A shift in season = a shift in energy

October plans, according to me and my psychic medium ✨

When I was in Salem back in June, a psychic medium told me, “October will be a time of change for you. I don't usually predict unless Spirit brings it up. But October is definitely a shift in your energy.”

With some big events already on the calendar for that month and a heart that longed for something different, it wasn’t hard to hope that maybe this medium was onto something.

This hope has sustained me through the past few emotionally heavy months—and now, we’re finally here.

It’s October.🍁

And I can genuinely say my heart is open and I am ready to receive whatever magic is in store—however big or small.

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
- Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Join me with a mug of apple cider and let’s talk plans for this delightfully cozy month ahead!¹

In the queue

Even though according to my Goodreads, I’ve read 22 books this year so far, it feels like all I’ve read in 2024 is one giant-ass, never-ending Throne of Glass book.💀

I have such exasperated appreciation for SJM that even though I so badly wish it didn’t take hundreds of pages (or even multiple books…) to really get into the heart of a series, I’m still intrigued enough to keep chugging along. I’m maybe 20% into my tandem read of Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn. The end is…somewhat near? But I am, legitimately, enjoying it.

After I finish my tandem read, I’ll undoubtedly need a palate cleanser so it’s onto either The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History by America’s favorite government teacher, the inimitable Sharon McMahon and/or The Fate of the Sun King, the third book in the Artefacts of Ouranos series by Nisha J. Tuli.

If you’re looking for a book recommendation, you might be interested in one of my 5-star recs from this year:

• Bride or Die by Madison Score (nbd just my cousin and very first writing partner!²)

• Annie Bot by Sierra Greer

• The Women by Kristin Hannah

As for TV, after what felt like a long drought I am surprised to have an abundance of things to watch now! After finishing the latest season of Emily in Paris³ and rewatching Discovery of Witches, I’ve started both The Golden Bachelorette and Love is Blind: D.C. and I’m absolutely planning to watch Nobody Wants This.

💬 What’s catching your attention these days?

On the calendar

As I mentioned above, I’ve got Plans™️ this October that include:

• My very first Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) conference in Cleveland! I’ll be nerding out with fellow Janeites and not getting my hopes up that a single man in possession of a good fortune will be in attendance at the ball—but I still plan on looking fabulous in a me-made gown nonetheless.

• My BFF

  Rachel East
  ’s wedding/bachelorette party/baby shower weekend extravaganza! I can’t WAIT to tell you all about the fun game I’m planning for the party that you can use and tweak for any fun gathering with friends or family. But what I’m most excited about is just getting together with Rachel’s amazing group of witchy coach friends and dancing and talking the night away. I’m not sure rural Virginia is ready for the energy we will be creating and bringing together!

As an NSYNC girlie, I’m also anxiously awaiting the release of JC Chasez’s latest project, a musical concept album called Playing with Fire that he co-wrote with Jimmy Harry about Frankenstein, coming out on October 25th! You can pre-save or pre-order the album here.

💬 What are you looking forward to this month?

In my wardrobe

I’ve been scoring some great deals recently! In addition some awesome thrift finds, I was lucky enough to stumble across the last half hour of a Rent the Runway sample sale in D.C. when I was visiting in September and scored this $400 dress I had had my eye on for a while now for only $90—and it’s the exact colors I was hoping to wear to the wedding!

After hearing

Jess Kirby

’s insanely wise tip to buy your trendy oversized barn coat secondhand this season (search for “orvis barn coat” or “vintage barn coat” and don’t be afraid to order from the men’s section!), I’ve also gotten the ThredUp/Poshmark bug again.

If you’re willing to look past the wrinkles and less-than-stellar presentation, you just might find some fantastic deals on some solid closet gems, especially for specialty items, like DIY Halloween costumes or themed party outfits, or for timeless staples like wool coats and cable-knit sweaters. It’s best if you have a brand or style in mind rather than just browsing willy nilly, unless you’re okay with looking up and realizing a full hour and a half has passed.

While we’re on the secondhand train, did you know you can extend your pause on Nuuly too many times and it will eventually stop giving you the option? 😅 After nearly two generous years on pause, my subscription will pick back up this month, so I’ve got a few things saved to my online closet to try, like this fall skirt, this vibrant sweater, and this cropped jacket to wear over my dress to the wedding.

💬 What’s the one item you want to add to your closet this season?

Around the apartment

One of my favorite things to do is to decorate and arrange my home, but at some point over the past two years, I lost interest in doing anything else to my apartment. While there are certainly minor tweaks I could make, I feel pretty “complete” here and plan to leave eventually when my next move is clear.

That said, one of the small things I love to do in the fall is to collect a handful of colorful fallen leaves and string them up with a needle and thread (or fishing line) and hang them on my mantel. When I’m not being lazy, I’ll throw a coat of Mod Podge on them so they last a bit longer—otherwise they tend to crumple up and look terrible after a week 😅But it’s such a festive and fun tradition that makes me smile.

💬 Do you have any seasonal decor you’re itching to put out this fall?

If October is anything like September was, it’ll go by in a flash so we best be enjoying the crap out of it while we can! Thanks for being here.

1. Trying out a new format for these kind of roundups. What do you think?

2. Oh yeah, have we talked about how Lucy Score and Madison Score are my cousins yet? Because I’m the PROUDEST cousin ever!

3. If you have Thoughts about this season like I did, my comments are OPEN 😅

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