Fall Bucket List Update #2

Ahhh fall! My favorite season of the year. I really missed it when we lived in California! Now I get to enjoy all the fall fun! Progress 12/25

Visit two pumpkin patches (2/2) ✓
- Vala’s - Obviously!
- Skinny Bones - We really enjoyed this smaller patch.
Carve pumpkins ✓
Read 10 spooky books (not kids) (7/10)
- Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
- The Tower Formerly Known as Sears by Lisa M. Lilly
- Life Among the Dead by Daniel Cotton
- Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco
- The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
- Fantasticland by Mike Bockoven
- Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Read 20 spooky kids books (20/20) ✓
- Five Silly Ghosts by Hilli Kushnir
- The Pout-pout Fish Halloween Faces by Deborah Diesen
- Happy Halloween Mittens by Lola Schaefer
- The Halloween Kid by Rhode Montijo
- Pumpkin Party by Maudie Powell-Tuck
- Mouse’s First Halloween by Lauren Thompson
- Halloween Hustle by Charlotte Gunnufson
- Where’s the Pumpkin by Frankie Jones
- Trick or Treat Pout Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen
- Halloween Good Night by Rebecca Grabill
- The Ghosts Go Haunting by Helen Ketteman
- Sammy’s Spooktacular Halloween by Mike Petrik
- Happy Halloween, Witch’s Cat! by Harriet Muncaster
- Skelly’s Halloween by David Martin
- Curious George Haunted Halloween
- The 13 Days of Halloween by Carol Greene
- It’s Halloween Chloe Zoe! by Jane Smith
- The Ghosts at the Movie Theater by Dori Hillestad Butler
- Halloween Is by Gail Gibbons
- Little Blue Truck’s Halloween by Alice Schertle
Make 5 pumpkin recipes (1/5)
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins - a staple this time of year!
Go on a hayride ✓
Take pictures of boys in a pile of leaves
Find a new Halloween activity ✓ - We did trick or treating at The Durham. It was fun, but probably not worth it if we didn’t have a membership.
Create a fall signature cocktail
Bake a pie
Watch 20 Fall/spooky movies (20/20) ✓
- Idle Hands (1999)
- Dracula (1931)
- The Black Cat (1934)
- The Mummy (1932)
- Anna and the Apocalypse (2018)
- The Mummy (1999)
- Beetlejuice (1988)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
- A Cabin in the Woods (2012)
- Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
- Labyrinth
- The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
- Scream (1996)
- Dark City (1998)
- Godzilla King of the Monsters
- Sleepaway Camp II
- The Fly (1958)
- The Fly (1986)
- The Witches of Eastwick
- Tucker and Dale vs. Evil
- The Relic
- Cockneys vs. Zombies
- Shaun of the Dead
Navigate a corn maze ✓
Buy Halloween pajamas
Buy a new nail color for fall ✓
Make a leaf craft
Buy a new pair of boots ✓
Buy and complete a new puzzle
Decorate the front porch ✓
Make a scarecrow
Go trick-or-treating ✓
Fill 25 more reading challenge slots (22/25)
Find a Halloween door hanger ✓
Dye my hair something suitably fall
Watch It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
Eat at 3 new-to-me restaurants

Next up on the TBR pile:

November 2019 Life Goals

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

Scary movie/television/reading month - Success! We had a great month of spooky-ish movies and books. Unfortunately I have many more spooky books on my list.
Pumpkin patch visit with friends - Success! We went to Skinny Bones (first time for us!) and it was a lovely albeit very cold day.
Pull off Arthur and Quentin’s birthday party - Success! I think everyone who came had fun. It was a chaotic day, but oh so much fun!
New Halloween activity - We did trick-or-treating at The Durham and Omaha Children’s Museum.

November’s Goals:

Figure out Christmas travel plans - I have a basic plan in place. Need to finalize plans and dates.
Read 10 ebooks - Trying to focus on all those ebooks on my Kindle app…
Buy advent calendars for the boys - I bought myself a jam advent calendar. Still deciding on the boys’s calendars.
Take care of bills - We got the Academy bill and dentist bill to finish paying before December starts.
Look into starting atheist family group chapter - An internet friend mentioned an atheist family group. We don’t have a chapter here in Omaha, but I can potentially get one started.
Meal plan through Christmas holiday - Meal planning has become so annoying to me. I want to knock this out for the rest of the year (well until I leave for Indiana).
Friendsgiving? - I think we are doing Friendsgiving again this year. Need to figure out the menu.

