Natalie's Notebook- October Recap

An autumn playlist, vegan chocolate chip cookies, & soft earplugs

Nov 02, 2023

Hi there, and welcome! This monthly newsletter contains things I want to recommend, interesting articles, recipes, and fun finds. Get cozy and settle in for a bit, and let’s get caught up ☺️

October 🍂 Chit Chat

I don’t know about you, but when I get overwhelmed by all the awful headlines and horror in the world, I need to turn my thoughts elsewhere, or it all feels too heavy. So, to redirect my focus, I pray, catch up with a friend, watch a comedy, read, take a walk, or brush the dog’s fur. It’s also helpful to pay attention to all the things that have filled me with joy recently. Writing this newsletter forces me to reflect each month and note the highlights, and it’s such a beneficial practice. The positivity helps balance the burdens I often carry. I hope my reflections inspire you to jot down your own 🥰 and that this newsletter offers a worthwhile distraction.

Here are my October highlights:

A belated celebration lunch with my birthday twin
Spending the morning at the beach with Emily and her dog
A weekend away with Tony to Pasadena
Visiting with a friend I hadn’t seen in months
A long weekend trip to visit Lauren, Daniel, and their dog, Stanley

Everyday Loves

I store my homemade cold brew in mason jars and use these colorful mason jar lids*, which are leakproof.
This Jazz for Autumn playlist as background music when I’m reading or making dinner
I keep a pair of these soft earplugs* in my purse when I want to drown out surroundings or excessive noise.
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Body Scrub

Noteworthy Links

Just in case you need to know: How to Unshrink a Sweater
“Friends are our water wings, our cheer squad, our bodyguards, our packing peanuts”- The Beauty of Friendships
You only need to know these five techniques to become a better home cook

From the Kitchen

A dear friend of mine let me know that she and her darling kids decided at the last minute to visit the Central Coast for a short break, so we had an impromptu dinner, and I baked these yummy vegan chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I made mine with GF flour and used canned coconut milk instead of almond milk.
I made this Pumpkin Turkey Chili and served it with cornbread.
A family favorite throughout the year: Hot Honey Salmon

photos courtesy of How Sweet Eats & Pinch of Yum

*Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Buying items through my links helps support my writing. Thank you 🙂

What were your October highlights?

I would love to know!

With love, Natalie xx

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” Edith Wharton