Friday 5...Fave Purchases!

Deena | Abbie | Lana | Shaunacey | Katie | Alison | Sarah

Happy Friday!!  Is is just me, or has this been THE longest week??  I am so happy Friday has finally arrived!   I've been looking forward to this post. 

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting up with some of my Blended Blog Besties in Hilton Head South Carolina...the day after a hurricane blew through!!  

Did we have adventures...right outta the gate!  A day spent in the airport, a crazy one-armed cabbie, cockroaches, oh my!!  

But enough of that crazy!!  On to the good stuff....the sun, the sand, the food, the wine, the blog fun...and most importantly, the shopping!!  And boy did we shop! It was a ton of fun!

Actually Shaunacey and I shopped a little less than the others (maybe because I spent all my money on day one!)  But then I did a thing, my usual thing...I shopped online...while Shaunacey and I were at the pool!!  Online Shopping is just my thing!!

So since we did lots of shopping,  today we're all posting our five favorite purchases from our shopping spree!! 

I actually went into shopping not needing a THING!!  But then I kinda had this problem...I pretty much purchased something from every store I entered!!  I think this is probably because, at home, I really don't shop in stores AT ALL!  All my shopping is done online.  Shopping in actual stores?!?  I kind of forgot what it was like!!  So I had a lot to chose from. (Definitely not as much as much as Abbie though, who is now my shopping idol!!  She bought ALL THE THINGS!!) 

I don't doubt, that eventually you'll see all my purchases on the blog, today I chose my top five!!  Hope you like 'em!!

Michael Kors....eeeeekkkkk!!  I don't have much Michael Kors!  But I was so excited to find these two things .  This jacket is going to be a staple...for like...ever!

This scarf is the perfect match to this coat!  And is another fave purchase! It's one I ordered online by the pool Sunday and was at my door by Thursday!  It's Stella and Dot, which Shaunacey is a Stylist for...so basically, I bought all the things!  And am now a club member!!  LOL  I love that I can wear the scarf now in the fall, but I can also wear it every other season as well!

 This was my other purchase from Michael Kors.  This fun dress is a totally cool twist on the LBD.  And was a total slurge!! But I know I'll wear this.  And the thing about shopping with these girls...  Everyone is so complimentary!  They thought it looked great on me! I'm harder on myself!  I was totally drawn to the dress and really love it!

I've decided I'm no long comfortable in photos!!  I hate the way I look in all of these!  Ugh!!

I'm not sure why I had no intention at all of ever getting pants like this, but after seeing them on Alison in Express and how go she looked in them (just to try things on mind you!), I had to try.  And since all pants were buy one get one FREE, why the hell not!!  And now I freaking love them!!  They're a little hard to see in the photo but...

My last favorite purchase was another thing I bought on a whim...and when I bought it, I had no idea it would end up being a fave, but it totally is!!  It bought this bag to use as a new work bag this year.  I realize that we're at the end of October already, but up until now, I've only been bringing my purse to work.  Granted it's a big purse but.  I just figured, "I'm spending 11 hours at this place...I'm not ever bringing anything home!  THAT was a lie I told myself!  So I'm so happy with this purchase!  And my school friends have complimented me so much on this!!  It's perfect!

My moto for the weekend was "Buy it Now, Hyperventilate Later!!  So I've be paying for these purchases and all the rest for quite sometime!  But no regrets!!  Nothing beats shopping and laughing with friends!!  Now head on over to their blogs to see what these fabulous woman bought!  They are all a bunch of supermodels that look great in everything!!

Deena | Abbie | Lana | Shaunacey | Katie | Alison | Sarah

Thanks for stopping by the blog today!  I hope your weekend is a great one!  Do a little shopping!!

Soup Group Blog Hop!

It's Tasty Tuesday around these parts, and for something a bit different today I'm joining some fellow bloggers for a Soup Group Blog Hop.  So if you've landed here from Gail's Blog, thanks so much for stopping by...I hope you'll stay!

While I am not much of a cook on the daily, I do break out the crock pot a bunch of times during the Fall and Winter months.  I love the comfort of a hearty soup or chili...especially ones that will last me a few days!

I'm sharing a recipe today, that's not my own, but one I absolutely love and each time I make it, I swear it comes out better...LOL  A few years ago, I joined Casey for a Clean Week Challenge that was just for crock pots.  It seriously was so much fun.  Today's recipe was actually the very first of the week, and ended up being my favorite!  I've made this every Fall since the challenge.  I passed it along to my cousin actually and she entered it into a chili contest among her neighbors where it won rave reviews.  I do believe she kicked it up a notch with some spice!! Over time I've made it less "clean"

Here's my version the recipe:

Fall Chili....because chili is kinda in the soup family, right?  :)

It's lots of ingredients but it all gets thrown in the crock pot!

1lb. ground turkey, lean
-brown in skillet before throwing in crock pot!

