Mind. Beauty. Simplicity

11 Books To Read This Fall

With spooky season quickly approaching – I figured it was the perfect time to share a list of thrillers, mysteries & eery page turners for the months ahead. A few I have read & 100 percent recommend, while others on this fall’s TBR. Be sure to check out this reel for a few extra fall reads. Here are books to read this fall season:

In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead

Synopsis: Six friends.
One college reunion.
One unsolved murder.

Ten years after graduation, Jessica Miller has planned her triumphant return to her southern, elite Duquette University, down to the envious whispers that are sure to follow in her wake. Everyone is going to see the girl she wants them to see—confident, beautiful, indifferent. Not the girl she was when she left campus, back when Heather Shelby’s murder fractured everything, including the tight bond linking the six friends she’d been closest to since freshman year.

But not everyone is ready to move on. Not everyone left Duquette ten years ago, and not everyone can let Heather’s murder go unsolved. Someone is determined to trap the real killer, to make the guilty pay. When the six friends are reunited, they will be forced to confront what happened that night—and the years’ worth of secrets each of them would do anything to keep hidden.

Verity [ Collector’s Edition ] by Colleen Hoover

Synopsis: Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish. * exclusive new chapter included*

A Stranger in The House by Shari Lapena

Synopsis: Karen Krupp is left with a bad concussion after crashing her car into a pole while fleeing from an abandoned restaurant in a sketchy neighbourhood in a town in upstate New York. She claims she has no memory of what happened, and her doctors acknowledge that this could happen, but add that she might regain her memory.

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

Synopsis: Wealthy Washington suburbanites Marissa and Matthew Bishop seem to have it all—until Marissa is unfaithful. Beneath their veneer of perfection is a relationship riven by work and a lack of intimacy. She wants to repair things for the sake of their eight-year-old son and because she loves her husband.

If It Bleeds by Stephen King

Synopsis: If it Bleeds is a collection of four unrelated novellas. The first two, Mr. Harrigan’s Phone and The Life of Chuck, both deal with characters approaching the end of their lives. The third story, the titular If It Bleeds, is basically a mini-sequel to The Outsider with Holly Gibney as the main character. The last one, Rat, is about a writer who strikes a Faustian bargain in order to write a novel.

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

Synopsis: Alternating between Maggie’s uneasy homecoming and chapters from her father’s book, Home Before Dark is the story of a house with long-buried secrets and a woman’s quest to uncover them—even if the truth is far more terrifying than any haunting.

Horrid by Katrina Leno

Synopsis: As the cold New England autumn arrives, and Jane settles in to her new home, she finds solace in old books and memories of her dad. She steadily begins making new friends, but also faces bullying from the resident “bad seed,” struggling to tamp down her own worst nature in response.

Ghost Story by Peter Straub

Synopsis: In life, not every sin goes unpunished. For four aging men in the terror-stricken town of Milburn, New York, an act inadvertently carried out in their youth has come back to haunt them. Now they are about to learn what happens to those who believe they can bury the past — and get away with murder.

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacey Willingham

Synopsis: When Chloe Davis was twelve, six teenage girls went missing in her small Louisiana town. By the end of the summer, her own father had confessed to the crimes and was put away for life, leaving Chloe and the rest of her family to grapple with the truth and try to move forward while dealing with the aftermath.

Haunting Adeline by H.D Carlton

Synopsis: Adeline is a writer who moves into her grandmothers house a year after her passing. It’s a creepy old house that hides the story of her great grandmothers murder. Adeline finds her great grandmother’s diaries and finds out that her great grandmother not only had a stalker but had a sordid affair with him.

It Starts With Us By Colleen Hoover

An extra book to the list for those who aren’t into spooky season. Coming in October…

Synopsis: Before It Ends with Us, it started with Atlas. Colleen Hoover tells fan favorite Atlas’s side of the story and shares what comes next in this long-anticipated sequel to the “glorious and touching” (USA TODAY) #1 New York Times bestseller It Ends with Us.

Let me know which books you plan to read during the fall season. I’m always looking to add more to my TBR

-B

What Does Minimalism Mean To Me?

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Picture this. I’m sitting in a lawn chair on my back porch starring across the sky, breathing in the fresh air, tapping my fingers rhythmically atop the arm rests trying desperately to find a moment of peace in my chaotic routine I call life. In the distance I spot a family of geese flying effortlessly across the clouds & I yearn to be as free as them. I had no idea bagging up a few old belongings & hauling them to my local donation bin would be the answer to my problems. And here I am six years later living weightless & intentional just like the geese in the sky.

Everyone’s journey to minimalism looks a bit different. Each individual’s “why” is always so fascinating to me. So, I decided to venture through the minimalist community on social media & ask others who live this more simple life the question, “what does minimalism mean to you?” As some of you have followed my blog for a while, you know my simple living journey began in 2017 when we were clearing out my Nana’s home after she passed away. I took the Swedish Death Cleaning approach & discovered how much clutter we leave behind for others to deal with. And it helped me realize the true importance to life which are experiences & relationships with others & ourselves. Since then, I’ve developed a healthier outlook on consumerism & “stuff”. It started out with donating a few bags of clothing to now living presently in the moment & cherishing the smaller moments as well as the grander ones. Minimalism saved my life. And once you cut through the service, it becomes far more than just getting rid of “stuff.” And after hearing what other minimalists have to say about the lifestyle, I’d say it’s worth trying. Here’s why:

Minimalism Get’s You Hooked

“I started minimalism in 2018 after coming across a YouTube video that resonated with me and my lifestyle at the time. I knew my clutter was affecting my life but I didn’t know how to take control over it, it was controlling me. I started decluttering, as many do as their first step to minimalism and started seeing benefits in my life, relationships, finances, and more. I was hooked! I started to share my journey and tips on YouTube in hopes of inspiring others to simplify their lives. I want others to see the amazing benefits that I’ve experienced.

Minimalism is a tool to help you live intentionally so that you find freedom. Freedom of overwhelm, debt, and guilt. That way you can focus on what actually matters in your life.” – Mariella Merino

Minimalism Pulls Back The Layers of Your Life

“Simplifying my life was the way I reduced stress to feel and be healthier. For me, minimalism is removing the things that remove you from your life.”

“For me that has included everything from clutter, busyness and debt to being worried about what other people think of me and drinking alcohol. There is always another layer that surprises me.” – Courtney Carver of Be More With Less

Minimalism Helps You Focus on What Truly Matters

“For me, minimalism is a lifestyle choice that helps me to focus on what is most important in my life. It allows me to live more simply and with less stuff, which in turn gives me more time and energy to focus on things that matter most to me.”

“I initially chose minimalism because I was feeling stressed and overwhelmed by the amount of things in my house. But over time, I came to realise that minimalism meant so much more than just decluttering my ‘stuff’. It’s about living more intentionally and being more present in the moment. It’s about finding joy in the simple things and letting go of anything that doesn’t bring me happiness. For me, minimalism has been an absolute game-changer and my future self thanks me for making the choice to live more minimally!” – Vourneen of The Plain and Simple Life

Minimalism Gives You Freedom

“I started my minimalism journey in 2019 not long after the death of my great-grandmother. I was in a tough place mentally and knew I needed to make some changes in my life but I wasn’t sure where to start. One night, I was looking for something to watch on Netflix and stumbled upon the Minimalism documentary. The message was so powerful that I felt it in my bones. I cried, praised God for the door he just opened, and never looked back.

