We’ve reached the final installment of my favorite October-y things, so here are my final favorite-things to share with you:


    A Movie on my Must-Watch List
Guys, here is a movie that you can watch through the end of year: The Nightmare Before Christmas. This movie follows Jack Skellington, the King of Halloween Town, and his new love for all things Christmasy.  Created by Tim Burton, it is full great characters and amazing images, with music composed by Danny Elfman.  SO GOOD.
Anyway, I’ll start by watching Nightmare now, but I’ll watch it again when December rolls around…at least once.  

    A Taste of Fall
As people have been carving their pumpkins, I’ve been seeing so many people take those seeds from the center and pop them in them in the oven.  Have you ever enjoyed freshly roasted pumpkin seeds?  Y’all, they’re delicious.  A quick Google search will show you so many recipes; however it’s a simple process if you don’t want to be fancy.  
    -Wash and dry the seeds.
    -Toss with oil and salt.
    -Pop them in the oven until they’re crunchy.
Enjoy!

    Autumn Adventures
My autumn adventures have been building to this week: it’s finally time for Halloween.  My post on Thursday shared my love of Halloween, so I don’t need to go through all of that again.  But Saturday is finally the time for costumes and candy.  I’ve been enjoying seeing my dancers in their costumes all week at the studio, and I can’t wait to see the kiddos who will make their way by our house on Saturday.  If your family decides to go Trick-or-Treating this year, please do so safely; practice social distancing and wear a mask.  

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Take a minute to think about why holidays are so special to us.  Yes, they often celebrate an important event, but I’m thinking more about how each of us holds those special days.  They are generally marked by doing something out of the ordinary.  Parties, food, attitudes; all kinds of special celebration.  Halloween is no exception to this idea.  Now, on a typical day, most people (myself included) don’t run around town in a creative costume, hollering BOO at people.  We don’t knock on everyone’s door up and down the street asking them to give us candy.  Nope - doing any of that on a random day would likely get some strange looks.  But on Halloween, we become bolder; more carefree; willing to step out of our typical character and try on something new. 

A few weeks ago, on Ella’s birthday, I let you know about how much I value celebration.  (Check out that post here).  I’m not always on my A-game, but I do love to try.  It’s probably a reason I’ve connected myself to Halloween in recent years; it’s another reason to get to celebrate.  I’m looking forward to celebrating Halloween over six days this week, with every single one of my students at the dance studio. I’ll be dressing up in 3 different costumes over the coming days to celebrate with them.  But preparing to celebrate with them got me thinking:  why do we tell ourselves we need a reason to celebrate?  

Go with me here - this is probably going to sound a little eccentric.  Going off my scenario above, I’d like to propose that we normalize: 
    -Dressing however we’d like, whenever we’d like
    -Saying whatever we need to say
    -Connecting with our neighbors
    -Asking for what we need.

​I know I’m probably putting way too much thought into this and making a mountain out of a molehill.  You may look at that list above and think they are all normal and okay things. And, sure, when we see others do these things, we celebrate them and greet them with messages of love.  But we are far more critical of ourselves, holding ourselves to a standard too harsh to measure others by.  

This week, as you look at the kids dressing up, playing out their imaginations, using their best manners to ask for a treat at the neighbor’s door, take a lesson from them.  And this is not a lesson in how to do Halloween well.  Oh no, this is a lesson in how to do life well.  How to put some whimsy and fun into every day.  How to find your style, find your voice.  And while you’re learning this for yourself, remember to keep that spirit alive in your kiddos.  Never let them lose a reason to celebrate.

​Happy Halloween!

My movie choice for this week is a total throw back.  “Double, Double, Toil and Trouble.” If you’ve never heard of this movie, I’ll forgive you, but you really need to find it and watch it before Halloween, okay?  It stars the Olsen Twins alongside CLORIS LEACHMAN, YOU GUYS!!! Basically, it’s two little girls battling an evil Cloris Leachman, trying to save a good Cloris Leachman from entrapment in a mirror.  It’s equal parts ridiculous and amazing.  Never a bad choice for a Halloween favorite!

A Taste of Fall
The great debate - pumpkin pie or pecan pie.  I know all things pumpkin are a staple for the fall (after all, I did tell you about the Pumpkin Spice Chai last week).  However, when it comes to pie, I am team #pecanpie all the way.  Nothing against pumpkin pie, but I will choose pecan every time. 

