Five on Friday - April 18, 2025

Happy Easter weekend!  I'm so happy to have a holiday today.  We have lots of great stuff going on this weekend, but let me first share my Five on Friday ~

1.  Panera's New Sandwiches

Panera just rolled out two new sandwiches featuring their brand-new croissant bread, and they both sound absolutely delicious—I can’t decide which one to try first! One is the Croque Monsieur Croissant Toast, layered with Black Forest ham, provolone, Asiago, and a rich caramelized onion–Gruyere spread on buttery Croissant Toast. The other is the Fromage Croissant Toast, stacked with provolone, American cheese, caramelized onions, arugula, and a flavorful garlic aioli. See what I mean? Which one would you go for?

2.  Ransom Canyon

Missing Yellowstone? Netflix might just have the fix. Ransom Canyon follows three powerful ranching families locked in a battle for land, legacy, and love. Set in rural Texas and inspired by Jodi Thomas’s bestselling book series, this drama delivers all the grit and heart you'd expect. The full 10-episode season dropped yesterday — ready for your next binge.

3.  Spring Top

I'm heading out of town on business next week and needed a lightweight, easy-to-pack top—found the perfect one on Amazon! It comes in tons of colors and is ideal for spring. I love the 3/4 sleeves, the flattering length (long enough to cover the tush!), and the classic round neckline. It's definitely going in my suitcase for next week!

Available HERE

4.  Great Big Beautiful Life

Emily Henry's much-anticipated newest book, Great Big Beautiful Life, comes out on Tuesday.  Reserve your copy today!  I can't wait to start reading this one.  Here's the summary ~

Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: to write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the twentieth century.

When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.

One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.

Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication.

Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.

But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.

And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad . . . depending on who’s telling it.

Available HERE

5.  This is me...

Have a wonderful Easter!  Our church is having a Cross Walk this evening as a way to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us.  We'll be celebrating Easter at our son and daughter-in-law's house on Sunday.  Lots of great stuff!  See you back next week.

Flocked Bunnies: The Cute Collectible Taking Over Spring Decor Trends

Hi there, and welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday!  Today, I’m sharing what’s been on my mind lately—and I’d love for you to link up and share your thoughts too. What’s been hopping around in my head this week? Flocked bunnies!

Last year, flocked bunnies were everywhere—and I couldn’t resist hopping on the trend! I grabbed a couple back then, but this year? My collection has definitely grown. Between Michael’s, Five Below, Hobby Lobby, and Walmart, I’ve found myself leaving each store with a bag (or two) full of these fuzzy little cuties. Want to see where they’ve popped up around my home this season? Take a look below!

Out on the front porch, I’ve got two big flocked bunnies making a statement! To keep them from toppling over, we cut a small slit in the bottom of each and inserted a long stick. Then, we anchored the sticks down into our planter—and it worked like a charm. Even on the windiest days, they’ve stayed perfectly in place!

In the family room, our coffee table tray is now home to an entire family of flocked bunnies! They add the perfect pop of texture and whimsy to the space, and I love how they instantly make the room feel more festive and fun.

Even the kitchen window got in on the fun!

I tucked a flocked bunny there, and to complete the look, I added a cute flocked egg alongside it. It’s a small detail, but it brings a sweet touch of spring to one of my favorite everyday spaces.

I'm hoping the stores will have some left after Easter and I can scoop up even more of them for next year!

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

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - April 16, 2025

 

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

Save

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

HIGHLIGHT LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

Easy Flower Crudites Appetizer Platter

Easter Punch for Kids

Easy Peach Cobbler Recipe

Cute Paper Plate Chick Craft

Easter Scavenger Hunt Clues

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

Five on Friday - April 11, 2025

We’ve finally made it to Friday—and you know what that means: it’s time for Five on Friday! This week felt like a long one, and I wasn’t sure we’d ever get here. But now, just one more workday stands between me and the weekend. Let’s get things started with my five for today!

1.  Your Friends and Neighbors with Jon Hamm

Apple TV's new show Your Friends and Neighbors debuts today!  Two episodes are dropping today, then the next seven will come on Fridays until May 30.  It's starring my favorite St. Louis Blues fan, Jon Hamm, along with Amanda Peet and Olivia Munn.  We've been catching the previews and it looks great!  Here's the summary ~

When a financial titan (Jon Hamm) suddenly finds himself divorced and jobless, he starts robbing his wealthy neighbors to stay afloat.  Stealing from his own social circle strangely exhilarates him - but he gradually gets tangled in a deadly web.

