As I’m writing this, we have about 3 inches of snow on the ground.  THREE INCHES.  We are only halfway through November.  I am not ready.  I daresay I was not even appropriately warned.  It is in the 20’s, and we have not celebrated Thanksgiving.  So…I’m going to just pretend none of this has happened, and it is still Fall, and we’re all just busting out our favorite soup recipes and chunky sweaters and candles and pumpkins.

So, can you just let me live in my dream world for a minute?  It’s a new season, so it’s time for a Stuff I Like post.  Here’s what I’m into this FALL!

To Read

All the Light We Cannot See (Anthony Doerr)

Oh my good golly.  This book was incredible!  (I know I’m a few years late to the game here, but it’s never too late to pick up a Pulitzer Prize winner!)  I would rank it right up there with The Nightingale which I read last summer (also about occupied France in World War II) and loved.  It was so moving.  It did not end the way I thought/hoped it would.  It really made me think about and appreciate what people went through during this very dark time in history.  Highly recommend this book, particularly if you like historical fiction!

The Duties of Parents (J. C. Ryle)

C. S. Lewis once said, “It is a good rule after reading a new book never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between.”  I can see the wisdom in this, and, while I can’t say it informs all my reading choices by any means, I do like to read some old books.  This one has been a favorite from page 1!  Writing in the 19th century, Ryle is as relevant to our times as if he was writing this week.  I am also currently enjoying his book Holiness, which is a much bigger read, but really, really great, so I decided to see what he had to say in this short little book. I’m not sure if this is even a “book.”  It’s more just like a long essay (40ish pages).  Also, it was free on iTunes.  Totally a no-brainer to read this one! So many encouraging words and compelling arguments firmly backed up by Scripture.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou)

How have I never read this?  It is such a beautiful, coming-of-age memoir.  It is so famous!  I picked up the audiobook of this one, read by the author, and it is so nice to listen to (one part in particular moved me to tears while I was in the kitchen doing dishes!).  I like audiobooks read by someone with a nice, pleasant, resonant voice, and Maya’s is just perfect.  Highly recommend this book!

To Watch

Poldark Season 5

I’m almost embarrassed to admit that I’m still watching this show, but it comes out (in the US) every Fall for 8 weeks, and I kinda’ had to see how they were going to wrap up the show (this is the final season).  I’m not completely into it, but I am a “finisher” so I’m watching.

Jack Ryan: Season 2

Very into this one though!  The Hubs and I were so excited to finally have season 2 released of this show.  We really liked the first season, and we’re liking this one, too.  It’s our go-to pizza night show.  Friday nights are yoga pants, pizza and kids’ movie as a fam, kids go to bed, and ice cream and an episode of our show.  Every.Friday.  For almost 10 years.  It’s our favorite little rhythm.

To Cook

Soup

It is always soup.  It is Fall.  It is cozy.  It is easy!  I am loving my Instant Pot lately…it’s been a total lifesaver in this very full part of my school year.  (See, “Hobbies” section!)  I can throw a pot of chili or soup together and have it cook while I teach (slow cook function), or throw it in before I head off to rehearsal (pressure cook function).  Plus, bowls of steel cut oats on busy mornings that literally took me 30 seconds to put together and then head off for a shower.  Winning!

This soup took a little more time, as I made it on the stovetop, but it was cozy and creamy (without dairy!) and a big hit with the Hubs who happily took the leftovers for lunch the next day.

Donuts

I did not not think I liked donuts one bit before we moved to Michigan.  I did not find them satisfying.  But then I had cider donuts, and now I think donuts are amazing.  So, I tried making them, and it was not a bad first attempt!  I’ve made a few notes to self for tweaks that would need to be made for a second attempt.  That may need to happen again soon, because donut season, for me, is over when Fall ends.  (Then we are on to Christmas cinnamon rolls.)

To Be Active

I had big plans to do some racing this Fall (after my foot/ankle sidelined my racing this summer), but then I found I really just wanted to be making donuts and chillin’ with the fam on Saturday mornings rather than getting up at the crack of dawn to race by myself.  I think I may try to do some indoor track races this winter if I can and then some road races in the Spring, but mostly I’m just enjoying early morning gym workouts right now.  With my schedule rather full, I find it really works best for me to workout first thing in the morning.  My little mantra I’m using to motivate myself on cold, dark mornings is simply A crappy morning workout is still better than a workout later in the day.  It just works best for my family not to try to squeeze this in later, keeps me calm and de-stressed, and motivates me toward a productive day.