I get to dance with one of those girls impacted by Rett every week.  I have watched her learn and grow for the past several years, and it is amazing to see all of the things she’s able to do, despite the odds against her.  Even if there is something her body is struggling to do, her yes sparkle with possibility.  She is even the sole proprietor of her own business, ​Edgy Meg’s. 

And that’s where the Autumn Adventure comes in…I’d like to encourage you to check out Edgy Meg’s.  That shop is full of vintage and homemade items and they even do custom work.

Oh, and one more adventure for you - Friday, October 30 is the day to wear purple for Rett syndrome Awareness.  So, be sure to wear purple that day and flood your social media with purple

Enjoy your autumn adventures, friends!

Do you have any dreams that scare you?  About five years ago, I shared this quote on my Facebook page, and I think about it often:

“If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.”

Before I’d ever heard the above phrase, I instinctively used my fear to gauge my dreams.  If I got something in my head that made my heart race, it definitely held my attention.  That idea would get all of my focus, and I’d spend the next several days sketching things out, crafting vision boards, and figuring out if I had enough money to make it happen.  If I’m being honest with myself, it was all probably a product of my anxiety.  But if I could process all of that, albeit terrified, but still conclude that it was a good idea, then I’d run with it. 

I remember when just the act of owning the studio and getting it off the ground was the big, scary dream.  There were so many things to consider - renting a space, music licensing, curriculum and lesson plans, costumes, actually making enough money to pay the bills. Now I’m setting goals that I never would have dared consider fifteen years ago - enrollment targets, upgrades, and full time staff, just to name a few.
​

Music is my second language.  It has a way of describing my thoughts and feelings better than words alone.  Music has helped me to process a lot of hard things; celebration, loss, success, disappointment, loneliness, opportunity, silliness.  There are specific songs that connect to so many moments throughout my life.

I have a vivid memory of riding in the front seat of my dad’s silver Blazer, my feet dangling over the edge, bopping to “Secret Agent Man” by Johnny Rivers.  I can still feel the itchiness of our sequin-covered blue biketards for our jazz dance to “We Are Family” by the Pointer Sisters in the 4th grade at Denise’s Dance Studio.  Kesha’s “Tik Tok” takes me to Saturday nights in college, and the entire library of Matchbox 20 will forever make me think of my best friends from high school and every road trip we’ve taken over the past 20 years.  

There’s a song that came out the year I was born that I never really listened to until I was an adult.  It’s by John Mellencamp, and he’s had plenty of hits that I’d think would hit people right in the nostalgia.  But the song I’m thinking of is “Small Town.” Take a listen to it here.

If you’re like me and are probably in a public place and won’t take the time to click that link right now, here are some of the lyrics:

Well I was born in a small town
And I live in a small town
Probably die in a small town
Oh, those small communities
…
No I cannot forget where it is that I come from
I cannot forget the people who love me
Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town
And people let me be just what I want to be

Oof. This song gets me right in the feels.  I decided I needed to share a love song to the small town with you; specifically my small town.  Now, if you had told this dreamer 20 years ago that I’d live and work in my hometown,  I would have thought you were out of your mind.  I was certain that, as an artist, I was destined to live far from here — New York, Chicago…anywhere but here.  My parents were pretty convinced of that, too, I think.  It broke my mother’s heart, and I think my dad was just concerned that I was going to starve and be homeless.  

The way things turned out, I’m 17 years past high school and nowhere near a coast.  In fact, I didn’t stray far from my roots at all - my family is making their home in my grandmother’s house, where I’ve been making memories for three decades.  The people I see every day are mostly people I’ve known since childhood.  I attend the same church my dad grew up in, and that I sang my first solo in.  My daughter has grown up in the same school I learned in, and some of the same folks still work in the same businesses I visited when I was small. 
​
So often, people look at small town life as stifling.  Everyone knows everyone; opportunities are limited.  Where is the nearest Target?  There aren’t any stoplights - what?!  I remember having those exact thoughts as a young person.  Let me flip that narrative, please.

