LexTalk

Day 9 of 31 Days of October: A Photo + Writing Challenge

Today’s photo prompt is “Snack.”

You’d think that during an October challenge, I’d immediately photograph a bowl of popcorn surrounded by pumpkins while some classic Halloween movie played dramatically in the background.

And listen…

There is definitely plenty of that happening around here.

But tonight’s snack was a little more us.

After dinner, my husband and I walked to a local frozen yogurt shop, grabbed ourselves a sweet treat, and walked back home.

Dessert and steps?

I feel like those two things cancel each other out.

Please don’t fact-check that.

The Walk Is Part of the Treat

One thing I’ve really come to appreciate is how something incredibly ordinary can become one of your favorite little rituals.

We’re not getting dressed up.

We’re not going somewhere fancy.

There’s no elaborate date-night plan.

We just finish dinner, put on our shoes, and walk together to get frozen yogurt.

But I love it.

We get outside.

We get some steps in.

We talk.

We get our sweet fix.

And then we walk home with our little cups of frozen yogurt, usually discussing something completely random along the way.

There’s something really nice about having those simple routines with the person you love.

Not every date needs reservations.

Sometimes it’s just a walk and a cup of froyo.

And honestly?

Those are sometimes my favorite kinds.

So… What Are We Watching?

Today’s writing prompt asks:

What’s your ultimate fall movie-night snack — and what are you watching with it?

During October, obviously I’m going to take every opportunity possible to squeeze in a Halloween movie.

Give me spooky.

Give me nostalgic.

Give me something I’ve already watched a ridiculous number of times but will happily watch again because it’s October and those are the rules.

But we don’t spend every night watching Halloween movies.

Lately, my husband and I have also been very invested in our shows.

The Traitors.

Survivor.

The Challenge.

And until very recently, Big Brother.

Although Big Brother just ended, so now there’s officially a reality-TV-sized hole in the schedule.

Apparently our idea of relaxing is watching strangers lie to each other, vote each other out, form alliances, betray those alliances, compete for money and occasionally have a complete meltdown on national television.

Very peaceful.

Very calming.

The Best Part Isn’t Really What’s on TV

I love a good show.

I love getting invested in people I have never met.

I love predicting who’s going home.

I love saying, “I KNEW IT!” when something happens that I absolutely did not know was going to happen.

And yes, I love having someone sitting next to me who is equally invested in whatever nonsense we’re currently watching.

But I think the older I get, the more I realize the show itself isn’t necessarily what makes those nights special.

It’s the routine surrounding it.

Dinner is done.

The day is winding down.

We’re home.

Juggy is probably somewhere nearby supervising the entire operation.

We have something sweet.

And for a little while, there isn’t anywhere else we’re supposed to be.

That’s the good stuff.

Maybe This Is What “Cozy” Actually Looks Like

When we picture fall, everything tends to look very Pinterest-perfect.

Candles.

Chunky blankets.

Pumpkin-shaped mugs.

Perfectly arranged snacks.

A Halloween movie playing beside a beautifully decorated fireplace.

And don’t get me wrong…

I want ALL of that.

But cozy doesn’t always have to be staged.

Sometimes cozy is walking through your neighborhood after dinner.

Sometimes it’s holding a slightly melting cup of frozen yogurt.

Sometimes it’s sitting on the couch arguing about who you think is going to get voted off Survivor.

Sometimes it’s realizing that the ordinary little routine you’ve created with someone has quietly become one of your favorite parts of the day.

The Little Things Become the Memories

That’s something this October challenge keeps making me notice.

I’m taking pictures of things I probably wouldn’t normally think twice about.

Coffee.

Shoes.

Dinner.

A tree.

Juggy.

And now…

A cup of frozen yogurt.

None of these things seem particularly important on their own.

But when I stop and actually write about them, I realize there are stories attached to all of them.

This isn’t just a picture of dessert.

It’s a picture of an evening with my husband.

A walk after dinner.

Getting some extra steps.

Treating ourselves.

Coming home.

Turning on one of our shows.

And ending another completely ordinary day together.

Maybe years from now, those are the moments I’ll miss the most.

Not necessarily the big plans.

Just the nights when we walked to get frozen yogurt and hurried home because we had to find out who was getting voted out next.

And if we burned a few calories on the way there?

Well…

That just means there was room for toppings.

Day 9 Complete

Photo Prompt: Snack

Writing Prompt: What’s your ultimate fall movie-night snack — and what are you watching with it?

Excerpt:

Our favorite evening treat isn’t fancy: a walk to get frozen yogurt, a few extra steps, and one of our favorite reality shows waiting at home. Day 9 reminded me that sometimes the smallest routines become the sweetest parts of life.