Here we are already nine days into November, and the year is really flying by! I meant to post more in October, but the month really slipped away from me. I only have a few weeks left of school until final exams, and Thanksgiving break is just two weeks away- whatttt. It’s been a really good semester though, and I definitely feel like I’ve gotten in the groove with a consistent schedule/routine. I have all my classes stacked in the morning, so it’s been nice to have most of my afternoons open to work on homework/internship stuff, spend time with friends, and go on walks around campus. I’m really trying to soak up my senior year and make the best of it, it’s crazy that it’s almost halfway over!

OCTOBER RECAP:

October was filled with some of the best fall weather I’ve seen in Mississippi, which is rare. I feel like it’s usually perfect weather for maybe a week and then immediately gets freezing. But it’s actually in the been 60s-70s for the past month or so, which is my favorite weather! I’ve been loving doing homework outside, going on long walks around the lake/campus with friends (or a podcast!), and doing lots of fall activities. Definitely carved a few pumpkins, drank lots of coffee, wore cozy sweaters, and baked multiple batches of pumpkin bread :). School wise, it was super busy the first few weeks of October, with a lot of papers and tests in my Capstone class. We turned in a 98 page paper last month! I’ve been enjoying my classes and the people in them tho, which always makes it more fun.

FAVES:

Song: anything Taylor Swift! I’ve been listening to her Midnights album on repeat recently. I think my favorites are Midnight Rain, You’re On Your Own Kid, and Mastermind.

Food: I’ve been making big salads a lot recently for a quick dinner when I don’t feel like cooking, and I love making different variations of them! Two of my favorites are: Mexican salads with black beans, rice, avocado, and salsa over lettuce OR a loaded salad with turkey, avocado, slivered almonds, tomatoes, feta, and balsamic dressing.

Purchase: I don’t think I bought much in October, but I did buy this quilted pullover from Target, and it’s been such a staple in my closet! It’s so comfy and I love the hidden pockets.

Verse: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 // I’ve been reading through the New Testament the past few weeks, and this one really stuck out to me. I have it as a wallpaper on my phone, and it’s such a good reminder to adjust my focus to what is eternal, rather than getting caught up in the “light and momentary” troubles of each day.

Book: the Percy Jackson series // I was obsessed with these books when I was younger, and reading them gives me so much nostalgia. There are five books in each series, and I’m almost done! Definitely have not been keeping up with my fall reading list like I planned, haha.

Show: Friday Night Lights // I’ve been rewatching it in the background while I work on my computer and I forgot how much I love this show.

NOVEMBER GOALS: 🍂☕️🧣

• Only drink coffee 1-2x a week // I used to never drink coffee, but I’ve been drinking it almost every day for the past few months. I really want to limit my caffeine intake this month, and limit my spending at coffee shops.
• Moisturize face and legs each day // I’m honestly the worst at moisturizing, and my skin always gets so dry in the fall/winter. I really want to make it a habit to put lotion on after my showers and find a good face moisturizer I love!
• Build up to running 8 miles // It’s crazy that this time last year I was training for a half marathon, and was running 9 or 10 miles on the weekends. I’ve definitely lost my endurance, so I am trying to build it back and and go on more long runs!
• Track spending and save money // Kind of going along with my coffee spending goal, I just want to be better about saving money in general. It always helps me be more aware of my spending when I track each purchase I make in my notes app!
• November journal prompts each day // I always find such cute journal prompts on Pinterest, and I’ve been loving doing these at the end of each night! I also love looking back on old prompts and seeing my thoughts.
• Start a book journal // One of my favorite book YouTubers is Haley Pham, and I love seeing her book journal updates on her instagram. She’s inspiring me to make my own.
• Bake a new fall dessert recipe // One of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions is making a new dessert to bring to the family dinner. I made pumpkin blondies last year, and I’m trying to decide what to make this year!
• Go on more silent/prayer walks // I love to go on walks, but I almost always have a podcast/audiobook on, or am talking to someone on the phone. I really want to prioritize more silent walks to think and pray.
• Read two new faith-based books // I don’t have as much time in the morning to do my devotions as I did last semester, so I haven’t read as many Christian books as usual. I want to make more time to read, especially in breaks throughout the day or before bed.
• Speak positively and kindly to myself // I can get really hard on myself and negative towards myself without realizing it, and this is something I want to work on. In all aspects of life, I could stand to be a little kinder with how I speak to myself!

What is your top goal for this month?