Monthly Musings ~ October 30, 2025

 I am participating in Monthly Musings today with Patty and Holly all with a Halloween theme.

1. Favorite Halloween traditions

When my girls were younger, I loved walking with them door to door in my neighborhood to trick or treat.  Now, I do enjoy seeing all the yards decorated, although I don't decorate my yard for Halloween.

2.  Any special Halloween dinner and snacks

I always make chili, Texas style (with no beans) on Halloween.

3. What do you typically do on Halloween

In the past few years, I have either gone to a friend's house for dinner and trick or treating, met up with my niece and all the greats for dinner and trick or treating, a fire pit and giving out candy at my house and last year I was actually out of town on Halloween. I am not sure what I will do this year.  

4. Do you carve or paint pumpkins

I have done both in the past and enjoyed it with the right company

5. Favorite Halloween candy

candy corn/autumn mix

6. What are giving out for Halloween this year

I bought individual pretzel bags from Whole Foods...something different and non chocolate!

7. Full size or fun size

fun size

8. Favorite Halloween costume of all time

I have dressed up a few times as an adult, but can't really think of a favorite to share.

9. Favorite Halloween movies

Honestly, I can think that I have a favorite movie, but I do like the Charlie Brown Pumpkin special.

10.  What are the trick or treat hours where you live

5:30-7:30/8 would be average times in this area.  

Hodgepodge ~ October 29, 2025

 Good morning!  I am joining up with Joyce for this week's Hodgepodge.

1. Are you a risk taker? To what degree? 

I have never thought of myself as a risk taker, but I do think of myself of being brave.  I show up to do things alone. I live alone. I wake up each morning after experiencing great trauma the past few years.  A saying a read recently said doing something scared, is still being brave. 

Back in my first round of single days, I use to travel alone then too.

When I was married, our family moved to South America for 3 years.  That is the riskiest thing I have done, but I am so thankful for that experience.

2. What's your favorite candy? Would you say you have a sweet tooth? 

I definitely have a sweet tooth and could eat dessert after each meal.  Sometimes, just a small sweet bite is all I want, but I don't do this because I also don't have much self control!  I try not to keep sweets in the house all the time.  If I have them, they don't last long!

As far as my favorite candy goes, I love caramel M&M's.  

3. Somewhere you've been recently that had you feeling 'like a kid in a candy store'? 

The last time I used this expression of being a kid in a candy store was this spring when I took a tour of the Air Traffic Control Center.  I studied aviation in college, so to go to the floor of where the ATC's work and even listen in on a call with a pilot and see their screens was so fun for me.  Speaking of the ATC's, they are hard working people who are currently working without pay.  Thank the TSA people as well if you are traveling anytime soon.  

4. What do you think is the most effective way to make a positive change in the world? 

There are so many answers I think for this one.  Some things that come to mind are be kind, be humble, be a lifetime learner, be a listener, don't be entitled, don't take everything so deeply personal and have a sense of humor.  I believe being a light in this world reflecting Jesus as best I can is the most positive thing I can do. 

5. Do you like surprises? 

I am neutral on this because if it is my kids surprising me with a visit or an unexpected gift, yes, I like surprises!  If it is something that involves a lot more people, I am hesitant. I had a surprise party for my 30th and 40th birthdays, which were fun, but I think I am good on surprise parties now.  

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Just a few random things I have taken pictures of over the last few months that I don't think I have shared here...

Have a great day & thanks for reading!

Hello Monday ~ October 27, 2025

Good morning and Happy Monday! 

I hope you had a good weekend. Here is a little re-cap of mine....

Backing up to Thursday night, I had my late day at work serving dinner at the hospital and then I attended a gala afterwards with two of my co-workers.  It was downtown and there was such a great view of the bridge!

There were lots of bite sized foods there and this was a great little sampling of shrimp and grits.  I like shrimp and grits, but I don't make it at home or order it out either, so I enjoyed eating it here.  

I actually spent the night with my parents because some work was being done at my home Friday & I needed a place to work where I could be on the phone.  I went to the dentist then came home to work for the afternoon from home.  I enjoyed the fall background on my tv. Friday night was super quiet for me as I was home the rest of the day by myself. 

Saturday morning, I went to the University of Memphis football game with one of my best friends.  The stadium is undergoing repairs currently, but it doesn't take away from the game. We did a little bit of breakfast tailgating since it was an 11am game and barely came out with a win! It was a fun day and beautiful football weather.

Later that night, Jenn and Kendra came over and we sat on my back porch, had a glass of wine and listened to the rain.  It looks like a rainy few days here and it will be quite cool. I am happy to be wearing sweatshirts and sweaters again!

Sunday, I went by Jenn's for a few minutes before church to see her.  After church, I was home for the afternoon doing misc. house things. It was a rainy day, but I always enjoy seeing my friends at church. One of my other best friends is currently in Nigeria, so I was able to talk with her on the phone via What's App.  Not going to lie, I also shed some tears over 1st world problems later Sunday night.  Something is going on with my garage door and it won't close.  It is just one more little thing that is overwhelming without having the help of a man to ask to help or someone at home to help me troubleshoot.  Living alone/not having someone in your life to hug at certain times is lonely and hard.  I didn't have the energy to deal with it, so today I will go to youtube for a solution....to the garage door, not finding a man.  

 

Friday Favorites ~ October 24, 2025

 Good morning friends!  It was a good, busy week for me.  I am looking forward to a weekend of being at home watching college football and some Hallmark movies too.

Monday, I had my annual birthday luncheon with my great-nephew who turned 9 yesterday.  He made me a great aunt and it is truly the joy of my life!  He referred to me as his grandma/aunt because he said I was like a grandmother to him.  This made my heart grow and melt a little too! 

