October, the month of winter squashes and lattes, is the true start of the holiday season, and I’m coining the term now of “holidaze” because honestly the holidays always get me into a special type of frantic “daze.” But we aren’t there yet!

What I love about October: 60-degree weather, hoodies, apple pies, and the expectation of fall coziness. What are you loving?

FYI: Amazon Affiliate links used (when you buy with one, you help support this blog!)

What I’m Being Inspired By

Inspiration

/ˌinspəˈrāSH(ə)n/ noun

the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.
a sudden brilliant, creative, or timely idea.

(Google Dictionary)

Current Jam:

Alice Merton definitely knows how to create fantastic jams with a strong beat and catchy lyrics. I love this song because sometimes I really do wish that I could be the “hero” of someone else’s story. But do you think it’s possible that we each need to become our own hero?

Current Food Recommendation:

Pabellón Venezuelan & Mexican Cuisine has been teasing me for a while now, and I finally snagged the opportunity to enjoy a takeout order from them. Oh my wow — every bite had me in a swoon.

Pictured here: a quarter of the super burrito, the Arepa Triple Play, and sweet plantains.

Honestly, if I were to compare this meal to a book, I’d probably say it’s like The Hooker and the Hermit by L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid. It requires a hefty hold and a love for the savory.

Current Read:

Hi, I’m obsessed with Penny Reid. If there’s an author who knows how to write steamy romance with eccentric and neurodiverse characters, it’s Penny Reid, and I absolutely adore her for it. You can depend on Penny to serve up a story with a fantastic plot and a likable cast.

I highly recommend the Winston Brothers series, but I’m just starting to get in on the Knitting in the City series.

Current Obsession:

Okay, guys, I have to admit something, and I’m not sure exactly what happened except that I’ve become really obsessed with listening to Financial podcasts (my 12-year-old self just ran out of the room screaming).

It started with Instagram with @herfirst100k and then @moneyhoneyrachel, and it spiraled out from there. (I highly recommend both of these women, plus @yoquierodineropodcast and @thebrokeblackgirl)

I’ve been privileged to always have some sort of income (although there were definitely lean years when I worked approximately 4 jobs), and my parents offered me a great foundation for the basics of finances. But now, at the ripe old age of 31, I’m ready to manage my finances (and therefore life) better.

p.s. this is why you see ads around here now (I’m testing them out), and why I’m trying to use my Amazon Affiliate links more often

Also, many apologies to all my friends who have listened to me go on and on about how we all need High Yield Savings Accounts (hi, do you have one?) and ROTH IRAs (please get one).

Current Quote:

The first time I said this to someone, they looked at me funny. You see, this woman was also a reader, but she never wanted to be an author (at least, that’s what she said to me). But, I truly delight in the fact that my love of reading expanded into stories written by me to share with others!

The day Teal Paisley Tights was on the bookshelf at my local library, I wanted to fall off my seat. While I know I don’t make money off a book borrowed over and over at the library, my child heart cheers because libraries always held such adventure to me — so many books that I could freely borrow and enjoy!

So, what do you love and where can you take it?

What’s Inspiring You?

Tell me in the comments or send me a DM on Instagram! <3