and other fun stuff here. This is what has struck my fancy, inspired me, or just made me laugh in the past few weeks! 

When you're trying to save up to get the Fenty stuff that's already been released and then RiRi announces she's releasing a PALETTE pic.twitter.com/EHfNRkimNY

— Michelle 👩🏻‍💻🍂🍁 (@michellelocke_) September 21, 2017

Ok, first things first... do you SEE this Christmas Collection from Fenty Beauty? Rihanna, sweetie, I'm still saving up to buy some highlighter sticks... you can't drop a palette with oil slick packaging barely a month later! Except she's going to because Rihanna doesn't listen to me. 

GARLIC BREAD-GRILLED CHEESE. That is all. https://t.co/E8wJiiNw5e pic.twitter.com/5AUMYUVQL5

— Bon Appétit (@bonappetit) September 18, 2017

Since it is October, I've been craving crockpot soups, biscuits, and grilled cheese sandwiches like crazy. This garlic bread grilled cheese... honestly, how hadn't anyone made this before? 

Just a reminder that 1200 calories the daily recommended intake for a 7 year old, not a grown adult human 👋👋👋

— Michelle 👩🏻‍💻🍂🍁 (@michellelocke_) September 19, 2017

I know this another one of my own tweets, but seriously, it's dead on. If you don't know: 1200 calories is not enough for a human to survive. I have to remind myself of this constantly, especially in a world where we are barraged with information about deprivation diets all the time, even if we aren't actively searching for that information. In September, I'd been having a really hard time on Facebook because it felt like everyone I knew was posting about how they were restricting their calories. I just needed to remind myself that that information isn't true, that it isn't safe, that it's not a way to live. 

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My most recent pins on Pinterest have been all about Disneyland and Autumn. I'm really craving another Disneyland trip at the moment, but I'm trying not to be an absolute nightmare about it... although I have threatened to book a trip for just myself a few times! I've also been looking for a pumpkin shaped cup for ages, so the image on the left is giving me extreme envy! 

Ok, I know I've been huffing and puffing about Autumn for a solid 6 weeks now, but... do you ever see a picture and think, "if I could be anyone, I'd be that person"? For me, this is one of those pictures. I have a very romantic vision of Hollywood in the 70s and 80s and this picture (while it's not actually from the 70s or 80s) sort of exemplifies my vision. Don't ruin the fantasy for me, please; in my dreams, I'm a 1979 starlit wearing sunglasses and a crop top. 

Get Excited: I'm Participating in Blogtober!

The past few years, I've noticed tons of bloggers posting about Blogtober. I never really got interested in what that actually was until recently. I just assumed it was a blogging event that I wasn't part of--and honestly, I was too busy anyway. 

However, this year when I first started seeing the hashtag on Twitter, I started researching. 

As it turns out, Blogtober is just a challenge to bloggers to blog daily through the month of October--usually anything Autumn-related. Some people use it as a chance to diary and share a little bit of their lives. 

This year, I decided to participate--if only to purge all of the ideas I have for Fall-focused blog posts. I'm really excited and I'll admit to already having the entire month planned, and the first week's worth of posts written. That's right. I'm actually working ahead! I'll also be bringing back two weekly blog posts that I used to do all the thing--Things I Love (TiLT, remember when every blogger did that!?) and Inspiration Sunday. 

I hope you'll follow for all 31 days! I'll be using the #Blogtober hashtag on Twitter and Instagram.