Christmas Break

It's time for my annual Christmas break from blogging. I hope everyone has a happy Holiday season and I will be back in early January with more posts!

Christmas Bucket List Update #3

We're now Indiana for the holidays and have completed even more Christmas related tasks.

Completed 11/28

Go see Santa! -- We got to meet with Santa on the Christmas train last weekend.
Got to Fantasy of Lights at Franke Park
Watch Christmas Movies
1. Elf
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
3. A Charlie Brown Christmas ✓
4. The Polar Express ✓
5. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
6. Christmas Vacation
7. Love Actually
8. A Christmas Story
9. Holiday Inn
10. White Christmas
11. Christmas in the Smokies ✓
12. Christmas Crush/Holiday High School Reunion ✓
13. A Dogwalker's Christmas Tale ✓
14. A Christmas Crush ✓
15. My Santa ✓
16. Christmas in the City ✓
17. Merry Kissmas ✓
18. Naughty & Nice ✓
19. How Sarah Got Her Wings ✓
20. A Princess for Christmas ✓
21. Christmas Inheritance ✓
Make Christmas Cookies -- Arthur and I made more of my Ginger Molasses cookies. We're going to iced and decorate mom's sugar cookies after the twins arrive.
Ride the Christmas train (New Haven)
Visit Oakland Zoo lights
Go ice skating
Make Christmas cocktails
Send Christmas cards
Make peppermint bark
Load computer/phone with Christmas music
Make a Christmas craft -- Arthur and I have been making the various crafts we bought at Michael's last month.
Check out and read 25 Christmas books
1. Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
2. Jingle-Jingle by Nicola Smee
3. What Santa Can't Do by Douglas Wood
4. A New Improved Santa by Patricia Rae Wolff
5. How Many Sleeps 'til Christmas? by Mark Sperring
6. Albert's Christmas by Leslie Tryon
7. A Small Christmas by Wong Herbert Yee
8. Holiday Helper by Jill Abramson
9. Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney
10. Monster Needs a Christmas Tree by Paul Czajak
11. Christmas Coal Man by Joe Kulka
12. Dear Santasaurus by Stacy McAnulty
13. Pig the Elf by Aaron Blabey
14. Best Christmas Book Ever by Richard Scarry
15. Merry Christmas Pocoyo by Kristen Depken
Make Christmas ornaments
Make paper snowflakes
Write a letter to Santa
Decorate a gingerbread house
Host/attend Christmas cookie exchange
Read a Christmas-themed book (or two) -- I finished Christmas Magic and am reading A Christmas to Remember anthology.
Participate in Secret Santa
Find a new Christmas album
Make Hot Chocolate
Drive around to see the Christmas lights
Make Christmas albums
Make a snowglobe
Have a Christmas dance party
Call Santa
Have a candy cane hunt

Next up on the TBR pile:

Fall 2017 Clothing Summary

My goal is to keep my quarterly clothes budget to $200. I've still got some weight loss goals to achieve, but I need to do a bit of fill-in in the meantime.

Amazon: $25.99

I was looking for some cute low oxfords to wear this winter. Thank goodness for Amazon as I was striking out at all the physical stores around here.

Amazon: $0

My care exchange partner bought me these two lovely tunics. I had been eyeing them for awhile, but I rarely buy clothes. It was a nice treat to get them in my box.

Target: $21.81

I love the Target clearance rack! I found this cute denim skirt and black sleeveless top. The top has gone into regular rotation for my outfits.

2017 Total: $322.59

Next up on the TBR pile:

Christmas Bucket List Update #2

We're now Indiana for the holidays and have completed even more Christmas related tasks.

