It’s crazy to think about how long I’ve wanted to start a lifestyle brand.

I’ve passed through many phases of my life since I first had the idea. When I started Light & Gather, I was six months postpartum. My brain was in a haze, and I was just getting used to being a new mom and keeping a newborn baby alive. I used to tell people that all I knew how to do was breathe and take care of my baby.

At some point, though, I started to remember who I was before I had my son. I remembered what my passions were and what I liked to do for hobbies. And while I felt a million miles away from where I used to be, I needed to start somewhere.

So I started writing.

I finally started Light & Gather.

I remember it took me two weeks to write my first blog post. When I was in college, I could crank out 400–600 words in an afternoon. Getting back into writing was like learning how to walk again. I needed to find my voice again, this time as a mother.

So I kept writing.

And I developed this lifestyle brand inspired by my life, my passions, and all the things I loved about myself, both who I was before motherhood and who I am now as a mother.

In many ways, it was like coming home.

And I guess that’s my biggest accomplishment in all this: I found a way back to myself as a creative who is also a mother. My life is different now, and it’s a little fuller, but without my son, I don’t think I would have had the courage to take that first step a year ago.

So cheers to that, and to many more years to come.

Below, I’ve compiled a list of books, movies, activities, and a simple September menu inspired by the first (and only) installation of my little “How to Host a Dinner Party” series as a little way to celebrate this milestone.

A Few Things I’ve Learned

Social media has taught me that there is no one way to become a content creator. There’s no formula, no secret sauce (not really).

The only thing I’ve learned you can be is consistent.

One thing I’ve learned as a mother, as it pertains to social media, is that you do a lot of things while scared. And while motherhood and caring for your child might come easily, I am constantly worried that I’m messing up or doing irreparable harm.

But I’m finding that, just like children, social media is pretty resilient.

Another thing motherhood and content creation have in common is the invisible labor. Sometimes it feels like nobody is watching or like all the little things you do don’t matter, but I’m learning that they do.

And at any point, if something isn’t working out, you can change your mind, pivot, take a break, take a nap.

It will be okay.

You can get really focused, disappear for a while, come back, try something completely different, and realize that none of it was wasted.

I think this year I want to focus on experimenting.

Trying as many things as possible. New events, new platforms, new projects.

Just go for it.

September Reading

I’ve been on a classic-reading kick, and I needed a break, so lately I’ve been going a little off script. Here’s what I’ve been reading.

Bittersweet

I knew I would like this book after the first chapter. The writing feels tender but also fully formed. The main character is lovable, frustrating, and devastating, and the writer moves her through those character traits seamlessly.

Honestly, this book had me crying over the stove while I was making breakfast.

Ten gold stars and a box of Kleenex.

My Best Friend’s Exorcism

This book has been on my TBR list for two years, and I finally started reading it.

The book is vibe.

I love the atmosphere, and the cultural references don’t feel forced but integral to the characters and the story. I almost stopped reading it because it felt like it took a little too long to get to the point, but when it got there, it got there, and now I’m deeply invested.

One thing that threw me off about the book was that I thought they were somewhere in the Midwest, but then, it felt like, all of a sudden they were in the South, and it’s a big element in the book.

They also don’t shy away from wealthy white conservative politics in regards to race, gender norms, and class, which I appreciated.

Spoiled Milk

I’m five pages into this book, but the summary was giving Picnic at Hanging Rock with a more obvious spooky element .

So we’ll see.

September Watching

While there are a ton of movies I want to see, I’m not a big movie person. So when I sit down and watch something, it’s totally random and often not on my movie list.

But I recently watched Jawbreaker, which I initially liked because it reminded me of Heathers, The Virgin Suicides, and a little bit of But I’m a Cheerleader.

I realize there’s an aesthetic format happening here, but I don’t care.

Jawbreaker started strong, but it got pretty lame toward the end in a weird kind of cop-out way. That’s the best way to describe it. The camp toward the end felt more gimmicky than theatrical, which was disappointing.

As for TV shows, I’ve recently been obsessed with The Real Ghostbusters and Archie’s Weird Mysteries. I’ve also been watching the original The Addams Family in black and white, which is a classic for a reason.

September Listening

I’m not super big on music. If I’m not at the gym, I’m usually listening to something atmospheric or chill.

But if I’m in the mood, I’ll find a curated playlist on Spotify and zone out.

But if my husband and I are feeling nostalgic and fall coated we’ll listen to this. 

September Menu

This menu is inspired by my “Gathering” series, which I hope to bring back at some point. In the meantime, here’s the first (and only) menu from that series.

Soup & Stars

App: A cosmic cheese board
Main: Tomato soup
Side: Grilled cheese cut into stars
Dessert: Chocolate lava cake

Honestly, looking back this is a pretty generic menu, and I blame my postpartum brain, but I was pretty proud of it at the time.

September Bucket List

A little September bucket list:

Go to the library (always)
Read outside under the first changing leaves
Make a big pot of soup (it’s soup season)
Watch an old movie
Go to an apple orchard
Make something with the apples you got from the orchard
Spend an afternoon being unproductive

September in Elm Ridge

And I can’t forget about Elm Ridge.

What originally started out as an outlet for my son and myself to have more creative whimsy has actually become one of my favorite parts of Light & Gather.

Over in Elm Ridge, the town is getting ready for fall, too.

Veronica is picking out books and organizing room reservations for the Moms Who Read book club and is tuned in to the Moms Who Write radio show.

Delphine is planning a fall story time and who knows what else.

Ursula has started thinking about what’s going on the diner menu as the weather cools down.

Maybe soup.

And somewhere downtown, preparations are underway for the October Cozy Mystery Scavenger Hunt.

Meanwhile, I’m still trying to figure out what I’m writing next.

A September Reminder

You don’t have to know what you’re doing yet.

You are allowed to change the plan.

You are allowed to make something that doesn’t work.

You are allowed to return to an old idea.

You are allowed to take your time.

Some things happen in seasons.

Year Two

This year, my motto is:

“Do it while you’re scared.”

I’ve got a lot of big plans for Light & Gather, and while I’m mostly excited, I know I’ll have to step out of my comfort zone a lot.

I can feel this becoming bigger, and I’m excited for the challenge.

Anything else is extra.