Penny's Passion

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Now Hear This!

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday where I share something I'm thinking about and invite you to link up and do the same. Today I'm sharing a few of the podcasts on my listen list.

Every morning I love catching a quick recap of the news. Newsworthy is my daily listen while I'm fixing my hair and putting on makeup. It's fast, fair, and fun! All the day's news in less than 10 minutes.

My second podcast playing while I get ready for work is Laura Vanderkam's Before Breakfast. Each day she starts my morning with a productivity tip. The whole message is neatly wrapped in less than 10 minutes. Her mission is to give listeners practical tools to feel less busy and get more done.

Once I week, Emily P Freeman graces us with her thoughts and I look forward to it. I love her tag statement ~

You make thousands of decisions everyday. Many of them are second nature. I’m here for the ones that aren’t.

If you’ve ever made a pro/con list in the middle of the night, you already know that unmade decisions have power.

If you’ve ever experienced chronic hesitation because you’re afraid of making the wrong choice, you already know the dread of anticipated regret.

If you’ve ever experienced decision fatigue, you already know the low grade anxiety that hangs out just beneath the surface.

Every few days Laura Tremaine shares her thoughts on 10 Things to Tell You. She covers all sorts of topics and makes it so fun to listen to. I walk away from every episode with things to think about, a new book I want to read, or a product I want to try.

What are your favorite podcasts? I'd love to add a few more to my library.

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

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - September 15, 2021

Join this week’s blog hop to find inspiration from dozens of bloggers for all things home and family including crafts, decor, DIY, fashion, recipes, fitness, gardening, travel, home improvement, and so much more!

Welcome to another week of the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop! We are so glad that you are here.

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Ahna - HAMMERS N HUGS | FB | IG | PINTEREST
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Weekending - September 10, 2021

What a weekend! I might be loosening my grip on summer and welcoming in fall! We had gorgeous weather this weekend and it was perfect for our outdoor activities on Saturday. Here's a rewind of the weekend ~

After working late Friday night, Eric and I had a relaxing evening watching Ted Lasso. Man, we are loving that show! We look forward to having a new episode drop every week.

Saturday we spent the day at the Ascension Charity Classic golf tournament. Our son and daughter-in-law joined us and it was wonderful spending the day with them! And we got to see some of golf's legends like Jack Nickolaus and Vijay Singh.

It was also nice that they handed out red, white, and blue ribbons to commemorate the anniversary of 9-11. Last week I watched an older clip on YouTube about Gander, Newfoundland and how that community handled 9-11. You can watch it HERE. We should all be more like the residents of Gander.

The golf tournament finished right around dinner time and we were all hungry. We decided to try a new Mexican restaurant Mezcaleria Las Chupacabras. I tend to gauge a place on if I would take my friends there on a girls' weekend. This place passed the test!

We all enjoyed our menu selections, our waiter was fantastic and the atmosphere was great! Definitely will return to this place!

Sunday was spent lounging around the house. I had a paper project I needed to get done. I'm still working on it! Hopefully, I can wrap it up tonight. We also started watching Murder in the Building. I think we are really going to like it! We are only one episode in, but so far it's a winner.

This is a busy week, so I'm sure it will fly by. Hope your week is off to a great start! See you back here soon!

Thursday, September 9, 2021

Five on Friday - September 10, 2021

Happy Friday! You know what Friday means - it's time for Five on Friday! Here we go ~

1. National Day of Encouragement

Sunday is National Day of Encouragement. Now, this is a day we should all lean into! It's a day dedicated to uplifting people around us and making a positive impact. The simple act of noticing a job well done can make someone's day. And it's totally free! So think about how you can offer a reassuring word to someone, praise a job well done, and recognizing others' talents.

2. Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate Bombs

I'm not quite ready to release my hold on summer, but Target is helping ease me into fall. Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate Bombs started showing up on their shelves and for $3 you can take one home. I'm excited to get one and give it a try! I'm also thinking this would make a perfect item to drop in those Boo Bags we will be putting together soon.