Completed 7/28

Go see Santa!
Got to Fantasy of Lights at Franke Park
Watch Christmas Movies
1. Elf
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
3. Charlie Brown Christmas
4. The Polar Express
5. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
6. Christmas Vacation
7. Love Actually
8. A Christmas Story
9. Holiday Inn
10. White Christmas
11. Christmas in the Smokies ✓
12. Christmas Crush/Holiday High School Reunion ✓
13. A Dogwalker's Christmas Tale ✓
14. A Christmas Crush ✓
15. My Santa ✓
16. Christmas in the City ✓
17. Merry Kissmas ✓
18. Naughty & Nice ✓
19. How Sarah Got Her Wings ✓
Make Christmas Cookies
Ride the Christmas train (New Haven)
Visit Oakland Zoo lights
Go ice skating
Make Christmas cocktails
Send Christmas cards -- All have been sent out!
Make peppermint bark
Load computer/phone with Christmas music
Make a Christmas craft
Check out and read 25 Christmas books
1. Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
2. Jingle-Jingle by Nicola Smee
3. What Santa Can't Do by Douglas Wood
4. A New Improved Santa by Patricia Rae Wolff
5. How Many Sleeps 'til Christmas? by Mark Sperring
6. Albert's Christmas by Leslie Tryon
7. A Small Christmas by Wong Herbert Yee
8. Holiday Helper by Jill Abramson
9. Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney
10. Monster Needs a Christmas Tree by Paul Czajak
11. Christmas Coal Man by Joe Kulka
12. Dear Santasaurus by Stacy McAnulty
13. Pig the Elf by Aaron Blabey
14. Best Christmas Book Ever by Richard Scarry
15. Merry Christmas Pocoyo by Kristen Depken
Make Christmas ornaments
Make paper snowflakes
Write a letter to Santa
Decorate a gingerbread house -- Instead of a gingerbread house, we made a gingerbread tree!
Host/attend Christmas cookie exchange -- I made my Ginger Molasses Cookies and in return we got Cardamon Shortbread, Iced Sugar Cookies, and Stem Ginger Cookies. Oh so good!
Read a Christmas-themed book (or two)
Participate in Secret Santa -- Arthur and Quentin had their Secret Snowflake exchange through the parent group. And I sent off my book-related Secret Santa gift. Hopefully mine will be waiting in Indiana when I get there.
Find a new Christmas album -- Done! I found two actually: Leslie Odom Jr.'s Simply Christmas and Lindsey Stirling's Warmer in the Winter. Both have been on repeat.
Make Hot Chocolate
Drive around to see the Christmas lights
Make Christmas albums
Make a snowglobe
Have a Christmas dance party
Call Santa
Have a candy cane hunt

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

Traveling alone with two kiddos is hard. Ugh! We made it, but so tired.
I love participating in secret Santas and this year I got some great little gifts.
Q is into everything! Toddlers are crazy.
From 65 degrees to 20 degrees. Brrr!!!!
Craving some hot chocolate today. I may have to stop by Starbucks for their new hot chocolates.
Arthur is so on board with Christmas this year. He's having so much fun!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Christmas Bucket List Update #1

December is in full swing! Let's see how we've done so far this month.

Completed 6/28

Go see Santa!
Got to Fantasy of Lights at Franke Park
Watch Christmas Movies
1. Elf
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
3. Charlie Brown Christmas
4. The Polar Express
5. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
6. Christmas Vacation
7. Love Actually
8. A Christmas Story
9. Holiday Inn
10. White Christmas
11. Christmas in the Smokies ✓
12. Christmas Crush/Holiday High School Reunion ✓
13. A Dogwalker's Christmas Tale ✓
14. A Christmas Crush ✓
15. My Santa ✓
16. Christmas in the City ✓
17. Merry Kissmas ✓
18. Naughty & Nice ✓
19. How Sarah Got Her Wings ✓
Make Christmas Cookies
Ride the Christmas train (New Haven)
Visit Oakland Zoo lights
Go ice skating
Make Christmas cocktails
Send Christmas cards -- Over 50 already sent out. Just need to finish the last 30 or so.
Make peppermint bark
Load computer/phone with Christmas music
Make a Christmas craft
Check out and read 25 Christmas books
1. Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
2. Jingle-Jingle by Nicola Smee
3. What Santa Can't Do by Douglas Wood
4. A New Improved Santa by Patricia Rae Wolff
5. How Many Sleeps 'til Christmas? by Mark Sperring
Make Christmas ornaments
Make paper snowflakes
Write a letter to Santa
Decorate a gingerbread house
Host/attend Christmas cookie exchange -- I made my Ginger Molasses Cookies and in return we got Cardamon Shortbread, Iced Sugar Cookies, and Stem Ginger Cookies. Oh so good!
Read a Christmas-themed book (or two)
Participate in Secret Santa -- Arthur and Quentin had their Secret Snowflake exchange through the parent group. And I sent off my book-related Secret Santa gift. Hopefully mine will be waiting in Indiana when I get there.
Find a new Christmas album -- Done! I found two actually: Leslie Odom Jr.'s Simply Christmas and Lindsey Stirling's Warmer in the Winter. Both have been on repeat.
Make Hot Chocolate
Drive around to see the Christmas lights
Make Christmas albums
Make a snowglobe
Have a Christmas dance party
Call Santa
Have a candy cane hunt

