The October Edit
Palm Springs, a Japanese architectural thriller, suede coasters, and head colds.
The Monthly Edits are a casual curation of my consumptions from the past few weeks including: books I read, delicious eats, fun finds, and personal meanderings. Buon appetito!
rain showers and head colds, the middle bits were perfectly sweet. We spent two weeks in Palm Springs with both mine and Scott’s families—our first blended holiday—and it went off without a hitch! There were family olympics, morning hikes, touristy afternoons, and long evenings of cards around the kitchen table. I shot a roll of film, the boys screamed for joy at the TV as the Blue Jays made it the World Series, and we all noticed how rare it’s been to have this kind of uninterrupted time together. It was a special experience full of memories to savour and be grateful for.
Four books were read, many sights were seen, it was a hotter than usual October for me—but a great one. Here’s how it all went…
Warm, familiar, inviting, and rich—Billie Martin’s latest album, Dog Eared, has been an ideal autumn listen for me. I linked one of her songs above, but I recommend a listen start to finish—mmm!
After visiting Raven Hill Bagels in Idyllwild (highly recommend), I’ve had bagels on my mind. Currently loving a toasted variety with plain cream cheese, orchard pear jam, a dusting of ceylon cinnamon, and buckwheat grouts. If I’m feeling extra fancy, a drizzle of hazelnut butter.
Lace murals & ghostly fiberglass gowns in France.
Fun coloured enamel utensils.
This cinnamon roll bundt cake.
A new cookbook that looks very well designed.
Handblown Egyptian wine glasses.
This wool rug + these barrel jeans are on my wishlist.
Analogue photo booths turn 100 this year!
Do you ever forget the plot of a book you just read?
On the flip side, can memories from fiction become part of who we are?
A modern day heist at the Louvre!?
Perfect little to-do list pads.
I Am You by Victoria Redel. I love a good story, and this was one of the best I’ve read in a while. Set in 1600s Amsterdam, two women—a painter and her assistant—defy the norms of their time while finding their place in the male-dominated art world. Their uniquely complex relationship deepens and shifts throughout the novel. Without saying too much, it’s a reflection on love, creativity, and the courage of women who dare to see—and be seen—on their own terms. Highly recommend!
The Secret History by Donna Tartt. This dark academia classic is both an exploration on belonging and a murder mystery without the whodunnit. We follow a tight-knit group of eccentric classics students at a small New England college as their obsession with beauty and intellect unravels into betrayal, moral corruption, and madness. Tartt’s lush, descriptive writing pulls you in completely—at times blurring the line between her world and your own. Definitely one to put on your list if you haven’t read it already.
Strange Houses by Uketsu. I picked this up at the cutest hole-in-the-wall bookstore while visiting Idyllwild. When we got home, the wifi was down and a rain storm had the trees surrounding our house oozing with fog. I knew it was the perfect time for this book, so I jumped in bed and read it in one sitting. A very odd and unsettling mystery thriller translated from Japanese. A writer and his architect friend investigate an eerie house for sale in Tokyo, full of weird layouts and hidden “dead spaces” between the walls. The more they discover, the more they realize they are in over their heads. A good read for spooky season.
Play Nice by Rachel Harrison (this was my Book of the Month club pick for October). I selected this hoping for a classic haunted‑house story, but it leaned a bit too surface-level and low on thrills for me. Stylist and influencer Clio Barnes inherits her mother’s supposedly demon-haunted house and tries to flip it for content. As the home makeover unfolds, Clio discovers her mother’s claims might be true—and she must face the buried memories she’s been avoiding. It was sweet enough, but I’m just not a fan of stories that involve social media and current trends.
I’ve been on the hunt for coasters over the past few months. They’re one of those items that always feel too tacky, no matter which way you slice it. However, in Palm Springs, I stumbled upon the Mojave Flea Trading Post and found the cutest set of suede coasters. In a stunning Matisse Blue, they add texture and a little story to the living room. They give a subtle nod to the dessert without feeling out of place. Artsy, unique, and timeless—exactly what I was holding out for!
I hope you’ve had a memorable October. Thank you so much for reading and as always, I would love to hear from you!
Have you done a blended family vacation before?
Best read/watch lately?
Ciao ciao,
I really enjoyed the Psyche article about how some fictional characters and stories stick in our memory because we empathize with them and it contributes to our own sense of self. Really puts words to why I felt so seen by characters like Anne of Green Gables and Laura Ingalls Wilder from Little House on the Prairie.
What a lovely month, Lauren! Palm Springs sounds so fun and I love seeing your film (and regular!) photos from the month.