Kicking Off October With Some Fun

 "Take chances, make mistakes. That's how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave." (Mary Tyler Moore)

 

Hello, my lovely friends! 

 

 New month, new season, new holiday! Do you kick off the first day with a little personal celebration or a must-do activity to welcome it in? It just so happens that I've been doing that this year.

 

   I kicked off the first day of Fall in high style! This morning's menu? Nothing less than pumpkin spiced pancakes—because what says "new season" better than that comforting aroma?

 

    We kept the cozy vibes going strong with a perfect seasonal movie: :Practical Magic". And for dinner, I served up a classic, soul-warming combination: homemade soup and grilled cheese.

 

    You know I'm a huge believer in adding a little magic  to the everyday. If you don't make it special for yourself, who will? It's all about those small, lovely rituals!

 

 With that in mind, I absolutely had to usher in October 1st with a little extra magic.

 

     I kicked off the day by donating my necessary pints to Kaiser—all in preparation for my Friday wellness check, of course. But the needle-prick was a small price to pay! As soon as they let me go, we turned that trip into a fun outing. A quick lunch gave us the energy boost we needed, and then we were off to explore and play at all the nearby haunts!

 

     We definitely went back to the bookstore hunting for spooky delights, but if I’m being honest, we ended up getting totally sidetracked! Forget ghost stories; it was the magazines stuffed with autumn crafts and cozy recipes that really captured my attention. My fall obsession has fully kicked in—I even snagged two more books from Amazon, all about seasonal activities and fun things to do. Honestly, I could happily lose hours just wandering the aisles, running my hand over the gorgeous covers, and soaking up the atmosphere. It’s my happy place!

 

     The siren song of Hobby Lobby and Michael's was calling, but after a marathon of three (or was it four?) errands, Mom was officially running on fumes. The craft haul was postponed, and we steered for home, but that only meant Act Two of the day was about to begin.

 

    Leftover Chinese was on the menu for dinner—a quick, easy, and delicious repeat performance from lunch. With the night air getting chilly, we wasted no time swapping our daytime clothes for super cozy pajamas. It was the perfect start to our evening ritual: movie night!

 

    We almost hit "play" on "Practical Magic," one of our all-time favorite spooky season films, but since we'd just watched it for the First Day of Fall, we decided to switch it up. My mom had the brilliant suggestion of a spooky musical, and just like that, "Sweeney Todd" won the vote. It was the perfect, macabre way to welcome the first day of October!

 

     My mom's evening was officially over, but for me, the night was just beginning—and it was going to be a spooky one! I had fully planned on kicking things off with the iconic sequel, "The Bride of Frankenstein," but my brain had other plans. I simply couldn't allow myself to jump straight to the sequel; I had to pay my respects and start with the original "Frankenstein" first. And so, a classic double-feature was born!

 

    I just finished watching "The Bride of Frankenstein," and what a fantastic viewing it was. There’s something so magical about those Universal Monsters; they're truly my favorite cinema icons. Honestly, they might be my absolute go-to for setting the mood every year when the calendar flips to the spooky season. Nothing beats a black and white chill!

 

     So, that's how I officially kicked off the month of October: a successful haul of cozy things to read and some spooky movies. It was the perfect blend of practical fun and pure escapism, and now I feel perfectly charged up for everything the best month of the year has to offer!

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!