Loving Lately - November/December

 How are we already in mid-December and twelve days from Christmas?  Eek! Here's what I've been loving lately.

Decorating our new home for Christmas.  Holiday tour coming soon!

Willow looking festive while supervising the decorating.

Julie's delicious  Kale, Bean & Mushroom Soup.  I left out the mushroom and subbed carrots and onions in their place. I also added one can on chickpeas for one of the white beans because that's what I had on hand.  It is SO good! Don't forget the mozzarella cheese at the end.

I also made a batch of my No-Chicken Orzo Italian Wedding Soup when the girls were home over Thanksgiving break.

I've been reading more and couldn't put this one down.  I'm reading The One right now and it's also a good one.

So many Advent calendars this year!

Ahh...Wicked! I got to see it with City Girl 2 over Thanksgiving break. I can't wait to see it again.

Speaking of Thanksgiving..who needs turkey? Give me all the carbs and some of my Vegan Kale Caesar Salad!

I was so excited to see buds on my Christmas cactus and then it bloomed! Swoon!

What have you been loving lately?

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{DIY} Low/No Cost Care Package/Gift

City Girl #2 turned 25 in October (see our dual NYC celebration here).  She had asked for and received her gifts early this year but I still wanted to send her something to open since we wouldn't be together on her actual birthday.

I did a little searching around the interwebs for low and no cost gifts but most of the ideas were crafts and I didn't want to add any more "stuff" to her apartment.

Here's what I came up with by shopping my house and using a little creativity:

•  Food items that I knew she'd like or need (like pasta)
•  My favorite pens
• Tea lights and matches (you're alllowed to mail strike on the box matches)
• Treats for her kitty
• One of my old albums. We both love Stevie Nicks and she would get more use out of it than I would currently
• Household items--like batteries. I also padded the box with paper towels and toilet paper (they didn't count in the 25 gifts!) :)
• A box of my favorite tea
• A book from a Little Free Library that I thought she might like
•  One of my necklaces that I no longer wear--we are both October babies so I gave her an opal necklace
• A pair of unused compression socks. I had ordered some for my trip to India and had an extra pair.
• An airtight storage container that I wasn't using and knew she coud use
• Some of my Cinnamon Chip Scones
• Shout Wipes
• Stickers
• A dark chocolate bar that we hadn't used for s'mores over the summer....You get the idea! It was amazing how many things I started to come up with.

 I was able to gather 25 items together for her to open.  I put a little note on each one and then wrapped them all up.

They box was pretty large but wasn't that expensive to mail.  She loved it and it did my mama heart good!  What are some things you'd add to the list of low/no cost thoughtful gift items?

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Birthdays in NYC

 We celebrated City Girl 2's and my October birthdays together in NYC this year. 

 But I started the day with coffee in a favorite mug and opening my cards and gifts at home.

We went out a little later and I got my Starbucks birthday coffee. We took a beach walk and saw a bunch of whales!

I got some yummy avocado toast for breakfast.

It was time to get ready and this was my "fit".

At the train station.  Check out my earrings, I got them in St. Augustine!

We were early so we stopped at a wine bar (twist my arm!)

We all met up at Aria in Hell's Kitchen for dinner.

We went to see "Oh Mary" on Broadway.

It was such a funny, naughty, crazy, wonderful show and an awesome birthday too!

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{Shopping} Trader Joe's Holiday & Seasonal Items are Here!

 This is a from a few trips to TJ's.  The new products just keep coming!

I thought this would be a fun activity for Thanksgiving but would work for other get togethers too.

The pet Advent calendars are in and there's Jingle Jangle for Dogs!

I hadn't seen these Pizza Seasoned Crackers before and I'm not quite sure if I'd like them. Have you tried them?

Mini pancakes are in!

I've heard really good things about this Pretzel Bread Pudding.

These look amazing!

Seasonal Dunkers Cookies=Oatmeal Cranberry

I love the packaging on this candy.

These sound so interesting!

Yes, I could make this myself but it's so convenient this way!

Fahn-cy salt in the cutest container.

I definitely wanted to try this hair oil.  More things we bought...

Some staples and the new Oat Creamer Gingerbread flavor. 

Stocking up on Candy Cane Joe Joe's for some people.  We've tried the ice creams and both are delish.

I have to get this every year!

I was excited to see the Turkey-Less Stuffed Roast with Gravy after it was discontinued last year.   I like to keep frozen pie crusts in the freezer so they are another staple.

We've been buying both of these breads on repeat.

Some stocking stuffers.

We only get the hashbrowns for Christmas morning. The *new* stir fried garlicky cabbage sounded like a good dinner side dish.

Produce, fresh pasta, autumn sauce and more of that Half Baked Bread.

Decadent Dark Chocolate Joe Joe's and some yogurts.

Some canned beans and sparkling water.   What have you found at TJ's lately?

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