Pumpkin Patches, Pizza, Bakery Business Update, and Fall Fun!

I officially have no markets lined up for the rest of the year! I know Christmas and fall are huge times for sales and small businesses, but I wanted to make the best decision for myself and my family. Last year, I felt really sad about missing out on Christmas activities, fall festivals, and fun moments with my son. This year, he’s finally at the age where everything feels magical, and I don’t want to miss a single moment.

I want to be there with him at the pumpkin patches, take him to the zoo, and stop saying no to things like the Polar Express train ride or weekend trips to the mountains.

Last year, I was watching him full-time during the week, working late into the night, and spending my weekends at markets. I felt like I was never fully present with my family because I was always so tired or stressed. I realized things had gone too far when I passed out during family photos last Thanksgiving after pulling a 48-hour shift to make sure all the baked goods were finished and delivered on time.

So this year, I’ve decided to slow down the bakery side (and do it on my own time) to truly focus on being with my family. Life moves so fast, and I know I would regret missing out on these special, joyful years with my son. This also means I get to share more blogs, create more content, and post recipes from markets instead of just sharing photos. And when I feel like picking things up again, I will. Just for now, I’m ready to take a breather.  This was the last photo I took in Europe before we boarded the plane for our 8-hour flight back home! We stopped at a little café in the airport for some fruit and yogurt parfaits, split a turkey sandwich, and filled up on the most delicious hot coffee. Speaking of coffee, ever since the trip, I’ve been limiting myself to one cup a day, and it’s tough! While editing my travel blogs and looking at all the coffee pictures, I’m so tempted to head into the kitchen and pour myself another cup. Why is coffee so good?
The plane ride back was smooth, and this time, I had Kyle with me. I watched movies while working on the blog, and three out of four of them were really good. I watched The Challengers, Parachute, One Life, and Sweet Dreams. I thought The Challengers would be amazing because of the hype, but I didn’t enjoy it. Parachute was really good—realistic, but a bit dark. Sweet Dreams was a funny, lighthearted show, which I needed after watching One Life, the best movie of the trip. I’ve NEVER cried so much from any movie like I did with that one.
 When we landed, we headed straight to the grocery store and then home! I had never been away from my son for that long, and seeing him was the best feeling. He sprinted into my arms, held me so tight, and gave me the sweetest kisses. I’ve been so attached to him ever since I got back. Also, why does no one tell you that one day your child will just wake up and suddenly start having full conversations with you? It’s such a fun experience!
One thing I loved while being in Italy was the simple yet delicious salads with olive oil, black pepper, sea salt, parmesan, and balsamic vinegar. I made sure to pick up all the ingredients so I could recreate them at home and get my salad fix!