Monthly Musings: November 2024 Holiday Fun Edition

 

Hi Friends!  Thanks for stopping by!  Patty and I hope you will join us for our Monthly Musings link up!  This month we are chatting all things HOLIDAY FUN...yeah!!!  We are answering the questions below...

Here we go

1. Any Holiday Parties On Tap?

You know it- we are hosting Thanksgiving Eve for family and friends- I am also hosting my Annual Favorite Things Party for My Besties in December and we are going to the McLain's Annual Holiday Cocktail Party too...can't wait!

 

 

2. Best Holiday Prep Advice?

Make those lists- for gifts- for menus- for charity work- write it down and check it all off- I love lists :)

 

 

3.  Share a Holiday Appetizer Recipe That is a Crowd Pleaser

Laurel's Sweet and Spicy Cranberry Cocktail Meatballs FOR SURE.  You can find her recipe in my post HERE

 

We all request these every Christmastime- yum!

 

4. What Holidays Do You Celebrate In November and December?

For November, it is Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Eve (our very own holiday- ha!) and Thanksgiving

In December, it is Christmas Celebrations and Traditions all month long!

5. Favorite Holiday Beverage?  Alcohol or Alcohol Free

For Fall and Thanksgiving, it is a  Caramel Apple Martini

You can find my recipes HERE

 

For  Christmastime, I enjoy anything sparkly like a cranberry peppermint mimosa or a cosmo or martini with a little prosecco mixed in for some bubbles...something like a Poinsettia Mimosa.  Check it out HERE

 

 

6. What Part of Holiday Prep is a Total Struggle For You

Trying not to get stressed and overwhelmed with all of the shopping and cooking and hosting...and I dread wrapping unfortunately

7. Go-To Holiday Outfit

Anything with a little sparkle- if my top or pants don't have sparkle, then I will wear a sparkly necklace or sparkly shoes...carry a sparkly bag...gotta have some glitter :)

8. Do You Send Out  Holiday Cards?

Yes!  One of my favorite traditions..we always include family pics too :)

9. Black Friday Shopper?  Yes or Heck No!

Actually YES!  My BFF Cass talked me into it years ago...this year...we are letting our oldest girls join us so it will be "Black Friday The Next Generation"...I am really looking forward to that special day :)

10. Do You Listen  To Holiday Music Before or After Thanksgiving?

We ease into it in November and then go 24x7 after Thanksgiving

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

November Gratitude Challenge- Day 20

 

A Risk You Are Happy You Took

 

 

I am such a risk adverse person...this question is a tough one for me..but I would have to say having my babies later in life- I was 35 with Diana and 41 with Eva.  Both considered "geriatric pregnancies" and risky but I am so grateful that we were all ok and I have these loves in my life :)

November Gratitude Challenge- Days 15-19

 

15. 3 Books You Are Grateful To Have Read

1. Night Road by Kristan Hannah

If you have teens and even before they are teens (that is when I read it)...it is a great reminder of how to act...what to say...how to support...and what can often times go wrong...though fiction, there was so much truth and pain in this novel...it was our very first Book Club read - 35 meetings ago- way back in 2018- I will never forget it- it stays with me- I actually want to read it again!

2. Are You There God It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume

My FAVORITE book growing up- I learned so much

I was thrilled to share with both of my girls and ecstatic when the movie came out last year- saw it in the theater with Diana and very recently, Eva and I watched it together- the way this story was written truly helps to make puberty less scary

3. The Bible

Well in my own way via my daily devotional books that dive into the meaning behind the scriptures...so grateful to have the direction...the purpose...the faith...keeps me in check and reminds me there is nothing or no one greater

16. A Skill You Are Grateful For

Being able to "talk to a wall"

I love people- I feed off people- love learning about people's passions and jobs and love stories- I think that is why God made me a Recruiter.  I could talk to anyone...well anything too...yes even a wall...ha!  I am grateful I have that desire to talk...to learn and to be there for people

17. Something That Comforts You

Church- comforts me-gives me peace- gives me oxygen

 

18. Something That Makes You Feel Safe

Our Ring Doorbell and Cameras

19. 3 Things About Your Body That You Love

UGH..this is a hard one...not sure I can even come up with one

 

 Well I can only think of one and that is the strength in my legs.  They help me to walk very fast and they never let me down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Monday (November 18, 2024)

 

Hi Friends and Happy Monday!  I am here with Sarah and we are sharing about our weekends.  Hope you will join us!  I have to preface my post by saying I was AWFUL at taking pics this weekend...yikes...I promise to do better ;)

 

Friday 

 

First things first, Revitalize!  I was so excited to see that they debuted the Wicked teas and shakes and most were designed by Diana!

 

 After a busy morning of mass and work, I scooted out for a date lunch with my hubby- he had a gift card to Copper Door and we really enjoyed :)

My friends were sending  me pics of our real estate mailing- this one was my fave yet.  Our team picture and contact info is on the front and Thanksgiving cooking tips are on the back- my boss is genius!

 

One last FNL of the season- Quarter Finals and the Jags came up short but it was an exciting game.  We didn't have cheerleaders but the girls all came to enjoy the game with friends and boyfriends...I was with my posse...Lea, Kat, Stephanos, Rob and Pidge

 

 

 Saturday

 

We went out for a date walk because WE ARE BACK...ha!  Life has been so crazy but we really need to start squeezing these back in even if it means getting out there at 6:30!

 

 

 and this is where I really started slacking on the photo front.  I brought Diana to work then headed up to Manchester and Bedford.

I ran to Hobby Lobby to find wreaths for our windows for the holidays.  This is the first year we are experimenting with this.  I also snagged some tulle to  make some bows for the wreaths.  Now we just have to get some spotlights and hopefully we can make it all look festive...check back after Thanksgiving Weekend.

 

After that, I drove over to Trader Joe's and Whole Foods since I was in the area.  I got some different favorite treats to put a basket together for My Favorite Things Party.  We are doing one gift each this year and my gift will be Trader Joes Faves.

 

At Whole Foods, I grabbed some food to make for dinner and some ingredients for Thanksgiving.

 

After unloading all of the groceries at home, I actually whipped up two of our Thanksgiving sides and got them into the freezer.  This makes me feel less stressed leading up to the holiday.

 

Then Diana and I headed up to the high school to attend the Fall Show- Much Ado About Nothing...we enjoyed cheering on her fellow theater classmates and enjoyed the show too!

 

 

Diana and Ryan- fellow thespians since daycare :)

 

 

 That night, Diana headed out with Tommy's family to celebrate his birthday.  Eva had a friend over and I made dinner for all of us.

After dinner, the girls played and Rob and I watched some One Tree Hill maybe with a little dessert treat from TJ's- have you tried the mini peppermint ice cream cones?  They will definitely put you in the spirit!

 We crashed early!

Sunday

We were up bright and early for an 8 am hockey game!

 

 

Diana worked and I helped Revitalize with a little social media marketing...

 Then there was softball, cooking, grocery shopping, organizing and a little decorating upstairs only...it's the only thing us girls got Robby B to agree to ;)

I then finished my first book of the month "Nantucket Summer House" by Pamela Kelley and loved it!  She never lets me down.  This was book #9 in the Beach Plum Cove Series.  I flew through it and wanted more.

 

 

 Last night, we wrapped our weekend by going to mass as a family.  What were you all up to?

Lastly, I want to mention that Thursday is Monthly Musings with Patty and me.  We are talking all things holiday fun and answering the questions below- hope you will join us!

 

 

 

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter