Greetings on this last day of October! I started this post before church this morning, but I wanted to get a run in, and it took me longer than usual to get ready for some reason, so I never got back to it.

It’s been a weird weather day here —  cloudy, then sunny, then sunny and rainy (yes, at the same time) and now it’s dry and the sun keeps going in and out. Very strange, but I suppose appropriate for Halloween.

Speaking of which, Halloween is definitely different now, with older kids. D went to a Halloween party with friends on Friday night, and R has plans with friends tonight. I will drive her over and hopefully get a few pictures.

And I’m pretty sure C said there was a Halloween party for her dorm or something, and she has plans to dress up, but I can’t remember the details.

Paul and I have no plans other than to answer the door if anyone comes around. We don’t get a lot of trick-or-treaters here because most of the kids in our neighborhood are older and the houses are spaced pretty far apart. The ones who do come around are usually younger kids being driven by their parents, and I don’t know them because we’ve only lived here for a few years, but I still like to participate.

As usual, I waited till the last minute to stock up. I stopped at CVS on the way home from church and picked out an assortment of granola bars, candy bars, bags of chips, fruit snacks, and gum. I came home and arranged it all in a pretty basket. (I have more chips as backup, but they’re so big, I just put one of each in the basket.)

When I showed the kids the fruit of my labor, they were not as impressed as I had hoped.

D was like, What is THAT???

Me: It’s Halloween! I was trying to be creative.

Him: Yeah, that’s the mom everyone makes fun of. Kids just want candy.

Me: Hmph. Well, I have candy. I just have other options too…

R’s response was less judgmental, but equally dubious: The only trick-or-treaters we get are little kids, and they just want lollipops and stuff. 

Wow, tough crowd! Anyway, I’m pretty proud of my basket, considering the limited inventory I had to work with. And whatever they don’t take, we will eat, so nothing will go to waste.

In other news, yesterday was R’s last cavalcade of the season so Paul and I drove out to Lancaster County to see the marching band perform this year’s show for the last time. It was amazing to see how far they’ve come with it.

While I enjoy the football games, the cavalcades are extra fun because everyone there is there for the bands, and the kids from the other schools all support each other. It’s really cool to see.

Even though marching band season is over, her schedule isn’t lightening up. She’s doing indoor drumline again this year, and she also auditioned and earned a place in the jazz band. Practices for both start this week.

It’s a lot of driving for Paul and me, but this is pretty much our last year for it because she will get her driver’s license in the spring. After that, she’ll be able to transport herself, and we’re really going to feel empty nested. But I’m not going to think about that right now.

Right now what I need to focus on is getting my posts prepped and ready for the week, Once Halloween is over, it’s really crunch time for the blog. I’m gearing up for a very busy November.

I always get a lot more brand collaborations during the last few months of the year because companies save a large portion of their budget for Q4, and of course holiday season is important for them.

All that to say, you will be seeing a lot of sponsored posts over the next few weeks, but please know that I select each sponsor carefully, and I put every bit as much time and effort into creating sponsored content as I do any of my other posts. I also turn down a lot of offers that aren’t a good fit.

The sponsors I’m partnering with this season are all ones I’m really excited to represent and work with, and I think you’re going to like them too.

With all that said, I need to get working on tomorrow’s post! I’m rounding up some Thanksgiving outfit inspo. I hope you enjoy the rest of your Sunday!