I’m looking forward to sharing some new workouts on the blog soon!!  I have oodles of content waiting to be posted until I can tweak a few aesthetics.  Stay tuned!  I’m excited to share with you!

Be Crunchy

All of my crunchy attention lately has been focused toward

1. Figuring out the root cause of breakouts I’ve been experiencing for 3+ months.  (What the heck?!)
2. Getting my post-nursing cycle happy and a regular, 28 days each month (I’m having success here!)
3. Calming down a recent Hashimoto’s flare (possibly the root cause for #1?).

So basically, hormones, hormones, hormones…  So, here are a few things I’m liking…

My Konjac Sponge

This little piece of konjac–a porous, Asian vegetable–has been a great beauty tool recently!  I do think it’s helped clear up my skin.  (Yes, I’m still trying to get to the root cause, but this has been helpful in the meantime.)  It’s completely rock hard until you wet it, and then you just rub it in circular motions on your face, rinse it clean, and hang it up to dry.  I’m using the green tea variety right now, but I think I’d like to try the clay and charcoal varieties, too!

Plant Based Collagen Booster

I’m coming to grips with the fact that I’m just not good at taking supplements that require me to drink huge cups of water.  I love my collagen powder, but remembering to drink a whole glass of the stuff has not been going well!  So, I’m trying this little elixir that I can pour into a tiny bit of water and be done with it.  It was surprised to find that it doesn’t taste that bad, and I’m hoping it helps my body make collagen to slow down the aging process!  (What are these lines on my forehead that don’t seem to want to go away when I lower my eyebrows back to normal?)  Ah well…we will see how it works!

Glutamine

I’m also trying this supplement to boost my gut health.  Because thyroid people tend to have leaky gut, and glutamine is supposed to repair the intestinal wall.  Here’s hoping that a healthier intestinal wall might allow me to occasionally enjoy some gluten without all the deleterious effects (because this is real life and there are donuts!).

Style & Beauty

Rothy’s

I did it.  I caved to all the Instagram marketing I was receiving from this company (and also after seeing my sister-in-law’s!).  These little flats really are great!  I am all about boring clothes and fancy shoes, so naturally I went for the pointy-toed, leopard print version of these shoes, and I love them!  They dress up a rather blah outfit so quickly!  And you can throw them in the washing machine?!?!  Amazing.  They do come in a gazillion different colors and several different styles.  So, if sneakers or loafers or round-toed flats are more your thing, you do you with the Rothy’s.  (Side note: totally hate that phrase and always use it a bit sarcastically, but in this case it is true.)

Hobbies

A musical

You guys!!!!  I’m in a show!!!  It’s been, um, a minute.  I am having so.much.fun.  I’ve been helping as the vocal coach for a musical theatre company this season, and while that was a TON of fun to help with the student show, this community show THAT I GET TO ALSO BE IN is such a blast.  I forgot how much I loved and missed theatre!  I’m playing Grace in Annie.  The show only rehearses on Tuesday nights, so I didn’t have to sell my soul to a rehearsal schedule, which is rather nice considering that I am, like, a real person with other responsibilities these days.  Tuesday nights are very fun.

Knitting

I have embraced my inner old lady and have taken up knitting!  I have made exactly one hat!  It turned out kind of okay!  Now I am working on a scarf for Landon for Christmas and have plans to make another hat for IJ also for Christmas.  It’s been fun to have a relaxing little hobby to enjoy while watching a show or driving in the car, etc.  It’s been hard not to want to rip it apart any time I see a mistake, but I’m continuing on and learning as I go, even if my finished projects don’t look perfect.

Ballroom Dance Lessons

The Hubs and I took a little Intro to Ballroom Dance Class in October!  It was fun!  It was sort of a little bucket list item for us.  We’ve been saying for forever that we wanted to take some lessons.  We finally did!  As much as we liked getting to do this, we found that on Friday nights we just really like staying home for pizza nights with our kids, but hopefully we can do some more dancing in the future…maybe on a different night of the week.  The pizza night rhythm lives on!

Well, I think that covers it!  Everything I’m up to this Fall.  I would LOVE to hear what you’re up to, what you’re learning, how you’re improving your health and fitness…send me your thoughts or comment below!  Happy Fall, everyone!

Note: this post contains affiliate links.  That means, when you click a link and make a purchase, you help keep the lights on over here at Sprinting Spoon.  Thanks!