Everyone knows everyone?  Yep.  There are plenty of people to reminisce with.  You can see people grow and change and have a positive impact on the world around them.  There is a tribe of people to keep an eye on your daughter when she’s walking down the street.
Opportunities are limited?  Opportunities abound.  Even as an artist in an ag-centric community, my creativity serves me so well.  I am able to provide a fresh perspective with a fresh set of experiences.  
Target?  I can be to Target in an hour.  And the time it takes me to drive there is enough to listen to a favorite podcast episode or a chapter of my latest audiobook listen.  Also, we ALL have spending problems in Target, so think about the money I’ve saved by not living local to one!
Stoplights?  I mean, here’s a cute bit a trivia — there isn’t even a stop light in our entire county.  But does it actually matter?  Nope.

Living in my sweet small town has so many blessings.  Because we live so close to my parents, my daughter has such a close relationship with her grandma (just like I did).  Just about everywhere is within walking distance - the grocery store, the library, the studio…the coffee shop.  I get to be involved in many areas of the community, from our annual town celebration to the fine arts boosters at the school.  The tellers at the bank know me by name and greet me with a smile.  Some of my dancers are the kiddos of people I used to dance with when I was young.  And when I see those dancers at the grocery store, I hear a loud, “Hi Miss Miranda!” And, pre-Covid, that was generally paired with a big hug.  

I have friends and family that live all over the world. I am one of the few who chose to embrace the small town life - and we’re all making the best choices for our families, careers, and dreams.  But I am so happy with this life I get to live in Edgewood.  Whether you’re from my small town or not, I hope you’re a part of a community where you feel completely at home.  Where you have people you can count on to help you in a tough time.  With people who help you take care of your kids.  Who will bring a crock-pot full of soup over in the middle of a hard season.  Who will support your dreams no matter how crazy and help you make them happen.

Let’s revisit the lyrics of Mr. Mellencamp to close us out:

No I cannot forget where it is that I come from
I cannot forget the people who love me
Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town
And people let me be just what I want to be

​Live your best life, friends, no matter where you call home.​

Mondays are generally a longer-post day, but #life.  So today, enjoy the second installment of the Best of October, and look forward to Thursday’s post.

    A Movie on my Must-Watch List
It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

I know lots of people love Snoopy and the Peanuts characters, but for me, it’s a Bushaw thing.  I remember my grandmother having stuffed animals, books, and newspaper clippings of Snoopy and his friends throughout the house, for all occasions and seasons.  And even though she had every Charlie Brown special recorded on VHS tape, she would always, ALWAYS watch the specials when they aired.  It was before the days of DVR and streaming, friends, so Grandma would look up the time in the tv listings in the Sunday paper and make sure she noted the day and time.  And, I don’t know, I guess that ingrained this tradition in me.  Watching Linus wait with such hope and expectation for the coming of the Great Pumpkin will always make my heart happy.  It’s expected to air on ABC again this October; unfortunately, it’s not available to stream on any platforms.

    A Taste of Fall
This is short and sweet today:  Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte.  The flavors go together perfectly.  It’s still warm enough in Iowa that you could enjoy it iced, or get it hot, put on your boots and head out on an adventure. 
(And yes, Marge at Pie Eyed can hook you up with this.)

    Autumn Adventures
Oh my - did you check out the amazing Iowa weather this weekend?  If there were an example of absolute perfection, this was it.  The leaves were perfect for a drive through the country.  Every fall I just marvel at the beauty around me.  And you know what is the most beautiful thing about it?  It’s an object lesson on the beauty of aging.  Everything around us is aging and passing on, and we celebrate it and enjoy it!  A sweet lesson to remember. 
    
What was your autumn adventure this weekend?  Let me know

I promised to share my favorite October-y things, so here you go!  My lists will be eclectic, but always full of goodness! 

    A Movie on my Must-Watch List
I won’t lie to you - I’ve already watched Hocus Pocus twice. I’ll start with the cast: Bette Midler, SJP, Kathy Najimy, Garry and Penny Marshall, a young Thora Birch.  Add in a zombie, a talking cat, stunning costumes, and the creepiest book you’ve ever seen — this movie is perfection.  I will likely watch it ten more times before the month is over.  I’ll keep you posted on my watch count.

     A Taste of Fall
Cafe Rose in Edgewood never disappoints.  Her fall fare is always exceptional, and this past Monday she had Turkey-Pumpkin Chili.  Y’all…fall in a bowl.  It was warm and cozy, with just the right amount of spices and heat.  Keep an eye out for when she has it again and get a bowl — you won’t regret it.

