The Potluck: September 2020

ByErin Parker Posted on Updated on

Continuing the monthly tradition, The Speckled Palate’s The Potluck: September 2020 includes a few clothing items, a kitchen necessity, a beauty recommendation and more. Come check out my list and tell me what was on yours for September.

A collage of beauty, clothing and kitchen items on The Speckled Palate's September 2020 love list

The month of September feels like it flew by. That’s actually a shocking/lovely thing to report since this year has been a collective kick to the gut.

Right now, I’d like to focus on the joy today since it was an exceptional month for us personally.

Let’s talk September highlights:

  • Virtual school began, and it was a smashing success. Why? A learning pod! I seriously don’t think we would’ve been able to participate in kinder had this group not formed. I am so thankful for them for making it special.
  • We celebrated our younger one’s second birthday, and it was so much fun! We baked Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting to celebrate at the insistence of our older one. Also, we celebrated for about a week. It should be reported that Lady Speckle was irritated that my birthday eventually eclipsed hers.
  • My birthday was lovely, too! It included surprise pastries, macarons and coffee from some dear friends, then a socially distant, outdoor surprise party after school. The surprise featured cookies, ice cream and champagne and so many handmade presents from our older one’s learning pod.

Also, this isn’t a personal thing, but could I just say that I was so impressed with the Dallas Stars’ Stanley Cup run? While they didn’t bring home the cup, I was blown away by this team, their scrappiness and creativity. Also, post game beerssssssss is one of my favorite pop culture things to come out of the month.

Let’s talk September low points and action items:

September had some major negativity, too. And one thing on the forefront of my mind is the disastrous Presidential Debate from a few days ago.

If you haven’t registered to vote yet, please do. Quickly. And then cast a ballot in the upcoming election to vote out the man who wouldn’t denounce white supremacy when asked multiple times. Unsurprisingly, he also said he wasn’t sure he could accept future election results because of mail-in ballot fraud.

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    This said, if you’re hoping to stay on top of the issues of the day, let me recommend two things:

    • The Daily: I have really enjoyed the reporting and timeliness of this podcast. I highly recommend it for anyone who’d like to dive deep on an issue for 30-45 minutes a day.
    • Anti-racism Daily: Am I going to plug this every month? Probably. Are you subscribed yet? You should be. This newsletter offers deep-dives into very specific issues dealing with race daily. I particularly like the daily action items and the timeliness of these newsletters, too.

    Now Let’s Talk About This Monthly Love List…

    To recap, my potluck, as defined by the folks at Merriam-Webster is:

    the regular meal available to a guest for whom no special preparations have been made… a communal meal to which people bring food to share —usually used attributively ; whatever is offered and available in given circumstances or at a given time.

    Now who’s ready to see what ended up on my list for September 2020?!?

    1
    Model in a skin-colored bra
    www.nordstrom.com
    1. Natori Flora Underwire Bra
    This was a purchase from the Nordstrom's anniversary sale, and this bra is wonderfully comfortable and really pretty, too! Ever since having our girls, I've struggled finding bras that fit just right, and I have had really good luck with Natori. So if you're like me and are a bit top heavy, I suggest checking this out. While it's a bit more expensive than I'd want to spend, I think this bra is worth the price simply because it fits so well.
    Get More Information
    2
    Stacked pottery plates on a gray background
    www.target.com
    2. Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia Salad Plates
    Nerd alert: I purchased these salad plates for photo props, and I am obsessed with them. If you're in the market for a perfect single-sized plate for dessert or a salad, I suggest checking these out. They're the perfect size, they don't clash with anything since they're neutral and again, they're really cute.
    Get More Information
    3
    A model in dark wash high waisted jeans
    www.nordstrom.com
    3. AG Farrah High Waist Skinny Jeans
    It got a little cooler in the month of September, so I've rocked these jeans from last year a few times. And they are still so cute and comfortable. I never subscribed to the whole thought of paying for denim, but after having our girls, I really believe in it. (Especially since I've tried on what feels like hundreds of pairs of jeans, and the only ones that are flattering these days are the ones that are more expensive.) These were a nice splurge for myself last fall, and I love that they still fit and look really good, too.
    Get More Information
    4
    Logo of Feminist Book Club with a purple mouth speaking the word bubble including 'Feminist Book Club' out of it
    www.feministbookclub.com
    4. Feminist Book Club Box
    I actually worked with FBCB last year as a partner and then subscribed this year for myself because I enjoyed it so much. This virtual book club is truly the best. Why? Each month, members vote on the book of the month (that usually falls into a theme), then our boxes arrive with the book and other goodies from women and queer-owned businesses. Plus, 5% of each box is donated to charity each month (and every month has a different charity that we support.) Also, there are 3-4 video discussions of the book every month, too, to get the whole book club experience.
    Get More Information
    5
    Woman in a gray/orange print dress in a kitchen
    www.target.com
    5. Women’s Printed 3/4 Sleeve Dress
    Look. I'm not one who's try to be fancy a lot of the time because I am just trying to survive 2020 like everyone else, but I aspire to get dressed up sometimes. This dress was purchased online in a fit of wanting to wear real clothes, and I love it. In fact, I wore it on my birthday to feel fancy, and it is so wonderfully comfortable! I foresee wearing it a lot in the coming months, too, since it's a little thicker and the colors are perfect for fall.
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    6
    A bottle of Crème de la Crème
    www.ulta.com
    6. Crème de la Crème from Cèla
    I received this in my Ipsy bag a few months back, and it smells and feels divine. I'm finicky when it comes to hand lotion, and this one has been perfect for me recently. We'll see how it holds up in the winter months, though, as my skin tends to get drier and sadder. Fingers crossed!
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    7
    Close up of a loaf of pumpkin bread in a metal pan topped with chocolate chips
    7. Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
    We baked this bread in September for the first time of the season because I had leftover pumpkin puree from making Pumpkin Spice Syrup… and my entire family went wild over this bread. Made without oil, it's still wonderfully moist, thanks to the combination of unsweetened applesauce and pumpkin puree. And the addition of chocolate chips adds such lovely sweet gooeyness to each slice. If you love pumpkin-flavored anything, this bread is for you!
    Get the Recipe

    2014: October | November| December 

    2015: January | February | March | May | June | July | August | 
    September | November | December

    2016: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August |
     September | October | November | December 

    2017: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | 
    September | October | November | December

    2018: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August |
    September | October | November | December

    2019: January | February/March | April | August 

    2020: January | February | March | April | May | June | July/August | September | October | November | December

    2021: January | April | May | July | August | September | October | November/December

    2022: January | February | March | April-May

    A woman with dark curly hair wearing a black tank top in front of a white wall

    About the Author:

    Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…

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