I recently finished all the books that were one my summer TBR, so now I’m ready to get started on the books on my fall TBR. Below are the books I am planning on reading this upcoming season.

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It

This mystery follows a woman as she accidentally becomes a contract killer. I’ve heard this is really funny so I’m excited to read it.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

This book is about a witch that tends to hide her magic and keep to herself. She lives a pretty isolated life until she unexpectedly takes the opportunity to teach at a school for witches. This book gets great reviews and sounds so atmospheric. I love a cozy witchy book.

The Only One Left

Leonora’s entire family was murdered one night when she was young. She was the primary suspect, but the police could never prove she did it. Later in her life she suffered a series of strokes that left her mute and she now has a live-in nurse. One night she uses a typewriter to tell the nurse she wants to tell her everything. I like creepy thrillers that don’t blur into horror so this sounds like just the right amount of spooky for me.

Frankenstein

This is a classic so I don’t think it needs an introduction.

The Midnight Library

On the edge of the universe sits a library. Every book this library has contains an alternate universe. This book gets great reviews and sounds super interesting and thought provoking.

One of the ways I like to embrace each season is through cooking. During the fall months I like to make all my favorite cozy comfort foods. Below are some of the recipes I’m looking forward to making this fall.

Lentil Soup

I’ve made this lentil soup about a dozen times and it never gets old. It’s such a comfort food but healthy at the same time.

Chili

I never follow a recipe for chili but this recipe is similar to how I make chili. I’m definitely going to make the loaded cornbread recipe from Claire Saffitz’s Dessert Person.

Roasted Apple Farro Salad

I have not made this farro salad before but I have made other farro salads developed from The Original Dish and they have all been amazing.

Tomato Soup from Laura in the Kitchen Cookbook

Once you try the tomato soup recipe from this cookbook you will refuse to have any other tomato soup. There is a very short period when tomato season and soup season overlap and I savor every moment of it.

Croque Monsieur

I’ve never even tried a croque monsieur before so this is definitely new territory. This looks like a grown-up grilled cheese so I don’t think you can go wrong with it.

I have been working on perfecting my diabetic-friendly cookie recipe since I got diagnosed with LADA Type 1 Diabetes over two years ago. I finally feel like I have this recipe close enough to the taste and texture of a traditional chocolate chip cookie while being complex carb.

Ingredients

2 Cups Almond Flour

1/2 Cup King Arthur Keto Wheat Flour

1 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Salt

2 Sticks Unslated Butter, softened

3/4 Cup Monkfruit Brown Sugar

1/3 Cup Monkfruit Granulated Sugar

2 tsp Vanilla Extract

2 Eggs

1/2 cup to 1 cup chopped Dark Chocolate

Directions

In a bowl mix together almond flour, keto wheat flour, baking soda, and salt. Set this bowl aside.

In a stand mixer with the beater attachment, cream together butter and both types of sugar on a medium speed for a minute or two until it is light in color.

Add vanilla extract to the stand mixer and blend until combined.

Add one egg at a time to the stand mixer blend until incorporated.

Add the dry ingredients 1/2 cup at a time to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined, scrape down the sides of the bowl each time.

Add the chopped chocolate and mix just until combined.

Use a cookie scoop to scoop the cookies onto a baking tray then refrigerate for 1 hour.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes. I live at a high altitude so I bake them for 15 minutes. If you do not live at a high altitude, start checking them at 12 minutes. You’ll know they are done when they are golden brown along the edges.

Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool slowly on the baking sheet. Enjoy!

I find that when baking with almond flour it is best to let the cookies cool on the baking sheet as they are too soft to move to a wire cooling rack when they come out of the oven.

When you add the eggs to the butter and sugar mixture it might start to look lumpy and that’s okay.

I personally prefer to use chopped chocolate in cookies because I like the way it melts but you could use dark chocolate chips instead. I like a chocolate chip cookie that is light on the chocolate so I typically do a 1/2 cup.

