Happy Friday Eve all! I LOVED reading all of your FAVORITE FALL things on yesterday’s post. I found myself nodding going ohhhh ya, I LOVE that and that and that. I have to agree it is really one of the BEST times of year because the weather is not too hot or too cold (yup, it’s just right lol) and the color changes in the trees are absolutely beautiful.
The other thing I LOVE…..is how you can visit a TON of stores, like we did today and see all the festive decorations that make you think of Halloween, pumpkins & ghosts, Thanksgiving, FALL and apple season!
I was totally focused on checking off my to-do list this morning so I could spend the afternoon having fun. I honestly didn’t want to stop to make breakfast so I cooked up 2 slices of Trader Joe’s Turkey Bacon for protein and had a banana for staying power (2 points+).
Tracey & and I decided to get together today for some sushi & shopping fun since it is one of our last chances to get together before my new job starts.
We went to Hisui’s Japanese Steakhouse in Vacaville and I had to say, today the food and service was phenomenal!
We started off by sharing Edamame ~ 1/2 cup for 1 points+
Miso soup is STILL amazing even when it’s over 100 degrees outside (2 points+)
Crispy green side salad with that dressing that makes you want to lick the bowl (3 points+)
Joe’s Roll ~ Shrimp, Spicy Tuna & Crab, AVOCADO, Seared Tuna & Albacore, Tobiko
LOVE!!! Would you all believe that I use my ENTIRE ball of wasabi in my soy sauce & sometimes get sriracha on the side?! NEVER spicy enough 
(13 points+)
We definitely earned some activity points today from walking. We shopped from about 1030 am til 400 PM. Once we arrived home, we re-hydrated with fruit bowls, Iced Coconut Coffee from Starbucks (2 points+) and…….
Ghirardelli Intense Dark Sea Salt Soiree!
What makes these awesome aside from the sea salt you can taste along with the chunks of almonds is that you get 1 for 2 points+ or 2 for 3 points+ ~ DEAL!
One of our stops today involved buying Sam’s Club Size spices just so we could make up HUGE quantities of the BEST homemade taco seasoning you will ever make to have on hand.
We took Veggie Terrain’s recipe and made multiplied everything to make up 10 cups of spice (5 cups each, 80 tablespoons ~ 0 points+ and 100% REAL ingredients ~ nothing artificial!
Bulk Taco Seasoning
INGREDIENTS
- 4 1/2 cups Chili Powder
- 2 1/4 cups Cumin
- 1 1/2 cups sea salt
- 3/4 cup black pepper
- 3/4 cup paprika
- 1/3 cup dried oregano flakes
- 1/3 cup onion powder
- 1/3 cup garlic powder
- 1/3 cup crushed red pepper flakes
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Toss to combine mashing up any clumps of seasoning. Store in an air tight container for up to 2 years. I portioned our into big Mason Jars with 1 Tbsp scoopers.
2. Add anywhere you would use tacos or a Mexican seasoning…tacos, soups, bean, dips or combine with ranch for a southwestern dip.
Speaking of FALL…..here are some of the super cute things I found today.
1/2 off basket at Michael’s…..
Just so I could fit these 1/2 off Cinnamon Pine Cones that make your house smell like fall.
SO FREAKIN’ CUTE! $3 each at Target…you put in a battery and they glow!
Plus $3 mini colored lights for around the window…..
1/2 off Happy Halloween Sign at Kohl’s….I LOVE putting something in our big kitchen window…it makes for a fun background with our fence and in pictures
Now all I need are little mini pumpkins and I am all set for next month
Not really FALL. but, I LOVE this colorful bowl set I got at Sam’s Club and each bowl had an air tight lid.
Next up I ran over to the Farmer’s Market with The Husband before coming back for a super simple dinner. More of my SALAD ADDICTION of the week this time with Black Pepper Almond Slices for the sunflower seeds (4 points+)
Plus a big bowl of Butternut Squash Soup with toasted almond slivers (5 points+)
Q’s
What is your favorite decoration for this time of year?
I LOVE our Charlie Brown Christmas Tree and my snowman best, but, I have to admit, I am kinda, sorta, really digging my fun new Halloween finds.
Night all!
I love the ghost and the pumpkin! I’ll have to pick some up! The toddler will get a kick out of them. And I love your colorful mixing bowls. Color in the kitchen makes such a difference (especially things that aren’t usually colorful)!
Last year I picked up a cinnamon-infused broom at TJ’s, and we all loved it. But it did make a huge mess… I like things that smell like fall: pretty candles, infused pine cones, etc.
Well for October my favorite are my vintage halloween decorations and my glass cars with creepy labels! For Nov. its my fall leaves and pumpkins and acorns. Christmas it’s my vintage ball ornaments that were handed down from both my grandparents and a dear neighbor some dating back to the 1930’s. I LOVE this time of year! Say hi to Jay for us!!
I love carving pumpkins and putting them on the front porch. I love being able to bust out my fall “flavored” candles too!
I have a small wire stand that has hooks (I usually use it at Christmas to display ornaments that I don’t have room for on the tree) that I put Halloween ornaments (yep, just like Christmas ones) on it .
How much of the taco seasoning do you use per pound of meat?
Hi Pam,
I use about 3-4 Tablespoons give/take depending on how much spice everyone enjoys. I also tend to add in a little salsa or hot sauce as well.
Danica