1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 green pepper, diced
1 cup of frozen corn

1 15 oz. can Fire Roasted diced tomatoes (basically now when anything calls for diced tomatoes, I use the fire roasted!  So good!)
1 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
(the Clean version of the recipe calls for low sodium tomatoes...over time, I've grabbed what I can get!  LOL)

1 15 oz can of each:

• chili beans
• kidney beans
• black beans

1 15 oz can pureed pumpkin (not pie filling!)

1 TB chili powder

1/2 TB cumin

Salt to taste! Add at the end...you make not even need any.  I add a dash of pepper also!

Shredded cheese and scallions to garnish at the ending when plating.

When the meat is cooked, place everything in the crock pot and stir to combine.

Cook on low 6-7 hours or high or 4-5 on high.

I always prefer the low setting!  

The finished product!  YUM!!

Thanks so much for visiting today!  I hope you'll try this recipe, and when you do, please let me know what you think!  I'd love to hear!  

Now please hop on over to Penny's blog to see what delicious-ness she has in store for you!!

Fall Traditions with TBB!

Is drinking a boatload of Pumpkin Ale in the Fall a tradition? No??  Moving On!!

I'm excited to share today, because this year, after years and years of just talking about it, my bestie, Mel (you know her!) and I began a new tradition of Apple Picking out East!

We've been wanting to do apple picking for so long and we finally did it.  We went on the most beautiful Saturday in early Fall.  It wasn't too cold or too, too hot!  And because neither of us like people (ha...jk!), we went nice and early before all the crowds. Out east in the summer and early fall is a bear with traffic and tons of people!

We had the best day!

It was early in the season but we had a great haul...ya really had to get in there!!

Mel found her PERFECT apple!

Us in the orchard!

After apple picking and apple cider doughnuts we headed out to a place called the Riverhead Ciderhouse!  Because, after a day of apple picking, you can't NOT go there!!

I'm a huge fan of this place!!  It was Mel's first trip!!

We rounded out the day with a trip to a local brewery for some pumpkin ales  and a yummy lunch at a favorite spot!!  All in all it was a great day.  We can't wait to do it again next year!!

Linking up with my blog besties over at The Blended Blog!  You should too!  Can't wait to read all about everyone's Fall Traditions!!

Friday Loves

It's been FOREVER since I've shared a Friday post!  But last weekend, I spent some time with my blogging tribe! We ate, we drank, we shopped and beached!  And we talked The Blended Blog and Blogging.  I left feeling like I need to do more...wanting to do more!!! 

Today over at The Blended Blog we're sharing our love of fellow bloggers with a new (maybe old!) Feature Friday!  I'm heading on over there to link up my post...you should too.  Feeling rejuvenated on the blogging front, I read more blogs this week as well.  Here are some of the blogs I've loved this week.

Shaunacey spent the weekend with us in Hilton Head, but when she returned home to Barrie she was headed back to work after a year long maternity leave (three cheers for Canada's Health Care!!).  Before her first day, she shared a fabulous post that tugged at the heart strings...even for this non-mama!  I maybe loved it too because she centered the post around the song Seasons of Love from Rent, one of my favorite musicals!!  Read Shaunacey's sweet post here!

The teacher in my has had a hard time getting back into the swing of things myself, but I'm excited because Halloween is just around the corner.  The kids love Halloween, and I love the day off we get after it.  LOL  But I've been scouring Pinterest for some ideas to use in my library, and came across this super cute craft at I Heart Crafty Things.  Instead of using it in the library though, this year, my 6th graders are going to do this with their Pre-K buddies on Halloween.  So back to Pinterest I go!


I've been following The Single Woman, Mandy Hale  for years now! I've read all of her books, follow her on Insta, and just really enjoy her voice.  She's been posting leading up to her new book, You are Enough, that's out next week, and I'm getting super excited about it!!  Single or not, she's a good read.  Check out The Single Woman here!

I've posted lots of love for the clothes and ladies at Piper Street Shop on the blog.  So last week when they announced the store was closing after 5 years, I'm not gonna lie...my heart broke a little.  I love Sarah and Jenni, their clothes, and the love they show their customers on social media. I will for sure miss them!  The store is closing so that means deep discounts for customers.  Read all about the store's closing and their finals sales on their blog here.

I think this Kimono was one of my first Piper Street purchases!  It's still a fave!  I loved it so much I bought it in two colors!!

The last time I really blogged, Michael from Frankly, My Dear commented.  And ever since then I've been following her blog.  This week she posted a Bookish Q&A which I loved and hopped right on board with.  Yesterday I even posted my own version!  I'm so glad Michael found me and am so glad to now be able to follow her.  Check her out here!


How much fun was that!!  I'm heading over to The Blended Blog to link up...you should too!!

Have a great weekend!!!

Bookish Q & A!

A few days away with some of my favorite TBB Girls has got me all excited to start blogging again.  And even though I didn't have my act together for a Wednesday fashion post, I'm getting back in the game with all things BOOKS.  I was excited not too long ago to find, Michael's blog, Frankly, My Dear.  This week she posted some Bookish questions to answer and since I had Book Club last night, I thought it'd be the perfect place to start back up!!  Michael got the questions from Tanya at A Mindful Migration.  Glad to have found these blogs.

