Mantel Full of Pumpkins and Fall Feels

This weekend, I pulled out the bins of fall decor and got to work giving our home a seasonal refresh. There’s just something about pumpkins, leaves, and warm tones that instantly make everything feel cozy. Today I’m sharing a peek at our mantel, all dressed up for fall!

I love how the eucalyptus garland worked with the fall leaf garland—it’s like they were meant to be together! The combo gave the mantel just the right amount of fullness and that layered, cozy look that feels perfectly fall.

The big pumpkin picture came from Hobby Lobby a few years ago.  I'm so glad I snagged it because I've used it every year since then!

From one end of the mantel to the other, there’s no shortage of fall charm! Leaves spill across the top, and pumpkins of all shapes and sizes are scattered throughout, creating the perfect touch of autumn magic.

I couldn’t resist adding a little more fall magic below the fireplace too! A few pumpkins and cozy accents on the hearth helped complete the look and make everything feel warm and welcoming.

I’ll definitely be a little sad to take this one down—it’s been such a cozy reminder of everything I love about fall. But with Christmas right around the corner, I’m already dreaming up what’s coming next!

Five on Friday - November 7, 2025

Hello! Can you believe it’s November already? How did that happen?! The air has that crisp, cozy feel, and the trees are showing off their last bits of color before winter settles in. It feels like the perfect time to slow down a little, light a candle, and enjoy all the small things that make this season so special.

 
So, with a warm mug in hand and a grateful heart, let’s see what my five things are for this week ~

1.  The Christmas Ring

Did you ever read Karen Kingsbury’s book The Christmas Ring? Well, it’s been turned into a movie! Two friends and I went to see it last night, and it definitely had that heartwarming Christmas feel we’ve all been craving. The story was sweet, the setting was festive, and it had just the right amount of emotion to make it perfect for this time of year. If you’re a fan of Hallmark-style movies—the kind that leave you smiling and feeling cozy inside—you’ll absolutely love this one!  Here's the summary ~

At a "Christmas in July" sale while searching for her longtime missing family Christmas ring, beautiful military widow Vanessa Mayfield (Jana Kramer), early 40s, meets handsome antiques dealer Ben Miller (Benjamin Hollingsworth). Now Ben is working in Vanessa's hometown, scouring local shops for Christmas finds, and along the way their new friendship is blossoming into something more. But there's a problem neither of them knows about: Ben's father, Howard, has purchased a box of antiques that unbeknownst to him or Ben, happens to include Vanessa's missing heirloom Christmas ring. A ring worth five figures and filled with a lifetime of Vanessa's memories. Ben's father has no idea the importance of the heirloom, so he makes plans to sell it. His Christmas diamond in the rough. Now, it will take a miracle for all of them to understand that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

2.  The Christmas Stranger

I must have Christmas on my mind today because here’s another Christmas-themed item to share!  The Christmas Stranger was just released this week, and it immediately caught my attention. It sounds like the perfect story to curl up with during the Christmas season—cozy blanket, twinkling lights, and maybe a mug of hot cocoa close by. I’m adding it to my holiday reading list for sure!  Here's the summary ~

Sometimes the universe sends us exactly who we need...

Three years after losing his family in a Christmas Eve accident, grief-stricken Paul Wanlass hasn’t just given up on Christmas, he’s given up on life. He can’t imagine anything to keep him here—not his work as a computer repairman, not the residents in his Salt Lake City neighborhood, and certainly not the idea of connecting with someone new. When a stranger knocks on his door, claiming to be picking up a laptop, Paul allows him in—but discovers the man has a very different mission in mind.

Paul wakes the next morning unsure if his encounter with the stranger really happened or was just a dream–but when the stranger shows up again, Paul challenges him to give him just one reason to live. The stranger agrees to the challenge but warns Paul not to expect a path he would have guessed or chosen.

As the stranger promised, Paul’s life takes a wild and fateful turn. A robbery connects him with a woman who has also lost the love of her life, and, in a seemingly unrelated incident, Paul rescues a young boy from bullying, only to find the boy needs a different kind of rescue. The twists leave Paul wondering what these people have in common, and why they were brought together. Who—or what—really is this Christmas stranger, and how will Paul find meaning once again?

Available HERE

3.  Thanksgiving Coloring Tablecloth

Let’s take a step back from all the Christmas talk and focus on Thanksgiving for a moment!  I’ve shared this before, but it’s just too good not to mention again. This tablecloth is absolutely perfect for the kids’ table at Thanksgiving! It keeps little hands busy, sparks their creativity, and honestly, even the adults tend to join in on the fun. It’s such a simple way to add laughter and togetherness to your holiday celebration.

Available HERE

4.  Everything but the Pizza Whipped Cream Cheese Spread

For a limited time, Trader Joe's is offering Everything but the Pizza Whipped Cream Cheese Spread.  It sounds fantastic!  I'm going to try to pop in and grab some to try.  They describe it like this, "It’s made with a base of rich and fluffy Whipped Cream Cheese that’s been mixed with a tangy sun-dried tomato spread, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and a series of savory seasonings, all of which work together to evoke the taste of cheese Pizza on the palate.".  Yum!

