Natalie's Notebook- September Recap
Bright knives, a striped lady jacket, & fall recipes to feed a crowd
This monthly newsletter is not just about recommendations, interesting articles, recipes, and fun finds. It's about sharing a part of my life with you. You can find the recaps for the previous two months here: July and August. So, pour yourself a drink, find somewhere comfortable to sit, and let’s get caught up. ☺️
September Chit Chat 🍎
As I sit here gathering my thoughts to recap last month, I can’t help but think of this past week’s headlines. I don’t typically mention current events here in this space, but my heart is so heavy for those in NC, FL, and other areas that experienced such devastation from Hurricane Helene. On top of that, I have a daughter-in-law deployed to the Middle East, and if you’ve seen the news lately, you know what is happening there. I’m also holding onto other burdens, but I cling to hope and trust in God, who is bigger than all of them. 🍃
Life is full of so much good, too. It’s helpful to pause, remember what brought us joy and gratitude, and focus on the wonderful things to come. ❤️
Here are my September highlights:
At the beginning of the month, I had a lovely belated birthday celebration with some dear longtime friends.
After enjoying an extended summer break, I returned to work and can honestly say I love what I do!
Some friends we’ve known since college came up to visit, and we spent a fun 24 hours with them.
Tony & I flew to Colorado for five days for an extended family celebration.
We finally have a front lawn! We had artificial turf installed and love how it looks!
This post may contain some affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Buying items through my links helps support my writing. I only ever recommend products I use and love. Thank you ❤️
Everyday Loves
At the end of every summer, I pull out my leather boots, booties, and totes and condition them using leather salve. They always look brand new afterward and ready for fall. 🍂
These bright paring knives are sharp, lightweight, and used so frequently.
I love this cute striped cardigan (now on sale for 50 % off for Prime members!). It’s much less expensive than some of the other lady jackets sold elsewhere, and it’s well-made and comfortable.
*FYI, Amazon Prime Day is almost here, so if you’ve had something sitting in your cart, just wait. It may go on sale. 🙂
Noteworthy Links
Are You Cleaning Your Dishwasher Enough? Great reminder to clean mine.
For Fall Entertaining: 36 Fall Recipes That Will Easily Feed a Crowd
If you’re planning any holiday travel, here are some great tips: How to Travel on a Budget.
Why Thinness Shouldn’t Be Your Fitness Goal-What to aim for instead.
From the Kitchen
Here are three tasty recipes I made last month:
Mediterranean Beef Bowls with homemade hummus
Braised Chickpeas with Zucchini and Pesto (I used vegan pesto.)
Soy-Glazed Chicken (to make it GF, I used coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.)
“Autumn, it carries more gold in its hand than all the other seasons.” — Jim Bishop
Thoughts to ponder:
What was the best part about your September? What are you looking forward to this month?
Have a wonderful October! 🍂🍁🍂🍁
With love, Natalie xx
This was perfect timing for me!! I have recently started a diet and exercise routine. The article about building muscle really caught my attention. I was told it was not good to use weights like dumbbells when trying to “get thin”, but this sits well with me. I’m going to try Amazon Prime days and see if I can get a deal on some weights. Talking of which, that cardigan is gorgeous!!! I love the stripes and how elegant it looks. The recipes are great for inspiration - I just wish I was ‘allowed’ to make chocolate chip pumpkin bread lol!! Thanks for writing, Natalie! Xx
Sitting in LAX (due to a flight delay) and reading your wonderful newsletter. I love your new front lawn! It looks fantastic. 🥰