Currently in November: 2025

 It's the last Wednesday of the the month and time for the currently link up with Jenn. This month we're sharing what we're currently loving, looking forward to, smelling, preparing for, and thankful for. 


Loving:
 I'm kind of surprised by how much I am loving sharing my car with Evan. On those days he works (which is often 3-4 times a week) I am loving the excuse to stay home. After cleaning the house I end up having so much time to fill that I'm spending days making cards and scrapbook pages and painting. 

 


Looking forward to: The younger boys and I are going to see Hadestown this weekend and I can't wait! I'm also looking forward to Thanksgiving and getting to know Alec's roommate better. 


Smelling: I just bought a new candle at Target last week and I've been burning/smelling it. It's called Holiday Winterfest by Yankee Candle and it smells wonderful.


Preparing for: I'm prepping for Thanksgiving-- coming up with our menu, a plan for where to put Alec's roommate, etc. I'm preparing for Christmas-- coming up with a list of who/what we're buying, planning out our days, and who we'll see when, etc.

Thankful for: Friday's post will be filled with things I'm thankful for each day but overall I'm mostly thankful for my healthy, my family, our lifestyle, and our community of friends. 

 Linking up with: Spread the Kindness, 


Comments

  1. I love excuses to stay home as well! Even though I have a car, I'll look out the window and see that it's windy and think, "Might as well stay at home all day. It's windy." Of course I go somewhere if I have to but if I don't, I try to stay in. How wonderful to get to use your creativity and talents more than before :).

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    1. Oh yep, I am definitely a fair weather kind of person and find myself happy to stay home this time of year when it tends to be rather blustery outside.

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  2. I try to have one at home day a week. That is nice that it is making you stay home. Do you clean everyday or have certain things you clean each day?

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    1. I tend to try and get the cleaning with done in one day so I can spend the other days doing fun stuff. The first week I tried cleaning all morning and then crafting in the afternoon and I just didn't like that as much.

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  3. Can't wait to read about your Thanksgiving menu! Will Alec be helping you cook? That candle looks like it smells perfect for this time of year :)

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    1. Alec texted that he's going to find a bread/roll recipe and make that and I'm hoping to put him or his roommate in charge of our cookie cake but I think most of the other stuff will be made by me.

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  4. I remember a time when we only had one car and there was something about it that made life feel much simpler. It's amazing what all we can get done when we are running the roads :)

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    1. It does feel much simpler! I am so glad we talked my husband out of buying a 3rd car like he wanted.

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  5. That's nice that Alec's roommate is coming home with him!

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    1. I am pretty excited! They only get the day before and after off (plus the weekend of course) so it's not really worth her traveling home to Utah. We're happy to host and get to know her better.

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  6. Joanne,
    Thanks so much for all your visits!! I truly appreciate it...My Thanksgiving menu is always the same as it is a tradition that I carried over from my parents and like my sons both say..."If it ain't broke, don't fix it"! I think if I changed the menu, they would have a stroke!! LOL!!
    Hugs,
    Deb
    Debbie-Dabble Blog

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    1. You're welcome! Ours is usually pretty much the same but we'll change some small things-- like a dessert or the type of bread/roll we have with dinner.

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  7. Hadestown is so good! We're even thinking of going to see it again.

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  8. I do think life was so much simpler when we only had our van! It's been a long time ago, but I remember just knowing it was okay to stay home all day and that was a good, simple time. My oldest son takes Drivers Ed in January so it'll be awhile before we have another driver in the house, but he's already said he wants my van- so we will probably be in that boat in the next few years!
    We are traveling for thanksgiving so I won't be planning that meal but my Dad's side of the family, my sisters and their kids will be at my house in December so we will have a meal then and I'm excited to plan that! I haven't even thought of many Christmas gift ideas, but I don't want to spend as much this year so I need to plan soon! I hope your November is wonderful :)

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    1. Between us 5 drivers we do have 4 vehicles and while the younger two boys typically share a car between them, Alec took that car to school this year since he has a job off campus. We debated buying a 4th but with Evan headed off to college next fall it didn't seem worth it just yet. I thought I'd hate being stuck at home and it's only been a month but so far I am really enjoying it. I'm sure it helps that it's feeling more and more like winter and I'm less inclined to go anywhere!

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  9. That candle scent looks amazing and can't wait to hear what you think of Hadestown. I have wanted to see that!

    https://www.kathrineeldridge.com

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    1. Alec already knows the whole soundtrack by heart!

