Tuesday, November 3, 2015

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.*


32 comments:

  1. Fun way to look forward and back at each month. I've been a lot more cognizant of being thankful everyday and talking to God about my blessings. It makes life so much easier, right?

    I have a lot of recipes I'm looking to try this month and can't wait to attack them. And I can't wait for all the Christmas after Thanksgiving, it's soooooooo close!

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  2. Last year I pretty much made everything for Thanksgiving except the turkey at my in laws and this year we're staying with my family so my BIL is the chef and I just come to eat, but I'll make dessert I think lol!! yay for Derek's birthday - hope you guys have so much fun celebrating! xo, biana -BlovedBoston

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  3. I seriously can't believe that it's already November! Where did time go? I think it also doesn't feel like it because the weather has been so mild (which I'm not complaining about)--usually I have my winter coat busted out for a bit already now, and haven't touched it once!
    Lots of awesome things coming up this month--it's gonna be that busy holiday season before we know it!

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  4. I'm hoping to do some more reading this month too! Happy Birthday to your husband and to Stella :)

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  5. You have a lot of fun events coming up this month with 2 very special birthdays! Each year I start Christmas shopping earlier and earlier and it feels great to be almost done instead of stressed out with all the fun festivities going on in December <3

    Green Fashionista

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  6. At the beginning of the season I would have said I was sad that football is coming to a close but considering how awful we are this year, I'm ready to just throw in the towel and get ready for next season! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes

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  7. Happy early birthday to Derek! I can't wait to hear all about your trip to the Big D! It's so sad that football season is almost over! I feel like we wait in anticipation of it for so long and then it gets here and flys by and then it's back to waiting for next season. Hope you're doing ok getting adjusted to life back home!

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  8. so much to look forward to in these two months - it's so hard to believe this year is almost over - what a whirlwind! boo on football being almost over - it's such a fall thing. but time for thanksgiving and christmas! :)

    xoxo cheshire kat

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  9. Sounds like you have a ton to look forward to these next two months, that is wonderful! Last year we hosted Thanksgiving and I made a few things ahead of time. Getting shopping done sounds like a good idea too. I'm with you on appreciating things more all of the time too!! Happy early birthday to Derek too. Life gets better after 30! :-) Have a great day too!!

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  10. I love getting my Christmas shopping in early, too, so I can enjoy the season with family and friends.

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  11. My husband turned 30 this past summer and it was so much fun planning a surprise birthday party for him! My favorite part of birthdays is always picking out the cake design--I feel like a cake that reflects the birthday person is so much more meaningful!
    Sarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts

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  12. Love these!!! So much to look forward to. I've been getting Xmas shopping done early this year too! And I feel the same way about "nothing" weekend nights - curling up at home is the best!

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  13. Happy birthday to Derek! I love your recap of the months, I should really start doing that....Thank you SO much for the earrings, I am already planning my Christmas outfit based on the earrings, lol!

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  14. It sounds like you are going to have a great month ahead of you! I agree that Christmas takes so much more planning than Thanksgiving, and I kind of like to think that Thanksgiving is a "trial run" for Christmas (minus the gifts)...but still getting together with family, cooking, planning and feasting are all the same! Have fun at your last wedding of the season!

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  15. Looks like the last few months of the year are going to fun ones for you guys! I am so excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas...just the holiday season in general. I am with you are getting shopping done sooner...the time just creeps up on us. It would be a lot easier to have it all done before things get too busy to just enjoy. Happy Tuesday!

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  16. I am so with you on those "nothing" weekends. I look forward to the weekends where we have no plans and can just be :-)

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  17. I love your idea on nothing nights for the weekend - we have a lot of those. I am going to take advantage also of my crock pot on those nights!

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  18. I am so looking forward to "nothing" weekend nights, too! I love football season and all but it sure does take it out of you in the fall. January, the couch, and NFL games are calling my name!

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  19. I love how you set out your intentions for the month - it's such a great way to make sure you accomplish what you want during that time but still reflect on all the fun. Happy early birthday, Derek!

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  20. A couple of exciting birthdays coming up!! I am sooo excited for the holidays this year. I also need some new seasonal recipes, so if you find any, let me know!

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  21. Sounds like you've got a great month ahead of you! Happy early birthday to Derek!

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  22. Just found your blog-- so cute! I love the header. And thanks for sharing! November is one of my favorite months of the year-- it's always extremely busy but in the best of ways!

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  23. Oh very cute post!
    My best wishes to you in this month
    xx

    www.sakuranko.com

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  24. November is always one of my favorite months and we always have a million things going on! I'm really looking forward to starting all of the Thanksgiving and Christmas festivities!

    I'm sad, too, about college football being over... it never lasts long enough!

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  25. what a fun way to look back over the month! they seem to go by so quickly don't they? i love your idea about starting to christmas shop in november so you can just enjoy december. i started doing that last year and it really made december so much more enjoyable and a little less stress free!! december is all about food, family and christmas lights isn't it? no time to shop with all the masses! happy november!

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  26. You have so much to look forward to in November!! It's going to be a great month for you. Can't wait to see all of the fun things you do. :)

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  27. I heard FNL the book is so good! I also prefer reading in the colder months and I might read this one too!

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  28. I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating your hubs! Nov and Dec are my favorite two months as well (being a December baby and all)...The craziness that is the holidays is about to begin!

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  29. Love this post idea! You have a lot of fun stuff coming up, lovie! Hope November is so much fun and you get to enjoy every moment of it!

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  30. Happy Birthday to your husband!

    So glad you had so much fun in Texas and got your fill of Mexican food! I may be a little biased, but I think it is the best! ;) We love The Joule! We have had some company Christmas party is there in the past, and it never disappoints.

    Also, we Love the almond champagne and can't get enough of it during their annual wine festival. Hope you come back to our neck of the woods soon!

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  31. I have one more wedding for this season later this month, too! What do you do for weddings? I'm a florist and love it. I'm kind of ready for a little relaxing break, though. :)

    Thanks for linking up and I hope the last wedding of the season goes well for you!

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