October Goals

Since it's the end of the month, it's time to set some new goals! Before I go into my October goals, let's see how I did last month: 

• Clean Out Freezer - check! 
• Read one banned book for Banned Book Week (Week of Sept. 20) - check! I read George by Alex Gino and I thought it was so well written and touching and honest. 
• Finish Erin's Book Challenge (one left!) - check! 
• Meal plan and try 3 new recipes - nope
• Redo dining area into desk/work space - check! 

When we started working remotely I already had my work laptop with me and was given an additional monitor. I decided to just move myself to my dining room table.This worked out well until recently. I just didn't feel like it was the best use of my space. I think I've only eaten on my dining room table once in 6 years- it was just a dumping ground, and I wasn't utilizing my desk at all. (I should also mention that it working at my dining room table was only meant to be a temporary solution, but our "back to office" date kept getting pushed further into the future.) As it stands, I'm only working in the office 2 days a week, so I knew it was time for a change. 

Here's what it was: 

I disassembled my dining room table and put that and the chairs in the basement for now, and moved my little desk to its spot. I'd received a printer for Christmas so that's at the bottom, my friend gave me a small paper shredder she wasn't using (it's behind the chair), and my mom bought me a lamp with pen holders and paper slots. I love it! And my whole apartment feels so much more spacious! Here it is:

4/5... not too shabby! Work has really picked up recently so I'm keeping my personal goals at 5 again and hopefully will get to all of them this time around! Here's what's on deck:

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• Clean Out Hallway closet

• Switch over wardrobe 

• Shred pile of mail

• Read/discard all old magazines

• Organize recipe/home binder

Have you set any goals this month?

Monthly Musings And What's In My Coffee Bar

1. Favorite Fall Tradition?

Ah, it used to be going pumpkin picking, because that also usually involved a hayride and apple cider. 

Circa 1990

2. Favorite Halloween Tradition? 

Me and Blue's annual Halloween party! Again, something that "used to be." Siiiighhh.

3. What Will Halloween Look Like This Year?

Probably just watching movies and eating Halloween candy since we don't have many trick-or-treaters in our area.

4. Favorite Fall Recipe?

I did a post about this last year, but basically anything with beef, cheese, and noodles lol! This super easy Amish Country Casserole is usually on repeat during fall. And these mini Oreo pumpkin cheesecakes are always a crowd pleaser! 

5. Favorite Fall Fashion Staples?

Chunky cardigans, hoodies, and boots! 

6. Favorite Halloween Costume?

Oooh, this is hard. On my own, probably the "Freudian Slip" (especially since I was a psychology major in college... and I won second place for best costume in a contest that year!). But I also love couples' costumes, and last year I had a lot of fun really getting into character as Lt. Dan from Forrest Gump. I even "danced" on my knees (because "You ain't got no legs, Lt. Dan")!

Freudian Slip- 2014

Lt. Dan

7. Favorite Halloween Candy?

Twix, Snickers, and Crunch... in that order.

8. Favorite Halloween/Fall Movie?

Hmmm... I liked The Craft, Cruel Intentions, The Lost Boys, and Interview with a Vampire.... but favorite is probably Practical Magic. Hocus Pocus is fun too. 

9. Scary Movies?

Not really. I've seen most of the classics (Halloween, Nightmare on Elm St, Candyman, Scream, Poltergeist, etc.), and I like psychological thrillers but not a fan of gore. 

10. Favorite Fall Beverage?

Non-alcoholic: warm apple cider

Cocktail: Smoked Apple - here are a bunch of other bourbon cocktails I've enjoyed! 

Beer: Anything pumpkin! Trying 5 new ones is on my Fall Bucket List- I keep track on Untapped. If you're also a beer connoisseur, I'd love to be friends! 

What's In My... Coffee Bar

I can't say I really have a coffee "bar," but I do keep all my coffee items together! As you can see, I have my small coffee maker, long spoon and dish, and mug tree on my counter and then my coffee/tea items in a small cabinet right above it. 