2.  Every Day with Babs

The complete title of this new cookbook says it all:  Every Day with Babs:  101 Family-Friendly Dinners for Every Day of the Week.  If you're like me, one of the hardest things to do at the end of the day is to come up with what you will have for dinner.  I'm putting this cookbook on my wishlist and hoping to unwrap it on Mother's Day.  Then I'm planning to take my meal planning straight from the pages within the book!  

From her years of experience feeding her family as a mother of four and now a grandmother of nine, Barbara Costello has perfected her roster of comforting and delicious family-approved meals. Now all the mealtime ingenuity that has been passed down to her, or that she’s earned through trial and error, is here in this book, for you! Every Day with Babs will be your go-to dinner resource, with Babs as your surrogate mom or grandma helping to get delicious meals organized, prepped, and on the table in no time, every night of the week.

In the pages of Every Day, Babs has done all the thinking for you because with so much on your plate already, you shouldn’t have to stress about dinner! The chapters are organized by day of the week, each with a particular theme or cooking method that keeps in mind the rhythm of the week. We all know making dinner on a Monday feels very different than a Sunday, so there are recipes to suit everyone’s mood, schedule, and cooking style:

Get Your “Sheet” (Pan) Together Monday: Sheet-pan recipes such as Roasted Sausage, Peppers & Gnocchi, Maple-Lime Salmon with Coconut Rice, Lemon Basil Chicken & Couscous, and Family Fajita Night

Eat Twice Twosday: Batch cooking at its best, with Grammie’s Chicken Cutlets, I Nailed Falafel with Tzatziki Slaw, Sesame Chicken Noodle Salad, and Minnie’s Meatballs

One and Only Wednesday: One-pot meals such as Warm Hug Bacon Pasta, Salsa Verde Fish Tostadas, Mini-Van Pepperoni Pizza Chicken, and Spinach-Artichoke Rice & Bean

BakeThrifty Thursday: Dinners that use pantry staples, like Cook’s Secret Weeknight Beef Stew, Chicken & Rice Casserole for the Soul, Beth’s Sloppy Joe Casserole, and Clean Your Fridge Frittata

Fri-Yay: Fun crowd-pleasers like Spicy Tuna Sushi Bake, Pimento Cheese Patty Melts, The BEST Fish & Chips, and Reuben Pastry Pockets                             

Low and Slow Saturday: Hands-off slow cooker recipes such as French Onion Soup Pot Roast, Finger Lickin’ Good Sweet & Sour Ribs, and Not to Be Missed Moroccan Chickpea Apricot Stew

Sunday Supper: Special meals to share, including Lobster Roll Cobb Salad, Pesto Rack of Lamb with Tomato-Mozzarella Salad, and Aunt Louise’s Eggplant ParmesanSweet Tooth: Easy and nostalgic desserts like Babs’ Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies, Key Lime Icebox Cake, Caramel Apple Crisp, and Scotcheroos

No matter how you’re feeling by dinner, there is a recipe in here that will fit the bill. Your family will soon be part of the clean plate club and you will be considered a virtual magician in the kitchen, too! Don’t panic, it's easier than you think. Babs has you covered!

Available HERE

3.  Wendy's Frosty Swirls 

Wendy's is bringing us a new treat to try starting today!  The wait is over for the Frosty Swirls.  Starting today, they will be available on the Wendy's app and in stores starting Tuesday, April 15.  According to Wendy's, the Frosty Swirls add a twist of sauce to your choice of a vanilla or chocolate Frosty.  Fans can choose strawberry, caramel or brownie batter sauce to make the dessert their own.  Sounds pretty yummy!

4.  Flower Garden for Kids

While searching Amazon for the perfect birthday gift for a little girl, I struck gold with the flower garden set! With 238 colorful pieces, it offers endless building fun. Kids can mix, match, build, and rebuild to their heart's content. The set even comes in a handy portable box, making cleanup and storage super easy. It would make a fantastic surprise from the Easter Bunny, too!

