Five on Friday - November 6, 2026

Happy Friday, friends! Here we are, already a week into November! I feel like I blinked and October was over. With Thanksgiving just a few weeks away and Christmas right behind it, things are about to get busy! I'm hoping to slow down a bit and enjoy all the fun this time of year brings.  Grab a cup of coffee and let's get started!

 
1. A Dog's Perfect Christmas

Netflix is getting into the holiday spirit, and its lineup of Christmas movies is starting to roll out this week! On Wednesday, A Dog's Perfect Christmas was released, giving us another festive movie to add to our holiday watchlists. There's something about this time of year that makes me want to curl up on the couch with a cozy blanket, a cup of hot chocolate, and a good Christmas movie. I'm always excited to see what new holiday movies Netflix has in store, and it looks like we're just getting started. Let the Christmas movie watching begin!

2.  Cookie Queen:  80+ Irresistible, Doable, Giftable Recipes

Calling all cookie lovers! A new cookbook hit the shelves this week, and the timing couldn't be better with the holidays approaching. Cookie Queen by Susan Spungen is packed with more than 80 recipes, from familiar favorites to creative new treats. Think Mocha Spice Crinkles, Earl Grey Shortbread, and Caramel Stuffed Cashew Chocolate Chunk Cookies. The book even helps you put together beautiful assortments for holiday cookie boxes. I don't know about you, but this has me ready to pull out the mixer and start baking! It would also make a great Christmas gift for the baker on your list.

Available HERE

3. Holiday Menus

It's beginning to taste a lot like Christmas! Both Starbucks and Dunkin' rolled out their holiday menus this week, and there are plenty of festive drinks to try. Starbucks has some fun new additions, including a Tiramisu Velvet Latte and an Apple Pomegranate Refresher, along with returning favorites like the Peppermint Mocha and Caramel Brulée Latte. Over at Dunkin', it's all about Cookie Butter and Toasted White Chocolate! I'm always excited when the holiday drinks make their appearance. Now the big question is, which one should I try first? Are you a Starbucks or Dunkin' fan?

4.  Cloth Napkins

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I've started thinking about how I want to set our table this year. I decided it was time to freshen things up with some new cloth napkins! It's amazing how something as simple as changing out your napkins can give your entire tablescape a fresh new look. Cloth napkins are such an easy way to make a meal feel a little more special, and the best part is that you can use them year after year. They're practical, reusable, and add that extra touch of elegance without spending a fortune. If you're hosting Thanksgiving this year, or just want to dress up your everyday table, this is an easy and affordable little upgrade. And with the holidays coming, now is the perfect time to grab a set!

Available HERE

5.  Yep...

Have a wonderful weekend!  We're celebrating Eric's birthday tonight and tomorrow headed to our son and daughter-in-law for our monthly family breakfast.  I'm hoping to dig into holiday preparations and get ahead of the game too!  Whatever you have going on, I hope you take a minute to enjoy life and have some fun.  See you next week!

What I Read in October 2026

Hello!  Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday.  This is a time when I share something I'm thinking out loud about and invite you to link up and do the same.  One the first Thursday of the month, I like to reflect back on the books I read the previous month.  Let's look at the books I read in October ~

The Me I Used To Be by Kristan Higgins

I really enjoyed The Me I Used to Be by Kristan Higgins! This was a quick, engaging read with a few twists I definitely didn't see coming. It's been sitting on my reading list for a while, and I'm so glad it finally made its way to the top! And here's a little bonus — it's free with Kindle Unlimited!

At their twenty-fifth high school reunion, four former best friends discover that growing up is way messier than anticipated—and the past isn’t nearly as finished as they thought.

Back in senior year, Audrey, Micah, Jasmine and Beck were the Core Four: the lucky one, the beautiful one, the smart one, the sporty one. They had color-coded dreams, inside jokes and a lifelong friendship they thought would last forever. But graduation night ended in a tragic accident, followed by the kind of silence that stretches for decades.

Now, they’ve returned for their reunion, each carrying a life that looks nothing like the glossy future they imagined. There are stalled careers, complicated marriages, outspoken adult children and secrets that never fit into holiday cards. For one of them, a diagnosis of early-onset dementia turns the weekend into a ticking clock. 

Across one unforgettable weekend, the Core Four must decide if their past can still change their future together.

Available HERE

The Teacher by Freida McFadden

Oh my goodness - every book I've read by Freida McFadden is so twisty!  The Teacher was no exception.  There was only one little part that didn't tie together for me.  If you've read it, do you know what I'm talking about?  We read this in one of my book clubs and there was plenty to discuss!  Another free one on Kindle Unlimited.

Lesson #1: Trust no one.

Eve has a good life. She wakes up each day, kisses her husband Nate, and heads off to teach math at the local high school. All is as it should be. Except…

Last year, Caseham High was rocked by a scandal involving a student-teacher affair, with one student, Addie, at its center. But Eve knows there is far more to these ugly rumors than meets the eye.

Addie can’t be trusted. She lies. She hurts people. She destroys lives. At least, that’s what everyone says.

But nobody knows the real Addie. Nobody knows the secrets that could destroy her. And Addie will do anything to keep it quiet…

Available HERE

The First Witch of Boston by Andrea Catalano

This was our library book club's October pick, and it was the perfect Halloweenish read for the month! It had just the right amount of spookiness and gave us plenty to talk about at our meeting. I always enjoy a book that sparks a good discussion! And here's a bonus — it's free with Kindle Unlimited, too!

A gripping and intimate novel based on the true story of Margaret Jones, the first woman to be found guilty of witchcraft in seventeenth-century Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1646. Thomas and Margaret Jones arrive from England to build a life in the New World. Though of differing temperaments, cautious Thomas and fiery Margaret, a healer, are bound by a love that has lasted decades. With a child on the way, their new beginning promises only blessings.

But in this austere Puritan community, comely faces hide malicious intent. Wrong moves or words are met with suspicion, and Margaret’s bold and unguarded nature draws scorn. Soon, Margaret is mistrusted as more cunning woman than kind caregiver. And when personal tragedies, religious hysteria, and wariness of the unknown turn most against her, even the devotion Margaret and her husband share is at risk.

Inspired by actual diary entries and court records, The First Witch of Boston is at once the riveting story of a woman unjustly accused and a love story set amid the political and social turmoil of both Old and New England. Harrowing, and with a deep understanding of the human heart, history is brilliantly imagined.

Available HERE

Book Club Confidential by Julie Hatcher

This was just a fun little read!  It, too, is free with Kindle Unlimited.  I think it was actually one of my Amazon Prime First Reads from a month or so ago. (Let this be your reminder to pick your free book for November!)

Once upon a time, friends Tessa, Kate, and Hallie dreamed big. Now they’re all that’s left of a once-thriving book club, meeting weekly to drink wine, talk novels, and quietly wonder how their lives got so small.

Tessa, a lifelong people pleaser, excels at a corporate job she hates, while influencer Kate grows weary of chasing false perfection and true love. Meanwhile, independent Hallie drifts toward a wedding she never really wanted—nursing feelings she’s too afraid to name.

But out of their growing regret comes a decisive pact: For one month, they’ll make every choice boldly, like they’re the protagonists of their own stories. The results are immediate, transformative…and chaotic. Careers stumble. Relationships fumble. Carefully crafted images start to crack.

It turns out, having agency is easier said than done. But with their friendship intact, they each come to grips with their new character arc—and discover what they’ll risk to find their happy ending.

Available HERE

It was a great month of reading!  What was your favorite read from last month?

Now it's your turn.  Link up and share what you're thinking out loud about today!

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Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - November 4, 2026

 

Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop! We are so glad that you stopped by. 

Here you will find inspiration from dozens of bloggers, including recipes, home DIY, gardening, decor, family fun, traveling, fitness, and so much more.

A friendly reminder to our guests that, as a courtesy to the hosts, we ask that you follow every host on at least one social media channel.

If you are a blogger, then be sure to link up below. You may be our next feature! 

Before we get this party started, let’s meet the hosts and check out this week’s featured favorites.

1. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
2. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X
3. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
4. Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE

HIGHLIGHT LINKS

Turkey Cheese Ball

Bacon Wrapped Dates

Coffee, Pastry, and Red Bricks:  An Early Morning Guide to New Albany's Market Square

Excuses

LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!

Please follow all hosts on AT LEAST 1 of their social channels.

Add as many family-friendly posts as you would like to. NO Etsy shops, adult sites, or blog parties please.  Visit others. Caring is sharing. Like, comment, and pin posts.

Party entries appear in REVERSE. This way, your entries will be seen no matter when you arrive. Please TWEET our party and invite others to join.

Let’s Party! 

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