Wow! I feel like Thanksgiving break went by in a flash! Now, we’re on the downhill slide of first semester which is always hard to believe.
Since it’s the last Monday of the month, I’m sharing some memes that have made me laugh recently.
Even though I love “falling back,” this one made me chuckle:
On our way back from KC on Saturday, we stopped at CFA, and of course we got our order very quickly…but holiday traffic had us frustrated and wondering why people struggle to drive sometimes.
But really…
Oh…how I miss when the kids were little and this would work:
Tis the season…
Travis and me:
I’m making a list and checking it twice as to not lose any of my orders…
Relateable:
I only get on TikTok occasionally, but last night’s dinner was a recipe I saw on TikTok yesterday morning!
….and here we go…
Before I go, did you catch my Saturday Share 4 Somethingspost?
I hope you have a great week. I’m starting mine with my house a disaster…half decorated for Christmas and half a disorganized mess. And…I have morning gym duty this week monitoring students until 8:15!
How was your Thanksgiving? We had a really great one visiting with family in KC.
I haven’t joined Jennifer’s link up in a while, so I thought a “bonus” Saturday post would be fun.
This month, I …
Loved:
The time change! I know, I know. I’m in the minority on this one, but I love “falling back.”
I’m also really loving this Candy Cane Body Butter from Trader Joe’s. It just has a subtle hint of peppermint and just a little bit of shimmer.
I’ve also really loved watching the kids’ activities this past month. Hayden’s had some great, competitive cross country races, and he’s been back on the basketball court prepping for his 8th grade middle school season as well.
Hadley’s volleyball team has been so much fun to watch as well. Many of her friends are on her team which makes it even better. Last weekend, they played in a volleyball tournament, and won gold for their bracket.
Read:
Y’all…for the first time ever, I don’t know that I will have a monthly book post. I’ve been working my way through Demon Copperhead, and it’s really good…but long…
I even started a holiday themed book, but I just haven’t had much time to read.
Here’s my current hopeful holiday stack:
…and other “Christmas-y” books I’ve read in previous years if you need any ideas:
Ate:
Pumpkin pie…
…and pumpkin muffins…
…as well as plenty of birthday cake(s)
Of course, I also had yummy Thanksgiving food on Thursday.
Bought:
We bought an artificial tree for the living room, and I’m so glad it’s already up.
I’ve also purchased some Christmas presents for my KC family as well as birthday gifts for the kids:
Weekly Recap:
Since I didn’t link up for Friday Favorites, here are my posts from the week:
Thanksgiving break has always been one of my favorite times of the year. It’s just enough time off, and Thanksgiving calls for great food and no gifts!!
In honor of my favorite time of the year, I’m sharing a few fun ideas I’ve seen…mostly thanks to Pinterest!
1.
I’ve shared @ashton.creates posts before, and this Enneagram one is perfect for Thanksgiving.
I’m a 5w6, and it rings true for me. (FYI – my favorite side is green bean casserole!)
Maybe you can snack on it while watching some family friendly Thanksgiving movies.
10.
I saved the best for last. Who doesn’t love Thanksgiving leftovers?! Honestly, I really do love to warm up a plate of turkey, green beans, and mashed potatoes this next day. We also always make turkey rice soup! It’s a great way to use up the white meat that tends to dry out more quickly.
I hope you have an amazing Thanksgiving Day tomorrow.
See you back here on Saturday for Share 4 Somethings.
Hello and happy Tuesday…a Tuesday that feels like a Friday! I’ll take it.
Yesterday was the kids’ birthday, and it was an action-packed day.
Today, I’m recapping how we celebrated them these past few days.
While the month of November leaves me feeling frazzled, we’ve had luck the past few years having a free evening the Friday before the kids’ birthday.
So, we penciled in a little birthday celebration with them and their friends.
While Hayden wanted to go to Sky Zone, Hadley wanted to try something different and requested Breakout Games.
All the kids came over around 5:00, and Travis took the boys to Sky Zone.
Our Breakout Games session wasn’t until 6:15, so Hadley and friends hung out for a while, and she opened her gifts from them. These girls know her so well. She received a cozy blanket, a Lululemon gift card, and a basket of baking supplies.
Then, I took them to Breakout Games. We’d chosen Mystery Mansion, and it was kind of spooky.
At first, I wasn’t going to go in with them, but then Hadley said she wanted me to come. I was just trying not to “cramp their style,” but I’m glad I went with them.
