Well, the week got away from me, so I didn’t get to my Friday Favorites post, but I had a few minutes this morning to finish up my 10 on the 10th post.
Pumpkin spice latte or apple cider: I don’t really do pumpkin spice lattes anymore, and I only really like warm apple cider.
Lots of layers or one big bulky one: I like layers. I hate being hot, so I need options. My favorite cardigan is often my “go to!”
Harvest festival or craft fair: Either sound fun, but I haven’t really been to either recently. I need to get out more!
Football games or movie nights: We love football around here. That being said, the kids tend to go to the Kentucky games, and I watch football at home most of the time. My Mizzou Tigers have a big game today as do the Kentucky Wildcats.
Fuzzy socks or fuzzy slippers: I like both! That being said, both of those are more winter items for me.
Orange pumpkins or white pumpkins:I love all pumpkins. haha! I buy colorful ones for the front porch, and we get orange pumpkins for carving.
Jeans or leggings: I’m a leggings girl over jeans most of the time. Who likes “stiff pants”?
Horror movie or Halloween Baking Championship: Oh…I love the seasonal shows on the Food Network…including any baking championships. I love seeing all of the creativity.
Thunderstorm or crisp chilly day: Both? Aren’t those two of the best parts of fall? I like a lovely rainy day in the fall.
Kettle corn or candy corn: Kettle corn is more of a preference for me. I only like candy corn in a mix of sorts.
The rains are rolling in with the remnants of Hurricane Isaias, so we’re in for a soggy Saturday.
I will say that this week is flying by…and it’s hard to believe that we’ve almost been home from vacation for a week.
We did our traditional fall break in Florida, but Hayden decided to visit his cousins who live in Flagstaff, Arizona. I don’t have a ton of details because “boys will be boys,” but I’m sharing a few pics today!
Two of our nephews live in Flagstaff…one of them because he runs professionally, and it’s a great place to train, and the other because he followed his brother there once he graduated college and now is a photographer and videographer whose content is amazing!
When Travis realized that one of the nephews was flying back to Louisville at the end of the break, we knew it was great timing for Hayden to visit and have a travel buddy on the way home.
My kids have flown quite a few times, but I never know if they are really paying attention on how to navigate an airport. That being said, when we flew this summer, I did let them lead the way a bit just because at this age, they should know how to make their way through security, find their terminal, download their boarding pass, etc.
That being said, I was a little nervous that Hayden had to connect through Dallas on his way to Flagstaff; I’ve been in that airport a couple of times, and it’s just so big and busy. Hayden’s flight left out of Louisville on the Sunday of our fall break, and Louisville family dropped him off.
He made it to Dallas, and he even navigated riding the tram to a different terminal. Once he was at his gate, I breathed a little easier. His flight to Flagstaff was a bit delayed, but he made it there by 1:00 or so Sunday afternoon.
I did have to text my nephew’s wife to ask what time it was in Flagstaff. In Florida, we were on central time, so I was all thrown off! Flagstaff doesn’t do DST, so sometimes they are two hours behind EST and sometimes three!
Anyway, the weather in Flagstaff was rainy the first couple of days Hayden was there, but that didn’t stop him from having fun with his cousins.
Stetching his legs on a walk after the flight on Sunday…
He became a cat person while in Flagstaff! Don’t tell Homer.
On Monday, despite the rain, Hayden went to Sedona with Josh to hike. I guess we should have packed him a raincoat!
I told Josh that I was glad he sent these pics after they got back to the house. I didn’t really know their plans for the day, so knowing he was climbing on slippery rocks would have had my pulse racing a bit.
He told Josh that this was much better than the beach!
On Tuesday, it was another rainy day, but Josh and Jacob took Hayden to the Grand Canyon (and thankfully they found a raincoat for him)
All smiles…
The last time we’d been to Sedona and the Grand Canyon was 2018 when we planned a trip there after Hayden learned about the Grand Canyon in second grade. Neither Trav nor I had been there either, and it was such a great experience.
It’s a great big world out there…(peep Hayden!)
Hayden sent these pics that he took while they drove around…
This one is so pretty with the trees with the beautiful yellow leaves. I’d shared it on Facebook and a friend asked what the animal was staring Hayden down on the left side of the pic. I hadn’t even noticed it, but that’s my nephew’s dog…maybe he’s part wolf?!
On Wednesday, I think they stayed closer to home; Jacob is training for a marathon, and his wife was working. Hayden went to the gym with Jacob and did some things around the house.
They were to fly out Thursday afternoon, but the flight was canceled due to weather…so they had to regroup. They were able to get the same flight on Friday and they made it to Dallas…but then were delayed. We were driving back from Florida that day, so they had to keep us updated with how the travel was going. After a few delays, their flight arrived in Louisville at midnight rather than 9PM…and Travis picked him up; they didn’t get back to Lex until 2AM. Let’s just say we all slept in on Saturday morning!
I’m proud of Hayden for doing this on his own. He’s never been a big beach person, and we knew this trip would make him happy…and it was good for him to be with his cousins. I hate that they had so many travel issues, but I’m thankful they were on the way back when he had a travel buddy to help him with those hiccups.
Anyway, I’m patting myself on the back for letting go a bit and letting him do something on his own. The kids are at the age where they are ready to figure some of these “close to adulting” things out on their own. I’m also very thankful for life 360 and the American Airline app, so we could help him with whatever he needed. haha
This month’s prompts are currentlyfalling for, scaring me, working on, loving, entertaining (me)…
So, here we go!
I’m currentlyfalling for…
All the seasonal Trader Joe’s finds….
Of course, there are the OG faves like apple cider donuts,
pumpkin bread mix,
and pumpkin bagels and pumpkin cream cheese.
I do have some new faves like the pumpkin flavored Barebells. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect, and I only bought one over the weekend. I ate it, and then went back for more!
I love the Trader Joe’s lip masks, and they seem to have seasonal flavors. Right now I’m using the cinnamonroll one.
On social media, I saw people talking about the mini Halloween totes at Trader Joe’s. Well, they weren’t on my list, but when I saw them, I “had” to have one. I’ve already used it a couple of times to cart around a few small items.
Currently scaring (me)…
Hadley’s room every time I pass by! No picture proof, but the amount of clothes she tends to have on the floor drives me insane. Also, why the need for so many outfit changes…and why can’t they just be put up when she changes clothes? Oh…questions I’m sure parents have been asking for years.
Currentlyworking on…
My fall front porch decor! I ordered a couple of mums from a student’s fundraiser to get started. Travis usually gets a good deal on mums from a vendor who comes to the farm, but he came when we were out of town. So, I picked up some mums at Kroger, and I actually do love them because they are so full, and the basket is cute and not just the standard typical plastic pot. I got a couple of stacking pumpkins at Trader Joe’s, but I do want to get a few more.
I did switch out the door hanger, door mat, and pillow covers, so overall the porch is coming along. I want to get cornstalks and a couple more stacking pumpkins to finish it up.
Currently loving…
When I tell you these Walmart pjs are 10 out of 10, I’m honestly not doing them justice. They are more lik 12/10. I’ve always been a fan of the Joyspun brand and have a few pairs of summer PJs, but I think this is my first pair of long sleeve/pants. The description says “soft” and “dreamy,” and they aren’t wrong.
I can’t remember who shared these, but I ordered them and they were waiting for me when I got home from vacation. After the ten hour car ride, I showered, put them on, and I’ve been looking forward to wearing them every night since. I actually ordered a second pair. For $20, you can’t beat the price for the quality. I can’t believe they don’t cost more. I now have two pairs: winter white toile and porcelain beige animal…I’m set for the foreseeable future!
Something I loved last week was visiting one of my favorite bookstores. Sundog Books in Seaside is such a cute bookstore, and I look forward to visiting every year.
It’s a bookstore, so of course books are on display, but it was neat to see so many of my recent reads on the shelves.
How sweet is Hadley? She surprised me with this drawing of the post office that she bought with her own money. Now, I just need to find a frame for it.
Currently entertaining (me)…
Have you seen the new show Line of Fire on NBC? I’d seen Jenna Bush Hager promoting it, and I watched the first episode two weeks ago. Then, I had to watch the second episode once we got home from vacation.
I was reading my current People magazine yesterday, and there was a little write up about the show:
Also entertaining me is the Emma M Lion series. I’ve read four of the eight books, and Emma has such a serious but fun personality. I know I’ve shared as I’ve read these books, but they are certainly entertaining.
Yesterday was a teacher work day/professional development day, so it was a good way to ease back into school this week.
I typically share my Amazon purchases for the month on the first Monday of the month, but yesterday I shared my Monthly Momentspost looking back on September.
So, here are my purchases…
First of all, where do all of our phone chargers go?! They must be with the forks we lose too!
Hayden took Hadley’s charger before heading out of town, so I told her to order a set with color options! Maybe he won’t want to use her pink charger?!
I’ve used this same phone case for almost three years, but it was time for a new one. I had a black phone case, but I loved this blue floral pattern. (there are lots of solid and pattern options) It was just the update I needed.
