If August felt like a roller coaster, September has been more like smooth sailing. I was so unsure of how school would go for James, but it’s been better than I imagined. For the first time in a long time, I have real time again: time to work, to see friends, read my books, and just be a human. It’s been such a relief, and my stress levels have finally come down. I’m so grateful for that shift. And even with this extra breathing room, I’m still paying attention to the small joys that make life feel full.

Here are September’s Little Things.

1. Target’s Anthropologie Icon Glass Dupe

If you spend any time on TikTok you’ve probably seen influencers making iced coffee in those freakishly cute glasses from Anthropologie. I’ve had my eye on them for a while, but never had the motivation to actually make the trip to buy them. Imagine my surprise when I spotted nearly identical versions at Target for half the price. They even had some fun Halloween designs, but I went with the black and white bow tie styles so I can use them year-round. Fancy coffee just tastes better in a fancy glass, period.

2. Cold Foam

Keeping with the fancy coffee theme, we recently added pre-made flavored cold foams to our at-home latte setup. I didn’t realize how much I needed them until I tried one, but they instantly take an iced latte or cold brew to the next level. At this point I honestly don’t need to buy espresso drinks out anymore—what we make at home tastes better, and I can control exactly how much caffeine goes into each cup. We’ve tried both the dairy and non-dairy versions and they’re equally good.

3. Upcoming Book Releases

There are so many new books on the horizon that I can barely focus on my current TBR. Honestly, it feels like I’m just passing the time by rereading old favorites until these release dates finally arrive. And on top of that, there are a handful of book-to-screen adaptations coming soon (looking at you, The Love Hypothesis and People We Meet on Vacation), which makes me even more excited. Here are a few titles I’m most excited for:

Dawn of Chaos & Fury (Nov 25, 2025): The final installment of The Legacy Series, a dark fantasy romance that had me hooked from the start. I can’t wait to see how it all wraps up.

Mate by Ali Hazelwood (Oct 7, 2025): The sequel to Bride, which I reread last month and loved even more the second time. This one is going to be good.

Merrily Ever After by Catherine Walsh (Nov 3, 2025): Catherine Walsh is a favorite, and this collection of holiday novellas are dropping just in time for Christmas break. I’m saving it for cozy December reading.

Brimstone by Callie Hart (Nov 18, 2025): The sequel to Quicksilver, which I was obsessed with. I’ll be catching up with the Fantasy Fangirls coverage of Quicksilver in October to get ready for this release.

4. Elemis Collagen Cleansing Balm

When we were on our cruise in August, I treated myself to a facial and the esthetician used this cleansing balm on me. She told me my skin was so dry it practically drank it up, and she wasn’t wrong. I bought a tub on the spot and have been using it ever since, every morning after my workout and every night after removing my makeup. I slather it on, let it sit for a couple of minutes, then rinse it off in the shower. My forehead used to peel from dryness, but now it’s smooth and hydrated. I’m officially hooked.

5. Being More Social

Over the summer, while juggling the boys and my business, two things completely fell off for me: my creativity (I basically stopped posting on Instagram) and getting out to network or see friends. Now that the boys are back in school, I’ve been making time to get out more, and it feels so good to reconnect and just be seen in public. Putting on real clothes and grabbing a coffee with a friend has been such a treat. I feel like a human again. It’s also a good reminder that social connection isn’t just fun, it’s important for health and longevity. This summer left me in a fog, but I’m finally coming out of it and it feels amazing.

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That’s it for this month’s round-up. Writing these always reminds me that joy often comes from the small, everyday things, not the big milestones. I hope it inspires you to notice your own little things this month too.