I'm a purist- you won't find any specialty coffees or syrups here! I stick to Folgers, though I do have a bag of Dunkin Donuts grinds from a blogger swap last year, and a small container of Maxwell House that my mom got me during the early days of quarantine. My "fixins" are simple too- regular white sugar (kept in a diner-style sugar canister) and whole milk (obviously not in the bar area!). I keep some ___ around for Blue when she's here. As for tea, my favorite is Big Win, which an old coworker turned me on to many years ago. I have green tea for Blue, and a few other flavors from various other boxes that are so old I should probably throw them out. Does tea go bad? 

I also don't have a fancy coffeemaker. I've been using the same 4-cup Mr. Coffee for over 10 years and it still works and suits me perfectly! I always set it the night before to turn on just before I wake up, so I wake up to the aroma of fresh coffee- aaah! I fill it to just above the 3-cup mark which makes just the right amount for my traveler's mug that I was bringing to work with me every day. Since March though, I have to admit that I've been drinking more coffee. I try to only refill it once.

Aside from my traveler's mug, I love my oversized mugs, and have been rotating them constantly during my work form home days! My favorite ones are my Starbucks mugs. I like my mugs with cute sayings on them but they're regular size so I don't use them very often! I think I got my little mug tree from Home Goods... again, many moons ago! The ones pictured are the ones that are in rotation, though I have a few extras that I keep on the top shelf of my "bar." 

Since there's an additional shelf in my small cabinet, I keep baking goods there. In my head they just seem to go together. So yeah- flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, chocolate chips, evaporated and condensed milk... those are usually the things I have on hand all the time. 

And that's it! What's in your coffee bar? 

What are your plans for Halloween? 

Linking up with Patty, Holly, Adrienne and Ashley! 

Fall 2020 Bucket List

Before I "Fall" into my Autumn Bucket List, here's how I did with my Summer one!

I didn't quite... 

Try a new food.
Go on a day trip.
Get a pedicure.
Learn how to make a new cocktail or sangria.

But I did...

More deck reading
Check out a new brewery or winery and Go to the beach, which I wrote about here!
Eat a fresh lobster roll and Go glamping - Yes, and I wrote about it here!

And now we're on to Fall! While Summer is my favorite season, there are some things I like about Fall- mostly hoodies/flannel, comfort foods, and the return of football season! I tried to be a bit more realistic about my Fall Bucket List since I'm still not too keen on going to any crowded places, and I'm disappointed that this will be the first time in 6 years that we've decided to cancel our annual Halloween Party, but I'd rather be safe than sorry! Here are some fun things I hope to do this season. 

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Drink allthepumpkinales (or 5 new ones)

Put up fall decor

Go on a Fall mini-getaway

Check out a new brewery or winery

Enjoy apple cider and donuts

Have a Chili and Fall movie night (Here are some ideas!)

Bake Oreo pumpkin cheesecakes~ an annual tradition!

Change over wardrobe and donate clothes

Donate food at a shelter or food bank

Try a new-to-me food (rollover from Summer!)

Light some fall-scented candles

Bust out the dark polish and give myself an at-home mani/pedi

"Fall" into a new binge-worthy series

Create new skincare routine (more moisturizer, please!)

Get cozy and read from my Fall TBR List!

What are some things you hope to do this fall? 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Fall 2020 TBR

Before I jump into my Fall TBR I usually review how I did on my Summer TBR, but I only read 2/10 - Wow, No Thank You. - Samantha Irby and The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer #1) - Jenny Han - and that's it! In fact, I only read 10 books all season. I had some trouble concentrating on anything last season. 

Even though I know Fall doesn't officially start until next week, it's never too soon to start planning what I'm hoping to read, right?! Plus, I love making lists! Instead of focusing on only BIPOC authors this time around though, I'm just going to read what I want. Hopefully that will help me get through more than 2 from this list this season! 

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Beartown - Fredrik Backman

Such A Fun Age - Kiley Reid

Queenie - Candice Carty-Williams

Wayward Son (Simon Snow #2) - Rainbow Rowell

Behind Closed Doors - B.A. Paris

The Family Upstairs - Lisa Jewell

Mayhem - Estelle Laure

Sula - Toni Morrison

George - Alex Gino (For Banned Books Week - Sept 20)

A Long Way Home - Saroo Riley (For my non-fiction goal)

What's on your Fall TBR list? 