Hi, it’s me…the girl who loves to color! I ordered this Spooky Season book to add to my collection, and it’s been a fun way to kick off October.
I haven’t purchased socks in quite some time, and I thought these white ones with the ruffle detail were so cute. I’ve worn them quite a few times, and I love them. (There are some fun color options as well!)
Hadley uses these Medicube pads, and I wanted to try them out. I still use my Thayer’s toner in the morning, but I’ve started using these with my PM skincare. After I remove my makeup, these are perfect for getting rid of the final layer while clearing out my pores as well.
Before fall break, Hadley wanted to order a couple of things. She bought this set, and it’s so cute!
Seen here on her:
Before Homecoming, she ordered this pair of heels.
She also has them in gold/glitter and tan, but the gold were just what she was looking for with her dress.
My niece got a new vanity situation, and she always admires Hadley’s vanity mirror when she’s at our house. While Hadley’s isn’t in stock anymore, I did order this one. She’s already put it to good use.
As always, everything is linked on this post, but I also have my Amazon Storefront too.
I hope you have a great Tuesday!
{This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.Thanks for supporting my blog.}
Well, all good things must come to an end. We had a great and pretty relaxing fall break, and now it’s time to head back to school.
I didn’t get to it last week, but today I’m taking a look back to recap what we were up to in September.
In September, we were thankfully in a back to school routine. I think one of the reasons I dislike August so much is it’s just hard to switch from summer mode to school mode, but by September we’re in a groove.
Newsflash…it’s still hot in September, so we definitely soaked up some pool time.
The kids had fun at school events like football and soccer games.
Thankfully, September evenings are pretty perfect for sitting outside. A few nights, Trav and I sat out there to watch TV and relax…Homer too!
September means football, and while I’ve yet to make it to a UK game, the kids have. That being said, I watched two of my nephew’s games in September.
I kept it pretty minimal, but I did decorate for fall. The only new thing I bought was this garden flag (oh, and one for Halloween too!)
‘Tis the season for a splash of pumpkin in my coffee, and some seasonal mugs.
While Dolly passed away in August, people everywhere remembered all she did for the weeks after…including making September 25th “nine two (to) five” day which was such a lovely sentiment.
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Junior year school photos came in! Time is flying by…that’s for sure.
Hadley and friends had lots of fun at Homecoming.
We wrapped up September on fall break. We continued our fall break tradition in Florida while Hayden flew to Arizona to visit cousins.
I’ll recap both trips later, but we had fabulous weather in Florida, and Hayden had a great time hiking in Sedona and at the Grand Canyon. We’ve spent the weekend recovering from our travels, but we are grateful for those opportunities.
Looking back, we sure were busy! Now, I’m ready for my favorite month of the year…October!
It’s the last day of September, and I’m sharing the books I read this month.
I mentioned in my August post that I’ve had a really great few months of reading, and September was no exception.
This month I read four books and listened to one…
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{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
The Shampoo Effect:
Summary:
When Caroline Lash arrives in Greenhead, Massachusetts, she falls head-over-heels for Van Whittaker, a fleece-wearing, litter-collecting, kayak enthusiast with long, floppy hair and the personality of a Border collie. Born and raised in this picturesque coastal village, Van runs with the same crowd he did as a kid: His ex-girlfriend, Bailey, a beautiful girl who attracts men like moths to a flame; Augusta, old money, horsey, and snobbish; and Fran, surrounded by brothers and sons, too fed up with boys to ever consider marrying one.
Together, the group runs wild through the marshes, beaches, and bars of Greenhead, drinking on houseboats, spending long afternoons sunbathing with their children, and playing games the way they always have. But when Bailey discovers that she is pregnant with Van’s baby, the delicate balance of the group’s friendship is thrown off. Soon Caroline is cast out of the circle and what she does next—in a potent mix of fury and heartbreak—exposes long-held secrets and works the entire town of Greenhead into a lather. Dazzlingly funny, sexy, and as juicy as it is astute, The Shampoo Effect is a story of late-night parties, early mornings with small children, the dawn of midlife, and a group of old friends finally growing up despite all their best efforts to the contrary.
Quick Thoughts:
A friend let me borrow this book, and I really enjoyed it.
In the past, I’d tried reading Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson and just couldn’t get into it. Since I had just listened to Jenna’s Open Book podcast where she interviewed Jackson, I decided to give the book a chance.
I think since the writing is more contemporary it took me a bit to get adjusted to that style.