Minimalism, to me, is freedom. I’m no longer trapped by societal expectations and norms and the discontentment they bring. I say yes to what makes me happy and no to obligations. I spend money and time on things that enhance the quality of my life. I live in a way that reflects my personal values. My journey hasn’t been easy and I still have a lifetime to go- but knowing that I am finally able to live a life that is free of nonsense and full of the important things is pure freedom.” – Callie Zimmerman

Minimalism Lightens The Load

“I’m fortunate to say that I grew up with a lot of stuff. As a kid, I was spoiled with tons of clothes, books, games, etc. From my childhood into my teen years, I thought that all of these things were what made me feel safe, comfortable, and happy. This changed when I moved out of Alaska at 19 last year. I lived in Washington for a few months, spontaneously lived in Argentina for 3, and bounced between Washington and Colorado before I made it back home to Anchorage.

I found that I was happier when all of my belongings fit into a suitcase and backpack! Traveling every few months, plus embracing a slower lifestyle abroad, inspired me to live minimally from that point forward. I define minimalism as embracing gratitude for and being content with what I already have, plus living a more sustainable and adventurous life. My blog, Brew and Let Be, was created to find other slow living and minimalistic travelers who want more adventure with less baggage.” Jordan of Brew & Let Be

Minimalism Allows Us To Let Go

“Minimalism for me means letting go of everyone else’s expectations in order to create a life aligned with my values. A life in which relationships and peace take precedence over material things and status. A life that offers freedom to explore and grow instead of suffocation by the physical, mental, and emotional clutter obtained for the approval of others. Minimalism means the freedom to create a meaningful life on my own terms. ” Kelsey of The Mediocre Minimalist

Minimalism Is Customizable To You

“To me minimalism is about consciously choosing what adds value to my life.
It’s letting go of things that do not align with my values to create more time & space for the things that do.

I think everyone’s minimalism journey, and everyone’s take on minimalism will look different. We all have different values so minimalism will naturally work for us in different ways. What I love about minimalism is you can apply it as little or as much as you like, to specific areas or all areas of your life, there’s no right or wrong!

Personally, discovering minimalism has provoked me to question what really matters most to me in life and provided a sense of clarity around my personal values. With this clarity I am now able to put my time and energy towards the things that matter most to me – for me those things are connection (making memories with those I love); health & wellbeing & personal growth. I also love the sense of calm I now feel within our home.” Mel of More Joy Less Things

Minimalism Allows Me To Breath & Have Peace

“I started my minimalism journey when I felt owned by my possessions. I wanted more time freedom, and more peace in my life. I started slowly decluttering things, and now I’ve been on this minimizing journey for two years. Minimalism gives me breathing room and time for what actually matters.” Sarah of Living Less

-B

To get a taste of more intentional living & minimalism content, please check out these lovely creators:

Mariella Merino: Youtuber & content creator who shares her journey through minimalism living & decluttering tips for the household. Youtube | Blog | Instagram

Courtney Carver: the creator & author behind Be More With Less and minimalist fashion challenge, Project 333. She has wrote books & content along many platforms to teach her readers what matters most in life. Twitter | Blog| Instagram

Vourneen: the creator of The Plain Simple Life where she helps overwhelmed women to regain control of their lives by shifting their mindset, decluttering and organizing, and introducing simple and sustainable living practices into their daily routines. Twitter | Blog | Instagram

Follow Vourneen on Instagram & Twitter

Callie: content creator who shares her journey to minimalism & simple living tips. Follow her on Instagram.

Jordan: content creator of Brew & Let Be & she helps young adults pursue slow travel and live a more mindful, minimalistic, and sustainable life. Follow me along to start your journey towards an eco-friendly, adventure-filled, and simple lifestyle!

Kelsey: content creator of The Mediocre Minimalist who shares her tips & tricks on living more intentional & how it has improved her life along with wonderful ways to live more sustainably.

Mel: a content creator that has embraced minimalism to create space for what matters most, sharing her passions for organization, reading, wellbeing & travel.

Sarah: a content creator on Instagram & working wife and mom to one toddler and a fur baby. She is also late diagnosed combined type ADHD and minimalism has changed my life.

