Five Fun Faves: Falling!
Fall is in the air and I’m all the way HERE for it! The kids are in school, the football is on, and the spooky stuff is popping up everywhere! Pumpkin-flavored-everything even hit Trader Joe’s last week. Fall is my favorite season, by far, so I thought it would be a fantastic time to drop five more favorites, for fun!
Here you have it, friends! A little back-to-school, a divine perfume, the workout shorts I just DIE over… plus my favorite everyday earrings right now and the ultimate fall décor destination!
I hope you enjoy!!! These goodies are gold!!!
“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.”
— F. Scott Fitzgerald
1. Back-to-School
Back-to-School Season is such a big THING, guys, right?! So I’m giving you three-for-one here, some new things the Mack girls are loving. First, we wore our black-and-white checkered Vans to the bone last year, so enter these darling rainbow ones! Cute, easy, slip-on: Done! Emmy and Hadley each got a pair. Secondly, presenting the Bentgo lunch box solution! I adore the built-in icepack—just genius—and the compartmental organization makes me so happy while guiding us in portion control. (I do also pack these Bentgos into a fabric lunch box, but it’s not necessary!) Lastly, this weekly magnetic dry-erase calendar has been amazing for us! Do we also have a master monthly calendar? Yes. Do I also use my iPhone and my own Erin Condren planner? Uh-huh! But something about the simplicity and visual of this additional weekly cal, kept up by both me and Doug, gives us LIFE and makes sure we don’t miss anything!
2. New Season, New Scent!
September always feels so NEW to me, sometimes even more so than January. In line with this vibe, I recently felt the need to find a new go-to perfume. My three never-fail holy grail scents that I will forever rotate are: Chanel Chance, Viktor + Rolf Flowerbomb, and Jo Malone Wood Sage + Sea Salt. Last year I was craving something new and tried HARD to jump on the Le Labo Santal 33 bandwagon! I am obsessed! But Doug said I smelled like a forest and Ems said I smelled like a fire, sooooo I had to give it away. Ha! Tears, because it was expensive! I returned to my classics, till now! I dug, researched, smelled every scent from here to New York, and finally landed on this treasure! I mean, the bottle alone! Swoon city! The fragrance is so beautiful, classy, sexy, unique, and even feels like fall though I know I will wear it year-round. I kept coming back to it in my search and now wear it almost daily. Yves Saint Laurent Libre, you’ve won my heart and earned a permanent place on my mirrored perfume tray! If you’re already making a Christmas list and checking it twice, you cannot go wrong with ANY of these gorgeous scents!
3. The Best Shorts Ever… No, Really
You know when you want to be active but also want to look cute? And maybe also wear something besides your yoga pants for the trillionth day in a row? I can’t get enough of these The Way Home Shorts by Free People, and what’s more FALL than this color (Cinnamon Sugar)?! I recently wore them glamping and frankly could have worn them every day of the trip! The high waistband makes them so comfy and flattering, while the liner gives extra support. They all-around add some great fashion flair to any athletic look. I literally want every color. I feel like $30 is a great price point, but these Amazon dupes are also fantastic! I have them in the leopard, of course!
4. My Favorite Earrings Right Now
I’ve been especially obsessed with earrings since adding a third hole to my right ear last spring (I have two in the other) when my big girl got her ears pierced. This is the pair by Gorjana—the Parker Huggies—that I currently wear more than any pair I’ve had in years! They’re a fun, fresh take on a tiny gold hoop, so light, chic, and easy to wear. I wear them in the first hole, with cute studs in the higher piercings. I love the look so much! At $40, these cuties are also the perfect price point for a great gift.
5. Hobby Lobby
How, how, HOW HAVE I NEVER WALKED INTO A HOBBY LOBBY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR BEFORE?! I honestly couldn’t believe it. The floor-to-ceiling pumpkin glory, the haystacks, the burlap, the scarecrows! I got lost in here solo for well over an hour and couldn’t be more thrilled with the front fall porch-scape I schemed up. Below is a snapshot. If you’re in OC, don’t miss the new location on Bristol, right across from South Coast Plaza, where the Toys R Us used to be!
OK, GUYS…
Since fall *is* my favorite, I can’t seem to stop. Here are five more rapid-fire delights I’m adding to this dreamy lineup! I’ve shared some of these in the past, but they can’t be repeated enough!
Fave Fall Starbucks Beverage: Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Fave Fall Nail Polish Color: Schnapps Out of It! by OPI (TRUST ME)
Fave Fall Chili Recipe: No Bean Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili
Fave Fall Treat: Pumpkin Low-fat Pumpkin Spiced Chocolate Chip Cookies
Fave Fall Halloween (Muddy Buddy) Chex Mix: Start planning NOW to be the star of your Halloween party by bringing a cauldron of THIS! I make it every year without fail!
You’re welcome! ;)
More soon! Love you all lots!
Based in Orange County, California, Stephanie Mack is a longtime writer, wife to one, and mom of three little girls. She has been blogging at MOMentary Insanity® since 2014. Her work has also been featured on Scary Mommy, Faithit, Coffee + Crumbs, and more. She holds a Master of Professional Writing degree from USC. When We Blinked is her debut novel.
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In 2024, one specific piece of writing advice has persisted in reaching my ears. Through the Booked Solid podcast, landing my dream agent, and my ever-trustworthy author friends, the message echoes: Get out of the slush pile.