Halloween Fun {BOO-zing}

Tonight my friend Sabrina and I carried out the fun Halloween tradition of BOO-zing  a few of our friends.  I’ve done this with different friends for a few years and Ava loves to BOO her friends.  

If you don’t know what BOO-zing is here’s how it works...

Select two friends to “BOO-ze”

Get two Halloween-themed bags or plastic pumpkins and fill them with grown-up treats, like good wine , a little bottles of alcohol, chocolates, cookies, etc. Whatever you think your friends will enjoy or get a laugh out of

Put a copy of the poem and the “we’ve been boo-zed” in each bag

Wait until it’s dark and leave each bag full of goodies on your friends’ doorsteps

When your friend gets their treats, they will be asked to choose two friends to “BOO-ze” and keep the tradition going. 

It’s kind of like a chain letter, but one you really, really want to get. Your friends will also be instructed to place the ghost picture on their door so they don’t get “BOO-zed” more than once.  

For kids it’s the same concept (minus the alcohol😂) but it’s called BOO-ing.  You just fill your bag with candy and other Halloween treats.  Ava loves BOO-ing her friends. 

Here are the bags Sabrina and I put together

Here is the poem and the we’ve been BOO-zed tag.  We got both of these from Pinterest and I just printed and cut them. 

We filled our bag with little bottles of wine and mini bottles of alcohol.  We also added chocolate bars because everyone loves chocolate! 

Here’s a peek inside our bags.

It was a fun treat and I think our friends will love it. We went to four houses and it was the perfect thing to do to get us in the mood for Halloween 👻🎃

What's Up Wednesday {October}

It’s the time agin!  Today I’m linking up with Shay, Mel, and Shaeffer  for  What's Up Wednesday where we share random things that we've been up to this month. 

You can read my past WUW posts here

September 

August

July

June

March

January

What we are eating this week...I have been trying to eat low carb this week and yesterday I made this delicious spaghetti squash, shrimp and mushroom dish.

Here is the recipe

Spaghetti squash with Shrimp, peas and mushrooms

Brown 1/2 onion with olive oil, add one pat butter and add 1 small container portabella mushrooms cut into small pieces, cook until almost done then add 1 can of peas, juice from one lemon and your uncooked shrimp.  Cook until shrimp are light pink.  While your sauce is cooking on the stove cook your spaghetti squash in the oven for one hour on 375 degrees.  I cut my spaghetti squash in 1/2, scoop out the seeds and drizzle with olive oil and salt.  Cook cut side down.  

I added a little fresh Parmesan cheese to the top-delicious!

What I'm reminiscing about...summer!  We had a great summer and I miss lazy days and going to the pool and lake.

  

What I'm loving...We are having a fantastic fall weather wise and I love the fact that I am still wearing mostly summer clothes which has been great!  🍂☀️

What we've been up to...last weekend I went to New Jersey with my friend Sabrina to see her sister in a play and this weekend we have two Halloween parties to go to.  I just love fall and all of the events that happen in the fall.  You can read about my weekend trip to New Jersey here.    

What I'm dreading...thankfully nothing at the moment!

What I'm working on...My Halloween costume for this weekend.  I am doing a group costume with 8 of my friends and we are going as social butterflys.  I am going to be instagram and here is our inspiration picture from Pinterest.  It has been fun getting the pieces of our costumes together.  We are going to get together this week and do our shirts.  

What I'm excited about...The Dodgers in the World Series.  Last night my friend Vicki had a viewing party for game one. Her nephew Cody plays for the Dodgers at started last night at first base.   It was SO fun to watch them play.  The best part...they won game one!  

What I'm watching/reading...I just started two new books.  Grace not Perfection by Emily Ley and Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance.  I just did my October book review yesterday. You can read it here.  

What I'm doing this weekend...I’m hoping to get some things done around the house and we are going to two Halloween parties!  

What I'm looking forward to next month...Thanksgiving! I just love Thanksgiving.  

What else is new...We booked our plane tickets for December to see Brock in Arizona.  I can’t wait to see him and explore Arizona!

Happy Wednesday!

Xoxo 

Book review {October}

October was another busy month.  I do LOVE reading and it's a happy day when I can spend a little time reading each day.  Some days it doesn't happen but I do try and set aside some time for reading.  It just makes me happy.  This month I read three books and I loved all three!  

You can read my past book reviews here

You can read my past book reviews here

Winter 
February 

April

June

July/August
September

The first book I read this month was the Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin.  I have been waiting for this first book to come out.  I love Gretchen Rubin and have all of her other books and I listen to her podcast "Happier" every week.  This book is all about her latest research on the four tendencies.  There is a quiz you can take online to see which tendency fits you best.  There are four-upholder, obliger, rebel and questioner.  I am an obliger and Graig is an upholder.  The book is a fascinating look into all four tendencies.  As an obliger which meansI meet outer expectations and I resist inner temptations.  As an upholder Graig meets both inner and outer expectations.  This book breaks each of the tendencies into chapters and then goes into detail about each one.    I love this book so much that I am using it with my freshman and sophomore leadership development program next month. I think the students will love it and I think they will learn so much about themselves. 

