Posted in Everyday Life, Monthly Moments

Monthly Moments: November 2025

Hello and happy Sunday!

How has your weekend been? Yesterday, we spent most of our time in the car traveling back to Kentucky from KC. We had a good Thanksgiving holiday with family. Today, I’ve gotten groceries, unpacked, organized, and done quite a few loads of laundry. I’m trying to get all my ducks in a row before heading into the three week stretch of school between now and winter break!

Today is the last day of November, so I’m taking a look back on a great month of moments for us.

This month, we saw a little bit of snow…my pumpkins weren’t happy!

I decorated for Christmas a little bit at a time.

Since I knew we’d be out of town for Thanksgiving, I wanted everything up for when we returned. I had a couple new purchases this year including a wreath and ribbon from Target, and this set of trees from Amazon. They turned out cuter than I was expecting!

On a Friday night, the whole fam went to the Kentucky basketball game. We had a great time.

We had many lovely days in November, so I tried to walk when I could in order to get some fresh air, add to my step count, and listen to an audio book.

The kids turned 16!!…and we celebrated with family…

…and friends. Hadley had the sweetest sweet 16 party.

….and we have one new licensed driver! She picked up our dinner last night when we got home, and she picked up my Kroger order this morning. This is what mom dreams are made of!!

One thing I learned quickly while being a mom to twins is that they do things are their own pace…one crawled before the other, one walked and talked before the other and so on. We scheduled Hadley’s driving test a few days after her birthday because she’s shown more interest in driving. Hayden’s appointment is soon. Also, y’all — scheduling two appointments at once is harder than you’d think! You have to get online at 8am (on the dot!) to schedule an appointment three weeks out. Now, the driving appointments haven’t been as cut throat as when we tried to get their permits, but it wasn’t much easier getting their two driving test appointments scheduled. Anyway, soon enough, I will have two who can run my errands. haha

We ended the month with a great Thanksgiving in KC. My cousin always outdoes herself with her tablescape, and the personalized chocolate turkeys that she orders are a fun tradition.

The weather was pretty nice, and it was great to see family.

We ended our visit at the Magic Tree which is a fun tradition.

Yesterday, we drove home in mostly rain, and half of the drive was in the dark. It’s always sad leaving family, but we loved being reunited with Homer and sleeping in our own beds last night. Plus, my to-do list is a mile long today.

Now we’re ready for the December hustle and bustle!

Have a great Sunday!

Posted in Books and Shows, Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites: Holiday Books

Hello and happy Friday!

How was your Thanksgiving? It’s truly my favorite holiday…food, family, football and a break from school.

If they’re hosting, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites...

…to share…some of my favorite holiday books. Now that Thanksgiving is over, I’m ready to read some Christmas/holiday themed books which has been my December tradition the past few years.

Currently I’m reading…

I always try to read one holiday book in November, so I have a new idea to share with you all for December. The Christmas Cookie Wars was the perfect way to kick start my holiday reading. I will share my November books next week.

On my list for December is this book I picked up from Barnes and Noble. Like I shared previously, I learned via Tik Tok (thanks to my sister-in-law) that every two months Barnes and Noble has a book in their cafe that is $5 with a cafe purchase.

Murder at Holly House is the November/December book. I can’t wait to read it.

I’ve shared/read these books in the past…

…and I recommend them all.

Mr. Dickens and his Carol, Christmas in Paris,

and Bright Lights, Big Christmas are all faves…

…and I loved Elin Hilderbrand’s Winter Street series…10/10 recommend!

Besides Christmas Cookie War and Murder at Holly House, I hope to read…

  • Christmas with the Queen and The Merry Matchmaker, both of which I have downloaded on my Kindle.
  • I have a few others on hold at the library. I don’t know that I can actually read them all, but on my list are: A Ferry Merry Christmas, Secret Christmas Library, and Christmas at the Ranch

What holiday books do you recommend?

Weekly Recap:

I had a couple of posts this week:

On Sunday, I hope to share my Monthly Moments for November. Have a great weekend!

Posted in Holidays, Kids

Sweet 16

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Today, I’m sharing how we celebrated the kids turning 16!! It’s hard to believe we’ve reached this milestone.

