It is that time of year where I add to my Lenox collection. I have been collecting for several years so the options are getting less frequent. Lenox does retire pieces as they add new pieces to their collection. I happened to notice in my collection there was a set of plates (12) for each day of the twelve days of Christmas.

I completely forgot I had these plates. Looking forward to using them the next time I have a Christmas dinner party.

But onto what I bought this year. As I mentioned last year I have been focusing on the annual snowman figurines. So naturally I added the 2025 snowman to my collection. He is very cute.

I think he is a cute addition to the army of snowmen I have collected. They use the holly leaf design on his scarf that matches my plates. I can imagine a dinner table with all my snowmen down the center being cheerful and welcoming to all who eat at my table.

The other piece I bought was a small domed cover dish. I am thinking Brie or a cheeseball. Or perhaps some molded butter. It is not huge, but very cute.

Just when I think I was done, I got an alert from Amazon that this double dip bowl was on sale so I could not resist.

I have always enjoyed my Lenox pieces and have many Lenox Lynn Bywaters snowman figurines. I bought most of them many, many years ago. Of course back then I though $35 was expensive (or something close to that price, I guarantee that it was not even close to $100). LOL, now most of them are $150-$300. Oh that inflation. There is just something so cute about these figurines that my admiration for them has not waned even after decades of collecting.

Lets hope next year has a bunch of new goodies.

Thank you for checking out my blog and hope your holidays are special.

As you know I love Halloween, so I like to do the front porch and walkway to look spooky or fun each year. This year I took a tumble and fell on my arm and head. My fault, I tripped over a water spigot when chasing a runaway pumpkin. Scabs are all healed and head is hard enough to sustain the injury. LOL. I must say I am getting a tad bit old for this stuff. But every year I get excited and want to display my Halloween stuff. Can’t blame this girl.

This years theme is my crypt and the spooky spiders that guard it. The spider web was a bit weak but those spiders have been in a box a long time, maybe they forgot how to make a good web.

Enjoy the video and thank you for checking out my blog.

I have had this idea on my bucket list since last year. Using Halloween cookie cutters and a bag or corn tortillas I made homemade tortilla chips.

This was super easy, but I would say cutting thru the tortillas was a bit of a struggle. I found if I wiggled the cutter a bit it would cut thru the tortilla better. Frying them up just took a few minutes, then sprinkling them with salt to get that yummy taste.

It was more work than necessary but at least I tried.

I used the following shapes, pumpkin, raven, bat, cat and pumpkin.

It was a nice little Halloween appetizer. You should try it just once.

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While looking at Amazon, I found these cute Lenox Christmas Cones with scenes in them. They are about 12” tall and light up. I am such a huge fan of Lenox because their items are very elegant.

They should be delivered this Sunday and looking forward to adding it on my bookshelf.

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Every year I purchase the Lenox Holiday pieces to match my china set. I have a bunch of pieces and add a few new pieces each year. Lenox will release complimentary pieces to match the place settings. I usually buy around Black Friday as the new releases are out and with a good sale price.

I got a larger piece which is the Lenox Snowman Cookie Jar.

Then I got this cute peppermint swirl candy dish with two snowmen.

Of course I wanted the cute snowmen salt and pepper shakers. I have a few shakers so there will be plenty on the Christmas table.

Then of course I picked up my third year of the annual snowman.

He looks so cheerful and happy. He makes me happy.

I wanted the Christmas Cupcake but Macys did not sell him. But lo and behold I found him on sale on Amazon from the Lenox shop and it was on sale.

Although I have not used the full set in years. I am hoping once retired that I can host Christmas again and have a table setting like below.

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This year I did not see as many scary movies as I did in the past. Sometimes I just cannot make the time for a two hour stint to see a film. I do better kinda watching oldies but goodies and doing other chores at the same time.

SIGNS

A classic film by M Night Shyamalan. What I like about this film is how they figure out the different signs from the past to the present that prepare them for the event of today. Signs are everywhere. Sometimes comedic scenes, some intense scenes, Both the adult and children actors are good.

THE SIXTH SENSE

This is another film from M. Night Shyamalan. The first time I saw it I did not realize he was dead. Bruce Willis does a great job acting in this film. Some scary scenes and I feel bad for the boy.

ROSEMARYS BABY

I love the older movies. Mia Farrow does a great job acting like the meek woman who turns for help to only be betrayed over and over again by those around her. The older neighbors who are a coven of witches/devil worshippers who trap her into becoming the mother of the antichrist give older people a bad name. Lol. A classic film.

APARTMENT/ A7

This is basically a remake of Rosemarys Baby. But instead of her husband betraying her in the classic movie, it is life and the missed opportunities that drive her to the apartment where she will fall victim to the devil.

PRACTICAL MAGIC

A classic to watch every Halloween. I love this film. I really want to live at that house and eat pancakes (the non poisonous kind) outside with the ocean in the background.

HELLBOUND

Imagine if the face of God came to you to tell you the exact second you are going to die and then to be dragged to hell by 3 monsters but not before they throw you around and burn you to a crisp. I would be terrified. And the world goes crazy and fanatical groups try to persuade your thinking. Scary as heck. And now I am watching season two.

THE JUDGE FROM HELL

Even Demons make mistakes. For accidentally sending the wrong person to hell, this demon is sent to earth to kill off murderers. Imagine you are sent back as a judge who lets horrible people off without a punishment then finds them later and kills them by making them relive the horror of their victims death. Then for fun, branding their forehead with the word Hell on it. All in a days work until you fall in love.

ITS THE GREAT PUMPKIN CHARLIE BROWN

A childhood classic. Every time I watch this little cartoon I am transported back to my youth excitingly waiting to see this show. Back in those days you looked at the TV guide to find out the time and day it was playing and planted your butt in front of the television set. No streaming services, no DVR, no VHS or DVD. Pretty much you snooze you lose. I still love the part where Charlie Brown goes trick or treating and always gets rocks.

That was it for Halloween movies and shows.

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Making pumpkin bread in autumn always makes sense. Baking goodies, the aroma from the kitchen, it all screams autumn. Of course I cheat and make it from a box, but that is fine because it does use real pumpkin.

The box does make two loafs which is fine when I use to go into the office. But it is a lot to consume. I am not good about freezing stuff like this as I tend to forget it is in there until years later. lol.

But it is a tradition in my household to make pumpkin bread. So let the tradition begin.

Happy Autumn and thank you for checking out my blog.

I think I mentioned it before but I am incredibly slow with my cross stitches. I usually only stitch on Saturday and Sunday morning because after work it is too dark and I am too tired to stitch.

This pattern is from Primrose Cottage Stitches and this is one of five new Halloween releases. I like their patterns but definitely cannot keep up with their releases. I actually stitch in a QSnap so it is a slower approach. I don’t really like the stitches when I do stitch in hand. That approach is faster but my stitches look wonky. If I am going to frame something I need it to look neat.

Now I just need to frame this beauty and it will be ready for next year.

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Part of any holiday is smelling the scents that bring back memories. Of course my house cannot smell of cinnamon and candy corn all the time so I decided to get some fragrance oils that match the holidays. A little bit here and there will help.

With scents like Candy Corn, Marshmallow, Autumn Wreath, Caramel Corn, Night Air and Pumpkin Pie it will smell like Halloween.

I also have the Autumn scents from the same company.

These scents are definitely Autumnal. Apple, Brown Sugar, Forest Pine, Snickerdoodle, Harvest Spice, and Vanilla.

I bought a small portable aromatherapy fan to keep at my desk.

It is very small and you can use it anywhere including your car. It comes with a USB cord so you just charge and go.

I also got a larger one that was more functional with a timer.

It changes color and is quite soothing.

I know people use fragrance oils for other purposes, but I am at a loss. These are not essence oils but more fragrance oil so I would not use them on my body.

I read you can place a few drops on the toilet paper roll, the cardboard part. Also put some drops on cotton balls and place in drawers. If you have other suggestions please let me know.

I did order the Christmas scents but they have not arrived yet.

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The last of the four La Croix Halloween Mocktail has been made.

This is the mocktail where I could not find the drink they suggested, so I used the Sprite Cranberry that I recently purchased. I have to admit that this was a very good drink. It is called Hocus Pocus La Punch.

I don’t know if it was the cherry juice or just the combination but it was quite tasty.

I could not find my jar of maraschino cherries so I used cranberries again. But since I used Sprite Cranberry soda it worked out fine.

So this wraps up the La Croix mocktail challenge. I enjoyed doing a little mixology and trying new tastes. I did get some use out of my Halloween themed glasses.

I highly recommend mixing some soda and juices together to create a new drink, perhaps you will find a new annual favorite. Thanks for checking out my blog.