What’s on Your October To-Do List?

October to-do list . . . 

Is the weather getting cooler where you are? Have the leaves started changing? All signs point to FALL in our neck of the woods. It’s my favorite time of the year. I love light jacket weather, buying pumpkin flavored things and spending time outside without breaking a sweat. This month is a really fun one, and I say we enjoy it as much as we possibly can. Open up your calendar app. It’s time to add a few festive fall things to your October to-do list.

Go for a Nature Walk

Science says that natural scenery does wonders for both body and mind. I’ve shared this article before, but it’s worth the read. I really do like the idea of ‘forest bathing’. My challenge to you is to get outside, pick up a few fallen leaves and breathe in that crisp fall air. Fifteen minutes is really all you need to hit reset and feel a little more refreshed.

Toddler-friendly activity: My girls love going on nature walks. We load up in the double stroller, and look for colored leaves in the trees. When they find a yellow leaf, we list three other things that are the color yellow (bananas, the sun and lions). When we find a red leaf, we do the same. It’s a great way to keep them engaged and entertained. Plus, I get all the benefits of a little bit of exercise.

Have a Smoothie Bowl for Breakfast

PSA: My friend Molly makes the prettiest smoothie bowls. Her recipe for a mixed berry açaí bowl is the tastiest way to start the day. Plus, it’s so easy. You basically just throw everything in a blender + add your desired toppings. I love adding bananas to mine. It’s sooo delicious!

Finalize Halloween Costumes

Trick or treating this year? Hitting up the neighborhood block party? I’m happy to report that I have the girl’s coordinating costumes already squared away. They’re going to be MINIONS! We kept things simple, practical (they can wear everything after Halloween) and weather appropriate. Last year it was freezing outside! You can click the photos below to find the products I bought. This costume idea could totally work for grownups, too! What are you or your little ones dressing as this year? I’ll probably be wearing my favorite holiday-themed graphic tee–how cute is this one!?!

Pull the Trigger on a Pair of Boots

It’s been on my personal to-do list for weeks, but why not buy those boots? If you’ll truly get a lot of wear out of them, why wait? They say a good pair of boots can make your outfit. And who’s to argue? Here’s a peek at the styles I’m eyeing. I want a pair of those Western Block Booties soooo bad.

Start Mornings with Gratitude Practice

I recently listened to Miranda’s podcast episode about cultivating a life full of gratitude. It was both inspiring and awakening. I realized that while I’m not necessarily ungrateful, I could be a heck of a lot more grateful throughout my day-to-day. Thankfully, Miranda shares 11 gratitude practices for daily life. They’re simple, easy and actually do-able. You can read her blog post here.

Have a Scary, Spooky or Just-for-Fun Movie Night

Depending on your personal preference for scare factor, I’ve broken down a few of our go-to October movies into three categories. Scary for the most frightening, spooky might give you the creeps and just-for-fun covers our family-friendly picks. Any movies you’d add?

• Scary: The Ring, Woman in Black (Amazon Prime Video), The Exorcism of Emily Rose, The Grudge
• Spooky: The Others, The Poltergeist – OG Version (sequels 2 + 3 via Amazon Prime Video), The Haunting (1999 version via Amazon Prime Video), World War Z, The Birds, Signs, What Lies Beneath (Hulu), Disturbia, I Am Legend
• Just-for-Fun: The Twilight Zone series (Netflix), Nightmare Before Christmas, Ghostbusters (1984 version), Frankenweenie, Casper, Hocus Pocus, E.T., It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (rent via Amazon) + Double Double Toil and Trouble
• *Edit* Toddler Favorites: Elmo Says Boo! (Amazon Prime Video), Curious George A Boo Fest (Hulu), Super Monsters Save Halloween episode (Netflix), Hotel Transylvania (Hulu) and Hotel Transylvania 3 (Netflix), Coco (Netflix), Pocoyo Halloween (Amazon Prime Video) + Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie (rent via Amazon)

And don’t forget the snacks! We’re partial to this sweet + salty munch mix. Guys, everyone loves this movie-watching treat.

Do Family Night at the Pumpkin Patch

We’ve made it a priority to plan one activity our outing each week that we do as a family after the girls eat dinner. Recently, we’ve gone to the ice cream parlor, colored pictures + baked cookies and gone for a walk along a canyon trail. It’s the perfect excuse to do something out of the ordinary.

This week we’re hoping to pick out a few pumpkins from our local pumpkin patch. I’m planning to bring along pumpkin-shaped treats (hello, Reese’s!) and snap a few candid photos. It doesn’t have to be fancy. The goal is simple, fall + fun.

Focus on Easy Dinner Recipes

I’m doing my best to minimize the stress that comes with dinner prep. After a day of wrangling two busy toddlers, the last thing I want to do is slave away in the kitchen. Can you relate? This means I’ve been focusing on easy recipes without all the fuss. You can find a few of recent 15 minute meals here.

Another favorite is this wild rice salad recipe. It comes in at about 30 minutes of prep + cook time. The combination is light yet filling and packed with flavor. You can serve this salad on it’s own, or you can pair it with your favorite protein (chicken/salmon would be great!). We also like to add a loaf of rustic bread. Dinner couldn’t be easier.

Finish One Room

If you’re anything like me, you probably have one (or more!) rooms that you need to finish decorating. I’m hoping to work on one room each month, until our new house feels and looks more lived-in. For October, I’m adding a few eclectic pieces to Mary Jane’s room. Psst! This bed canopy is currently en route. I know she’s going to love it.

Do you have any rooms you need to put finishing touches on? Closets, cabinets or drawers you want + need to organize? Now’s the time to do it!

Donate Clothes + Unused Beauty Products

During the winter months, there’s a high demand for things like warm clothes, new + unused beauty products and personal hygiene items. You can find a list of women’s shelters by visiting womenshelters.org. In my experience, they’re always so grateful for donations.

So, what’s on your to-do list this month?