Breakfast for dinner is one of our family’s favorite weeknight meals, especially because we eat the leftovers for breakfast the next morning!
I’ve found that if I make a fairly thick 9″ x 13″ egg dish (I use 12 eggs), at least 2 dozen muffins, and a pound of bacon, I can get a full dinner and breakfast leftovers out of it. I also pair it with fruit for dinner and yogurt for breakfast.
This is just one more way I simplify busy school mornings and still send my family out the door with a hot breakfast.
Prepping breakfast ahead of time might seem like a small time-saver in the grand scheme of each day, but it’s crazy how a few minutes here and there can make or break our mornings.
I share more about time-saving morning routines below — and saving time is always one of my favorite things!
Favorite Moment = Christmas Music on the Radio
I almost never listen to music… except when Christmas music hits the radio, which it does on the first Monday in November.
This means I’ve already been listening to Christmas music for a few days now!
I also broke out our portable speaker and have Christmas instrumental music playing in the background during meals and while I’m working on the computer. (I get loads of free music through Amazon Prime.)
We often play “name that tune” while eating to see who can guess the song soonest with just the accompaniment. I don’t mean to brag — but I’m pretty good at that game! 😂
Favorite Routine = Packing Lunches in the Evening
To be clear, this is not a “favorite routine” in the sense that we love packing lunches…
However, if we don’t pack lunches at night, it makes the mornings so much more stressful and chaotic. The routine of packing lunches has become necessary for calm, chaos-free mornings (which ARE one of my favorite things!)
So while I strongly dislike packing lunches any time of day, I know that packing them in the evening will help the next morning flow more smoothly… so in a way, it’s a means to an end.
I want calm mornings, so I pack lunches before bed. ✔︎
We also fill our water bottles before bed (it saves a solid 10 minutes of kitchen rushing in the morning). We fill them to the top with ice, then water, and they stay cold for the entire school day.
We’ve used the 24 oz. free-sip Owala bottles for YEARS and still love them.
For lunches, we used the PlanetBox system for many years and have recently transitioned to using these 2-part containers as they work better for our older kids (and aren’t as heavy).
RELATED READING: How I Simplify School Snacks and Lunches
Past Favorite = Fingerless Gloves
I don’t know how many times I’ve shared these already, but my fingerless gloves deserve a prominent place on my blog as they’ve made it through many Michigan winters (probably close to 10 now) and they are still going strong — minus a few worn spots on the thumbs.
Speaking of the thumbs, that’s the main reason I love my fingerless gloves so much — because they are also “thumbless”.
They are considered “convertible flip gloves” (see image below) because the fingers and the thumbs flip back so you can easily tie a shoe, buckle a baby into a car seat, find something in your purse, or pick up dog poop. ☺️
I can’t find my exact gloves online anymore (they are that old), but these are very close and come in a variety of sizes.
RELATED READING: How we organize our winter gear.
Favorite Clothing = Heated Vest
Michigan winters are long and cold, and I’ve wanted a heated vest for a while now (it would be especially nice for watching kids’ sports games outside in the fall).
I tried a friend’s vest and loved it, but her brand/style is no longer available.
So… I’m wondering if you have a good brand/style you’d recommend? Or any tips as to what to look for when buying a heated vest?
Feel free to leave the link or brand in the comments below! 🙂
Favorite Book = Little Women
In one of my recent email newsletters, I mentioned that I reread (or re-listen to) Little Women almost yearly as one of my favorite stories.
So many of you responded that you also enjoy this book/story/movie.
It’s LONG, but endearing and always puts me in the holiday spirit. Also, I highly recommend the 150th anniversary edition as it has hundreds of sketches and original artwork throughout!
READ THE BOOK: Little Women
Favorite Convenience = Keyless Entry + Ignition
This month marks 2 years with our new minivan and I’m shocked I haven’t shared this favorite with you yet…
There are so many things about our Chrysler Pacifica we love, but one of my favorites is the keyless entry and ignition system, because it means I never need to take my keys out of my purse or worry about losing them.
As long as I have my keyfob in my bag or in my pocket, the van door will automatically unlock when I touch the handle. And the van will automatically start when I press the brake + ignition button. Also, it’s now completely impossible to lock my keys in the car!
Who knew such a small thing could give me so much joy these past 2 years!?
RELATED READING: How we keep our vehicles neat and clean with kids!
Favorite Recipe = Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake Bars
I first shared this irresistible recipe for Caramel Apple Pie Cheese Cake Bars back in 2019, and they’ve continued to be a favorite fall recipe over the years.
Yes, I could easily make them all year long as quality apples are always available in the stores, but I think there’s something special about recipes you only make a couple of times per year — you anticipate them more and they just taste better.
If you’re looking for a delicious fall recipe, give these bars a try!
TRY THE RECIPE: Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake Bars.
Favorite Jokes for Fall
My kids came home from the library with these… maybe you can use them at your next family party or gathering this fall. 🙂
Why shouldn’t you tell a secret in a cornfield? Because the corn has ears.
How do you fix a broken pumpkin? With a pumpkin patch!
What happened when the turkey got in a fight? The stuffing was knocked out of him.
What is it called when a tree takes some time off? Paid leaf.
What kind of music did the Pilgrims listen to? Plymouth Rock.
Why does Humpty Dumpty love autumn so much? Because he had a great fall.
And one more…
Favorite Archived Post = Make Ahead Thanksgiving
It’s not too late to start planning your Thanksgiving feast ahead of time and eliminate so much of the stress and mess from your event.
This will be my 20th Thanksgiving as a married woman, and most of them have involved a variety of make-ahead recipes, saving me time and energy on Thanksgiving Day.
I promise… everything will still taste amazing (and I’ll walk you through the entire process!)
Read the full posts here.
That’s all for this month. 😆
If you’re interested, you may scroll through all my Favorite Things posts HERE!
Kristin says
From your 11/12 newsletter “…I don’t have any expensive gift guides, no holiday must-haves, no elaborate decorating tutorials, or fancy recipes…” and THIS is exactly why we keep your newsletter coming and check out your blog spot – your take on intentional living and reducing consumerism is one of MY favorite things!!!
Andrea says
aww… thank you so much Kristin!
I’ve been disheartened by all the “gift guides” that have been filling my inbox already — so many expensive gadgets that are necessary and just breading consumerism.
Many have emailed me today saying how much they appreciate the lack of that in my newsletters. I appreciate your kind words as well!
Sarah says
Your food presentation is beautiful! What recipes did you use to make the egg casserole/quiche and muffins?
Andrea says
Thanks Sarah 🙂
Here’s my recipe for the banana muffins
And here’s my recipe for the egg casserole. I did shred my own potatoes, used sausage instead of ham, added some spinach peppers and onions, and made almost a double batch so it would fit in a 9×13 — but it’s the same basic recipe!
Enjoy!
Sarah says
Thank you!
Maria says
I love all your posts and especially your favorite things! One thing I’ve done for years and years is pack lunches only twice a week. On Sunday night I pack 3 days of lunches for each child (we have a pull out drawer where they all go in). I’ve found the lunch food stays perfectly fresh and then Wednesday evening we pack the last 2 days. We use the 3 compartment plastic containers and it been so smooth and made easy mornings and we’re only dedicating time twice a week to packing lunches.
Also, I follow Mr. Money Mustache and his recent post (https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2025/10/06/amazon-vine-ruins-retirement/) literally mentioned a heated vest he really likes! I wasn’t interested before he mentioned it but now it sounds heavenly to me as I wear vests quite a bit in the winter and having one heated sounds awesome.
Andrea says
thanks so much for this link Maria (and your insight on packing lunches). Growing up, Dave’s family packed full weeks of lunches on Sundays. I’ve thought about doing that, but wondered if things would get soggy/stale a few days in.
Maybe we’ll try it 2nd semester and see how it goes 🙂
Maria says
I agree with you, I personally wouldn’t want to eat a packed lunch on Friday that I made Sunday night! But packing a batch of lunches twice a week (Sunday and Wed night) works great for us and lunches stay fresh. I’ll never go back to packing nightly. I hope it works if you give it a try!
Steph Mackey says
Another vote for the Ororo heated vest. I bought mine 3 years ago and wonder why I didn’t do it sooner? As a sports mom, this has saved me countless times. Here is the one I purchased: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083LLS47W?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3&th=1&psc=1
Andrea says
thanks Steph — maybe I’ll see if they have a black friday sale for this one!
Kaelsma says
Any radio station that plays Christmas music before December 1st gets deleted from my presets. And I may – or may not – remember to add it back in after the holidays.
Andrea says
haha — I’m honestly not super big on holiday decorations or traditions, but I LOVE Christmas music!
Fern says
Although I’m 85 years old and have read your posts since before Nora was born, I still usually find something in the favorite things monthly that I enjoy. My six year old great granddaughter has just discovered jokes, so your Fall jokes will be good fun for us during her weekly visits! When I quote you or use a product you’ve recommended, I tell my family, “My friend Andrea suggested this,” and they know exactly who I’m talking about.
Andrea says
aww… thanks so much for sharing this Fern! I hope your granddaughter enjoys the jokes.
Thanks for your long-time readership 🙂
Kristen says
What are your favorite “stations” on Amazon for your Christmas music? We are big fans here, but I always seem to hear the same handful of songs over and over! Would love some variety of ones to try! Thanks. 🙂
Andrea says
Hi Kristen, I don’t normally listen to stations — I just type in whatever I’m looking for. So right now, I’m typing in “Instrumental Christmas Music”. Othertimes I’ll type in “Christmas Pop” or “Relgious Christmas”.
Chris says
I enjoy Tim Janis YouTube. Today I listed to a pretty Celtic Christmas one.
Andrea says
thanks for the recommendation, Chris!
Mary says
Music isn’t a free feature with Amazon Prime, if it? Maybe I’m missing out.
Andrea says
yes! You can get loads of completely free music with Amazon prime. You can also upgrade to “Amazon Unlimited” for more music and no ads, but I’ve never done that.
Just go to your dashboard, click on the “ALL” dropdown box right below the Amazon Prime logo, and you should be able to select Amazon Music.
Happy Listening!
Mary says
Great! Thank you for your help!
Sonia says
Great post, and a balm for this weary soul this morning!
Have you tried Alcott’s “An Old Fashioned Girl”? It’s another great coming of age story, and a little bit of country mouse trying to wrestle with country values in the city. Written with Alcott’s knack for creating endearing characters.
Andrea says
No, I need to read more of Alcott’s books — she was such an inspiring person (from what I’ve read about her, at least).
Kristina R says
My husband is a railroader and a hunter & has used a Milwaukee brand heated jacket for both purposes for several years now. The battery doesn’t last the entire workday, but we bought a second battery to get him through. I think one battery is fine for most people!
I’m not sure if Milwaukee makes a heated vest, but if so Is recommend that you try it
Andrea says
interesting — I would have never thought to look at the Milwaukee brand. My dad and brother in law have almost every Milwaukee tool available!
Bonnie Boylan (Cummings) says
Hi Andrea, I still love your posts and I recommend it to all my friends. I enjoyed your fall jokes and I heard one the other day and I thought I would share it with you. What is a cats favorite color? Purrrrple
Andrea says
haha! Hi Bonnie (and thanks for sharing your other last name so I could recognize it was you!)
Have a wonderful November and keep baking those amazing cookies!
Jen E. says
I have a Honda Odyssey and I love the keyless feature! My fob just stays in my wallet so I know I won’t leave the house without either. So nice not fumbling getting keys out and the kids in the van. It truly is the little things that make your day enjoyable!
And I share the sentiment about disliking packing lunches. My kiddos are 6th, 3rd and 1st grade and the youngest needs the most help packing, but it’s amazing not needing to pack 3 full (4 if you include me!) lunches!
Andrea says
Yes, we’re working on kids packing their own lunches. I guess I’d just rather get them all in bed super early (they are all very willing to go to bed) and have less mess in the kitchen if I pack them all. But I do dislike it!
Connie says
I’m a 68 yr old wife and Mom with2 grown daughters and a grandson who lives across the country from me. I just wanted to tell you how much I look for to Wednesdays to read what you have written each week. I wish I had known a lot of what you share when my kids were little!
Also my daughters and I went on a Girls trip to New England this fall and one of the favorite places we visited was the Louisa May Alcott house—such a great tour! My favorite books by her were Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom (2 book series).
Andrea says
Thank you Connie!
That trip sounds amazing and just like something I would like to do at some point 🙂
Jen says
Yet another way we are alike: I NEVER listen to music, except at Christmas. I will listen to podcasts–or even sports radio–before I’ll listen to music! LOL! Still can’t do audio books though. My mind wanders way too much for some reason.
I also LOVE the keyless entry on my Highlander. Wouldn’t go without it now–that and the heated seats, which are nice, even in SC in the winter!
And LW is one of the BEST! My favorite movie version is the 1994 one where Susan Sarandon plays Marmee.
Happy Thanksgiving to the Dekkers!
ShellyL says
I recently rewatched that version and it’s my favorite too! The actresses did such a good job.
Andrea says
I love it how everyone has their own favorite version of the movies. I should have a movie marathon some weekend and watch them all in succession!
Andrea says
hehe — we must be related somehow 🙂
Our van has heated seats, heated steering wheel, and “air conditioned” seats for summer — that’s a game-changer! No more sweaty backs!
Leanne says
I second the statement on the Ororo brand for buying a heated vest….my husband LOVES his! I bought one to wear at the hospital because my unit is always freezing!! I tried a cheaper vest from Amazon, but the battery life just wasn’t there! ORORO has a website too which sells “open box” items, but you have to buy the batter pack separately. The vests are slightly discounted on Amazon, and include the battery pack…
I originally bought the ORORO vest after a few of my oncology patients highly recommended them! I wish I had known about them sooner!!
Andrea says
OK good to know about the battery pack. I saw one on Amazon (a different brand) that said you had to buy the battery pack separately… I didn’t even know that was a thing and just assumed it would all come together!
Lissa says
https://a.co/d/hmjh5t9
Make sure to get a women’s style as it has better heated areas then men’s
I saw one at Costco this week but it was a men’s style
Andrea says
I’m headed to Costco in about 20 minutes so I’ll look for it 🙂
Thanks Lissa!
Rachel Winter says
I bought this heated vest a few years ago and while a little pricy (149) the amount of times I have worn it makes it well worth the money. I wear it outside all the time watching sports games but sometimes wear it while working at my computer when I’m a little chilly. I love that your neck also gets warm. It’s the absolute best. I got it on Amazon. It’s the ORORO Women’s Lightweight Heated Vest with USB-C Rechargeable Battery, Puffer Classic Heating Vest
Andrea says
Thanks Rachel! I know, some are pretty expensive, but the cheaper ones often don’t have great reviews. I was looking at one the other day and then realized you had to buy the battery pack separately! What?? I’ll google the one you suggested 🙂
Chris says
My favorite Little Women movie is the 1949 one where Elizabeth Taylor plays Amy. I always enjoying reading your FAVORITES post. Your blog is still my favorite blog. 🙂
Andrea says
Thank you, Chris 🙂