Good morning & happy Monday!
Can you believe Thanksgiving is in a few days? I’m making my FIRST turkey this year! I’ve watched about a billion youtube how-to videos and it’s not as intimidating as I thought. I’m so excited 😊 I will try to share my Thanksgiving menu on the blog tomorrow.
I’m trying to make this blog as short as possible because I actually stabbed my thumb with a rose thorn yesterday while clipping them and it’s the most painful feeling ever! Typing doesn’t help either 😢 This is going to be such a fun week! Thanksgiving, decorating the house for Christmas, creating the Vlogmas intro (YAY!) Last year was pretty extra. After writing last Monday’s recap blog, I headed out with my neighbor for a four-mile walk! The walks in my neighborhood are pretty intense with all the hills, and my neighbor walks at a 16-minute mile pace 😂 I always feel so much better when I finish. Lately, I’ve been having my protein oats again! I always get in the mood for them when it’s cold outside. I use 1/3 cup of oats, 3/4 cup of water, 1 scoop vanilla protein (raw fusion plant-based & mixed in after the oats are cooked), a scoop of peanut butter on top with a splash of cinnamon. I also love adding warm blueberries! On Tuesday, I had to drop Leo off at the vet early morning for his teeth cleaning 😢 This always makes me so sad because he has to go under anesthesia and he’s there from 7 am to 6 pm. I hate it, but he has to get them done since his teeth get bad and it can lead to gingivitis.
I also had to drop my car off to get serviced the same day, so I just ran errands, grabbed a coffee, and had lunch at Chopt. I had their Korean salad with grilled chicken, spicy sesame cucumbers, apples, rainbow carrots, scallions, artisan croutons, romaine, kale & purple cabbage. The house was getting painted while I was out, and I’m glad I was away from the house because I would have kept going outside just to peek!! They did the priming and painting on Tuesday for the brick and I am sooooooo happy without it turned out. The garage definitely needed the black paint makeover! They finished up on Wednesday with everything, and I’m so happy with how it all turned out. My new favorite drink combo at Starbucks for the warmer days: tall iced almond milk latte with an extra shot of espresso, 1 pump of mocha, and 1/2 pump of peppermint topped with the whipped cream! 😋
And While I was out and about on Wednesday, I stopped and had turkey & veggie unwich at Jimmy Johns. I forgot how good these were! I tried out blue curtains for the week but ended up taking them down. I wanted to love them, but I just couldn’t. They don’t look bad, but I think I’m going to have to go back to white. I’m heading to Ikea to get their linen ones, so stay tuned for those! On Thursday, I made some peanut butter white chocolate granola and it tasted SO GOOD! I can’t wait to share this recipe on vlogmas this year 😊 It was kind of exciting waking up to frost in the morning, too. I made some banana peanut butter protein balls to keep in the fridge for the week! They had 3 bananas, 1/4 cup of peanut butter, 2 scoops protein powder, 1/2 tbsp cinnamon, 1/4 cup coconut, 2 1/2 cups of oats, and 1 tbsp of water. They tasted like peanut butter banana bread! 😋
On Friday, I was glued to my computer screen all day working on a project. That evening, we made shrimp kebabs and watched Home Alone. On Saturday night, we took my parents out for their 34th wedding anniversary at the new Chophouse restaurant in our town. The food was so good, and I loved the atmosphere! I can’t wait to go back. It was so beautiful and foggy out on Sunday morning! It’s also exciting to see my camellias blooming for the first time since planting them! My neighbor and I fit in a 4-mile walk at one of our fastest paces! 😯 We are definitely well-trained for the turkey trot in our neighborhood on Thanksgiving 😆 I spent the rest of the day working on projects, cleaning, organizing, and doing laundry. We finally got around to hanging up an older mirror in the living room, but I wanted to paint it all black first. The little silver dots were a bit much, but it looks so much better with it being black. I’ll share a photo soon! I also painted the underneath of the cabinet the Boothbay gray. I don’t know if I like it just yet because it does kind of look like a shadow instead of a color. We’ll see! For dinner, I made air-fried shrimp with butternut squash and dipped them in the Tessemae’s habanero ranch!
It’s time to decorate!!!!
I hope you all have a great week. I cannot wait to share the vlogmas intro with you next week. I hope it’s just as good as last year’s 😆 Make sure you’re subscribed to my YouTube channel so you don’t miss out! Have a great Monday!
Questions for you!
- Have you ever prepared/cooked a turkey before?
- Are you in the holiday spirit yet?
- Is there anything special you’d like to see on Vlogmas this year?
Suze says
I am soooo looking forward to your Vlogmas this year…whatever you decide to do will be great, girl! That kind of joy is very needed right now!
With NC clamping down on mask requirements for dine-in restaurants, all retail stores, and everywhere else now because our numbers are going up, I’m wondering if you are concerned about doing extra shopping and restaurant visits? I know I have been limiting myself to keep COVID from shutting us down again.
Trying very hard to get in the Holiday spirit here and, hopefully, will be getting our Christmas tree from one of the local lots this weekend. Then decorating!!!
Valerie says
I really like your blue curtains in the living room, it gives the room color and style. All white is kind of boring. Your coffee mug with blue and white is lovely and I saw the photo of your home on Instagram and the original brick was beautiful, surprised you painted it white. have fun making your first turkey 🙂
Milena says
Hi Taralynn,
I’m so happy for Vlogmas! Can’t wait to see everything!
I would be very grateful if you could share some ideas for gifts? I have no clue what to buy for my family this year. Also any Christmas receipts are more than welcome 🙂
I don’t feel the holiday spirit yet but I hope it’s gonna change soon. We will decorate the house next week and I will also start with some Christmas movies then 🙂
I hope you will have a great week! Here in Barcelona the restaurants and most of the shops were closed for the last few weeks because of pandemic and now they are open back again, so I’m gonna head for some shopping for sure. And then I am taking my boyfriend on a surprise trip because it’s his Birthday next Monday! I am very excited for the upcoming days 🙂
Take care and kisses from Barcelona 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
You are such a pro at home decor, Taralynn! I’ve never cooked a whole turkey before – we don’t have an oven that’s big enough, but I’d like to try one day haha! 😛
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Freschta says
Ohh, I am so looking forward to your Vlogmas this year!
I would enjoy “A day in my life” video or some kind of routine-video. But I’ll be happy with anything!
Yes, I’m very much in the christmas mood and spirit! In the evenings, my fiance and I are watching christmas movies on netflix and we’ve started to decorate our place for christmas. I want everything to feel cozy and warm and I’m looking forward to being inspired by your decorations as well (hence, I hope you share pictures – or a video? – of your beautiful home during holiday season 🙂 )
Good luck with your turkey! 🙂
– Freschta
https://piecesofmyphdlife.com/
Jessie says
I will be making those protein ball , yum
1. I have made a turkey before its really easy just think of it as a bigger chicken
2. Nope not in the spirit at all this year
3. Hope to see lots of your great recipes
Sarah says
Hi Taralynn! I did something with tea this week i thought you’d love! I saw on tiktok where a lady cut up some lemon slices and fresh ginger, then covered it with honey and set it in the fridge. when she’d make tea, she’d pick a lemon and a piece of ginger to put in her mug. I’ve been doing this and i absolutely love it! she also would put a redhot and lemon drop in her mug, which i haven’t tried yet. Just thought it seemed like something you’d like too!
Dana says
I got into the holiday spirit early when I watched Dash & Lily (it’s so good!). A little off topic but I know you love salads and I found a great dressing at Harris Teeter today, OH Dang! Brand red pepper hummus, made my simple side salad taste like it came from a restaurant.
Autumn says
I know the feeling with taking your doggos to get their teeth cleaned 🙁 it breaks my heart leaving them there for so long AND being put under anesthesia! Luckily it is only once a year!
I have never cooked a turkey before but I have decided that next year will be the year! lol.
And girl, I have been in the holiday spirit since 12:01 November 1st haha