The Potluck: November 2020

ByErin Parker Posted on Updated on

Continuing the monthly tradition, The Speckled Palate’s The Potluck: November 2020 includes clothing (for a mama and her girls), a kitchen must-have, household organization products and more. Come see my list and tell me what was on yours for November.

Vertical collage of images of products The Speckled Palate enjoyed in November

Y’all. 2020 has been a year, and since September and October were surprisingly nice, I figured we’d experience the same in November.

And, well, this month has had some nice moments, including the election results (!!!), but there have also been some major struggles

COVID cases continue to climb here in Dallas, and it’s harrowing. Also, one of our family members has COVID now, and it’s really scary. While they appear to be on the mend, we still don’t know so much about this disease, and it seems like sometimes, the road to recovery with this virus is filled with pitfalls.

We were potentially going to host some family members for Thanksgiving, but we canceled it because traveling right now and spending time indoors with people outside of our own household isn’t safe.

So please, y’all. Stay home and stay safe. Consider others (and their health) and for the love of everything, wear a mask and wash your hands.

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    Let’s talk November highlights:

    Let’s talk November action items:

    Honestly, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris heading to the White House has filled me with relief, even though there is a ton of work ahead. Also, with about two months left before the transition, I still a few worries.

    Also, just because they’ve won doesn’t mean that the work is done. This is the beginning… and I’m ready for it.

    Instead of plugging my two favorite things this month, I want to instead share two action items:

    • Make a year-end donation to support an organization and a mission I believe in.
    • Find a way to get involved in 2021. This is going to involve a lot of research on my part and might also be tricky with the pandemic. That said, I feel really strongly about volunteering to help in some capacity in 2021.

    Now Let’s Talk About This Monthly Love List…

    To recap, my potluck, as defined by the folks at Merriam-Webster is:

    the regular meal available to a guest for whom no special preparations have been made… a communal meal to which people bring food to share —usually used attributively ; whatever is offered and available in given circumstances or at a given time.

    Now who’s ready to see what ended up on my list for November 2020?!?

    The Speckled Palate participates in affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my disclosure page for more information about these affiliate programs.

    1
    Womens Waffle Slouchy Henley
    I ordered this in dark grey last year, and I've been living in it since the weather took a turn for the cooler. While my younger one picked off the top button, this is still super cute and comfy with a tank beneath it!
    Now the question is: Do I want to order it in a few more colors, too? Because goodness knows I need some more long-sleeved shirts to get through the winter months.
    Click to Order
    2
    Mesh Laundry Bags
    I never thought I'd be recommending LAUNDRY BAGS, but here we are. In these pandemic times, I've discovered that a good mesh laundry bag is worth its weight in gold, and since my trusty laundry bag broke a few weeks back, I ordered this 5-pack of bags. And I really am liking them so far! Not only can I launder our masks in them, but I can also use them for underthings, shirts that need gentle care and more.
    (Yes, before you mention it, this might be the adultiest thing I've recommended in a while. And it feels FABULOUS. Haha.)
    Click to Order
    3
    Stackable Household Storage Organizer Container Bin with Handles
    These are another adulty purchase from this previous month. We have a catch-all closet upstairs, wedged between the girls' bedrooms and the playroom. And up until this point, it has been a complete and utter mess. I ended up ordering 8 of these storage bins to store our DVDs, as well as puzzles, small board games, card games and more. And the closet is looking so much happier (and more organized) because of it.
    While I don't like adding more plastic things to my life, I really like how the plastic is clear and that I can immediately find what I'm looking for. These containers are pretty durable, which is important when your kids go rifling through them, too.
    Click to Order
    4
    OXO Stainless Steel Sink Caddy on white background
    www.target.com
    OXO Stainless Steel Sink Caddy
    As sad as this is to admit, this sink caddy is changing my life for the better. I used to use a ceramic cup for our sink scrubbers, and recently, it's been filling up with water and other ickiness that runs off the sponges and scrubbers.
    I ended up purchasing this on a whim, and I'm so happy with it. There's a place for the drips to fall that's separate from the sponges… and you can easily drain it out without the added yuck.
    Click to Order
    5
    www.target.com
    Festive Holiday Dresses
    No, these aren't for me, but they're for the girls. And could we talk about how festive and cute they are?!? I love both the reindeer and the red with sparkles, and so do they. In fact, they loved the red dresses so much that they wore them for our holiday card shoot last weekend.
    And no, before you ask, we did not hire a photographer. We put my camera with the interval timer on a tripod and took various photos until we got it just right!
    Click to Order
    6
    www.containerstore.com
    White Glass Stackers Jewelry Box
    Would you believe that I have not had a jewelry organizer since I was in college? Because it's true… and this past month, I decided I was over not having a good way to organize my necklaces, earrings and bracelets. I really like these Stackers because:
    (1) You can mix and match the pieces you need to organize your own jewelry (and you can always add more if you need more),
    (2) They make for easy, in-sight organization, and you can open the box for inspiration or to find exactly what you're looking for without rifling through various other items first, and
    (3) They match our bathroom colors.
    Obviously, this isn't the most important thing, but I dig that they don't look out of place on my countertop.
    Click to Order
    7
    A red Santa platter on a white background
    www.lecreuset.com
    Le Creuset Noel Collection
    OH MY GOODNESS, how cute are these? From the mugs (hello, cute Christmas tree, reindeer and ornaments to the Santa spatula and the platter, there are so many cute pieces of this collection! And I don't know about you, but I am here for anything festive this season.
    Click to Order
    8
    Two Christmas Vacation mugs on a taupe colored countertop with whipped cream and candy canes
    https://www.etsy.com/shop/WithLoveLouise
    Christmas Vacation Mugs
    National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is one of my family's favorite traditions of the holidays, and the lines used on these matching mugs (because of course you have to purchase the set!) is one of my favorites from the entire movie.
    Will it make sense to a non-Christmas Vacation fan? No.
    Will you chuckle about it if you are? Absolutely.
    In fact, I purchased a set of these for myself in preparation for the holiday season…
    Click to Order

    2014: October | November| December 

    2015: January | February | March | May | June | July | August | 
    September | November | December

    2016: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August |
     September | October | November | December 

    2017: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | 
    September | October | November | December

    2018: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August |
    September | October | November | December

    2019: January | February/March | April | August 

    2020: January | February | March | April | May | June | July/August | September | October | November | December

    2021: January | April | May | July | August | September | October | November/December

    2022: January | February | March | April-May

    A woman with dark curly hair wearing a black tank top in front of a white wall

    About the Author:

    Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…

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