I think they’d all been to these types of places, but they were spooked a couple of times, and they were all over the place with trying to solve the clues. I was like, “Girls! Focus!” haha
Mystery Mansion was a total of three rooms, and we broke out with five minutes to spare.
The boys were finished jumping, so we met them for pizza and cake. One of our favorite Italian places has a room with a long table, so the kids sat in there while Travis and I sat in the main dining room.
Middle schoolers are funny…the boys and the girls sat at opposite ends of the table…haha
We had pizza and cookie cake…
…before heading home.
This is a great group of kids, and they’ve all known each other since kindergarten (give or take a year or so).
The boys ended up at our house for a bit to play basketball, but I took the girls home since most of them had to be up early for the volleyball tournament.
Saturday, Hadley had her tournament, and Hayden had a race in Louisville.
That evening, we met Trav’s brother and his boys for hibachi. We did this a couple of years ago too. We have lots of November birthdays to celebrate in the family.
On Sunday, Hadley had more volleyball, and Hayden had a basketball game. That evening, we had leftovers from hibachi, and then we went to my brother’s house for cake.
We hung out for a bit and watched the rest of the Missouri basketball game before heading home.
Yesterday, was their actual birthday.
Hadley was with me at Kroger last week and requested the cinnamon swirl crumb/coffee cake for birthday breakfast. So, the kids had that yesterday morning before going to school.
Hadley had a volleyball game last night, so they didn’t open presents until after we got home from the game. When I picked up their Bundt cake on Sunday, I got some “Bundtinis” for Hadley to share with the volleyball team, and an individual cake for them to have for dessert on their birthday.
Yes, we consumed lots of cake over the past few days, but we were always sharing it with others…so thankfully there weren’t a lot of leftovers!! haha
Overall, I think they had a great birthday.
Gifts:
Tis the season for gift giving.
We have to “double down” on gift ideas due to the kids’ birthday and Christmas being so close together.
I’m not sure if I will have any kind of “gift guide” posts in December, but if you have a tween or tween, they might like what my kids like too!
Hayden is definitely harder to buy for than Hadley is, and he also didn’t send me a power point like she did either! haha.
Anyway, it’s very specific to him, but he needed new running spikes, so Travis gave those to him before his race on Saturday. I usually get him the Kentucky Basketball magazine that’s at our local Joseph Beth bookstore. Travis got Hayden a hooded sweatshirt and some basketball shorts. Hayden told me he needed a new Gatorade bottle, so I purchased this two pack. It’s a tradition, but I always get the kids Christmas pjs, and Old Navy prices can’t be beat!
As for Hadley, she requested this pair of camo Athleta leggings. They are $89 leggings that are on sale for $22! She loves Aerie, and had her eye on the Chill Crew sweatshirt. It comes in lots of colors and is 40% off. During “Prime Days” this summer, I got this mini bluetooth speaker for her, and held on to it as a birthday gift. She requested a new straightener after the one we’ve shared for years died. I thought this one looked like a good option because it is a 2 in 1 straightener and curler. Hadley leans into the holiday season, so she appreciates the Old Navy pj tradition, and I also picked her up these cute slippers from Target.
I think the kids like having a birthday on a school day, at least Hadley does. It was a busy evening with volleyball, but I’m glad we took the time to have dinner, open gifts, and have one more bite of cake even if it was a busy evening.
I guess I say it every year, but it’s hard to believe how big they are getting!
Well, Mondays tend to be my least favorite day of the week, but this type of Monday hits different.
We only have a two day week of school and…today Hayden and Hadley turn 14! So, today is a great day!
We spent the weekend doing all the things they love….
Hanging with friends…
…running cross country…
…playing volleyball…
…and basketball…
…& eating cake!
I feel like we went from this…
to this …
in a flash!
(excuse the lack of #4 on the cake — we couldn’t seem to find it. Welcome to my life!)
It was a very hectic weekend as we wrap up a very busy month, but it was a good one.
I saw this meme…and chuckled.
I feel like it can also apply to parenthood 😆
November is going by so quickly, but we still have quite a few more things going on between now and Thanksgiving break…including two days of school and two evenings of volleyball.
It might be that our evenings are busy with cross country and volleyball, but I felt like we all had to manage every minute of our evenings this week. The kids have really seemed to have a lot of homework, so they were up late a couple of nights.
Anyway, we’ve made it to the weekend!
As always, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are my favorites from the week:
On Saturday night, Hayden ran in distance festival at Bellarmine. Thomson Training, my nephew’s running club, hosts this event in honor of Trav’s dad. Some of the best runners in the state were there. Hayden ran a great race around the track with a sub 5 mile.
