Where Do You Shop? - Share Our Lives

November 11, 2024

 

Hello friends and happy November!  I am joining Joanne from Slices of Life for the monthly link-up Share Our Lives.


This month they are discussing - Where Do You Shop?



Where I food shop:

I belong to Costco and BJ's and this is where I do most of my food shopping.  I tend to buy paper products like paper towels, tissues, and toilet paper at Costco.  I like BJ's for buying food in smaller quantities.  I like that I can buy cold cuts and cards at BJ's.  I bought a huge bag of Halloween candy at BJ's for only 13 dollars. 

If I need to buy anything quick I will go to our local Foodtown or Met Fresh Supermarket for food items.

I love Trader Joe's!  We don't have a TJ's that is close to us, so my husband and I like to plan a visit in advance.  We usually go out for breakfast and then shop at Trader Joe's.  I love their prices for food, and they have nice candles and beauty items.  I also like to buy beverages, ciders, and beer.  My daughter likes their wine.  We always have a huge shopping cart full of items.

Where I buy my clothes:

Whenever I shop at Costco I have to be careful because I love looking at their clothes.  Most of the time I will come home with some sort of clothing.  I love their leggings, sweaters, coats, PJs, sneakers, and boots.

I also like buying clothes at Macy's, Gap, and Old Navy.  When I went to London last year I bought a wool coat at Primark.  There is a nice Primark in Edinburgh, Scotland.  My daughter and I bought some sweaters and she bought a skirt in a pattern that looks like a kilt.  There is a Primark store in my area that I like.  

I will start my Christmas shopping this weekend.  I am hoping to do some mall shopping.  I want to get a lot of shopping done to avoid large crowds of people.  I also like doing shopping in small local stores and online shopping.

Where do you shop?


HERE ARE THE TOPICS FOR EACH MONTH:







Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.

Julie
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Books I've Read - November 2024

November 7, 2024

 


Hello friends and happy November.

I read a book last month and only two books this month.  I'm into reading light reads right now.  I bought one of the books over the summer at a book shop at the Jersey Shore.  I read the other books from the library using the Libby app.  I'd love to share these books with you.

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden 

“Welcome to the family,” Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be whoever I like. But I’ll soon learn that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than my own…

Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor.

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.

I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out… and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late.

But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am.

They don’t know what I’m capable of…

I've read this first book in the Housemaid series The Housemaid by Freida McFadden.  There are three books in this series and I would like to read them all.  I loved this book and I couldn't put it down.  I thought it was scary and full of surprises.  This book will be made into a movie starring Sydney Sweeny and Amanda Seyfried.  I can't wait to see the movie!      

Death on Windmill Way by Carrie Doyle



The Hamptons are known for beautiful beaches, luxurious living, millionaire mansions, and now…murder! Antonia Bingham, a renowned chef and the new owner of East Hampton's Windmill Inn, escaped to the Hamptons to get away from a harrowing past. Yet she finds herself in more danger than ever when she learns about a curse that haunts the inn—all previous owners have died suspiciously.

When she's not cooking sumptuous meals for her guests Antonia digs into the investigation to uncover who's behind the curse. Could the culprit be a guest at the inn, or is there a killer on the road? And the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she gets to being the next victim—will she solve the case in time to save herself?


I enjoyed reading this book that takes place in the Hamptons, Long Island.  This is book one of a four-book series.  The chef and owner of her inn tries to solve the mystery of a death at her inn.  This a light read and I can't wait to read more of the books in this series.


Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murder by Jesse Q. Sutanto





Vera Wong is a lonely little old lady—ah, lady of a certain age—who lives above her forgotten tea shop in the middle of San Francisco’s Chinatown. Despite living alone, Vera is not needy, oh no. She likes nothing more than sipping on a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy detective work on the Internet about what her Gen-Z son is up to. 

Then one morning, Vera trudges downstairs to find a curious thing—a dead man in the middle of her tea shop. In his outstretched hand, a flash drive. Vera doesn’t know what comes over her, but after calling the cops like any good citizen would, she sort of . . . swipes the flash drive from the body and tucks it safely into the pocket of her apron. Why? Because Vera is sure she would do a better job than the police possibly could, because nobody sniffs out a wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands. Vera knows the killer will be back for the flash drive; all she has to do is watch the increasing number of customers at her shop and figure out which one among them is the killer. 

What Vera does not expect is to form friendships with her customers and start to care for each and every one of them. As a protective mother hen, will she end up having to give one of her newfound chicks to the police?

This is book one in the Vera Wong series.  I enjoyed this book about a lady who owns a tea shop and she tries to solve the case of man found dead in her tea shop.  I can't wait to read the next book in this series Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping.  


Have you read any good books lately?

I will share this post at the monthly book link-up party Share Your Shelf.  It's held on the first Thursday of each month.  It's run by these bloggers:


Slices of Life
Memphis Bridges
Overflowing With Thanksfulness
The Other Side of the Road


Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.


Julie
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Currently - November 2024

November 6, 2024

 



I'm linking up with Jennifer from Overflowing with Thankfulness for her Currently link-up.  

This month we will share what we are loving, looking forward to, smelling, preparing for, and thankful for.


LOVING:  I love the trees and leaves changing colors.  I love fall and my afternoon walks in our neighborhood.  



LOOKING FORWARD TO:  

I'm looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving this year at my brother and sister-in-law's house.  I will be hosting Christmas Day with them at our house.  Each year we take turns with the holdiay's.  Last year my daughter made a delicious charcuterie board and we also had prosciutto bread.
SMELLING:  I've been lighting candles in the evenings.  I love the light scent of a candle.

PREPARING FOR:  I am looking forward to the upcoming holidays.  I want to start my holiday shopping early to avoid the crowds in the stores.  I will be shopping at the mall next week and I hope to get a lot done.  I also like to shop online.  

