Five on Friday - August 14, 2026

Happy Friday, friends! We made it to the end of another week, so let’s jump right into this week’s Five on Friday. I’ve got a fun mix of things to share with you today, so grab your coffee and let’s get to my five!

1.  SIX:  The Musical Live!

SIX:  The Musical Live! is hitting the big screen today and it's going straight on my watch list!  If you're not familiar with this musical, it's the story of Henry VIII's six wives.  The smash-hit musical puts a fun, modern spin on their history and tells their side of the story.  It's full of catchy pop songs, fabulous costumes and tons of girl-power energy.  I was lucky enough to see the play on Broadway during my last trip to New York and am excited to see it on the big screen.

2.  What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking:  Make It Fast

That dreaded daily question: What in the world am I going to make for dinner? We’ve all been there! This brand-new cookbook just hit the shelves this week, and it might be the answer to that question over and over again. Packed with fresh ideas and plenty of inspiration, it could make deciding what’s for dinner a whole lot easier!

Caroline Chambers famously doesn’t feel like cooking―and she’s built a whole brand on that premise. Her superpowers are eliminating unnecessary steps; minimizing dirty dishes; and making dinnertime as simple, stress-free, and fun as possible. While plenty of obstacles stand between you and a delicious meal, being short on time is probably the biggest one.
This exciting follow-up cookbook is once again organized into three time-based chapters. You’ll find recipes for 100 dinners, all of which are complete meals and can be made with no more than 30 minutes hands-on time in the kitchen―and yes, that includes chopping, marinating, and all other prep! Delicious meals include:

Flank Steak with Elote Salsa
Fish and Veggie Curry
Rotisserie-ish Chicken with Schmaltzy Lemon Dressing
Smoky Black Beans
Fried Rice

Every quick and easy recipe features Caro’s signature swaps, riffs, tips, and shortcuts to empower you to make these recipes work for you―not the other way around! You’ll also find special treasures throughout the book, including anchor recipes you can spin into five different dishes so you can DIY your favorites.

Plus, helpful back-of-book indexes allow you to search by both ingredient―useful when, say, you’ve got ground meat in the freezer―and occasion or mood―like when you cannot be bothered to chop a single thing. Even on the nights when you think there’s no way, no how, What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking: Make It Fast will help you get a full, flavorful meal on the table in basically no time.

Available HERE

3.  Teeth Whitening Strips

I restocked one of my tried-and-true favorites this week—whitening strips! I love having these on hand whenever my smile needs a little refresh. They’re such an easy way to brighten things up at home without adding another appointment to the calendar. If you’ve been thinking your smile could use a little boost, these whitening strips might be worth adding to your cart!

Available HERE

4.  Mosquito Coils

I’m always looking for ways to keep mosquitoes from ruining our time outside, and these KING Citronella Coils caught my eye! They’re a favorite in Hawaii and are made with citronella, a plant-based oil traditionally used outdoors. Each coil burns slowly for up to eight hours, making them perfect for evenings on the patio, backyard BBQs, camping trips, or even taking along to the beach. I also love that they come in both 10-coil and 60-coil packs with reusable metal stands, so you can choose the size that works best for you. If mosquitoes love you as much as they love me, these might be worth having on hand for your next outdoor adventure! 

Available HERE

5.  Oh no...

Have a great weekend, friends! We’re kicking ours off with our church small group tonight, followed by dinner with friends tomorrow evening. Other than that, I plan on taking it easy and staying inside where it’s nice and cool because it’s going to be a HOT one! I'm reading The Divorce by Freida McFadden and can hardly put it down. Whatever you have planned, I hope your weekend is filled with a little fun, a little relaxation, and plenty of air conditioning! Stay cool, and I’ll see you back here next week!

Let's Make Tomato Pie!

Hi friends! Thanks so much for stopping by Thinking Out Loud Thursday! This is a time when I share something that’s on my mind and invite you to link up and do the same.

