Last weekend and this week were truly very busy indeed and will share all about it in my Thankful Things Portion of this article, as well as catch all up on this week’s blog article’s, too!
But now, since it is October and I am a part of the October Daily, cannot forget that today. The prompt for #26 is as follows
- Enumerate the ways that a guy can win your heart.
Let me just say that for a very long time (or what seemed like it was) I searched high and low for Mr. Right. Finally, I decided in my mid twenties to be more specific as to what I was indeed looking for and got serious to only date when the guy fit the bill!
Many know I met Kevin on Match.com. I was very selective as to what I was looking for and discussed in depth about my search and how I did indeed find Kevin. If you never read this, please click here to read more. This truly explains what I was looking for, but will say that not only does their have to be a physical connection, but an emotional/mental one, too.
Now, without further ado, I want to share all about this week and my photos, too, by getting the party started with Ten Twelve Thankful Things (sorry I had a few to spare again this week)~
My Things of Thankful for This Week~
1. Even though, I took Thursday off last week, Friday was a bit crazy, but still was able on Friday night to relax and to catch up on my DVR and got to do a repeat on Saturday night, too. Sounds like a lazy way to start this list, but after going to see Otto the Ghost on Thursday and work all week long, it was truly what the doctor ordered!
2. Quiet Saturday morning with only food shopping on tap. Must admit as much as shopping with two little kids can be anything, but quiet reigns as long as they get a cookie from the bakery lady at Stop & Shop.
3. Saturday afternoon we took a trip to Lowes, where my dad (who works there) got us a huge discount on 2 Large carving pumpkins from $3.98 to a $1 each.
4. Later in the afternoon, we took to decorating small pumpkins that we got from pumpkin picking with sticker from the $1 store. They didn’t stick that well, but the girls still loved them all the same and had so much fun!
5. Saturday night we had dinner at home, but Ice Cream at Kirsch’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Shoppe, 5 minutes down the road from our house. The roasted potatoes with Onion Soup Mix still was out of this world, as was the ice cream, too. Promise I am in the process of putting that potato recipe together to share now.
6. Soccer was at 9:30 am in the morning (one more early morning game this weekend for Emma). After her game, I was asked if my girls would take a picture. Little did I realize they were taking a picture for with the County Executive, Ed Mangano (he is up for reelect and making the rounds I suppose). Here was our 15 minutes of fame!
7. Sunday found us having a family dinner with crockpot chili. The weather is finally cool enough to make this meal again and oh so yummy!
- 8. On Monday, my latest GLOSSYBOX from BYRDIE arrived and promise to share the contents very soon for all!
Byrdie GLOSSYBOX 9. Even though I got red paint on my sweater from carrying Lily’s painted pumpkin from school, both girls got to pick and decorate two small pumpkins successfully at school.
Painted Pre-School Pumpkins 10. One more for good measure and I am, of course, thankful again that weekend is indeed here and hoping to relax a bit.
Now if you missed a moment of this week’s blog articles, here is a recap~
On Monday, I happily used my photo editing skills for a Boo-Tastic Contest Post Sponsored by my favorite online photo editing company, PicMonkey. For more click here.
On Tuesday, after having read and completed the amazing, as well as, heart touching book, Sunshine After the Storm, published by one of my favorite bloggers, Alexa from No Holding Back, I shared my own pregnancy loss story and also glowingly reviewed the book, catch up here..
On Wednesday, I continued on the October Daily challenge posting about what celebrity I would like to meet with a humorous, photo-shopped photo and some muggle talk, too! To find out all about both click here.
On Thursday, so happy to over share in a letter and ode to one of my favorite foods when I once had misjudged this delicacy as per the October Daily’s post challenge, click here for more.
On Friday, back again with another FTSF, the sentence to finish was “One Halloween, I…, as well as Day 25 for where I used to live with a link to a flashback post. To join us. link up, please click here! Reminder: NO Linkup Next Week!!
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massholemommy says
I love all your pumpkin creations and how great that you got a discount on them through your dad! Every little bit helps!