September Goals

The last time I wrote out goals was in May. I'm not linking back to those because I don't even remember what they were let alone accomplish any of them. I also always feel like September is a better of a fresh start, so it's a perfect time to set some goals/intentions (even if it is halfway through the month- better late than never)! I'm keeping it fairly light as to ease my way back into both goals setting and accomplishing. Here is what I have lined up for the rest of September. 

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• Clean Out Freezer
• Redo dining area into desk/work space
• Meal plan and try 3 new recipes
• Finish Erin's Book Challenge (one left!) 
• Read one banned book for Banned Book Week (Week of Sept. 20)

Have you set any goals this month? 

Do you have any "banned book" suggestions? 

10 on the 10th: School Days

I had a lot of fun putting this together, though I couldn't find all the pics I wanted to share. Won't you join me in a trip down memory lane?!

What does back to school look like in your home or community this year?

I'm not sure what my town is doing, but I work at a college in NJ and we are doing hybrid learning. In fact, the only students allowed on campus are freshmen and first year graduate students. Everyone on campus (staff, faculty, students) must be tested weekly. Most of the faculty and staff are on a rotating schedule, coming in 2-3 days/week. This is "where I be" when I'm working from home:

Does your state or city offer a back to school tax free weekend? If so, do you plan your back to school shopping around it? What kinds of things do you buy?

I'm not sure? The only supplies I bought this year were Lysol spray and wipes, extra masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer! 

Do your children wear school uniforms? If so, what do they look like? If not, is there a strict dress code in place? What are your thoughts on school uniforms? Did you wear a uniform?

I never wore a uniform but I think if I had kids I wouldn't be against it. 

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Did you plan to go to college?

Up until I found out how much math was involved in it, I wanted to be an architect! (This still boggles my mind because I was never much of an artist either.) Then after a friend had some family trouble, it was between a school psychologist and school counselor. That stuck through college, when I realized I'd need a Master's (and then most likely a Doctorate) before I'd be able to become either one. College was a non-negotiable. I was accepted Early Decision and attended Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. 

What sports did you play, what clubs were you in? Were you a cheerleader?

Through 8th grade I played all the sports- basketball, softball, soccer (my favorite was soccer). I was a Girl Scout from Daisy to Cadette level (grades K-8). In high school, I was a member of Key Club, Drama Club, Amnesty International, Choir, Jazz Band and Marching Band. And YES, I was a cheerleader! I was actually cheer captain and participated in competitive cheerleading until high school! 

Did you buy lunch or take lunch? If you took lunch from home, who made your lunch? What was your favorite school lunch?

I think I brought lunch until high school. Mom made my lunches, usually a cold-cut sandwich, snack, and fruit drink. Dunkaroos were a favorite snack, along with Devil Dogs :)

In high school I started buying lunch, and besides Pizza Day my favorite was called a "PV" (For Passaic Valley, my high school)- it was a bagel with cream cheese and Doritos on it! 

To what group or click did you belong? At my school we had the jocks, the parking lot gang, popular kids. Where did you fit in? Were you in a sorority? If so, which one?

I was never popular, though I also never wanted to be. The pop kids were the smokers and partiers and that was never my thing. I was a nerd until high school, when I became a "Band Geek" because I was in concert, jazz, and marching band. 

Did you spend much time in the library? What was your favorite class?

I was always an avid reader so yes, I spent a lot of time in the library and I loved it. My favorite class varied by year and teacher. I always liked English though. 

What are some of your favorite high school memories? Homecoming? Prom? Have you returned for any class reunions?

I haven't returned for any reunions and have no intention of doing so. Anyone I want to keep in touch with I do via FB. Prom was ok, but I wore the same dress as one of the popular kids so that soured it a little. One of my fave high school memories was when I got a car and got to drive my friends around :) 

How old were you when you started school? Did you have a favorite teacher?

