The September Edition
A month in review: what I ate, drank, read, bought, loved, etc.
September felt like the shortest and longest month all at once. As I began writing this it was September 27th, which had me saying “still?!?” and “how?!?” at the same time.
We started the month in Big Bear — feels like an absolute lifetime ago — then came back to LA for the craziest heat wave I’ve ever experienced, which now seems to be back with a vengeance. While I’m not a fan of 100+ degree temperatures, I did find a few things to make the longest/shortest month a bit more bearable.
Keep reading for the things I found myself loving this month and, as always, thank you for being here.
Where I’m eating: Lately I’ve been craving a pastry and cup of regular old drip coffee in the mornings. I don’t know if it’s the slightly cooler mornings, which makes the idea of sitting outside and leisurely enjoying breakfast so much more appealing, or the fact that I’m nine months pregnant (surprise!) and just giving into anything and everything that sounds good.
A few mornings a week, I hit up one of a few low-key local bakeries for some kind of baked good and a cup of coffee. I like these places because there’s always a table, the people working there are always nice, the pastries are good, and the coffee is normal. A fancy cup of drip coffee with lots of flavor nuances is honestly not for me. What I really want is an old-fashioned cup of Joe. Anyway, the whole experience feels very laid-back and European, which is exactly how I want my life to feel.
Speaking of laid-back and European, I recently had an indulgent little lunch at Spina in Atwater Village, which was honestly so good (peep the cacio e pepe in the collage at the top of this email). I don’t know how crowded it gets at dinnertime but, considering they don’t do reservations, a weekday lunch felt like the right move. I’ll definitely be going back.
What I’m (going to be) buying: I’m on the hunt for a good drip coffee maker for home. Right now we only have our trusty Jura, which is great for espresso but isn’t really doing it for my drip coffee loving self right now. I’ve heard good things about the Moccamaster by Technivorm but if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!
What I’m making: I bought a bag of fusilloni, aka giant fusilli pasta, at Home Goods a couple weeks back (did you know their food section has great pasta?), and immediately began craving a big bowl of spicy vodka pasta. I used this recipe and it was so good, I can’t stop thinking about it. Honestly, the Gigi Hadid pasta always hits.
On the mornings I’m not treating myself to a pastry, I’m on my yogurt bowl kick. Plain Greek yog mixed with a lil’ bit of liquid stevia, peanut butter, and cinnamon, topped with whatever fruit I have and granola and/or nuts. Takes less than five and is so good.
What I’m reading: I just finished Piglet, which I saw so many people posting about. It was a quick one, and I found myself relating to the main character in so many ways: her love of elaborate cooking, her relationship with food, her history with eating. A lot of the story is told through descriptions of food and cooking with lots of clever food-related metaphors (and not the kind that just feels like waste-of-space descriptors). If you’re into food and food writing, I recommend it. The new Sally Rooney is next on my list, as is Ina Garten’s memoir.
What I’m doing: Trying to get back into two things: journaling and meditation. Both of these have always been incredibly therapeutic outlets for me, but ones I very easily let fall to the wayside. I’ve been liking the daily meditations on the Open app, which I do a few times a week. Each one feels like it’s teaching you a new technique for getting through tough moments, rather than just escapism via meditation (which is also great sometimes!).
As for journaling, I look at it as a time capsule that my daughters can someday read, which makes me want to commit to writing more. One day they can experience their childhood through my eyes a little, which feels comforting. An attractive journal (I got the one I’m currently using at Marshall’s a couple years back, and I love the process of filling it up) and a pen that writes smoothly make the whole process of jotting down thoughts and feelings and summaries of daily life feel more special.
Where I’m scrolling: I love IG and Tiktok but right now, I think I love Pinterest more. Their algorithm is just so good? I open every email they send because I’m excited to see what they’re going to suggest I pin. It just feels like endless inspiration catered exactly to me and my tastes. Right now, I’m in full nesting mode and am obsessed with the above bedroom collage someone put together. Like, I need my bedroom to have those exact vibes. But, I’m a gal on a budget so I will slowly be accomplishing this through trips to Home Goods, Target, local flea markets/thrift stores, the occasional Etsy find, and sheer determination.