Today, I’m thinking about tomatoes—lots and lots of tomatoes! Our little bitty garden is producing them faster than we can eat them, and I’ve been trying to figure out what in the world I’m going to do with all of them. Then I remembered a Tomato Pie recipe I shared on the blog four years ago. It was so good then, and with all these fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes sitting on my counter, I decided it was definitely time to bring this recipe back for a revisit!  Here's the post from 2022 ~

Our little garden has been overflowing with ripe tomatoes recently.  Even after sharing tomatoes with anyone who will take them, our kitchen counter is still lined with the ripe red gems.  I looked through my recipes to find one that used tomatoes and found one for Tomato Pie.  I whipped one up and it was delicious!  So delicious that I want to share the recipe with you.

Here's What You Need

1 9-Inch Deep Dish Pie Crust

4-6 Tomatoes (depending on the size)

10 Basil Leaves (julienned)

3 Green Onions (chopped)

1 Cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1 Cup Mayonnaise

Salt and Pepper

6 Slices Thick Cut Bacon

Here's What You Do

Bake the pie shell according to the directions on the package.

The tomatoes need to be peeled.  An easy way to do this is to place the tomatoes in boiling water for about 30 seconds, then immediately put them in a bowl filled with ice water.  This little trick makes the skins on the tomatoes peel right off.

Slice the tomatoes and place them in a strainer.  Salt and let set to drain for 10-15 minutes.  Lay the tomato slices on a paper towel and pat them to remove as much liquid as possible.

While the tomatoes are draining, mix the mayonnaise and cheeses.  Set aside.

On top of the two layers of tomatoes, spread the mayo-cheese mixture.

Sprinkle the bacon crumbles on top and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

This dish was quick and easy to make.  We served it with a salad and enjoyed every bite!

Now it's your turn.  Link up and share what you're thinking out loud about today!

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Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - August 12, 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.

1. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
2. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X
3. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
4. Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE

HIGHLIGHT LINKS

How To Decoupage Oyster Shells into Trinket Dishes

Bacon Ranch Roll Recipe

Make Marbled Paper with Shaving Cream

Simple Blackberry Cobbler

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 - August 7, 2026

We've made it to Friday!  Let's hear it for the weekend!  I'm kicking it off by sharing by Five on Friday ~

1.   The Unknown by Riley Sager

If you love a good thriller, add The Unknown by Riley Sager to your TBR list! This brand-new release sounds like the kind of book that will have you saying, “just one more chapter” until suddenly it’s way past your bedtime. Riley Sager is known for delivering plenty of suspense, twists and turns, and I have a feeling this one will be no exception. It might just be the perfect book to toss in your beach bag this summer!

Struggling actress Marin Keane is shocked when she lands a role in a major motion picture about the unsolved mystery of New Avalon, an island on sprawling Lake Faraday in Vermont. She’s even more surprised when she learns that the role requires a weeklong research trip to that very spot.

Because New Avalon isn’t your ordinary island. A century ago, it was a commune for spiritual mediums—until they all vanished in 1926. The only trace of them was five dresses hanging from the branches of an old oak tree in the middle of the island, one for each missing woman. Some locals say they simply left. Others think they were murdered. But the prevailing opinion, thanks to a diary left behind by one of the vanished, a young woman named Daisy Rue, is that a séance gone wrong conjured something supernatural that took them all one by one.

Not long after arriving, Marin and her castmates, including legendary actress Violet Wright and white-hot director Ronan Peters, begin to realize all is not right with New Avalon. They hear strange noises in the night and notice mysterious symbols left behind by the island's previous occupants. And after a sudden health emergency leaves Marin, Ronan, and the other actors stranded on the island, the disappearances begin again.

Is it the work of someone trying to derail the movie? Or is the island’s alleged supernatural past catching up with the present? As fear and suspicion mount, Marin turns to Daisy’s diary, hoping it holds the key to figuring out what really happened to the women of New Avalon—and how to keep the island’s terrible history from repeating itself.

Available HERE

2.  Ted Lasso - Season 4

Ted Lasso is back! After a three-year break, Season 4 premiered this week on Apple TV, and I’m so excited to have the gang back together. This season has 10 episodes, with a new one dropping every Wednesday through the finale on October 7. Ted returns to Richmond for a whole new challenge—coaching AFC Richmond’s newly formed second-division women’s soccer team, the Lady Greyhounds. And thankfully, plenty of our favorites are back, including Rebecca, Roy Kent, Keeley, Coach Beard, Higgins, Nate, Sam and Jamie Tartt. The new storyline introduces several new faces as Ted and his team take chances they never thought they would. If you’ve missed the humor, heart and feel-good moments that made this show so special, it looks like Season 4 is going to give us plenty more reasons to BELIEVE!

