Well, hello there! It’s been a minute since my last Life Lately post, hasn’t it? I figured it was time for a little Life Lately October 2026 update before we somehow find ourselves in November.
I’ve been feeling a little guilty about neglecting my blog, but the truth is I’ve been so overwhelmed that I basically put up a ROAD CONSTRUCTION sign on that avenue of my mind. Closed until further notice. But I woke up this morning feeling like I finally could sit down and write a little.
Italy, You Have My Heart
Coming home from Italy felt a lot like the day after Christmas. You’re still excited about the season, but there’s this weird sadness because something you’ve been looking forward to for so long is suddenly over.
I miss Italy in ways I didn’t expect. I miss the deep emotional breath I would take every time I stepped outside in Lucca, Florence, or Rome. I would close my eyes, listen to the sounds around me, and slowly open them to take everything in. I was trying so hard to make mental memories of how each place looked, sounded, and felt. I shed a lot of tears daily – ones that were hard to contain whenever I felt so emotional about a new site.
One of my favorite memories was stumbling upon live music in Piazza Santa Croce in Florence two nights in a row (as seen above). The entire piazza was alive with music, dancing, love, and people who seemed genuinely happy to be exactly where they were. The way our daughters’ eyes lit up when they saw crowd, inviting everyone in to sing and dance, was priceless.
And celebrating my 41st birthday in Tuscany? Well, it didn’t really go as I imagined. I did not feel like it was actually my birthday. We were celebrating our best friend’s wedding, which was beautiful, so the actual day wasn’t about me. Brandon took me out for drinks the following evening and treated me to dinner when we got home to Connecticut. But I never got to blow out a birthday candle with my daughters, or hear “Happy Birthday dear Caitlin”, and I’m oddly sentimental about little things like that. My Mom says we can still do those things soon (I’m such a little kid at heart sometimes).
Back to Reality (And All Things Fall)
The girls jumped right back into school without looking back. After ten days of eating their weight in pizza and pasta, shopping, and sightseeing, they were ready to see their friends and get back to dance. I think I had the hardest time adjusting to being home! The jet lag had me awake every morning at 3am for a week… it was rough.
Arbor is still randomly bursting into song in what she calls “Italian.” She’ll also ask how to say thank you in Italian, and when we tell her grazie, she responds, “Oh yeah, I knew that.”
Meanwhile, October has felt like we’re literally jogging from one event to the next, occasionally stopping to make sure we’re checking off all our favorite fall traditions.
Scarecrow Festival? Check. Apple pie everyone wants to help make but no one except me eats? Check. Pumpkin picking and crafting? Check.
Our house is beautifully decorated for fall AND Halloween, the jackets have come out, and we’ve invested in the coziest furry blankets because we are a strict NO HEAT BEFORE TRICK OR TREAT household.
We also brought back an old tradition and took the girls to my parents’ house to carve pumpkins with my dad. He was so happy, and it was one of those little moments I know I’ll always remember.
Next up is our very first Trunk or Treat setup for Arbor’s last year at LZ Preschool! I have never decorated my trunk for an event because it seems so intimidating. But here I am, stepping outside of my comfort box to rush order supplies from Amazon because I have zero gas left in my creativity tank after last weekend’s pumpkin and canvas painting party. We are doing a Minnie Mouse theme to compliment Arbor’s costume.
Oh, and does fall cleanout count as a tradition? Because Brandon got me a dumpster for my birthday, and we’ve been going absolutely wild throwing away years of accumulated junk from the basement and garage. Nothing says romance in your 40s like a dumpster in the driveway.
A Little Life Update
One of my favorite things about being home is experiencing fall in Connecticut. The changing leaves, the crisp air, and the collective enthusiasm for decorating houses for Halloween make me so happy. Everyone seems to love this season, and it’s contagious.
Brandon and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary with a little family dinner. This is may be the third year in a row we haven’t actually been together – or the two of us alone – on October 17th! I secretly hope for our 20th wedding anniversary we can go back to Italy to explore Florence, Lake Como, and the Amalfi Coast.
Yoga continues to be one of my favorite parts of the week, especially Tuesdays with Amy, when she challenges me to push my body and reminds me just how strong I can be. I almost always leave class with a clear mind and a full heart.
My sister-in-law and I did something wild – we went to an ACOTAR and Sarah J Maas Trivia Night at Yellow King Brews. We were SO awful… it was a little embarrassing. I guess we don’t know as much about Maas-verse as we thought we did!
I’ve also started journaling every day again, using Melody Beattie’s Journey to the Heart for inspiration. I return to this book year after year, and there’s something comforting about writing down the things I’m not quite ready to say out loud.
Loving Lately
A few things currently making me very happy:
- My Parke sweatshirt. I’m living in this with leggings, high socks, and UGG slides. The mock turtleneck, collegiate lettering, and perfectly oversized fit? I completely understand why this sweatshirt went viral.
- Madewell Greta flats. My brown leather pair walked me ALL OVER Italy, and my parents bought me the black pair for my birthday. I love them that much.
- The Comfort Dreamer Blanket. My boss gave me one for my birthday, and the entire family became so obsessed that we had to buy a second. These are absolutely going on our Christmas gift list.
- Books, books, books. I’m trying to finish the last few ACOTAR audiobooks before the new release, but it’s not been easy. I never have enough time to read when I want to!
- I’m currently listening to Web of Vows and Vengeance by Aria Ashbrook and slowly reading The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker. Neither has me completely hooked, and now I’m tempted to reread Fourth Wing.
- skinbetter’s Ampra. I’m about four weeks in and already noticing improvements in my skin’s elasticity. Even the areas that were starting to look a little hollow seem plumper. I’m impressed!
I’m also desperately missing the simple, fresh food we ate in Italy. I’ve been dealing with some digestive issues since coming home and am going through testing to figure out what’s aggravating my IBS and gastritis. In the meantime, I’m using olive oil for practically everything instead of cooking spray and trying to bring a little more Italian simplicity into our kitchen.
I did make homemade Bolognese the day we returned. I couldn’t eat it, but the family declared it insanely delicious, so I’ll take that as a win!
Looking Ahead
We still have plenty of fall fun ahead, including our annual pre-trick-or-treat gathering, Halloween festivities, and Annabelle’s Cross Country State Invitational in November. Watching her compete last year was such a cool experience, and I can’t wait to do it again.
But more than anything, I want to slow down.
I want more time outside, more casual gatherings with people we love, and fewer days that feel like we’re racing from one thing to the next. The holidays will be here before we know it, and I’m not quite ready to rush into them.
If I could wish for one thing for the rest of 2026, it would be to feel the way I did standing in the streets of Italy. Taking a deep breath, soaking in everything around me, and feeling completely present.
Maybe that’s what 41 is going to be about.
More of those deep breaths. More little moments. And a little less rushing through life.
Until next time! ♡
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