31 Things to Do in October (Quarantine Edition)
Gather around ghosts, goblins, and ghouls, in today\’s post I am sharing a list of things you can do (safely) in October. From trips to a cider mill to scary movie marathons and DIY projects, I am giving you 31 things to do this month.
1. Head to your local farm or farmers market to pick up some beautiful fall mums for your front porch.
2. Visit your favorite apple orchard and pick your favorite apples. I personally love honey crisp.
3. Give yourself a fall-themed manicure. I am loving Zoya\’s 2020 fall nail polish collection.
4. Take a trip to the pumpkin patch. Grab some cinderella pumpkins to stack and the perfect pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns.
5. Today is Do Something Nice Day! Bring donuts into work or drop them off at a friend\’s house or buy someone\’s coffee in line. No matter how small the gesture is, it will mean the world to someone.
6. Go for a hike in the woods.
7. Head out for a leaf-peeping drive.
8. Buy some fall squashes and create a meal out of them.
9. Head over to your favorite cider mill for some donuts and hot cider.
10. Halloween-themed dessert. I love making different novelty treats for each holiday, and these adorable cupcakes might be my favorite.
11. Discover new local businesses and do some shopping. My newest and cutest shop discovery is Lottie Mae.
12. Make an apple pie, apple butter, caramel apples, or apple sauce with the apples you picked.
13. Go kayaking or canoeing to check out the local color.
14. Buy a new fall candle.
15. Make a quick and easy chunky blanket.
16. Whip up a batch of those pumpkin zucchini muffins you\’ve been seeing in the Hallmark Movies lately.
17. Happy Sweetest Day. I know, it\’s a \”Hallmark Holiday\” that is only known in some states. Even if you\’re single you can still celebrate by sending some girlfriends some fall-inspired goodies.
18. Pumpkin spice season is in full swing if you\’re looking for a delicious recipe to make I highly recommend my pumpkin spice oatmeal cream pies.
19. Adventure through a corn maze.
20. Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
21. Go for a drive to a new town and see what restaurants, shops, and activities they have to offer.
22. Why not give ATVing a try?
23. Make some pumpkin fluff – it\’s way too good not to!
24. Go support a local restaurant when you grab dinner from there tonight.
25. Blanket scarves are my favorite way to stay warm when the temperatures drop. Why not make your own this fall?
26. Make your house smell just like fall.
27. Sugar cookies are my favorite for any season. I especially love these quick and easy sugar cookie leaves.
28. Take a trip around town and check out the Halloween decorations. In Michigan, there is a street called Tillson that goes all out for Halloween.
29. Looking for a simple Halloween treat to make? Why not give these Rice Krispie treat mummies a try?
30. Have a movie marathon. Since I don\’t like scary movies, you can typically find me watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands, and of course Hocus Pocus.
31. Happy Halloween! Today is the perfect day to rock out to Monster Mash!
9 Apple Picking Tips to Know
Picking season is here. Apple picking is always high on my autumn priorities list. Every year since I was itty bitty my mum and I would set off on an apple picking adventure, and this year was no different. A couple weekends ago, my mum and I ventured on our yearly road trip out to the country. It was the quintessential autumn day. There was a cool crisp in the air, the sun was shining, and the field had just the right about of dew that the night left behind.
Since I go apple picking every year, there are some things I have learned along the way. To help you have the best apple picking season I am sharing nine insider tips for apple picking. If you have any tips you\’d like to add, please leave a comment and let me know!
9 Insider Tips for Apple Picking
1. Find an Orchard
The first step is to find a pick-your-own orchard nearby. The apple varieties available for picking, as well as the peak time for apple picking season, will depend on where you live. For the most part, September and early October are prime pickings.
The easiest way to find an apple orchard near you is Google \”apple orchard in [your city, state].\” You can also visit pickyourown.org and orangepippin.com has a similar database but will also flag organic orchards.
Pro Tip: Different orchards will offer different varieties of apples.
2. Go early
Getting to an apple orchard right when it opens will mean fewer people. Going to an orchard earlier in the picking season—September instead of October—will also give you a better chance of getting perfectly ripened apples.
3. Pick from the outside in
Apples on the outer branches ripen first, therefore you want to work your way inward as the season progresses.
Pro Tip: Once you pick an apple it stops the ripening process. For the best taste make sure the apple is ready to be picked.
4. You can shake your booty, but please don\’t shake the tree
To properly pick an apple, roll the apple upward off the branch and give a little twist. You will know the apple is ripe if the stem is easily removed from the branch. Do not pull the apple straight away from the tree, and never, ever shake the tree. Even the slightest shake can cause a heap of apples to fall to the ground, creating bruises and unnecessary food waste.
5. Each apple variety has its own mini-season
The general pattern for apples ready for picking are as follows: McIntosh and Honeycrisp tend to ripen during September, while Golden Delicious and Red Delicious are usually ready to pick by the end of the month. In October you will find Fuji and Granny Smith.
Pro Tip: Different states offer different varieties of apples, this is just a general idea of what will be ready.
6. Avoid bruising your apples
Most orchards provide a plastic bag, be sure to gently place your apples in the bag. Bruised apples rot faster and will cause the other apples to rot as well.
7. How to store your apples
Apples keep best in a cool dark place. I typically store mine in an apple basket in the shed as well as in the refrigerator.
Pro Tip: Remove the stems from the apples to ensure the apples do not bruise each other.
8. Different apples are best for different recipes
Apples Best for Pies & Baking: Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Courtland
Apples Best for Eating: Honey Crisp, Fuji, Gala, and Mutsu
Apples Best for Apple Sauce: Jonagold, McIntosh, and Golden Delicious
9. What to do with your pickings
Aside from eating the apples, you can also make applesauce, apple butter, apple pie, apple crisp, caramel apples, and more.
Female Entrepreneur: Angela Wei
[this is a sponsored post]
This is a man\’s world, but it would nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl. You\’ve heard the song before, and I am sure you have been told before it\’s a man\’s world. Businesses are centered around boys clubs and females tend to be the less important assets at a company (even when they work their tails off). Not only do women struggle in office settings with the boy\’s clubs, but they face challenges as a female entrepreneur. Today we are going to talk about the five challenges women entrepreneurs face and how to overcome these challenges.
4 Challenges Female Entrepreneurs Face and How to Overcome Them
1. Social expectations
My friend was recently telling me that her seven-year-old daughter suddenly no longer wanted to be a Detroit Lions fan, she wanted to be a Green Bay Packers fan. Baffled by the change of heart, she asked her daughter more about the team change and she said because a boy she likes is a fan of Green Bay so she now was. Is seven years old the magic age when a boy\’s opinions start effecting our own as a female?
Think about attending a networking event, you walk into the crowded seminar and I bet you can count the number of women in attendance on one hand. As a female, you begin to think maybe you need to adopt a stereotypically \”male\” attitude towards business practices: aggressive, competitive, and in many cases harsh. As a grown adult you are back to that little seven-year-old who has lost her own voice and did not remain true to herself.
As a female entrepreneur, the most powerful person you can be is yourself. Have confidence in who you are. Don\’t conform to a man\’s idea of what a leader should look like. You know how to be a leader, start leading in your own way.
2. Struggling to be taken seriously
At one time or another, most women find themselves in a male-dominated industry or workplace, and then men do not want to acknowledge their leadership role.
Earning respect in a male-dominated workplace is definitely a struggle, but you need to make sure you are working on creating your own reputation as the hardworking honorable businessperson you know you are. To earn respect and create your own reputation, you need to get out of your own way and get confidence that you are amazing.
3. Own your accomplishments
For many of us females saying \”I\” instead of \”we\” makes us feel like we are bragging instead of talking about the value of our accomplishments and our effort. Confidence is key to success, even when you\’re in a room filled with men.
4. Build a support network
I know, I know, this is hard. I have found that a lot of females do not want to help and support other females. However, I said a lot of females – I did not say all females. There are of course some females out there that want the support system as well. When you start adjusting each other\’s crowns instead of walking away you become not only a better person but a powerhouse in the business because you have the confidence to share yourself with others. Sometimes there are even women-only networks which means the women in there are ready to help and be your biggest fan instead of hope you fail so they succeed. Angela Wei Milk is a woman who is talking about gender roles and overcoming a man\’s world.
Fall in Love with Lottie Mae
Lottie Mae is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan and you can also find it online. The brick and mortar store is curated in the most elegant and chic way. Honestly, when I first walked into Lottie Mae I thought I was walking into a dream.
Jennifer the owner of Lottie Mae knows how to curate a store to create a bright and airy feel. You can tell she puts a lot of thought into the products that she buys for the store. Jennifer started Lottie Mae in 2018 when she began making candles for not only her home but other homes as well. Luckily for all of us, Jennifer opened a storefront. Not only does Lottie Mae feature Jennifer\’s amazing candles (they honestly burn better than any other candles I have tried), she also has other various home fragrances and accessories that are a must-have for any home.
Whether you are shopping Lottie Mae online or in-store, get ready to fall in love with all the products Lottie Mae has to offer. From candles and sugar whips to sweet treats, coffee, and decor Lottie Mae is your one-stop gift shop for yourself and others.
Where is Lottie Mae located?
You can visit Lottie Mae at:
1524 E. Auburn Rd. Suite 10
Or visit Lottie Mae online.
What makes Lottie Mae different?
Lottie Mae offers a curated selection of captivating gifts, as well as products for your home and daily life to uplift your spirit or someone else\’s. The products you will find at Lottie Mae allow you to add value to your gifting intentions. From candles to coffee each product has a purpose, which when gifted to yourself or others will surely leave a lasting impression.
Must-haves from Lottie Mae
I highly recommend grabbing a candle or two. They burn better than any candle I have ever owned. When you buy a candle you will even get burning instructions to ensure you get the most out of your candles. I also love the essential oil diffuser and have one in my car. Another favorite is the sugar whip, it definitely is a new shower must-have for me. Currently, the shop is filled with plenty of autumn and Halloween goodies including fall scented candles.
Lottie Mae Open Houses
Something that is unique about Lottie Mae is the last Sunday of the month, Jennifer opens the shop for an open house event. Yesterday was September\’s open house with a Hocus Pocus theme. Let me tell you with everything going on right now, the Hocus Pocus Open House at Lottie Mae was everything I needed. Guests were asked to wear witches hats while shopping, there were drinks to sip on, treats to enjoy, adorable cauldron cookies by Redhead Cookie Design, and a pumpkin gift to take when you leave. I mean seriously, could this open house have been any cuter? Don\’t forget to follow Lottie Mae on Facebook so you can stay up to date with new additions to the store and when the next open house will be.
Exploring The Ledges in Grand Ledge Michigan
If there is one thing you have learned about me this year, it\’s that I am a gal who loves spending time in nature. A couple of years about I heard about \”The Ledges\” of Grand Ledge. Up until this year I had never had time to visit, however every year I put it on my list of things to do. With the world turned upside down this year, and all my travel plans canceled it presented the perfect opportunity for me to hit the road and finally visit \”The Ledges.\”
For those geographically challenged (like myself), Grand Ledge is a mid-size town located near Lansing. Through the middle of the city flowers the Grand River, complete with trails, stunning rock formations, a few bridges, and a dam. A nature lovers dream, really.
The Ledges are located within Fitzgerald Park. The 78-acre park offers three miles of nature and hiking trails, a beautiful picnic area, a disc golf course, a playground, and more. For those looking for something in the winter, there is a steep sledding hill and two miles of cross-country ski trails (I highly recommend doing this if you\’ve never tried it before). For a small fee, you can enter Fitzgerald Park and experience The Ledges.
Once you park, walk through the picnic area until you reach the stairs that will lead you down to The Ledges. Fitzgerald Park offers an up-close look at the ancient sedimentary rock lining the shores of the Grand River, and let me tell you it is absolutely gorgeous. These rock formations reminded me of Picture Rocks located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, on a smaller scale of course. If you can\’t make it to Da Yoop (Michigan\’s Upper Peninsula), be sure to head on over to Grand Ledge so you can at least experience The Ledges.
While on The Ledges trail you will also come across an old railroad bridge. Which, if you know me you know I absolutely love railroads and bridges. The railroad bridge looked like it would be a great place to take photos once the leaves changed. You can climb up to see the bridge from above, however, I did not do that. It had rained the night before, I was on the trail solo and it was extremely muddy. I figured I could easily get up, but coming down would have caused some issues.
The views of The Ledges were absolutely beautiful, and some of the best I have seen in the lower peninsula. In fact, I learn it is the only place in southern Michigan where you can rock climb, too. I will definitely be going back to climb.
If you follow the road all the way you will come to the back of the park, where you will find a dam. You can also reach this area by walking through the woods, which is how I located it. I actually walked the trails they had for hours, and absolutely adored the scenery. I cannot wait to head back again.
The Ledges located in Grand Ledge, Michigan are such a hidden gem. If you are looking for a day trip, and love the outdoors, this is one trip I highly recommend.
The Ledges are located within Fitzgerald Park at 133 Fitzgerald Park Drive, Grand Ledge, MI 48837
Where are your favorite places to explore nature?
Fashion meets Food 