Blogtober 101: The Do’s & Dont’s + Post Ideas

It’s that time of year again where bloggers take part in the daily 31 post challenge in October & honestly – the sooner you prepare the better. I personally, will not be participating this year but you can always reminisce on last year’s posts. Since many bloggers take part in this posting challenge, I wanted to share some insight to Blogtober including a few do’s & dont’s as well as post ideas.

What Is Blogtober?

During the month of October, bloggers in the community share a blog post every single day for 31 days. Seems like a lot right? It definitely is! Although I successfully completed the challenge last year, it was a lot of work & took early preparation. Typically, bloggers will post Halloween or fall related content [ but you can of course post whatever you’d like ]. And if you are someone who finds the idea of posting daily for a month to be rather stressful, there are no REAL rules. You can create a schedule that works best for you. This year, I plan to post once or twice a week in October, sharing Halloween & fall content as well as my usual intentional living posts. Last year, I shared a recap on my first Blogtober, so be sure to check that out if you haven’t already.

Now, that you’ve decided to participate in this challenge, the preparation is where the real fun [ or stress ] begins. Here are a few suggestions to make your Blogtober experience more of a breeze.

Prepare Early As Possible

Last year, I started writing fall content in July! In reality, 31 posts [ if you fully commit ] is a lot of content to write! I didn’t want to feel overwhelmed & stressed. The only issue I had with this was I would sometimes re-read a post a month later & not be satisfied with the idea. So, keep that in mind as well. You don’t want to write all of those posts months in advance & then want to start from scratch. Be sure the ideas you have will fit your future self. Anytime I had an idea, I would write them down & then schedule it accordingly. This year, I’ll be re-sharing a few old posts that needed edited & revamped. So, if you do run out of ideas, you can always look back at old posts for inspiration.

Guest Post & Collaborate With Other Bloggers

To help lessen the load, why not connect with other bloggers in the community. Open the floor up to collaboration or guest posts. This is a great way for other bloggers to expand their audience as well as give your typing hands a break. One of my favorite posts I did last year was share other blogger’s ghost stories / encounters. Whether you believe in the unthinkable or not, it was tons of fun to read through these stories & befriend other bloggers in the community. If say, a blogger has traveled to Salem Mass. & you haven’t yet – you can have them share their experience in a spooky travel guide. It’s always interesting to see other people’s takes on the season / holiday [ especially from those living all around the world ].

Get Outside Your Niche

Blogtober is the perfect time of year to get outside your comfort zone / niche. It’s a great time to experiment on topics you usually wouldn’t write about & to just have fun with it! I personally love sharing Halloween themed tags or share my favorite Halloween movies / tv shows as well as my general love for the spooky holiday. I love branching out from the usual decluttering posts, & sharing more about myself. It’s a wonderful way to connect more with your audience & allow them to see the writer behind the blog more authentically.

Have Fun!

Most importantly, these challenges are supposed to be fun & a way to connect with the writing community. So, don’t stress too much on being perfect or posting daily. My favorite part of Blogtober is meeting new bloggers & widening my audience. Be sure to support those who are participating by commenting on their posts, sharing them on social media & even advertising them in a future blog post. Let me know in the comments if you’ll be participating in Blogtober this year!

Post Ideas….

Before I go, I wanted to share a few blog post ideas to get you started. Also, be sure to check out last year’s 31 Blogtober Blog Posts for even more ideas! Also, if you have topics to share, be sure to include them in the comments below.

Local Haunted Spots & Their Origin Stories

Spookiest Places From All Over The World

The Blogtober Tag

Top Halloween Themed Movies / TV Shows in 2022

Halloween Costumes Throughout The Years

Halloween Through The Decades: Share Your Childhood Memories

Monster Mash Bash: Fall / Halloween Recipes

Share A Personal Ghost / Scary Story

Couple, Family or Single Costume Ideas

Why You Love / Dislike Halloween

If you decide to choose any of the topics suggested above, be sure to link back to this post!