Monthly Musings: September 2020

Hello friends! Welcome to our Monthly Musings September post! You might notice an abundance of exclamation points in today’s post – it’s my birthday! 27 years around the sun, I can hardly believe it!

Birthdays around here usually mean QT with family and close friends, cake, and lots of soaking up the little things. It’s also a wondrous excuse to drink prosecco, listen to 90s music, and play with party blowers.

In general, I’ve been taking things pretttttty easy on myself since I quit my job, and honestly, it’s The Best. I’ve basically been non-stop going going going with work since I was 18, and that’s really a very long time for someone who isn’t sure what they want to do. There came a point where I was like – wait, what am I doing!? Stepping back & giving myself the time and space to figure that out is my birthday present to myself. It’s probably the greatest gift I’ve ever given myself.

Our Monthly Musings for September are below, filled with my usual dose of seemingly random ramblings. I hope you find something to take away with you – a new soundtrack, a recipe, or just an invitation to read that cheesy book you know you want to.

monthly musings: september 2020

On the subject of quitting: I had the best last day ever! I was showered with well-wishes, cards, cake, lucky unicorns, flowers, and so much positivity. I was overwhelmed, the tears basically flowed freely all day long. It was far more than I ever could have dreamed of, and it was the perfect ending to my time there. Onward and upward!

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We’re heading to my parent’s house tonight for a birthday dinner, and I’m kind of looking forward to not baking myself a cake. If I WERE to bake a cake, this Triple Chocolate Birthday Cake is both deceptively simple to make and always a crowd pleaser.

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I should probably be embarrassed to admit this, but I’m reading the latest Twilight novel – Midnight Sun – and I’m loving it! Listen, it’s just the perfect amount of cheese and awkwardness! I have no shame.

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Boyfriend & I just finished watching Big Little Lies & we both loved it! Also – how perfect is the soundtrack? Every single song is so well chosen. These handy lists will help you understand what I mean: Season 1 Soundtrack / Season 2 Soundtrack. Obsessed!

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Today marks 4-years since I planted Enrique, my serrano chili plant! It still amazes me that I’ve managed to keep him alive thus far. His chili growing capacity was stunted somewhat this year due to the seasons getting confused, but I have faith that next year will be a stronger chili year. Here’s his 2019 haul, and his 2018 haul. Happy birthday, Enrique!

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Did you catch the last of my Tuscan Travel Series? It was a post all about Bologna – which, yes, technically isn’t in Tuscany – and our very favourite places in the city. The series also included Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, and Castellina in Chianti. Which one was your favourite? I’d love to know!

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I adored Joy the Baker’s CAMP JOY series on Instagram. Speaking as someone who never went to camp and fully shudders at the thought of it, this version of camp in our own houses is something I can definitely get behind. Who wants to make friendship bracelets with me?

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This chart comes in so extremely handy every time I bake: How to Adapt Cake Pan Sizes for Different Baking Recipes. It’s especially good for those of us who cannot math. Can you math? It was just never my strong point.

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Norah Jones did a Tiny Desk Concert from her home and it’s amazing. She is so effortlessly talented & chic that I found it near impossible to look away from the screen.

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I baked Kate’s Buttermilk Biscuits recently and they are perfection. I’ve tried loads of recipes for buttermilk biscuits over the years and this one is by far the best – it’s quick, straightforward, and it makes the flakiest biscuits ever!

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An oldie but a goodie: Mini Challah Loaves. I went through a stage of making these every other week for a while – they make the BEST french toast!

Okay friends, I think that’s all. I hope you have a wonderful month and I can’t wait to catch up again in October. Until then!

Hugs, Vicki xo