Penny's Passion

Friday, April 17, 2026

Five on Friday - April 18, 2025

 Hello!  Man, who's ready for a weekend?!?  It's been a whirlwind of a wind and I'm so excited to have a couple days to regroup over here.  Let's kick things off with Five on Friday ~

1.  Through Mom's Eyes by Sheinelle Jones
Sheinelle Jones, one of the familiar and beloved faces from the Today Show, has written a book—and I am so excited to get my hands on it! I’ve always appreciated her warmth, authenticity, and the way she connects with people on screen, so I have a feeling her writing will be just as engaging. I can’t wait to dive in, hear more of her story, and see what insights and inspiration she shares in this new chapter.
From the beloved Today show host Sheinelle Jones comes an inspiring collection of heartfelt life-lessons from hard working moms who raised some of our favorite celebrities.

When Sheinelle Jones launched “Through Mom’s Eyes,” a recurring Today show segment interviewing celebrities’ mothers about raising successful kids, she had an ulterior motive—she wanted to bring all their wisdom to bear on raising her own three children. So she asked Lin-Manuel Miranda’s mom about staying present with kids while balancing a demanding career, talked with Lady Gaga’s mom about how to recognize bullying, and got tips from Steph Curry’s mom on making sure even future NBA royalty does his chores. She has since interviewed dozens of remarkable women and gathered a candid, warm, and insightful collection of valuable lessons about life, love, and parenthood.

Now in her first book, Through Mom’s Eyes, Sheinelle is ready to share even more of those life-changing secrets with the world. Combining insights from celebrity mothers with her own journey through modern parenting, Sheinelle reveals how to make it through the hard parts of motherhood and still tap into the joys of it with empathy, generosity, and solidarity. Through Mom’s Eyes is a beautiful celebration of those who are the guiding light for their loved ones—mothers.

2.  Normal
Looking to see a movie this weekend?  Normal, starring Bob Odenkirk, opens in theaters today and it looks like a movie Eric and I would both enjoy.  Heres the summary ~
Normal is a neo-Western thriller that stars Bob Odenkirk as Ulysses, an unassuming substitute sheriff assigned to the quiet Midwestern town of Normal. Seeking a temporary escape from personal and professional turmoil, Ulysses instead finds himself drawn into a crisis when a botched bank robbery exposes a dangerous secret beneath the town's calm exterior. As tensions escalate (and boy, do they escalate), he is forced to confront his troubled past and the true nature of the community he has been tasked with protecting.
With the warmer weather finally here, we got our bird bath up and running again last weekend. We’ve been using this solar-powered model for years now, and it’s been such a great addition to our yard. I originally chose it after reading that it could help attract hummingbirds—and it must be true, because we’ve seen more of them visit each year! It’s incredibly easy to set up and comes with several spray options, so you can switch up the look and flow depending on what you like.

Are your windows due for a little spring cleaning? I recently found this handy squeegee, and it made the whole process so much easier! It features a built-in spray bottle, so you can keep your cleaning solution right on hand—no extra supplies needed. Just spray and swipe for a streak-free shine. It’s not only perfect for windows, but also works great on shower doors, car windows, and mirrors.

5.  Great idea...


Hope your weekend is wonderful!  We have a pretty low-key weekend ahead and I'm perfectly fine with that.  We still have some clean up to do from the shower we hosted last weekend.  You can see the highlights from the shower HERE.  I have book club on Monday night and need to finish the book, so there will be a lot of reading time happening.  See you next week!

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Celebrating the Bride-to-Be: Josie’s Special Day

Hello and welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday! This is a space where I share what’s on my mind and invite you to join in and link up with your own thoughts. Today, I’m reminiscing about the lovely time we had celebrating Josie, a beautiful bride-to-be, at her shower this past weekend! Let me share some of the highlights with you ~


Guests were welcomed with a sign inviting them to come on in. The porch was adored with hydrangeas flanking the door in our tall planters (HERE). I picked up a boxwood wreath (HERE). We added a white tulle bow to make it look more like a bridal veil. To round out the welcoming atmosphere, we had an Echo on the porch playing instrumental love songs. Tucked inside the bow on the wreath were cotton balls with the signature scent of the day, English Pear and Freesia (HERE).


