Mommy The Journalist

In June, I shared with you guys 30 books I want to read, and while it wasn't my full TBR list, it did cover a lot of what I had sitting in queues at the time. The thing with TBR lists, though -- or at least mine -- is that they are continuously evolving. I'm proud to say that over the last three months, I've been able to cross six of those books off my list, but my TBR list continues to grow much faster than I can read the books I keep adding to it. That said, the remaining 24 books in that original post remain on the list, and while I'll get to them eventually, they're not sitting at the top of my reading pile right now.

Here are the 10 books currently holding my attention:

*Currently reading.

*The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern - After how much I loved The Night Circus, I really couldn't pass this book up. Zachary Ezra Rawlins finds a book hidden in his university's library that contains a story from his own childhood. In his quest to learn how this particular story was recorded, Zachary uncovers a series of clues that lead him to a masquerade party, a secret club, and through a magical doorway to an ancient, underground library.

*The Haunting of H.G. Wells by Robert Masello - Set in World War I, author H.G. Wells is dispatched to the front lines to determine the validity of a strange story: Saint George and a brigade of angels descending from Heaven to fight beside British troops. While there, he discovers a wasteland that's inhabited by the living, the dead, and those stranded in between. Those souls follow him back to London where a deadly plot that could turn the tide of the war is unfolding. Wells, along with his young love, battles secret agents and depraved occultists to save not only his country, but also the world and his sanity.

*Game of Hearts by Emilia Finn - This is book three in the Stacked Deck series, which is the fourth series after the Rollin On books. This one will focus on Mac and Bean, but that's all I can tell you because all of these books are tied together and you really need to start with book one of the Rollin On series.

Circe by Madeline Miller - This book has been on my radar for awhile, and I can't wait to dive in. Circe is the daughter of the sun god, Helios, but she's not like the gods she lives with. So Circe goes to Earth to live amongst the mortals, where she discovers she is a powerful witch. When Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, Circe hones her craft and finds herself the recipient of the wrath of both gods and men.

The Romeo Arrangement by Nicole Snow - I really enjoyed Accidental Knight, and this book seems like it will follow a similar theme. Ridge rescues Grace and her father when he declares the two of them are engaged and moves them into his home. Of course, this is a love story so I expect a happy ending.

The Last Monument by Michael C. Brimley - Joe Rickards is an investigator for the NTSB. While working a small plane crash, he discovers it all started with a mysterious letter.

Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover - Beyah Grim's plans to leave her past life behind are put on hold due to an unexpected death that sends her to live with her absent father. While there, she connects with her wealthy neighbor, Samson, and begins a summer fling. I really enjoyed Regretting You, so when this title by the same author popped into my recommendations I immediately downloaded it.

Harley Merlin and the Detector Fix by Bella Forrest - This is book seven in the Harley Merlin series, so I can't really give you a synopsis of it without spoiling the other six. Basically, Harley is a young witch descended from two powerful blood lines who finds herself on a mission to stop her evil aunt from taking over the world.

The Age of Witches by Louisa Morgan - The descendants of Bridget Bishop are split into two distinct sects: those who use their powers for good and those who use their powers only for themselves. Annis finds herself in the middle of this centuries long family feud and must choose between love and loyalty, power and ambition.

Fawkes by Nadine Brandes - V for Vendetta is one of my favorite movies, so I really couldn't pass up this fantasy retelling of the Gunpowder Plot starring Guy Fawkes's son.

Note: This post contains affiliate links.

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As a mom, and a working one at that, casual outfits that are cute but functional are a must. Outfits that don't require a lot of pre-planning are even better. Cue comfy dresses that can take you from the grocery store to a play date and beyond. In my case, these easy-to-assemble outfits are perfect for a day spent distributing magazines where I want to look put together but also stay cool.

Pairing sneakers with dresses isn't something that comes naturally to me. While I appreciate the comfort level, I prefer to wear shoes that give me a few extra inches of height. In fact, just a few years ago you wouldn't have caught me wearing sneakers with a dress, not that I had the right type of sneakers to make it work mind you. So, sneakers and dresses are a relatively new #ootd trend for me, and I still feel like I struggle to pull it off effortlessly. That said, sneakers are the key ingredient to a casual dress outfit, which is why all three outfits that I'm sharing in this post features them.

