Well hello there and happy Friday! It’s time for another edition of “Friday Five” where I share five things going on in my life lately, no recipes required. ;) 

How are you? No really, HOW ARE YOU?

I feel like I say this every month but how is it October already? We are going to blink and the new year will be here.

Here are 5 things I want to share with you this week….

1. Fall Decor

I have always loved home decor and finding ways to make our space feel cozy and inviting, and I especially love decorating for the seasons. Christmas will always be my favorite, but Fall is a close second. There’s just something about pumpkins that makes me smile.

I haven’t put up the fall decor inside yet, but I did make a trip to the flower shop to get a few pumpkins and plants. Ornamental cabbage and pepper plants bring me an unreasonable amount of joy, as does this tower of pumpkins!

2. Life Lately

The last month has involved:

• weighted vest walks
• pumpkin treats: I’m lookin’ at you Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew at Starbucks!
• backyard catch: Miles is all about football these days!
• fantasy football: I’m trying my hand at fantasy football for the first time! Anyone else?
• fruit flies: 😡

Anyone else dealing with those little fruit flies that have decided your kitchen is their favorites hangout? They seem to multiply overnight, so I finally decided to make a homemade fruit fly trap that actually works and I NEED to share it with you just in case you have the same problem.

1. Add a little apple cider vinegar to a jar or bowl.
2. Add a drop or two of dish soap.
3. Cover with plastic wrap and poke tiny holes all over with a toothpick.
4. Watch the fruit flies immediately gravitate to the trap!

3. Did you know…

If you read my Friday Five from August, you know that hummingbirds brought me all kinds of happiness over the summer. Lately, I’ve been seeing fewer of them which got me wondering — where do hummingbirds go in the winter?

Turns out, those tiny little birds pack their bags and head off on a vacation to southern Mexico and Central America.

The wildest part? Many of them make a non-stop flight across the Gulf of Mexico. Can you even imagine a bird that small flying hundreds of Miles without a break? My mind was blown when I learned this!

4. What I’ve been reading, watching, and listening to…

• Reading: Regretting You by Colleen Hoover (buy on Amazon)
• Listening: The Life of a Showgirl (Taylor Swift’s new album)
• Watching: Dancing with the Stars — there are so many good pairings this season! Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold had a great dance this week, and I also loved Andy Richter’s dance with his partner Emma Slater.
• Oh, and I’m two episodes in to Black Rabbit on Netflix and that’s been good too!

What have you been reading, watching, or listening to lately?

5. What I’m looking forward to…

• Miles’ Bedroom Makeover: Miles was nominated for a bedroom makeover through an incredible organization called Special Spaces that creates dream bedrooms for kids with cancer. He is SO excited for this, as am I! There are so many good people in the World doing amazing things for kids fighting really tough battles.
• Cooler weather: We’ve got record high temps in Chicago right now. I know I’m going to regret saying this in a month or two when it’s cold and snowing, but right now I’m ready for some cooler temps!
• Making this Chicken Noodle Soup

That’s all I’ve got for today! But first, a few questions:

• What’s something that brought you joy this month?
• Did you try any new recipes or meals lately?
• What are you looking forward to?
• Are you reading or watching anything good?

Have a great weekend!

❤️Ashley