Available HERE

5.  Hmmm...

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! We’re heading out with friends tomorrow night to try a restaurant that’s new to us—I’m really looking forward to it, and even more excited to share the experience with good company. Then on Sunday, we’re bringing a few special guests to church and hosting lunch at our place afterward. It’s shaping up to be a great weekend! Hope to see you next week!

What I've Bought on Amazon Lately

It's Thursday! It's time for Thinking Out Loud Thursday, and today, I'm thinking about some of the amazing things I've purchased on Amazon lately. When I'm done sharing, please link up and tell us what you're thinking out loud about today!

The Amazon driver has been making quite a few stops at our house recently and I'm excited to share some of the best things with you today.  First up is an Easter present I bought.  I know the little guy who receives this is going to be overjoyed!

Rocket Launcher

Available HERE

Have you used the electric candle lighter?  I recently used one at an event and fell in love with it!  They would make great items to add to a candle for hostess gifts.  Mine will get lots of use!

Available HERE

I talked about this shirt on my Five on Friday post, but it's worth mentioning again!  It's the perfect weight and will be great for working out.  It comes in a ton of colors and at its price, I might need a few more!

Available HERE

If you hop by my house, you'll see this Easter mat at my front door.  I love decorating the porch for all the seasons and I've started getting mats that match.  This is the one I chose for Easter!

Available HERE

We're absolutely loving these lights we’ve placed in our potted plants! They give off just the right glow to make the room feel warm and cozy. We can turn off all the other lights while watching TV, and these alone create the perfect atmosphere.

Available HERE

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

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - April 9, 2025

 

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

HIGHLIGHT LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

Vintage Easter on the Baker's Rack

Bunny Bait

Easter Charcuter-TEA Cups

Sensational Roasted Cabbage

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

Five on Friday - April 4, 2025

Happy Friday! This week has been a whirlwind, and I’m so relieved the weekend is finally here. Let’s dive right into my five for this week! ~

1.  Say You'll Remember Me

Abby Jimenez's newest book came out this week!  I've enjoyed her previous best-sellers from her Friend Zone series and am excited to dive into this new stand-alone novel.  Here's the summary ~

There's no such thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes disastrously close. A gorgeous veterinarian giving Greek god vibes—all while cuddling a tiny kitten? Immediate yes. That is until Xavier opens his mouth and proves that even sculpted gods can say the absolute wrong thing. Like, really wrong. Of course, there’s nothing Samantha loves more than proving an asshole wrong . . . unless, of course, he can admit he made a mistake.

But after one incredible and seemingly endless date, Samantha is forced to admit the truth, that her family is in crisis and any kind of relationship would be impossible. Samantha begs Xavier to forget her. To remember their night together as a perfect moment, as crushing as that may be. Only no amount of distance or time is enough to forget what's between them. And the only thing better than one single perfect memory is to make a life—and even a love—worth remembering.

Available HERE

2.  Workout Shirt

We had a brief spell of warm weather a few weeks ago, which got me thinking about summer. Realizing my summer workout shirts needed a refresh, I ordered this one from Amazon—and I love it! The fabric is breathable, the length is perfect for pickleball, and the price is fantastic!  I see a few more clothes working their way into my closet.

Available HERE

3.  Eye Lash Primer

Based on a recommendation from another blogger, I decided to try this lash primer from Amazon, and I’m so glad I did! It goes on smoothly, creating the perfect base for mascara while making my lashes appear noticeably longer and fuller. The difference is incredible—my lashes look more voluminous and defined, almost as if I’m wearing falsies! If you’re looking for an easy way to enhance your lashes, this primer is definitely worth a try.

Available HERE

4.  Whipped Frosting

Pillsbury has introduced a delicious new addition to the baking aisle—whipped frosting! The flavors sound absolutely scrumptious, with options like chocolate, strawberry delight, buttercream, and sweet cream. Each tub has enough frosting to decorate 24 cupcakes, but the possibilities don’t stop there! These fluffy frostings would make perfect fillings for whoopie pies or even a tasty dip for cookies. Honestly, they sound so good, I might just grab a spoon and eat it straight from the container!

5.  Seriously...

Have a fantastic weekend! We were all set to see the Savannah Bananas at Busch Stadium, but earlier this week, they postponed the game until July because of expected rain all weekend. On the bright side, that just gives us something to look forward to for a little longer! Luckily, we have plenty of other fun plans lined up for the weekend, and I can’t wait to wrap up the workday and dive into it all. See you next week!