The next book I read was China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan.  This book is the second book in a three book series and this book was just as funny as the first book (called Crazy Rich Asians) that I read last month. These books are about a very large family in Singapore and the dynamics between the family members.   In this second book you learn more about the crazy family and the extemely extravagant life they all live.  The first book in this series is in production to be a movie. 

The third book I read was called Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land.   This book was just released in early September and a friend mentioned to me at Book Club this month.  The next day I was at the library and it was there so I snatched it up.  This was my favorite book this month I couldn't put it down. This book tells the story of  Milly a teenage girl who turns her mother in to the police for being a serial killer.  After her mother's arrest  Milly lives with an affluent foster family and starts school at an exclusive private school. Milly's foster father is her psychologist and she finds out that he is writing a book about her life. During the course of this book we find out that Milly has lots of secrets and that life in her new home becomes complicated.  Milly is the star witness when her mother goes on trail and she wonders if she is doomed to turn out like her mom. 

That's my book review for this month.  I hope you are reading some good books. Let me know what they are in the comments below.
Happy reading!
Xoxo

Weekend update

This weekend I went with my dear friend Sabrina and her sister to NJ to see their other sister Rachel perform as Sharpai in High School Musical.  Rachel's degree in is acting and she went to New York City a few years ago to try to get on Broadway.  She has acted in many different shows but this was the first show that we were able to go to.  It was a great experience and I'm so glad I got to see her perfom. 

We mad a quick stop at Ikea in Paramus, NJ.  I love Ikea and always find something I have to have. Usually I spend a lot but this time I only spent $19.  Graig was THRILLED-ha ha!

Saturday evening we met up with Sabrina's step mom and Rachel's boyfriend for dinner before the show.  We stopped by their hotel first and they were the very first guests staying at this hotel so the front desk staff wanted to take a picture with all of us. They also gave us a bottle of wine which was nice.   The hotel is the Watt hotel in Rahway, NJ  The rooms are gorgeous and their hotel was in walking distance to the theater which was a bonus!















After seeing the hotel and a quick dinner we made our way to the show.  I have seen High School Musical 1000 times because both of my kids loved it when they were little.  It was a cute show and it was fun to get to see Rachel perform.  She and the rest of the cast did a great job! 

The play was held in a historic theater which was so beautiful. 

Yesterday we had a quick breakfast in the hotel, said goodbye to Sabrina and headed back home. 

Meanwhile in the Czech Republic Ava has been fighting a fall cold.  She did go to Poland on Saturday (about a 3 hour drive from her house) to visit the  Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. She studied World War II in school and she wanted to visit a concentration camp to learn more about them and to pay her respects.  She said they didn't take an official tour but her host family had visited before so they were able to show her around.  She said it was very moving and terribly sad.  It was an important experience for her for sure.  Next weekend she is visiting Budapest. 

Saturday Snack {fall mix}

I found this fall mix on Euna Mae’s Instagram and I knew I had to make it.  It looked so good!   I made this mix last week for my fall brunch and it was a yummy and delicious snack. 

I put this fall mix in a huge glass jar that I have. I thought that would be a easy way to serve it at my brunch.  Another way to serve this treat would be to bag this individually for friends for Halloween.

Ingredients 

1 family size bag peanut M and M’s

1 large bag candy corn

1 bag pretzels (I used a bag and a 1/2 because I love pretzels)

2 boxes Carmel corn crunch and munch

1 box chocolate teddy grahams

Mix all your ingredients together and enjoy!

This recipe makes a lot.  I served it at my brunch, gave it to my friends to take home and Graig and I have been eating it all week.  It also looks festive on your counter. 🎃🍂

Enjoy!

Xoxo

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday friends!   I’m excited for a beautiful fall weekend.  We have been SO lucky with the weather this fall.    It’s been a busy week and I’m so happy it’s Friday!  Today I am linking up with Erika, Narci and Andrea to share my Friday Favorites.

1-Sunday I had a fall brunch and scarf exchange for all of my girlfriends.  It was a beautiful day and we were able to eat brunch outside on the deck.   We all had a great time laughing and talking and catching up.  This is my second annual fall brunch and scarf exchange.  You can read about last year’s brunch here. I made some egg casseroles, French toast bake, mini sandwiches and butternut squash soup.  My friend Betty made the adorable ball jar cookies that I gave out as party favors.  I’m so thankful for these friends ❤️

Here is the recipe for the butternut squash soup I made.  It turned out so good. I’m going to make this again real soon.