Next up on the TBR pile:

Fall Bucket List Wrap-up

My completion 20/35 57 %

So the fall didn't go as planned. I had wanted to check off so many of these tasks, but I wasn't counting on getting sick right after Halloween. I just didn't have the energy to complete some of these items. But at least we did have an enjoyable fall.

Enjoy a PSL -- Always have to indulge a few times.
Go to a pumpkin patch -- Took Arthur to a small one with tons of bounce houses
Buy some proper cider -- I bought some cider at Target. Unfortunately, I bought spiced cider and it's a little too orange-y for my tastes. I'll have to pick up some more at another store. Grabbed a ton of good cider.
Bake pumpkin bread -- One loaf down, I imagine I will make a few more before Christmas.
Make stuffed acorn squash -- Always love this recipe, but can only make it in the fall when the acorn squash is ripe.
Carve a pumpkin
Make a fall craft with Arthur -- We did a few little Michael's crafts.
Read some scary books -- I got some good reads knocked out:
1. 8.4 by Peter Hernon (earthquake thriller)
2. Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell (supernatural cozy mystery)
3. The Mummy by Anne Rice (classic horror)
4. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (classic horror)
5. Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff (crappy supernatural YA)
6. Haunted Castles by Ray Russell (collection of ghost stories)
7. The Gates by John Connolly (comedic horror)
8. A Cast Off Coven by Juliet Blackwell (supernatural cozy mystery)
9. Hexes and Hemlines by Juliet Blackwell (supernatural cozy mystery)
10. In a Witch's Wardrobe by Juliet Blackwell (supernatural cozy mystery)
11. Tarnished and Torn by Juliet Blackwell (supernatural cozy mystery)
Pick up some fall themed tea -- I grabbed some Caramel Apple Spice at the store!
Take pictures of the changing leaf colors
Make chili and cornbread -- It will be back on the meal plan soon.
Find two new fall soup recipes -- I've got a couple of good ones now.
Watch Shaun of the Dead for Halloween
Visit a corn maze
Bake fall cookies -- I made some Pumpkin Snickerdoodles, but they weren't the best.
Make leaf art
Pick up some fall nail polish -- Success! I picked up a pretty teal color (think Starbuck's fall cups this year)
Go apple picking
Bake an apple pie
Make mulled wine
Plan and cook Thanksgiving -- Success! It was a great day!
Read Kids Books
1. Fall
  1. The Autumn Equinox by Ellen Jackson
  2. My Leaf Book by Monica Wellington
  3. WonderFall by Michael Hall
  4. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak
  5. Fall by Kay Barnham
  6. An Apple's Life by Nancy Dickman
  7. Autumn by Stephanie Hedlund
  8. Leaves Fall Down by Lisa Bullard
  9. Kitten's Autumn by Eugenie Fernandes
  10. The Autumn Leaf by Carl Emerson
  11. Who Loves the Fall? by Bob Raczka
  12. Autumn Leaves by Ken Robbins
  13. Little Elliot Fall Friends by Mike Curato
  14. Counting on Fall by Lizann Flatt
2. Halloween
  1. Countdown to Halloween by Patricia Reeder Eubank
  2. Click, Clack, Boo! by Doreen Cronin
  3. Halloween Hustle by Charlotte Gunnufson
  4. Dog and Bear Tricks and Treats by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
  5. How Big Could Your Pumpkin Grow? by Wendell Minor
  6. Seven Orange Pumpkins by Stephen Savage
3. Thanksgiving
  1. Gobble, Gobble, Tucker by Leslie McGuirk
  2. Gobble, Gobble, Crash by Julie Stiegemeyer
Decorate the front porch
Buy some pumpkin ale -- I grabbed Leinenkugel's Autumn Shandy. Decent, but I will have to find something else.
Go on a hayride
Celebrate Halloween with costumes and trick-or-treating -- We made it around the entire top of the hill.
Pick up a fall candle -- I grabbed a yummy smelling Orchard candle from Glade. It reminds me of pumpkin and bonfires.
Read a cozy mystery -- I finished Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell this week. I loved it! Will have to pick up the next book in the series.
Make a scarecrow
Make homemade sauerkraut
Toast pumpkin seeds
Have a Monster Mash dance party
Create Halloween and Thanksgiving cocktails
Watch It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
Have a Resident Evil marathon

Next up on the TBR list:

December 2017 Life Goals

Let’s check in on November's goals and my progress.

Prep Christmas cards to send after Thanksgiving -- Success! Cards prepped and the first batch has been sent out.
Host Thanksgiving -- Success! We had a great dinner with some friends.
Start making Christmas gift lists -- Success! I've got a list going. I've even got some presents bought already.
Think about 2018 Reading Challenges/reading plan -- Success! Working on my reading challenge
Knock off at least 10 items from big to-do list -- Success! Working down my list.
Complete 5 Fall Bucket items -- Success! I didn't finish my fall bucket list, but I did knock off quite a few items.

December's Goals:

Finish sending Christmas cards -- I've got most of the cards made, just need to send them.
Plan and buy Christmas presents -- A few have been bought, just need to finish off my list.
Knock out at least 10 Reading Challenges slots -- Hoping to finish off my 2017 reading year on a high note.
Plan my 2018 Reading Challenges -- I've a few challenges starred, just need to narrow them down and lay out my plans.
January blog drafts -- I want to work ahead while in Indiana get the blog drafts in order.

Next up on the TBR list:

Christmas Bucket List

Go see Santa!
Got to Fantasy of Lights at Franke Park
Watch Christmas Movies
1. Elf
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
3. Charlie Brown Christmas
4. The Polar Express
5. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
6. Christmas Vacation
7. Love Actually
8. A Christmas Story
9. Holiday Inn
10. White Christmas
Make Christmas Cookies
Ride the Christmas train (New Haven)
Visit Oakland Zoo lights
Go ice skating
Make Christmas cocktails
Send Christmas cards
Make peppermint bark
Load computer/phone with Christmas music
Make a Christmas craft
Check out and read 25 Christmas books
Make Christmas ornaments
Make paper snowflakes
Write a letter to Santa
Decorate a gingerbread house
Host/attend Christmas cookie exchange
Read a Christmas-themed book (or two)
Participate in Secret Santa
Find a new Christmas album
Make Hot Chocolate
Drive around to see the Christmas lights
Make Christmas albums
Make a snowglobe
Have a Christmas dance party
Call Santa
Have a candy cane hunt

Next up on the TBR pile:

Happy Turkey Day!

We're spending the day with friends eating some good food...

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

J found me a new macbook for a really good price. Excited, but now I have transfer everything over from my old macbook. So much to do...
I thought I escaped getting the cold everyone else in the house did, but i was wrong. I feel crappy.
Tea is my best friend right now.
We've officially lost a library book. Our system allows you to replace the item yourself or pay them to do it. I opted for replacing as the price on Amazon was $5 less than what the library would have charged me. Making a bad situation just a bit better.
The server has been very very slow for the past two days. Making watching anything difficult with all the pausing.
I really want to make pot roast for tonight, but that means I need to get off the couch and cut up the veggies and sear the meat. Must get moving...

Next up on the TBR pile:

Fall Bucket List Update #2

Alright, I'm getting on board with the seasonal bucket lists. As autumn begins on September 22nd, I thought it would be a great starting line. I know that fall lasts until the winter solstice, but as soon as December 1st hits, I'm all about Christmas. So I'm going to run my fall bucket list until November 30th. I've thought about the things that scream fall to me and created my list.

