How was your Thanksgiving? I hope you had a great one and got in some time to just relax. My son and DIL hosted this year; my son smoked a turkey, and my daughter-in-law prepared some amazing appetizers and side dishes. I contributed with a squash casserole.
The kittens have kept things interesting! I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve pulled them out of the Christmas tree. I also had to go shoelace shopping this weekend since someone almost completely chewed through one of the laces on my fairly new Hoka sneakers! Hoping the lavendar colored laces I ordered online at Amazon are the right color to go with my sneakers. FYI: Hoka doesn’t sell replacement laces—I called and tried that route first.
If you live in the Dayton, Ohio area, Graeter’s Peppermint Stick ice cream is now available. I wish I had my big freezer here, I would buy 10 cartons to stock away! lol I had to make do with purchasing just two.
If you’re a MacBook Air fan, one of the best deals I’ve seen online is a 25% discount Apple is offering for the Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch. I love how portable it is, it would be great for travel. You’ll find it on sale here: 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop.
If you’re thinking of hanging wreaths on your windows this year, consider buying bows with pretty, long streamers. They look beautiful hanging down from the windows, but they also look wonderful dancing in the breezes from inside.
I love how the bows last and last! The ones I have on my wreaths now are several years old and still look brand new. You’ll find the bows I use for the best price I’ve found here: A Dozen Red Velvet Bows with Streamers, Great for Both Indoor and Outside Decor.
A week or so ago, I shared a book with you that I had just started reading. I’m about halfway through now—haven’t had a lot of time to read due to the business of the holidays and pulling kittens out of Christmas trees. Have you ever wondered if a homeowner gets paid for allowing their home to be used in the filming of a movie? I always wondered about that. Home Alone was filmed 35 years ago, and the owner, John Abendshein, and his wife were paid $65,000 for allowing their home to be transformed into the interiors seen in the movie. That included the use of their home for the duration of the filming, which lasted a little over 5 months. Of course, their home’s interior was restored to its original state when filming wrapped up.
I love how he describes how the set designers handled the wall-covering changes. John, his wife, and their daughter remained in the home the entire time, and they had some fascinating experiences. John worked from home a lot and wasn’t shy about watching the filming, even striking up conversations with the actors and crew when there was a break in the action. He tells a funny story in the book about how he and Joe Pesci had a standoff/debate over who deserved the last beer in the fridge at the end of a long day of filming.
In reading the book, I learned a lot about what really goes on during filming on a movie set. John shares how some of the night scenes outside were lit with very powerful lights, lights so bright that he and his family (and probably his neighbors) had to sleep those nights wearing sleep masks. The neighbors sounded like good sports, even coming over to watch some of the filming and chatting with the crew.
John mentions that his only regret was that he never got to meet John Candy. Candy filmed all of his scenes in one long, 23-hour period of shooting, for which he only received $414. He didn’t even get a percentage of the profits. I wonder if some of the other actors did…got a percentage of the profits. Maybe that will come up later in the book—I’d love to know how that works. One interesting statement that John mentions several times in the book is that most of the actors didn’t expect the movie to be much of a hit. Apparently, John Hughes and Chris Columbus didn’t share that view. I’m glad they didn’t, or the movie may have never been made. Anyway, if you love the movie and have always wondered about how it came to be made, including how the Abendshein’s home was chosen as the McAllister home, you’ll find the book available here: Home But Alone No More. I think it makes a great gift for the Home Alone movie fan.
I’ve been wearing my hoodie when out on grocery shopping runs, and the reactions from fellow shoppers have been a lot of fun! It’s amazing how many people know what it is when they see it. This hoodie is available in a bunch of different colors and is currently on sale 15% off here: Home Alone Movie Battle Plan Hoodie.
It was 25 degrees here this morning, perfect weather for the fleece-lined leggings/yoga pants I purchased a few weeks ago. If you will be spending some time out walking this winter, you’ll find these super comfortable, warm leggings available here: Fleece-Lined Leggings/Yoga Pants.
A cute gift idea for the little ones this Christmas is this fun LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Wild Animal set featuring a Rhino with Birds. I’m pretty sure those are Oxpeckers on his back.
It reminds me of the first time I ever saw birds doing this during a trip to Kenya in 2015, only it was hippos that time. I learned that the Oxpecker has a symbiotic relationship with hippos, and I guess rhinos, too! They help keep them free of ticks and other parasites. Nature can be so amazing! This Lego Rhino set is currently 30% off and is available here: Lego Rhino with Birds.
I’m crazy about these cute acacia wood antler trays! The largest one may even be large enough to be a charger since chargers are normally 12-13 inches wide. Of course, they would be great as a serving piece at Christmas. You’ll find all three sizes available here: Antler Serving Platter.
Another book that I purchased recently is currently on sale…a Cyber Monday deal. I think it would make an amazing gift for anyone who loves beautiful traditional decor. Love Ralph Lauren’s style, and this book is a feast! You’ll find it on sale more than half off here: Ralph Lauren A Way Of Living.
I didn’t get a chance to do any shopping on Black Friday, but I’ve been eyeing some of the sales today and there are some awesome ones! This beautiful plaid puffer vest is currently on sale 40% off here: Plaid Down Puffer Vest.
I have always loved navy blue and green together! It’s one of my very favorite color pairings! This sweater is so pretty and I really like the mock turtleneck. It’s currently 50% off here: Beautiful Green and Navy Sweater.
Beautiful Barn coat! I know I’ve mentioned many times how much I love Barn coats. I love the fit, how they don’t bind you or feel constrictive, even when wearing a sweater underneath. This one is currently on sale here: Quilted Barn Coat.
I’ve been eyeing these pretty red tartan sheets all fall! I absolutely love sleeping on flannel sheets during the wintertime. They are currently on sale, so last night I ordered a set. I love the color and the coziness of the plaid! Can’t wait until they get here! You’ll find them on sale in several styles for winter here: Tartan Flannel Sheets.
Such a cute, cute top to wear this month and for future Christmases! It’s currently on sale 50% off, with an additional 12% off on top of that. It’s selling fast; the “Large” size is already sold out, but last I checked, they still had Small and Medium in stock. You’ll find it on sale here: Jacquard Sweater with Christmas Tree Design.
I think this top would make a great gift for the men on our Christmas shopping lists. It’s normally $44.95, but is currently on sale for $18.87. You’ll find it available in 6 colors here: Fleece Quarter Zip Pullover.
Happy Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping!
“Somebody” chewed your shoelace, lol. 😀 Somebody adorable, and I don’t mean Court or Charlie. It’s so funny that you have to keep pulling them out of the tree. I suspect this means you won’t be hanging ornaments?
Susan, that dish in the first picture looks delicious! I think we might need the recipe for that!
Thanks for the tips. I love too love Home Alone, as well as the Ralph Lauren design style, particularly anything equestrian related. And that hoodie is just too cute. Great suggestions, as always. I hope you’re staying warm!
Yeah, I didn’t catch the culprit in the act, but I’ve narrowed it down to two furry suspects! I was thinking this might be the year I decorate with the ornaments I normally place on my kitchen tree back home in Georgia. Most of those are not breakable. I probably won’t use the glass ornaments that I normally hang on the living room tree this year. I think they would all end up broken!
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
Felines in Christmas trees is way better than a squirrel. Or raccoon. Spiders etc.
They looks so cute among the branches, I hope you get lots of photos of them.
Ha! Very true! I should share a few pictures; they are so much bigger now! Just a I was typing that, Agatha was trying to catch the words as they were appearing on the screen. They are hilarious! Everything takes so much longer these day: type a few words, remove Agatha off my keyboard. Type a few words, stop Agatha from trying to drink my tea. Type a few words, remove Agatha for the 5th time from the top of the desk after giving her lots of kisses. Type a few words, pick up Beatrice who is clawing her way up my pants leg because she loves to snuggle, purr, and be held for hours at the time. lol I’m trying to enjoy this period when they want so much attention because they’ll only be this little for a very short while.
The tree shot is adorable! ♥♥♥
Wendy
What a cute ornament in your tree !
Let’s hear more about your DIL’s dishes and recipes. That looks amazing. I have been looking at Yoga pants. Any experience ? I really need pockets. When someone invents the perfect phone pocket, I am onboard. The phones are heavy and make your clothes lopsided. I miss the flip phone.
I was laughing with a friend about searching for clogs, mules, and the ‘potato’ shoe. Just my style.
I think there’s a typo for the date of Home Alone’s release; it’s been 35 years, not 25. Ask me how I know: After watching the movie, my precious children were inspired to recreate some of Kevin’s “booby traps” inside our house when they were very young.
It did not go well. LOL.
Oh, you’re right. I’ll fix that in the post. Oh my gosh, I can’t beieve it’s been that long! Too funny about the booby traps!
W do love our Graeter’s Ice Cream in SW Ohio! And Peppermint Stick is my favorite flavor. Next to Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip, that is.
Could you please share your squash recipe I’ve been looking for one for a few years?
Thank you!
Sure! The last few years I’ve been using this one: https://betweennapsontheporch.net/squash-casserole-recipe-for-thanksgiving-christmas-or-anytime/
This year I added a bit of water and I must have cooked the squash several minutes longer because it broke up a lot more than it looks in the photos of that older post. Also, I must have used more squash since it filled up the pumpkin dish to the top. I used around 6-7 yellow squash, and 5 zucchini squash. I should have taken a photo; it was a lot prettier this time around since it filled up the baking dish.
Oh those kitties are precious! Ours used to try to eat the ends of the branches (live greens or artificial). I sent your link of the yoga pants to my Santa (hubby). Hopefully I’ll find them under the tree!
Hello Susan! I had two cats who were notorious Christmas tree climbers when they were kittens (though they never completely outgrew the habit). I normally put my tree up and left it bare 3-4 days before decorating it — this gave me time to make sure the tree was stable and the cats time to (theoretically) lose some interest in it. I discovered that they did NOT AT ALL like the sound of ringing sleigh bells, so I purchased about a dozen of the bells and hung them from the lower branches where the cats would brush against them as they tried to get under or climb the tree. Maybe something like this would be helpful for you!
Not a fan of peppermint ice cream, but I do love Graeters!
Thanks for that tip, Mary! I will look for some sleigh bells! These two little scoundrels do it right in front of me. They will start walking in a determined way right for the tree, with me walking right behind them. They know I’m behind them because they make the airplane ears. Ha! They walk right up to a branch and start chewing on it or trying to get on top of it with me yelling, NO! They’ve heard the word NO a lot in the last few days! lol I like the idea of waiting to decorate it…that’s a great idea! I hope they will get bored with it soon, but I think that may take another year. Thanks again for those tips!
My “Ralph Lauren” book is front & center in my dressing room!! franki
Oh, kittens keep things lively for sure! It is funny, in all my years of being a ‘cat lady’, the cats NEVER broke a single Christmas ornament. The joke was always that I broke WAY more than any cat would. I DO miss my furbabes…. mischievousness and all. 🙂 On the ice cream topic, we get Graeter’s here in MN! L&B and Kowalski’s have limited flavor options, but I will be looking for the peppermint. I will probably end up making our own though. A favorite flavor remains their Midnight Snack….sooooo good. Enjoy the snowy and peppermint season!!
Graeter’s started here in Columbus so we have lots of them – one about 5 minutes from my house. I try VERY hard to make myself forget that. Their Chocolate Toffee Chip is my very fav ice cream of all time. I am not a mint fan so never tried that one – but how perfect as a holiday dessert to serve!! And those kitties. Oh, Susan. I knew that would happen. Plastic bulbs only this year is my advice. Oh dear, those kitties need to be in a time out. lol