It’s been amazing to see how this event has grown in the past three years, and it’s inspiring to see all the runners there in honor of Trav’s dad who was a huge supporter of cross country.
On Sunday, we went to the UK volleyball game. Some of Hadley’s friends went too, and my brother, his family, and my mom were there as well.
Kentucky won, and it was a fun afternoon at Rupp!
Since my mom was visiting, she brought the kids their birthday gifts a few days early.
The main reason my mom came to visit was to go to the Eagles concert. They are on their “Long Goodbye” tour. She really wanted to go, so my brother and I went with her. It was a late night on Tuesday, but we really enjoyed the concert. The Doobie Brothers opened for them, and I knew most of their songs too!
Hadley had quite a lot of fans at her volleyball game on Wednesday. Besides my mom and brother, my niece and nephew came too.
Remember my trip to Walmart on election day? I picked up these two trees, and I finally put them up over the weekend. They are perfect!
I can’t wait to get my other Christmas decorations out…maybe this weekend?
I’ve shared these in previous years, but these wireless outlets (with remote!) continue to save the day, especially during the holidays. I used one for the tree in my room, one for the tree in Hadley’s room, and then one for these trees. It’s difficult to get behind the mirror, so I plugged the trees into a power strip, and then plugged the power strip into the wall.
Every night, I use the remote to turn off all the trees. (Hadley sometimes turns her tree off by clicking the button on the outlet before I go to bed.) So, you don’t have to use the remote.
Anyway, I just thought I’d share in case they might come in handy for you.
Our weekend includes a volleyball tournament, a cross country race, some basketball games, and we’re squeezing in some time to let the kids have fun with their friends to celebrate their birthday.
I’ve been wanting to share another “Five Things” post, but my house isn’t in its “normal” state thanks to fall and now Christmas decorations.
So…today, I’m sharing…
school bag…
I got this bag at Target about three years ago, and it’s held up nicely. I like that it’s big, but not too big, and it has an inside and outside pocket. I always leave my badge and school keys in the inside pocket and not my purse. I want to keep things separate in case I lose one or the other.
So, here’s what’s in my school bag.
1. Lesson plan book
I have had a lesson plan book in my bag for over 20 years! This is my third year using a Happy Planner, and it’s the second year that I’m using the smaller version of the Happy Planner.
I prefer the vertical column layout with the dates going down the left hand side, so this one is perfect. I use the columns for each hour of the school day, but then I use the far right column to remind myself of meetings, appointments, and the kids’ activities.
I love using Happy Planner stickers to brighten up each week in my planner (and on my desk calendar too!)
2. Folders
Of course, I have a few folders in my bag. The blue and white one I’ve had for years, and I mostly use it for my blogging calendar and other personal papers. I should probably get a new set of these folders as this one definitely is showing some wear and tear.
Other folders usually get switched out depending on my needs or what meetings/ training sessions I’m attending.
3. Notepad(s)
Sometimes, when I feel like I have a lot to do, I use these bigger notepads to make a big list either day by day, or I categorized activities. I bought this colorful pack of legal pads, and it’s lasted me over three years! I’m on my last pad of paper.
Of course, I also use the note pads for note-taking during meetings or professional development sessions.
4. Pencil pouch
Ahh…this pencil pouch has been in my bag for over four years. I like that the front part has a spot for extra storage. I keep it filled with markers, highlighters, pens, pencils, and a pad or two of sticky notes. I’m always prepared!
5. Book/Computer
ok — so I lumped these two together. haha
I usually have a book that I’m reading to help with English classes, and often times I have my school computer in my bag. Sometimes, I leave it at school if I’m not going to need it at home, but it’s typically in my bag more times than not.
What about you? What are your essentials that you keep in your school or work bag?
I’ve heard nothing but good things about Aldi, but it is rarely a place I shop for groceries. That being said, there was a stretch of time these past few months where I was near Aldi, so I stopped by once a week or so.
Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite finds.
Pretzel tray, Oreo muffins, crackers, and cranberry cinnamon goat cheese!
The preztel tray I bought on a whim when my mom and Gma were visiting. It was a Sunday afternoon, and I thought it would be good to have a snack on hand. This tray comes with two bags of pretzels and two dipping sauces. This was definitely a great buy! We all enjoyed them. That being said, baking them in the oven is the way to go. Hadley microwaved a couple, and they were as hard as a rock.
