Whelp, I can definitely tell winter’s almost here because my immune system is not having it. I’m over here OD-ing on all the vitamin C, green tea, and water, so here’s hoping my pending illness is short-lived, or you know…nonexistent.
Ever since I graduated from college, and said goodbye to the bursts of high-stress midterms and finals, I actually don’t get sick very often. So I’ll take my rare colds without too much whining. 😉
As November is quickly coming to an end, it’s time to reflect on all the adventures and discoveries that ensued! Keep reading for some of the highlights.
November Favorites
Thanksgiving – First things first, Thanksgiving was last week! We had friends over for a little “Friendsgiving” gathering; everyone contributed to the delicious meal, and we’ve been enjoying the leftovers ever since! I made my Herb-Roasted Turkey recipe, which turned out perfectly, so thank God for that. It was a good time with good people and good food. The night ended with an always-ridiculous game of Cards Against Humanity.
#ThanksgivingFails – Jimmy Fallon and the segments on his show are the best. I read some of these #ThanksgivingFails recently and had to share here because they’re hilarious.
DIY Trick for Transferring Calligraphy & Art – This is the most groundbreaking DIY secret in the history of ever. I had plans to make a holiday banner last month but wanted it to look good, not overly “homemade.” I stumbled upon this trick that has changed my DIY-ing forever. Step 1. Print out the words/images you want to transfer to your canvas. Step 2. Turn the paper over and heavily color the lines (that you can faintly see) with pencil lead. Step 3. Place the paper (lead side down) onto the canvas and tape into place. With a pen, heavily trace the outline of the art. Lift the paper and a pencil outline will have transferred to the canvas. Step 4. Color/paint/whatever the art as you see fit!
Trader Joe’s Marinara Sauce – Once upon a time, I started the Whole 30, AKA a popular “diet reset” program where you cut out added sugars, dairy, grains, and legumes. During this process, I discovered that Taco Bell Hot Sauce was allowed, and also this marinara from TJ’s, which I always stock up on now. While most marinara sauces at the store are filled with sugar, this one’s extremely basic but still tastes oh-so-delicious. I highly recommend it!
Angela by The Lumineers – I’ve always loved The Lumineers, but this song makes my soul particularly happy.
San Diego Safari Park – A few years ago, Matt and I ran the San Diego Safari Park Half Marathon (which I don’t think is a thing anymore). That day, we had free admission to the park, but we were exhausted so we barely explored before heading home. We’ve both always wanted to go back to actually experience what many say is “better than the actual San Diego Zoo,” and we finally made it happen this past weekend! The park is massive and absolutely beautiful, with a wide variety of animals roaming around large areas that mimic a more natural habitat. It was a lot of fun and definitely go if you get the chance! Pro tip: if you do make it there, make sure to ride the Africa Tram.
Ridiculous Long Tracks of Rain Sounds – When I’m concentrating at work, I can’t usually listen to music with lyrics because it’s too distracting. If I need to block out background noise, though, I’ll play nature or rain sounds. It’s unfortunate when you’re playing soothing music and loud ads interrupt your flow. A coworker recently recommended some of these several-hour-long YouTube “videos” and they’re pretty life-changing. If you need white noise for sleeping, that would also be a perfect time to play these.
Little One by Highly Suspect – I love when this song plays on the radio. It’s pretty different from most of the other songs, so it’s a nice change of pace. “My Name Is Human” is another popular song you may have heard from Highly Suspect.
Starting a New Workout Challenge – Friday’s the day! December 1st. I’m excited to start a new workout challenge because it’s been a few years since I’ve done one. It’s just a small set of exercises to be completed each day to gradually strengthen, in this case, your abs! Check out the 31-Day Core Challenge if you want to join me!