Tuesday night, I was at home and I built myself the first fire of the season.  It was lovely sitting on the back porch enjoying the view of my backyard.

Wednesday, I had lunch with a friend and enjoyed a chicken and shrimp taco in a lettuce shell. Of course, I had probably a basket of chips to accompany this!

Afterwards, I met up with a friend at a coffee shop to work.  I am trying to work more from a coffee shop with another side job I have.  Sometimes I get too distracted working from home!  I enjoyed a London Fog tea, which had sugar free vanilla and almond milk mixed with the tea. This coffee shop is decorated so cute for fall and is so much more fun with a friend. I also loved wearing my new sweatshirt I bought at a yard sale last weekend for $5.  I wore this because the Grizzlies had their first game of the year and they won!

This screensaver is also a favorite from the week.

I picked up these mugs at a yard sale last week.  There is something on the front and back of the mug, as you can see pictured below.

I hope you have a fabulous Friday and great weekend!

Thanks for reading!

Hodgepodge ~ October 22, 2025

 Happy Wednesday!  Happy Hodgepodge!

1. What do you like most about your family? 

These 2 daughters of mine!

I am also so thankful for my parents, my siblings and all my nieces/nephews and greats!

2. What's something nice that's happened to you recently? 

I shared this last week, but having such a big group of people come help with me with home projects has been so nice.

3. Do you like the color orange? Besides a pumpkin and an actual orange, what's something orange you love?

I love a mandarin and a sumo orange! I am also a fan of sweet potatoes in any variety.

4.  What's something you have now you couldn't have imagined having five years ago? How does that make you feel? What's possible now because of it? 

I am single now.  It makes me feel sad and lonely often, but I also feel strong in so many ways.  I have such freedom to come and go/do/eat/spend/watch, etc. and it is often so nice!

5. Let's wrap this one up with an October this or that...

• pumpkin bread or apple cider donut
• I had an apple cider donut Saturday and it was amazing.  That said, I love pumpkin chocolate chip bread.  I need to make some soon!
• cozy sweater or cozy hoodie
• This is another hard choice....I would take a cozy sweatshirt, not necessarily a hoodie though.  I would take a cozy sweater over a hoodie.
• apple picking or pumpkin picking
• Pumpkin picking
• scary movie or Hallmark movie
• Hallmark movie
• hay ride or corn maze
• Hayride, but I do enjoy a corn maze with the right company.
• twinkle lights or candles
• I love both!  I like the scent of candles with twinkle lights in the background.
• autumn hike or autumn bonfire
• I'm not doing good at this or that, because I want to choose both, ha!  I love seeing the fall colors so I would say an autumn walk, but not necessarily a hike!  I do enjoy a bonfire too though with friends.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I subbed a few weeks ago and this poster was in the 2nd grade classroom and is one of my favorites.  This is so true.

Hope you have a great day and thanks Joyce for hosting!

Hello Monday ~ October 20, 2025

Good Monday morning to you.  Even though we have had some good weather days, I feel like mid October is when we finally make the turn and enter fall weather to stay and it is just what I need!

I hope you all had a good weekend.

I wasn't around home much, but here is a re-cap!

My Friday morning had a rough start, but I was thankful to go to my sister's after work and see most of my greats and get some hugs.  I had been in a hug deficiency with no hugs last week. This was the best way to make up for some hugs!  We took 6 of the kids to a pumpkin patch/farm.

My purse quickly became full of all the "can you hold this?".... cups, stuffed animal, camera, misc. Next time I will bring a backpack!

I shared a twin bed with this cute 5 year old and we had a big sleepover Friday night.

Saturday morning, I took these 2 to the local farmer's market.  One had shoes, the other forgot hers :).

We got one more with us and went to lunch and they ran errands with me.  It was a full Saturday afternoon!

We all gathered as a family to celebrate my great nephews upcoming 9th birthday!

After this, I drove in a rainstorm to celebrate my co-worker's 21st birthday.  She celebrates the same birthday and is the same age as my daughter.  I call her my work daughter and love her dearly.

Sunday, I went to church and had a few showings at my house.  I am still waiting on the right buyer and an offer.  Pray it comes soon!  I hung out at Jenn's house for the afternoon then went to my small group that evening for dinner. I was glad to be back home after being gone most of the weekend.

Hope you have a great Monday and thanks for reading!

 

Friday Favorites ~ October 17, 2025

 Happy Friday!  So many favorites to share with you today from the last week or two.....

After a hard night I had one night recently, my sister gave me this a few days later.  It was a small bag of my favorite fall treat and some encouraging verses.  It meant so much to me and was the perfect encouragement!

Some friends from church, plus daughter's boyfriend and a cardboard Elvis were all on hand to help me with some projects at my house on a recent Saturday.  I was blown away by how many people showed up to help me!

Here is one project as a before...

And after is for sure a favorite!

On my drive to Savannah, a picture of Brook at her school showed up on my photos on my car.  Seeing this & the scripture encouragement in my car was a favorite.  I keep the card from my sister taped on my dash and the scripture rock was a gift from Joyce.  I love seeing these each time I drive.

 

When I got back in town Monday, I went to our local park and took a walk after being in the car for a few hours. I took advantage of the hybrid parking and had a facetime call with Jenn since she is on vacation this week.

A few funnies....reels and things like this are always favorites!

Someone posted this as their meal planning, ha!

Also, I want to say a huge favorite of mine is this community and the real life friends I have made.  Several of you have reached out personally to me the past week via texts, calls and cards.  I am truly thankful to call you friends.  Love you ladies!

The best way to close this post is an early birthday wish to my newborn baby girl.  She turns 21 tomorrow.  I am so incredibly proud to be her momma.

Have a great weekend!