Next up on the TBR list:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

Spooky Movie Month has been so much fun, but it’s sometimes really hard to keep J on track. He wanders too much in his viewing habits.
Lots of comics series ending this month. Weird feeling.
Hoping to knock out at least one more spooky book before the month ends. And I’m sure a few will bleed into November.
Looking forward to crop day on Sunday. People are actually coming!!!
Really need to get on making two Halloween cards for the twins.
Speaking of, need to finish paying their semester school bill this week.
Flu shots! Really need to work these into our schedule this week or next.
I had to make another car appointment. The technician decided to tell me after I checked out on Monday that I need to do a brake fluid flush and some other things. Ugh! Another trip to the dealership and the only non-afternoon appoint was next Monday.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Fall Bucket List Update #1

Ahhh fall! My favorite season of the year. I really missed it when we lived in California! Now I get to enjoy all the fall fun! Progress 3/25

Visit two pumpkin patches (1/2)
- Vala’s - Obviously!
Carve pumpkins
Read 10 spooky books (not kids) (3/10)
- Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
- The Tower Formerly Known as Sears by Lisa M. Lilly
- Life Among the Dead by Daniel Cotton
Read 20 spooky kids books (6/20)
- Five Silly Ghosts by Hilli Kushnir
- The Pout-pout Fish Halloween Faces by Deborah Diesen
- Happy Halloween Mittens by Lola Schaefer
- The Halloween Kid by Rhode Montijo
- Pumpkin Party by Maudie Powell-Tuck
- Mouse’s First Halloween by Lauren Thompson
Make 5 pumpkin recipes (1/5)
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins - a staple this time of year!
Go on a hayride ✓
Take pictures of boys in a pile of leaves
Find a new Halloween activity
Create a fall signature cocktail
Bake a pie
Watch 20 Fall/spooky movies (10/20)
- Idle Hands (1999)
- Dracula (1931)
- The Black Cat (1934)
- The Mummy (1932)
- Anna and the Apocalypse (2018)
- The Mummy (1999)
- Beetlejuice (1988)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
- A Cabin in the Woods (2012)
- Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Navigate a corn maze ✓
Buy Halloween pajamas
Buy a new nail color for fall
Make a leaf craft
Buy a new pair of boots
Buy and complete a new puzzle
Decorate the front porch
Make a scarecrow
Go trick-or-treating
Fill 25 more reading challenge slots (11/25)
Find a Halloween door hanger ✓ - We have a cute hanging “BOO” for the front door.
Dye my hair something suitably fall
Watch It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
Eat at 3 new-to-me restaurants

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

So close to the birthday party and I still have a ton of task list items.
I did a bit clean out of my clothes and it feels so good to be organized.
Plus the playroom is so clean right now!
Spooky October movie month is going well. So far, I think the original The Mummy has been my favorite.
I need more apple cider!
Thinking about next year’s food project. Maybe stews and soups?

Next up on the TBR pile:

October 2019 Life Goals

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

Read 15 books - Success! Just made it with 16 books.
Visit Vala’s - Success! We’ve gone twice so far this season!
Create a rotation of activities/places - Threw this goal out. We’re just going to play it by ear until after Christmas.
Plan/prep for the birthday party - Success! I have more things to do, but many items have been checked off.
Clean out the kitchen boxes - 50% success. I emptied one. The other box is full of party supplies, so many will get used this month.

October’s Goals:

Scary movie/television/reading month - We have a list of movies, television shows, and books for this month. I’m going all in for Halloween!
Pumpkin patch visit with friends - Working on a plan to go to a patch with a few other families.
Pull off Arthur and Quentin’s birthday party - October 12th!!!
New Halloween activity - No trick-or-treating at the zoo this year. We’re looking for a different activities.

Next up on the TBR list:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

Four hours at the pumpkin patch may be my limit, but it was fun while it lasted.
It’s Quentin’s 3rd birthday… I think I might need to make a small cake for tonight’s dessert.
Renewed interest in hosting a crop day. I’m thinking late October.
Looking forward to all the spooky reads for next month. I jumped the gun a bit by reading Wilder Girls by Rory Power this past week.
Cooler temps this week have been amazing. I get to sleep with a comforter again!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Fall Bucket List

Ahhh fall! My favorite season of the year. I really missed it when we lived in California! Now I get to enjoy all the fall fun!

Visit two pumpkin patches
Carve pumpkins
Read 10 spooky books (not kids)
Read 20 spooky kids books
Make 5 pumpkin recipes
Go on a hayride (or a hayrack ride as they call it here)
Take pictures of boys in a pile of leaves
Find a new Halloween activity
Create a fall signature cocktail
Bake a pie
Watch 20 Fall/spooky movies
Navigate a corn maze
Buy Halloween pajamas
Buy a new nail color for fall
Make a leaf craft
Buy a new pair of boots
Buy and complete a new puzzle
Decorate the front porch
Make a scarecrow
Go trick-or-treating
Fill 25 more reading challenge slots
Find a Halloween door hanger
Dye my hair something suitably fall
Watch It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
Eat at 3 new-to-me restaurants

Next up on the TBR pile:

Summer Bucket List Finish Line

And with that, summer has come to an end. I didn’t cross off all my items (do I ever?), but I think a 50% completion rate is very good for this season and all the busy-ness. 13/25 completed

Read 50 books ✓
Have an appetizer night ✓
Tie Dye Shirts
Weekend trip to the Cosmosphere
Try 3 ice cream places 3/3 ✓
- Coneflower - Oh so yum! I got Rhubarb Crisp, Arthur and Quentin got Dark Chocolate, Alex got Mint Choc Chip, and J got Coffee, Mint Choc Chip, and White Choc and Basil. I think the winner was Coffee.
- Ted and Wally’s - A favorite in Old Market! I got Almond Joy, Arthur and Alex got vanilla, Quentin got chocolate, and J got Guiness and Fudge Brownie German Chocolate.
- eCreamery - I tried the green apple sorbet and the raspberry and strawberry sorbet. So yummy! J had the lime sorbet, also very good, and the kids had the chocolate ice cream.
Go on 5 picnics 5/5 ✓
- One at the splash pad before school started
- One at another splash pad
- One at Chalco Hills Regional park
- One at a neighborhood park
- One at another fun park
Visit an outdoor cinema
Make s’mores
Go to 3 movies 3/3 ✓
- Lego Movie 2 - I took the littles to the weekday $1 showing of the second Lego Movie. Love the cheap movies!
- The Grinch - Another cheap weekday movie!
- Downtown Abbey - I got to see this during a special preview. Oh so good!
Make sangria
Find and complete a new puzzle ✓
Visit 2 other library branches
- Swanson Branch - For book sale and library browsing
Complete the summer reading program ✓
Visit Mahoney State Park
Check out Pirate Putt and Medieval Putt ✓
Visit 5 Nebraska Passport spots (1/5)
- It’s All About Bees - A cute little bee themed store in Omaha. I picked up some honey for our house and for a care package.
Try a new food truck ✓
Go on a brewery tour/tasting
Run through the sprinklers/splash pad ✓
Ride a Ferris Wheel
Go to a concert (indoor or outdoor)
Go tanking
Try 2 new-to-me restaurants 2/2 ✓
- Barchen - J and I had a date night at this German beer hall and restaurant. Food wasn’t amazing, but beer was good.
- Yum Roll - We had dinner at the fancy food court and I tried the Korean BBQ bowl. Decent, but I think the taco place next door is better.
Visit Hollywood Candy in Old Market ✓
Complete a series ✓

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

This week… not so good. Everything always seems to hit the fan at the same time.
Brighter note: I secured a babysitter for Sunday so we can go see Hamilton!!!
I know it’s only September, but I’m already feeling the reading challenge crunch. Still my reading has been crazy lately!
Birthday party planning is entering into the final phases. I have a growing pile of supplies that have been delivered. I have a food list created. Working on finalizing our activities and waiting for RSVPs.
Starting to make October’s spooky reading list. I love Halloween time so much!
Bought a sparkly pumpkin sign for outdoors and Q has to say hello to it every time we come home.
Found some great clothing pieces at the Goodwill this week. Can’t wait to wear my new fall clothes.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Grilled Cheese Adventures: July and August

Part of my 2019 goals is make a different Grilled Cheese recipe each week. I find grilled cheese to be so comforting, but just cheddar or Colby gets boring after awhile. So, I checked a few books out from the library and make a Pinterest Board with lots of options. Here’s what we ate:

Week 27: Chrissy Teigen’s Brie and Peach Grilled Cheese

Back on track… This one was nice (loved the peaches!), but I think I put on too much brie. Next time, I will go a bit easier on that or choose a slightly different cheese.

Week 28: Nacho Grilled Cheese

Decent, but we needed to add some hot sauce after cooking to really make it good!

Week 29: Three Cheese Pesto and Avocado

Kinda lackluster. This definitely needed something to kick it up a bit.

Week 30: Pesto, Artichoke, and Havarti

I used dill havarti and feel like it made a world of difference. Pretty good.

Week 31: Pizza Grilled Cheese

I left off the extra layer on top. Even without this one was good.

Week 32: Kale and Sweet Potato with Dill Havarti

This was different and yet really good.

Weel 33: Spinach and Feta

The addition of red pepper flakes really made this sandwich.

Week 34: Pulled pork and cheddar with green onions

Great way to use up some of the leftover pulled pork .

September 2019 Life Goals

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

Have a successful first week of school for Arthur! - Success! We’re still all adjusting, but things are going well.
Create a schedule for Quentin - I’m going to call it a success… We have some activities lined up and are figuring out our other days.
Restart our Romp n Roll membership - Success! Q adjusted well to going back to classes. We even added in a few Parent’s Morning Outs.
Read 15 books - Success! I ended up reading 22 books this month.
Finish Lucifer S4 - Success! Finally caught up.

September’s Goals:

Read 15 books - Knocking some more out this month.
Visit Vala’s - We bought season passes this year and I am going to take advantage.
Create a rotation of activities/places - I need to stay organized better.
Plan/prep for the birthday party - We’re thinking the second weekend in October for the actual party so I need to get moving.
Clean out the kitchen boxes - Seriously they need to go!

Next up on the TBR list:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

Spent 30 minutes yesterday making a giant to-do list. All the swirling task in my head are on paper. I feel better.
I want to bake all the things! Unfortunately I’m sick and have no energy…
Spending two days resting at home (in between home and childcare tasks of course) has allowed me to catch up on some television.
I love smooth writing plans.
This year’s birthday party theme is fun on paper, harder to translate to real things. Really need to work on the activities…
I can’t wait to dive into my September TBR stack this weekend. I think I have some real winners in there…

Next up on the TBR pile:

Summer Bucket List Update #3

Arthur’s officially in school, but we still have summer weather to enjoy. 10/25 completed.

Read 50 books - 40books read so far. I’ll complete this goal, no problem.
Have an appetizer night ✓
Tie Dye Shirts
Weekend trip to the Cosmosphere
Try 3 ice cream places 3/3 ✓
- Coneflower - Oh so yum! I got Rhubarb Crisp, Arthur and Quentin got Dark Chocolate, Alex got Mint Choc Chip, and J got Coffee, Mint Choc Chip, and White Choc and Basil. I think the winner was Coffee.
- Ted and Wally’s - A favorite in Old Market! I got Almond Joy, Arthur and Alex got vanilla, Quentin got chocolate, and J got Guiness and Fudge Brownie German Chocolate.
- eCreamery - I tried the green apple sorbet and the raspberry and strawberry sorbet. So yummy! J had the lime sorbet, also very good, and the kids had the chocolate ice cream.
Go on 5 picnics 3/5
- One at the splash pad before school started
- One at another splash pad
- One at Chalco Hills Regional park
Visit an outdoor cinema
Make s’mores
Go to 3 movies 2/3
- Lego Movie 2 - I took the littles to the weekday $1 showing of the second Lego Movie. Love the cheap movies!
- The Grinch - Another cheap weekday movie!
Make sangria
Find and complete a new puzzle ✓
Visit 2 other library branches
- Swanson Branch - For book sale and library browsing
Complete the summer reading program ✓
Visit Mahoney State Park
Check out Pirate Putt and Medieval Putt ✓
Visit 5 Nebraska Passport spots (1/5)
- It’s All About Bees - A cute little bee themed store in Omaha. I picked up some honey for our house and for a care package.
Try a new food truck ✓ - The Durham Museum had food trucks for their Back-to-School Party. I had yummy pork tacos from The Churro Truck.
Go on a brewery tour/tasting
Run through the sprinklers/splash pad ✓
Ride a Ferris Wheel
Go to a concert (indoor or outdoor)
Go tanking
Try 2 new-to-me restaurants 2/2 ✓
- Barchen - J and I had a date night at this German beer hall and restaurant. Food wasn’t amazing, but beer was good.
- Yum Roll - We had dinner at the fancy food court and I tried the Korean BBQ bowl. Decent, but I think the taco place next door is better.
Visit Hollywood Candy in Old Market ✓
Complete a series ✓

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

Arthur’s first week of Kindergarten is going well, but may goodness the schedule change is drastic.
So close to finishing S4 of Lucifer. If only I could find an hour here or there.
Need to go to the library and pick up holds again. My never-ending task.
I should make a cake this week. Got a recipe for a lemon pistachio cake that looks pretty amazing.
The lawn is getting a bit wild.
I should make a Q and I bucket list for this fall while Arthur is in school.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Summer Bucket List Update #2

It’s hot, the twins are here, and we’re right in the middle of our summer! Let’s get to our summer bucket list:

Read 50 books - 25 books read so far
Have an appetizer night ✓
Tie Dye Shirts
Weekend trip to the Cosmosphere
Try 3 ice cream places 2/3
- Coneflower - Oh so yum! I got Rhubarb Crisp, Arthur and Quentin got Dark Chocolate, Alex got Mint Choc Chip, and J got Coffee, Mint Choc Chip, and White Choc and Basil. I think the winner was Coffee.
- Ted and Wally’s - A favorite in Old Market! I got Almond Joy, Arthur and Alex got vanilla, Quentin got chocolate, and J got Guiness and Fudge Brownie German Chocolate.
Go on 5 picnics
Visit an outdoor cinema
Make s’mores
Go to 3 movies 1/3
- Lego Movie 2 - I took the littles to the weekday $1 showing of the second Lego Movie. Love the cheap movies!
Make sangria
Find and complete a new puzzle
Visit 2 other library branches
Complete the summer reading program ✓
Visit Mahoney State Park
Check out Pirate Putt and Medieval Putt ✓
Visit 5 Nebraska Passport spots
- It’s All About Bees - A cute little bee themed story in Omaha. I picked up some honey for our house and for a care package.
Try a new food truck
Go on a brewery tour/tasting
Run through the sprinklers/splash pad ✓
Ride a Ferris Wheel
Go to a concert (indoor or outdoor)
Go tanking
Try 2 new-to-me restaurants 2/2 ✓
- Barchen - J and I had a date night at this German beer hall and restaurant. Food wasn’t amazing, but beer was good.
- Yum Roll - We had dinner at the fancy food court and I tried the Korean BBQ bowl. Decent, but I think the taco place next door is better.
Visit Hollywood Candy in Old Market ✓
Complete a series

Next up on the TBR pile:

August 2019 Life Goals

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

End of Summer Plans - Success!
Schedule a Kansas Trip - Fail… we just didn’t get around to it at all.
Stop adding books to my library holds! - Success! My holds list for the library is now down to 18 books. This is a great number as it was 34. Hoping to continue this trend.

August’s Goals:

Have a successful first week of school for Arthur! - He starts Kindergarten on August 12th!
Create a schedule for Quentin - With Arthur at school, we need to figure out a weekly schedule for Q and I.
Restart our Romp n Roll membership - As part of our new schedule, Q and I are going to restart our RnR classes.
Read 15 books - I’ve been reading somewhere between 15 and 20 books a month. Aiming for a slightly less number as this month will be busy.
Finish Lucifer S4 - I have eight episodes left in this season to catch up completely.

Next up on the TBR list:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

Loving the slightly cooler temperatures this week.
My reading momentum is huge right now!
I finally got a new Stampin’ Up! order and I’m hoping to dive in today.
Takeout Thai food last night was the best choice.
I need to reassess my wardrobe for fall.
Arthur can’t wait for school to start. I feel the same! He needs time away from me and his brother.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #12

Reading: Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

Watching: Finally starting binging Lucifer and I love it! I’m already up to the midpoint of S3!

Listening: Along with NPR UpFirst, I’ve been listening every weekday morning to The Indicator.

Making: So many lists. Story of my life.

Feeling: We’re driving home today and I have really been missing home.

Planning: Working on planning dinners for the next two weeks or so.

Loving: Last night we got peanut butter cup mixers from Culver’s and it was oh so good.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

Ugh, The Bachelorette! Luke P is so manipulative. I don’t even want to see him come back next week. And I’m so afraid that Hannah is going to be pick Jed. Argh!
Not looking forward the to the next couple of days. Temps are going to be in the high 90s and low 100s. I’m so hot all the time.
On a happier note, I’m taking the littles to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum today. I haven’t been in over 10 years. Super excited!
My to-do list needs to be revamped. Working on that today and tomorrow.

Next up on the TBR pile: