Monthly Musings and What's In My Nightstand

1. Favorite Thanksgiving traditions?

My mom and I have rarely celebrated a "normal" Thanksgiving. There were years where we went to the movies, had Chinese take out, stayed at a hotel and had the buffet, etc. When I had serious boyfriends I often went to celebrate with their families because I just wanted "normal!" More recently my mom and I were taking the two hour train ride up to the cemetery to visit my grandma's grave because her birthday falls right around this time, but we're definitely not going this year. In fact, I'm not sure what we're going to do this year! 

2. Favorite Thanksgiving dish?

I don't have a favorite dish- the entire meal is a favorite of mine! 

3. Do you watch the football game?

I sometimes watch the game on TV, as I am useless and just in the way in the kitchen!

4. Talking turkey- white meat or dark meat?

White meat only please!

5. Do you call it stuffing or dressing?

It's stuffing... and raisins and dried cranberries or whatever don't belong in it!

6. What are 3 things you're thankful for this year?

My health, my family, and my friends. And having a job, especially one that allows me to work remote at least part of the time. 

7. Pumpkin, apple or pecan pie?

Pumpkin pie! It's the dish I always offer to bring. (And I use the classic recipe off the Libby's can!)

8. Do you put your Christmas tree up before or after Thanksgiving?

The tree doesn't go up until December 6th at the earliest. 

9. Are you a Black Friday shopper?

Definitely not! I'll save my sanity for Cyber Monday! 

10. Do you sit at the table for Thanksgiving dinner or eat more casually?

I guess it depends on what I was doing that year, but whenever I visit others for Thanksgiving they always eat at the table. 

What's In My... Nighstand! 

I don't have an end table, but a round nesting table in my living room. I love them because it's two tables in the same space, and they were free- I actually found them curbside a few years ago! I use the bigger one to hold seasonal decorations, and the smaller one usually has a magazine that I've been meaning to read for several months, my Kindle, and my two remotes. 

Since I'm pretty minimalist in terms of what I keep on my living room table, I added what I keep on and in my nightstand. (Thanks fr the idea Kelly!)  This was given to me for free when I purchased my bed, dining room table and chairs, and bar all from the same person- she was moving and said "just take it" so I did! 

Some things you will NOT see on my nightstand are books or a lamp. I use my bed for sleeping only; I don't have a TV in my bedroom and I don't lounge around in bed (that's what the couches are for!). I also don't need a lamp because the main light switch is right next to my bed! 

On Top:

Alarm Clock- My alarm clock is super old and the plastic top is broken, and I don't even use it as an alarm clock anymore but I like being able to see the time,... and now that I'm realizing how crappy it sounds I think I'll just head over to Amazon and get a new one!  

(Plastic) Cup of Water- I hardly ever actually drink the water during the night, but I like having it there.

Phone + Charger - I use my phone as my alarm clock and charge it overnight. 

In The Drawer:

Eye Mask- I think I've only used this once? It was cute and came with a gel insert that can be warmed up or put in the freezer... I should really use this again! 

"Current" Journal and Pen- Current in quotes because the last time I actually wrote in it was two years ago. But it's there in case the urge ever strikes again! 

In the Cabinet: Old Journals + extra PJ's

What's your favorite part of Thanksgiving?  

Linking up Patty, Holly, Ashley and Adrienne!

November Goals

I feel like I've been majorly slacking both in my personal (blogging) and professional life, but I'm trying to get back in the swing of things. Here's how I did with my October goals:

• Clean Out Hallway closet - Done! 

• Switch over wardrobe - I didn't do this because it wasn't warranted. It was still fairly warm up until this week, but I'll surely be doing it soon, possibly this weekend! 

• Shred pile of mail - I tried to do this with an old shredder a friend gave me that she wasn't using. Unfortunately it's quite old and wasn't actually shredding! Adding a shredder to my wish list!

• Read/discard all old magazines - In progress.

