Random goes random

Well, since my husband got to the elliptical first, I guess it is chocolate and typing on the couch for me! 

Did absence make the heart grow fonder? Or did you forget about me completely? Don't don't don't don't you..."cue the distractions" she said as she thrust her fist in the air like Judd Nelson. Let's go now, before even more photos accumulate on my phone. What have I been up to, you may ask...go ahead, ask. Well, I guess November happened with its glorious stuffing and pie that apparently fueled some sort of holiday Tazmanian devil in me. There was much high speed swirling around gathering fall decor up and leaving a trail of red and green in  my wake. I eventually had to seek other means of maintaining my energy levels (aside from the ongoing instagram half moon cookie quest). 

My research showed that if you ask enough questions about the candy on display, you might get some free samples (the husband knowing the owner probably didn't hurt).

It is also a good idea to stop by a friend's house when you know she's been baking. Those Russian tea balls leave a lot of evidence...

 ...apparently there is also a lot of evidence there that points to my car needing some serious vacuuming. I have also decided to rely on Dove for advice. 

This means I will need to eat more chocolate. 

Let's move on to other things I love...

...yes, THIS! I can't wait to try to make my own. (Yes, I will be sure to capture the attempt.)

I can't think of a decent segue for the rest of these, and so the random has officially become...THE RANDOM!!

The price still seemed a little high for me, but I later realized it might have been the best deal ever...

...and absolutely regretted not making the purchase! Fruit cocktail? Soup? Beans? Solid pack pumpkin? We'll never know...unless of course nobody has bought it by the next time I go back.

Another shopping find that I was able to pass up...

 "Magically poops slime"?!?!?! There is nothing magical about that. Over $60 for Poopsie? Madness.

It took a village to put up my village this year (which I believe was to be a post all on its own), and then my mother and I invaded my aunt's town! There is some back story for this particular vignette...

That poor guy lost his ladder, dropped his lantern and now wonders just how long he spent in the Brew House as he stumbled over what seems like a freakishly small evergreen.

It's always tricky for me to break back onto the scene here after an absence, and quality control typically goes right out the window in the interest of being able to just hit "post"...