To continue the highlights series I started last month, here are October’s blog and life highlights.
Blog
The blog turned two on October 22nd! It’s hard for me to believe that I’ve been blogging for two years, but at the same time, I hardly remember not havingĀ a blog, if that makes any sense at all.
Let’s just pretend there’s only a 2 on the cake šĀ
In October, I posted thisĀ easy Mexican stuffed sweet potatoes recipe, 7 of my favorite posts the world forgot, this easy one-pan chicken sausage & roasted veggie meal, and these peanut butter cookie Laraballs.
I spent a couple of hours re-categorizing recipes, so the recipe page is now divided by categories, instead of just one giant section of all recipes I’ve posted.
I also wrote a freelance recipe post for another site, which should be published sometime in the next couple of days. One cool thingĀ the blog has doneĀ is given me the opportunity to do some freelance writing, which is awesome as a college student looking to make a little extra income.
Life
October flew by, but it was a really good month overall. One of my favorite things about October was the cooler weather. While temperatures reached 80+ degrees on quite a few afternoons, a lot of mornings were in the 40s or 50s, which wasĀ perfect running weather. Waking up and knowing that cool temperature are waiting for me outside makes me so much more excited to get out of bed and start running!
D.C. & Baltimore
I flewĀ to D.C. one weekend for a public policy conference and when the conference ended Saturday night, I took a train to visit my sister. She’s living in Baltimore this year while she getsĀ her master’s in public health at Johns Hopkins, so she was just a 45-minute train ride away. I hadn’t seen her since August and I also had never been to Baltimore, so it was really fun to spend time together, see where she lives, and meet some of her friends there.Ā 
We went on a run together Sunday morning, and I cherished it so much since I’ve beenĀ missing running with her in person this semester.Ā After church, weĀ cookedĀ lunch at her apartment (this one-pan chicken sausage & veggie meal actually), and hung out talking until my flight home Sunday night. It was a quick 24 hour visit, but it was definitely a highlight of the month.
Fall Break
Fall BreakWe had two days off from school for fall break and I went home for a few days.Ā I loved getting to spend a few days with my family, take my brother ice skating for his birthday, sleep in my own bed, and cook in my kitchen again. I made three batches of theseĀ chocolate coconut brownie bites. I also madeĀ these peanut butter cookie LaraballsĀ and a pan of lasagna. And I got to see my sweet dog, who was recovering from a minorĀ surgery.
Halloween
Halloween is a HUGE deal at my school andĀ thousands of people show upĀ on the main street right besideĀ campus. It’s a fun wayĀ to people-watch, that’s for sure, and I got some $3 Chipotle for coming in wearing my cheetah costume.
I stayed out with friends until around 11 p.m., when I had to be back at my dorm for an RA duty shift. Luckily, the dorms were pretty quiet and I got to go to bed by aroundĀ 1:30 a.m. As much as I love the idea of being in bed by 11 or so every night, it doesn’t happen much!
Voting
I voted in my first presidential election and while I’m not sure it was a highlight exactly, it was still kind of a cool moment. My polling place had a selfie station out front, complete with signs and selfie sticks, which I thought was funny.
Decades Skate Night
A big group of us went skating at a nearby skate rink and dressed from whatever decades we wanted. I attempted the ’80s with a high side ponytail, scrunchy, big hoop earrings, an off-the-shoulder sweater, and leg warmers. Costume parties and Halloween events are such a struggle for me because I totally lack outfit creativity…anyone else?
And the semester’s already over halfway done…hard to believe!
So tell me…
Did you dress up for Halloween this year? Do you haveĀ any creative costume ideas?
I have the oppositeĀ of creative costume ideas. I once dressed up as a cowgirl at least three years in a row.
If you’re a blogger, what are some blog updates for you lately?
Do you live close to family? Do you do any fun traditions when you visit them?
That skate night sounds like so much fun. I wish I got my 3 dollar burrito too!
And I live close to family which I am so thankful for š Hope you have a great first day of the month Liv!
I’d already had Moe’s that night because it was catered for the RAs but I still got my $3 Chipotle to save for later- too good of a deal to pass up!
Yay for booritos!! Your quick trip to see your sister sounds so wonderful. Makes me want to go see mine, though she lives much closer.
I hope your November is just as good!
Living apart from my sister has been a big change but it makes me that much more excited for the holidays!
I didn’t dress up this year for Halloween, but your cheetah costume is very cute! Your recipe page is also looking great and enticing me to try some of those delicious options!
Haha thanks, Jennifer!
I love going to Chipotle every year for the $3 burritos–that may actually be my favorite part about Halloween haha!
I think this was the first year I heard about the $3 “booritos” but I’m definitely going every year from now on!
Hehe … I love that sign out front of your voting place. š And I absolutely fall in love with you getting to spend time with your family, cause I hope if/when I leave my family’s house, that when I come back together with my siblings, we can be just as good or even better friends. <3
AND HAPPY HAPPY Blog Birthday… Your blog is SO beautiful and professional.
You’re so sweet, Emily! Thank you!
bahahah they had a selfie station out front of poling? That’s too perfect. Totally representative of America or what?! haha
And you and your sister are so gorgeous. I love the booties you guys are both wearing!
Right?! I thought the selfie station was too perfect, especially since my polling place was located so close to our campus and obviously college students are down for some selfies. And thanks, Kat!
I love this Liv!! So great to get an update on your life back on the Hill. I miss you loads and just found your Christmas present so am thinking extra hard about ya:) Tu me manque beaucoup ma cheri!! I can’t wait to see you in ONLY 6 weeks, crazy huh??
Thank goodness for Google Translate š I love getting your updates, too, like my own personal blog posts! Wow, 6 weeks…we’re going to celebrate so much when you get back!!
Happy blog birthday!!! I also voted for the first time too so that was pretty neat š I feel old now lol!
I still remember going to vote with my parents as a little kid and it doesn’t seem like it was that long ago haha…now it’s our turn!
You and your sister totally look like twins! I look NOTHING like my sister so I’m always intrigued by siblings who do, haha!
$3 Chipotle sounds like the perfect reason to dress up š
We’re told we look like twins all of the time (although we heard that even more when we were younger) and I LOVE it š
Your Halloween costume was so cute! Happy blogiversary š
Thanks, Edye! It was such a last-minute thing I threw on but after I drew on some whiskers and a nose (with eyeliner ha!), I was satisfied with it!