I’ve probably shared this story before, but we found out pretty early on that we had a “baby A” and a “baby B.” When I looked at the ultrasound screen and saw two little bubbles on the screen, the first words out of my mouth were, “When they turn 16, do we have to buy them each a car?” And…here we are! (And the answer is no. lol!)

You know I do birthdays big, but we’ve adjusted through the years based on what the kids want to do. The past couple of years, Hadley has still wanted a party with her friends while Hayden is fine without all the fanfare.

Of course, I still want them to be celebrated in ways, both big and small!

The night before their birthday, I still kept up the streamer tradition. Honestly, I almost forgot!

Thursday morning started off with muffins for breakfast, and I’ve been using this chalkboard for birthdays and first day of school since the elementary years!

Hadley was up early and off to Bible study, and Hayden and I had to be at school a little earlier than usual, so presents waited until the evening.

Hadley had shared lots of ideas on the Giftful app, while Hayden (eventually) sent me seven screen shots with a variety of UK shirts! haha

Oh, the difference in boys and girls! We opened a couple of gifts before going to dinner.

After dinner, it was cake time!

My brother and his family went to dinner with us, and they came over for cake and presents.

A couple of the kids’ friends came over too to help us celebrate them big. Overall, it was a great evening …school night birthdays hit different! haha

On Saturday, Hadley had a birthday party with her friends, and it truly turned out better than I had expected!

There’s a flower bar in town, and that was where we hosted some of her friends. There are a couple of rooms to rent for two hours, and we rented the bigger of the two rooms. Anyone can come to the main space at any time to make bouquets (Trav got my Mother’s Day flowers there last year), and there’s a bar with a few drink options too.

Anyway, we arrived a bit early to set up in the space. Trav picked the cake up from one of our favorite bakeries, and it was beautiful. I got the cake topper from Amazon, and it was the perfect addition to the cake.

I picked up the fun 16 numbers from Amazon too. I shared in the mom group text that I can pass them along to the next birthday girl; they can be the “sisterhood of the traveling 16.” (I can also save them for her 19th birthday too. haha!)

Our niece painted the sign for Hadley, and it was just too perfect!

I made a slide show which was a fun trip down memory lane…

…and I made sure to include group and individual pics with all of her friends who were in attendance.

Hadley had requested fettuccine Alfredo, and one of my friends made it for the girls. So, they ate that once everyone arrived.

Then, it was trivia time! I had this idea at the last minute, but Hadley had the idea for sixteen questions. Hadley ran the trivia round, and two of her (longtime!) friends tied, so they each got a Starbucks/Seven Brew gift card.

Let’s just say that nobody missed Hadley’s Taco Bell order. lol

Then, it was gift time!

Hadley held up each one, and that person raised their hand as giving the gift. All of her friends made so many sweet cards. Hadley took the time to read each one as she opened the gifts.

Then, it was flower bar time! There are a ton of flowers in the main space, and then we had our own flower bar in our space. Each girl could choose seven stems for their bouquet. After they made their bouquets, we took them to the main space where they were wrapped and delivered back to our room.

While they waited for their bouquets, they took a ton of pics and did their TikToks. In case you didn’t know, you need to factor in a good thirty minutes for digital camera and TikTok time!!

Then, it was cake time. One of Hadley’s friends captured this moment, and it was just precious. Hadley’s happiness was so genuine, and she really appreciated all the girls being there.

Happy birthday to you….

…making a wish!

Once the bouquets were delivered, I got a couple of group photos. Beautiful girls, both inside and out!

My girl truly had a special afternoon with her friends.

I’m so glad we made this party happen for Hadley. I think they made the best memories that afternoon.

Hayden’s main gift is an out of town UK basketball game with Trav. I think both kids had a memorable Sweet 16!

Posted in Memes

Monday Memes – on a Tuesday

Hello and happy Monday! (Y’all – I thought I published this post, but apparently I didn’t!) Happy Tuesday, and I hope these memes still start your week off strong!)

It’s hard to believe that this time next week, the calendar will say December!