I bought the Oreo muffins as a dessert, and the kids loved them. What’s not to love?!
I’ve purchased the goat cheese a couple of times, and it’s a great snack or appetizer with the crackers.
Up next: some snacks
I’ve purchased the pretzel and cream cheese packs from Kroger before, so I knew I’d like these.
These “Sweet Snack Selects” are actually why I was making time to stop by Aldi once a week. Now, I buy quite a few of the 3 packs at a time. They are the perfect (healthy-ish) sweet treat. They have white cheddar cheese, milk chocolate chunks, dried cranberries, and graham crackers bites. 10/10 recommend!
I LOVE the caramel rice cakes. Actually, last time I went in there, they didn’t have any, and I was so bummed!
The prosciutto, provolone, and breadstick pack is an easy and delicious snack.
All of these are convenient for me to pack at for school or just enjoy at home.
…and…a couple of lunch items…
The “Everything” Bagel Skinnys are perfect for making sandwiches.
The Panera soup is a great option for a school lunch for me.
Do you shop at Aldi? Amy is who got me to go back there…she shared about the pumpkin K cup coffee they had, so I went there for that, and have continued to find things that I love.
This is definitely the time of the year for comfort food.
To me, comfort food is warm and hearty like chili, soup or a casserole.
Here are a few of my “go to” recipesthat are definitely comfort foods:
I shared this recipe in my Friday Favoritespost. I just saw it on Instagram, and decided to make it. It will definitely go into my cooking rotation as we move into winter.
It’s almost time for me to make our traditional Turkey Rice Soup. We use Thanksgiving turkey the day after for this soup.
Mac and cheese! Mac and cheese has always been one of my favorite foods. While Hadley can live on the box of white cheddar shells from Trader Joe’s, my favorite is this one that I occasionally make, and when I do, I always wonder why I don’t make it more often. (maybe because of all the calories…haha)
Anyway, this was quite the list…and it’s inspired me to make some of these recipes soon! I can’t wait to see what others share as well.
What’s your favorite comfort food?
I can’t believe next month will be our last Not Just a Mom post of 2023. Our topic is favorite books/series. We’d love to have you join us!
How was your week? Ours was good, but just felt extra busy. I’m ready for the weekend, that’s for sure.
As always, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are some favorites from the week:
Well, this was me all week…can you relate?
That being said, I love DST and “falling back.” I know, I’m the odd (wo)man out!
Last Saturday, Hayden had is first race of club season in Louisville. It was a national race with runners from California, Missouri, Georgia and more! The weather was perfect for running, and he ran a great race…a minute faster than the same race last year.
His team got second overall, and they also gave out awards by state, and he was a top runner in Kentucky.
Hadley had so much fun at her friend’s birthday party on Saturday night. These fun girls got together for fun, food, trivia, and a movie.
I can’t believe Hadley will be the next one is this group to be 14!
Hadley helped me pick out the Christmas tree on Saturday. On Sunday, she helped me fluff it and add the garland…then she swiped my favorite Christmas sweatshirt…haha
I shared in yesterday’s post that we usually get a real tree for the living room, but last year, after cleaning up the dry needles and mess, Travis said, “never again!” While that’s a bold statement, I am ok with an artificial one for now. It just means I can put it up whenever I want. haha
Anyway, I heard all the hype about the “viral” Home Depot tree. Since it seems sold out, I saw others share this one as a good second option. I knew when Hadley saw that it has white lights and/or colored lights, this would be the one she wanted. While I prefer the white lights, the colored lights are fun too.
This tree comes with a remote, and the lights can also faded off and on and blink. I don’t really need that feature, and the other one had a twinkle option. I do think I would like that, but this one has worked out great, and the price is really good too.
No school Tuesday was a favorite. It was nice to have some downtime, but I was also really productive too!
Tis the season!
Hadley sent me a birthday/Christmas wish list, and this attention to detail made me LOL.
I have a new favorite nail polish.
My nail lady almost doesn’t know who I am anymore. I almost always get Funny Bunny or Bubble Bath, but I tried a pretty brown last time, and this time, I tried this navy color. It’s OPI Less is Norse. I really like it! Like…who am I making these bold statements with my nail color choice?
Their new Ainsley pullover is so soft, comfy, and stylish!
Favorite Mom Meme:
Amen.
Not Just a Mom:
On Monday, we have our monthly Not Just a Mom link up. This month’s topic is comfort food. I think I will start with the recipe in today’s post and go from there. We’d love to have you join us for this link up.
showmeandsweettea.com 