My current completion 15/35 42.9%

Enjoy a PSL -- Always have to indulge a few times.
Go to a pumpkin patch -- Took Arthur to a small one with tons of bounce houses
Buy some proper cider -- I bought some cider at Target. Unfortunately, I bought spiced cider and it's a little too orange-y for my tastes. I'll have to pick up some more at another store.
Bake pumpkin bread -- One loaf down, I imagine I will make a few more before Christmas.
Make stuffed acorn squash -- Always love this recipe, but can only make it in the fall when the acorn squash is ripe.
Carve a pumpkin
Make a fall craft with Arthur
Read some scary books -- I participated in Seasons of Reading's FrightFall Readathon. I've read:
1. 8.4 by Peter Hernon (earthquake thriller)
2. Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell (supernatural cozy mystery)
3. The Mummy by Anne Rice (classic horror)
4. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (classic horror)
5. Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff (crappy supernatural YA)
6. Haunted Castles by Ray Russell (collection of ghost stories)
7. The Gates by John Connolly (comedic horror)
8. A Cast Off Coven by Juliet Blackwell (supernatural cozy mystery)
9. Hexes and Hemlines by Juliet Blackwell (supernatural cozy mystery)
Pick up some fall themed tea -- I grabbed some Caramel Apple Spice at the store!
Take pictures of the changing leaf colors
Make chili and cornbread -- It will be back on the meal plan soon.
Find two new fall soup recipes
Watch Shaun of the Dead for Halloween
Visit a corn maze
Bake fall cookies -- I made some Pumpkin Snickerdoodles, but they weren't the best.
Make leaf art
Pick up some fall nail polish (and actually do my nails!)
Go apple picking
Bake an apple pie
Make mulled wine
Plan and cook Thanksgiving
Read Kids Books
1. Fall
  1. The Autumn Equinox by Ellen Jackson
  2. My Leaf Book by Monica Wellington
  3. WonderFall by Michael Hall
  4. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak
  5. Fall by Kay Barnham
  6. An Apple's Life by Nancy Dickman
  7. Autumn by Stephanie Hedlund
  8. Leaves Fall Down by Lisa Bullard
  9. Kitten's Autumn by Eugenie Fernandes
  10. The Autumn Leaf by Carl Emerson
  11. Who Loves the Fall? by Bob Raczka
  12. Autumn Leaves by Ken Robbins
  13. Little Elliot Fall Friends by Mike Curato
  14. Counting on Fall by Lizann Flatt
2. Halloween
  1. Countdown to Halloween by Patricia Reeder Eubank
  2. Click, Clack, Boo! by Doreen Cronin
  3. Halloween Hustle by Charlotte Gunnufson
  4. Dog and Bear Tricks and Treats by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
  5. How Big Could Your Pumpkin Grow? by Wendell Minor
  6. Seven Orange Pumpkins by Stephen Savage
3. Thanksgiving
  1. Gobble, Gobble, Tucker by Leslie McGuirk
Decorate the front porch
Buy some pumpkin ale -- I grabbed Leinenkugel's Autumn Shandy. Decent, but I will have to find something else.
Go on a hayride
Celebrate Halloween with costumes and trick-or-treating -- We made it around the entire top of the hill.
Pick up a fall candle -- I grabbed a yummy smelling Orchard candle from Glade. It reminds me of pumpkin and bonfires.
Read a cozy mystery -- I finished Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell this week. I loved it! Will have to pick up the next book in the series.
Make a scarecrow
Make homemade sauerkraut
Toast pumpkin seeds
Have a Monster Mash dance party
Create Halloween and Thanksgiving cocktails
Watch It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
Have a Resident Evil marathon

Next up on the TBR pile:

November 2017 Life Goals

Let’s check in on October's goals and my progress.

Pull off the birthday party -- Success! I think everyone had lots of fun.
Buy treats for the MVPA social -- Success! We had lots of fun!
Participate in The Mummy Readalong -- Partial success. I finished reading the book, but the discussion got pushed back to the beginning of November. I'll check back in this week.
Make 4 New Recipes -- Success! I actually ended up making 6 new recipes this month!
- Fish with Lemons and Capers
- Coffee Rubbed Pork Loin
- Biscuit Wrapped Meatballs
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Prosciutto and Fig Pizza
- Waffle Crab Cakes
Complete 6 Fall Bucket items -- Success!