My recent post Legos, Legos and More Legos
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Robin and I agree every little bit does help!! 🙂
Rosey says
What a fun week! I've gotten paint on my shirt from those pumpkins from school too (last year I was in the class helping and it was ridiculous). 😉 Thankfully, it all washed out (I hope it came out of your sweater too).
The pumpkin with stickers galore made me laugh. THAT is a rocking pumpkin!!! 🙂
Have a good weekend.
My recent post For the Love of K-Cups
Janine Huldie says
I did get it out, Rosey, but I had to use spot remover and cold water immediately with a tooth brush when I got in. It was red paint, so I had visions of it so not coming out. Wouldn't have been an issue, but it is one of my favorite go-to sweaters. Just thankful it came out 🙂
eddy says
Wow amazing as always Janine and I am so sorry not to have been around last week, just life getting in the way ad it has a habit of doing. As always I love your blog it has to be the best of the ones I am following.Take care my drear friend and I wish you a wonderful weekend.
Janine Huldie says
Thanks as always Eddy and I know life has a way of taking over sometimes, just happy when you can stop by. Seriously no worries and just wishing you a very, happy weekend now. 🙂
stephanie2006 says
Oh my goodness, love all the pictures. Lily's pumpkin sticker galore could well be from Violet 😉 We only get one pumpkin to carve at the moment, and last year I let Lily draw the face on with a wax crayon. She did an awesome job, didn't need any corrections before carving. We don't have those stickers here ;-(
That photo op, how cool is that?? Your girls look so adorable!
And wow on all the give-aways going on right now. I could definitely use some holiday cash (or gift cards) 😉
My recent post Week In Review – Ten Things Of Thankful (15)
Janine Huldie says
Honestly, Stephanie think our girls would get along perfectly!! And love that Lily drew the face perfectly to carve last year. That is truly awesome! And hope you entered, because you are so right about needing the extra cash for the holidays. Good luck!! 🙂
Kate says
Emma looked so excited about the Halloween walk in the first photo- love it! Can't wait to see their costumes. Happy weekend!
My recent post Some things of thankful
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Kate and I promise, you will see their costumes hopefully in next week's posts. They are so excited that Halloween is almost here now 🙂
Billybuc says
I am content in not winning your heart; I am content in winning your friendship. 🙂 The story of Bev and I meeting is an interesting one; maybe I'll tell it one day. 🙂 Have a great weekend Janine.
Janine Huldie says
Bill, you don’t have to win my friendship, you already have done that. Like I have said to you before, I am seriously just happy we are friends! Would love to hear the story of how you and Bev met (think I did hear some of it). So, if you share, I will definitely read. Have a wonderful rest of your week now!! 😉
tamaralikecamera says
Pumpkins on discount – the best! I love hearing about how you met Kevin. It's inspiring. And clearly it was a great match! Look at the you're building together!
My recent post Anything Can Happen On Halloween.
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Tamara and those pumpkins on discount were the best, because all we saved we were able to do ice cream that night!! 😉
zoe says
Pumpkins are my favorite thing this time of the year… paint em, marker them, glue them, gut them, carve them, pumpkin seed roasting… love pumpkins…nice job!
Janine Huldie says
Totally with you on the pumpkins and seriously my favorite, too this time of year!! 🙂
Michelle Liew says
J9, cool work with the pumpkins there. I wish we had Halloween here in Sing! But no matter, I will celebrate with a horror movie!
My recent post My ten scary handicaps
Janine Huldie says
Thanks so much Michelle and enjoy that horror movie, too 🙂
lrconsiderer says
I love seeing what Emma and Lily did with their pumpkins. The preschool ones are awesome, too 🙂 I took Niece and Neff to a pumpkin patch for the first time today. I didn't even know we HAD them over here! But it rained us off, so they just got a small pumpkin each from the kiosk, rather than going picking, which was a bit of a shame.
My recent post Ten Things of Thankful #21
Janine Huldie says
I am so sorry you got rained off and only got small pumpkins for you niece and neff. We luckily got to do pumpkin picking one weekend earlier, because my chiropractor went to the same place the following weekend and said there wasn’t much left. They bought small ones and were totally disappointed, too.
Joy @ i can say mama says
How cool those pumpkin stickers are! I have not seen anything like that here! They look really cool!
Awww, those roasted potatoes look soo good!
My recent post Ten Things of Thankful: week 42-43/2013
Janine Huldie says
Joy, my husband found the dollar store and they really didn’t stick well, but he kids had fun. So totally worth it 🙂
clark says
I *really* need to read your Post during the day and 'not!' at 9:49 at night, as I am presently doing… I'm not a food guy, but the photos of the potato thing… (made me think, 'home fries…need to get home fries!!!') lol
your gift/prize arrived today, thank you very much for that…perfect time (I often struggle with these Lists…) your gift card was a total slam-dunk.
have a good second half of the weekend!
My recent post “the dame is afoot!” the Wakefield Doctrine ‘yes, I have a rationale for that phrase, this is the Ten Things of Thankful # 21!!’
Janine Huldie says
I hear you on wheat time I am reading and catching up tonight. I did read a bit this morning, but now I am back on at 10 pm trying to finish up a bit of what I missed. And so very happy that you finally got the gift card and hope you get to use it very soon now! And please do enjoy the rest of your weekend now, too!! 🙂
Kristi says
I love the ease of crockpot meals. Your chili looks yummy!
My recent post Ten Things of Thankful: Lovely Autumn
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Kristi and I know crockpot meals are the absolute best!! 🙂
christine says
Holy pumpkins! Looks like the girls really enjoy decorating them. We haven't even purchased one pumpkin yet, and time is a tickin'!
Hope your weekend includes plenty of relaxing!
My recent post TToT, Week 21 – The Laughing Edition
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Christine and this weekend we carved the three largest. So stay tuned for next week, I will totally share those pictures!! And hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend now, too!! 🙂
gigigirl says
What a fun week! Love the creative pumpkin decorations. And those roasted potatoes look delish! I made some chili too….the cool weather gets me interested in such dishes. Yours looks yummy. Very impressed with photo with Ed Mangano……very nice.
Hope you had fun designing pumpkins today. It was good to see you and the family. Have a good Sunday. Love……xxxxoooo
Janine Huldie says
So happy we got to see you yesterday. Emma seems to have come down with something and was running a low grade fever and threw up last night before bed. So, I am keeping her from soccer today and just keeping my eye on her. Enjoy your Sunday and love you, too!! xoxoxo!! 🙂
gigigirl says
I heard from your mom Emma wasn't feeling well. Hope she's better. Best to keep her home an extra day just to be sure and so she'll be good for Halloween. I've entered a couple of your giveaways but not sure what I did. I guess I'll hear if I win anything! Was great to see you Sat. Will see you in Nov……just around the corner! Have a good week. Love……xxxxoooo
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Aunt Gloria and totally agree with you on this. Want her to be better for Halloween, so she can enjoy her day. She has been talking about this for weeks now, so truly want her to be well for it now. And again sure you did fine entering and wishing you tons of luck now Aunt Gloria and see you in November!! 🙂 xoxo!!
notinjersey says
today my rabbi mentioned in his speech that couples that met online were more satisfied in their marriages that those that didn't meet online – probably because they find each other by searching for exactly the qualities they want in a partner! so the beginning of this post reminded me of that!
My recent post Family Friends #31Days
Janine Huldie says
Dara, I think your Rabbi is totally onto something and speaking from my own experience couldn't agree more 🙂
lovingmarshall says
How interesting that you met your husband on Match.com. I have several friends who met the loves of their lives online–I think it works!
Love the photo recap of your week! And I cannot wait until you post the potato recipe–that sounds so good!
My recent post The Uncles, falling in love with our new city, and tantrums in public
Janine Huldie says
I promise, I am posting that recipe this week (probably Tuesday so stay tuned!). And I love taking pics from the week and sharing on Saturday. Such a fun way to end the week and catch up here for me!! I also knew a few that met online and had success, too. So, I totally agree with you on this, too 🙂
Dyanne@IWantBacksies says
I loved the stickers on the pumpkins and the painted pumpkins, but I can't get past the picture of the roasted potatoes! They look so delish!
My recent post Finding Thankfulness In An Otherwise Bland But Busy Week
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Dyanne and stay tuned, I am publishing this recipe this Tuesday now!! 🙂
Growing Up Madison says
I've had a few friends who've met their soulmate on online matching sites. I used to scoff at them until I saw that they really worked. I'm loving the girls and their decorating skills of their pumpkins. We still haven't done anything yet here at my house. My house still looks like it's August. 🙂
My recent post Review: Skylanders Swap Force Xbox 360
Janine Huldie says
I wish out hosue still felt like August here, because it has recently finally turned cooler and I am so not loving the cooler weather, because I am so a summer person. But seriously thank you and today we painted the small pumpkins and yesterday we carved the two larger ones. So stay tuned for some photos on these coming soon, too!! 🙂
lsdavidson says
I always love your thankful lists! I too met my husband online! There were a lot of goof balls out there – but obviously some real catches too!
My recent post “Can Do” Guy
Janine Huldie says
There are definitely some real catches out there and so glad we caught two of them!! 🙂
Rich Rumple says
You are truly one of the few people that I don't have to say, "Get a Life" to! lol I haven't had chili with rice in ages! (It seems to be a New England thing!) The Midwest way is either atop Fritos, or simply stuffed full of Ritz Crackers. I can see how the rice would definitely make it last longer and still fill you up. Looks great! Really a fun post, my friend! Great job!
Janine Huldie says
Thanks so much Rich and trust me I wish I knew how to slow down a bit, because even last night I was up late getting stuff done for the week. By the way, the chili with Fritos Midwest style sounds rather tasty and may need to try that soon!! 🙂
Out One Ear says
Sure sounds like you had a busy, busy week. The pumpkins turned out cute and that chili looks delicious. I'm with you. Love the fact that the weather has changed and I can start making hearty chili's and stews again! P.S. Your pics were great.
My recent post Tolerance Vs. Intolerance Of The Disabled: How Can We Change Perceptions?
Janine Huldie says
Thanks so much Linda and will say that I am not a fan of the actual cold weather, but the food choices this time of year, I totally am. I love using the crockpot and I love baking, too. And I also love sitting and relaxing with a warm cup of tea (can't do any of this in the warmer weather.)
Nellie says
I love the pictures with the pumpkins! Um stickers for pumpkins, makes so much sense! I need to try that next year 🙂 We did paint this year and it was all over the place!! 😉 Those potatoes look so yummy!! looks like awesome family time!
My recent post Where The Party At?
Janine Huldie says
Nellie, we painted yesterday after the stickers didn't end staying put and it was a big, fat mess here too. Next year, I am buying better stickers for sure! And stay tuned posting that recipe tomorrow for sure now!! 🙂
Sandy Ramsey says
Wow! You are one busy lady so it's good that you got a little down time! I am trying desperately to catch up on my blog reading and start holiday shopping because I'm so far behind. I could use a little of that down time myself….c'mon January! I love your pics…you and your husband just look like amazing parents! The girls look so happy decorating those pumpkins and hail to the ice cream sundae! Love this post, as always!
My recent post Pumpkins: Carving, Seeds & Centerpieces
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Sandy and trust me I just try my best. I am with you though and could definitely use some quiet time. Wish I could skip over January though and head straight to like April (hate the winter!).
cgacad says
i didn't even think about decorating pumpkins with stickers. that is such a creative idea! did you think of that?! so smart!
i really enjoyed reading your match.com success story. that is so cute and i love how you were just so honest and genuine about what you wanted. you gotta be specific to get what you want!
My recent post Why the San Francisco Bay Area is the Best Place to Live and Work
Janine Huldie says
Catherine, the stickers were all Kevin's idea and asked my brother when he was at the dollar store to pick some up. So, I truly can't take the credit, but they did work out pretty good except being from the Dollar Store they didn't stick as well as we would have liked. And thank you also for reading my Match.com story. I truly believe once I was honest what I was looking for that really did make a world of difference.