Hey y’all-hope you’ve had a good week. Are you also in disbelief that it’s already October?! The wackiest year ever also seems to be the fastest year ever! If you’re new around here, I like to kick off each month with a recap of my favorites from the previous month. September 2020 was a very diverse month. It started off very much still summer, but ended in full-on fall mode. Traditionally, September still feels very summer-like the entire month in central North Carolina. However, this September we got more of a taste of fall weather than usual. As much as I love summer, there’s so many things about fall I adore as well. And even during this atypical year, I’m thankful September still brought the return of some beloved fall traditions. Keep reading for my September 2020 favorites!
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Labor Day Weekend at the Beach
It’s a tradition for me to spend the unofficial final weekend of summer at the beach. And I took a couple extra days off from work to make it an extra long weekend. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, and it was so much fun to spend several days enjoying beach time with good books, takeout from my favorite Emerald Isle restaurants, and movie nights with my parents.
Faith, Hope, and Love
Speaking of movie nights at the beach, one night my mom and I watched Faith, Hope, and Love on Netflix. It appeared on the “Recommended” page based on things we had previously watched. The plot sounded good, so we decided to watch. It turns out that it’s a Christian movie, which I didn’t realize beforehand. In addition to a cute plot about a young girl trying to set her widower father up with her divorced dance teacher, the gospel message was explicitly woven throughout the movie. I love that movies like this exist, because they are a way to share the good news of Jesus with unbelievers who wouldn’t be likely to go to church or watch a film that was more directly marketed as being Christian. For all the Candace Cameron Bure fans out there, her daughter Natasha makes her movie debut in Faith, Hope, and Love. Highly recommend checking it out!
Pumpkin Spice Latte Is Back
Although the beloved Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) technically returned in late August, I simply can’t bring myself to get one before Labor Day. However, you bet the weekend after Labor Day I got my first PSL of the season to enjoy while watching the season debut of ESPN College GameDay. In a year when so much has been shaken up, it was comforting to have the familiar smell and taste of a PSL delight my senses once more. For a hack on how to make your Pumpkin Spice Latte healthier, check out this post.
College Football Returns
After so many beloved sports events being cancelled or postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, particularly March Madness and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, I am so thankful that college football is happening! The season definitely looks different this year. It will be the first time in years that I won’t attend a college football tailgate and game. The College GameDay set doesn’t have crowds of fans holding signs, and the analysts sit at the desk socially distanced. Lee Corso doesn’t even travel to the GameDay location, since he’s over 80 and considered higher risk for COVID complications. However, ESPN has done a great job of placing a mini GameDay set in Corso’s home in Florida. It’s actually kinda fun seeing his pool in the background. And they’ve even figured out a way to get the mascot heads to Lee Corso so he can still do his beloved headgear pick each week. During this fall when so many traditions are altered or cancelled, I’m so thankful I can still start my Saturday with a Pumpkin Spice Latte & College GameDay (see above pic).
Primally Pure Clarifying Mask
Primally Pure is one of the top clean beauty brands I recommend. During September I incorporated the Primally Pure Clarifying Mask into my skincare routine. Technically I first used it in August, but it was so close to the end of the month that I held off on including it in a monthly round-up until now. With clean beauty products, natural ingredients don’t automatically mean a product is better. There are some unsafe natural ingredients, and some very safe synthetic ingredients. However, Primally Pure products are all-natural AND safe. The Clarifying Mask includes honey, kaolin clay, and turmeric powder. These ingredients feature a combination of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help with oily or blemish-prone skin. You use this mask 1-3 times per week after cleansing, leaving on for 15-30 minutes. This feels so good on my skin, and I love how it doesn’t feel dry or itchy even if I leave on for the full 30 minutes. You can shop the Primally Pure Clarifying Mask here. Plus, save 10% on your first Primally Pure order with code LS10.
Classic Style
I saw Classic Style by Kate Schelter on someone’s Instagram. When I found it on Amazon for a decent price, I had to add it to my coffee table book collection. I haven’t had the chance to read through it yet, but “classic” is one word I would use to describe my style, so I thought it was perfect for me!
Return of BSF
My young adults Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) class started back up in September. We are meeting virtually for the time being, and I definitely miss the in-person aspect. But it’s definitely nice to have the virtual fellowship with my discussion group. And the study is helping me be more consistent with reading my Bible, which I wasn’t the best at this summer. We are studying Genesis this year, which I’m super excited about!
Duffy & Friends Mug
Anyone who has been following me for awhile knows that I’m obsessed with Duffy the Disney Bear and his friends. If you don’t know who Duffy is, you can read this post for details. But he’s Mickey Mouse’s teddy bear and basically the cutest thing ever. However, Duffy’s popularity in the continental US didn’t quite take off as much as in the Asian Disney Parks. A decent amount of Duffy & Friends merchandise is available at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii. Occasionally, some of it becomes available on shopDisney. I couldn’t resist grabbing this coffee mug when I saw it online. It features Mickey Mouse, Duffy, ShellieMay, StellaLou, Olu, and Gelatoni. Hopefully I can visit the Aulani Resort in person someday!
Vera Bradley Disney Lanyard
Getting to promote the newest Vera Bradley Disney collection back in August was one of my biggest highlights in blogging so far. It was also a much-needed bright spot in 2020. I loved the items Vera Bradley sent me as part of the collab that I ended up ordering a few more on my own. This Vera Bradley lanyard in the Sweet Treats Ditsy print sold out pretty quickly on the Vera Bradley website. However, I happened to see it on shopDisney when I ordered my mug, so I added it to my order. I love how the clip ring is shaped like Mickey. Confession- I like wearing this around my apartment just for fun-haha! You can get other items in the Vera Bradley Disney Collection here. You can also shop the classic Vera Bradley lanyard here. I like the Fruit Grove print.
I hope that y’all enjoyed reading more about my September 2020 Favorites! What are some things that you’ve been loving recently?!
Keep in Touch!
Ps. To keep in touch, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. In addition, I’ve become more active on Pinterest and would love for you to follow me there. I’d also love to add some extra happiness to your inbox with my weekly e-newsletter, and you can sign up here. I like to think of my newsletters as a weekly virtual coffee chat. You will also get my FREE mini ebook on “How to Build Your Wardrobe on a Budget”!
-xoxo Liz