November's Goals:

Prep Christmas cards to send after Thanksgiving -- I have a ton of cards made. I just need to address them and get them prepped to send.
Host Thanksgiving -- We host a small Thanksgiving every year. J and I were just talking about who was coming and what to make. Now to make an official plan and execute.
Start making Christmas gift lists -- Even if I don't buy them right now, I like to have a list of things I'm looking out for.
Think about 2018 Reading Challenges/reading plan -- Always an end of the year task.
Knock off at least 10 items from big to-do list -- I have a giant 4 page to-do list in my notebook. Hoping to cross some items off!
Complete 5 Fall Bucket items -- Hoping to finish out strong!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

October has been an amazing reading month so far. Hoping to finish out strong.
Mother Nature really needs to make up her mind about the temperatures around here. Four days ago it was a high of 65, today it's a high of 90. Ugh!
I hate having to go to three different grocery stores, but we save so much money!
Speaking of, been thinking of trying the new dinner kit service Dinnerly. We like Munchery, but this one is half the price.
I drank an entire bottle of wine by myself last night and I have a minimal headache this morning. Hmmm....
That reminds me that I want to make a signature cocktail for Halloween next week. Must go peruse Pinterest.
Excited about how many Christmas card designs I've made so far. Now to pick one for November's stamp club...

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

The birthday party is over! It was so much fun, but I'm glad it's over for this year. My to-do lists were out of control.
On to finishing up our Halloween plans...
Speaking of, I need to redo my big to-do lists.
Thinking about all the people affected by the wildfires in North Bay. The region is going to take years to recover.
Loving my reading as of late. Such great books!
Catching up on my podcasts from last week. I just added about 10 more books to my TBR page...
Rum punch is oh so yummy.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Fall Bucket List Update #1

My current completion 10/35 28.6%

Enjoy a PSL -- Always have to indulge a few times.
Go to a pumpkin patch
Buy some proper cider -- I bought some cider at Target. Unfortunately, I bought spiced cider and it's a little too orange-y for my tastes. I'll have to pick up some more at another store.
Bake pumpkin bread -- One loaf down, I imagine I will make a few more before Christmas.
Make stuffed acorn squash -- Always love this recipe, but can only make it in the fall when the acorn squash is ripe.
Carve a pumpkin
Make a fall craft with Arthur
Read some scary books -- I'm participating in Seasons of Reading's FrightFall Readathon. I've read:
1. 8.4 by Peter Hernon (earthquake thriller)
2. Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell (supernatural cozy mystery)
Pick up some fall themed tea: Apple spiced or pumpkin flavor
Take pictures of the changing leaf colors
Make chili and cornbread -- It will be back on the meal plan soon.
Find two new fall soup recipes
Watch Shaun of the Dead for Halloween
Visit a corn maze
Bake fall cookies
Make leaf art
Pick up some fall nail polish (and actually do my nails!)
Go apple picking
Bake an apple pie
Make mulled wine
Plan and cook Thanksgiving
Read Kids Books
1. Fall
  1. The Autumn Equinox by Ellen Jackson
  2. My Leaf Book by Monica Wellington
  3. WonderFall by Michael Hall
  4. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak
  5. Fall by Kay Barnham
  6. An Apple's Life by Nancy Dickman
  7. Autumn by Stephanie Hedlund
  8. Leaves Fall Down by Lisa Bullard
  9. Kitten's Autumn by Eugenie Fernandes
  10. The Autumn Leaf by Carl Emerson
  11. Who Loves the Fall? by Bob Raczka
  12. Autumn Leaves by Ken Robbins
  13. Little Elliot Fall Friends by Mike Curato
2. Halloween
  1. Countdown to Halloween by Patricia Reeder Eubank
  2. Click, Clack, Boo! by Doreen Cronin
3. Thanksgiving
Decorate the front porch
Buy some pumpkin ale -- I grabbed Leinenkugel's Autumn Shandy. Decent, but I will have to find something else.
Go on a hayride
Celebrate Halloween with costumes and trick-or-treating
Pick up a fall candle -- I grabbed a yummy smelling Orchard candle from Glade. It reminds me of pumpkin and bonfires.
Read a cozy mystery -- I finished Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell this week. I loved it! Will have to pick up the next book in the series.
Make a scarecrow
Make homemade sauerkraut
Toast pumpkin seeds
Have a Monster Mash dance party
Create Halloween and Thanksgiving cocktails
Watch It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
Have a Resident Evil marathon