5.  I'm going to try this...

Have a wonderful weekend! I’m hoping to finally take down all the Halloween decorations and swap them out for the Thanksgiving ones—it always feels so cozy once the fall colors and pumpkins are back out. We’re also having dinner with friends tonight, which I’m really looking forward to. Good food, good conversation, and lots of laughter sound like the perfect way to kick off the weekend. Hope to see you back next week!

What I Read in October 2025

Hello and welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday!  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you link up below to let us know what you're thinking out loud about today.  On the first Thursday of the every month, I reflect back on the books I read the previous month.  So, let's look at what I read in October ~

My Husband's Wife by Carla Kovach

This was the selection for one of the book clubs I'm in and it was a wonderful read!  It's cheap to purchase on Kindle and totally worth it!  I found this psychological thriller to be a real page turner and I blow through it really quick.  It had plenty of twists and turns I didn't see coming.

‘Thank you for agreeing to be our wedding planner. Theo is on his way,’ Madison says as we meet to plan her dream wedding. The moment her fiancé enters the room, a newborn baby in his arms, my whole world shifts and I grab hold of my desk to stop myself from falling.

Theo shakes my hand as he introduces himself, but I already know who he is. He’s my husband. The man I thought had died five years ago.

‘Lovely to meet you, Eva,’ he says, carefully avoiding my frozen stare. I’d recognise his smooth voice anywhere.

I want to scream, ask him why he’s doing this to me. But I know just how good a liar my husband is. And he knows my darkest secret. I can’t risk him destroying everything I’ve worked so hard for.

At the end of the meeting, I watch the happy little family walk away, and I don’t miss Theo’s eyes staring at me just a second too long. He knows I’m onto him. But only I know what I’m going to do next…

Available HERE

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus was our library book club selection of the month.  I'm the one who picked it and, to be honest, it wasn't a great pick.  Hardly anyone liked it, including me.  It had a lot of words that just kept going on and on.  Have you read it?  Did you like it??  Maybe I missed something.

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.

Available HERE

The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore

Dream Harbor book 5 was a good little read and I enjoyed it.  Nothing hugely literary about this series, but great to curl up and read for fun.  By the way, book 6 it titled The Daisy Chain Flower Shop and is due out in May of 2026.

As owner of her beloved Gingerbread Bakery, Annie Andrews should have a love life to match her business; sugary and sweet. But instead, she’s locked in a game of words with the irritatingly upbeat bar owner down the street.

Mac Sullivan has everything he wants, except the girl he dreams of. It’s easier to argue with Annie than get her to talk to him but with Jeanie and Logan’s wedding coming up, they're about to spend a lot more time together.

As the snowflakes fall and with romance in the air, will Annie see that the one she loves to hate might just be her perfect match after all?

Available HERE

Framed by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey

Oh my goodness - this book is a real eye opener!  It's scary to think how many innocent people may be incarcerated!  This book highlights a few cases John Grisham and Jim McCloskey explored.  Could be a good book for the guys on your Christmas list.

John Grisham is known worldwide for his bestselling novels, but it’s his real-life passion for justice that led to his work with Jim McCloskey of Centurion Ministries, the first organization dedicated to exonerating innocent people who have been wrongly convicted. Together they offer an inside look at the many injustices in our criminal justice system.

A fundamental principle of our legal system is a presumption of innocence, but once someone has been found guilty, there is very little room to prove doubt. These ten true stories shed light on Americans who were innocent but found guilty and forced to sacrifice friends, families, and decades of their lives to prison while the guilty parties remained free. In each of the stories, John Grisham and Jim McCloskey recount the dramatic hard-fought battles for exoneration. They take a close look at what leads to wrongful convictions in the first place and the racism, misconduct, flawed testimony, and corruption in the court system that can make them so hard to reverse.

Impeccably researched and told with page-turning suspense as only John Grisham can deliver, Framed is the story of winning freedom when the battle already seems lost and the deck is stacked against you.

Available HERE

Now it's your turn.  What are you thinking out loud about today?  Link up and share!

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Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - November 5, 2025

 

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.

MEET THE HOSTS

1. Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
2. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
3. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X
4. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
5. Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
6. Angie – SALT PRAIRIE | IG | PINTEREST 

HIGHLIGHTS LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

Leaf Puppets

Beginner Friendly Chunky Crocheted Throw

Peach Pie with Frozen Peaches

Poison Apple Martini

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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Five on Friday - October 31, 2025

Happy Halloween! Isn’t it great when Halloween lands on a weekend? It takes all the pressure off trying to get those sugar-filled kiddos to bed and up early the next morning for school. Now, let’s jump into my five for this week ~

1.  Time Change Weekend

Don't forget - this is time change weekend!  On Sunday morning at 2:00 am, time will wind back one hour.  So we all have an extra hour this weekend!  What are you going to do with your extra hour?

2.  Pioneer Woman Cooks - The Essential Recipes

Ree Drummond’s newest cookbook hit the shelves on Tuesday, and thanks to pre-ordering, my copy is already sitting on the counter waiting to be devoured—like a good novel! I love reading cookbooks cover to cover, and I can’t wait to spend some time this weekend flipping through its 400 pages filled with 120 of her greatest hits. Eric’s already wondering which recipes I’ll try first! This one would also make a fantastic Christmas gift for any Pioneer Woman fan.

Available HERE

3.  MXY Arbor House Gel

I shared this product on the blog over a year ago, and it’s time for me to place another order because it’s just that good. I’m still amazed at how effective a single application is when it comes to removing mildew buildup around our shower — it works like magic! It’s so much quicker and easier than the hassle of recaulking, and the results are spotless. With the holidays right around the corner, now’s the perfect time to give your showers and tubs a little refresh, and this product makes the job effortless.

Available HERE

4.  Thanksgiving Earrings

As soon as the clock strikes midnight, Halloween will officially be behind us, and it’s time to start shifting our focus toward Thanksgiving! What better way to kick off the season than with some festive accessories? Check out these absolutely adorable earrings — they’re the perfect mix of charm and sparkle, adding just the right amount of bling to any Thanksgiving outfit. The best part? They’re super affordable, so you can grab a pair (or two!) without breaking the bank. Treat yourself and get ready to impress everyone at the table this holiday season — these earrings are sure to be a conversation starter!

Available HERE

5.  My Halloween costume...

Stay safe if you’re heading out tonight! The leaves around here are finally starting to show their beautiful fall colors, and I’m hoping to sneak in a hike in the woods this weekend before the foliage fades. If I’m feeling extra motivated, I might tackle taking down the Halloween decorations and start putting up some Thanksgiving touches. Wishing you a wonderful weekend — see you next week!

Day 3 in Yosemite: Memories for a Lifetime

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by Thinking Out Loud Thursday.  This is a time when I talk about something on my mind and invite you to link up and do the same.  Today I'm wrapping up my recaps of our trip to Yosemite!  If you missed the other recaps, you can find them here ~

Memories from Sequoia National Park 

Where to Stay When Visiting Sequoia National Park

A Day Among Giants: King’s Canyon Adventure

Day 1 in Yosemite:  Awe at Every Turn

Day 2 in Yosemite:  A Breathtaking Adventure

Our final day at Yosemite started with a bit of excitement.  We were getting ready to leave our rental and noticed the water line to the washer had burst.  There was water everywhere!  Thank goodness it happened right before we left instead of right after, because the whole place would have been flooded!  We swept water out the front door until the caretaker arrived and took over.  

We entered from the north again and were met with no traffic at all.  Since we got a little bit later start because of the water, we feared we would be confronted with the long line of traffic we had read about.  Luckily, that wasn't the case!  

Our plan for the day was simple—relax and explore a few of the well-known spots we hadn’t yet seen. Our stop at Bridalveil Meadows turned out to be absolutely stunning! The water levels weren’t as high as they would be in spring, but there was still plenty flowing to make the view picture-perfect.

We even had time to be a little goofy!

Our next stop was the Yosemite Valley Chapel, a charming 145-year-old landmark that still hosts worship services, weddings, and community gatherings for Yosemite’s residents. It’s nestled among majestic cliffs and peaceful meadows, with a stunning view of Yosemite Falls in the distance.

We wandered through the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center and watched the informative film playing in the theater. Nearby, we explored the Ansel Adams Gallery and the Indian Village of Ahwahnee. It was wonderful to slow down and truly take in the beauty and history of the area.

Later in the afternoon, we set out for Glacier Point. At first, we weren’t sure if the drive would be worth it, but I’m so glad we went! The view of Half Dome from there was absolutely breathtaking!

From this incredible vantage point, you can see not only the majestic Half Dome but also Yosemite Falls, Vernal Falls, and Nevada Falls—all in one sweeping view. The scenery was absolutely mesmerizing, and everywhere we turned seemed like the perfect backdrop for a photo. We couldn’t resist stopping several times to capture the moment and soak in the awe-inspiring beauty surrounding us.

As we made our way out of the park, we were treated to the most breathtaking sunset imaginable. The sky was painted in brilliant shades of orange, pink, and gold, casting a warm glow over the mountains and trees. We couldn’t help but pull over, step out of the car, and simply stand there in awe. It was one of those moments where time seemed to slow down—peaceful, quiet, and absolutely beautiful.

The next morning, we packed up and made our way to the airport, hearts full and cameras loaded with memories. As our trip came to an end, we couldn’t help but reflect on all the laughter, adventures, and breathtaking sights we had shared. It was the kind of experience that stays with you—a time spent with great friends, surrounded by incredible beauty, and filled with moments we’ll treasure for years to come.

Now it's your turn.  What are you thinking out loud about today?  Link up and share!

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Click here to enter

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - October 29, 2025

 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.

MEET THE HOSTS

1. Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
2. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
3. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X
4. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
5. Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
6. Angie – SALT PRAIRIE | IG | PINTEREST 

HIGHLIGHTS LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

RoTel Dip Halloween Recipe

Cupcake Liner Turkey Craft for Kids

Recent Reads - October 2025

Creamy Garlic Dressing

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! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter