Red's Roundup: September 2021 - Red's Lil Schoolhouse

We’re officially into my favorite season…FALL! I love the gorgeous leaves changing on the trees, combines running in the fields, football games, pumpkins galore, and cooler temperatures. Well, we are still waiting on the cooler temperatures, as it has been HOT lately. You know what they say, “If you don’t like the weather in Iowa, wait 5 minutes”!

The end of September also means that school has been in session for over a month. With this being my first year that I’m not teaching, it has felt odd to be home. Strange, but good! I had many “pinch myself” moments this month where I couldn’t believe I was able to have a slow morning drinking coffee, take our toddler on a walk, or wave to our older two children getting on the bus. There have been many firsts for me this month, and I’m LOVING IT! Being able to focus on my family at home without juggling my own classroom has been such a blessing. It feels right for me and our family in this season, and that feels good.

I have rounded up some of my favorite things from September. From cute Target sweaters to delicious caramelized onions, I hope something catches your eye.

I hope you enjoy my September Roundup!

Plant Food – I love following @happyhappyhouseplant on Instagram, and after hearing rave reviews over and over again, I decided it was time to try their Plant Food. I ordered the Starter Kit, which comes with Plant Food concentrate and a glass bottle with a dropper. It is too soon to tell how well it is working on my plant babies, but if my plants react as well as others, I should be living in a jungle in no time!
Ted Lasso – I know. We are LATE to the Ted Lasso game. In all fairness, I was interested in watching it right when it came out, but we didn’t have a way to watch the show. Our cell phone provider recently offered free access to Apple TV, which we happily accepted. Ted Lasso is now on our screen and we couldn’t love it more. He is really the best. I am already dreading it when the show is over.
Ceramic Basket Plant Pots – I personally like to use neutral pots for most of my plants, that way the pretty plants can shine. Additionally, I still like my plant pots to look cute! I am always on the lookout for neutral options that will work through the seasons, and in different rooms in our home. If you are looking for other plant pot options, I have a wide variety in this post.
Mums – It doesn’t feel like fall until I have a few mums around. I try to wait until mid to late September to purchase mums, but sometimes I can’t help myself and give in at the beginning of the month. They prefer when the temperature is in the 70’s or below, which has been difficult as we have had a very warm September this year. I water my mums every day to help them last as long as possible!
Caramelized Onions – We grew Walla Walla Onions in our garden this year, and they were one of the few things that grew really well! They are a sweet onion and PERFECT for making caramelized onions. It had been a long time since I last made caramelized onions and oh. my. goodness, I forgot how amazing they are! We put them on burgers topped with havarti cheese which was a delicious combo. I may or may not have eaten the last few bites straight from the bowl with a spoon. If no one else saw, did it really happen?
We Can Do Hard Things Podcast – Glennon and Sister (Amanda), do not shy away from ANY hard topic on their podcast. They talk about the things no one is talking about. Every time I listen, I come away feeling understood and encouraged. If you need a new podcast to listen to, check this one out! I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Rib-knit Crewneck Sweater – What would a September Roundup be without a cozy fall sweater? This gorgeous “rust” color screams FALL to me. It is the perfect cinnamon-y (that should be a word!) color. It is on the shorter side, which is something I am getting used to. A little front tuck in your jeans, cute booties, and you have a chic fall look. This sweater comes in many different colors and is a very reasonable price.

Target is killing it this year in their clothing department!

All of these cute items are linked on the LTK app!
Animal Print Mock Turtleneck Sweater – Anything animal print always draws me in, and this cute sweater was no exception. I love the puff sleeves (however, they are not TOO poofy) and it is a nice thickness. Not too heavy and not too light. In addition, animal print is a neutral classic, so it goes with anything. I have worn this one several times already!
Pumpkin Spice Latte Cold Brew Coffee – Fall = mums + pumpkin everything! I think I would get burnt out if I had pumpkin-flavored everything year-round, but for a couple of months every year, I’m here for it. My favorite pumpkin beverage is the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew from Starbucks. It is the perfect amount of pumpkin + coffee + sweetness, it tastes like fall in a cup. Therefore, while trying to recreate this drink at home, I came across the bottled version at Aldi. I have been mixing it with a little extra cold brew coffee and enjoying a cup over ice in the afternoon.
Alstead Area Rug – After scrolling through WAY too many options of rugs for our basement theater room, I decided to go with this rug. It is soft, just the right size and the colors coordinate with the black and cream stripes on the stairs. I’m really loving it! Seeing it on my mood board helped me make my final decision. We are making progress on our basement, one step at a time.