Ready or not, Fall is here!! We're at our classic "when is it" stage in the studio here preparing for lots of holiday products and fun coming up, so we've for sure been savoring the crisper weather and cozy-ing up in sweaters. Something about Christmas photoshoots with the windows open because it's just too hot really doesn't feel right... Let's talk October staff faves:

Lolly:

Okay, my pre-teen and I finished The Gilmore Girls earlier this month and it was just so fun. We've been watching it for a few years, but the gift of a random sickness helped us finish it up pretty swiftly. Highly recommend giving it a watch with your preteen daughter! I felt like it gave my girl a good example that moms and daughters can be friends as well as moms and daughters. Ya know? Loved it.

Barrel jeans just became all that I wear and I'm not even sorry. These from Free People are my current faves.

Finished up The Once and Future Witches for book club this month and I thought it was great! It’s not a super crazy page turner, but I really thought it was beautifully written and made me think. I also snagged Enough:10 Things we Should be Telling our Teen Girls and I’ve underlined a tonnnnnnnn.

I’m going to try this craft with my girls on some days they have off of school this Fall and I’m excited about it! I also grabbed some claw clips and extra fun little doo-dads from Michael’s to make hair clips with the same method. I’ll report back on IG stories!

Mabby:

It’s full steam ahead in Laurel Denise Land. I’ve been busy organizing ALL the things including maybe the most exciting accessories ever, the upcoming planner conference, AND we’ve overhauled some systems (everyone knows Mabby loves a system!) so my Clipboard Folios have been the best way to stay organized. I have one at home for a build project and then two at work for two different things! These guys are the best! (even Laurel was obsessed!)

While I work and focus on all of the organizing, I’ve had a song SO deeply stuck in my brain that I’m starting to suspect I need help. It’s not even a new song… I legit can’t get it out… I sing it all the time…my kids sing it…. and these days I dream about it - Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan. It’s not THAT new but it’s so deeply stuck in my head I’m not sure it will ever pass - send help via song suggestions asap!!

Nancy:

Do you have a friend who always has the best of everything? I have one of these, and they are pretty much my own personal Wirecutter article. In fact, many of the things I recommend in this newsletter were recommended to me by this friend! Most recently, are these sheets. TOO LONG have I spent with 4-5 pairs of sheets of contrasting patterns and colors, none of which match my comforter. TOO LONG have I had to decide: “do I use the one actually comfy set of sheets that I own or do I save them for next time?” NO MORE! I purchased multiple sets of these sheets because they were the softest things I’ve ever felt and I couldn’t believe I’ve lived my life this long not sleeping nestled in-between them. Also, they were on sale. Would recommend!

UM so you probably already know that the whole LD team is obsessed with this insert pack, but if you’re not, go watch the latest OMG Planners! YouTube where we show multiple ways to use each page. Also, it completely changed how I think about my work life. Just sayin! It’s a great insert pack!

Jenn:

Friends, I’m on a new planner journey and this time it’s personal. While I’ve always been a dedicated mini project planner for my business, I recently realized I need a personal planner. Being in my fabulous 40s era, I’m feeling the effects of the not so fabulous weight gain and brain fog. So I joined FASTERWay, and in six weeks, the brain fog has lifted, and I lost 8.5 inches around my waist. Hurray for finally fitting into my favorite pair of jeans again! I’m committed to this program, but tracking my macros and meal planning is SO HARD. Although they have an app, it doesn’t really cater to the picky eaters in my household. That’s why I’m experimenting with Laurel Denise planners to create a personal weekly macro-friendly menu that I can easily reference for meal planning. I’ll be documenting my journey and sharing updates along the way! If you have had/are on a similar journey, holler at your girl in our Facebook group and share what you’re doing because I could use the extra inspo!

Aline:

I read The Wingfeather Saga at the beginning of the year and have been on the search for a series as (or as close as I can get) lovely ever since. I’m also trying to build up a library of chapter books for our kiddos as they get bigger and I can slowly but surely ease them into the same love of books that I’ve had since I was little. Amazon recommended The Green Ember Series to me for a while and I finally took the bait! It’s been a super precious read so far (I’m only on book 2 of 8) and I learned that the author started to write the series because his kids told him to! He’d told them versions of the story on walks and at bedtime and they loved it so much they wanted to be able to revisit the little world - how sweet is that!

Apparently, I really enjoy creating multi-step projects for myself which require loads of googling and in-person “research” aka shopping…. So, I’ve been on a sort of self-initiated makeup journey for the past few weeks. Lots of asking friends what they love and why and many google lens searches later, the product I’m enjoying the most so far is this Boy Brow by Glossier. It’s so easy and looks super natural to help and enhance my eyebrows - 10/10!