Hi all! I want to start doing something a little bit different and (in true blogger style) share some of my favorite things that I’ve been enjoying on some sort of regular basis. I get so caught up sharing my recipes that I forget to share anything else I’m loving!
These are the things that have been bringing me joy and making my life easier these days. A few (but not all!) of these links are affiliate links, which earn me a small commission and help keep Sugar & Sparrow running, but all the opinions are my own. Thank you for your support!
Coffee Rituals
First, let’s talk about coffee. I have this 3-cup Chemex coffee maker that I had been using to make my coffee every single morning and while I love the way it tastes, it’s just a little too much for me to heat the water to the right temperature and make sure the coffee grounds are just right and weigh the coffee and so on. SO I decided to get a coffee maker that will sit on my countertop at all times. And after searching for the most visually pleasing (and functional) ones I settled on the Beautiful (by Drew Barrymore) single serve coffee maker that has a built-in grinder and comes in my favorite color. I’ve been loving it so much!
Other life changing things on the subject of coffee:
- The seasonal oat milk creamers from Trader Joe’s. I’m currently loving Cinnamon Bun.
- I didn’t want to love the ember mug, but then my husband inherited one from work and I am forever changed. It keeps my coffee at the perfect temperature for hours. So, if I get distracted with the kids mid-cup (always) it’s still piping hot when I return to it. I can’t tell you how many times I had to microwave my coffee before.
Health + Beauty Things
I’ve been trying to work out three times a week and in addition to running around the neighborhood, I’ve lately been enjoying this 15-minute HIIT workout on YouTube.
I’m slowly turning into someone with a skincare regimen and have been loving The Ordinary serums. My current regimen:
- Niacinamide Zinc serum in the morning
- Matrixyl serum in the evening
- Argireline serum for fine lines.
- This eye cream for puffy eyes/dark circles. It was a splurge but I love it.
- After trying lots of moisturizers, this very basic one is still my favorite.
After years of heavily penciling in my brows I wanted a more natural, all-day look. This brow pencil + this clear brow gel have been game changers.
What I’m Reading
I’m the kind of girl who always needs a good book in her life, and here are a couple great reads + ones I’m about to start:
- I just finished Betty, which was a total page turner, full of warmth and heartache all at once. It’s fiction based on the author’s real mom (Betty) and her upbringing as a young Cherokee girl in 1950’s Appalachia.
- Solito is my favorite memoir of 2024 so far, which recounts Zavier Zamora’s immigration from El Salvador to America as a 9-year old boy. It really personalized and helped put into perspective the immense risk of crossing the border.
- I love the show Silo on Apple TV+ and the book series is even better! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
- My friend wrote a novel called The Great Georgia Dirt Dragon and I can’t wait to read it next. It seems to be dark, grief-filled, and centered around loss (everything I love in a book).
You can follow me on Goodreads to see all the books I’ve read and want to read, if you’re into that kind of thing!
Lately I’m Obsessed With
The DIY cake in this Halloween costume by Keiko Lynn. My friend sent me this pic and I can’t stop thinking about making one of my cakes into a Halloween costume. If I don’t get around to it this year, I’m definitely doing it next year.
Taper candles in fall colors. I can’t get over how pretty these colors are together. The ones in this pic are all from Pottery Barn and the colors are sold separately, but I found this bundle of taper candles on Amazon for a similar look.
Soup season. We love grabbing a fresh loaf of bread from the farmer’s market on Saturdays and making a big pot of soup to eat it with all weekend long. Our current favorite soups are Zuppa Toscana, Tortellini Soup, and Shrimp and Bacon Corn Chowder.
This Adidas Crossbody Bag I’ve been wearing everywhere. I got it for my trip to Spain and haven’t really stopped wearing it since. It’s so nice to have all the essentials strapped to me and basically goes with everything.
Tinted Chapstick. That is one essential in my bag at all times.
Cozy socks with Birkenstocks. I am currently loving this sock brand so much.
What I’m Listening To
Music:
- Chapell Roan. I love singing along to The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. It’s also a fun album to run to.
- Joseph. This band is made of sisters with towering harmonies that will just melt you. I went to their show this month and cried multiple times because it was just the best energy.
- Artists I always gravitate toward in the Fall, which are usually Bon Iver, Feist, Jose Gonzales, Gregory Allen Isakov, The National, etc.
Podcasts:
- Modern Love. People read compelling essays about love, which can range from romantic love to family love to grief about losing love. It’s always so thought provoking.
- Smartless. The funniest celebrity interviews ever. I laugh aloud almost every time.
- This American Life. I’ve listened to this one for as long as I’ve listened to podcasts. It’s journalism at its finest.
- Heavyweight is my favorite podcast of all time and I can’t wait for them to return this month! Best storytelling ever.
Fall Baking
These pumpkin chocolate chip cookies by Sally’s Baking Addiction are on repeat all autumn long. Here are some recipes from my own blog I love for this cozy season as well:
Apple Spice Cake
Layers of deliciously moist apple cake with warm spices and cinnamon-vanilla buttercream to amplify all the flavors.
Pumpkin Biscoff Cake
Deliciously moist pumpkin cake layered with Biscoff cookie butter frosting and crumbled Biscoff cookies throughout.
No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
The dreamiest mousse-like pumpkin spice cheesecake with buttery Biscoff cookie crust, absolutely no baking necessary!
Apple Crisp Cake
Layers of extra moist spiced apple cake, apple pie filling, baked crumble topping, and cinnamon-vanilla buttercream. If you love apple crisp, this cozy Fall cake is right up your alley.
Chocolate Pecan Pie Cake with Salted Caramel
Inspired by my favorite Thanksgiving pecan pie recipe, this cake features layers of decadent chocolate cake, pecan pie filling, and homemade salted caramel, all wrapped up in tasty brown sugar buttercream.
What’s been influential in your world these days? Let me know in the comments below!
I think you referenced a book recently that a friend of yours wrote regarding making better cakes from a box cake mix. I’m really having fun learning to make your cakes from scratch (your One Bowl Chocolate is my go-to) but at times I would like to convert a box cake mix into something quick and yummy. If I’m not going crazy and you really did reference this book, would you please send me the reference again? I have looked everywhere and have not been able to find it. I’m questioning my sanity at this point-haha!
Hi Shelley! Yes, here is her blog: https://bakingwithblondie.com/
This is fun, but just wanted to point out that your link to your adidas cross over body bag goes to here
https://themodernproper.com/tortellini-soup-with-italian-sausage-and-kale.
Haha thanks for catching that! It’s fixed! Here’s the link if you want it: https://amzn.to/3YaJccI
Wow, thank you for sharing all your favorite things! Love them all. I’m into skincare as well but am a rep for Avon (been in the family since 1980) and I purchase most products from them. I’d been looking for some new Halloween Recipes and thanks for providing some. I also love coffee and was thinking of replacing my Keurig so thanks for that ideas as well.