The last week of October was a pretty good week aside from the brutality of Monday at work. I made it through though, so I call that a success.
Tuesday, I took the day off because I had a dentist appointment, and I've learned from the past that something always comes up at work if I try to leave for an hour. It was nice having the rest of the day off to work around the house. I've been working on updating a couple of rooms. I've found that after you live in a house for a number of years you develop new interests and let go of some things you used to do, and it is good to take a look at how you need a room to function. Between our office and the spare bedroom, I'm looking at how each can function better for us now.
TBG carved one of the Halloween pumpkins Thursday and it turned out so cute. We had a lot of trick or treaters, which made it a fun night.
This week dinners were...
Fried chicken strips, mac and cheese and a salad
I thawed out some left-over pasta sauce, boiled some penne pasta and then baked it in the oven with mozzarella on top with a big salad.
BBQ chicken, garlic rosemary potatoes and sliced tomatoes
Halloween was our traditional chili bar with cornbread
BIG salad
Beef cheeseburgers, with all the toppings and 'fried' potatoes
This week should be a good week too. The only appointment I have is a haircut Thursday and who doesn't enjoy that?
With the new month here, I decided to go back to tracking all of our spending on groceries, bath and beauty aids and household products like I used to. I think we're still below average, but I want to see the actual numbers. I'm also starting to plan the food and activities for the last two months of the year. We're still keeping it simple this year and focusing on making memories.
A friend of mine brought me back a couple of treats from her vacation to Branson. We haven't tried them yet but who doesn't enjoy food gifts?
I broke my own rule about NO Christmas movies until after Thanksgiving and started watching them. There are just so many awesome Christmas movies I needed more time than just a few weeks. Longer nights just scream light a candle and watch a heartwarming movie to me.
I hope everyone is doing well. Stay safe and for all of my US friend, remember to vote! (No political comments please. Just a reminder to make your voice count.) Have a great Sunday!!
Chili bar and cornbread? I’ll be right over! TBG did a nice job on the pumpkin. I saw another one where they used the inside like a diorama and thought it was so clever.
ReplyDeletePrickly pear cactus reminds me of the time a I bought a prickly pear and cut it up and served it to my family and the seeds got caught in Middle Child’s braces and I had to take her to the orthodontist and take the blame🤣 He told me he’d add it to the DO NOT EAT list for his patients!
The chili bar with cornbread has been a Halloween tradition for many years and we all look forward to it.
ReplyDeleteThat is a funny story about the prickly pear. But I'm sure it wasn't funny at the time for you or middle child. Luckily this jam looks to be seedless. Have a great week!!
Fun that you broke your rule. Go you. For us Christmas comes out as soon as Halloween decorations go away and Christmas movies are watched whenever we fancy. No rules. All fun. though with moving aren't decorating as much. More packing up. We want out of Dodge.
ReplyDeleteI won't decorate until after Thanksgiving because I just don't want to rush things but there are just so many movies I need more time to watch. Do you know when you'll be moving?
DeleteI get that some folks only want one month of Christmas. For us its not rushing. And we've always enjoyed two whole months of Christmas lights. I love, love, love sitting in front of the tree.
DeleteThe move? As soon as we find a place. Meanwhile we're saving, saving, saving. That part goes well. The house hunt with land, that's not going great. Booooo.
No ID - wow! We do have to show ID here or no voting.
ReplyDeleteYour meals sound so good. I made chili today - good weather for it.
Too soon for me on the Christmas movies - but I will wear down eventually! I do love a warm candle glow, and a quiet house cuddled with the kitties.
Cute pumpkin!!
have a good week.
In Illinois we don't have to show ID. It's crazy. We had chili on Halloween and it hit the spot. We'll probably have left overs one night this week since it's supposed to be a dreary rainy week here.
DeleteI love the NO member quote at the beginning of the post. I can not understand how they did not take an ID ? I voted today and had to show a picture ID.. I miss the farmer's market back in Pennsylvania. Living on the beach, there are no farmer's markets in this area. I have to get all my produce at Publix or the like.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a good quote. Yes our wonderful state is one that you do not have to show ID and it just boggles my mind. I have to prove who I am for so many less important things but not voting?? Oh how I miss Publix. That will always be my favorite grocery store.
DeleteBucky! Rumor has it he is coming to town. Now I can get me some Bucky hot sauce.
ReplyDeleteFie on Christmas movies or anything before Thanksgiving.
I haven't been to one yet but from what I hear you'll walk out spending a fortune. I know, I caved but I won't decorate until after Thanksgiving. So there's that.
DeleteI don't mind watching the Christmas movies before Thanksgiving but I never break the rule about decorating. There are quite a few channels that are playing nothing but Christmas movies now so sometimes it's hard to find something else to watch.
ReplyDeleteI won't decorate until after Thanksgiving. I caved on the movies because like you said there are just SO many out right now.
DeleteHi, thanks for visiting me! I love your first quote about No-vember! I have not seen it before, and it is worth remembering. Your food looks so good, I can almost smell it through the screen. The pumpkin is amazing, it looks so professional!
ReplyDeleteHi. I thought it was a goo quote to remember and think about. I think TBG did a great job on the pumpkin too. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteFood gifts are awesome. I forgot to tell you and others that I love the new Jean-Georges x William Sonoma Yuzu Aioli I picked up last week. I've had it on baked salmon and I'll soon have it with chicken.
ReplyDeleteI love food gifts. I forgot to say I was also gifted to boxes of Polish truffles from another friend. Yuzu Aioli sounds delicious! I bet it will be amazing on chicken too. Have a good week.
Deletehaha.. do you rewatch Christmas movies or all the new ones on Hallmark? Your husband did a nice job with the pumpkin.
ReplyDeleteI have a list of favorites that I watch every year and I also like the new ones on Hallmark. So many movies that's why I decided it was OK to start early. I thought he did a good job too. It was something different.
DeleteI love "no" vember!
ReplyDeleteMe too and I'm pretty good at it.
DeleteThat pumpkin is super cute! We voted absentee this year. Didn't feel like standing in long lines! We still have to show ID when we vote in person. The jam and butter look good! Nice of your friend to gift them to you!
ReplyDeleteI think TBG did a good job. We wanted something different. I voted in person on Friday. There was only two people in front of me so no long line here. I'm sure there is today. We tried the jam and it is very good. You can definitely taste pear.
DeleteThat's quite amazing that you didn't have to show ID to vote isn't it!! Wow. Oh and I love that pumpkin - the Big Guy did a great job!
ReplyDeleteIt is just crazy to me. We have to show ID for so many other less important things, why not voting? I really liked it too. He did do a nice job.
Deleteooh yes i love that halloween pumpkin!
ReplyDeleteWe wanted something different, and it turned out cute.
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