What I'm Into (September)

Today I'm linking up with Leigh to share some things that I'm into this month.

September was a good month around here. We completely unpacked and have settled in to our apartment and slowly begun carving out our "spots" (library, park, grocery store, church, etc.). Brock and I went on a trip for 8 days, and we finished off the month with Brock's birthday yesterday. We went to the beach (pictured above) and explored the tide pools and played in the waves. It was heavenly.

 There's been a lot of change and a lot of moving around. I'm looking forward to October-it's always been such a fun month to me.

Here are a few things I've been into this month:

Reading:

I just (as in, 10 minutes ago) finished Four Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr. It's about his year spent in Rome with his wife and one year old twins. It was interesting but not as readable as I had originally expected.

However, a few lines really stuck out to me. Here's one that I've been thinking about a lot the past few days:

"Leave home, leave the country, leave the familiar. Only then can routine experience- buying bread, eating vegetables, even saying hello- become new all over again."

I've been feeling this so much the past few days- I left home and upon coming back I can't stop marveling over everything. This is my bed? It's so comfy and wonderful! This is my apartment! It fits us so well. The one that has been recurring the most is, this is my son? He's mine? Look at how amazing he is!

I really have been looking at James 20 times a day and thinking, "Wow. He is incredible and I'm so lucky." Leaving home and coming back helped my familiar things to become new again.

In other reading news, last night I started listening to Year of Yes on audiobook and I have been LOVING it. Shonda Rimes has such a unique voice and a unique perspective. I can't wait to finish. I'm also about to start Snow Falling on Cedars, recommended to me by my cousin Amber (personal book recommendations are my favorite).

Watching:

This weekend is the weekend of my church's General Conference. You can check it out here. I always find it to be so uplifting and inspiring. Also, Brock and I got engaged on General Conference weekend 4 years ago, so every time the October session rolls around I tend to reminisce. I am very prone to nostalgia about our romantic history.

From our engagement photo shoot. Sorry but I had to

Brock and I are in the middle of Stranger Things on Netflix. I heard a million good things about it before we started but it moves a little slow for my taste and also I'm not a fan of alien things. But the acting is really good and so, why not?

Cooking:

Is it weird that this is a category? I love cooking and consider it one of my favorite hobbies. With the move and being out of town I haven't cooked as much as I usually do. But I have made two amazing meals this week, if I can say that about my own cooking.

For Brock's birthday dinner, he requested chicken pot pie. I love this recipe from Betty Crocker and I think last night's was my best pot pie yet. The whole process kind of takes awhile but James and Brock were rambunctiously playing in his room and I was listening to my audiobook so I found the whole chopping, stirring, rolling very soothing.

I also made these great chicken lettuce wraps. They are filling, seem so healthy, and are relatively quick to make. I do feel like a slob as I eat them, so maybe don't make them as a date night meal.