THANKFUL FOR:  


I am thankful for you - my blog friends!  I will be celebrating this Friday, November 8th, my 12th blog anniversary.  I want to thank my daughter who encouraged me to start a blog.  I can't believe it's been 12 years already and I'm grateful for your support and blog visits.  I've enjoyed the friendships I've made with you and my highlight was meeting some of you in person.  Last November I was happy to meet blogger, April J. Harris in person.  You can read that blog post here.    

I'm also thankful for my family and friends. 

**  Please note:  My blog comments have gone to no-reply blogger since last week.  I've checked my settings and everything is set to reply blogger.  I am not sure why this is happening and hoping that it is a blog glitch with blogger.  I know one other blogger that this has happened to them.     


What have you been up to and is currently new with you?


Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.

Julie
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Monthly Musings October 2024 - Fall Fun/Halloween

October 30, 2024

 



Hello friends.  Happy Halloween!  
 
 I'm joining Holly and Patty for their Monthly Musings link-up.  This month's topic is Fall Fun/Halloween.




HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS:



  1.   What do you usually do for Halloween?  I usually stay home and give out Halloween candy to the trick or treaters.  I love looking at the kids Halloween costumes.
  2.   Favorite fall traditions?  I like making soups and comfort food during the fall.  I like taking walks with Lucy and looking at the colorful trees.    
  3.   Milky Way or Snickers?  Snickers.  Starburst or Skittles?  Starburst.  
  4.   Trick or treat or host a party?  When my daughter was little I always took her out trick or treating.
  5.   Hand out candy or go with trick or treaters?  I like to hand out candy to the trick or treaters.
  6.   Do you trick or treat on October 31st or a different day?  Growing up and when my daughter was little we always went trick or treating on October 31st.
  7.   Do you decorate for Halloween?  I put out a few decorations on my front stoop.  I used to do a lot more when my daughter was little.
  8.   What do you do with leftover Halloween candy?  I usually give it to my husband to give out at his job.
  9.   What are your trick or treat hours?  I will give out candy until 8:00 or 8:30 at the latest.
  10.   What do you have for dinner on Halloween?  I usually make a crock pot meal or something easy.  I also like giving out candy to the trick or treaters.

STAY SAFE AND HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!



HERE ARE THE TOPICS FOR EACH MONTH:




Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.

Julie

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This or That - Autumn

October 22, 2024


Hi friends.  It's been a while since I've written a This or That blog post.  Today I'm answering This or That Autumn questions. 





  1.   Cozy & Rainy or Cold & Sunny?  Cold and sunny.  I like a cold and sunny day better that a rainy day.
  2.   Spooky Film or Autumn Film?  Autumn film.  I love watching Gilmore Girls, Hocus Pocus, and Hocus Pocus 2.
  3.   Pumpkin Spice or Apple Cider?  Pumpkin Spice.  I love at least once a year a pumpkin spice latte and a pumpkin muffin or donut.
  4.   Smores or Baked Cookies?  Baked cookies.  I love chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies.
  5.   Candles or Fairy Lights?  Candles.  I love lighting candles during the fall and winter.  
  6.   Warm Bath or Hot Shower?  Hot shower.  I love taking a hot shower after a cold day.
  7.   Read a Book or Listen to Podcasts?  Read a book.  Reading a book in the afternoon or evening is one of my favorite things.
  8.   Bonfire or Fireplace?  Fireplace.  I love watching and listening to a fire crackle during the fall and winter.    
  9.   Pumpkin Patch or Corn Maze?  Pumpkin patch.  I love visiting a pumpkin patch and picking out different sized pumpkins.
  10.   Cozy Sweaters or Cozy Blankets?  Cozy sweaters.  I love wearing a warm and cozy sweater during the winter.
  11.   Harvest Festivals or Autumn Hikes?  Harvest festivals.  It would be fun to visit a harvest festival.  
  12.   Home Decorating or Baking?  Home decorating.  I love decorating my mantel for fall and decorating outside my house with mums and pumpkins.
  13.   Cooler Weather or Colorful Leaves?  Colorful leaves.  I like seeing the leaves change color on my afternoon walks with Lucy.
  14.   Pumpkin Bread or Cinnamon Rolls?  Pumpkin bread.  I love pumpkin bread and muffins this time of year.  
  15.   Dutch Apple Pie or Pumpkin Pie?  Pumpkin pie.  I love having pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving.


You can play along and leave your answers in the comment section.  What will you pick?


Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.

Julie
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Sweet Tooth Cravings - Share Our Lives

October 14, 2024

 

Hello friends and happy October!  I am joining Joanne from Slices of Life for the monthly link-up Share Our Lives.


This month they are discussing Sweet Tooth Cravings.



SWEET TOOTH CRAVINGS:

Most of my sweet tooth cravings are usually in the fall and winter.  It usually starts around September when I crave a pumpkin spice latte and a pumpkin muffin or donut.

Sweet Tooth Cravings I  Love:

  • pumpkin bread and muffins
  • zucchini bread
  • brownies
  • oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies
  • apple pie and pumpkin pie

Summer Sweet Treats:

  • ice cream
  • gelato


Halloween Candy:  I love the mini bars of chocolates.  I usually buy a huge bag of candy to give to the trick-or-treaters.  If any candy is left over, my family and I will pick on the chocolates.  We sometimes have a lot candy left over and my husband will give it out at work.

  • m&ms
  • snickers
  • Hersheys
  • kit kat
  • 3 musketeers
  • milky way

What are some of your sweet tooth cravings?


HERE ARE THE TOPICS FOR EACH MONTH:







Click HERE to see the blog parties I will be linking up to.

Julie
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