2-I spent the early part of the week coordinating an annual awards reception for the non-profit I work for part time.  We hosted 100 guests and there were so many details to take care of this week. I worked really hard to make sure it was successful and It turned out to be a great night!  The food was amazing and everyone had fun.  

3-I ordered these wooden boxes online and they came in last week and I hung them right up.  I think they look so cute!  I have no idea what I will put in them (if anything) but I think they look absolutely adorable in our dining room ❤️❤️

4-I saw the flyer for the annual Philadelphia flower show this week.  My friend Jenn and I went earlier this year and had a great time.  You can see my post about our trip here.  We are planning to go again next year!!

5- I made this yummy fall snack mix for my brunch and Graig and I have been munching on the leftovers this week.  I got the recipe from Euna Mae’s.  I cannot wait until her cookbook comes out.  I already pre-ordered it. I’m going to do a post on this simple snack tomorrow.

6-My hardworking husband is happiest when he is making money.  He signed up a few weeks ago to be an Uber driver and he is loving it!  I have used Uber when I’ve been in DC and in Florida and I have loved it.  I’m glad it finally came to our town. 

7-The Dodgers are doing to the World Series!!!  My friend Vicki’s nephew Cody plays for the Dodgers and we went to see him play in Cleveland in June.  I’m so thrilled they made it to the World Series!!! 

8-We have two Halloween parties to go to next weekend and some friends and I are dressing up like “social butterflies” we will each be a different social media app.  I’m instagram (my favorite❤️) 

I hope you have a great weekend!

Xoxo

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday friends!   I’m excited for a beautiful fall weekend.  It’s going to be gorgeous out and we have some outside things planned and I’m hosting a fall brunch on Sunday.  It should be a great weekend.    Today I am linking up with Erika, Narci and Andrea to share my Friday Favorites.

1.  I own a small craft business with my friend Rachael called Branch and Bloom last night we had our monthly craft night for October.  We made succulent pumpkin topiaries.  They were a big hit and it was a fun night!  This is a quick and easy project and I’ll post a full tutorial next Wednesday on my Crafty Wednesday post.  

2.  I got this picture this week from Ava’s host family.  They have been taking her on lots of adventures.  This weekend they are going to a castle somewhere in the Czech Republic. 

Last weekend Ava went to Prague.  She is still a little homesick but she’s hanging in there.  We are so proud of her ❤️

3.  On Wednesday I shared how to make make a fall centerpiece.  It was easy to put together and the best part is that it will last all the way to Thanksgiving!  I love projects  like that.  You can read the post here. 

4. I’m going to a benefit gala in November go support our local hospital.  This week I bought two dresses and shoes  online because I don’t have time to go shopping (the mall is an hour away from my house)  before the gala.  

I bought these two dresses and I am hoping I will like one of them.

5.  A friend posted this on Facebook this week and I just love it.  I think so many times we take for granted all the wonderful blessings and gifts we’ve been given.  I’m trying to be grateful for everything I have.  

That’s it for me this week.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Xoxo

Crafty Wednesday {Fall centerpiece}

Last Friday I made a fun fall centerpiece with my friends Jenn and Barb.  Jenn and I wanted to do something fun for Barb’s  birthday and we thought these centerpieces would be a fun way to celebrate her birthday.

I’ll show you the easy step by step directions below.  Start with a pretty fall container.  This can be anything and use what you have in your house.  I had this big wooden bowl that I got last year at a yard sale.  I thought it was perfect for this project. 

Since my bowl was wooden I cut a plastic bag in case any water spilled from the pots.  I don’t want to ruin my bowl so the plastic bag was a good and free option.

This was our inspiration picture from Southern Living Magazine.  We wanted to create something similar to this. 

Jenn bought all of our plants because I was away last week at a conference.   She bought a big variety and tried to match those from the picture as close as she could. 

For this arrangement we kept the plants in their original pots.  Because of that it was SO easy to put this arrangement together:  It will make the arrangement easy to water.

I added the biggest plant first.  I’m not sure what this is but I love the pretty fall colors.  


Next I added an ornamental cabbage.

Then I added a small potted mum, a couple of small succulents and white mini pumpkins.  I found some pretty pine cones on a walk one day last week so I  added those too.

To cover the pots we tucked in some dried moss that we gotat  the Dollar Tree.  The moss really finished off the arrangement.  

This was a quick and easy project and it will last until Thanksgiving.  I love projects like that!  

Barb the birthday girl was so happy!  She loved creating a centerpiece for her birthday.  She is on the right in this picture.  After we made our centerpieces we took her to dinner.  

I hope you enjoyed the project this week.

Happy Wednesday!

Xoxo