I started uploading photos for this blogpost around eleven am. That was the first time sitting down for coffee after an eventful morning. As soon as I had my coffee, Grumples gave me “the look” and I dropped everything to take him on our four mile walk. It was raining, but that still didn’t stop us. I knew this was going to be an off day as soon as I woke up this morning. It’s been full of distractions and I’m finally settling down for the night, and so are the pups! This is the perfect time to write my recap post and share my week with you all! I’m hoping to have this long recap finished soon, so you can enjoy it with your cup of mornng coffee. I love reading all of your comments and replying with my cup of coffee.
I’m glad Grumples gave me “the look” because the rain stopped and it was a beautiful day. The leaves couldn’t have been prettier.
This happy face was worth it too.
The great thing about having a dog is that they push you to get outside and enjoy nature. Walking with the pups is very therapeutic and they make everything better.
I had leftovers from the week for lunch today. I love little random combos like this one. It had rice, chicken, turkey, kale, spinach, goat cheese and avocado.
I’m going to take this recap post all the way back to last Wednesday.
I started my day how I start most of my days…with a four mile dog walk. Grumples and I logged 85 walking miles for the month of October! He also lost a healthy 9 lbs since his last vet visit and thats all thanks to walking. I didn’t cut his food back at all, just increased his exercise and limited all the treats. He gets lots of green beans and peas for treats now.
After my walk, I had a bowl of plain Greek yogurt mixed with one scoop of Vanilla Protein Powder, topped with strawberries, pecans, honey, and banana.
Speaking of protein, I stopped at CVS on my way out to my parents house on Wednesday to pick up some No Cow Bars. These are my FAVORITE protein bar right now. The Lemon Meringue Pie Flavor is incredible. If you’re a lemon lover…start with that flavor. They’re gluten free, dairy free, high fiber, low carb, low calorie, high protein, low sugar, and the list goes on.
I put Leo in the pool with me for a little bit to get him used to the water.
He loved it so much……..(sarcasm)
I ran errands with my dad on Wednesday afternoon. We stopped at Lowe’s to grab some wood for a bench we are building and Tractor Supply to buy some dog toys and clippers for Grumples. I picked up some maple nut goodies because it brings me back to my childhood. My dad used to buy maple candies every time we visited the hardware store. It made him smile when I brought them out after dinner.
I made some seasoned and baked chicken wings for dinner. These had garlic powder, onion powder, italian seasoning, black pepper, sea salt, dill weed, and honey.
Sweet potatoes for the side!
I woke up early on Thursday to get orders done for the shop. I made a delicious protein shake for breakfast. It was super simple and consisted of banana, Protein Powder, almond milk, and ice!
After hours of orders, I made an egg white omelet with Mexican cheese. I needed some fuel for the afternoon festivities…
of dog grooming…:)
I have taken Grumples to the groomers for the past five years. He always gets anxiety, has to be there for over ten hours, gets cut, and I couldn’t do it to him anymore. I decided to buy some clippers and do it myself.
I set out a blanket in my parents backyard and went at it. I was shocked because Grumples loved it. There were moments where he would lay on his back enjoying the belly shave. The legs were a challenge, but I’ll get better at it. I didn’t do too bad for the first time grooming! This was before his bath. We got all the mats out and I know he felt much better. I mean…look at that face!
The clippers worked great and I loved all the different settings it had. He didn’t get cut or harmed at all. If you’re interested in grooming your own dog, here are the clippers I purchased…Wahl Professional Animal PRO ION Home Pet Grooming Kit.
I headed to the craft store Friday morning to pick up some materials for my Halloween costume. I decided to go as a birthday piñata! It was only a $20 DIY costume!
I also had an iced coffee with one pump of pumpkin spice!
I spent Friday afternoon working on my costume. Even though it was inexpensive, it was pretty time consuming. I’ll do the DIY post soon.
Someone partied a little too hard.
Meighan and I went on a run Friday afternoon at the River walk.
As soon as I got home, I bought new running shoes. I knew it was time! That run was not great physically or mentally. I’m excited to get out there with my new shoes today.
I spent Friday night watching Black Mirror with the pups!
I made ground turkey, roasted vegetables, and rice for dinner.
Grumples and I woke up bright and early on Saturday to head out for our walk.
I love Saturday morning feels.
Walking through all the neighborhoods was super fun because they all had their halloween decorations out. Grumples loves to growl and bark at them.
When I turned around to see what Grumples was growling at…seriously? Too soon!
When I got back from our walk, I started constructing my costume. I didn’t get to finish it Friday night because I was too tired. I ended up falling asleep at 9:30pm.
I made some scrambled eggs, toast with fig jelly (already ate the other half before the photo) and yogurt with grapes and pecans. I used my Nespresso to make a little cappuccino on the side. It had almond milk + espresso + stevia. I finally finished my costume four hours later!
I headed to Meighan’s to get ready to go out. We made a mixed drink that had pink lemonade, mojito mix, mint leaves, ice and vodka.
Maybe I went a little overboard…but it was Halloween!
We did the uptown halloween pub crawl. I couldn’t believe how many people were out! I loved seeing all the creative costumes.
We crashed at 7pm. We ordered food from the Rock Bottom Brewery and watched Halloween movies.
I had a chicken waldorf salad. It had lettuce, celery, cranberries, walnuts, chicken, apples, and honey mustard. It would have been so good with goat cheese on top!
The pups love scary movies.
Since I went to bed early, I was up early. I had coffee on the balcony with the pups and watched all the pub crawlers do the walk of shame in their halloween costumes. It was one of the best people watching moments.
Later Sunday afternoon, we walked to the 7th Street Public market for some lunch.
I was so ready for some coffee.
I ordered a cappuccino and a sweet matcha iced latte because I really wanted to try one. I knew Kyle would split it with me.
This was Leo’s first restaurant outing.
I tried out one of Rico’s rainbow aqai bowls.
The bowl had acai puree, granola, banana, strawberries, pineapple, mango, kiwi, blueberries and raspberries.
Leo was such a good walker! Meighan and I decided to skip our long run this Sunday and just walk it. We were both physically tired and knew running wouldn’t feel so great. We walked all around Southend and down the Little Sugar Creek Greenway. It was cool reading the “before I die” board. Some of the notes were so sweet.
