Issue #54: October 2024 Favorites
A book about Only Fans, new cooking appliance, a cozy audiobook and more
Our Halloween celebrations were nonexistent this year, but that didn’t stop me from obsessing over all the great costumes I saw online. As a child-free person, I demand full Halloween recaps. This year's costumes included Ace Ventura, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Elsa, Pokemon, Tinkerbell, a Dalmatian, a Bat, Ghosts, Vampires, and even the Titanic. And those were just the children.
Now that the spooky holiday is past us, it’s all about Election Day. I’m going back and forth between doomscrolling polls and distracting myself with bits of joy (see kids at Halloween above.) I’ve sent the postcards, reached out to anyone we know living in a swing state, helped friends make a voting plan, donated funds, and sent our ballots in early and verified that they were counted. So, I’m begging you to get your votes in and help those who might struggle to do the same. Many states allow same-day voter registration, and many places are participating in early voting this weekend. Let’s do this.
📖 The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
This mystery weaves together multiple narratives into one story about a summer camp and the wealthy family that owns the land. Multiple children have gone missing, and it’s time to find out if they are linked together. Initially, I was worried it would be hard to follow the time jumps and changes in the narrator, but it was easy to follow, and I couldn’t put it down.
Grab a copy from an independent bookstore using this link or from Amazon here.
🎧 Patterns from Kelsea Ballerini
There was a ton of great new music this month, but this album topped my list. I’ve loved some of her songs in the past, but I didn’t necessarily call myself a fan. It makes sense that I’d dive in now since I’m returning to country music more lately. Reading other reviews, OG Ballerini fans are annoyed that these songs are a bit moodier, but that also feels like a natural transition when going through heartbreak and rediscovering yourself.
🧑🏻🍳 Wonder Oven
I bought myself a grown-up easy bake oven, and I love it. This is the model I purchased, and my main reason was having an air fryer. I want crispy Brussels sprouts and potatoes all winter long. It also allows me to get rid of my crappy toaster. Since we got it, it’s led to experiments with egg roll wrappers. We’ve successfully created our own homemade pizza rolls and southwest egg rolls. Our household is microwave-less, and I’ll never go back. Reheating leftovers in this takes less time than the regular oven and tastes much better than when microwaved. If you’re not a Nordstrom shopper, you can also find this on the ‘Zon.
🧩 Blokus
Nothing is more fun than discovering a new board game I’ve never played before. Our friend pulled this classic game out of the closet during a recent backyard hang, and it was a blast. It’s like Scrabble meets Tetris on a game board. I highly recommend it if you want to add new options to your game stack this winter.
📚 Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
I saw this book everywhere this summer and added it to my library hold list. It took months, but it was finally available this month, and it was worth the wait. The story is incredibly unique. The main character gets pregnant and has to figure out how to make enough to raise her baby as a single mother. There is an Only Fans account, lawsuits, a retired professional wrestler, and much more. I could not put it down, and now I’m counting down the days until Hollywood transforms it into watchable content.
Grab a copy from an independent bookstore using this link or from Amazon here.
🍻 Fresh Hop Beers
I had no idea that fresh hop beers aren’t available everywhere. It’s my favorite season for brewery hopping. Most of the year, beer is brewed using hops that have been dried, but during the peak harvest, many breweries use the fresh hops to brew up a batch of beer. During September and October, you can find these at all the local spots; they are some of my favorites. If you love the hoppy flavor, mark your calendar for next year’s fresh hop.
🥗 New Restaurants
We enjoy patios and outdoor spaces in summer, but when the rainy season starts, I love a dinner invite to a new restaurant. During October, we added two new favorites to the list—Brimmer & Heeltap and Rupee. Many spots in Seattle suggest ordering family style, so I was lucky enough to have dinner companions that aligned with my non-meat eating ways.
🎙️ Ina Garten’s Memoir on Audiobook
I just finished listening to Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten. Listening to Ina tell her story was delightful and inspiring. I’m not a huge audiobook person unless it’s a long road trip, but I love listening to someone tell their own story. You can get a copy on Audible or check out the audiobook using your local library.
The way she talks about Paris, dinner parties, and the smell of bread pulling people in off the street gave me the most comfortable feeling. I want to check out her cookbooks and have my own little Ina season.
And here’s a picture of trees changing color that someone took because Stick Season is almost here. I’ve already seen the Christmas music start flying, so I’m curious where your holiday spirit is currently hanging out.
The idea of Mundane Halloween spoke to me. I think it would be fun to have a party with this theme.
I am currently reading this book and this book. One feels dark and depressing, while the other is hopeful and happy. I love the balance.
Read Ina’s big dinner party secret that feels like the common sense we all need to be reminded of before the holiday season.
We bought two of these recently to prep for any power outages or apocalypse-adjacent moments, and they are fantastic. There are multiple charging adapters, and they plug right into the wall to recharge. So much better than carrying a little battery and a long cord.
Rereading the NYTimes Party Etiquette piece. I still struggle with the idea that I’m supposed to be a few minutes later.
SharonSaysSo put together a great guide for undecided voters and it’s perfect to share with anyone in your life who is stuck.
‘Tis the season to order more free COVID tests from the government.
Beautycounter has been reinventing itself, with the founder buying back her company and rolling out a new plan next year. But they are back for November if you want to grab some favorites or take advantage of some good specials. Shop using this link to see what’s available. Orders over $125 receive a free gift and free shipping, plus up to 30% discounts on holiday items.
And if you’re looking for a fun way to eat through Halloween candy, try a little wine and cheese pairing this week. I’ll gladly accept an invitation.
Cheers and thanks for voting!
Steph
Reminder: Some of the links included are affiliate links. Purchasing through them may give me a few pennies, but it won’t cost you any extra. The pennies help me justify the amount of time I spend watching bad TV to share with all of you. Another way to help is to share this, hit the like button, or even drop a comment with something you have loved this month. And if you’re really inspired, you can pledge your support.