Week in Review: October 23–29 | This week we held our monthly virtual supper club with a Pie-tastic theme and shared tips for family photo outfits.
Can you believe October is almost over?
Are you ready for Halloween?
We miss the extra excitement when little kids are still at home, and it feels like fewer trick-or-treaters visit our neighborhood each year.
Maybe more families are doing trunk-or-treat events now.
AnnMarie did capture some photos of her college-aged kids all dressed up for weekend parties.
Gavin and his girlfriend Abbey dressed as characters from Peaky Blinders, and Emma and her boyfriend Landon went as Harry Potter characters.
Don’t they look great?
And here’s a little guy all dressed up—Anne’s daughter Olivia and her fiancé had some fun putting a costume on their cat.
Whether you’re taking young children trick-or-treating, watching the neighborhood kids, or just enjoying the costumes at a party, we hope you have a fantastic Halloween.
Even the big kids wearing a jersey and carrying a pillowcase deserve a treat—after all, holding on to a bit of childhood is part of the fun.
AnnMarie’s Week
I spent part of the week catching up after a visit to my dad’s house in New Jersey. I returned on Tuesday and developed a migraine that lasted through Thursday. I’ve been working to identify the triggers—food sensitivities, hormones, or something else—and my doctor prescribed a medication that helped on Wednesday and Thursday. By Friday the headache had finally cleared.
On Saturday, Chris and I drove to Boone for college football and enjoyed a day with some of our favorites. It was great to spend time with our college kids.
Anne’s Week
This week was all about pie for me. I usually enjoy developing new recipes, but this month proved challenging. I initially planned an apple pie but couldn’t get a low-fat crust to work, so I pivoted to a chocolate pie. I wanted it dairy-free and lower in calories, and I spent time experimenting to get the filling firm enough to slice neatly.
Thursday night’s Virginia Tech game felt like a midweek highlight—one of the prettiest fall days, with colorful trees, warm temperatures in the 70s, and a clear sky. The win made it even better.
Since we didn’t attend a game this weekend, I focused on finishing projects in my office—hoping to have it wrapped up soon. Kevin and I went out Saturday to a Halloween-themed event at a local bar with friends and enjoyed the people-watching.
Next week I’ll be pulling out my Christmas tubs, and I’m excited to start decorating.
This Week on Simply2Moms
Our monthly virtual supper club featured on the blog this week, where we shared entertaining ideas and inspiration, plus a new recipe and pro photography tips for family photos.
Anne posted tips for choosing family photo outfits for fall and holiday sessions, including how to pick a color scheme, 13 practical suggestions to look your best, and solutions if family outfits don’t coordinate perfectly.
The supper club theme this month celebrated pies—AnnMarie shared how to host a pie party, a potluck-style gathering where guests sample different pies. These events are popular in the Midwest and make a fun Friendsgiving activity.
Anne developed a Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding Pie recipe that’s keto-friendly, gluten-free, and dairy-free. It took some trial and error to perfect, but the result is rich and delicious.
We also rounded up six favorite fall pie recipes—great choices for Thanksgiving or for hosting a pie-tasting with friends.
More Ideas and Inspiration From Our Friends
Each week we visit favorite blogs and share standout finds. This week we enjoyed a variety of recipes and DIY projects, from salads and breakfast charcuterie to DIY ornaments and home decor ideas.
If you have questions or suggestions, please contact us or leave a comment below.
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