September

12 Books

It was another two-book month. First I read Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver. It’s the story of a woman who adopted a young, abandoned Cherokee girl and later finds out that the adoption was illegal. Then I read The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain, which is about a woman who discovers that her sister’s suicide was faked. I give both books a 6 out of 10. I was interested enough to finish them, but generally not impressed.

12 Recipes

I tried two new slow cooker recipes this month: chicken tikka masala and chicken and wild rice soup. I loved both. I recommend both recipes.

12 Blog Posts

Click here to read about how I’m learning to be a godmother.

12 Ways to Meet People

Early in the month I went to a happy hour for the Chicago chapter of the Global Expeditions Travel Club. They organize a dozen or so trips each year to places around the world. They trips are designed with solo travelers in mind. They do roommate matching and whatnot and encourage people to not be afraid to come without knowing anyone else. The Chicago chapter has a happy hour each month to give people a chance to meet other travelers and share stories. I had a great time and look forward to going back again.

12 Small Steps Forward in my Career

It’s been a frustrating month, professionally speaking, but not without its high points. In particular, earlier this month, a semi-famous person in the math ed world sent me a note saying he had looked at one of my projects. He was impressed and wanted to collaborate in the future. I’ve been corresponding with him a bit and I remain optimistic for a future partnership.

12 Fun Events in Chicagoland

I did three fun things this month! First, I went to Midnight Circus in the Park, which is a fundraiser for the city parks. The acts were very impressive!

 

Next, I went to a cabaret performance at a small piano bar on the north side. It was a really cute venue. The performer was a friend of a friend, so I didn’t have any strong connection to her, but I did like getting out and supporting a local performer.

Lastly, I went with my goddaughter and her family to AllSeasons Orchard. They had lots of fun kids activities and a very pretty orchard for apple picking. We had a great time.

 12 Crafts and Creations

My hardworking mother is retiring on October 1, so I made a gift for her. It’s a retirement clock! No matter what time it is, it’s time for something fun!

 

12 Pretty Things for My Apartment

I completed my travel wall by ordering this acrylic of Hogwarts castle to hang above my scrapbook from Harry Potter World.

 

12 Things that Help Me Feel Good about My Appearance

One of the things I hate the most about my appearance is the dark circles that are always under my eyes. It does not matter how much rest I get or what kind of concealer I use. The dark purple smudges are always there. So, I looked up home remedies and tried a few. No effect, but I’m giving myself points for trying.

12 Grown-Up Things

I cleaned out and reorganized the shelves in my closet, which included purging about 70% of my notes and articles from grad school. Instead of 8 binders gathering dust in my closet, I now have 3 binders accessible on my desk at work.