What's Up Wednesday

Happy hump day!  Today, I am linking up with Shay for my third "What's Up Wednesday," which consists of answering the following questions, plus the bonus question, "What's your favorite Thanksgiving recipe?"

1. What We're Eating This Week
I usually stick to Greek yogurt with fruit and granola for breakfast, but lately, I've been eating more carb-y breakfasts. It might be the cold weather when I wake up in the mornings. This past week, I made pumpkin pancakes (made using Trader Joe's pumpkin pancake mix), French toast with bananas (made using cinnamon raisin Ezekiel bread), scrambled eggs, etc.

I've also discovered Shishito peppers. I'd never heard of these until I saw a blogger mention she was craving some, and then the following week, I saw them while grocery shopping. They're best prepared simply with some soy sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. My new favorite veggie!

2. What I'm Reminiscing About
My trip to the east coast last year in early November.  Such pretty foliage!

3. What I'm Loving
Finally having some cooler weather, especially in the mornings and evenings.

4. What We've Been Up To
Seeing friends and celebrating birthdays. Two weekends ago, there was a birthday celebration at a place called Tokyo Delves, which is basically "dinner" and a show with the waiters/bartenders lip syncing and dancing to hits from artists such as Michael Jackson and N'Sync.

5. What I'm Dreading
The time change this weekend. I hate leaving work when it's dark out. It makes me feel like the day is already over!  Here's a picture I snapped while on an evening walk on Monday because the moon was so bright, full, and pretty.

6. What I'm Working On
Christmas shopping early!  There are so many great sales this time of year that as I find something I think would make a great gift for someone, I buy it.  This helps me not have to frantically shop for everything in December and spreads out the costs, too.  There's nothing worse than trying to find something last minute only to find out it's sold out or no longer available. 

7. What I'm Excited About
Pumpkin carving and roasting the seeds!  I picked up this kit over the weekend so I can carve some fun designs on my pumpkins this year.  I'll post my finished pumpkins next week.

8. What I'm Watching/Reading
I saw the Steve Jobs movie this past weekend.  The acting was great but the movie ended a bit abruptly.  I had wanted to see more of the successful years of Apple (the movie focused on about 20 years, from the early 80s to the early 2000s, right before Apple hit it big with the iMac).  However, it was still a great movie.  I'm sure some Oscar nominations will follow.

I also started the Steve Jobs biography this week.  So far, it's good.

9. What I'm Listening To
My gym playlist has lots of upbeat, random songs from Taylor Swift, Shawn Mendes, Adam Levine, One Direction (no shame here!), and Imagine Dragons.

10. What I'm Wearing
Right now...these slouchy pants from Banana Republic.  So comfy, yet stylish enough for work.

11. What I'm Doing This Weekend
Carving my pumpkins, roasting the seeds, handing out Halloween candy, and watch Halloween movies like Nightmare Before Christmas and Para-Norman. Here's the Hello Kitty pumpkin I carved one year.

12. What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month
Thanksgiving!!  I always put up my tree the weekend of Thanksgiving.  Here is my tree from last year.

13. What Else is New
These are all over my house.  Yes, I am that crazy pumpkin spice lady. :)

14. What's you favorite Thanksgiving recipe?
My favorite Thanksgiving dish is...turkey!  There's no need for a recipe for that, in my opinion.  Just rub down with oil or butter and sprinkle with lots of spices.  Usually for Thanksgiving, I end up baking something sweet to take for dessert.  This year, I will be attempting to make this chocolate-pistachio fudge tart for dessert.  I saw it on Giada's TV show on the Food Network (I forgot the name of the show-- it's the one where she is vacationing on the Italian coast and cooking).  Doesn't it look great?  I will write a post on it after I (hopefully) successfully make it.

Thanks for stopping by.