I recently finished reading all of the books on my summer TBR list so here is a quick review of each one, without spoilers.

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie is so consistent I always know I’ll enjoy any book written by her. I have seen the movie before, and despite knowing what was going to happen I still really enjoyed reading the book.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I always enjoy reading Taylor Jenkins Reid books. Despite not being alive for either of the time periods this book takes place, there is an element of nostalgia. I loved the part when the kids surf for the first time and as they are lying in bed that night they still feel like they are in the ocean. I have a vivid memory of surfing for the first time as a kid and feeling like I’m still in the ocean as I was falling asleep that night. I absolutely loved Nina’s character development as she developed a back bone. I also loved when Kit told Mick she actually cannot call him Dad.

Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

Elin Hildebrand has a cult following and after my first time reading a book by her I understand why. She really does write the perfect beach reads. This was the perfect light hearted, easy read for summer. I typically don’t love it when a book has as many characters as this one, but I feel like she touches on each character’s back story enough to make you love them and or hate them without it taking away from the main story. I feel like Elin did some PR for all the Chads out there because I really loved Chad’s character and thought is character had a really endearing personality and heartbreaking back story.

Against the Currant by Olivia Matthews

This book is best described as a cozy baking mystery. The author relies on baking to set the atmosphere. She includes a couple of recipes in the back of the book which I think is such a nice touch. This was the perfect book to read during the transition from summer to fall.

Lost Boys of Montauk by Amanda M. Fairbanks

Ending off on a bit of a sour note, I ended up not finishing this book. I typically buy books based on the title and synopsis and rarely read reviews. I had a very difficult time getting into this which is when I turned to the reviews to see if it was worth finishing. A lot of the reviews said there is no plot and I have to agree with that.

Below are some book recommendations for anyone else who is ready to dip their toes in the Fall season but not quite ready for a Fall deep dive yet.

Sourdough by Robin Sloan

Sourdough by Robin Sloan follows our main character Lois as Lois is struggling in all aspects of her life, mainly her career. Lois is burnt out in her career and doesn’t have much of a life outside work. She comes home every night and orders takeout almost every night from the same restaurant. When that restaurant closes, they gift her their sourdough starter which sets off a positive chain reaction in her life. Lois learns how to make sourdough and eventually quits her job to make a career out of her new hobby. This book is very atmospheric and involves some magical realism. I thought the ending was super heartwarming.

Against the Currant by Olivia Matthews

This is another baking forward book. This book follows Lynds who just opened a family bakery. Things go sideways when the owner of a rival bakery is found dead and she is a suspect. I just started this book so take my recommendation with a grain of salt, but so far I am loving it. I believe we are going to follow Lynds as she solves the murder mystery herself to clear her name.

We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry

This book is about a girl’s high school lacrosse team as they enter their senior year determined to make this season the best one. They are willing to dabble in witchcraft to get their and along the way they learn about believing in themselves and forge lifelong friendships. This is such a fun coming of age book that I loved.

I’m back with another affordable outfit. This outfit is going to be perfect later this month and early September when it’s still warm but you are in the mood for autumn colors and outfits.

Dress (currently on sale for $32)

Bag (69% off on sale for $59) This bag is made of real leather so it’s a great price AND great quality.

Shoes (49% off on sale for $50)

In recently years I’m more and more drawn to vintage and antique home decor finds. I love the unmatched character you get with something older. I have some great antique stores near me but I also love to shop for vintage and antique items online. I feel like I can look for specific items easier online, and I can price compare more easily. Below are some vintage and antique items I’ve found online.

Book Set This book set is from the late 19th century and stunning! I know antique books can be controversial.. and while I personally decorate with books I do actually read, I also understand some people are lucky enough to have large home libraries and need to add books they haven’t read/don’t plan on reading. I also really appreciate the look and smell of an old book. In general the best deals on old books are from estate sales but I don’t find a lot of estate sales near me and I know I’m not the only one.

