Life Lately: September-November 2021

I know it’s been quiet around here lately, but hey! How the heck are you?

Because I’ve been away from the blog for awhile, I wanted to dedicate today’s post to a “catch up” of sorts. I’ve always loved reading about/seeing how other people spend their time, so I thought it’d be fun to share my own version of “life lately” to recap what I’ve been up to the past few months. From live music concerts to pumpkin patch adventures to a Nashville, TN vacation, September, October, and November were packed with lots of fun for me. I always try to make the most of the fall season and this year was no exception.

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My Holiday Reading List

If you’re looking for book recommendations to boost your holiday spirits, you’ve come to the right place. With Christmas just a few short weeks away, holiday reading mode has officially begun for me. As such, I wanted to share my holiday reading list with you; ‘tis the season to be festive and spread joy after all. So grab a cozy blanket, a cup of hot cocoa, and one or more of these holiday romances and let yourself get lost in the fictional world of books. Be sure to let me know your thoughts if you decide to read along. Happy holiday reading!

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My Maid of Honor Speech

A couple weekends ago, I stood beside my middle sister, Melanie, as she married her longtime boyfriend and now husband, Ben. Being the first of three daughters to get married, my sister’s wedding was a huge milestone for our family. Lots of planning went in to making it the most special day. For two years, my sister called me (nearly) every day to discuss one wedding detail or another; with every FaceTime call, I quickly learned that wedding planning is not an easy feat. In the end though, the whole thing went off without a hitch — perfectly emotional, celebratory, and a whole lot of fun. The morning after, our voices were strained from singing, our faces hurt from so many smiles, and our feet were sore from dancing the night away. What more could you ask for?

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Weekly Recap: My Sister's Bridal Shower and Inevitable End of WFH

Last weekend, I flew back home to Wisconsin to attend/host my sister’s bridal shower. It was supposed to be a surprise buttttt the Brandl fam is terrible at keeping secrets, so the word got out a little early (thanks Mom, still love you). Busted secrets aside, the shower ended up being a lot of fun and my sister thoroughly enjoyed herself, so I’m calling that one a win. It was also nice having a few extra days off work as I was able to spend time with family, visit with my grandparents, and indulge in a few of my Wisconsin favorites. I stayed up way too late for three consecutive nights, but shared lots of laughs with loved ones which helps justify the exhaustion I’ve been feeling since I returned back to North Carolina late Monday night.

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