As each guest arrived, I made sure to snap a quick photo of them with the bride-to-be—a special little keepsake for her to look back on and remember everyone who came to celebrate. We turned our dining room table into a welcoming station, creating a warm and inviting first stop for guests as they came in. We displayed framed photos of each bridesmaid paired with a short note sharing how the bride knows them. It was such a meaningful touch and gave everyone a glimpse into the special friendships that have shaped her life.



Once inside, guests were handed a small clipboard with all of the games attached, making it easy to keep everything together as they mingled, chatted, and grabbed a bite to eat. I’ve used these clipboards (HERE) for years at so many different events, and they’ve truly been such a great investment!


We kept the games simple and fun—gift bingo, guess their ages, and find the guest. Each one encouraged guests to move around, strike up conversations, and get to know one another. Our goal was to create a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere where everyone felt comfortable mingling, and I think it worked beautifully.


Planning the menu was so much fun! Here’s what we decided on:

Lemon Curd and Raspberry Tartlets
Caprese Skewers
Pimento Cheese and Hot Pepper Jelly Pastry Cup
Charcuterie in Tea Cups
Cucumber Canapés
Shrimp Cocktail
Amaretto Cake with Raspberry Filling






The mantel was beautifully styled with blue hydrangeas, soft candlelight, and a framed photo of the soon-to-be bride and groom. We carried that same look over to the staircase, weaving hydrangeas along the banister and adding touches of tulle to tie everything together for a cohesive, romantic feel.


Hydrangeas from Amazon (HERE and HERE)

In the kitchen, we set up the food on the table and placed the drinks on the island to keep everything flowing smoothly for guests. The banister was dressed up with a touch of tulle as well, adding a soft, elegant detail that carried the décor seamlessly into the space.


Each guest went home with a sweet little favor—a jar of homemade body lotion lovingly made by one of the bridesmaids, along with a tube of lip balm. It was such a thoughtful and personal touch to thank everyone for celebrating the bride-to-be.


It was such a beautiful day celebrating our bride-to-be! We’re all so excited and can’t wait for the wedding ahead.

Now it's your turn.  What are you thinking out loud about today?  Link up and share!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - April 15, 2026

 

Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop! We are so glad that you stopped by.

Here you will find inspiration from dozens of bloggers, including recipes, home DIY, gardening, decor, family fun, traveling, fitness, and so much more.

A friendly reminder to our guests that, as a courtesy to the hosts, we ask that you follow every host on at least one social media channel.

If you are a blogger, then be sure to link up below. You may be our next feature! 

Before we get this party started, let’s meet the hosts and check out this week’s featured favorites.

MEET THE HOSTS
  1. Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
  2. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
  3. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X
  4. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
  5. Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
  6. Angie – SALT PRAIRIE | IG | PINTEREST 

HIGHLIGHT LINKS

LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!
Please follow all hosts on AT LEAST 1 of their social channels.

Add as many family-friendly posts as you would like to. NO Etsy shops, adult sites, or blog parties please.  Visit others. Caring is sharing. Like, comment, and pin posts.

Party entries appear in REVERSE. This way, your entries will be seen no matter when you arrive. Please TWEET our party and invite others to join.

Let’s Party! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Friday, April 10, 2026

Five on Friday - April 10, 2026

Hello!  I'm going to get right to it today because we are knee deep in getting ready to host a bridal shower at our house tomorrow ~

King Arthur Baking Company's Book of Pizza came out this week and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.  We did a little pizza making back in my sourdough days, but haven't made a homemade pizza in a while.  Maybe with the help of this cookbook we will jump back in.
The bakers at King Arthur Baking Company researched, tested—and tasted!—hundreds of pizzas and cooking methods to develop the most comprehensive book yet dedicated to the art and science of making pizza at home. Organized around twelve distinct styles—New York, New Haven, Chicago Tavern, Grandma, Neapolitan, and more—King Arthur Baking Company’s The Book of Pizza goes deep on every element of a great pie, from dough and sauce to the cheese and the bake.

Comprehensive yet accessible, the book is packed with innovative topping suggestions to match each crust style (don’t sleep on the Prosciutto and Hot Honey Neapolitan pie). But it also empowers bakers to mix and match sauces and toppings, allowing them to customize pizzas exactly to their liking. Rounding out the pizza recipes are four quintessential pizza night salads and an entire chapter of desserts, including Spumoni Semifreddo, an array of Italian-inspired cookies, and simple cakes, like Olive Oil Cake with Chocolate Ganache, to end pizza night with a bang.
I'm a huge fan of Joan Malone's English Pear and Freesia scent.  What I'm not a huge fan of is the cost!  I want down the rabbit hole on Amazon looking for alternatives and found this fragrance oil.  In a smell test, I'm not sure you could tell the difference!  And the price is a fraction of the cost. I dropped some on a tissue and put in under the seat of our car.  Man, does our car smell great!  I'm going to hide a tissue that has a few drops on it in our front door wreath so guests will be welcomed with this wonderful fragrance.  If I get really ambitious, I'll add it to some candles.  You could also use it for pet shampoos, bath bombs or room diffusers.  So many uses!

3.  Hacks Season 5
The final season of this award-winning Max comedy just dropped. We’re still a season behind, but it’s definitely on my watch list. Jean Smart is absolutely hilarious and plays Deborah Vance perfectly. If you haven’t seen it, it’s set in Las Vegas and follows a legendary stand-up comic trying to stay relevant in an ever-changing entertainment world.


4.  Dippin' Dots
The classic Dippin' Dots is starting to show up in grocery store freezers, which feels so nostalgic and fun. It used to be something you could only get at amusement parks or special events, so seeing it in stores is kind of exciting. I’m thinking it would be such a cute treat for summer nights or even a fun addition to a movie night at home.  


5.  Try it...


Have a lovely weekend!  I can't wait to show to all the things from the shower!  See you next week.

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Let's Make Lemon Raspberry Cake with Sugar Crunch Top

Hello and welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday!  I'm so glad you stopped by.  This is a time when I share something I'm thinking about and invite you to link up and do the same.  Today I'm excited to share with you a recipe I've made a couple of times and is perfect for spring and summer - Lemon Raspberry Cake with Sugar Crunch Top.


First, a big shoutout to Tastes of Lizzy T - this is where I originally found the recipe, and I’ve made only a few small tweaks. I mainly wanted to have it saved here on the blog so I can easily come back to it, because I know it’s going to be a repeat favorite. The next time I have a little extra time, I can’t wait to explore more of her recipes!

Now back to the recipe ~

Here's What You Need
1/2 cup salted butter (softened to room temperature)
Zest from one lemon
1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons of fresh-squeezed lemon juice
2 large eggs
1-1/3 cup all-purpose floud
1-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup full-fat sour cream
2 cups fresh raspberries


Here's What You Do
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray and set aside.  This cake is super moist and I served it straight out of my pan.  (Note to self:  perfect excuse to buy a new, pretty 9-inch cake pan.)

Place your sugar in a separate shallow pan (I used a pie plate) and zest the lemon over the top of the sugar.  Use the back of a spoon or rubber spatula to press the zest into the sugar.  

Add the butter and 1 cup of the zesty sugar into a bowl and whip together for about five minutes.  Your mixture should be pale and fluffy.

Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat well after each addition.  Next, add in the lemon juice.

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.  Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture alternately with the sour cream, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, mixing just until combined after each addition.

Gently fold the raspberries into the cake batter using a rubber spatula.  


Spread the batter in the prepared baking pan.  Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar evenly over the top of the cake batter.


Bake for 40-45 minutes.  It's done when the top is crackly and lightly browned.  The center won't look as done as the edges.  I'll be honest, the original recipe said to bake it for 35-40 minutes and the two times I've made this recipe it had to stay in the oven longer than that, so I bumped the cooking time to 40-45 minutes.  Bottom line - cooking time may vary.

Let the cake cool completely in the pan before serving.

This cake is bursting with delicious flavor! The combination of raspberries and lemon creates the perfect balance of sweet and tart. I hope you love it just as much as we do!


Now it's your turn.  What are you thinking out loud about today?  Link up and share!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - April 8, 2026

 
Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!  We are so glad that you stopped by.

Here you will find inspiration from dozens of bloggers, including recipes, home DIY, gardening, decor, family fun, traveling, fitness, and so much more.

A friendly reminder to our guests that, as a courtesy to the hosts, we ask that you follow every host on at least one social media channel.

If you are a blogger, then be sure to link up below. You may be our next feature! 

Before we get this party started, let’s meet the hosts and check out this week’s featured favorites.

MEET THE HOSTS
  1. Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
  2. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
  3. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X
  4. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
  5. Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
  6. Angie – SALT PRAIRIE | IG | PINTEREST 

HIGHLIGHT LINKS
LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!
Please follow all hosts on AT LEAST 1 of their social channels.

Add as many family-friendly posts as you would like to. NO Etsy shops, adult sites, or blog parties please.  Visit others. Caring is sharing. Like, comment, and pin posts.

Party entries appear in REVERSE. This way, your entries will be seen no matter when you arrive. Please TWEET our party and invite others to join.

Let’s Party! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Friday, April 3, 2026

Five on Friday - April 3, 2026

Happy Easter weekend!  We have a holiday today and I'm sure excited to have a long weekend.  Our church does this amazing cross walk on Good Friday.  I'm volunteering so my day is busy, but full of goodness.  Before I head out to that, let me share my Five on Friday ~

1.  The Drama
The Drama is definitely on my must-see list! The wedding storyline immediately pulled me in, and I’m really hoping we get a chance to see it soon. Critics are already saying it could be one of the most talked-about films of 2026.
Led by Robert Pattinson and Zendaya, and directed by Kristoffer Borgli, The Drama leans into the kind of dark, discomforting humor that audiences love. The film centers on an engaged couple in the days leading up to their wedding, when a shocking revelation begins to unravel their relationship. As tensions escalate, what starts as a love story spirals into — you guessed it — lots of drama. Early reviews suggest audiences should be prepared for a visceral experience. Equal parts hilarious and haunting, the film invites nervous laughter as often as it does discomfort, leaving viewers debating its meaning long after the credits roll.

2.  Beauty Brands Spray Sale
If you’ve been waiting to stock up on a good hairspray, the Beauty Brands sale is such a great time to do it. They’ve marked down a wide variety of favorites—from flexible, brushable formulas to strong-hold sprays that actually keep everything in place without feeling crunchy.  Whether you’re needing something lightweight for everyday styling or a little extra hold for special occasions, it’s definitely worth taking a look while everything is discounted.


I’m in the middle of a full porch refresh for spring, and I can’t wait to share the finished look with you! I ended up carrying the makeover beyond just the porch and gave our mailbox a little seasonal update too with this new cover. It adds the perfect pop of color and honestly just screams spring and summer the moment you see it.  I love keeping a cover on our mailbox year-round—it’s such an easy way to add a little personality outside. The magnetic strips hold everything securely in place, even on windy days, and installation couldn’t be simpler. Plus, they’re so easy to swap out with the seasons, which makes decorating feel fun and effortless.

4.  Strawberry Angel Food Cake Blizzard Treat
Dairy Queen is introducing its new flavor of Blizzard - Strawberry Angel Food Cake!  The DQ website describes it perfectly - "This delightful treat combines light and fluffy angel food cake pieces with real strawberries, all blended to Blizzard perfection with DQ's world-famous soft serve."  YUM!!  Might be swinging through a Dairy Queen this weekend to give one of these a try.  


5.  Truth...


Wishing you a beautiful and joy-filled Easter!  May your day be filled with hope, renewal, and time spent with the people you love most. I hope your celebrations are full of meaningful moments, sweet traditions, and maybe even a little chocolate along the way. Happy Easter! See you next week!