Friday Favorites: Fabulous Fall

 We enjoyed a fabulous week of fall! The weather was perfect, the kids were happy (even when I took their annual photos!), we ate lots of yummy treats.. what could be better?

We had beautiful hiking weather this week! 

We led a hike through Pulaski state park on Friday.  Evan was the only one able to come with me and we had a good time.  One new family showed up and I recognized the girl as someone who went to the same high school as me.  We had a fun time catching up. 




Alec, Evan and I went hiking on Monday at Mashamoquet.





Evan and I went hiking at the state park on Wednesday. 





Then Evan and I finished up our week hiking at the Dam


Though we had to turn around after 30 minutes since the bridge was washed out.





Alec brought home some delicious treats on Friday; including this apple tart he made! 




Alec didn't have karate on Saturday so we spent most of our day baking.  He made apple pie cookies while I whipped up a batch of pumpkin scones (I shared this recipe earlier this week). 






We also baked up our annual apple pies (recipe here) on Monday after hiking.  We make 3; one for eating right away and one to freeze for Thanksgiving with another to freeze for Christmas. 

This year we tried adding some caramel to our pies!




I did run out to pick up groceries and participate in this free food box thing that one local town is offering... it was mobbed but each car gets two free boxes of produce.  We love our produce around here and I am not one to pass up free food!



Saturday evening we had tickets to head to the zoo and tour the lantern festival. It was so fun!  (I shared more photos and detail in this post)







I put two coats of clear on my Color Street wraps and they held up so beautifully for an entire week of work.  Then I swapped them out for a new pair on Thursday.  I love this deep navy for fall. 





My husband and I squeezed in a RZR ride after dinner on Wednesday and watched the sunset.  It's the first time we've ridden in it since adding a roof, windows, and fender flares.  A much cleaner ride!



It was warm enough to break my flip flops back out this week and I LOVED every minute of it!



Linking up with:







Comments

  1. HollyOctober 15, 2021 at 6:36 AM

    I have been wearing the flip flops too- trying to extend the season as much as possible- I feel like we are so lucky in New England this year- our weather has been beautiful! I think we deserve it after the rainy summer we had right?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 15, 2021 at 8:56 AM

      I think we definitely deserve some nice weather after all our rain!

      Delete
  2. Memphis BridgesOctober 15, 2021 at 7:14 AM

    Aw, I love seeing all the fall photos! That lantern festival looks so interesting and something I haven't seen before. Y'all enjoy your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Andrea NineOctober 15, 2021 at 8:01 AM

    These photos are absolutely beautiful! This time of year is so hard to know what shoes to wear, LOL! Have a great weekend girl!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 15, 2021 at 8:58 AM

      I tend to wear closed toed shoes in the morning for school drop off and flip flops by lunch when the suns out and it warms up.

      Delete
  4. TorontoSAMOctober 15, 2021 at 8:26 AM

    Love your beige and white striped sweater! Fall hikes are my jam.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 15, 2021 at 8:59 AM

      Thank you! That came in one of my Stitch Fix boxes and I wasn't sure about keeping it at first.

      Delete
  5. Julie's Creative LifestyleOctober 15, 2021 at 8:54 AM

    How nice to go on all of those hikes with your kids and see such beautiful scenery. I love the outfits and your nails look great. I like doing my own nails from time to time. I hope you have a nice day and weekend Joanne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 15, 2021 at 8:59 AM

      It has been wonderful getting out of the house for so much exercise.

      Delete
  6. Dara @ Not In JerseyOctober 15, 2021 at 9:14 AM

    The fall hikes must be beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 15, 2021 at 3:42 PM

      They have been fabulous! I just need it to get cold enough to get rid of the mosquitoes!

      Delete
  7. NicoleOctober 15, 2021 at 9:53 AM

    So many great highlights from your week! I love seeing the fall colors there! It hasn't got quite cold enough here for the trees to change colors, but it looks like within the next couple of weeks we should start seeing some changes.

    All those bakes look so good! And I had no idea there was an apple peeler & corer attachment for the KitchenAid! I need to get one of those!

    The lantern festival looks so cool! The Norfolk Botanical Garden was supposed to have a Chinese lantern exhibit but it got cancelled. I was really disappointed because it looked really neat.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 15, 2021 at 3:43 PM

      Yes, it comes with a spiralizer too so I can make my own zoodles and things. It's fantastic... would make a great Christmas gift idea!

      Delete
  8. Kari October 15, 2021 at 10:05 AM

    What an amazing week you had. I love seeing all the yummy things you make. Your home must smell so good. Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautifully CandidOctober 15, 2021 at 10:21 AM

    Love seeing your pictures from your hike. How nice to run into someone from high school and catch up. Your Saturday baking looks amazing! What yummy wonderful treats. The lights at the zoo also look so nice. What a great fall week for you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. EllibelleOctober 15, 2021 at 10:26 AM

    Your fall hiking pictures are stunning! And all the baking looks delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lindsay's Sweet WorldOctober 15, 2021 at 10:27 AM

    Y'all always make the absolute best desserts. I've pinned more desserts from your blog than any other blog!! Now I just need to actually take the time to try and make some of them. I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 15, 2021 at 3:44 PM

      LOL! We do make a lot of desserts... that's the one downfall of having a baker in the house. He's always asking to make something.

      Delete
  12. the 4 M'sOctober 15, 2021 at 10:30 AM

    The lantern festival looks amazing! I finally went hiking with my friend and her daughter last Sunday and while it was still a little hot, at least it was pretty much all shaded! My friend just opened a micro bakery and all of those treats make me think of her.
    www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 15, 2021 at 3:45 PM

      I just had to Google micro bakery; that sounds like such a neat business. Wishing you friend lots of luck!

      Delete
  13. R's RueOctober 15, 2021 at 1:51 PM

    So much goodness this week. Blessings.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Rebecca JoOctober 15, 2021 at 1:51 PM

    Why am I always craving a sweet treat now? mmmm... apple tarttttttt

    ReplyDelete
  15. LyshaOctober 15, 2021 at 2:50 PM

    I've got a bunch of Color Street strip sets I need to use. They are so pretty. The desserts look amazing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 15, 2021 at 3:46 PM

      I am down to 3 pairs! I'm pretty proud of myself for not buying any for a bit and making myself actually USE them.

      Delete
  16. Kim CarberryOctober 15, 2021 at 4:23 PM

    It sounds like a fantastic week!
    How lovely to catch up with the friend from school on your hike. Gorgeous scenery.
    Alec is such a good baker. The cookies look amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  17. NatalieOctober 15, 2021 at 5:43 PM

    Beautiful photos from your hikes, especially the reflections. The baked goods look delish. Thank you for linking up with #weekendcoffeeshare.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Tamar SBOctober 15, 2021 at 6:20 PM

    The colors are finally starting here! The fall treats look so appetizing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 17, 2021 at 5:33 AM

      I love apple desserts in fall and hope to still make some apple crisp and caramel apples too.

      Delete
  19. Jodie's Touch of StyleOctober 15, 2021 at 10:19 PM

    I just love all the fall views. That's something we don't get as much here in Phoenix, but we could go up into the mountains.
    How fun that you all bake together. And free food? I'd be all about that too!!
    OXOX
    Jodie
    www.jtouchofstyle.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 17, 2021 at 5:34 AM

      My middle son is taking culinary classes in high school and just loves to bake.

      Delete
  20. KirstinOctober 15, 2021 at 10:59 PM

    Gorgeous photos. Is the one photo a mushroom? That apple tart looks amazing. That lantern festival looks cool. I think our days of flip flops here in the NW are over.

    ReplyDelete
  21. NY Foodie FamilyOctober 16, 2021 at 11:06 AM

    All those fall treats look delicious! The weather this week was gorgeous and perfect for hikes and flip flops (though I didn't do either of those things! LOL!). That lantern festival looks like fun! Hope you have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 17, 2021 at 5:36 AM

      Glad you've been enjoying gorgeous weather too.

      Delete
  22. Gary A WilsonOctober 16, 2021 at 11:32 AM

    Hi Joanne,
    From homemade deserts to those amazing hikes, you guys really are living the dream.
    I really need an "envy" emoji.
    Blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Janet AlcornOctober 16, 2021 at 2:02 PM

    There's an apple peeler/corer/slicer attachment for Kitchenaid mixers?? Squee! Now I know what I want for Christmas.

    I love the forest pics--fall color and leaf-littered trails--wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  24. JenOctober 16, 2021 at 10:31 PM

    Oh those desserts have me craving

    ReplyDelete
  25. DawnOctober 17, 2021 at 9:57 AM

    What a lovely week. We did apple pie making this week too.
    Blessings, Dawn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 18, 2021 at 6:04 AM

      It's just not fall without some homemade apple pies. YUM

      Delete
  26. NatashaOctober 18, 2021 at 6:46 AM

    The fall hiking pictures are so beautiful. And I'm going to check out that pumpkin scones recipe. We have a pumpkin from our CSA sitting in our front closet right now so I need something to make with it!

    ReplyDelete
  27. LeanneOctober 18, 2021 at 11:08 PM

    Loved seeing all that beautiful countryside - and the baking looked amazing - I'm a big fan of anything that is made with apples, so I'd have loved to have tried the apple and caramel pie combination.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 19, 2021 at 12:53 PM

      I love pretty much anything made with apples too!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Favorite TV Shows Growing Up in the 80's and early 90's

Image
Do you remember the TGIF lineups on Friday nights? I can remember planning sleepovers and time with friends around TV Show lineups of our favorite shows... or else trying to set the VCR to record our favorite shows if we weren't going to be home. And through the years I had SO MANY favorites! Growing pains aired in 1985 which put me around age 8 and it stayed on the air until I was 15 or so; I'm pretty sure most people in my age group watched mostly for Kirk Cameron and all his antics.  I still have a soft spot for family sit-coms!  The Facts of Life aired when I was just 2  and stayed on the air until I was 11 so I'm sure the episodes I remember so fondly were either some of the later ones and then reruns shown later on when I was old enough to watch from the beginning. I think everyone would have loved an Edna Garret in their lives.   Benson another sitcom that began airing when I was just 2 and was done by the time I was 9 (another one I must have watched mai...
Read more

Things That Make Me Laugh

Image
I loved the challenge of this week's list for our 26 lists link up.  I don't know about you but I really need to laugh more lately.  It's such a great stress reliever. 1.  Books-- I love a good funny book that makes me laugh out loud.  I haven't read one in a while but if you have any recommendations I'm all ears.  The last book I can remember making me laugh was the Un-Honeymooners. 2  The boys being silly. 3.  Watching shows like America's Funniest Videos or Family Feud. 4. My husband.  Most people don't realize it but he's actually pretty funny and often makes me laugh. 5.  Whenever my sisters/ family get together and we get to reminiscing (particularly if my Aunt Elaine is around) we end up laughing so hard at all the old family stories that we are all in tears by the end of the night.  It's fabulous. 6. Movies like Mom's Night Out, Christmas Vacation, and Grown Ups make me laugh out loud. 7.  When my ...
Read more

Making Gift Card and Money Holders Using Scrapbooking and Cardmaking Supples

Image
I don't tend to keep a lot of crafting supplies on hand so when I saw this month's de-stash challenge I wasn't sure what I was going to make.  I finally realized that with so many of my Christmas gifts being cash and gift cards this year that I needed to make up some fun paper crafting/ creative ways to gift them.   I still want my nieces and nephews to have something to open so I pulled out my papers and stamps and made up some cute little money/gift card holders. They were much easier to make than I thought.  The first one I worked on was to hold some oversized Nintendo gift cards.  I made a standard sized card and folded down one corner of the card front.  Then I ran my double sided tape along the bottom an 1/2 way up the side creating a cute little pocket.  Finally I added some cute embellishments and ribbons.   Voila! A simple and easy gift card holder for those larger sized gift cards.  The bulk of the tweens and teens on my list j...
Read more

Making a Sugar Cookie "Gingerbread" House

Image
 Alec really wanted to try making his own gingerbread house this year without using a premade kit.  We talked about how we never really eat the house since they don't taste very good.  Years ago we gave up on the frosting that comes in the kit and began making our own so we thought perhaps we should try making our our house too. Only problem is that no one in the house likes gingerbread.  We talked about trying to make the house using a sugar cookie recipe.  Alec was so excited at that idea since he just LOVES sugar cookies.   He found a recipe online for a simple sugar cookie recipe and mixed up the dough.  He rolled it out an cut it to the size of our cookie sheets-- we had read that it's easiest to cut the house pieces out after the dough has been baked and is still warm and soft because then you don't have to worry about any of the pieces losing their shape while baking. I had picked out a simple cookie cutter set on Amazon and as soon as the ...
Read more

Dollar Store Candy Cane Wreath

Image
Today I am linking up with some fellow bloggers for a Dollar Store craft challenge.  I don't often participate in these challenges since I try to stay away from our local Dollar Stores; I find they can be quite dangerous for me!  I knew this was the perfect time to find some inexpensive holiday decorations though and I just LOVE how my wreath turned out!  I hope you stop by and see what the other hosts are sharing. Meet this month's co-hosts! Across the Blvd | Purple Hues & Me This Autoimmune Life | Our Unschooling Journey Domestic Deadline | Sew Crafty Crochet Stone Cottage Adventures | Sum of Their Stories | Two Chicks & a Mom I bought the candy cane wreath base and a few rolls of mesh (not knowing how many I'd need I bought waaay to many; I only ended up using one white roll and one red roll. Using some chenille stems I already had on hand I attached the mesh to the wreath base trying to alternate the whit...
Read more