Hello friends! Happy Friday and Happy Halloween weekend!
First of all, my apologies for ghosting 👻 It’s been a few weeks since I last sent out this newsletter — life seems to have gotten a lot busier lately, and on top of that we’re preparing to travel for some long stays with our immediate families as the holiday season approaches.
Speaking of, I’m definitely getting excited for some of the days to come. I’m thankful for all the festivity and love and, let’s be honest, goooood food that comes with the holiday season. Of course, the black cloud of 2020 still hovers over everything, but I’m trying to stay focused on all the wonderful things about the season that won’t have to be different. I’m planning some hopefully delicious new winter recipes to share here, along with some thoughtful and thorough gift guides, plus a few other things to inspire some mindfulness in the midst of the chaos of the holidays.
For now, I hope everyone has something fun or relaxing and maybe a little bit spooky in store for this weekend, even if more low key than in pre-pandemic times. Avu and I are continuing our Halloween costume tradition into its 8th year, with some help from our pups too. I’m planning to sip a lot of mulled cider (recipe for that coming soon), hopefully watch a scary movie or two (while digging into a bag of candy), and maybe attempt to carve a pumpkin, mostly to roast the seeds afterwards!
Keep scrolling for this week’s food for thought… if you dare… 🎃
Some things to chew on…
- Holy cow — we’re four days away from election day. It’s safe to say everyone probably has some kind of feelings about it. I know for me, I’m most anxious about the idea that we might not know the true results until several days (or weeks?) after election night. One useful way I’ll be keeping up with things is with this state-by-state breakdown of when you can expect results all over the country, from the New York Times. I’m casting my ballot tomorrow and I’m right there with you as we look ahead to what next Tuesday brings. P.S. — I may also be soothing myself with one or many dishes of this list of Martha Stewart’s most delicious comfort food recipes on election night.
- I wrote part of this newsletter while sitting on a plane from Seattle to Dallas (masked up, in my own row and using lots of hand sanitizer). It got me thinking a lot about the upcoming holiday season, which is always the busiest travel time of the year. I wonder how different things will look this year, and I can’t help but feel for so many people who have tough decisions to make about how and when to spend quality time with their loved ones while trying to stay safe (and protect others). I don’t have all the answers, but I have found that there are some great resources out there to help you stay informed about your risks, and the practical steps you can take to mitigate those risks. Like this all-in-one guide to staying healthy while traveling during the pandemic from travel magazine Afar. It contains a full slate of articles covering everything from planes, trains and automobiles, to hotels and homestays, to the packing tips and gear you need to travel as safely as possible.
- Just because it’s Halloween and anyone who knows me knows I love a good list… here’s a fun roundup of things to do instead of trick-or-treating this weekend. I also love these fun ideas to safely celebrate Halloween from another blogger I love. A few of my favorites on this list include throwing a haunted game night at home, or setting up your own wine and candy tasting. Or you could just head to the car wash…
Some fun foodie news…
- We’ve got a popcorn problem on our hands people. While a never-ending supply of hot, buttery movie theater popcorn might sound like a dream come true… 2020 is making that a reality for popcorn producers, and it’s kind of a nightmare. With theaters closed around the country for most of the year, popcorn is literally piling up, and producers are desperately seeking out news ways to store their supply, or repackage it to sell directly to consumers at home. So keep your eyes peeled, because your next at home movie marathon could get a sweet snack upgrade.
- This has nothing to do with Halloween… but you could be seeing more and more ghost kitchens popping up near you soon. In this age of fast convenience, delivery demand, and now pandemic protocols… this is shaping up to be the next big trend in dining. Click here to read more.
- Looking ahead to next year… Whole Foods is out with its list of the top food trends we can expect in 2021. Sustainable and superfoods.
And a few treats to leave you with…
- Fun fact for you: Americans have been dressing up for Halloween since the late 1800s, and costume trends have changed a ton over the last century and a half. Check out this fun walk through the history of Halloween dress up trends, and the most popular costumes of the last 150 years.
- If your plans this weekend involve a warm blanket, some candles, and some Netflix, here’s a fun list of the 31 Best Fall Movies. This list is so nostalgic and makes me want to rewatch so many of my old favorites!
- I’ve spent my fair share of time in 2020 daydreaming of far off places I’d love to be visiting. Well, with WindowSwap – you can get the next best thing, a literal peak out of someone else’s window. The website let’s visitors glimpse beautiful and serene sceneries all over the world. I’ve been gazing out a Terrance window in São Paulo, Brazil for the last 20 minutes. 😎
Did you like something in particular from this newsletter? Or did you see a story out there that I should know about? Please reach out and let me know!
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