What’s Your Inspiration This Month – September

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As I mentioned at the beginning of the month, I really don’t feel ready for fall, I think it was because we didn’t really have great summer weather this year, so as soon as it started to be a nice summer in August, it was over. The weather is definitely changing now, so I’m coming to terms with the fact that I can’t turn back the calendar.  So this week I’m trying to embrace fall as much as I can.

My Fall Inspiration Board on Pinterest

Pinterest is an endless source of inspiration for everything from new dinners, to wardrobe combinations, to house projects and craft inspiration.  If you are not on Pinterest yet, I want to tell you – while it can be another time suck – it is NOT the same as spending 20 minutes looking at random pictures of someone you haven’t talked to since high school on FB (ahem – not that I’ve done that!)

At least on Pinterest you are coming up with ideas and inspiration for your own life. Nicole at Simple Organic is going to be hosting a Pinterest to real life challenge at the end of each month, so if you’re worried you’ll get on Pinterest and find lots of cool things, but not actually follow through with them, then this is a great way to get started.  Find a project, work on it, and share it on Simple Organic at the end of the month!

As we move into fall, here are some things I’m into this month!

What I’m Reading:

I wish I was reading more, but right now I haven’t found a ton of time for reading, here’s a few that have been on my nightstand though.

• The Creative Family -  I know I’m a little late on reading this book for many around the blogosphere, but I’ve been trying to find more of a creative side, both for myself and for my kiddos.  I am loving the simple ideas and positive inspiration of this book.

• Raising Your Spirited Child – When I read the intro to this book, I cried, for two reasons.  First of all because I finally felt like someone understood and explained my children to me, and secondly because I realized I have TWO of them!  I had to return this book to the library before I was finished reading it, but I know I need to buy a copy for myself because it is going to be an indispensible resource as I work to raise two very spirited children.

Ebooks:

I love ebooks because they are relatively cheap and full of great, and helpful information that you can apply to your life right away.  This month I’ve been working through these ebooks:

• 31 Days To Build A Better Spouse – It sounds kind of mean, but this is a great book with daily prayers for your husband (or wife), I love the accountability that a daily topic gives me for praying for Jer on a regular basis.

• One Bite At a Time – 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler – a great book from Tsh at Simple Mom of easy, achievable steps to help simplify your life.

• 31 Days to Clean – Although it’s taken me much longer than 31 days, I appreciate the small challenges each day to clean a specific area of my house, along with the challenges about where my heart and motivation is for keeping my house clean.

What I’m Listening To:

I’ve been spending most of my Saturday mornings at Starbucks or Panera working and writing and I’ve discovered one way to help my productivity is to wear headphones.  But regular music with lyrics is too distracting, so I’ve been listening to classical piano music on Pandora, and I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy it.

Also, I spend about an hour a day in my car driving to and from preschool for my daughter.  I didn’t want that to just be wasted time, so I picked up some books on tape from the library and have been listening to those.

I just finished Triumph by Carolyn Jessop.  I read her first book Escape and I don’t know why I’m so fascinated by the stories from the FLDS, but it really is interesting to me.

Now I’m listening to 10 Habits of Happy Mothers by Meg Meeker and it has been a great inspiration to me!

In The Kitchen:

As the days are turning colder, I am, of course, changing my meals to more comfort food and thinking about what will warm up the house and our tummies, and not how I can get a meal on the table without turning on the oven or stove.  I haven’t been trying tons of new recipes, but I’m back to meal planning, if you’d like to check-in with what we’re eating every week.

For Fall

So, I know it’s a little late, but I really want to make a fall bucket list like this one. Although this isn’t complete, here are some of my ideas:

• Apple picking
• Go to a pumpkin patch
• Go on a hay ride
• Play in the leaves
• Make a homemade pumpkin spice latte
• Make other yummy homemade pumpkin treats
• Enjoy as much time outside as we can!

What else should I add to my fall bucket list?

Also because I’ve haven’t shared lately, here’s what I’ve been babbling about recently:

• Think Outside the Cereal Box: 8 Delicious & Nutritious Breakfasts for Toddlers
• 10 Ways to Feed Your Family Natural/Organic On A Budget
• 12 Easy, Beginner Toddler Crafts
• Should Toddlers Be Given Psychiatric Medications?
• 8 Little White Lies Parents Tell Their Kids
• Giving Up the Paci to The Paci Fairy

So, that’s what’s been inspiring me, check out what Megan at Sorta Crunchy has been into this month too.

What’s your inspiration this fall?  I always love to hear new ideas!

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We’re gonna start talking about Christmas in October (I know, so early, but if you’re like me you have to start planning early!), and I also have a new fun monthly feature I’m excited to share with you, I’d love to have you join with me! You can also connect with me on Twitter and Facebook!

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Top Photo Credit: Andrea_44