October is my favorite month of the year. That is primarily because my birthday is this month, but by that time the month is almost over. I simply love Fall – jeans, sweaters, boots, picking pumpkins, and putting that lawn mower away for at least five months. I start thinking about winter home improvement projects, and I curl up with a book and a hot beverage whenever I can.
And I have my October Love List to share with you, with some things Fall and some things just awesome.
Some links below are affiliate links; which (barely) help support this blog.
1. Pumpkin tea
I found this new product at Trader Joe’s this week, and it bumped another item off the Love List because it is so good. If you don’t like coffee, this is for you. If you don’t love pumpkin flavored things, give this a try anyway. It’s less pumpkin and more cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. It reminds me of cider without being too sweet. I’ve been sipping it after dinner in an attempt to occupy my mouth with something other than the chocolate I crave in the evening. It’s kinda working.
2. Onion goggles
Thank you Michelle for mentioning these on your blog! I bought them at Bed, Bath and Beyond ($16 with a coupon), and they are worth every penny. I cannot peel or cut onions without my eyes burning terribly, and these totally worked.
You can also buy the goggles on Amazon HERE, although you won’t get your 20% off like you do at BB&B.
Onion goggles – not fashionable but effective!
3. Pumpkin topiaires
I created these from a Pinterest pin, modifying it a bit for my skill level. I spray painted the Ravens pails I used for James’ bar mitzvah party centerpieces, so I was quite proud of myself for recycling. I’m no Martha, but they look good from the street.
4. Black jeans
The Old Navy Rockstar mid rise jeans in black are almost as comfortable as yoga pants, and much more fashionable. Don’t let the “super skinny” scare you. The black jeans are super soft, and the mid rise hits right below the belly button. No muffin top in the front or butt crack in the back! This style comes in traditional denim too, but I like the black for a little dressier look.
5. Blog Clarity and Pinning Perfect
I’m a fairly new visitor to Blog Clarity, and I love it. Melissa has great blogging and social media tips, and her 10-minute touch up posts are awesome. I recently completed the Pinning Perfect course she offers, with blogger and Pinterest guru Anna from My Life and Kids. I highly recommend the two week class for any blogger. If you use Pinterest correctly, it can generate traffic for your blog posts long after they have been published. I’m pinning so much great content from other pinners – check out my boards and follow me!
I am now working my way through my second Blog Clarity class: the self-paced Content Brew. This course focuses on how to plan and create fresh content ideas, which is an area of struggle for me.
That’s my Love List for October! What’s on yours? Missed my older Love Lists? Check out an index of all of them HERE.
Love your topiaries and how you felt confident in modifying them for your skill level. I just look at those things and give up. Upon your good word, I am going to march myself over to old navy for those jeans! And the blog clarity courses have been on my radar for a while now. Just need to find the time to pull the trigger!
Good luck with the jeans – I hope you like them. And the Blog Clarity courses are great. I love to learn new things, and the courses are so helpful without being overwhelming.
Old Navy seriously rocks. Most of my wardrobe is from there. But, I would never have tried on something that uses the term ‘super skinny’. I may give them a chance now!
You know, they aren’t skin tight. And the fact that they are mid rise helps too. Give them a shot!
Oh this was a worthy visit. Thank you! Love the sound of those black jeans and am hoping the Canadian version of Old Navy has ’em in stock. As for the Pinterest course well it sounds like something I could sink my teeth (Hallowe’en is coming after all) into. Thank you Dana. I’m going to check it out. Love the look of your door and the use of the ghost pumpkin in addition to the regular ones is brilliant. As for onions my son sports swim goggles when he chops them …
That’s a great idea, and I’m sure cheaper than the onion goggles. Why did I not think of that? And I hope you can find the jeans!
That video was RIVETING!!!! lolol
I always love your lists Dana!! Those pumpkin decor thingies are SO AWESOME!! Your front porch and door look just beautiful!
