Notes from October
This essay originally appeared in the Monday morning newsletter on 11/8/21.
Last week I took time to do my monthly routine of looking through my photos and calendar and jotting down a quick list of memories from October. I’ve absolutely loved doing these recaps this year. I feel like I’m always focused on the next thing, so it’s nice to have this ritual to prompt me to stop, reflect and recount what happened the previous month.
On to the recap!
October’s 10 Things:
1. I went to my first Chicago Bears game! My parents came into town and it was so fun. Glad I was able to see a game at Soldier Field before a potential move to Arlington Heights!
2. I read two thrillers in October – Not a Happy Family and The Plot. Both had slow starts for me, but what I love about the thriller genre is that once you are hooked, you can’t stop reading. A nice little metal escape. 🙂
3. But in general, October was not a big reading month for me because I spent more time than usual watching TV. I watched season 1 of Ted Lasso in about a week and a half (LOVE) and now I’m almost done with season 2 (LOVE x2). I also started FX’s Impeachment one rainy weekend and think it is really well done, although definitely heavier to watch than Ted Lasso.
4. I went into the office for the first time since March 2020! My office is open, but attendance is optional for now. I’m loving coordinating with some co-workers and going in once a week for a change of scenery.
5. Speaking of co-workers, three of my friends from work and I started doing a monthly Sunday dinner at a favorite Italian restaurant. It’s been so fun to chat and hang outside of a work setting.
6. I’m not really a Halloween person, but on Halloween this year I went for a walk around my neighborhood (Lincoln Park) and loved seeing all the families out trick-or-treating. LP goes all out with the Halloween decorations, so it felt super festive.
7. Went to my first concert since early 2020! My friends and I saw Jungle at the Riviera. I didn’t know much Jungle music before going (I took a friend’s ticket who ended up being out of town) and the one song I DID know they didn’t play, but it was still a really, really fun night 🙂
8-10. And I wrapped up most of the items on my Fall Fun List! Love these seasonal bucket lists of sorts
- Fully enjoy football season. Check! So much football this year – went to games at UF, Notre Dame and Soldier Field and had so much fun watching various games on Saturdays in bars with friends. Loved all of it, even if the UF football season is shaping up differently than expected.
- Drink pumpkin beer with my parents when they visit Chicago in October. Didn’t find any with my parents, but my mom recommended Sam Adams Jack-O Pumpkin Ale and I loved that!
- Curate a fall capsule wardrobe. Well, I have had some fun (maybe too much fun?) shopping for fall and winter clothes, but as far a “capsule wardrobe” in an effort to limit impulse buys…? Haven’t been great at that. 😉
- Bake a fall dessert and cook a fall-themed dinner at least once. Made this chili twice as well as this zucchini bread, pumpkin muffins and these chocolate chip cookies. Love fall cooking and baking!
- Go on a long, leisurely “leaf-peeping” run. I did a couple of these! I love running in Chicago in October and I’m so happy to be building up my mileage once again. Yay!!
- Start Cheese Board Sunday! This was fun and I can definitely see myself doing this post-Fall Fun List. I loved having a Sunday evening ritual.
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