September Faves
just my favorite things from the month of September
Welcome to the September 2023 installment of my monthly series highlighting favorite things that I am loving and overall obsessed with. There is no scientific method (or really any method or process to speak of) that I use to select the pieces that I highlight — just things I really liked and used a lot in the past month. This originally started as a sporadic series in 2022 — you can read all previous editions here.
Wow. September is over! I say this every month, but holy cow did this one go by fast.
This past week, (the last week of September), it really felt like fall - those perfect days when it’s chilly in the morning, but then the sun warms up midday and all you need is a long sleeve shirt or a light sweater or jacket, and then it’s cool enough at night to wear cozies again. Perfection! And now this week, in Massachusetts, feels like summer. It’s okay, I can appreciate it now. I love October!!
We’re fully back into the swing of things with school for my oldest, and activities for both of the big kids. We went apple picking (my new hack is to do this in September!!! The apples are amazing and there are no lines!) We found a great cidery/orchard (Carlson Orchards if you are in the area) and have been twice with friends to pick apples and then hang and have lunch and enjoy their cider and let the kids play like wild animals!
The ongoing theme of rainy weekends continues, which is a little brutal, but we’re getting through. (The forecast for this weekend is rain, again, f&ck, but I’m ignoring that for now). I’ve still been getting my mental health walks in with the baby and chugging through some great audiobooks (I’ll do a roundup of September reads later this week on Instagram).
I do most of my writing on my walks too! I’m not alone in this habit -
recently shared she also has this routine, and I felt like I was in the best company possible. I can think clearly, get my heartbeat up and write away on my notes app. Plus, it means I’m not trying to grab my laptop first thing when the baby naps!Also in September, I had my first extended period of time solo-parenting my kids while my husband went to the Ryder Cup. We did it! We had fun! You can read a little more about it here:
I was the most stressed about bedtime because, unfortunately, I can’t be in 3 places at once, but it worked out just fine! On Saturday night everyone was ASLEEP by 6:50 PM (we spent the day at a college football tailgate/game, so exhaustion was widespread) and I felt like I deserved an award. If you are a parent, can I recommend just asking a friend (or family member) to come and hang out with you? One of my girlfriends took the train out to our house on Friday evening, had pizza with us, baked cookies with my kids and played with them so hard (thank you Michelle, you are the greatest!) It was so nice for me, and them (and I think Mich had fun too!)
So, it was a great month! On to my favorite things, in no particular order…
Mental Health Walks - The first is not a product, but it is the most important. I’ve mentioned before that going for a walk is one of the first things I do when I ever have a day when I’m feeling weird postpartum. Getting outside, getting fresh air, sunshine, moving your body, not doom scrolling, etc - it’s one of the best ways to get a little reset when I’m down. Sometimes, when I have a really weird day, I have to force myself to do it, but now, it’s mostly part of my daily routine. Willa and I go for at least one long walk a day - I sometimes write (in my Notes app as I mentioned above), I sometimes listen to a podcast or audio book, and she naps in the baby carrier. At least once a week or so I meet up with some friends who also have babies (Hi Portia & Katy!!!) and we walk while hosting our own little therapy session together. Can’t recommend all of this enough, ESPECIALLY if you are postpartum- get out by yourself, or with others, ideally both. (This is also a great way to make a new friend - say, “hey, I usually do X walk at X time, want to come with me sometime?”) I go back to work in just over a month and I’m already anxious about how I’m going to find a way to preserve this routine. I have my walking pad, which is great for getting in steps, but being outside is really important too! I could go on and on about this!!! tldr: if you feel weird, go for a walk!!!!
A Day In Her Life Podcast - To go along with my walks, a great podcast!! My friend Ellie started a podcast, all about how women in all different life stages and styles manage their day-to-day. It’s so good, I’m so proud of her! I love hearing about how other people structure their days and get things done, and this goes so deep on that!! She started it earlier this year, and has had some incredible guests, especially in the past month! Some of my recent favorites have been with Liz Lidgett, Caro Chambers (also with a great Substack-
), and Nan Philip. I highly recommend! PS: If you’re interested, I was an early guest, you can learn a little more about me here.Fisher Price Baby Mat - I ordered this baby mat so that I could have something small but fun for my daughter to enjoy on the first floor of our house. We have a big, fancy, aesthetically pleasing one (that I registered for with my first), and, while it is lovely, it’s really big (it’s also expensive)! We have a small living space on our first floor, and the big kids are big into building train tracks and block towers and legos, so real estate is coveted. Honestly, this thing is awesome. I love that the mirror is right above the baby so she can see herself while lying down. It will grow with her too - her big siblings are already big into the keyboard! The music will really get ya! Another great baby toy that we use constantly for little babes & have for all 3 is this little Wimmer-Ferguson activity mat that you can prop up on the floor during tummy time, or tie to the carseat or stroller while on the go!
Sezane Max Shirt - This oxford shirt has been on my wishlist for awhile, and I pulled the trigger this month and have been wearing it on repeat. I am planning a styling reel featuring it, but truly, there are so many ways to wear it - a closet workhorse! I love the slightly oversized cut, the weight of the fabric, the pocket, the buttons. It’s great. I have been a Sezane fan since 2013 (that’s when I first purchased a coat & handbag from the brand), and the brand just really nails it for me. Feminine, classic, comfortable pieces, and of course, that French je ne sais quoi. If you want the look of the shirt for less, may I recommend the J.Crew men’s oxford.
Dieux Moisturizer - Temps are cooling down and that means I am adding a creamier moisturizer to my lineup day and night. Dieux Instant Angel is my absolute favorite, an always repurchase for me!
Gap Boyfriend Joggers - I feel like my loungewear has been one of the parts of my closet most subject to trends over the past few years, ha! Must be because of COVID, but I found myself treating loungewear as a whole category beyond just well-worn sweats I wore around the house in 2020, and now have a collection of actually nice-looking pieces. I was looking for a sweat pant that is nice enough to wear outside to run to grab a coffee, or for school drop off, and originally found these. But, I did not like the price tag. Enter these from Gap (man, Gap is just so good for basics, BTW). They are wonderful. I find them TTS, and I ordered them in creme too.
Levi’s Ribcage Straight Jeans- I just really love these new jeans. Under $100 (often well under as they are regularly discounted - at time of publication, they are 30% off here.) High-waisted, straight-leg, perfect-length, great wash, and, most importantly, they fit! I sized up. A little love letter to them (and a reminder / permission to buy jeans that fit your body right now!) and documented some of the ways I am planning to wear them here.
Silver Ballet Flats - Mine are not new (old Zara), but I love ballet flats, and I especially love how this silver pair just brings some fun to a simple outfits (see below). You can find something similar at a variety of price points: $ / $$ / $$ / $$$.
ICYMI, I had a lot of posts this month, including a roundup of postpartum/nursing-friendly event dresses, tips on how to make the most of family photos & styling ideas, and Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of my series of fall fashion and style (Part 4 coming this week!)
Thank you for taking the time to read this post, I am so glad you are here. If you want to follow me on @ct_shopguide I’d love it! If you like what you’re reading, please consider sharing this newsletter. All products highlighted are chosen by me, and some may be affiliate links. Your support is appreciated!