A real nail biter, right Chris? Even I was bored, but not to tears because of my onion goggles!!!!
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!! That was a GOOD one!! 😉
Oh this is too funny…. I can’t even remember when I responded to your response to my response… BUT I know it was at least about 12 hours ago, and I ran out of the house to a doc appointment- and the rest of the day was history with school pick ups, sports and ministry ETC. I am JUST getting back to my laptop and HERE YOU ARE!!!!!
I had your post open ALL DAY AND NIGHT LONG!!! LOL!!
You’re welcome.
🙂
Thank you! I’m honored to have been open on your computer all day and night. 😉
My husband would love those onion goggles (he’s a total onion crybaby). And you’re making me wish I had a Trader Joe’s near me. Off to check out Blog Clarity now…thanks for the recommendation!
My pleasure, Leslie. It’s a great site. I wish you had a Trader Joe’s near you too – too bad you can’t order online!
UM YES! I am going to TJ’s right now and finding that PUMPKIN TEA!
It’s sooo good – I’ve had a cup every night for the past week!
I just went to Trader Joe’s this morning and saw all the pumpkin choices they had. The tea sounds great! I also want to check out those jeans. Comfortable and no showing things I don’t want to show? Sounds like a winner!
Yep – comfy and holding everything in. What more could you ask for in a pair of jeans?
I keep saying I’m going to buy onion goggles. I really WILL. Soon. And YES on the Rockstar jeans! I have a dark blue pair and I LOVE them. They slide right over the ol’ love handles and tuck them in. And $25! (had a coupon, etc.)
Woo hoo! I’m off to order another pair tonight.
Great list, Dana! I so wouldn’t mind trying those goggles! I cry still when I cut onions as well. The pumpkin cider that you like sounds really fall-y. I love the colors in your decorations too. Both are some of my favorite things about this time of year. 🙂
Me too, Brittnei. The tea is really wonderful, and it’s caffeine-free, so it’s perfect for the colder evenings!
You are rocking those goggles, Dana! Funny. I may have to try them though, onions bother me more now than ever before. And you had me at “almost as comfortable as yoga pants.” Really? I have some awesome new boots (2 pair) and I need some jeans for them. These, I hope, will be perfect!
I hope they are too, Stephanie. I’m going to order another pair in a raisin color. I have lots of black tops, so those colored jeans will look good with them, I think.
you are insane if you think I’m not going out to get those jeans from O.N. tomorrow! and who knew onion goggles existed??? awesome!
I know, right? And Old Navy is having a sale right now so get those jeans. Although they are usually having a sale…
I don’t even like tea, but I think I’d drink pumpkin tea!
I don’t even like onions, but I think I’d use onion goggles just because they seem awesome.
Is that your daughter’s laugh at the end of the video? It’s a nice laugh!
Yes, that is Gwen’s laugh. She’s my videographer and editor, although this was a one-take video so no editing needed!
Oh I MUST try the pumpkin tea! That sounds fantastic! They also have some pumpkin pancake mix there which is the bomb.
And thanks so much for the amazing shout out! I’m really glad you enjoyed Pinning Perfect and are working through Content Brew. Enjoy the class!
Thanks, Melissa – just completed lesson 4 today and have almost two months of posts scheduled. I’m on the FB group but I’ve been lurking silently. So glad I found your site!
I’m totally getting Chris some of those onion goggles! He likes to be the chopper around here but he always cries over the onions!!!
Then he will love them – really.
Another great list! Love the video and the little “pop-up!” That is so funny. I hope your husband had a warning about the goggles and didn’t just walk in and find you like that!!! HAHAHAHA!!! My onion goggles are that onions are not allowed in the house. My husband HATES them and it’s the bain of my existence. Thank God I hate to cook because they are in every recipe!
I will definitely check out Blog Clarity and I have heard of Content Brew as well. Pinterest is a platform I don’t spend that much time on so I could definitely use some tips!