Anyway, this book had just the right amount of drama, romance, and friendship complications. Caroline was definitely an outsider looking into a group, and that friend group was pretty complicated. It was interesting to see everything play out.
At some point, I’d like to give Pineapple Street another chance.
Rating:
Through Mom’s Eyes:
Summary:
When Sheinelle Jones launched “Through Mom’s Eyes,” a recurring TODAY show segment interviewing celebrities’ mothers about raising successful kids, she had an ulterior motive—she wanted to bring all their wisdom to bear on raising her own three children. So she asked Lin-Manuel Miranda’s mom about staying present with kids while working multiple demanding jobs, talked with Lady Gaga’s mom about how to recognize bullying, and got tips from Steph Curry’s mom on making sure even future NBA royalty does the dishes. She has since interviewed dozens of remarkable women, and then taken their advice home and tried it out on her own family. The an extraordinarily candid, warm, and insightful collection of wisdom that has taught Sheinelle valuable lessons about life, love, and parenthood.
Now in her first book, Through Mom’s Eyes, Sheinelle is ready to share even more of those life-changing secrets (along with her own experiences and stories) with the world. By combining behind-the-scenes insights from top celebrity mothers—such as the moms of Matthew McConaughey, Serena and Venus Williams, and Padma Lakshmi—with her own tales from the trenches of modern parenting, Sheinelle reveals how to make it through the hard parts of motherhood and still tap into the joys of it with empathy, generosity, and solidarity. Part parenting guide, part insight into the rich and famous, and all heart, Through Mom’s Eyes is a beautiful celebration of those who are the guiding light for their loved ones—mothers.
Quick Thoughts:
I knew when Sheinelle started promoting her book that I wanted to wait for the audio book. It was interesting to hear the perspective of moms of highly successful kids. One thing they all had in common was that raising kids isn’t easy, but they were all their child’s biggest and best cheerleaders. Sheinelle sprinkled in her own stories and wisdom which I loved hearing as well.
This could make a great gift for a new mom or a mom of kids before the teenage years!
Rating:
The Calamity Club:
Summary:
In 1933 Oxford, Mississippi, Prohibition is on the wane, and the Great Depression is tightening its grip. Poor and rich folks alike have fallen on hard times, even as the old social order remains. For women on the margins, the options are few and the price of dignity and self-determination is unbearably high.
Eleven-year-old Meg, one of the unadoptable “big girls” at the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum, fights each day to keep her spirit unbowed. Birdie, unmarried and outspoken, has come to Oxford on a mission to ask her social-climbing sister to help the struggling family she’s left behind. And Charlie is a woman with a past, running low on luck but driven by fire, fury, and grit. When their fates converge, they come up with an audacious plan to take back control of their lives. Together, they form an unlikely sisterhood—but in a place and time where hypocrisy is rife, women’s freedom is fragile, and making an enemy can have dire consequences, will the price they pay for their outrageous risk-taking be too high?
Quick Thoughts:
Well, this six hundred page book took up most of my time in September. This book was recommended to me by so many people, and I wanted to wait and read it once I wrapped up my summer reading.
I’d also listened to Jenna’s interview with Kathryn (Kitty!) Stockett, and her southern drawl sealed the deal for me in regards to reading it.
Knowing it was such a long book was kind of a mind game for me at first because on my Kindle, I like to keep the “percentage read” screen on, and that percentage really wasn’t moving.
Insert Labor Day, and my two hour solo pool float, and I really got into the book.
Once I started reading it, so many people told me how fabulous the audiobook was. I ended up getting an Audible account, and I loved that I could read some chapters, but then I could sync with the audio and listen when I wanted to as well.
The narrators for Birdie and Meg were fabulous, but I especially loved listening to the Meg chapters, but I could hear both voices in my head when reading on my Kindle.
The premise, the unique characters, the Mississippi setting, the time period, the friendships, relationships and individual circumstances of each of the ladies kept me wanting to read more.
I feel like I’m not doing the book justice with my thoughts; here’s a snippet from Goodreads.
“The Calamity Club will make you laugh, cry, and cheer—an epic testament to resilience, friendship, and the fierce, funny women who know that calamity can be the spark of new beginnings.”
That being said, this book had a lot of hype surrounding it, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. I think I enjoyed The Help more, but I really did love this one too.
Rating:
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 3 & 4
Summary:
The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighborhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.
Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.
Quick Thoughts:
I enjoyed these books just as much as the first two. I read Vol. 3 and listened to Vol. 4. Each book covers a two month time period. The neighborhood of St. Crispian has quite the cast of characters.