The weather couldn’t have been anymore gorgeous.
On the way back, I picked up some things at the Vitamin Shoppe. I went in there for the Extra Strength Glucosamine Chondroitin Complex for my joints and came back with more goodies. I found the Lemon Meringue Pie No Cow Bar! I was super excited because I found the Quest Blueberry Muffin Protein Bar. I had it for breakfast the next morning and it was so good. It had little blueberry fruit chunks in it and I baked it like a muffin.
I also picked up Chipotle for dinner. I didn’t feel like cooking at all this weekend.
We did a totally of 8.26 miles.
Beggars……
My Chipotle bowl is always the same. I go with half chicken, half steak, a little bit of black beans, a little bit of rice, mild salsa, hot salsa, corn salsa, sprinkle of cheese, guacamole, lettuce, and the house dressing. Their salad dressing is so good. I wish they sold it in stores.
I watched another episode of Black Mirror and called it a night. The thing about this series is that one episode is enough. You have to sit back and reflect on the storyline after you watch it…Our discussions get a little crazy.
I went for a little walk early Monday morning. Queens road is one of my favorite roads in Charlotte and it’s one of the most famous roads.
I did a little grocery shopping at Target and the Fresh Market.
Before I stopped at Target, I drove all the way to the South Park mall, parked, got out of my car, walked about twenty feet, turned back around, got in my car, and left. I’ve been doing so good with not buying things I don’t need. I’ve been trying to get rid of things around my place and I knew I’d blow my progress by walking into that mall. I was proud of myself when I left.
I picked up some salad ingredients. The Fresh Market is my favorite little spot.
Have you guys ever had the Gevalia espresso coffee cups with froth packets? I was pretty impressed!
I spent the afternoon working on the computer while the pups people watched.
I decided to walk to Amelie’s French Bakery to pick up a Halloween treat.
Ive been on a cappuccino kick. I brought back the pecan macaroon and the caramel apple cheesecake.
I did a couple extra miles around the city because the skies were so beautiful and I couldn’t get enough.
For my halloween night dinner, I had a big salad!
My salad had strawberries, goat cheese, candied nuts, avocado, cranberries, blueberries, pieces of grilled chicken, pieces of turkey burley, kale, spinach and balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
& that was my week so far!
Questions for you!
- What did you do on Halloween Night?
- Do you have any fun plans for November?
- Its going to be 82 degrees here today. What is the weather like where you live?
Jennifer says
That outfit is on point! I don’t think it’s overboard at all haha and I still can’t get over how happy grumples looks all shaved he’s so cute!
Halloween night was spent carving pumpkins, toasting the pumpkin seeds, and watching the Addams Family!
Hmm.. November… the only thing I have so far is Thanksgiving weekend. Thanksgiving festivities, my family is going to the Guthrie Theater to see a play, and then that same weekend is Black Friday (I usually go in the morning/mid-day because otherwise it’s too early for shopping haha) and the new Gilmore Girls is released on Netflix!! 🙂 🙂 It’ll be a busy long weekend haha I had an interview yesterday so I hope I get the job so I can start there too!
I think the high here is supposed to be about 60 today, so the perfect temperature for fall! I love when I can wear a light jacket and be comfortable. I wish I lived where it didn’t get below 50 haha but it’s weird mid-nov and MN is still between 60 and 70 all week!
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi Jennifer!
Thank you so much. It was funny because the next day when Meighan and I went for a walk, my sequins were still on the Charlotte sidewalks!
UGH. Your halloween night seems perfect. I didn’t get to carve pumpkins this year, but its my own lazy fault. What flavor did you use to roast them? I like to make sweet and savory.
Sounds like your November is going to be so much fun. This may sound insane, but I’ve never liked Gilmore Girls. I get a headache watching the acting because it’s so fast! I never do black Friday but I may have to this year for fun!
Goodness 60 is the perfect temp! Send it my way:) Actually it’ll be 67 by Friday! woooo.
Enjoy your weekend!
xo
Carly says
I have always loved Gilmore Girls, like Jennifer. But my husband agrees with you and always says the same thing when its on….”WHY ARE THEY TALKING SO FAST???” haha.
Taralynn McNitt says
hahaha glad I’m not the only one who thinks that! It’s pure script reading without real reactions. BUT, the story lines are always good and I love both actresses.
Jennifer says
Bahaha that’s so funny I haven’t heard that one before! Although, I feel like people either really like it or they hate it from my experience.
Black Friday.. I’ve gone maybe two years at the really odd times of the day. Thankfully this year Mall of America isn’t opening until Friday so that people can spend time with their families on Thanksgiving! I’m such an advocate for that. I ALWAYS hit up target because they have tons of new movies for super cheap! $4, $6, $8 dollars kind of cheap. Also, the malls always have super good sales!
I just did the usual salt on the pumpkin seeds… I did attempt cinnamon & sugar but those burned hahaha fail.
Taralynn McNitt says
Oh my…youre going to the Mall of America on Black Friday!!!!!!??? & its great that they don’t open up early! love that as well.
The cinnamon sugar ones are tricky!
Kate says
Black Mirror is a show you only can watch one maybe two of otherwise you get depressed. It isn’t something you binge. Or that is how I feel about it. I am never in a good mood after watching it which is why I have only watched 3 episodes.
I played board games on Friday with coworkers and friend-who-is-a-boy. I always feel silly saying the word boyfriend because it makes me feel like I am in high school and it isn’t that type of relationship.
I am actually in iowa (Iowa city). I am from Georgia, moved here 7 months ago. Weather is good so far but damn i am not looking forward to feeling what negative degree weather feels like. I don’t have jackets for that yet :(. Nor do I know what one wears for that.
Traveling time back to Ga for me in November!
Taralynn McNitt says
I agree! I really like the series, but I find myself going “ew I didn’t like that episode” and not because it wasn’t good, but because things that like can happen and I don’t like seeing it come to life. I like to do one episode a night and then reflect on it.
Hahaha I understand. I love board games! What one did you play? I’m always looking for new ones.