Since it’s the last Monday of the month, I’m sharing some of my favorite memes that I’ve seen while scrolling Insta!

This is kind of a super-sized edition…I had quite a few memes stop my scroll!

Wouldn’t this be nice?!

Why did I relate to this one so much? haha

Not a single thing on this list that I don’t enjoy!

Honestly, nothing like the holiday season to bring out the crazies! Normalize common sense, y’all.

Like why can’t I remember my Disney + and Kroger password? Trav is forever having to bail me out!

Which brings me to my next point…

A day in my life right here:

Like why is the microwave so aggressive?

Wrapped for the unwell!

This one literally made me LOL…

Mentally I’m here:

*kidding.

HAHAHA:

I always used to get the kids the advent calendars from Trader Joe’s, but I haven’t the past couple of years. Thankfully, we have more than four days until Christmas!

I hope these memes started you week off right.

Posted in Amazon, Family, Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#282}

Hello and happy Friday!

How was your week?! I feel like the week flew by!

I’m typing this late at night, so I’m stopping by quickly to share a few favorites from the week. I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea, as always.

Here are some favorites from the week…

Last Friday night, the four of us went to the UK basketball game. One of our friends gave us tickets which was nice, and it was a good family outing!

We had passes to the Lexus Club which was extra fun. Food and drinks were included, so we grabbed a drink and a few snacks before the game.

It was an easy win for the CATS, and we had a good time cheering them on.

Sunday’s weather was gorgeous, so I went for a walk and finished listening to an audiobook. I figured I should take advantage of the sunshine and good temps while they last.

I went to Target last weekend, and snagged a few seasonal items like the peppermint scented Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap and surface cleaning spray.

…Target had the Chobani peppermint mocha creamer out, so of course I picked that up too.

I was heavily influenced by Sarah when she shared these jeans the other day.

I wore them last night to dinner, and I love them.

Last night, we went to Malone’s for the kids’ birthday dinner. Then, we headed back to the house to open presents and have cake. My brother and his family went to dinner with us, and then they came over for cake as did a couple of the kids’ friends. Overall, they had a great birthday! I’ll share more later after Hadley has her party tomorrow.

Favorite Mom Meme:

Teaching the teens to drive isn’t for the faint of heart. For some reason, parking has been one of the harder skills to learn. I think they both have the hang of it now, but just this week I’ve had to remind them that sometimes you do have to adjust your parking or try again.

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

Speaking of driving…the kids loved these cars…and it’s hard to believe they’ll be driving on their own in the near future.

Weekly Recap:

I had a couple of posts this week:

What are your weekend plans? Tomorrow, Hadley is having her birthday party with some friends, and I truly hope to get my Christmas decorations put up. I feel so behind at school and at home!

Have a great Friday!

Posted in Uncategorized

Monthly Musings

Hello and happy Thursday!

This time next week, it’s turkey day, so Patty and Holly are hosting this fun end of the month link up a week early. As always, I’m joining them.

That being said, before I get started with today’s post, I have to wish my kids a happy S I X T E E T H (!!!) birthday. Sixteen. Wow…it’s certainly hard to believe.

We’ve gone from babies…

to teen drivers in the blink of an eye!

I’m struggling a bit with this reality.

Now, on to today’s post…focusing on Thanksgiving Holiday Prep.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays…food, family, and football in the fall!

1. Favorite Thanksgiving dishes?

I’m pretty much here for it all when it comes to Thanksgiving food. I love turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and more!

This one doesn’t apply to Hadley; she loves a Thanksgiving meal as much as the next girl…but it made me chuckle.

Screenshot

2. Stuffing or dressing.

Not my fave, but dressing!

3. Are you hosting any holidays this year?

We tend to be the ones going out of town for the holidays. We are at home some years, but we have a rotation going as far as Thanksgiving and Christmas in Louisville or KC. On the years we travel, we always make sure to carve out family time at home for our own traditions, meals, and gifts.

4. Turkey trot or football game?

You won’t catch me running …ever! haha

It’s always nice to have the football games on in the background while we’re eating and catching up with family. This year, the Chiefs play on Thanksgiving, so that will be a fun change.

5. If you decorate for Christmas, do you decorate before or after Thanksgiving?

Well, I used to wait until after Thanksgiving, but on years we traveled to KC for Thanksgiving, I’d put up our Christmas decorations the weekend before we left, so we’d have all our festive touches out when we returned home. I still decorate before Thanksgiving, but now it’s whenever I have the chance. So far, all I’ve put out this year is one skinny tree. I just haven’t had a lot of spare time, but I’m hoping to switch from fall to Christmas this weekend.

6. Are your holidays sit down or more casual?

Whether we’re in KC or Louisville for Thanksgiving, it’s all pretty casual…but we definitely have a sit down meal. My dad’s cousin hosts us in KC, and her place settings are always so pretty…and we all get a chocolate turkey with our name on it. Such a fun and festive touch.

7. Pumpkin or apple pie?

I do like apple pie, but for Thanksgiving, pumpkin is my fave. I prefer it chilled with some Cool Whip on top! Yum.

9. Do you Black Friday shop?

No way, Jose’! I’m more of a Cyber Monday girl.

10. Thing you are most looking forward to this holiday season?

I always look forward to our traditions and some downtime!

I look forward to next week and having a few days off and enjoying some delicious food…but first, I have a few more days of school and a sweet 16 birthday to celebrate.

Thanks for reading!

Posted in Meals and Recipes

Monday Meals: Potato Soup

Hello and happy Monday!

I like to share recipes I try thanks to Pinterest or other sites, but it’s been a minute since I’ve shared one straight from my recipe box.

*Side note* do people still use recipe boxes? I had the same one for years, and the hinge broke. I finally got a new one this summer, and I purged recipes I no longer made, and took the time to write a few faves on recipe cards.

Anyway, today I’m sharing one of my favorite recipes that I hadn’t made in quite some time, but now have made it twice in the past month!

I’ve had this potato soup recipe for over fifteen years, I think! A teacher that I taught with at my previous school shared it, and it’s one I used to make often. I guess I forgot about it, and a few weeks ago, Hadley mentioned that she wanted potato soup, so I dug this one out and made it. It certainly hit the spot! I’m giving myself grace this week with some easy slow cooker meals that I know will provide leftovers, so I made this again last night! Anyway, here’s the recipe…

Ingredients:

  • 1 package Bear Creek Creamy Potato Soup mix
  • 1 package Simply (diced) potatoes with onion (I haven’t been able to find the mix with onion, so I just added in a few chopped frozen onions)
  • 1- 32 oz box chicken broth
  • 1 can Carnation evaporated milk
  • Toppings – bacon bits, green onion, shredded cheese

Instructions:

  • Mix all ingredients except toppings in the slow cooker
  • Add 4 cups water
  • Cook on high for at least 3 hours (check on potatoes to see if they are finished cooking, and can turn to low at that point if needed)
  • Serve with toppings.

Enjoy!

I’m so glad that I dusted off this recipe. It’s now a family favorite.

Posted in Amazon, Friday Favorites, Meals and Recipes

Friday Favorites {#281}

Hello and happy Friday!

How was your week? Ours started with cold temps and snowflakes and then ended with springlike weather. I’m sure I’ll have a head cold soon…which is definitely not a favorite.

As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.

Here are some favorites from the week:

Brr…

Well, you know I love a snow day, but too soon Mother Nature, too soon! There were snowflakes flying off and on throughout the day on Monday, and by the time I got home, my pumpkins were wondering what was going on?! Just a dusting, but the snow was pretty while it lasted.

Can you spot Homer?

Even though he’s part Husky, the colder temps made him want to snuggle up in our pillows, apparently! Actually, he’s been doing this a lot lately. haha

The cold weather made Homer want to snuggle, and it made me want to put up one of my skinny Christmas trees. This little tree is the only piece of Christmas I have up, and I never put a tree in the kitchen, but I thought I’d try it here for a bit. Soon, I’ll probably move it to the bedroom.

Laughs…

I’ve shared multiple times how funny I think Leanne Morgan is…I’ve read her book, and I just finished season one of her show on Netflix. Well, she has another Netflix special out…Unspeakable Things, and I watched it over the weekend. It was so funny.

