We’re in that strange stretch of the school calendar where it’s basically a series of three- and four-day weeks with random holidays here and there. Federal holidays, Jewish holidays, Fall Break, PSAT testing, teacher workdays, and and and. Next week will be our first five-day week in about a month, and then we’re right back to four days again. Between that and me no longer working full-time, I often have no earthly idea what day it is anymore. Wednesday? Saturday? Some kind of bonus Monday? Who can say?!

Normally by mid-October, I’d be pruning back plants and putting the yard to bed for fall. But Mother Nature and her messy sister Auntie Climate Change clearly have other plans. It is still too hot to do much without the plants thinking it is spring again. I just hope we don’t have to cram all the yard work into a few days when an arctic blast decides to drop in.

The big event of the week here: my big-ass nutcrackers from Walmart arrived! They are a DIY project that I have to paint myself. Now the question is this: Do I go ultra classic and traditional, or totally unexpected with pink jackets and gold boots? I’m leaning toward unexpected, but I might toss it to a poll just to make it official.

ADD TO CART

Christmas At Walmart

You might be surprised to learn that a lot of my Christmas decor comes from Walmart. Stay with me. They often surprise me with their looks, or rather, with the potential of their looks. Rarely do I use anything straight out of the box. I usually church it up with loads of red velvet ribbon and/or a heavy dousing of antique gold spray paint.

This year, I have rounded up some of my favorite finds that just need a little Cooperizing. You can see them all here: My Walmart Christmas Picks.

HIT PLAY

Man I Need

I cannot stop playing Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need.” It has that sunny, old-school bounce that makes even a 93-degree October day feel charming instead of cursed. If you have not seen her perform, she’s just adorable. Watch it here.

SH!T COOPER SAYS

“I don’t count other people’s money.”

– Cooper Koch

Meaning: I try my best to not judge what other people spend their money on, and I do not accept anyone judging how I spend mine. Even when it is $350 worth of nutcrackers that still need painting. None of us know enough about anyone else’s finances or priorities to make those calls. So please stay in your budget lane and let me bedazzle mine.

That’s it for this week! I’ll update you on the Nutcracker makeover and whether I went classic or colorful. Place your bets now.

ICYMI, all of my previous editions are available on my site at cooperkoch.com. (That’s also where your friends can sign up! Hint. Hint.)

Until next week, always remember…

YOU ARE LOVED!