October Movie List

It is almost October, there is a nip in the air and the trees are starting to change their leaves. It is time for pumpkin everything, warm cozy sweaters, hot chocolate, ideas for Halloween costumes, crock pot meals and evenings at home watching all our favorite before Halloween movies. I have such a long list of favorites that it takes me the entire month and I usually don't make it through the whole thing every year. Some of these are old family favorites and others are a bit more mature. Grab a warm blanket, a cup of something warm and the remote.

 

End of Summer Movies

I’ve seen many movies lately, Pete’s Dragon, Bad Moms, Suicide Squad, Sausage Party, Ben Hur, War Dogs, Sully and Snowden. None of these were fantastic or held my attention and none of them made me want to run right out and write about them. 

In fact Sausage Party was horrendous and I am embarrassed to say I saw it. I actually detested it. 

War Dogs was boring – so boring I wanted to bang my head against the seat in front of me. It was literally a wasted two hours of my life that I can never get back. A friend of mine thought it was good but he enjoys real life stories and I prefer to be entertained. 

Pete’s Dragon would be great for kids but it was a little slow for me. The main actress is the woman who also played in the latest Jurassic Park movie and she did a much better job this time around. 

All through Suicide Squad I was thinking why is it that the woman has to dress like that. Her feet must be killing her and she must be frozen solid because they would have either had to make the set warm for her or regular temperature for everyone else who were fully clothed and even wearing jackets. This distracted me from the actual story line. 

Bad Moms was amusing, more so because I watched it in a sold out theater and hearing everyone around you laugh makes you laugh as well. It’s not a movie I would want to take my kid to or run right out and buy but I did get a laugh out of it. 

Last night I saw Sully, it was fine, more like a documentary than having any entertainment value. I was not their target audience for sure but I went with a friend because she wanted to see it, and I’m glad I saw it but as I said before, it was a little dull. The theater was sold out but it was a sea of white hair. I swear I was the youngest person there with the exception of one young boy who went with his mother. 

I’m waiting for something good – something really good and sadly these are not them.

London Fog Trench Coat

This super cute London Fog Trench Coat was in an email I received alerting me to the fact that it was on sale.

I liked the jacket but not enough to spend that much money, as it isn't a staple or classic color. I thought it would be cute with jeans and black boots to run to the movies or the mall. Or I could wear it with a little black dress to dinner out or church. I could also wear it with black dress pants and a white blouse to work. It doesn't go with everything but it is a nice change from the everyday classics.

Then I found this one at the local thrift store for under $10! 

It's not double breasted but it is very similar and of a very good quality. You have to love those thrift stores!! Go out and find your own treasure.

Thrifty Plaid, Cozy Sweaters & Vests for Fall

I’m loving this plaid trend that has been happening over the past few years. Being from the country and loving nature I’ve always been drawn to plaid and now it is available everywhere. With the weather turning cool and the sun setting earlier and earlier I felt like pulling out the cozy clothes. It’s time to get ready for bonfires, walks in the fallen leaves, corn mazes, and pumpkin everything and these clothes are perfect for all of those things.

Almost all of the following pictures are of clothes I found in local thrift stores. Most of the scarves only cost $1.25. Hope you find some fall inspiration from these and hit your local thrift store for some bargains.

First is this pink vest which I couldn't leave in the store. It's not as versatile as the others but it does give you a pop of color.

I think I will pair this one with a plain gray scarf and matching boots.

Here is the same vest with a cozy white sweater - great for wearing to the theater on a cold evening out.

And here it is again with a cozy plaid scarf.

And another plaid scarf!

How about with a denim shirt underneath.

Next we have a reversible vest, red on one side, black on the other, two vests for the price of one. This would be a great item to take if you were going on a fall trip, say around the Cabot Trail.

This scarf came from Winners, it's the only one I bought that wasn't thrifted.

No plaid here, but a cozy sweater underneath.

Add a colorful scarf and you have a whole new look.

How about a denim shirt and a red plaid scarf. I will wear the red and black vests with black boots.

Here it is with some plaid shirts.

And some plaid scarfs.

Here is a green vest which comes with a removable hood. I sometimes wear this with a wheat colored sweater as well. I'm still looking for a plaid scarf or shirt that will go with it.

This white vest is my favorite and I love to wear it with a light snow fall as well if it isn't too cold.

Here it is with pink gingham.

And more plaid shirts.

I love the white vest as it can be mixed with any color. I wear a multitude of sweaters under it and can pair it with brown, black or even gray boots.

10 Cheap Romantic Ideas for a Disney Vacation

At Disney you can have a fairy tale wedding or help with your proposal, these are the epitome of Disney romance. I saw one of these proposals first hand one night while we were at Fantasmic. There are also all kinds of things you can pay extra for such as flowers in your room, different excursions at your resort and the awesome Safari at Animal Kingdom. But, if you are the average couple who just wants to sneak some romance in on your trip and not spend a lot of money, the following suggestions are for you.

1.  Eat at the Rose and Crown at Epcot. Make your reservation about an hour before the Illuminations show and ask to be seated on the patio – tell them you are willing to wait. They will let you wait for about an hour. This is a fantastic way to see the light show and it is very romantic. If you are travelling with another family you can take turns caring for the children so each couple gets a dinner out on their own. We did this while vacationing with my sister-in-law and her family and it was a fantastic time with my husband, the food was excellent, our waitress recommended drinks and dessert and the show was fantastic, as always.

2.  Watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the Polynesian Resort. Take the boat over to the resort before the fireworks start, get a dole whip from the food court located behind the pool area, and select a spot along the water where you can see the castle. If you are early enough you might get the lone hammock, if not it is a good idea to take something to spread on the grass as it might be damp after a rain or from dew. The parade of lights glides through this lagoon before the fireworks start as well. (We were staying on one of the Disney resorts so we were able to take the bus from the Polynesian to Epcot afterwards, where they had extended hours.) We have seen the Magic Kingdome fireworks from a few different locations and I enjoyed this spot immensely.

3.  Get matching shirts or hats or some other matching souvenir. I’ve seen lots of couples wearing the Mickey top hat and Minnie veil, which are adorable. There are also many coordinating Disney t-shirts that are great for couples. We wore matching costumes for the Disney’s not so scary Halloween Party and there are many DIY Disney shirts you can make before you go.

4.  If staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort check out the lagoon, take an early morning stroll along the beach, watch the sunset from the hammocks or take a late night swim in the pool. The main pool is closed at night but the smaller ones, closer to the rooms, are not and they are usually empty – just respect that families are sleeping and keep it quiet. It is usually quite quiet there in the mornings as well if you want to have breakfast at one of the small tables near the pool area – much more romantic than in the busy food court area.

5.  Sneak a kiss in the dark on Space Mountain – just do it before it starts going quickly – remember safety first. We don’t want any emergency dentist appointments!  Hold hands on the boat ride to Magic Kingdom. Remember to take moments to show each other you care wherever you can find them. These two secluded spots are at the Caribbean Beach Resort and they are perfect for a little alone time. If you are travelling with another family, take turns going to fill the refillable cups and take your time getting them :)

6.  There are some shaded, quieter paths through the center of Animal Kingdom where you can stop and smell the flowers, check out some flamingos and even a waterfall. These paths are great for catching your second wind and taking time to enjoy each other. There is also a garden area at Epcot in the Canadian section which is a nice place to slow down as well. Disney has fantastic gardeners and you can find a quiet spot at most of the resorts and parks.

7.  Make sure you stop by the Germany Pavilion in Epcot and buy a pickle ornament to put on your Christmas tree. They box them in tissue paper for you and I brought two home in my luggage successfully. This is a German tradition which we have adopted and now every year we play find the pickle after the tree has been decorated and it also reminds us of our wonderful trip together. Getting a Christmas decoration on each of your vacations is a tradition a friend shared with me and I love the idea.

8.  One thing about staying on a Disney resort is the ability to go back to your room after lunch, sit around the pool, in a hammock or even have a nap. Relax for a couple of hours before heading out for more fun. This is a great way to catch your second wind and we have wonderful memories of quiet pool time away from the crowds. I think this time is critical for having a stress free vacation, especially if travelling with children. It is easy to want to cram as much as possible into your day but you will enjoy everything so much more if you aren't exhausted.

9.  Have the dessert. All the Disney restaurants I’ve tried have been excellent; I love the character meals, the elaborate themes and the wonderful desserts. There are no calories on vacation right? Take the time to enjoy meals together, you need to sit, take a break and refuel. Talk about all the things you’ve seen that day and what you would like to see tomorrow. I highly recommend the Disney dining plan. I love that it is paid for ahead of time and you don’t feel the penny pinch at the time. Dining at Disney is part of the magical experience. Check out allears.net for restaurants you and your special someone would find romantic.

10.  Eat at Flame Tree Barbecue. It doesn't have the most fabulous food but the scenery makes up for it. You eat outside here and if you go all the way to the back you can sit overlooking the water. Very few people go all the way down there and so it is usually quite quiet and peaceful.

These are just a few suggestions and most of them you can do with children, especially if you are travelling with another family. And don’t forget, have your pictures taken together – everywhere. You are going to want to remember these moments. Plan ahead and carve out some time for yourselves, this is the most magical place on earth after all.

Check out these post as well: 
https://shyopinionated.blogspot.ca/2017/06/busch-gardens-vs-animal-kingdom.html
https://shyopinionated.blogspot.ca/2017/06/tips-for-visiting-sea-world.html
https://shyopinionated.blogspot.ca/2017/03/seuss-landing-at-islands-of-adventure.html