Fave bevvy…

I went to Target last weekend, and finally got my hands on the apple cider Olipop! It’s so good. I have one more, but I hope to find more and stock up.

Fun with friends…

Last Saturday, I went to the UK tailgate to hang with some of my mom friends, and of course I found Hadley. She was celebrating her friend’s birthday, and the girls were having a great time. The weather really cooperated for the night game.

Books…

Ok…Have you heard about the $5 book at Barnes and Noble? My sister-in-law sent me a Tik Tok that every two months there’s a book in the Barnes and Noble cafe. You can purchase it for $5 with a cafe purchase. So, on Sunday, I checked it out…and it’s true. (Well, I knew it was true because my SIL had gone a few days before I did). Anyway, I picked up a cookie and this book.

Murder at Holly House is the book for November/December.

Speaking of books…I shared my monthly book trackers on Instagram.

They are saved in a highlight. Screenshot them, and feel free to use them and tag me. I always love seeing what others are reading.

Fave shoes…

I’ve had two pairs of leopard flats for years. One pair is from Walmart and another is a more expensive pair from Nordstrom. I wore the Walmart ones to the ground, and I much preferred them to the Nordstrom ones. Anyway, I decided to get a new pair from Amazon. This style is the same one that I have in black and tan. So, this third pair hasn’t disappointed. (FYI- I size up a half size in them). Now, I’m getting rid of the other two (tossing one and donating the other), so I’ve purged my closet a bit with this purchase. Win win.

Fave foods…

Last Saturday, I had $10 off my Kroger order, so I had some essentials and some dinner ingredients delivered. I love Bev Cooks recipes, and she’d shared this Creamy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili, so I decided to make it on Saturday evening. I never cook dinner on the weekend, and this was just dumping ingredients in the slow cooker, but it was so nice to have a warm meal (without having to make a dinner decision) Saturday night while we watched the UK game. This recipe was a 10/10 from the whole fam.

{pic courtesy of Bev Cooks}

I also tried a new lunch this week…these pizza roll ups were quick, easy and delish! I made four of them and just rolled them up and laid them flat in an 8×8 dish to bake. I will definitely make more next time!

{pic courtesy of Recipes by Zoey}

Favorite Mom Meme:

Where is the lie?!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

I’m sure I’ve shared this pic from 2013 before, but it’s such a fave memory. We were headed to Sesame Street Live, and the kids were so excited. It was one of those parenting moments that felt full circle because I’d gone to Sesame Street Live when I was a kid. Such a sweet memory.

Weekly Recap:

I had a couple of posts this week…

What’s a favorite from your week?

Posted in Let's look

Let’s Look

Hello and happy Wednesday!

I had to double check the calendar that today is the second Wednesday of the month already. How is that possible? Honestly, we’ve had two days of winter like temps, so I was also checking the calendar to make sure it’s not actually January!

I’m linking up with Shay and Erika for this month’s Let’s Look.

So far this year, we’ve looked at…

  • Low level goals for 2025 in January
  • How you work on your marriage in February
  • How you reset for the week on Sunday in March
  • Maintaining friendships in April
  • Our wellness routine in May
  • Travel bucket lists in June
  • Things I’ve changed my mind about in July (no post from me)
  • Juggling family schedules in August (no post from me)
  • Managing teenage life in September
  • Things we’ve said no to recently in October (no post from me)

This month’s topic is…how we show gratitude.

Obviously, this is a timely post with Thanksgiving right around the corner.

Honestly, I guess my answer to this prompt is simple…

I show gratitude by saying thank you…whether it’s verbal or written. I’m very quick to send a text or a note when someone has helped me or thought of me. I appreciate when others help me whether I’ve asked for assistance, or they just know I could use a hand. A thoughtful text, note or message goes a long way.

I also show my gratitude with small gifts. Again, if someone has been really helpful, I try to drop off a plant, bouquet of flowers, favorite candy or a candle.

I will bring Starbucks coffee or favorite pens to teachers who help me out at school….whether it’s for covering a class or helping with lesson ideas.

My mom group (the dads get credit too!) have spent many years organizing carpool and getting the kids where they need to be. I show my gratitude by offering to pick up even if I’ve already taken on a certain afternoon if it helps someone else out. It always evens out in the end.

I show gratitude by giving a tip at a restaurant or donating to a cause. A little goes a long way for many.

With Trav and the kids, I show my gratitude by spending time with them. Of course, I would do that anyway, but I just mean that I try and make time for them or plan something special too.

And, I always try to remember to be…

Life definitely has its ups and down, and this time of the year always feels really stressful for me. That being said, I think as I’ve gotten older, I’ve done a pretty good job remembering the big picture and being grateful for all things, big and small.

How do you show gratitude?

Posted in Books and Shows, Not Just a Mom

Share Our Lives: November 2025

Hello and happy Monday!

Well,, we went from fall to winter around here with temps now in the 30’s and a chance of snowflakes. Thankfully, it won’t last long.

It’s already the second Monday of the month, so I’m co-hosting Share Our Lives with some of my favorite bloggers.

This year, we’ve discussed…

  • Saving time on chores in January
  • Tips for falling asleep in February
  • Day in the life, an average day in March
  • Creative outlets/free time in April
  • How do you spend your birthday in May
  • Unique things about where you live in June
  • Best vacation memory in July
  • How do you take a break in August
  • 5 things we do each season in September
  • Go to snacks in October

This month’s topic is…habits to make time for reading.

Well, whether you’ve read my blog once or one hundred times, you probably know that one of my favorite things to do is read a good book…

I grew up with parents who read and trips to the library often, and, to me, reading is such a gift!

Some of my favorite memories as a parent are the times I took my kids to the library for story time and to check out books in the summer, on a Saturday or a snow day from school.

My kids aren’t big readers now, but I hope one day they circle back and find the joy in books again.

Anyway, on to our topic for today…here are a few tips I have for making time for reading.

1. Routine

Making reading a part of your routine. There is hardly a day that goes by that I don’t read for even a few minutes. Most of the time, it’s at bedtime, so I end up drifting off, but just having a book or my Kindle on my bedside table or coffee table makes it easy for me to read for a few minutes.

2. Lists

I love when others share what they’ve been reading, and then I add book titles to my TBR (to be read) list. For years, I had a note on my phone with a running list of what I wanted to read and what I read, but three or four years ago, I started using the Goodreads app to track my lists and my reading. It’s fun to follow friends and see what they’re reading and how they rate books.

I also think it helps to read a variety. For years, I love chick lit, but now my favorite genre is historical fiction. That being said, I still love a good mystery as well as a memoir/bio/autobio. I think reading a mix of genres keeps reading interesting.

3. Reading Goals

I’m a pretty goal oriented person, and I’m somewhat motivated to see how many books I can read in a year. So, I’ve done the Goodreads challenge the past few years. There are a variety of challenges, but I just set a goal for the number of books I hope to read, and track that way. My goal is typically 40 books, and I come close to achieving the goal most years.

4. Maximize time

I used to exclusively read books, but now I’ve owned a Kindle for probably seven years. Now, I mostly read on my Kindle, but I still love to hold a book in my hands. The Kindle is just more convenient for me. I keep it in my purse to read when I’m waiting on my kids to finish a practice, and it’s easier to download a few books before a vacation than to lug books in my carry on.

Also, I’m still somewhat new to audio books, but they are another way that I maximize my time. Now, I can listen to a book when I workout, go for a walk, or while I’m in the car. I’m really starting to like listening to books, but I do find it hard to finish one in the two week library check out window…sometimes I have to listen to them on 1.75x speed! (Of course, some books can be renewed if they aren’t on a wait list, giving me more time)

5. Reduce distractions

It’s easy to get distracted, but when I’m reading, I do put my phone away or turn the television off. It’s just good for me to have a few moments of quiet to read for a bit to unwind. Reading is definitely a stress reliever for me and something I truly enjoy doing.

What good reading habits do you have?

Next month, we’ll have our last topic of 2025…staying connected with kids/spouse/significant other. As always, we hope you’ll join us.

I hope you have a great start to your week.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js?id=c0efdbe6b4add43dd7ef