Autumn Adventures
I know there are a lot of great pumpkin patches in the area, and that they’re whole experiences with corn mazes, warm cider, and photo ops.  I’ll be honest - I’ve only seen them in pictures.  My heart belongs to Thurn’s Pumpkins just outside of Edgewood.  It’s a simple set up on a gravel road with a garage full of pumpkins and gourds.  I remember going out there as a kid with my dad, and I look forward to taking Ella there year after year.  Such a special place to me!

What's on YOUR best of October list?  

Keep Dreaming -

​October has finally arrived.  I love fall.  It’s always a toss up for me which is my favorite: the fresh, new growth of Spring or the crisp, cool air of an Autumn day.  Of course, now that it’s here, I’m deciding for the moment that fall is best.  

I love so many things about the arrival of October.  Cooler weather.  Transitioning from cold brew to warm lattes.  ALL of the fall decor.  Pumpkins and squash.  Oh, squash soup and stuffed squash at Café Rosé.  Fun movies and tales, specifically Hocus Pocus, The Great Pumpkin, and The Nightmare Before Christmas (which will stay relevant through the Christmas season, of course).  

Can I tell you what I’m really NOT loving right now?  Election season.  (Yep, I went there.) We are currently four weeks from America’s decision of its next president, and I am currently being inundated with political ads in all forms, unsolicited text messages, and an overwhelming amount of yard signs.  I am getting really, really, worn out.  Not because I don’t like politics — I actually really love politics.  But I’ve already made my decision of who I plan to vote for, and so, to me, it feels like overkill.
​I’m going to make the assumption that you, too, have already made up your mind about who you’re going to vote for in November.  I’m not coming at you to debate the who (because, like I said, I’m certain you’ve already made up your mind).  However, we as a society really need to talk about the how.  Dear people, some of you are simply cranky and/or unkind.  Don’t get it twisted: it is really important to know what you believe in and to defend your principles ardently.  It is okay to feel frustrated when things aren’t going the way you had hoped.  However, I’d like to give you a list of things that are not acceptable or okay:
    -assuming someone is mentally ill because they believe differently (and telling them as much)
    -threats to a person’s health or safety
    -lying to support your narrative

This list is not exhaustive; these are just things I’ve seen in the past twenty-four hours.  Twenty. Four. Hours.

Can I tell you something I’ve always found remarkable?  In the New Testament, the book of John, chapter four, Jesus talked to a woman at a well in Sychar in the middle of the day while traveling through Samaria.  I am no Bible scholar, but I have learned that this was not commonplace and it would have been SUPER frowned upon for them to be talking.  Jesus, being God, knew everything about this woman; He knew her entire story; He knew the way she lived her life.  He knew they were nothing alike.  But still, he talked to her and cared for her.  When was the last time you knowingly engaged with a person who thinks so differently from you, and you kept the conversation civil, remaining friendly?  (I hope you can actually answer with a positive experience.)

So, here’s our goal for October:  Care for one another.  Be kind to one another.  Let people enjoy their pumpkin spice lattes and Halloween movies every day.  Engage in civil discourse with those around you.  Don’t lie, or spread stories you haven’t fact checked.  Don’t wish evil on others.  Just. Be. Kind. 

Okay?  Okay.

    Something new I’ve learned this past week
I guess this isn’t something new I’ve learned, but it was something I was reminded of…It is so so good to be back in the studio with my dancers.  I’ve missed their energy, their smiles, their stories.  From the preschoolers to the high schoolers, they bring such beauty into my life! I’m so thankful to be back with them!

    Something amazing I’ve consumed (be it food, book, tv show, song, etc…)
My in-laws went to Gays Mills this week and brought back APPLE CIDER DOUGHNUTS for us.  Of all of the fall treats you can have, these are my absolute favorite.  What’s your favorite fall treat?

    A Good Word to encourage you.
Joshua 1:9 — Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
I know there are so many things that are hard and discouraging in this world right now. 
I am so encouraged by this verse.  God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous as he embarked upon a hard thing (read about it in the book of Joshua).  We’re not promised an easy road, but God promises us He will go with us.  

Starting next week, we’re going to take a pause from the Three Things on a Thursday.  Instead, I’ll be highlighting some of my favorite October happenings.  Stay tuned!