Can you believe it is already time for our dash of sparkle newsletter again?! October was pretty uneventful for us, but it turned out to be exactly what we needed.
This is going to be a pretty short and sweet newsletter, but those are nice sometimes, right?

So what did we do… I did say it was an uneventful month, but we actually managed to get quite a lot done.
What we did in October

On Thanksgiving weekend we took a short weekend trip out to my family's cabin. We had a perfect weekend with my parents and my brother. We ate delicious food, hiked, and the guys golfed as much as we would let them.

Then pretty much as soon as we got back from that weekend we buckled down and did a full overhaul of our finances. This year has brought so many ups and downs for us and every “plan” we managed to put in place always got flipped on its head half a month in.
One major thing we knew we needed to do was get two vehicles again.
We have been a single vehicle household since 2016(!!!). Mostly, that decision was made at that time because we worked in the same building, the same hours, and we were always together.
Then in April, when I got temporarily laid off I was basically stuck at home for 5 months straight. Granted, even if I had a vehicle at my disposal during the day I would have had nowhere to go… You know global pandemic and all…
I could have used the vehicle that we did have, but I would have to drive Eddie to work in the mornings and pick him up later. It was just a waste of time and gas, so I opted to stay home, basically all the time.
Anyways, we made the decision that it was time to get two vehicles.
So, we got rid of the vehicle that we had, and got two new vehicles!
A full size pickup truck and a small SUV.
They’re perfect for us, and we both love the vehicles.
Bernie
Bernie… getting his own section of the newsletter now…

If you missed last month, WE GOT A PUPPY! You can read the full story here.
Most of our downtime is now fully consumed by all things puppy.
Training the puppy, making sure the puppy isn't eating everything (he usually is), and so so many walks.
So far we have loved being Bernie's parents! He is a quick learner (especially if there is food on the line), and a not so great listener. He likes to do what he wants to do and trying to change his mind is sometimes pretty impossible.
I feel like everyday we learn something new and so does he, so we're getting there right?
I share a TON of puppy content over on my Instagram stories, make sure you follow us over there to see all the mischief Bernie gets into.
What’s new on the Blog
Pumpkin Pie (from scratch)
This pumpkin pie is made with a real sugar pumpkin and it is so dang delicious!
Sun-Dried Tomato and Roasted Garlic Baked Brie
This was one of the first recipes I ever posted back in 2018! I didn’t change the recipe at all, just cleaned up the post and snapped some new photos. But if you haven't tried it yet, what are you waiting for? It is so easy and perfect for any gathering!
Cabbage Buns
We had the opportunity to work with Life’s Simple Ingredient on their campaign that focuses on bringing wheat back into your kitchens! This was the recipe that I chose for the campaign and I thought it was just perfect!

Anyways, thanks for hanging out, reading about my month, and thanks for being here! We truly appreciate and love the support that we get from each and every one of you!
To get a hold of us, you can shoot us an email or leave a comment down below! We can also be found on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.
xo, Jessica
mtrinhtrieuan says
the dog so cute