Guys, it’s my last post of 2025!

There’s a lot to cover so, I’ll keep the chatter to a minimum.  That said, let’s get right into it and take it back to September.

September Highlights

Thornton Winery

We were long overdue for an outing so, we deemed it an excuse to get out and ended up spending the afternoon in Temecula Valley Wine Country.  While we’ve been to the area many times before, we had never visited Thornton Winery.  The ambiance was amazing, and it was a great place to spend a few hours.  

Speaking of which, is there anything better than lounging and enjoying great views?

Well, yes! Add in eating to the mix, of course! For lunch, I ordered their hamburger with sweet potato fries and enjoyed every bite.  

People You Meet on Vacation

I finally finished reading People You Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry and loved it! It’s your classic friends to lover’s storyline and I am so sad it’s over.  A big part of it was because I fell in love with both the main characters, Alex and Poppy.  Not only couldn’t I get enough of their witty banter but they were both relatable and likeable.  In fact, even though they were complete opposites, their chemistry was undeniable.  If you are looking for something fun and light to read, give this one a try.  

Peltzer Pumpkin Farm

I can’t have a collection of fall highlights without including our first pumpkin patch trip of the season at Peltzer in Temecula.  While it was a lot smaller than some of the pumpkin patches we’ve been to in years past, it was still a cute place to go to and visit.  

October Highlights

Color Belt Promotion

Just a few days later, our focus switched over to my son’s color belt promotion testing, and I am happy to report, he achieved getting his red belt! #proudmamamoment

Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm

For our second pumpkin patch visit of the season, we ventured off to Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm in Redlands, CA.  We spent the whole morning soaking up all the fall things and managed to make some amazing memories.  In fact, it’s hard not to.  They had acres of different varieties of pumpkins, along with fun activities like a petting zoo, corn mazes, and hay forts, as well as rides like the dragon coaster, bee train, pumpkin blaster, and so much more.  And if that wasn’t enough, they had plenty of scenic views and backgrounds all around their property which should be no surprise, I took advantage of! Per usual, more photos and details to come.

We capped off the trip with lunch at The Hive, and yes, it involved hamburgers! #welikewhatwelike 

Killing Moon by Jo Nesbo

I was longing for a mystery whodunit thriller to read.  So, for the month of October, I picked up Killing Moon by Jo Nesbo at the library.  While it is a lengthy novel – almost 500 pages, it is fast-paced.  There were layers of twists and turns sprinkled throughout the book that keep you on your toes.  As such, it’s hard to put down and I read it every chance I got. It also includes some science involving parasitology which I found interesting.  Highly recommend!

Dark in the Park

We hit up our local town square the weekend before Halloween to attend their 3^rd Annual Trunk or Treat event and it was a fun and festive outing! Unfortunately, the hubby was stuck in traffic trying to get home.  So, it was a bummer that we weren’t able to wear our costumes together as I had to play photographer.  But, we enjoyed going from trunk to trunk and seeing everyone’s décor/costume.  

Halloween Costume 2025

Speaking of, here’s our Halloween Costume this year.  As per usual, I have my annual post is coming soon with all the details, but in the meantime, any guesses as to where we got the idea from? 

November Highlights

San Jose Trip

At the beginning of November, my son and I flew back to San Jose to visit my parents for the long weekend.

And, as with any of our get togethers, it included eating…

…and shopping!

Grandma

On November 16^th at 11:20 pm, my grandma passed away. I’ll talk more about it when I am ready, but it just hasn’t felt right. #heartbroken

Taekwondo Championship

The following weekend, we were up bright and early for my son’s first Taekwondo championship tournament. The competition involved four events, and he did very well.

Afterward, we ate lunch and had an indulgent meal of Mediterranean nachos, honey & pepperoni flatbread, and hamburgers. #yumyumyum

Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler

Anne Tyler wrote Vinegar Girl for the Hogarth Shakespeare project, and it is based on the Taming of the Shrew. Though it is a very short book and a quick read, I admit I just wasn’t as taken with it as I hoped I would be. I found the plot to be dull and I struggled to connect with the main character. Unlike Katherine Minola, in the original play, the main character in Vinegar Girl did not come as strong willed or feisty. Rather, in my opinion, she seemed like a push over. Overall, this book fell a bit flat to me and is a miss.

Amalfi Cucina Italiana & Black Swan Gondola

We closed out November with my husband’s birthday celebration in Lake San Marcos. To kick off the festivities, we went to Amalfi Cucina Italiana for lunch. The restaurant is beautiful, while the ambiance and service were outstanding! We sat in their outdoor patio, and it was a great spot with amazing views of the lake.

To start, we ordered their calamari. Then, for our main meal, our not so little one got their pepperoni pizza while the hubs went for the fusilli pasta. As for me, I decided on their salmone pistacchio, and it was delicious!

For dessert, they surprised my husband with a complimentary slice of their tiramisu, and wow, it was phenomenal. It’s unlike any tiramisu I’ve ever tasted. Of course, we had to enjoy a second round of dessert…because why not?

Shortly after lunch, we made our way to Black Swan Gondola for a sunset cruise. This was a surprise gift for my husband, and I am happy to report he liked it! The ride takes you around the lake and lasted about an hour. It felt so peaceful, and we had an amazing time.

Of course, to add to the whole experience, our son and I added a personalized message in a bottle, which made the whole experience even more memorable.

That said, I would highly recommend Amalfi Cucina Italiana and Black Swan Gondola for a special occasion or just because you want to do something unique.

December Highlights

Color Run Fundraiser

And that brings us to the first Friday of December where I attended my son’s school color run fundraiser. He ran like his life depended on it, and earned every dollar donated! #waytogo

Donuts with Santa

The next day, we headed downtown for donuts with Santa…

…and a fun photo op. It was such a festive way to kick start our Saturday!

Festival of Trees & Tree Lighting

Speaking of which, later, we went back to attend the annual Festival of Trees & Tree Lighting. There was food, live music, and oh so many beautiful Christmas trees.

My favorite was this one. I love coffee and this just resonated with me.

Naturally, there was also a selfie involved!

ECE Units

One of my work goals is to attain my associate teacher permit. In order to do that, I need to complete 12 semester units of early childhood education or child development course work. So, when registration opened for spring 2026 at one of our local colleges, I signed up.

My Birthday

Then just like that, I turned another year older, and here’s how I spent the day…

…with a cup of cappuccino and some light bites at Havana Kitchen in Old Town Temecula.

Followed by a visit to Europa Village for some ambiance. My son and I coordinated outfits for my special day, and I wanted us to parade around in it. A birthday celebration is always a good excuse to do just that, and Europa Village definitely didn’t disappoint.

Of course, once I was done with my shenanigans or nonsense as the hubs call it, it was time for some yummy Thai iced tea and food.

And, that’s a wrap!

We covered a lot of ground here, so if you’ve made it this far, way to go! #youarethebest

But before I go, I want to mention that we are officially on winter break around this neck of the woods, and that means I am taking a break from posting to soak in all the holiday cheer and everything that comes with it, including the slowness and lazy days spent cozying up with my favorite people. That said, I will be back here in blog world ready to rock in February. I have so much fun content up my sleeve for you so, #staytuned. In the meantime, I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and wonderful 2026!

*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.  If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no additional cost to you).  

**Additionally, some items linked above are not the exact item shown because it is either old or sold out, but I linked similar items for those that are unavailable.