13 Things Thursday: Vol 8

All things fall and upcoming celebrations

Life/Personal Things

1. Money Saving Hack: I’ve been trying an experiment to write down and add up extra spending, or anything that isn’t considered a necessity or normal costs. It started out as an exercise to gauge how much spending was “extra” vs. necessary. Since my student loan payments are starting again and we’re saving for our anniversary trip, this helps me pinpoint where to cut back so we can spend guilt-free on what really matters. This simple habit has helped me to be more conscious and save more. It makes you consider whether you actually need/want something when you think about adding to the number and seeing it go up.

2. Recent fun things: Seeing the Barbie movie and Smashing Pumpkins in concert. I also got to watch my dear friend Jen fight at her first amateur boxing match last night! She trained and fought in the Haymakers for Hope Beltway Brawl charity boxing event to raise money for cancer research. I’m so incredibly proud of her and all the hard work she’s put in over the last few months. She’s such a badass! Edited to add: She won with a technical knockout (TKO—I was today years old when I learned what that meant. lol) in the 3rd round! Her opponent started out strong, but she rallied and kicked ass in the 2nd and 3rd round. It was like a Rocky movie!

3. Looking forward to: This month we’ll be celebrating Bryan’s birthday, my cousin’s baby shower, and our 10th wedding anniversary. Lots of fun things coming up!

4. The moment September starts (and even before that, honestly), I get SO excited for all things fall! Pumpkin spice, scented candles, apple cider, football season…I love it all! Temps are still pretty hot in the DC area, so I can’t wait for cooler weather to arrive.

5. In case you haven’t heard, there’s a BOGO on all fall drinks at Starbucks every Thursday in September after 12 PM. In case you needed an excuse for a coffee run with a friend. :)

6. Because of all the amazing things going on this month, I’m bummed that I might not get to go back to PA to see the elk and go to Rocky Ridge Orchards. Their apple cider is by far the best, and I’ve tried a lot. It’s really fresh and not pasteurized, so that’s probably why nothing compares to it. Ha! Anyone in the DC area have a local or store-bought apple cider they love? Help a girl out!

7. I’ve mentioned my love for fantasy football in previous newsletters, so I’m pumped that football season is back! I’m in a fantasy league and two survivor pools, where you pick a team to win or lose each week without repeating your picks. You’re out of the pool after 2 strikes. I’m not much of a gambler, but combining skill and a little bit of luck is my sweet spot. In case anyone was wondering, my fantasy record, like my beloved Steelers, is currently 0-1. :( But I’m still alive and well in both of my survivor leagues.

8. Random crap I’ve tried, Fall Edition: Making my own maple cream. If anything would make you feel like a pioneer churning butter, this is it. It’s really simple in theory, but in practice it’s tedious and time-consuming. You heat maple syrup over medium/low heat until it reaches 235 degrees F, then set it on an ice bath and cool until it reaches 100 degrees. Then you stir it for a loooooong time until it reaches maple cream consistency, which is light in color and thick. If you’re going to try this, I highly recommend using a stand mixer on low unless you need an arm workout or have a good podcast, audio book, or TV show to distract yourself. You’ve been warned.

   

   The fruits of my endless labor the last time I made maple cream. In retrospect, I probably should have made more of it with that much effort.

9. Self-care moment: Making the dang appointment. I’ve been able to manage my allergies fairly well with over-the-counter medicine and natural remedies, but lately my nasal congestion has been really bothering me. I’ve meant to make an appointment with an allergist to get more comprehensive testing, and I finally made the time to do it. I’m hoping to get some insight and a good treatment plan.

10. I officially finished The Book of Boundaries! I’m determined to stop starting and start finishing when it comes to my reading list, so I’m digging back into Soul-Led Living and Utopia for Realists before I start something new again.

11. Speaking of reading, you may know that I’ve become a non-fiction, self-help enthusiast. I love it, but sometimes you need a break. I used to be an avid fiction reader as a kid and have been meaning to start reading more for fun. After getting some recommendations, I added A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Man Called Ove to my Kindle library, and I’m pumped to dive in!

Tarot/Spirituality

12. Tarot/oracle decks I’m using: Light Seer’s Tarot, Pixie Pop Tarot, There Are No Coincidences (TANC) manifestation deck, The Angel Guide Oracle

13. Speaking of tarot, I had the opportunity to speak in the MOTHERMIND group about tarot last month, and it was so much fun! I gave an overview of the tarot system, and we talked about everyone’s practice, reversals, and more. We have calls twice a month where women in the group or guest speakers talk about either spiritual/personal topics or business/entrepreneurship. Even though I’m not a mom (to human children, anyway), this group has been so lovely and supportive. If you’re interested in learning more and want to be notified when enrollment opens again, let me know! I’d be happy to put you in touch.