• Organize recipe/home binder - In progress. I purchased these 3-Ring binder sheet protectors so I could slide any magazine articles and recipes I wanted to keep in them for the "home" binder. I didn't get a chance to go through all the magazines so still working on this one, and I would like to get some dividers. 

One big thing I did that wasn't on this list was upgrade my desk! I purchased a new-to-me desk from Facebook Marketplace and "borrowed" my desk chair from my workplace since I wasn't using it there (don't worry, the Boss said I could!). I'm looking forward to sharing my new at home workspace with you as soon as I get my new corkboards up! 

As for November, I actually started writing this around the same time I wrote out my October goals, breaking them up across the two months. Since things are kinda crazy with voting this year, I decided to drop off my mail-in ballot early, so that one's already completed! And last year I didn't get the planner I wanted because I waited too late. When I started looking earlier this month, I noticed that some of them were already sold out, so I jumped on that goal right away too! 

Vote!

Purchase 2021 Planner

Start using the Waterpik I got last Christmas

Toss old make-up and hair products

Weatherize in-wall AC units and fix bathroom blinds

Sort Christmas Presents and Finish Christmas Shopping (if possible)

Plan birthday "party"/activity/dinner

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As I stated before, I feel like I'm falling behind in my personal/blogging life. As in, I meant to post my Fall Bucket List Update back on the 21st! But better late than never! Here's where I'm at: 

Put up fall decor - I put up some minimalist decor; changing out my welcome rug to my fall one, putting a pumpkin out front, and adding a small "centerpiece" on my coffee table. Just a few touches for now!

Go on a Fall mini-getaway - YES! Blue and I spent a long weekend with our friend in Vermont and it was great! It was my first time there and I'm hoping to get a recap up soon! 

Check out a new brewery or winery- My friends and I just visited Torne Valley Vineyards  in New York on Saturday. The wine was just okay, but the company was better :) We were lucky to have a beautiful day for it! 

Enjoy apple cider and donuts- Got my first apple cider donut yesterday! It wasn't very fresh though- I demand a redo! 

Get cozy and read from my Fall TBR List! - So far I've read 3 from my Fall TBR: George by Alex Gino, Beartown by Fredrik Backman, and Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid. You can see my reviews here!

"Fall" into a new binge-worthy series- I started (and finished) The Home Edit on Netflix (OMG LOVE!), Wentworth (S8) on Netflix,  and What We Do In The Shadows on Hulu. I feel like I watched a lot more than that, but I can't remember right now.

Create new skincare routine (more moisturizer, please!)- My mom repurchased one of my favorite masks, Lush's Mask of Magnaminty, but for some reason it made me break out! Either that or my cotton mask, not sure which was the culprit. Either way, now I'm trying a bunch of "calming" products to clear it up a bit. Always a work in progress! 

Have a Chili and Fall movie night- Didn't break out the chili yet, but so far we watched 3 of my favorite "Halloween" movies, Practival Magic, Hocus Pocus, and The Craft. On deck are The Witches on Disney+ and The Witches of Eastwick. 

How are you doing with your Fall Bucket List? 

What are some of your favorite Halloween movies? 

September Reads

I'm kind of surprised that I read 6 books this month, but I guess I shouldn't be since one was a comic and one was a middle grade, and both were read in just a few hours. Also, I finished the Reading Challenge I was participating in, and am halfway done with the Bonus Round (even though I have no intention of finishing it)! Woot! One 5 Star read for me this month (the first of the year- I must have been feeling particularly emotional haha!), and the rest pretty mediocre, here's what I read last month: 

George - Alex Gino: 5 Stars

library e-book

I read this for banned books week and am so glad I did. This was such a sweet story! I really felt for George, a transgender middle schooler who wants to play Charlotte in the school play Charlotte's Web but gets pushback from... well, everyone except her best friend. I don't think I had the same courage she had back when I was her age but I wish I did, and a best friend that would push me to be my true self as much too. 