3. Apples Never Fall

Liane Moriarty's newest book is being released on Tuesday, September 14. Preorder now and it will be waiting for you to be the first to pop it open. Apple Never Fall sounds like another bestseller to me! Here's the summary from Amazon ~

The Delaney family love one another dearly—it’s just that sometimes they want to murder each other . . .

If your mother was missing, would you tell the police? Even if the most obvious suspect was your father?

This is the dilemma facing the four grown Delaney siblings.

The Delaneys are fixtures in their community. The parents, Stan and Joy, are the envy of all of their friends. They’re killers on the tennis court, and off it their chemistry is palpable. But after fifty years of marriage, they’ve finally sold their famed tennis academy and are ready to start what should be the golden years of their lives. So why are Stan and Joy so miserable?

The four Delaney children—Amy, Logan, Troy, and Brooke—were tennis stars in their own right, yet as their father will tell you, none of them had what it took to go all the way. But that’s okay, now that they’re all successful grown-ups and there is the wonderful possibility of grandchildren on the horizon.

One night a stranger named Savannah knocks on Stan and Joy’s door, bleeding after a fight with her boyfriend. The Delaneys are more than happy to give her the small kindness she sorely needs. If only that was all she wanted.

Later, when Joy goes missing, and Savannah is nowhere to be found, the police question the one person who remains: Stan. But for someone who claims to be innocent, he, like many spouses, seems to have a lot to hide. Two of the Delaney children think their father is innocent, two are not so sure—but as the two sides square off against each other in perhaps their biggest match ever, all of the Delaneys will start to reexamine their shared family history in a very new light.

4. Queenpins

Oh, this movie looks so good! It opens today and I'm hoping Eric and I can squeeze in a trip to the movie theater this weekend to see it. Here's the summary ~

Inspired by a true story, Queenpins is an outrageous comedy about a bored and frustrated suburban homemaker, Connie (Kristen Bell) and her best pal JoJo (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), a vlogger with dreams, who turn a hobby into a multi-million dollar counterfeit coupon caper. After firing off a letter to the conglomerate behind a box of cereal gone stale, and receiving an apology along with dozens of freebies, the duo hatch an illegal coupon club scheme that scams millions from mega-corporations and delivers deals to legions of fellow coupon clippers. On the trail to total coupon dominance, a hapless Loss Prevention Officer (Paul Walter Hauser) from the local supermarket chain joins forces with a determined U.S. Postal Inspector (Vince Vaughn) in hot pursuit of these newly-minted “Queenpins” of pink collar crime.

5. How many...

Have a great weekend! We are going to the Ascension Charity Classic PGA Tour Champions tomorrow. Our son and daughter-in-law are coming with us. I think I'm more excited to be spending the day with them than I am watching the pros play golf! I also have a paper project I need to get wrapped up this weekend. So much fun ahead! See you back next week!

Linking up with:

Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home

Friday Favorites Linky Party - September 10, 2021

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August 2021 Amazon Purchases

Is it just me or did August seems to fly by for all of us? Today on Thinking Out Loud Thursday I'm sharing all my Amazon purchases for the month.

It was a fun month with a week of it spent at the beach with my friend Linda. Some of my Amazon purchases made that trip even better!

Hat for the Beach

Look at this cute hat! I bought it for the beach but forgot to pack it. So it's still in my closet waiting for its debut. I'm going to a golf tournament this weekend. It might just have to come with me!

Beach Umbrella Hanging Hook

I saw this baby at the beginning of summer but didn't put it in my cart until right before we were leaving. It was super easy to use and was perfect to hang stuff on while we were sitting on the beach. It might have been my imagination but I think it actually helped keep our umbrella in the sand.

Beach Umbrella Anchor

Do you use a beach umbrella anchor when you're at the beach? It is a true lifesaver when you're trying to get that umbrella stuck in the sand. We have been using an anchor for years, and on this trip, our old one broke. I bought this before we left the beach and it was waiting at home when we returned. It went straight in our beach tub so I'll have it on our next trip. I'm kind of glad our old one broke because the new one is even better than our old one!

Paris Puzzle

Linda and I are always talking about taking a trip to Paris together. I thought it would be fun to have this puzzle to do at the beach. We did get all the pieces dumped out and turned right side up. That was as far as we got. Guess it will be a puzzle Eric and I work on this winter!

Face Masks

We turned one rainy morning into a spa experience with face masks I had brought from home. I love having these around! They are perfect to tuck in a card or surprise someone with. Buy them in bulk and you will also have one around when you're ready for a spa moment.

Our Harry Potter-loving daughter-in-law celebrated a birthday in August and we gifted her some fun Harry Potter items.

The mailbox got a new look with our new magnetic mailbox cover. It's just an easy way to dress up that plain ole box!

A friend of mine was going through something in her life that wasn't her choice. I thought this book might help her put some things in perspective.

To celebrate fall coming, I purchased a new work tote bag in a nice navy blue color. I carried a pink one all summer and loved it. I bet I'm going to love this blue one for fall too! I know I sure love the price!

Now it's your turn - what are you thinking out loud about today? Link up and share. I'd love to hear from you!

Monday, September 6, 2021

Weekending - September 3, 3021

Hello there! We are technically still weekending over here because Eric and I are both off work for Labor Day. Eric would have typically been working today in his old job, so we are especially grateful to be sharing this day off together! What do we have planned? Cleaning the pantry. I know, that's not a very fun thing to do but the lasting effects will bring us joy for a while. 😊

We kicked off the weekend Friday by seeing a movie Friday night. Our area is back to wearing masks indoors, so we donned ours and supported our local theater.

Respect had been on our list for a few weeks so that's what we picked to see. Both of us liked it very much. It's the story of Aretha Franklin and Jennifer Hudson did a great job portraying her. And Jennifer can sing!

Saturday we woke to rainy skies. It was the perfect day to stay home and relax. I was in the middle of a great book (The Last Flight) so I spent the morning finishing it while listening to the rain come down outside. Guys - if you're looking for your next read, this is a good one! Here's the summary from Amazon ~

"The Last Flight is thoroughly absorbing - not only because of its tantalizing plot and deft pacing, but also because of its unexpected poignancy and its satisfying, if bittersweet, resolution. The characters get under your skin." (The New York Times Book Review)

Two women. Two flights. One last chance to disappear.

Claire Cook has a perfect life. Married to the scion of a political dynasty, with a Manhattan townhouse and a staff of 10, her surroundings are elegant, her days flawlessly choreographed, and her future auspicious. But behind closed doors, nothing is quite as it seems. That perfect husband has a temper that burns as bright as his promising political career, and he's not above using his staff to track Claire's every move, making sure she's living up to his impossible standards. But what he doesn't know is that Claire has worked for months on a plan to vanish.

A chance meeting in an airport bar brings her together with a woman whose circumstances seem equally dire. Together they make a last-minute decision to switch tickets - Claire taking Eva's flight to Oakland, and Eva traveling to Puerto Rico as Claire. They believe the swap will give each of them the head start they need to begin again somewhere far away. But when the flight to Puerto Rico goes down, Claire realizes it's no longer a head start but a new life. Cut off, out of options, with the news of her death about to explode in the media, Claire will assume Eva's identity, and along with it, the secrets Eva fought so hard to keep hidden.

For fans of Lisa Jewell and Liv Constantine, The Last Flight is the story of two women - both alone, both scared - and one agonizing decision that will change the trajectory of both of their lives.

Saturday evening we decided to watch another movie that had been on our list for a while - Let Him Go. Neither of us loved it. Heck, neither of us even liked it. I think it was the worst Kevin Costner movie I've ever seen. We found it slow and the dialogue bland. Did anyone else see it? Did we miss something?

The weather on Sunday was just about perfect! The temps were moderate and the skies were sunny. We went to my brother's house for a bar-b-que. It was wonderful seeing them!

We took samples of Thelma's ice cream sandwiches Eric is now selling. They were a huge hit! If you're in the St. Louis area, they are available at most Schnuck's stores. Try them! They are so good!

We had packed the ice cream sandwiches in dry ice. We put it in a bowl of water and our nephew Kayden loved watching it smoke.

When we got home, we enjoyed a cocktail outside with our neighbors. The perfect way to wind down the day!

I better stop procrastinating and get busy on the pantry. Hope you've had a wonderful weekend and a great week ahead. See you back soon!