WOOO! Love IOWA CITY! You will get used to the weather soon. I know it sounds scary, but your body will adapt and it’ll be beautiful. North Face & Columbia jackets will be your best friend. Head over to the Coralville mall! Also, try to experience an Iowa Tailgate/Game if you haven’t already! So fun!
xo
Teresa says
1. Halloween night- Hubs and I took a long walk to watch the trick-or-treating families. We live in a condo so we don’t get any trick-or-treaters. I wanted to feel like part of the excitement! Then we went to the local fro-yo bar to have our own treats and watched ‘Halloween’ and an old espisode of Goosebumps. Do you remember that show!?
2. Black Friday Shopping!
3. I live in Chicago – and the weather is unseasonably warm today. 65 degrees. Personally I am so ready for a chill in the air. I have my boots ready to go!
Have a great rest of your week!
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi Teresa!
That is something I’d do. I love watching them 🙂 Kids are so cute in their costumes and they get so excited! Do I remember goosebumps!??! YES!!!
ohhh are you shopping for anything special on black friday?
65 in Chicago? That is amazing. I remember when it was SO COLD when I lived there.
I hope you have a great weekend!
Bethany @LuluRuns says
Halloween night wasn’t so great around here, I woke up that morning feeling pretty sick and only got worse as the day continued. So our Halloween night consisted of chicken noodle soup and an early bed time, haha. Thankfully, I’m feeling better now!
We don’t have any out of the ordinary fun plans for November! I’m just going to be focusing on my postpartum fitness with increasing my running and strengthening my upper body!
Taralynn McNitt says
Oh no! I’m so happy you’re feeling better now though 🙁 Looks like a 24 hour bug!
Sounds like you have some good goals! I need to do the same.
Carly says
I was SO looking forward to this recap! Half to see more of your halloween costume (which I LOVE!) and half because I love catching up on your recaps with my coffee!
Our halloween was low key and consisted of board games, champagne, and pumpkin pie gelato! We dressed Moose up as a tiger over the weekend for a puppy party…. pictures of a pouting tiger dog to come soon. ha!
November means Thanksgiving is almost here! My husband, Moose, and I are going (home) to Colorado for our annual Thanksgiving with family and friends (who we pretend are family)!
Here north of Boston, we just had our first frost night before last, but today its going to be mid 60’s! Perfect temp to get outside for a nice long dog walk!
Also I’m SUPER impressed by your Grumples grooming skills! He looks great!! I tried a couple times to do Moose and lets just say he (and I) were very happy fur grows back! After a couple of failed diy attempts I was lucky enough to find a groomer that does a great job and that he isn’t terrified of!
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi Carly!
Thanks so much 🙂 It took me way to long to get a blog out, but sometimes you just have to give yourself a break!
Ok…that pumpkin pie gelato (assuming we had the same) is out of this world! I blogged about it last recap! I bet Moose was so cute as a tiger!!!
Oh my…youre going to have so much fun!! Get tons of photos.
It’s perfect weather for a walk!
AHAHAHA That is so funny! Its great you found a good groomer. I just feel so bad for grumples because its the only thing he realllllly hates. He just loved it when I did it and I actually had fun. I’m already excited for his hair to grow back so I can do it again! LOL
Caitlyn says
Hi Tara,
You always post these at the perfect time, woke up this morning wanting to just relax with my coffee and I decided to just check and see if you posted and thankfully you did. SCORE!! Questions time:
Unfortunately I worked on Halloween and most of my friend are away at college so no weekend parties either, but that’s okay because it means more money for me and no hangovers lol.
I have officially started listening to Christmas music ^_^ I’m a bit of a Christmas fanatic, unfortunately my mom wont let me decorate just yet, but you better believe I’m going to start hunting for some new decorations, I am soooooo pumped because this is my favorite time of year.
Our weather is pretty similar, its been highs of 85 with lows of like lower 70s, but with little to no humidity which makes a HUGE difference, I have been out enjoying the weather everyday while I can because I have a feeling it’s going to get warmer before it gets cooler, but as long as there isn’t humidity it can be 85 and I’ll still go out and enjoy the beautiful weather.
Questions for you:
What are your plans for November ? And also, I know Leo is technically Kyle’s, but how hard was it for you going from taking care of Mr. Grumples who is grown up, to taking care of a puppy again? I’m just curious because I may be getting a puppy at the beginning of next year and my dog is 6 years old so she hasn’t been a puppy for a LONG time, I’m just curious about how the adjustment was.
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi Caitlyn!
I’m so happy to hear that. I’m so glad I posted it just in time! 🙂 I just got back from a walk with the pup, made some coffee, and now I get to comment back! That is calming to me.
Haha I love your optimistic view.
I am also a Christmas fanatic. I have to control myself and force myself not to listen to Christmas music until Thanksgiving is over. As soon as I wake up the day after Thanksgiving, I immediately pull out the Christmas decorations!
The lack of humidity is beautiful, isn’t it? Imagine if all of our summers were like this! I want to get all of my work done by five today so I can go to the trails before it gets dark.
Taking care of Leo is definitely a handful. You never really know what your puppy’s behavior is going to be like. I got SUPER lucky with Grumples because he was potty trained, never bit me, and just listened to everything I said. He wasn’t the best walker, but that was something we could work on. Taking care of Leo has been a lot different than Grumples. He LOVES to bite and it hurts bad. My arms look like they went through a woodchopper. He is great about going outside, but he isn’t fully potty trained. He also barks a lot more. Every time I sit down, I have to get up because he’s getting into something or trying to get my attention. Grumples has been so good with him and lets Leo do everything. I really LOVE Leo and he is worth all of the work, but before you do get a puppy make sure you have time to really spend with him while he’s young. I’m lucky because I work from home and can take him out, give him attention, and train him most of the time. They are a lot of work. You really don’t know what behavior your dog will have, so you just have to take that into consideration. I’m already looking for a new place with a backyard so I can work from the porch and let him run around all day. We are also going to put Leo in training courses when he is six months old, so that’ll be great and a lot of the little behavior things will get corrected. And if you are going to get a puppy, definitely crate train! I never knew how beneficial it was until we got Leo.
xo
Erin @ Brownie Bites says
We stayed at home, dressed up with our toddler (not quite old enough for trick-or-treating), watched Nightmare Before Christmas and handed out candy. Love low key Halloweens!
I think it’s great that the houses in your area still decorate. My husband and I go all out with our decorations to keep the fun into the holiday, but our neighbors rarely do more than set out a pumpkin or two. It’s sad! I love Halloween!
Your pinata costume turned out great! Well worth the effort.
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi Erin!
Ahhh I was so sad because I bought candy, but no one came! I guess if I were a kid living uptown, I’d make my parents drive me to an actual neighborhood. I love low-key halloweens as well.
Oh man 🙁 Maybe you’ll be the trendsetters and they’ll all decorate next year! I know that I’ll be the house on the street that goes NUTS around the holidays.
xo & thanks so much! It was so fun to wear!
P.S. LOVE YOUR BLOG & RECIPES
Taralynn
Mackenzie says
I neeed to get my hands on that lemon meringue No Cow bar. I didn’t even know they made that flavor?!? Still hoping they will whip out a pumpkin spice one 😉 Your costume is fabulous. I cannot even imagine how much went work went into that, but it is amazing. Grumps is doing SOOO well. 9 lbs. in a pup is such an accomplishment. I bet you are a proud mama. Halloween night DJ and I carved pumpkins and I made a pumpkin cheesecake. For November we are hosting more family swing by in the Bay area! ALSO- I found out I passed my boards last week, so I can start applying for jobs. Woohoo. Weather: It is a high of 72 here, but only 48 right now and sunny most of the week. We did have our first bout of rain in forever, which was actually super refreshing!!
Taralynn McNitt says
Yes, you do! It’s out of this world.
I think it’s a new flavor! It was the first time seeing it in stores. Imagine if they made a pumpkin one? I know it’d be way better than the Quest one. Im not sure who contracted that one, but just no.
Thanks so much for the kind words about my costume. It was a lot of work, but SO MUCH FUN!
I’m so proud of Grumples and I love our mornings walking together. It’s so great for both of our health!
CONGRATS ON PASSING!!! I KNEW YOU WOULD!! That is definitely something to celebrate girl! SO happy for you 🙂
I hope you celebrate this weekend and relax before you get locked into a new job (that’ll you rock)
xo
Mackenzie says
I just ordered a whole box from GNC online. I cannot wait!!! And I’m so with you about that pumpkin Quest flavor: disgusting- so artificial tasting, so coated. Oh well- maybe they’ll redeem themselves in the future 😉
Thank you A MILLION for your encouragement. Means the world <3 Hope you are having such a good week, Tara! xo xo
Taralynn McNitt says
So glad you found them. Glad I’m not the only one who thought that about the quest ones! I feel like they had an easy flavor to work with and they butchered it!! 🙂
XO XO
Krista says
We stayed in waiting for trick-or-treaters but only got one in a big neighborhood! The local church (not even 1/2 mile away) hosted a Harvest Festival that night, with over 3,000 people in attendance. So much candy leftover, but I’m sending it to Operation Gratitude, so that’s okay.
We ended up having vegan pizza from dominos– their thin crust with no cheese and a ton of veggies. My boyfriend said he didn’t even notice there wasn’t any cheese, and it’s pretty low cal, especially for pizza. That salad looks awesome though! I need to remember to make these combos you post about, I always get to the store and forget what I need lol.
Love all the pictures!! It’s supposed to be 76 here near the coast, so it’s still in the 60s right now. Grumples looks so much more comfortable 🙂 my parents used to get their dog groomed in the summer but now he’s too big (around 110 lbs and basically the size of two labs, he’s just really long) and a little too hyper for it 😛
I have a wedding to go to this weekend! It’s my first that I’m going to since I was a kid (went to three a VERY long time ago), so I’m excited to attend and see what it’s all about.
Have a great rest of your week!
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi Krista!
I keep hearing people say that they didn’t get any trick-or-treaters this year. So strange. We didn’t get any and my parents (who live in a neighborhood) didn’t get one kid. I grew up on a street that everyone drove to for trick-or-treating. We got around (not exaggerating) 2500 kids. We had to sit outside and hand out candy. We had about five neighbors that would sit on our driveway with us drinking apple ciders handing out candy. My parents spent hundreds of dollars on candy each year. It was always tradition to make the house spooky! I miss those days. It’s great that you’re sending the candy to a good cause!
Dominios has vegan pizza? wuuuuuut. I’ll have to try that out because it sounds really good! I always make a grocery list on my phone before going. If I make a list on paper, i’ll forget it, but i’ll never forget my phone! 😉
Sounds like you’re going to have a gorgeous day today. I think Grumps is so much more comfortable and I know those mats had to be a bit painful. Maybe they can try grooming him themselves! He may like it 🙂
Really!?! oh, you’ll have a blast. I love weddings!
Have a great weekend and enjoy the beautiful weather on the coast!
Taralynn
Anonymous says
What type camera do you use?
Taralynn McNitt says
This post was actually just my iPhone.
Allie says
My Halloween was pretty laid back. We watched Hocus Pocus and handed out Halloween candy. We also splurged and had Taco Bell for dinner. I know it is so bad for you, but it tasted so good!
November is my very favorite month of the year! The weather finally cools off (I live in Tucson so its pretty much always over 90 degrees for 9 months out of the year) and I get to spend more time outside. My best friend is getting married the 19th so I will be pulling bridesmaid duty. Also, THANKSGIVING! One of my very favorite holidays.
I think the high yesterday was 92? Still a little warm, but you can definitely tell it’s cooling off.
Taralynn McNitt says
Ahhhh yes Hocus Pocus is the best on Halloween! I was shocked that Netflix took it down! I can’t judge, Taco Bell is so good, although I think Taco Johns (Midwest thing) is better.
I bet you’re super excited for that cooler weather! You’ll be so busy in that brides made mode! 🙂 I never used to like Thanksgiving as a kid, but now I love it!
92…oh boy 🙁
Enjoy your weekend Allie!
Kara McVay says
For Halloween we went to the in-laws and had scalloped potatoes and handed out candy. It was a lot of fun. In November we are heading to your neck of the woods and looking at property to buy! I wanted to take a moment to take a moment to say I really love your blog! I love how down to earth you are…and you love a lot of the things I love so it is fun to hear about. I came across your blog on Pinterest while looking for property and your Halloween post in Lake Lure really made me fall in love with the area so we are going to go check it out for some real estate. I’ll keep you posted! I live in Northern California and right now it is 65 degrees.
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi Kara!
That sounds so fun. I love scalloped potatoes and haven’t had them since I was in high school. My mom used to make cheesy ones! yum.
Ahhhhh so exciting! Are you looking in Charlotte/Asheville? Let me know if you need any suggestions about neighborhoods.
Thank you for the kind words about my blog! That means a lot to me! 🙂 Glad you found me through Pinterest!
Have a wonderful weekend! I can’t wait to hear about your property search!
xo TARALYNN.
Melissa FitzGerald says
Your Halloween costume is so cute, and I can’t wait to see the DIY! (Also, Leo is giving me some SERIOUS puppy fever. I don’t know how you get anything done with that little face, ’cause I’d just be snuggling him all day every day!)
1. I didn’t do too much on Halloween night; I ended up working until 8:00 and then hit the gym and went home for some sleep! But my office did have a costume contest, which I dressed up for! I was a “catastrophe” – I wore cat ears and makeup and carried a donkey trophy for the whole day (donkeys are also known as “ass”… cat-ass-trophy!). I didn’t win the contest, but the people in my office who appreciate puns like I do definitely got a kick out of it!
2. I’m so happy that November is finally here! My best friend from high school, who I haven’t seen in almost three years, is coming into town today so I’m on a mini staycation from work! We’re going to three concerts and a Blackhawks game, plus all the basic Chicago touristy stuff I can’t get away with ’cause I live here. The rest of the month is gonna be dedicated to sweaty workouts and clean eating so I don’t feel too bad about indulging over the holidays. 😉
3. Normally by November, Chicago is already snowy and gross (which I’m sure you know!). It’s 65 today and staying around that temperature for the rest of this week, which is INSANE but I am not complaining! It’s good weather for celebrating when the Cubbies win tonight! 😀
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi Melissa!!
Thank you so much:) It’s hard to get things mostly because he’s a hyper bug, but he’s worth it! Love him so much.
Hit the gym at 8pm? GO YOU!! I love your halloween costume idea! toooooo clever. I’d love to see a pic of that!!
AHHH that’ll be a blast. I wish my friends from high school would come down this way!! 🙁 I’ll be right there with you on the clean eating and exercises! My strength training has gone down the toilet lately and all I do is cardio. NO BUENO.
I totally know the Chicago weather! I hope your cubbies with tonight too!! & enjoy that beautiful weather girl!
xo xo xo
Rachel says
Have you tried carrots for dog treats? Our dog is obsessed. He literally waits at the fridge for one. They’re healthy and I think the crunch of them makes the doggies happy 🙂 I’ll have to try green beans.
question – where are your super cute flats from in the dog walking picture? they look leather and like they cross over on top of the foot? i must have them. it’s still warm here so i feel like i would get some good wear out of them.
Taralynn McNitt says
Lol yes and it’s so funny. Grumples spits it out! He HATES carrots unless its covered in ranch or hummus. He’s such a child. Leo likes carrots though!
Those flats are actually from the Gap. I have them in a couple of colors and they were only 12.99!
Have a great weekend! xo
Judyta says
Beautiful photos 😉
Taralynn McNitt says
Thank you Judyta!
Danielle says
I love you’re costume!! And your dogs are the cutest!! For Halloween I dressed up as a zombie (last minute costume haha) and went out with some friends. I have Dad’s Weekend for my sorority and then just Thanksgiving which I am looking forward to but that is all I know of so far! The weather here is supposed to be near 80 which is crazy for Missouri at this time of year! Also, I had a quick question, so I am in college and am struggling right now with how busy, not having a kitchen, and the lack of options I have in the dining halls to eat healthy, do you have any tips? Thanks! Have a great rest of your week!! 🙂
Taralynn McNitt says
Thank you Danielle!
Love the idea of being a zombie! I bet you looked so cool. Sounds like you have a nice calm November coming up! I love those.
80 in Missouri? wow. Can’t complain about that! Soak it all up while it lasts.
Do you have a fridge? If so you can alway keep foods for salad preps, get some pre cooked grilled chicken/turkey burgers to microwave, air popped popcorn, or get a indoor grill to plug in and make your proteins! Lots of greek yogurt, fresh fruit, hummus and carrots, and healthy foods you don’t have to cook up! 🙂
Lindsey says
Wait. Is Leo yours or Kyles? Seem alike you take care of him a lot!
Taralynn McNitt says
He’s Kyles! Leo is with me a lot because he can’t be by himself as a puppy and Kyle works 9-5.
Linda @ the Fitty says
Gosh I LOVE your costume and also your neighborhood looks absolutely lovely I the fall. I’m glad you got outside to walk grumbles because otherwise you would’ve truly missed out from the beautiful view.
Wad the Chipotle line long? They had 3 dollar meals that day but I didn’t go! I also hear they now have enough chorizo and I’ve never tried that before.
Taralynn McNitt says
Thanks Linda!!!
I agree with you for sure!!:)
It wasn’t long and $3 meals!? what!!!
Samantha says
Lol sweetie you have Grumbles leash on wrong. You’re supposed to hook it on his back not near his chest… it’ll work properly that way!
Taralynn McNitt says
Having it hooked on his back makes GrumPles more aggressive and more likely to pull me. When it’s hooked on the front, he’s more relaxed and walks better. He doest feel the need to lunge and he walks where I tell him to walk with it hooked on the front. It works better that way. That is why there is hook in the front, for that option. Works properly.
Jess says
My, oh my, what a rude way to address a perfect stranger, Samantha. I will be the first to say that many professional dog trainers and experts suggest using harnesses that latch in the front for pulling and aggression, which is what Tara has pointed out in her posts prior to this one. I suggest you look at an “Easy Walk harness.” They’re affordable, simple to use, and have benefitted my two hounds greatly. Have a great day!
Tara,
Loved the effort put into your costume. Very festive!
Jessie @ The Acquired Sass says
1. We drug the fire pit down to the end of the driveway & lit a big fire. Then we drank wine & passed out candy to the kiddos. Who were super ungrateful & rude, BTW. I was so surprised by how many said “How many pieces can I take?” NOT “Trick or Treat!”. Guess I’m turning into a grumpy old lady quicker than I thought. 😉
2. We’ve got Wedding #6 of 6 this weekend and the following weekend I have a girls winery trip planned – still working out some details, but with wine, how bad can it be?
3. It’s 75-ish & SUNNY! Sad it’ll be dark by 6PM or so, but loved that I got to spend my lunch break walking on some of our work trails.
Your costume turned out super cute, but I BET it was a TON of work!
And good for you for getting back in your car at the mall. As much as I love all the cute stuff, I hate having to move it all, or find a place for it in my house. And for something that only brings me a bit of joy. I’m also working hard to get rid of a lot of the things I’ve accumulated over the years that don’t mean anything anymore.
Taralynn McNitt says
That is exactly what we used to do back in Iowa. There are tons of kids that just put their bags out without saying anything at all. I feel like Halloween is the perfect time to teach your kids “thank you” skills. My grandpa used to make the kids say “trick-or-treat” before they got candy.
JEEZE, you are such a wedding girl! You’ll have fun at the winery though! 🙂 Love all your adventures.
Dark by six? wow! It’s dark by 7:30 here.
Thanks so much! It was a ton of work, but worth it.
& thank you. I have accumulated a ton of stuff and I need to get rid of all of that before I bring more in.
Sarah says
Hi Taralynn,
I loved this post and really enjoyed seeing your pictures. Charlotte looks beautiful.
For Halloween, me and my friends had a girly night in watching a horror movie. My friend decorated the house so it felt all spooky. We watched the film 1408. I’m terrible at watching scary movies and I definitely screamed out loud at least twice!
In a few weeks I’m in a musical (Anything Goes) for my local theatre group so the next few weeks will mainly be taken up by rehearsals. I haven’t done a show in a couple of years so I’m really excited to get back on stage.
I’m from the UK and the weather here has just dropped to about 47 degrees. This morning it was only 38 degrees and I had to defrost my car before I went to work. I don’t mind though because it was really bright and sunny. I love those cold, crisp, sunny autumn days.
Thanks for a great recap post and enjoy the rest of your week.
xx
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi Sarah!
Thanks so much. Charlotte, the Queen City, is a dream!:) I love it here.
Your Halloween night sounds like so much fun! Girls nights are always the best 🙂
Congrats on the musical! I wish I could watch:) I used to do musical theater. I bet you’re fantastic!
I can’t believe how cold it is where you’re at! I know it’ll be that cold here soon! We have been getting 40 degree mornings.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend! & break a leg!
xo
Tara @ Run and Live Happy says
Your costume is so cute! You did a great job on it! I did nothing on Halloween. We stayed in and flipped through the channels. The weather is still super hot here. It’s 86 with 66% humidity today! I’m about to attempt a run, but this heat is not helping with that!
Taralynn McNitt says
Thank you Tara!!
Yikes! That is super hot. I figured the humidity would be gone by now, but holy cow! I feel so lucky because the weather is perfect here. Hopefully you get that cooler weather soon!
xo xo
Brooklyn says
I love your costume! DIY costumes are always the best I find, so fun to make and I love seeing the creativity that people bring out 🙂
I would be so nervous to groom my dog myself, but you did an awesome job, Grumples looks really happy with it. In one of the photos after the grooming with Leo and Grumples it looks like Grumples has the biggest smile on his face 🙂
I feel like you had the perfect week of salads, each one looks so delicious and fresh!
For Halloween I ordered a pizza and my boyfriend and I watched the Texas Chainsaw with Jessica Biel and then the remake of Nightmare on Elm Street. It is our Halloween tradition to watch either the Nightmare on Elm street remake or one of the originals.
I wish Halloween weren’t over yet!
http://www.justbeingbrooklyn.com
Taralynn McNitt says
Thanks Brooklyn!
You would have loved seeing all the costumes at the pub-crawl. People are so dang creative.
Thanks! Grumples loved it, so that made it so much easier. I know! I love that photo 🙂 Dogs really do smile.
You definitely did Halloween right.
Brittany says
OK, let me just say, Leo is absolutely adorable! I love seeing all the pictures of him 🙂 Also, I love your costume! It’s so colorful and fun! Looks like you had a fun and busy weekend!
As for my Halloween, I went out with my friends earlier in the week and then spent Halloween day inside. One of my close friends wasn’t feeling very well and we were all talking about cooking & watching Hocus Pocus, so we decided to have a girls night in. It was so much fun and relaxing at the same time.
Anyway, I hope your week is going well! Loved reading this post 🙂
Taralynn McNitt says
Thank you Brittany!! I love him and his little face.
It was so much fun, but tons of work to make! I think cleaning up the sparkles everywhere was much more work!
Ahhhh yes! Hocus Pocus is a halloween must. Love that you spent the time with your girls!
Thanks so much for reading! xo
Kaylin@EnticingHealthyEating says
Your costume is adorable! I did a very cheap DIY Halloween costume this year as well. I was a piece of pizza and my fiance was a pizza boy. I just used cardboard for the pizza shape, streamers for the cheese and sauce, and cut out vegetables and pepperoni out of construction paper to put on the pizza.
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi Kaylin!
Thanks so much 🙂
That sounds like a super cute and creative costume idea! Yay for cheap diy! I’d Love to see a pic of that.
Hope you have a great weekend!
xo
Aleysha says
Creeping the above comments, my dog also walks INFINITELY better on a harness when I clip it on the front at his chest. I have no idea why that is, but he’s 100 pounds so I’m not about to change up a method that works 😉 We also have a gentle leader leash (not sure if you’ve seen those) that works wonders, but people ALWAYS assume he’s aggressive bc it goes around the mouth, so I hate using it in public haha.
Anyways!
1. For Halloween I attempted to pass out candy, but got 0 trick or treaters 🙁 It was super depressing! Why don’t people trick or treat anymore? I had the yard decorated and everything! Now I’m left with a huge bag of candy that is taunting me to eat it. Serious exercise in self control.
2. My November is going to be pretty insane. My fiancé and I are starting our house remodel! We are only going to be in this area for another 4ish years (he’s military), and decided to buy a house that we could flip. We moved in this summer and are now about to hire a contractor and get serious about getting started.
3. I live in Seattle , so I think you can probably guess my weather without me saying anything else haha 🙁
Taralynn McNitt says
I totally understand what you’re saying! I used to put it on Grumples, but he just didn’t react lol The front hook is amazing!! He acts like a completely different dog!
YOU AND ME BOTH GIRL! I think they drive to the huge neighborhoods. Kids used to do that when I was growing up.
WOW. You are going to be super busy. I know you’ll have so much fun flipping it though.
Raining? chili? 🙁
Hope you have a fun and relaxing weekend!
xo
Jane says
My friends and I were out at the pub-crawl too! I wish I could have met you!
Taralynn McNitt says
Ahh so cool! What did you dress up as? I couldn’t believe how many people were out! Hope you had fun!
Brittany Joy says
What did you do on Halloween Night?
I worked on Halloween but I brought funfetti cookies so we had our own treats! Your costume is so cute! I wish I could do DIY stuff, I don’t have the skills or the creativity :/ I did help turn my mom into a gum ball machine this year though!
Do you have any fun plans for November?
None specifically, I am looking forward to Thanksgiving, family, and more pumpkin treats! Also fall running, I am sure you can second that wish!
Its going to be 82 degrees here today. What is the weather like where you live?
It was 75 here today (beautiful!), started raining so the cold front will be moving back in. Unfortunately I have had a cold for all this nice weather but I am looking forward to a little chill too.
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi Brittany!
Skills or not, I’m sure you would have been able to make that! All you need is hot glue and scissors 😉 I love the gum ball costumes!! such a cute idea. I bet your work loved the little cookies!
YES FALL RUNNING 🙂 Although it’s still 82 here. guuuuur.
Hope you have a fantastic weekend.
Haley says
Will you share all of your favorite Thanksgiving recipes on the side of your blog? I like when you do that!
Taralynn McNitt says
Yes! Good thinking:) Time to take those little Halloween ones out!
Jillian says
I’ve been a lurker for a long time, but I wanted to comment that I loved your Halloween costume! So cute and fun!
1. We didn’t do much for Halloween, just handed out candy to kids and watched movies.
2. We do a big Thanksgiving family gathering every year so I’m excited for that!
3. It’s been beautiful in Wisconsin! I’ve been spending as much time outside as I can before it gets cold. On Sundays my best friend and I always go out for coffee and we’ve been trying to find places with patios so we can get more sun!
Taralynn McNitt says
Thanks so much Jillian!!
I love doing that on Halloween. I’m sad we didnt get ANY trick-or-treaters!
Thanksgiving is always fun!
Glad you’re spending tons of time outside! PERFECT for this time of year.
Enjoy your weekend!
Anonymous says
1.What did you do on Halloween Night?
hmm we dont have Halloween festival ,i am really interested in this festival of your country
2.Do you have any fun plans for November?
Actually this month gonna super busy, I made a Nov. fitness challenge for me
3.Its going to be 82 degrees here today. What is the weather like where you live?
i LIVE IN BeiJing China, winter is coming ,its cold actually -3°C It;s different to discribe climate beween our country.
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi There!
Love that you’re doing a fitness challenge. Perfect for this time of month!
Hope you bundle up and stay warm!
Jillian says
These recap posts are my fave! I always save up your posts to read during the slow hours of night shift 🙂
1. I spent Halloween night at a friends place having dinner, handing out candy and watching a scary movie. We watched “You’re Next” on Netflix, it was pretty good but gory!
2. No solid plans for November yet but my birthday is on the 20th so I’m in the process of making some fun plans with friends! Potentially renting out a cute little café in town and having a ladies lunch!
3. Its coooooold here! Well not that cold, its definitely going to get much colder as winter goes on but it is snowy and frosty and icy and DARK! Its getting dark around 530/6. However, all that being said, it is beautiful during the day when the sun is out- the mountains look incredible and the air is so crisp, perfect for a wintery walk! (I live in Northern Canada).
I wish we had a longer fall here, your pictures are all so beautiful!
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi Jillian!
1. I don’t know how you could watch that. I started it and turned it off immediately. I’m a baby!
2. That sounds like the perfect way to spend a birthday! 🙂
3. You make me want to visit canada right now! I’m craving some mountain views.
& thank you so much
xo
Lauren @ Following the Path of Life says
Your costume is awesome!!! It’s so bright and fun!
Your fall colors are amazing, too; I’m glad you’re getting some! We had some in Casper for a short while, but pretty much all the leaves are gone now (hello, Casper wind….).
1. I actually spent Friday-Monday with my mom in Montana (craft show and Christmas gifts!!!); I got back into Casper on Halloween evening. My husband and I actually don’t celebrate Halloween so we finished up some shopping and then watched The Andy Griffith Show for the evening. 🙂
2. Yes! Alexander’s youngest brother is getting married this month; that’ll make three of the four brothers being married in one year! Also, hubby and I get to celebrate our first Thanksgiving together as a married couple. 🙂
3. It’s actually still in the fifties and sixties here, so not too bad. This week the winds have been fairly mellow, which is a relief being as the winds are pretty crazy in the fall and winter — we’ve already had some 50+ mph gusts. Part of the church roof actually blew off a few weeks ago during Bible study, but God is good and nobody was injured!
I hope you have a great week! Enjoy those new running shoes and your time with the pups!
Taralynn McNitt says
Thanks Lauren!
It was definitely BRIGHT AND SHINY! 🙂
All of the leaves are hitting their peak now! They’ll be gone towards the end of November.
Sounds like so much fun. Montana is so beautiful. I spent some time there one summer back in high school and it was one of the best summers of my life.
That is exciting! November weddings are nice because you don’t have to worry about sweating in the dresses! I can’t wait to hear all about your first (married) thanksgiving together.
So scary! Glad you guys are all safe. Seems like you’re really experiencing the ultimate fall weather.
Thanks so much! I hope you have a wonderful week/weekend.
Taralynn
Brittany M. says
Hi Taralynn,
I’m loving Grumples new do! It’s a blessing you have the time to walk him like you do! That piñata costume is wild! I wouldn’t have had the patience to do it!
For Halloween I took my daughter to the Fun and Faith Festival. She loved it, and she rode a horse for the first time! We went to eat afterwards. We splurged on wings. I ended the night flipping between Halloween, Psycho, and The Ring. They were all on TV.
My big plans for November include papers for school! I have two left for the semester! Those are my top priority.
The weather here in GA is hot! It definitely doesn’t feel like November!
What are your plans for November?
Taralynn McNitt says
Hey Brittany!
Thanks so much:) I think I’ll eventually get better at grooming him! I feel very blessed to be able to walk him all the time. It’s so therapeutic and we both enjoy every minute of it.
& thank you! It was pretty fun to make. I made some coffee and watched netflix while doing it!
Sounds like you had a very fun Halloween and I’m sure your daughter appreciated every moment of it! So many scary movies on T.V. Monday night!
Good luck with those papers, I know you’ll get them done and they’ll be good!
It’s hot here as well, but it’ll cool down this weekend!
I have some small little trips planned, one with the pups, moving actually! Other than that, just working and hanging with the pups!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Kaitlynn says
Your costume is adorable! I wish I had had he time to dress up, but unfortunately I didn’t this year. There’s always next year though 😉 My plans for November are to stay on track with Healthy eating and exercise at LEAST three times a week. I live in So Cal so the weather here is quite gorgeous this time of year. Still, our autumns look nothing like East Coast autumns, and for that I’m totally jealous of you 😛 Hope you’re having a lovely week so far, Tara.
Taralynn McNitt says
Thank you Kaitlynn!
There is ALWAYS next year for sure! I missed out on carving pumpkins, but I may actually do some Thanksgiving carving instead. I totally agree! Im going to spend November doing more strength training and cleaning up my eats. I definitely don’t lift weights enough like I used to! Time to change that.
You’re so lucky to be living in Cal! I bet you have gorgeous winter weather.
Hope you have a great weekend!
Taralynn
Shannen says
I love your costume! Soo much fun! My sister and I ended up doing some fun galaxy makeup and we dressed to match for our town’s little Halloween bash. Afterwards we watched Private Eyes (with Don Knotts and Tm Conway) and Doctor Who. The we played Quelf and laughed our heads off.
I don’t have much planned for November. My brother may come home for a weekend, from the Marines. We have family coming in at the end of the night for Thanksgiving. Do you have exciting plans for the month? I’m looking forward to reading about your adventures!
Last week was freezing! 40s and 50s! It was 33 degrees all morning. This week has been so much warmer 75-80 degrees and a slight breeze. Perfect walking weather.
Taralynn McNitt says
Thanks Shannen!
I ALMOST went as the galaxy. Too funny! Quelf is such a fun game! Sounds like you had a great Halloween night.
That would be so cool to have your brother home! (tell him I said thank you for his service) I have a couple little trips planned and i’ll be moving again so thats going to be a fun one to write about I’m sure!
Our week has been much warmer as well and I’ve been running at night now. I can’t wait for the 60 degree temps and I hope they stay there!
xo xo thanks for commenting!
Taralynn
Hannah says
I love the DIY costume! You are so cute
Taralynn McNitt says
Thank you hannah!!!
Katie says
I tried the salad you made for lunch today. It’s officially my favorite salad yet! I never thought I’d ever like goat cheese and I’m happy that you introduced me to Cindy’s dressing.
Taralynn McNitt says
Oh so glad you enjoyed it! It’s one of my favorites as well and I think I’m going to come up with a new one for dinner tonight. I may try to redo the one I had at Chopt last week! I’ll let you know what i come up with! xo
Jess says
I live through your posts! I cant wait for a new one.
Taralynn McNitt says
Awww thank you Jess! That means so much!
LindseyM says
OH MY GOD GIRL.
THAT PINATA OUTFIT IS SO CUTE!
My boyfriend and I ordered, pizza, wings, and ate tons of halloween candy because 0 trick-or-treaters showed up. It was a fun night nonetheless.
I am going to quit my job this month. It sounds crazy, but I’m ready to go full-time free lance photography. Your posts have inspired me through the years and I can’t thank you enough!
Taralynn McNitt says
THANKS SO MUCH!!
You can invite me over next halloween if you want. I’m all for pizza and wings.
YOU GO GIRL! I love that. This is an exciting new adventure and I know you’ll do great!
Lauren says
Hi Taralynn!
I love your Halloween costume! Can’t wait for the DIY post. Sorry this is a completely unrelated post, but I am going to be in Charleston this weekend for a short period of time and wanted to know your top restaurant recommendation for a lunch place?! I’ve looked through a few of your posts from Charleston but want to know your favorite!
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi Lauren!
You’ll LOVE Charleston. If you want a good & cute place to grab coffee & pastries, go to Carmellas or Whisk. If you want a really good lunch, I LOVE Toast. Another cute spot is that I love is 5Church. They have one in Charlotte as well.
Dani says
I think your halloween costume is the most creative and glittery one I have EVER seen!!! Love it!
Taralynn McNitt says
Thank you Dani!! 🙂 I love sparkle!
Heather @ Polyglot Jot says
Such a cute Halloween costume! Did you use existing clothes you had and attach the streamers? Love that you also did your shoes!
The weathers been up and down like crazy in PA. Some mornings its in the 30’s or 40’s and then in the afternoon it has been as high as 80 and as low as 50! Crazy time of year haha
Taralynn McNitt says
Thanks Heather!
I did use some existing clothes:)
I feel ya on the weather! Today is 70 and perfect!!!:D
Jane says
Love your costume!
Taralynn McNitt says
Thank you!
Jackie says
PLEASE POST A NEW RECAP! I NEED MY TARALYNN FIX!
Taralynn McNitt says
ahahaha! I am actually working on one now!!)
Anonymous says
Wow! Your Halloween costume was gorgeous! And I love your walking sessions with the pets! They’re so adorable <3. I'm up for preparing Thanksgiving!
Taralynn McNitt says
Thank you so much! The walking sessions with my pups are my favorite!