Happy Monday friends! How was your weekend? I hope your weather included even just a bit of the beauty that filled the past 48 hours or so around here. I am typing this on Sunday afternoon and, I have been told/forewarned that, change is coming! But let’s not dwell on that. Instead I am grateful for the incredibly nice weather we had over the weekend.
We started our weekend on Friday going to a large Christmas fair and craft show. The weather was anything but Christmas-y…unless, of course, you are in Australia:) But, no complaints from me. I could do picnics and sunshine on Christmas! But that is a dream in Virginia. This show was alot of fun. There was a large variety in vendors and several new things. It was busy but not wall to wall with people (which can get miserable super quickly). I actually checked off several gifts from my Christmas shopping list – including my brother. He is one of the trickiest for me. When he lived close by, we had stopped exchanging gifts and would share a Christmas event each December. I loved that! Now he is (literally) across the country and I really miss those great evenings we used to look forward to each year.
On Saturday, I had a ladies meeting at church and, afterwards, I ran a few errands. Several of you had suggested looking at Hobby Lobby to see if there were any pilgrims (or other cute things) I might add to my Thanksgiving decor. Although Christmas has definitely taken over Hobby Lobby, there were actually two aisles of fall and/or Thanksgiving things. No pilgrims though and nothing that I really needed. Or nothing that I wanted to stand in line 20 people deep in order to buy. It was insane. But not nearly as crazy as the Chick Fil A, I might add. I have no idea what was driving the chicken obsession on Saturday but it was like a Walmart Black Friday frenzy in there!!
I also ran to Aldi. I had heard (or seen on YT) that their annual advent calendars were available. There was a day when lines would begin forming before the store opened and customers were given tickets in order to get one of these calendars. I guess the tickets were to prevent the trampling that has occurred at the previously mentioned Walmart craziness. I dunno but there were tickets. For Aldi advent calendars?? Go figure. Back in the day, there were two kinds of calendars. Now, Aldi offers more ways to count down the days until Christmas than I can remember. To go with the the traditional chocolate ones, there were ones that promise all kinds of daily fun. Wine samples, as well as Irish cream liqueur. Hot sauce. Twelve days of crafting. Legos, Squishmallows, puzzles, pet plush toys and even 25 days of hot sauce!! I’m not usually one to “jump on the bandwagon” but there was a coffee one that caught my attention. A different flavored coffee K-cup for each morning leading up to Christmas….sounded fun to me! So, I looked at my local Aldi. Many calendars were still there. Apparently, no calendar frenzy this year. However, the coffee ones were all gone (as were the wine ones, just sayin.)
Well, then the challenge was on. It had been two days since I checked my store but I decided to run into the Aldi closer to the church. I was going that way anyways, right? And, yep, there is was. Just waiting for me. In truth, there were several but I still felt like I had scored! Yeah me. I will admit all but maybe two of the flavors sound yummy. Of course, I have no idea what kind/what brand of coffee it is but I am here for the fun!! I’m actually thinking of posting throughout December (just an idea) and maybe I will share my coffee thoughts along the way.
Since I am apparently in a silly mood and I have food/drinks on my brain…how ’bout I finish this post with a bit of silly Thanksgiving This or That. With a nod to Thanksgiving food. Have you made your menu yet? Will you be eating at home? In a restaurant? Or at someone else’s house? Is there one thing that you are always asked to make and/or to bring? Let me know in the comments. This Friday, I will be having Friday with Friends again. Sharing quick answers to a quick question. This week’s question will be “pies.” I will put it out there on Wednesday. See you then and, as always, thanks for stopping by…
- Pumpkin pie or pecan pie? Not really a sweet pie fan but, forced to choose, go sweet or go home, right??
- Candied yams or sweet potato casserole? This just reminds me of my childhood Thanksgivings!
- Canned or homemade cranberry sauce? This is one time that canned just tastes better. In my humble opinion.
- Classic stuffing or cornbread stuffing? I guess?? Not exactly sure what is the difference!
- Spinach dip or buffalo chicken dip? For Thanksgiving?
- Roasted green beans or green bean casserole? For my husband, it would not be Thanksgiving without it, so I might as well choose it here.
- Glazed carrots or roasted brussels sprouts? I like carrots!
- Alongside pie, whipped cream, or ice cream? For sure. No ice cream on my pie, please.
- Turkey or side dishes? Ok, this one was hard. I changed my answer. A few times!
- Deviled eggs or pigs in blankets? Do folks really have pigs in a blanket for Thanksgiving???