The Forgotten Girls (Suburban Murder #1) - Alexa Steele: 4 Stars
Kindle Unlimited

What a dark, twisty tale of the life of the privileged in Westchester County, NY where people will do ANYTHING to get ahead! This was a fast-paced story that I read in one sitting. Though I figured out "who dun it" pretty early on, I was still on the edge of my seat as a lot of crazies came to light once the investigation got started and I wanted to know more about the trinket left with each of the bodies. 

I really liked that there wasn't a lot of police procedural jargon bogging it down, and one of the suspects reminded me so much of Joan Ferguson from Wentworth. The only thing I wanted more of was the backstories of our MCs, Bella and Mack. But I was so happy that for once this is a book where our MCs did not fall in love just because they were partnered up! Huzzah! I'm not usually one for reading series, but I think I'll continue this one! 

Such A Fun Age - Kiley Reid: 3 Stars

library e-book

I think I'm in the minority, but I didn't love this one. This book could have been done at 20% - Black babysitter gets stopped at grocery store for being with a white toddler late at night, she doesn't want to talk about it afterwards, they give her a big fat check, the end. 

I hated Alix.  She just sucked as a person. "There was a point in time when—if someone was described as Indian—Alix thought it was funny to say, “Dot or feather?” That's not humorous, that's ignorant. I found myself thinking... is this [Alex/Alix] bish really hanging on to some embarrassing moment from high school? Also, it wasn't even that bad!! So you broke up! Ugh, she's so overly-dramatic.  And at 50% - she's seriously hyperventilating over an ex from high school... 15 YEARS ago?! She needs a life!

There were some humorous parts that I've also asked myself (and/or Google), like "Is Childish Gambino a person or a band? How do you pronounce the name SZA?" I really liked Kelley and Emira, but didn't agree with the ending at all. 

Gender Queer - Maia Kobabe: 3 Stars

library e-book

I think I found this one more interesting than anything else. I say "I think" because I didn't feel  much of anything after reading it. I'm very much of a "you do you" person and while it was eye-opening, I can't say I fully understand it- the themes, the pronouns, or the person. And I didn't feel like it had an ending, but maybe that's because the author is still living and figuring it out. I kinda felt like this after reading it: 

Beartown - Fredrik Backman: 3 Stars

library e-book

I know I'm in the minority with this one, but I just didn't love it. That being said, I'll probably still read the follow-up. This took me awhile to get into it which surprised me since it started with a gunshot. It may have been Backman's very descriptive writing style, or the topic, I'm not quite sure. I will admit this is the first novel I've read by him, so it may just take some time to get used to. Once "the incident" has actually occurred things speed up and while there were a lot of terrible townspeople to keep track of, I really came to love Benji, Maya, and Amat. 

The Whole Town's Talking - Fannie Flagg: 2 Stars
Netgalley

The only book I've read by Fannie Flagg was Fried Green Tomatoes, years ago, and I remember enjoying it it which is why I originally requested this book. And it sounded promising- A Swedish immigrant farmer starts up a small town in Missouri, orders himself a mail-order bride who turns out to be normal and quite amazing, and they're living life until eventually pass on, and then weird things start happening and it starts "the whole town talking." 

Except that's not what happens. Actually NOTHING happens, the entire book. It's like a day by day (and eventually starts skipping to decades, thank goodness) life of all the neighbors and descendants from those early beginnings up through today. It was excruciatingly boring, and there were far too many characters to keep straight. The only interesting thing was on the very last page, which bumped my rating up from 1 star to two.

Book Stats (previously /now)
Total number read: 44
Netgalley: 12 / 13
Owned: 5 /7 - no change
Non-Fiction: 6 / 7 
WOC: 10 / 11
Given Away: 28 / 29 - no change

Currently Reading: Woman Last Seen In Her Thirties - Camille Pagan

What are you reading?

Linking up with Steph and Jana!