It's Fall!

 And boy does it feel like it this week! Chance and I are not really digging the colder temps. I feel like the changing seasons gets me every time. I am having a hard time not wanting to slip into hibernation mode.

But I am excited about soups and baking. I made beef stew and popovers on Sunday and today have Buffalo Chicken Chili in the slow cooker.

Last week we celebrated September Birthdays! 

Dad

Rhett

Mikayla

Hannah made a special birthday dessert for each birthday recipient.

I took Tuesday off to spend with Mikayla on her birthday, and Phoebe. We had a great time, shopping and going out to lunch.

Sometime last week I got sucked into the chaos crochet side of Facebook. I spent way too much time watching reels. But I did also pick up my crochet again and have been delighting in it!

Watching to Fall Book Preview while crocheting and enjoy hot Chai-der.

It's feeling very blankety and I'm not sure how much longer to make it. I have just a few rows left on this section so maybe I'll decide after that.

I hope to find time to go to Hobby Lobby next week to get yarn to join a Holiday Chaos Crochet-a-long.

I'm still deciding on which colorway to choose or if I'll go rogue and choose my own! 😂

This weekend is Ladies Retreat with our church district and I am soooo excited for it! 

Enjoy the rest of your week my friends. 💙

The Crusty Cup + Letter and Leaf

In an effort to focus on the good. Here's our Birthday Sister Coffee Date Adventure!

I started out the day taking the boys on a good walk, the sun was shining and the birds were singing and it made my heart feel happy and hopeful.

Laura picked me up about 9 o'clock after she dropped her youngest at daycare.  Our first stop was The Crusty Cup... and yes the name did give us pause. 😂 They are a new coffee shop I had seen on facebook and was eager to check out.

It was a cute little shop, the girl who waited on us was kind and funny.

There were no fancy coffee drinks, basically drip coffee and limited menu. But they are just getting started.

Laura and I both ordered coffee with a flavor shot in large mugs. Upon first sip we were dismayed to discover it was sugar-free syrup.  But we loved the mugs we used.

The breakfast sandwiches were pretty good.

Our next stop was a used bookshop The Letter and Leaf.  This place was packed with bookish delight. We were easily there an hour and could have spent so much longer. There were so many books. Every where. Piled high. Double stacked.

We wound up sitting on the floor in the children's section pouring over the selections.

I came home with 6 titles- 3 middle grade (?)  favs and 3  from my challenge TBRs

We then head back to Chittenango to meet up with Mom and Dad for lunch!  We had a great time sitting and chatting with them. 💙

We planed to visit another local(ish) bookshop but upon putting it into google maps realized it was closed on Tuesdays. So we went to the library instead!

I also picked up a book I had on hold.  Honestly I put this one on hold because I just finished Pearl in the Sand by this author last week, which is the story of Rahab. This is the story of Ruth and I guess I am hoping Rahab might have a cameo appearance in this story (as she is Boaz's mother) and I wasn't ready to leave her story behind.

We also went to the Salvation Army where I snagged a sweater and another book. 

I also seriously considered getting this hat and using it for my Easter dress inspirations.

Laura and I enjoyed a cup of iced coffee in my kitchen before she headed for home.

Ryan and Nicole later stopped by to wish me a happy birthday and bring me these gorgeous flowers.

Here's to 46!

Cookbook Club! + Birthday celebration

 Saturday we had cookbook club at my house. Such a fun time. This time our cookbook was Of Course it's Good! by Jessica Secrest or ApplesaucenandADHD on facebook. Her cookbook came out Janaury 6, Hannah had it on her birthday list- which is how I first heard about it. I love her videos (despite some profanity). She is real and funny and makes real food. 

Explaining what each dish was before we dug in.

We had sooooooo much food! It was all delicious!

And much fellowship and laughter.

I can't wait to do it again. This is one of my favorite things!

Since Hannah came to town for cookbook club and my birthday is Tuesday we took the opportunity to get together for a family dinner to celebrate. Mikayla made a delicious lasagna and Hannah made a sensational cake. Ryan and Nicole brought me and coldbrew from Dunkin.

The 6 of the them also took the opportunity to hide 180 easter eggs throughout our house while we were gone. We'll probably be finding them for weeks.

I'm looking forward to spending my birthday tomorrow with my sister for a birthday sister coffee date and hopefully Mom meeting up with us for lunch. 💖

Happy Spring! 🌷