He had no warning, but he saw Gwen was recording so he kept quiet. Your husband should eat with Tamara – she doesn’t do onions either. And Pinterest was my least used platform, but I’m finding that it can get me traffic if I actually know what I’m doing.
Definitely want to try that tea, and the goggles for a good laugh. My kids would die laughing at me – and then would want to try them as well. Happy October!
My daughter managed to keep a straight face while taking the video, and she wanted to try them too. Who knew something that funny looking would work?
I actually don’t tend to cry much when cutting onions. Those glasses are hysterical though.
Very impressed with your topiary craftiness!
Thank you! You are lucky that onions don’t affect you much. It is super painful for me, but now I have a solution. And I left them on while I was preparing dinner because I looked so cool in them!
I’m also an October birthday gal – the 22nd. I’m always looking for good online blogging courses so thanks for passing along the info about Blog Clarity. Love the pumpkin topiaries – beautiful and festive without being over the top!
Happy early bday, Mo! I like the topiaries, too, especially because they aren’t just for Halloween. I figure they are good until Thanksgiving.
I totally NEED black jeans…am clicking on that link right this second! 🙂 And onion goggles are straight up genius.-Ashley
They are both great, just don’t wear them together 🙂
love the pumpkin porch project…damn i can’t copy that one. going to get the tea today.
We will have to get together for a spot of tea. 🙂
I really could have used those onion goggles the other day! I really love October weather (minus the chill in the house in the morning before we’ve turned on the heat). And I’ve bee on the hunt for a new pair of skinny jeans after my favorite pair I had got all kinds of holey. Thanks for sharing, Dana! You always put together such a great list every month.
I’m so glad you like the lists, Bev. I love when people share good stuff – I love your etsy posts, even though they sometimes cost me money 😉 But I get good stuff that I wouldn’t have found on my own.
Where were those onion goggle all my life, and why didn’t I think of wearing ski goggles? Funny thing is that once I needed to start wearing contacts, the crying over peeled onions stopped!
You front porch pumpkin project turned out great!
I wonder if the contacts provide a shield between the onion gasses and your eyes? Interesting! And thanks, I’m happy with the pumpkins 🙂
Great list! I’m an October Girl too – and my birthday is this month. Melissa was at the conference I went to a few weeks ago, and I tried to meet her, but miss my opportunity. Someone gave her a shout out for a class on Media Kits, as well.
I’ve heard that one is good too, but I don’t feel like I need that at this point. Happy almost? birthday, Allie!
I need stuff to occupy my mouth too. Evenings are hard after dinner. You don’t need anything but you want something. My dad likes tea and pumpkin so I’ll get some before his next visit and then try one.
Thanks for the info on the black jeans. When you wrote comfortable as yoga pants I looked at the clock to see what time is it. I think I have an Old Navy coupon too.
Your front door looks lovely!
And when I have a 20% off coupon burning a whole in my pocket, I’ll look for those goggles. I can tell you now that I will be teased. I already cut onions with rubber gloves on. So who video bombed you? I saw someone pass in the background? 😉
Ha – that was Matt. He walked in the door at the beginning and circumvented the kitchen. Good eye, Kenya!
Those pumpkins came out amazing and seriously you got some skills, Dana! Ironically, Kevin and I just said we need to go to Trader Joe’s (we used to go every week before we had the kids) and now I definitely want to go and get that tea. And the goggles, I need those desperately, too, because I am always cutting up onion for something I am making at least a few times a week and crying my eyes out while doing it! 😉
They are goofy looking, Janine – but they work!
I keep telling myself one of these days I will get the onion goggles no matter how silly they look. Until then I will stick with my trick of breathing through the mouth when I have to chop an onion (which is basically everyday!)
That trick doesn’t work for me – the gasses from the onions get in my eyes, so it doesn’t matter how I breath. So odd that it doesn’t affect other people that way.