I think I was 5? I was always one of the older kids in my class which only served me well when I turned 17 and could drive before a lot of my peers! My favorite teacher was Miss Weber- she was my grade school music teacher. We still keep in touch :) 

Do you have a favorite high school memory?

Linking up with Leslie! 

August Reads

Last month I mentioned hitting a few bumps with my reading, but this month I can say I've officially hit a slump. I haven't even picked up a book in over 2 weeks. I know the issue- it's the reading challenge. I want to read certain books but feel guilty picking them up when I haven't finished the challenge yet. After making a few changes though, I think I'm finally hitting my groove again (thank goodness!). Here's what I read in August. 

The Chalk Man - C. J. Tudor: 4 Stars

own, hardback

An unreliable narrator and dual timelines added to the creepiness of this thriller. The cliffhanger chapter endings had me staying up too late, which is always a good sign in my book (ha)! I did think it was weird that we knew nothing abut the murder victim except for the body found in the woods throughout the majority of the novel. And not that it matters but for some reason the whole time I was thinking this was written by a man but it wasn't. Anyway, great debut novel! 

Some Girls Are - Courtney Summers: 4 Stars

own, paperback - if you would like my copy, please let me know!

I've had this book on my bookshelf for years, but only felt truly compelled to pick it up after I finished (and loved) Sadie by the same author. This one pulled on my heartstrings too. Teenagers in high school are assholes, and this reminded me of that so much. It was just so realistic- I could totally picture this girl (and her "old" posse) walking by me in high school, and that realism made it 4 stars in my book. Regina was also completely relatable, and there was so much more emotional torment than there was physical which that almost made it harder to read. This just proves that you know what you're getting with Summers- beware! 

Dominicana - Angie Cruz: 3 Stars
library e-book

I wanted to like this one way more than I did. The story was like so many I've heard before which made it seem so... pedestrian? I was surprised when I saw so many of my fellow GR friends rated it so highly, and I can only imagine that this "story" was new to them. Read the GR synopsis if you want to know what it was about, but honestly this was like SO MANY immigrant stories. There was nothing special or new in this book. 

Dear Dwayne, With Love - Eliza Gordon: 2 Stars

Netgalley

My biggest issue with this book was that I found it really hard to believe that a 28 year old woman would  have "The Rock" posters covering her cubicle and calls their mom "Mommy." Also the "steamy" romance with Marco felt clunky. I did like her relationship with Howie- I thought that was really sweet. But overall, a bit over the top and highly predictable.

Book Stats (previously /now)
Total number read: 38
Netgalley: 11 / 12
Owned: 5 /7
Non-Fiction: 8 / 9 - no change
WOC: 9 / 10
Given Away: 28 / 29 - no change

Currently Reading: The Whole Town's Talking - Fannie Flagg

What are you reading?

Linking up with Steph and Jana!

What's New With Me: August

I thought I hadn't done much in August but after writing this I realized I has quite an active month! Here's what I was up to: 

One of our Mountain Mamas left the nest (or mountain rather), so we had a goodbye "party" for her.

Covid Test on August 5... followed immediately by getting stung by a bee for the first time EVER! I put ice on it, but the swelling took a full week to go down, and then it was so itchy! 

Checked out a new local brewery followed by a late night swim with a few friends- so much fun! (Summer Bucket List- check!)

"Sand Flu" aka beach day in mid-August with another couple (Summer Bucket List- check!)

Dinner with Blue's sister and BIL at a new-to-us restaurant. 

Back to working in the office on August 27. Luckily I only have to go in 2 days a week for the next month. 

Closed out the month with another al fresco late lunch at one of our old favorites. 

Other than that, my reading took a  bit of a backseat this month as I continued to binge on all of the Sopranos, and then found Wentworth on Netflix. How have I never heard of this show? It's like a better, Australian version of Orange is the New Black, and there are 7 seasons! I'm already on S4... and S8 comes out Sept 30! Since I'm watching that with Blue, I may have to also start Cobra Kai- have you guys seen that one yet? It's supposed to be a continuation of The Karate Kid, and I've heard it's really good! 

What's new with you this month?

Linking up with Lauren, Dara, and Kristen!