I always love the beginning of a new month. I take time to look back on what I did well and poorly the month before (I don’t browbeat myself, I just reflect and think about changes I could make). Then I look ahead, make plans, and anticipate enjoyable activities in the month to come.
Today I’m paying bills and doing other beginning of the month drudgery, but I’m also scheduling parties, movie meetups, book club meetings, and signing up for cooking classes I’ll enjoy in September and October!
What things are you looking forward to in September?
QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY:
- Look over your month ahead. Do you have any upcoming appointments? Or do you need to make any? Dentist, doctor, hair cut, vet, pediatrician, car maintenance, etc?
- What birthdays are coming up in the next week and throughout September? Do you need to plan a party, send flowers, purchase and mail gifts or cards?
- How are your pet food supplies holding up for the month ahead? I’m low on dog and cat food – I like to have a month’s supply and an emergency supply for times I’m sick or can’t get to the store. I’m not sick and I can get to the store so not sure why I let myself break into their emergency supply!
- Plan some “downtime” as well as fun activities for yourself in September. Even if it’s just sitting quietly, alone, for 15 minutes with tea and a good magazine.
- Take advantage of your remaining summer. Eat meals outside, go for walks, pick berries, watch the stars (even if you need a blanket for warmth), eat or drink at an outdoor cafe while you still can!
TODAY’S PROJECT:Desk Drawer Sorting
I got frustrated today when I was trying to pay my bills. I couldn’t find my checkbook, couldn’t find my stamps, and had to wade through a mess of papers in my desk drawer looking for a pen to write with. Time to sort and organize my desk drawers!
I have four drawers, and estimate I can sort and organize each one during a 15 minute TV show. I think I’ll ignore the “skip commercials” function of my DVR and use the commercial breaks to carry a cleaned drawer back up and install it into my desk. I’ll carry the next one down and sort it while I watch the second half of my show!
Tomorrow when I’m doing my eBay shipping or writing letters, I’ll be easily able to find my supplies in my newly organized desk drawers. I shouldn’t have let them get this bad to begin with!
LOVELY BLOGS: Snixy Kitchen
Sarah blogs from the Bay Area about using local ingredients to create delicious recipes. She’s currently posting about Sparkling Asian Pear and Mint Iced Tea, gluten-free coconut chocolate chunk banana nut muffins, a chestnut and nectarines Dutch baby, and gluten-free Rosemary Peach hand pies. I love hand pies! I also love gluten, so I’d have to modify the recipe I guess (grin).
LOVELY BOOKS: Autumn Scene Stencils
I can think of so many uses for this recently published book of autumn stencils! Crafters and teachers, moms, scrapbookers and letter writers might enjoy checking this out. There are 20 different stencils you can work with, including leaves, pumpkins, owls, and apples – all things I wouldn’t personally be able to draw freeform! Looking at this book makes me itch to get out my rubber stamp inks!
Autumn Scene Stencils, on Amazon
LOVELY BOOKS: Queen of the Home
This entrancing book, awkwardly entitled Queen of home, Her Reign From Infancy to Age, From Attic to Cellar, Twelve Departments, Treating of Home Occupations was published back in 1889 by Emma Hewitt. I’m enjoying looking through its chapters on Dress, Home Amusements, Entertainments, The Library, The Nursery, Home Occupations, and Home Decorations. I don’t want to call this “charming” as it sounds condescending. It’s just a nice peek into a woman’s ideal life as a homemaker over 100 years ago. I also enjoyed the many illustrations scattered throughout.
Queen of the Home, at The Internet Archive
LOVELY KITCHEN: Teapot Shaped K-Cup Holder
Most people I know with Keurig coffee machines keep their K-cups slopped in a boring white bowl on the counter. So I find this teapot-shaped holder clever and a bit ironic. I have no use for it as I’m not a coffee drinker and I’m happy with simply microwaving a mug of hot water and slapping a teabag of Earl Grey into it. I wanted to share this link though as I love teapot-shaped home and kitchen items!
Teapot K-Cup Holder, on Amazon
LOVELY SHOPS: Confiture de Poeme
Here’s an Etsy shop, based in Lyon France, selling cute and unusual soft art dolls. They’re too expensive (especially after international shipping) to give to children, but people with whimsical doll collections might enjoy browsing around this shop.
My favorite doll here is Alice. I especially love her little shoes!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ConfitureDePoeme
LOVELY TV: Another Period
I was pretty excited about this Comedy Central series, set in the turn of the century in Rhode Island. However, I don’t have the best sense of humor and I don’t always “get” comedy. I didn’t really like this as much as I’d anticipated. I found it too weird and too silly. The acting was good though. Still, I’m passing the link along in case those of you with good senses of humor would be intrigued by it! Season 1 has already aired, but it’s fairly easy to find repeats and use On Demand to see some of the episodes.
http://www.cc.com/shows/another-period
LOVELY LINKS FOR TODAY:
Apple and Nectarine Crisp (Eat This. It’s Good)
Blueberry Nectarine Ginger Jam (Country Cleaver)
Butter Braised Nectarine and Aged Cheddar Salad (Dessert for Two)
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese (Mix and Match Mama)
Cheddar and Thyme BLT Biscuit Sandwiches (Pink Patisserie)
Cheesy Summer Squash Galette in a Dutch Oven (The RV Chronicles)
Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Tart (Huffington Post)
Honey Sweetened Roasted Nectarine Compote (Food in Jars)
Jalapeno Bacon Cornbread (Gonna Want Seconds)
The King of Couture: How Louis XIV Invented Fashion as We Know It (The Atlantic)
Nectarine Salsa (Deco Tartelette)
Summer Rustic Peach Galette (Traveling Food Lady)
Tater Tot Casserole (Dinner for Two)
–Copyright 2015 Lovely Living