I hope to read all of these books in the series, and I’m guessing my reviews won’t be too different. The Goodreads summaries appear to be the same for each book. Emma is funny, and all of the characters are unique and endearing in their own ways.
The ninth book comes out in 2027, and I read there will be 25 books in total?!
Fave quote from Vol. 3:
“I learned a long time ago that my happiness has to be separate from things beyond my control.”
Mondays tend to “hit” differently when I don’t have to set an alarm to get up early!
Well, I know I say this at the end of every month, but it’s hard to believe September is almost over.
Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite memes that have had me “stopping my scroll” recently.
Why does Homer always look the cutest in the morning?!
Travis is always sound asleep while I’m over-thinking and making “to do” lists in my head. haha
This actually makes me crazy. I will go down to change out the laundry only to see that there are three minutes left…and I guess three minutes on the washer are like the last three minutes of an NFL game.
Keeping up with passwords is a full time job!
This past weekend and Monday was so hot. Tuesday-today have been perfection as far as the weather is concerned. I’m ready for sweatshirt and sweater weather.
My face usually says it all…
Remember when Shazam was all the rage?!
I swear, as soon as I’m introduced to someone, the name goes in one ear and out the other.
Some days this is true. LOL
I sent this to one of my friends because it’s so her!! haha
Lastly, can you tell I’m ready for a week off of school?! (Really, I’m having a great year and my classes have been so good…I’m just tired!)
I hope these memes provided a laugh or two! Have a great Monday.
I hope you have a great weekend. Even though I have fall break next week, and I definitely need some time to recharge my batteries, I’ll pop in here with a post or two.
It’s hard to believe that a week from today will be October…my fave month of the year! That being said, Mother Nature got the memo, and we’ve had some really chilly weather this week.
Since it’s the last Thursday of the month, I’m linking up with Patty for Monthly Musings.
This month’s topic is…autumn food and decorating.
1. Apple or pumpkin pie?
While I like both, I have pumpkin pie more often in the fall. I don’t think I’ve ever made an apple pie, but I will make at least one pumpkin pie a season. I prefer to eat my pie chilled with some Cool Whip.
I think it was last fall that I discovered these little apple pie blossoms at Trader Joe’s. They were delish with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
2. Favorite fall recipes – please share.
I always wait until October, but one of my favorite fall meals is Pumpkin Sausage Penne Pasta. I’ve had this recipe for years; I found it on the side of a box of pasta.
3. Do you decorate for fall? Inside, outside or both?
I decorate both inside and outside.
Last weekend, I put out some fall decor. I don’t typically go overboard, but I did decide to simplify this year. Here are a few faves:
Decorating the front porch is one of my favorite things to do. I usually wait until the first of October to decorate the front porch with pumpkins and mums.
I did get a new garden flag which has been a fun festive touch.
4. Pumpkin spice latte or apple cider?
I haven’t had a Starbucks PSL in years. I usually just sprinkle some pumpkin pie spice in my coffee along with my creamer. That being said, I’ve tried Dunkin iced coffee with a couple of pumps of almond and a couple of pumps of pumpkin swirl which has made for a great seasonal drink. The marshmallow cold foam is a treat on top!
That being said, I often buy apple cider at the store because the kids love it; I usually have one warm apple a cider a year…when we visit the pumpkin patch.
5. Favorite thing to bake in the fall?
The easiest thing to bake and what I make the most often is pumpkin muffins using the Trader Joe’s mix. These are easy to make and a good breakfast or dessert.
6. Do you like fall scented home products such as candles and cleaning products?
Uh…my middle name should be Autumn because I love all things seasonal like cleaning products and candles. I usually update my Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning supplies seasonally if there are options.
I always have seasonal candles…typically apple in September and then pumpkin/vanilla in October/November.
7. Name a fall food that people love but you don’t.
I’m sure there’s something obvious I’m missing, but I can’t think of anything off the top of my head!
8. Candy corn…yes or no?
I only really like candy corn if it’s in a mix.
9. When do you decorate for Halloween if you do?
I don’t usually put out much for Halloween, if anything. It just depends on the year.
That being said, I decorate outside right before Halloween…my kids always want to porch to be spooky and give me a hard time for making it cute…but I just add cobwebs and spiders to the bushes…and put some skeletons in my mums.
10. If you decorate for fall outside, do you use mums, pumpkins, or other fun things?
Mums and pumpkins are definitely my “go to” for decor. That being said, I also like to buy corn stalks, change out the garden flag, door hanger, doormat, and pillows. All of those things are easy to do and oh so festive.
After the longest August ever, I feel like September has flown by! I’m ready for the rest of the -ber months to be here.
