Some Good Things: October 2019

It's hard to believe that October has come and gone. It's even harder to believe that November is almost halfway over, but I wanted to share a few good things that I found, read, heard, or watched this month.

Books

How to Win Friends & Influence People

It took me three months to read this book, not because I didn't enjoy it, but because I had a baby in August and she keeps me pretty busy. I finally finished this book, and I think that everybody (and I mean everybody) should read this book. Other than the Bible, this books offers some of the most helpful principles on human relations. If you're a human, you should read this book. 

Articles

These are articles that I have been collecting since August, and it's a mix of different topics and thoughts. If a title intrigues you, take a gander, but I found them all thought provoking. 

A Prayer for My Feet

The Lost Supper

Your Children Are Your Neighbor

Myths About Homemaking

Calculate Your Peak Energy Time

Sunday Funday: A Different Kind of Sabbath

Music

Count on Christmas

I started listening to Christmas music last week with Thea in the morning, and it's become a wonderful part of our morning routine. This song is a new favorite. I enjoy dancing around the house while listening to it. 

Movies + TV

Once Upon A Time: The Complete Seventh Season

The first season of Once Upon a Time premiered during my freshman year of college. I watched each season faithfully up until the sixth season, and then I took a break. I didn't know if I would watch the seventh season, but my husband and I just started. And WOW! I didn't think the seventh season of a show could be so good. 

Downton Abbey Series

I decided. Downton Abbey is my favorite television show, and that's saying something because I have a hard time committing to favorite things. But this one is hands down my favorite or at least among my favorites. I re-watched the series recently in anticipation for the feature length film coming out, but I also needed a show to watch in the middle of the night while nursing my daughter, and so I chose Downton Abbey. 

Products

Starbucks Strawberry Lemonade Refreshers 

With a newborn, I need some sort of caffeine to help me in the early mornings, and this drink is something I use to buy at Starbucks. BUT NOW I can buy a 12 pack through Amazon. 

What I'm Learning

Do What You Know. Use What You Have. Finish What You Start

The Nester (a home decor blogger whose work I enjoy reading) shared this mantra on her blog a few months ago, and I can't stop thinking about it. It has come in handy over these past few months as Brandon and I made space in our apartment to prepare for our baby, as I purchase or look for things that Thea might need, or even as I work on projects. 

Particularly the mantra of "Use What You Have" has been a resounding gong in my mind as I consider purchases. Even this week I was considering buying a swing for Thea to help occupy her when I need to take care of household chores. I considered buying one brand new, but then I remembered that a friend has one that her first born used but wasn't currently using. So instead of buying a new swing, I asked this friend to borrow hers, and Thea already loves it! I wasn't sure if Thea would enjoy a swing, and borrowing helped us to figure that out. 

There's been many times over the past few months where I have wanted to purchase something, and then realized that I had something in our home that could work just as well. 

When I consider making purchases now, I first consider if there is something around the house or something that I could borrow that can get the job done. If there is nothing around the house or that I can borrow, then I consider if I can get it second hand and give something second life. If that option is out of the question, then brand new it is! Of course this doesn't work for things like underwear, unless you have extra undies hidden away in your house, but it works well for a lot of other things. 

There You Have It

A compiled list of things I wanted to share. Are there any things you've encountered lately that you just want to share with others? Let me know in the comments below.