Hey y’all, and Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃🍂 Today is all about gratitude, family, and—let’s be real—eating until we swear we’ll never eat again. (Only to go back for “just a little piece” of pie an hour later.) I hope your day is filled with love, laughter, and good food. Whether you’re gathered around a big family…
At Home
Friday Conversations: The Unexpected Guests at Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and as usual, things around Shady Pines have gotten a little more… lively than expected. I had this year’s holiday all planned out—menu finalized, grocery list printed, and roles assigned. Ma was on dessert duty, Uncle R had turkey honors, and I was prepared to glide gracefully through the…
Why Thanksgiving Is My Favorite Holiday (Hint: It’s the Food)
Every holiday has its charm, but if you ask me which one sits firmly at the top of my list, the answer is easy: Thanksgiving. It’s the one time of year when it’s not only acceptable but expected to plan your entire day around eating. Forget the presents, the fireworks, and the champagne—give me turkey,…
Christmas Movie Bucket List 2025-2026
Since I was doing a Fall Bucket List I thought I would do a Christmas Movie one as well. I am actually starting this one this month (November 2025) and will work through it until the end of the year. Any movies I don’t get watched this year I will pick up again next November….
Fall Bucket List 2025-2026
So I am a little late with this Fall Bucket List because as you all know we have been moving and things have not been going the way we plan. We ended up having to put it off another month because the new house is not ready. The down side to all of that is…
Thanksgiving Prep: The Art of Delegating (and Avoiding the Kitchen)
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that Thanksgiving has a way of sneaking up on you. One minute it’s pumpkin spice season and everyone’s still debating how early is too early for Christmas music, and the next—bam!—you’re knee-deep in grocery lists, table settings, and last-minute cranberry sauce emergencies. Now, I love…
I’ve Been a Bit MIA
If you’ve stopped by the blog lately, you may have noticed it’s been a little quieter than usual. Life has a way of surprising us, and recently it handed me a big one—we’re moving! It wasn’t something I saw coming, and the whole process has felt a bit rushed, to say the least. Between boxes,…
Friday Conversations: On the Eve of 49
Tomorrow I turn 49. How on earth did that sneak up on me? One minute I was celebrating 29 like it was the biggest milestone, and now here I am, one candle shy of 50. I’m not complaining (okay, maybe a little), but it does make you pause and think about how quickly the years…
Friday Conversations: The Great Laundry Battle
Some weeks, it feels like my entire life can be measured in laundry loads. This past week, it was towels—piles and piles of them. I don’t even know how three people manage to dirty so many towels, but somehow we did. Ma swears she only used one, Uncle R insists he hasn’t touched a towel…
Midlife Lessons from a New Backpack
I did something unexpected last week. I bought a new backpack. Not a purse, not a tote, not a crossbody that promises to keep my shoulder pain at bay—but an actual backpack. One with padded straps, zipper compartments, and enough space to carry everything I might need for a spontaneous adventure or just a run…
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