Next up on the TBR pile:

Arthur and Quentin's Pirate Birthday Party!!!

As the boys' birthday are fairly close together (Sept. 26th and Oct. 15th), we opted for a joint birthday party. If you want to see the crafts I made up close, check them out over at the craft blog this week. For today, I'm posting mostly party pictures.

Next up on the TBR pile:

October 2017 Life Goals

Let’s check in on September's goals and my progress.

Read 2500 pages -- Fail! I only read 2320 pages in September. Hoping to do better in October.
Finish planning the birthday party -- Success! The planning has been finished. I need to hit the grocery store and decorate.
Finish buying/prepping our costumes -- Partial fail. I still need to pick up some accessories, but we all have our basic uniform bought.
Finish my blog fix -- Success! I finally fixed all my back posts. Some aren't perfect but they at least have the big issues fixed.
Buy plane tickets for Christmas -- Fail. Still need to do this, but I do have a plan.

October's Goals:

Pull off the birthday party! -- The party's Saturday. Gotta get on this!
Buy treats for the MVPA social -- We look forward to the MVPA Fall Costume Social every year. Now we need to decide on the treats for trick-or-treating.
Participate in The Mummy Readalong -- I haven't read this one for years. Very excited!
Make 4 New Recipes -- I haven't tried anything new lately.
Complete 6 Fall Bucket List items -- I've gotten a start on the list, but looking forward to some itneresting activities in October.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

Q loves his zoo train, but if I have to take it away from Arthur one more time...
Toyed with cutting processed sugar from my diet. But after hearing the ultimate failure of a friend, I think I should aim for decreasing my amount instead of cutting it out completely.
My October TBR pile is calling my name, but it's still September!
Can't wait to pull out my Halloween themed planner kits.
I want to bake all the things! Unfortunately it's 90 degrees here this week. Darn.
Despite the arguments, Q and Arthur have started playing together and it's oh so cute!
I finally got a PSL on Tuesday. Oh my! I missed these...

Next up on the TBR pile:

Fall Bucket List

Alright, I'm getting on board with the seasonal bucket lists. As autumn begins on September 22nd, I thought it would be a great starting line. I know that fall lasts until the winter solstice, but as soon as December 1st hits, I'm all about Christmas. So I'm going to run my fall bucket list until November 30th. I've thought about the things that scream fall to me and created my list.

Enjoy a PSL
Go to a pumpkin patch
Buy some proper cider
Bake pumpkin bread
Make stuffed acorn squash
Carve a pumpkin
Make a fall craft with Arthur
Read some scary books -- I'm participating in Seasons of Reading's FrighFall Readathon the entire month of October.
Pick up some fall themed tea: Apple spiced or pumpkin flavor
Take pictures of the changing leaf colors -- Rare here in northern California, but we do have some trees whose leaves change colors and drop
Make chili and cornbread
Find two new fall soup recipes
Watch Shaun of the Dead for Halloween
Visit a corn maze
Bake fall cookies
Make leaf art
Pick up some fall nail polish (and actually do my nails!)
Go apple picking
Bake an apple pie
Make mulled wine
Plan and cook Thanksgiving
Read Fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving library books (kids)
Decorate the front porch
Buy some pumpkin ale
Go on a hayride
Celebrate Halloween with costume and trick-or-treating
Pick up a fall candle
Read a cozy mystery
Make a scarecrow
Make homemade sauerkraut
Toast pumpkin seeds
Have a Monster Mash dance party
Create Halloween and Thanksgiving cocktails
Watch It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
Have a Resident Evil marathon

And now to dive in!

Next up on the TBR pile: