November

How did we get here?  Just two months left in the year of 2015 - and the best two months at that.  We are right in the heart of the most magical, busy, special time of the year.  I love each and every day and all that comes along with the holidays.  Like every month, just a few easy, fun things to add to the month ahead.

Looking forward to this month… 

Derek's Birthday Celebrations: The big 3-0 is ahead this month (well tomorrow actually) for Derek and I sure do love a good celebration  - especially celebrating my husband.

Stella Turns One: The milestone of when we got Stella will be coming up at the end of January (I'm sure we'll celebrate that too!) but my best little lady's first birthday is late this month.  Hard to believe she's been part of the family for so long! 

Final Tailgate: I'm not looking forward to the end of football season or game weekends but I am looking forward at getting in one fun final tailgate for the season - plus it will be too cold to tailgate (outside) soon anyway, I guess.

Finishing Out Wedding Season: One more wedding and then wedding season of 2015 is over.  Looking forward to getting together with some old friends and dressing up one more time.

Christmas Preparations: Basically everything Christmas related.  I by no means skip over Thanksgiving but it just doesn't quite take as much prep as Christmas.  List making, activity scheduling, baking details - planning just about anything and everything is on the list for this month.

Thanksgiving: Looking forward to this relaxing, delicious and most important day of thanks holiday.  As time goes on I love thanksgiving more and more - too many calories, too many things to give thanks for -- such a blessing of a day.

Wants… 

Thankful: Each day when I have my time talking to God I make sure to share everything that I'm thankful for big and little but I want to try as well this month to not take any little things for granted and really focus on this all month long as opposed to just the one day -- and continue each day.  On the note of being thankful, it's also a hope to do some giving back - no better time for a food bank drop off than now.

Christmas Shopping: I usually save the shopping for closer to the Christmas season but I'm actually hoping to have a lot of it done or planned out by the end of November so December can be more about enjoying.

New Recipe(s): With the weather changing, it's back to cooking season.  Casseroles and crockpot meals - I can't seem to stop searching Pinterest for new things to try.  Now just to put the recipes to the test and actually try them out.

Reading (redo): October flew by (and I became addicted to Friday Night Lights, which just about any of my downtime went to) but now that it's getting dark earlier and colder, it shouldn't be too hard to find extra time for making a dent into my pile of books.

Make Something for Thanksgiving: So many great recipes go along with this holiday - I'm hoping to contribute to at least one (or both!) of our Thanksgiving meals - nothing major but something little yet festive.

"Nothing" Weekend Nights: By the time Friday night rolls around, we are spent.  Now that daylight savings has happened, I wouldn't mind curling up under a blanket, ordering a pizza and getting some lounging in on the weekends.

Barre More: I finally got around to getting to the local barre studio and fell in love - I'm hoping to continue finding time to get there more and more as well as possibly get some DVD's to do at home too.

Taking a peek back at October… 

{Looking forward to last month…}

+ Dallas Weekend: Why, yes - we just got back yesterday in face - recap coming tomorrow.
+ Engagement-versary:  We had a great time at one of our favorite places in the city (here)
+ Second Annual Tailgate Party: The game wasn't a success but the tailgate party was - we had a group of about 15 (here)
+ Pumpkinland: Our new tradition "pumpkins and pizza" continued on this year and we walked away with two pumpkins to decorate our front porch. (here)
+ Local Fall Events: We only got to one but that's better than none - we picked up two little pumpkins at the local arboretum's fall pumpkin festival days (here)
+ Halloween Dinner: Much better than last year - it was just the two of us.  We had a fun festive night a few days before Halloween.

{Wants…}

+ Reading: Sadly, no - going for a redo this month.
+ Final Nights on the Deck: Not as many as I would have liked but we got in a few extra dinners and relaxing lounging out there.
+ Fall Recipes: A couple new recipes were tested out - mainly in the crockpot (the winners will be coming soon)
+ Dress up for Halloween: Yes! For the first time in years - it was such fun. (here)
+ Porch Furniture Covered: Sadly, yes - hoping for a quick winter so we can get back out there and enjoy it.
+ Pumpkin Carving: We didn't end up carving but we did "scoop."  Clearing out the insides to put a dip into the pumpkin.
+ First Fall Mani/Pedi: Yes and only one - wishing it was more.  Heading for my second on Friday in preparations for our final wedding of the year.
+ Get Touristy: Somewhat - we didn't do something really touristy but we did head into the city to try out a new spot for lunch and wander around a bit.

Past Months… 
October // September // August & July // June // May // April // March // February // January

*Congratulations to Cara Z, the winner of the Kate Spade Earrings giveaway! 

I emailed you with details for claiming the prize – thanks to all who entered.*

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