November felt full, busy, and a little emotional, so it seems like the perfect time for a life lately November 2025 catch-up. Between holiday prep, hosting Thanksgiving, running races, and squeezing in family time, the month flew by. I still managed to read a few books, try new recipes, test some fun products, and soak up sweet (and sometimes bittersweet) family moments. Here’s a look at what we’ve been reading, eating, watching, and doing lately.
Currently
Avie taking a bit of a nap during Claire’s concert on my dad’s lap.
- Loving- Well I’ve made 4 batches of saltine toffee so far. 1 batch was for Avie’s Friendsgiving at church and the other 3 batches were almost completely eaten at Thanksgiving. It’s safe to say my guests loved it!
- Hoping- I have a 5K on Sunday with Claire and I’m hoping that the weather warms up just a bit for the race.
- Doing- I did as much outdoor running this fall as possible, but I think it’s treadmill time. The roads are way too icy right now after all of our snow.
- Wearing- Give me all the fair isle and layers! I keep reaching for warm pieces lately.
- Seeing- I just finished watching the most recent season of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. It’s the perfect way to unwind and not think for an hour or two!
- Family Update
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- Avie- My baby girl is 8! She had such a fun day by celebrating at the American Girl Doll store in Chicago with lunch, shopping, and a visit to the salon. Molly is still her favorite American Girl so she got a doll for her birthday.
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Girl Scout craft night
- Claire- Claire had a rough month. Unfortunately we had to put our cat down at the beginning of November. He was almost 20 years old. We all took it pretty hard, but Claire really misses him, I think. I’m glad she has her birthday in December to look forward to. She did have a lot of fun at a recent Girl Scout craft night we hosted!
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- Me- A week after my best time in my 8 mile race, I pulled off another best time in a half marathon! I finished at 1:40:12 so of course now I want to break 1:40. Thankfully the plantar fasciitis that plagued me around this time last year seems ok. Special plantar fasciitis inserts and slippers have really helped.
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- Matt- Once again, Matt was the king of Thanksgiving with his delicious smoked turkey. I think I need to get a bigger one next year just so we have more leftovers!
Blonde Squad fun in Chicago for Jill’s birthday
Books I’ve Read
- The Hanging Tree by Irina Shapiro– Nicole goes on a writer’s retreat and becomes entangled in the haunting history of a centuries-old crime that reveals long-buried secrets and unexpected connections to her own life. I loved the historical connection and the creative ending. 4.5/5
- Haunted Ground by Irina Shapiro– Lexi moves into an old estate and uncovers the lingering echoes of a tragic past, forcing her to confront buried secrets that intertwine with her present. While I think there are some historical errors that bothered me, great story of deceit and forgiveness. 4/5
- The Girl Who Left by Jenny Blackhurst– Kathryn returns to her hometown after decades away, where confronting the disappearance of her childhood friend forces her to face buried secrets and the truth she’s long avoided. This was so implausible, from the plot to the way characters acted. 1/5
- Memories of the Lost by Barbara O’Neal– Tillie sees a painting in a gallery setting off events that force her uncover a long-hidden family secret and to confront grief, healing, and the truth about her past. It was fine, I’m not sure what else to say. 3/5
Recipes I’ve Made
- Chicken Mole Tacos– I made these in the slow cooker. By adding pre-made mole sauce and raw chicken, it was much easier. I shredded the chicken about an hour before dinner and let it cook a bit longer. So good.
- Autumn Naan Pizzas– These were our favorite new recipe. I’ve never tried pumpkin in place of sauce. The fall flavors were so good together. We liked adding honey or hot honey on top.
- French Onion Gnocchi Casserole– Matt made this for us. It was delicious! I think I would add some type of protein and maybe spinach in the future so I need less side dishes and to increase the the nutrition.
- Gooey Biscoff Crumb Bars– Oh my deliciousness! I made a double batch of these and they were so good! We can’t get enough cookie butter flavor!
- Swamp Soup– How fun is the name of this?! It was easy to make and quick to put together. The flavors were good, too.
- Creamy Tuscan Shrimp Orzo– I liked this, but would recommend seasoning the shrimp while cooking. It was bland otherwise.
- Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash– Delicious! It can be a bit one-texture so I mixed in some steamed broccoli which helped.
- Creamy Dill Pierogi Soup– The family really enjoyed this. We all love pierogis, but haven’t had them in soup before.
Products I’ve Tried
Mooncat Nail Polish– I’m currently in the middle of trying Mooncat Nail Polish. I ordered 6 bottles and have practicing applying and seeing how it wears. So far it’s much longer wearing than typical polish. I haven’t gotten a week of wear without chips yet, but I think with a bit more practice I’ll get there. Mostly I get small chips on my pointer fingers and thumbs and then I need to remove it so I don’t pick at it. The colors are all so incredible, especially the magnetic polishes. I love the quick drying top coat especially.
November Goals Recap
- Have a date night- Done! We went to a new restaurant.
- Get family photos taken– Done! My father-in-law took some amazing photos for us on our old college campus.
- Make annual appointments- Done! We all have our flu shots and annual appointments done.
- Harvest any basil and rhubarb for freezing- Done!
northern lights in Illinois
December Goals
- List items on poshmark– I cleared out my closet and need to list a few things.
- Schedule zoo lights- With all the craziness of the season I want to do something fun as a family.
- Date night or self-care time- December can be so hectic, I really want to have some down time.
Favorite November Posts
Holiday Gifts for Kids & Teens