Here are my answers to Tanya's Questions:

Hardback or trade paperback or mass market paperback?

I like hardcover and trade paperback, but most of all I like large print books best!!  Easy to read and since I'm a huge supporter of my public library, I figure less hand have touched the large print books, right? 

Amazon or brick and mortar?

All of the above!  And definitely these days, my library!  I can request any book and they'll get if for me!  It's THE BEST!!

Locally owned bookshop or big name chain store?

I so wish we has a locally owned bookshop in my town!  I live in a town that has recently had a revitalization and in polls, believe it or not, a book store is the thing residents ask for most often!

Bookmark or dog-ear?

Bookmarks! I never dog-ear a page. As a librarian this is what I teach my students, so I'm practicing what I preach!!

Alphabetize by author, alphabetize by title or random?

I have books everywhere, so I'd say mostly random.  But I do keep my series together of course!

Keep, throw away, or sell?

I have a lot of books...and have kept them all for so long, even though I never really re-read.  I share and swap books, and donate.  I'll never throw them away, unless they are absolutely destroyed.  

Keep dust jacket or toss it?

Definitely a keeper!!  Makes the book look so pretty on my shelf! Why would anyone toss it?

Read with dust jacket on or remove it?

On until I read so much that I can't use it as a bookmark anymore...then I'll put it to the side.

Short story or novel?

I've read some wonderful, memorable short stories that I just love (Miss Brill is an all-time fave!!) but more often it's a novel that I'm reaching for.

Collection (short stories by same author) or anthology (short stories by different authors)?

Collection for sure!  If I'm being honest, I don't ever recall reading an anthology!!

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?

I like to stop at chapters but sometimes I just can't keep my eyes open!!

“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?

I'll take any hook that draws me in!!

Buy or borrow?

These days: Borrow!  I have a great public library and I just don't have anymore room or money to spend on books!!

A recent library haul!

New or used?

Since I borrow so many, I'll say both.  But I do love the first  crack of opening a brand new book!

Tidy ending or cliffhanger?

I like the tidy- ending!

Morning, afternoon or nighttime reading?

I read whenever I can...morning , noon, or night!!

Single volume or series?

I'll read anything. When the Harry Potter series came out, it was fun to wait for  and receive the newest one in the mail each time.  

Favorite series?

Harry Potter!

Favorite books read last year?

I'm trying remember if the Art of Racing in the Rain was one I read last year or if, now that we're in October, if I read it earlier this year!  But I LOVED it.   I have to check my Goodreads!  I also really enjoyed The Man Called Ove, which I know I definitely know I read last year!  LOL

Favorite books of all time?

Ooohhh great question!!  The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell.....FANTASTIC!!!  The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah is an all-time fave, as well as Rebecca, that I read in High school.  And WONDER is just my favorite!!!  Every human needs to read it!!

Now it's your turn! Answer these questions on your own blog!  And let me know in the comments below so I can hop on over and give it a read!!

TBB Asks: October 2.0

Eeekkkk...October!!  Finally feels like Fall!  Spent this weekend apple picking, drinking pumpkin ales and even eating pumpkin pizza!!  So am am ALL IN!  Excited for TBB Asks today with The Blended Blog...get in on the fun!!

1. Favorite Fall Color?

Honestly I like them all...I wear fall yellow, dark reds and even orange!

2. Apple Cider? 

Love it...and cold!  When I was a little girl we'd always get it fresh from a local orchard and cider mill by my grandparents house.  It was delish...nothing I've tried since can really hold a candle to it!

3. Caramel Apples?

No thanks!!

4. Pumpkin Doughnut or Apple Cider Doughnut? 

Actually, just had my very first apple cider doughnut this weekend! 

Don't I looked thrilled?? It really was super!!

5. Long or short cardigan?

Give me ALL the Cardigans!!!  A friend I used to work with called me the Queen of cardigans because I used to wear one with every outfit to work.  I pretty much have a cardigan in every color.

One of my fave fall outs...I'll still be rockin' blanket scarves this fall!

6. Favorite fall party food?  

Pumpkin Ales!!  This year, I'm keeping track of the ones I'm drinking.  Follow along with me on Insa here!

7.  Orange or white pumpkins?

Both but the white are really cool!

8.  Hayride or Bonfire?

I like hanging around the fire pit, so I'll say bonfire!  It's been forever since I've been on a hayride, but I do remember when I was it was a fun time!

9. Fall baked good:

Pumpkin Bread!  Warmed, with a lil butter!  I'll eat it for breakfast, lunch, a snack AND dessert!

10.  Most anticipated fall activity?  

Does NOT having to shave my legs everyday count??  Just kidding!!

My town's Fall Festival, which includes the Chili and Chowder Tasting and a pumpkin beer crawl, too.  I know this is terrible to say but this year, I'm praying that it rains on the scheduled date because I won't be around.  Then I can hit up the rain date when I'm back!  Because I'm really heartbroken to be missing it!!

Have a wonderful fall Season Ya'll!  And thanks so much for stopping by the blog today!!