Encouraging Hearts and Home: Happy Halloween & Monthly Musings

I just can't believe that Halloween is already this coming weekend. In honor of that holiday all of my features from last week's party are all about Halloween! 

It's also the last Thursday of the month and that means it's time to link up with Patty and Holly for monthly musings.  


1. Our favorite Thanksgiving tradition is watching Elf Thanksgiving night; it closes out one holiday and begins another. 



2. That is a tricky one! My favorite Thanksgiving dish is pretty much a toss up since I love all the sides- my mom's mashed potatoes, bread stuffing with pecans & craisins, rolls, butternut squash, green bean casserole... 

In fact many, many years ago (pre-kids!) my girlfriend had us over for dinner a few days after Thanksgiving and introduced us to a casserole with all the Thanksgiving sides and leftovers and we just loved it. Now both my husband and I look more forward to our day after Thanksgiving meal than we do to the actual meal. (Recipe here)


3. We don't watch any football or sports games on TV or in person (not that we have any in person games this year anyway as football was never allowed at any of our local high schools).

4. Always white meat-- and no gravy! I can't stand that stuff on anything-- Yuck!  (though our leftover pie uses lots of gravy it just melts into the layers and you can't see or taste it)

5. We call it stuffing even though I never actually stuff the bird with it.  We make bread stuffing only (not cornbread and not meat).

6. 3 things I'm Thankful for this year-- 1.  My family & friends, 2.  My health, 3.  Our home

7.  Apple pie or chocolate chip pecan pie-- it's pretty much a toss up (but never pumpkin).  You can see my go to recipe for both-- Apple here & Chocolate chip pecan pie.




8. We always put our tree and Christmas decorations the day after Thanksgiving since everyone is home to help out.

9. You couldn't get me to shop Black Friday for anything.  In fact I typically finish all my shopping before Thanksgiving arrives just so I can avoid the crowds in stores (which may not be an issue this year).

10. Thanksgiving is one of the few times we actually eat at our dining table; I set out place settings, use a centerpiece, etc.  We dress casually but eat as if we were fancy.  



And Now, for This Week's Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop!

 
Join your Encouraging Hearts & Home Co-Hosts each week for encouragement and support for your heart & your home. We hope to provide a space that builds each other up and lends a helping hand along the way. With all the negativity in the world, let's shine a positive light!


The post with the most views from last week:





Some of my favorites from last week:

A Black and Orange Halloween Tablescape by Whispers of the Heart 


3 Fun and Easy Halloween Crafts for Kids by Doodle Buddies 


Candy Corn Witch by Craft Attic Resources 



  • Follow and/or subscribe to your host's blog.
  • Visit a few other bloggers and show them your support. We all love getting comments, and who knows what inspiration you may find? Be sure to share the love--that's what a blog hop is all about!
  • Check out our Encouraging Hearts & Home Pinterest board where each host pins her 10 favorite posts each week.
  • Join us every Thursday!
  • If you are interested in co-hosting, contact Linda at Apron Strings & Other Things!
 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
Linking Up With: Monthly Musings, 







Comments

  1. Handmade in IsraelOctober 29, 2020 at 5:30 AM

    Ha, I know nothing about Halloween or Thanksgiving, but that mashed potato recipe looks yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Danielle @ A Sprinkle of JoyOctober 29, 2020 at 6:13 AM

    Elf is my all time favorite movie! I remember seeing it in theaters when I was in college, and I will watch it every season at least once.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 29, 2020 at 4:56 PM

      I never really gave it a try until a couple of years ago since I'm not a bit Will Ferrel fan but I was surprised to find that I really liked it and so did my boys!

      Delete
  3. HollyOctober 29, 2020 at 6:31 AM

    Joanne- I need your recipe for your stuffing- it sounds amazing! Would you send it to me? hbinda@yahoo.com - love that you have all of your shopping down before Thanksgiving- I need to be that organized! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 29, 2020 at 4:57 PM

      Yes! I keep meaning to make it and share the recipe on my blog but have not yet gotten around to that.

      Delete
  4. Amy JohnsonOctober 29, 2020 at 7:56 AM

    Elf is our favorite Christmas movie, but we usually watch it Christmas Eve. Thanks for the party!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 29, 2020 at 4:58 PM

      That would be fun too! We're usually much too busy with family on Christmas Eve opening gifts and what not.

      Delete
  5. Abby @ That’s Life For YaOctober 29, 2020 at 8:14 AM

    I love pecan and chocolate chess pies! We have never had pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving!! Have a great Thursday!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 29, 2020 at 4:59 PM

      Now that I've Googled it I must try chocolate chess pie! That sounds delicious (much better than pumpkin).

      Delete
  6. Memphis BridgesOctober 29, 2020 at 8:38 AM

    I love the idea of watching Elf to usher in the Christmas season!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dara @ Not In JerseyOctober 29, 2020 at 9:14 AM

    I like getting fancy for Thanksgiving too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 29, 2020 at 5:00 PM

      We always had fancy holidays complete with fancy holiday clothes growing up and while I could never get my guys to agree to fancy clothes at least I can have a fancy table.

      Delete
  8. Bri RundeOctober 29, 2020 at 9:46 AM

    Fun tradition to watch Elf that night... one of the funniest movies!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. LA PaylorOctober 29, 2020 at 9:49 AM

    #2 sounds great, and I am one of the people who loves to go shopping on black Friday but not now of course. We grew up calling it dressing baked outside the turkey but I call it stuffing now, no cornbread in mine, and bake it outside the turkey.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 29, 2020 at 5:02 PM

      I always heard it called both but then again my family always cooked it in the bird (and I never ate it). When I took over I made sure to always cook it outside the bird and since the bag says stuffing that's what I call it! Lol.

      Delete
  10. EllibelleOctober 29, 2020 at 10:47 AM

    The "after Thanksgiving" casserole sounds like a great idea, I'll have to check out the recipe.
    Thought I was the only one that hates gravy. I usually make it on special occasions like Thanksgiving for the family, but it's never on my plate.
    We too love the Elf and it's always one of the first Christmas movies we watch, but we usually start in beginning of November to watch them :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 29, 2020 at 5:04 PM

      That casserole is such a great way to use up leftovers and like I said I can't taste or see gravy in it so I'm OK with gravy in my casserole but otherwise.... just no! Not ever. I don't use maple syrup or ketchup either. I guess I'm not really a condiment person. My kids will not watch Christmas movies until after Thanksgiving.

      Delete
  11. Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble ChristmasOctober 29, 2020 at 10:47 AM

    Thanks so much for hosting each week!! It is greatly appreciated!! Stay safe, healthy and happy!!
    Hugs,
    Deb

    ReplyDelete
  12. PamelaOctober 29, 2020 at 1:32 PM

    My daughter and I are having an Elf watch party at the beginning of December. We're in two different locations so we will watch separately and text while we're watching. I'm sure the conversation will be hilarious!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dee | GrammysGrid.comOctober 29, 2020 at 3:58 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting! I'm linking up with WOULD YOU RATHER See Trump or Biden Win the Election? I Won't Judge Your Answer!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Joanne October 29, 2020 at 5:05 PM

    You know gravy is the one thing I have never tried to make! Thank you so much for sharing your delicious recipes with us.

    ReplyDelete
  15. NatashaOctober 29, 2020 at 5:31 PM

    I've never seen Elf and I think we need to add it to our December repitoire this year!

    ReplyDelete
  16. NaushOctober 29, 2020 at 7:13 PM

    Thank you so much for featuring my Halloween crafts post. Really appreciate it.
    Naush

    ReplyDelete
  17. LeanneOctober 29, 2020 at 9:35 PM

    Hi Joanne - I loved reading all your family traditions for Thanksgiving - it's such a lovely holiday and one I wish we could have adopted in Australia (instead of jumping on the Halloween bandwagon - I'm not a fan of all the ghouls and the door knocking and lolly gathering). I was surprised that you don't eat at your dining table very often - we still eat at ours even with the kids grown and gone - it feels like a time to focus on our food and each other. Where do you eat normally? It's interesting how every family is different.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 30, 2020 at 5:17 AM

      We have a table in our kitchen we eat at every night with all of us but then we have a bigger, more formal dining table in our dining room that we really only use when we have company over.

      Delete
  18. Life Of 2 SnowbirdsOctober 30, 2020 at 8:17 PM

    I can't believe that you are finished with all your holiday shopping by Thanksgiving. I wish I could say that! It would be nice to be able to then enjoy the season without worrying about finding the right gifts. Thanks you so much for hosting this nice party every week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 31, 2020 at 12:20 PM

      That is my goal every year; some years I'm better at meeting that than others but even if don't have the gift in hand I at least have narrowed it down to what I want to get by then.

      Delete

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