The other thing that ties all three of these outfits together is a third piece. These completer pieces (vests, jackets, etc.) are the easiest way to take a summer dress into the fall. You can also use a scarf, but I rarely do because most of them add way too much bulk to the upper half of my body. These final layers are what we'll be focusing on for the purpose of this post.

By the way, all three of these outfits were worn in real life while I distributed magazines at the beginning of September.

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and normally wear size 6/8 or medium in dresses and tops, size 6 in pants, and size 7 in shoes.

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black dress with utility vest and neutral sneakers

Black Dress + Utility Vest + Neutral Sneakers

First things first: if you do not have at least one simple black dress in your closet, you have a serious style hole to fill. I have several black dresses in various styles and fabrics, but this halter neck jersey one is by far my most worn. It's so versatile, i.e. easy to layer.

Once the season changes, I always feel a little out-of-place if my shoulders are bare, but 80-degree weather is still too hot for a jacket. A utility vest is a nice, casual way to take a simple black dress into fall without overheating. This one, especially, is ridiculously light-weight. It's from a few years ago, but I linked to a a couple of similar options below.

My faux suede taupe sneakers are the perfect casual finishing element. I originally bought these to wear during the summer but honestly feel like I'll be able to style them so much easier in cooler weather.

Outfit Details

Dress: Forever 21 (old - similar, similar)

Vest: JCPenney (old - similar, similar)

Shoes: Old Navy (exact, wearing size 7)

striped dress with denim vest and converse

Striped Dress + Denim Vest + Converse

Much like the simple black jersey dress, a striped dress is a must-have for your closet. It's the epitome of a casual dress that's perfect for most mom duties. They're easily layered, as well, and I get so much use out of this one.

This particular combination is one that I fall back on pretty frequently, with some variations in the shoes. I don't know what it is exactly about the denim vest with this dress, but it just works so well. I like how the vest adds structure to an otherwise loose dress. My vest is a few years old but I linked to a few options below.

My Converse felt like the perfect punctuation point on this outfit. It's hard to tell in the photo but they're faded blue so they tie in nicely with the denim. Also, Converse are just cool shoes that work with most outfits.

Outfit Details

Dress: Old Navy (old - similar)

Vest: StitchFix (old - similar, similar)

Shoes: Converse (exact, wearing size 7 in athletic navy)

purple dress with white jacket and leopard sneakers

Solid Colored Tank Dress + White Jacket + Leopard Sneakers

Knit tank dresses are my jam all year long. I have them in solid colors and prints, but for the purpose of today's post we're keeping it basic. It doesn't really matter what color you choose. I went with this plum color because it felt like fall. My dress is from last year, and while this particular color isn't available anymore this style is still going strong in a bunch of other colors.

A white denim jacket may feel counterintuitive for fall, but I like the juxtaposition of the lighter color paired with a really dark base. It helps keep the outfit from feeling heavy. This jacket is still available in all sizes, and at my Walmart at least it had been marked way down.

Do you have a pair of leopard-print sneakers? You need some. Because they're a sneaker, they keep the outfit casual but the leopard print adds a dose of fun. I grabbed this pair off an aisle endcap in Academy last year for about $10 and wear them all the time. This exact version isn't available anymore but they do have a black/gray leopard print version. Otherwise, I linked to some traditional leopard print options below.

Outfit Details

Dress: Walmart (old - similar, similar)

Jacket: Walmart (exact, wearing size M)

Shoes: Academy (old - similar, similar)

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It is officially Fall! Even though it may not feel like fall quite yet in many places, and the fall-like temperatures we're currently experiencing in my town are more than likely not going to stick around, we have finally made it to my most favorite time of the year.

All my favorite things happen in the fall. The weather cools off, the leaves change color, and I get to break out all my boots. All the special fall flavors start showing up in stores, though I'm not much on pumpkin spice unless it's in a pie. Halloween is just around the corner, followed by Thanksgiving and my birthday. It's truly the most wonderful time of the year.

That said, this year fall will undoubtedly look different for many of us. Some time-honored traditions won't happen because of coronavirus, and even those that haven't been canceled will be different from years past. Even with all the precautions in place, there are still plenty of things you can do as a family to get that fall feeling this year. Here are ten of my favorites.

Visit a U-Pick Farm or Pumpkin Patch- There's nothing quite as fun as picking out your own pumpkin to carve or decorate. We've got several to choose from in our area that not only have pumpkins but also boast sunflowers, a corn maze, and animals. You can find one near you through this website: upickfarmlocator.com

Make Fall/Halloween Crafts/Decorations - I am not really a crafty person, especially if it's complicated. But if it involves paper plates, count me in! Here are some fun paper plate Halloween crafts you can try and these easy crafts are great for preschoolers.

Have a Fall/Halloween Movie Marathon - This one is actually pretty easy to do thanks to Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween (see the schedule here), and you can't forget Hallmark's fall lineup (see the schedule here).

Fall/Halloween Read-a-thon - Swap out your usual bedtime stories with a fall or Halloween-themed book. Don't know where to start? Check out this roundup of 31 Halloween Books for Kids.

Go on an Outdoor Fall Scavenger Hunt - Collect leaves, acorns, pinecones, etc. The best part about this activity is that you can do it literally anywhere: your backyard, the neighborhood park, a walking trail...anywhere!

Get Lost in a Corn Maze - Okay, so maybe skip the get lost part, but if a corn maze isn't on your fall bucket list, it should be!

Self-Guided Decorations Tour - Turns out, elaborate yard decorations aren't just for Christmas.

Cozy Up Around a Bonfire - Does anything say fall quite like a bonfire? I'm planning on making good use of our backyard fire pit. S'mores optional.

Make Your Own Fall/Halloween Treats - Alexis loves to help in the kitchen, especially if it involves making something sweet. Here are four recipes I'd like to try this fall: Apple Pie in a Cup, Pumpkin Spice Cake, Halloween Pretzels, and Monster Cookies.

Glow Stick Hide and Seek - This is exactly what it sounds like. Hide and seek with glow sticks.

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Fall in the South is a confusing time. Sometimes it's cool in the morning or evening but feels like summer during the day. Other days it's cool from sunup to sundown. Humidity is still a thing. Layers are your friend, but even with them you can still overdress.

Today I'm sharing the four skirts I rely on in a southern fall: corduroy, suede, denim, and leather.

Textured skirts are the easiest way to stay cool and seasonally appropriate. Skirts are easy to dress up or down. They pair with almost any type of shoe, although I'm using boots for the purpose of this post.

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and usually wear size 6/8 or medium in tops/dresses, size 6 in skirts/pants, and size 7 in shoes.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Corduroy Skirt

Corduroy screams cooler weather, but here in the South it's rarely cold enough to get away with wearing it. The material is thick and warm. I would die in a pair of corduroy pants, but a skirt is more tolerable especially when paired with a lighter top, like this sheer chiffon blouse. A jacket layered on top will keep any chill away. If it actually got cold enough, I would wear this skirt with a chunky white or cream colored sweater.

My skirt is from Old Navy last year. They have a similar style this year but not in the red. I've linked to it below, as well as a cute button-front option.

Outfit Details

Shirt: Kut from the Kloth (similar)

Skirt: Old Navy (similar, similar)

Boots: Old Navy (similar)

Suede Skirt

This suede skirt is one of my favorite things to wear in the fall and winter. It's such a pretty texture and pairs nicely with sweaters and blouses. This combination I'm showing here is pretty popular on Pinterest so I thought I would give it a twirl.

I've had this suede skirt for going on five years now so it's definitely not available anymore, but I've linked to a similar option below.

Outfit Details

Shirt: Old Navy (similar)

Skirt: Cato (similar)

Boots: ShoeDazzle (similar)

Denim Midi Skirt

Denim mini skirts have a decidedly summer feel to them, but denim itself lends to cooler temperatures. So when summer turns to fall, swap out your denim mini for a midi instead. You can wear it with a blouse, t-shirt, or sweater. I chose to pair it with this super cozy cardigan and ankle boots.

This skirt is a new addition to my closet. Because of the button-front, I sized up to an 8 instead of my usual 6.

Outfit Details

Sweater: Old Navy (exact, wearing size M)

Skirt: Old Navy (exact, wearing size 8)

Boots: Old Navy (similar)

Leather Skirt

You can't go wrong with a leather skirt in cooler weather. The possibilities are endless, but this year I'm in love with the idea of wearing it with looser-fitting sweatshirts and sweaters and unexpected shoes (like these wine-colored booties). My sweatshirt comes in a bunch of different patterns and has that lived-in feel.

I've had this skirt for quite awhile so it's not available, but I linked to a similar option below.

Outfit Details

Sweatshirt: Old Navy (exact, wearing size M)

Skirt: The Limited (similar)

Boots: ShoeDazzle (similar)