Sterling Silver Candy Coupe Set I’ve been wanting a sterling silver candy coupe for a while now. I really just want one otherwise I’d pull the trigger on this set. This is a really good price point. I’ve seen single ones that sell for more than this set.

Swan Planter I recently bought a swan planter nearly identical to this. The only difference between the one I have and this one is that the one I bought has an iridescent finish to it. I currently have it on our primary bathroom counter to store my cats duck toys he likes to play with in our sinks. This would be great to store bath bombs, plant a small batch of herbs, or to use as a catchall bowl. I love how whimsical this item is.

Basket This basket is from the late 19th century so it has lived a whole life before us. I never really considered buying an antique basket before but I recently learned they can be sanitized. Be careful cleaning this one since it’s so old. I love the idea of buying an antique basket because despite their age they are probably better quality than any new basket.

Crystal Vase One of the items on my antique wishlist is a crystal vase similar to this one but I specifically want a Waterford one. New crystal vases are absurdly overpriced so a vintage or antique one is definitely the way to go.

Puppy Bookends I love looking for antique bookends because you can find some really unique ones like these precious puppies.

I always love to share seasonal favorites because it makes me look back on the season so far, and reflect not just on the material things I have enjoyed. However, I do always notice some materialistic things that I have been loving. Below are the things I’ve been loving so far this season.

Cooling Sunscreen This is one of the sunscreens I bought while we were in Korea earlier this year. I recently started using this sunscreen on my body. I typically don’t like “cooling” products because they often give me more of a burning feeling initially. This is the first cooling product that actually feels cooling (it is a very mild cooling sensation) and doesn’t have that menthol burn. It also just feels like a really elegant formula for sunscreen and hydrating. I appreciate it doesn’t have a strong scent.

Evil Eye Coasters I got a set of these evil eye coasters a few months ago. I never thought coasters could be so gorgeous and make a statement but these do.

The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand This is the first time I’ve read a book by Elin Hilderbrand, and I’ll definitely be reading more books written by her in the future. I’ll share a full review of this book when I review all the books I’ve read this summer but this is my favorite one so far. It’s the perfect summertime beach read.

Sarah Flint Sandals I got these sandals Memorial Day Weekend and have worn them at least once a week since then, which is saying a lot since I don’t leave the house much! These sandals look good with nearly all my summer clothes. These are a bit more premium and the price reflects that but Sarah Flint has regular sales and sales that are actually worth shopping because it usually is a significant savings.

Hat My husband got me this hat for my birthday back in June and I have been wearing it nonstop since then. I love a boater style hat because I find it chic while also being practical because it provides extra sun protection.

Casual Wedding

Dress Bracelet Wedges Handbag

Cocktail Attire

Dress Clutch Shoes Bracelet

Formal Attire

Dress Necklace Clutch Shoes

Yesterday I shared some of the things I ordered from the Amazon sale as well as some other great deals I found. The sale ends later today and I found some more great finds I want to share, some of which I placed an order for myself.

Body Wash (set of 2 is 25% off) This is my all time favorite body wash. It’s deeply hydrating and gentle enough when I have eczema.

Liquid IV Sugar Free Set (30% off) I like to drink Liquid IV before or after a workout sometimes and I always like to have it on hand when I’m sick.

Churu Cat Treats (24% off) My cat, Anthony Bourdain, loves these treats. I stocked up!

Bamboo Frame (20% off) This frame was part of my order. I want to add some art to our primary bathroom and I love the look of this frame. I’m a bit skeptical because it’s acrylic instead of glass but it would be easy to swap out for glass.

MET Coffee Table Book (52% off) This is technically not a Prime Day Deal but it is on sale. I love having coffee table books from places my husband and I have been and this is a great addition.

Bum Bum Cream (15% off) I love this cream, especially when my skin is dry in the winter. This is extremely hydrating. If you are sensitive to scent I suggest passing on this because it has a very intense smell and is sweet.