How is it the end of September already?! Regardless, fall is in full swing and I am SO here for it. My favorite season hands down. Give me all the sweaters and layers, crisp air and apples, bonfires and pumpkin everything. I thought it’d be fun to start off a series on my favorite things from the past month. Whether it’s a recipe, outfit, something I bought, watched or read- I’ll compile a list and share each month (along with any promo codes or discounts if I have any from the brand). Here are my monthly favorites for September:
Peloton x Ashton run series // see the trailer here
Ashton Kutcher is training for the marathon and he has a series where he runs with Peloton instructors and a notable figure (athlete, entrepreneur, artist, you name it) and talk about their “why.” It’s SO fascinating and the runs just fly by on the treadmill for me. PS- wearing insoles with my running shoes has helped a ton with my recently developed plantar fasciitis from playing soccer recently.
Chatbooks // get 20% off your order with code STYLEFILES (limited to 1 use per person)
I’m the worst about printing the photos I take. I love to print photos in a physical form as keepsakes instead of just digital. We all love to thumb through photos and look at them vs a screen. So I went through my photos from the summer and did a photo book from each month through Chatbooks. Not only are they super cheap (like $5ish bucks a book), but they were SUPER easy to make and took me less than 5 minutes per book. Just download their app and select the photos you’d like and you are good to go. They have a variety of book options to choose from too.
Packing lunches // get 20% off Zing bars with Valerie20
With school back in full swing, so is the routine of packing lunches. I’ve also gotten in the habit of packing my own lunch the night before along with the kiddos so it’s one less thing I need to worry about (and I often eat better when I’ve prepped beforehand.) We’ve all been loving Zing bars for snacks and a hit of sweetness without tons of sugar, which I’m a fan of. As for the lunch boxes, I ordered them here (medium for the boys and large for me). They are the perfect size, seal well, dishwasher safe and affordable vs other brands when I was researching options. Even comes with a fork!
Kiehl’s Retinol Night Serum // shop here
I’ll be honest. I was sent this product from Kiehl’s and gave it a go. WOW, was I impressed. It comes with the ingredient separate from the tube, and you activate it and combine the ingredients when you get it so you know it’s super fresh. The retinol has been a game changer for my skin in so many ways. A holy grail product for me, definitely. I loved it so much that I bought another one to have on hand when I run out. (Keep your eyes peeled for Friends & Family sales!)
Fall decor // Get 15% off your Geometry House order here with ValerieP15
Aldi is really killing it with their seasonal decor. On the left, I got the large Fall Bucket List sign. It’s super cute, reversible AND was only like $15 bucks. Goes perfectly with the new Halloween towels from Geometry, my favorite place to shop for kitchen and bathroom towels. Not only do they clean with less chemicals, but they are fast drying, super absorbent and sustainably made. 
Academic weekly planner // shop here
I am a huge paper planner gal and love to write down all my projects, tasks, deadlines, events, etc. vs digital calendars. That said, I’m super picky about the layout and have tried tons of brands over the years, some working for me better than others. With this new routine for our family and a new school, I got an academic planner and LOVE the weekly spread all on one page, along with the three sections that I use for morning/afternoon/evening tasks and appointments. Working well so far, just wish the cover was a bit more thick/durable!
Fall outfits
I love the change in seasons where you can wear layers, sweaters, boots, etc. I’m in athleisure quite a bit (and love a good hat, especially between washes!) but also am wearing more “regular” clothes when I am going out to work at the shared workspace in town, meetings, friend/family stuff, etc. 
A good laugh
This was a fun comedy special on Netflix produced by comedian Ali Wong. It was very relatable, no foul language and made my husband and I laugh several times!
Dyson vacuum hack
Have a Dyson vacuum but the battery is on its last leg? Check out Amazon for power adapter kits. For just $20, we were able to add this adapter on so it can use our Milwaukee power tools battery. They have them for a bunch of battery brands. Saved us some money (and time…this thing keeps going and going now!)
Soup season!
I LOVE soup (and chili) season. I probably make it at least once a week for dinner and then another pot for lunches during the week. This was a new to us recipe for tortellini soup that we loved. Creamy, comforting and oh-so-delicious.
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