Good morning, sweetpeas! It’s Halloween weekend, and while most of my twenty-something friends are eager to dress up and black out, you can probably already guess that I’m not. I don’t particularly love events like Halloween and New Years, which often require more time and energy in the planning than it’s worth. I’m especially unfond of Halloween because I hate dressing up. The past few Halloweens I was a good sport, and even enjoyed myself (would you look at that).

But this year I’m just not having it, so I’m spending the weekend with my family and some similarly minded friends. Family time is extra special to me right now, considering the past few weeks have been emotionally tolling, and just devastating. A dear family friend is losing her battle to cancer, and as one of my sister’s classmates, she’s just far too young. Our families grew up incredibly close. We lived within walking distance, took family vacations together, spent countless days at the pool. Our parents are still best friends and the memories that our families share are just so meaningful at a time like this.  So as my heart breaks, knowing the pain that her parents, brother and husband are experiencing, I don’t feel much like dressing up and going out. I want to feel cozy and comforted by the company of my family and friends.

I can’t wait to get breakfast with my parents this morning, bake these scrumptious looking pumpkin and cream cheese cupcakes with my mom, and have a triple dinner date with my two best girlfriends and their boyfriends tonight.

With that said, I can only expect that most of you are enjoying your Halloween weekend, correct? So tell me, what are you dressing up as this year?