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  10. That candle sounds lovely. Ella loves candles, so I might have to look into that one.

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  11. I love that you have time to make cards and paint. I love the card you made. It sounds like Thanksgiving will be fun in your house and have a lot of help with it. I saw Hadestown with my daughter in the city and we both loved it. Enjoy the show Joanne.

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  12. I need to check out that candle! It sounds so good!

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    1. It is wonderful! I had no idea Target carried Yankee Candles in their store.

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  13. That opening card is adorable! Our kids will be with other parental units (three from which to choose) so we may invite a U student for dinner and/or adopt someone having food insecurity these days and bring them food or the stuff to make food. We're still working on it. May do it now or Christmas and who knows what.

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    1. Aw, thank you! I might have to go back to the drawing board on planning since I just sent an invite to my brother and his whole family... we'll see.. I'm pretty much up for whatever when the holidays roll around.

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  14. That hedgehog card is so cute!! I too like the excuse of staying home because I have no car. I share mine with my daughter.

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  15. It sounds like the car sharing is going really well and giving you some extra free time.
    Have a great time seeing Hadestown and getting to know Alec's roommate better.
    I love the sound of that candle.

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  16. I just smelled that candle today when I was at Target. It was divine, and I didn't even know they carried Yankee candle there. I have often thought we could go down to one car in retirement.

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    1. Isn't it great?! I didn't know they carried Yankee Candles there either.

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  17. It's easy to think of things we are preparing for this time of year, isn't it Joanne? It sounds like you have some fun things coming up for the holidays. It's good to have that balanced by the quiet time at home. Enjoy!

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    1. Thank you! It really is nice to have the quiet.

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  18. Its nice when you have time to get your hobbies done.
    Xoxo
    Jodie

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  19. For many years, we only had one car. It's funny how you just adjust to that and enjoy the time.

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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    1. I thought it would be a much harder adjustment but so far it's working out great.

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  20. Love your card making and scrapbooking Joanne! No Thanksgiving here in Australia but I look forward to reading about yours! Thank you for linking up with us at #WWWhimsy xo

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  21. I need to start planning to for Christmas. Although I don't think I will be a busy as you!

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    1. Other than making cards our Christmas is pretty low key... but I do send out like 30 or 40 of them so I like to start early on making them.

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  22. What a delight it was to read your post. Loved how happy you are to stay home more. It's nice for us creatives!! Denyse x

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  23. Love all of your preparing things, all the planning for the upcoming holidays. I'm doing the same too, I love doing that!

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  24. I have been such a homebody lately, so I get that!! I always enjoy seeing your creations. I bet that candle smells so lovely. I love the color of it.

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    1. I was torn between two candles and picked this one for the color as I liked both scents equally.

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  25. I really enjoyed HadesTown. I thought it was so clever, that even tho we know the story, the whole audience was on the edge of their seat 'will he? won't he?' and there was a collective wail/gasp and then the song reminds you that they told you this from the start! HA!

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    1. LOL! I love how invested the audience gets in live shows.

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  26. It's nice to have an excuse to stay home sometimes! Although, I've been home all week this week and I'm getting antsy. I'm hoping I'll feel better soon! I'm actually getting to the point where I'm sick of my house now. Haha.

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    1. I thought I'd feel that way too; luckily most weeks he only works 3 days so I do have plenty of time to get out of the house as well.

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  27. I don't think you could have asked for a better excuse for staying at home. That card is so adorable!! So nice that Alec's roommate is coming home with him. That will be a lot of fun for them.

    -Soma

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    1. Aw, thank you! I hope they have a fun time.

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  28. Oh, I totally get that Joanne! Loving the excuse: 'I don't have the car' so you can stay home! I'm the same way.

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  29. The Christmas hedgehog is so cute! I don't mind excuses to stay home either, in fact I wish I could stay home from work but I guess I can't. How nice that Alec's roommate will be joining you for Thanksgiving. Hope your month is off to a great start!

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  30. My hubby and I shared a car for a few weeks this summer and I agree! It felt freeing to know I had no choice but to be home. I cherish the times I get the house to myself and always find something worthwhile (or not) to do! What fun to enjoy so many recent cultural experiences with your boys! Have fun this weekend!

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    1. It has been a lot of fun; after this we'll have a pretty sizable break until Wicked comes in the spring... which we've already got our tickets for!

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