3.  Sunglass Case

I’ve been throwing my sunglasses in my purse all summer, and every time I do it I know I’m taking a chance! It’s only a matter of time before I pull them out and discover a big scratch right across the lens. I finally decided to get ahead of the problem and ordered these sunglass cases. They’re such a simple little thing, but they make a big difference! I love that they protect my glasses without taking up a ton of room in my purse, and now I don’t have to worry about my keys or everything else floating around in there scratching them up. They’re also great for keeping an extra pair of readers or sunglasses tucked in your car, beach bag or travel tote. If you’re guilty of tossing your glasses straight into your purse like I am, do yourself a favor and grab a few of these cases. Your sunglasses will thank you!

Available HERE

4.  Velvet Hangers

I added more of my favorite hangers to my closet this week, and there’s just something so satisfying about opening the door and seeing all the hangers match! It instantly makes the whole closet look neater and more organized. These hangers are slim, so they take up less space than bulky plastic ones, and I love that clothes stay put instead of constantly slipping onto the floor. They’re sturdy enough for everyday use while still giving your closet that clean, uniform look. If your closet could use a little refresh, swapping out a hodgepodge of hangers for a matching set is such an easy and affordable upgrade. Fair warning—you might love the look so much that you’ll want to replace every hanger in the house!

Available HERE

5.  Oh no!

And that wraps up my five for this week! We’ve got a fun weekend ahead, and I’m more than ready to close the laptop and get it started. I hope your weekend is filled with a little sunshine, plenty of relaxation and something that makes you smile. Thanks so much for stopping by today and spending a few minutes with me. Have a wonderful weekend, friends, and I’ll see you back here next week!

What I Read in July 2026

Hello, friends, and welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday! Each week, I share whatever has been on my mind lately, and I'd love for you to join in by linking up and sharing what's on yours, too.

Since it's the first Thursday of the month, that means it's time for one of my favorite posts—looking back at all the books I read during the previous month. I always enjoy reflecting on what I loved, what surprised me, and which titles I'd recommend adding to your own reading list. So, let's dive in!

An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff

An Invisible Thread was our book club read for July, and what a wonderful selection it was!  This is an older book (2011), but I'd never even heard of it before.  It was a very interesting story and had great takeaways.  It might even make you rethink some of your actions.

Stopping was never part of the plan...

She was a successful ad sales rep in Manhattan. He was a homeless, eleven-year-old panhandler on the street. He asked for spare change; she kept walking. But then something stopped her in her tracks, and she went back. And she continued to go back, again and again. They met up nearly every week for years and built an unexpected, life-changing friendship that has today spanned almost three decades.

Whatever made me notice him on that street corner so many years ago is clearly something that cannot be extinguished, no matter how relentless the forces aligned against it. Some may call it spirit. Some may call it heart. It drew me to him, as if we were bound by some invisible, unbreakable thread. And whatever it is, it binds us still.​

Available HERE

Happier Here with You by Amy Gail Hansen

This book was my free book selection from Amazon First Read from June.  If you're in the mood for a heartwarming story filled with family, food, and second chances, Happier Here with You by Amy Gail Hansen is one to add to your list. The story follows a widowed mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when she reconnects with a long-lost relative. Along the way, she discovers that healing often comes in the form of cherished recipes, meaningful relationships, and the courage to embrace new beginnings. It has all the ingredients of an uplifting women's fiction novel—warm, hopeful, and full of heart. If you enjoy stories about found family and the power of community, this one is definitely worth picking up.

Available HERE

Yesteryear by Caro Clair Burke

I had been hearing so much hype about Yesteryear that I finally caved and moved it to the top of my TBR list.  Honestly, I have mixed feelings about this one.  I was all in until near the end, then it got a little weird.  Have you read it?  What are your thoughts?

My name was Natalie Heller Mills, and I was perfect at being alive.

Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle. Her charming farmhouse is rustic, her husband a handsome cowboy, her six children each more delightful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers behind the scenes, her kitchen hiding industrial-grade fridges and ovens, her husband the heir to a political dynasty? What Natalie’s followers—all 8 million of them—don’t know won’t hurt them. And The Angry Women? The privileged, Ivy League, coastal elite haters who call her an antifeminist iconoclast? They’re sick with jealousy. Because Natalie isn’t simply living the good life, she’s living the ideal—and just so happens to be building an empire from it.

Until one morning she wakes up in a life that isn’t hers. Her home, her husband, her children—they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Her kitchen is warmed by a sputtering fire rather than electricity, her children are dirty and strange, and her soft-handed husband is suddenly a competent farmer. Just yesterday Natalie was curating photos of homemade jam for her Instagram, and now she’s expected to haul firewood and handwash clothes until her fingers bleed. Has she become the unwitting star of a ruthless reality show? Could it really be time travel? Is she being tested by God? By Satan? When Natalie suffers a brutal injury in the woods, she realizes two things: This is not her beautiful life, and she must escape by any means possible.

A gripping, electrifying novel that is as darkly funny as it is frightening, Yesteryear is a gimlet-eyed look at tradition, fame, faith, and the grand performance of womanhood.

Available HERE

How to Ruin a Wedding by Elba Luz

This was my Amazon First Reads pick for July. In the past, I've done a pretty poor job of actually reading the books I select each month, but I made it a goal to change that—and I'm happy to report that July was a success! How to Ruin a Wedding was a light, entertaining read with plenty of humor. It was the perfect book to pick up when I wanted something fun and easy to escape into.

When a professional wedding crasher storms the wrong party, an irresistibly charming man enlists her services for a job that’s about to give her outlook on love a run for its money.

Lucy Delgado knows all about things that don’t work out. Between two failed marriages and losing her job, “meant to be” doesn’t seem to mean much anymore. And watching her sister’s marriage deteriorate isn’t convincing Lucy otherwise.

Desperate for money and disillusioned by love, she turns her nothing-left-to-lose attitude into action as a professional wedding saboteur. Lucy knows how to play any part―old lover, nosy relative, wise stranger―to save brides and grooms from making the same mistakes she did.

Until she crashes the wrong ceremony.

For Anders Kennedy, Lucy’s timing couldn’t be better. She’s exactly what he needs to derail his own sister’s upcoming nuptials by posing as Anders’s new girlfriend so she can slip into the family circle and sabotage from within. And Anders has the kind of money Lucy can’t afford to turn down.

As they fake-date their way through family celebrations, high jinks, and secrets, Lucy and Anders are forced to confront their cynicism about marriage. Their schemes were meant for the greater good, but what if love really does conquer all?

Available HERE

Overall, it was a fantastic reading month! Looking ahead, I'm even more excited because we'll be spending a few days at the beach this month. I can already picture myself settling into a beach chair, listening to the waves, and getting lost in a great book. There's just something about reading by the water that makes every story even better. I can't wait to see what adventures await between the pages this month!

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 - August 5, 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.

1. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
2. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X
3. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
4. Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE

HIGHLIGHT LINKS

Homemade Rosy Citrus Herb Household Cleaner

How to Use Thrifted Frames

Watermelon Slush

Strawberry Ice Cream

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 - July 31, 2026

Hi - I'm just back from a little getaway and am excited to share my five for today.  Let's jump right in ~

1.  Spider-Man:  Brand New Day

Spider-Man is swinging back into theaters this weekend with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and it looks like this chapter is taking a more emotional turn. After the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker is navigating life in a world that no longer remembers who he is while continuing to protect New York as everyone's favorite neighborhood superhero. Of course, there are plenty of action-packed battles, but early reviews say this installment also focuses on Peter's loneliness, resilience, and what it truly means to be a hero. If you're a Marvel fan—or just looking for a fun summer blockbuster—this one should definitely be on your weekend watch list!

2.  Furious Violet by Sarai Walker

As soon as I read the synopsis for this one, it immediately landed on my TBR list. Here's the publisher's description:

Violet “West” Shelley, a self-described “low-brow” crime journalist, has unwillingly spent her life in the spotlight, as the only daughter of a legendary poet and feminist icon who died tragically young. Now as West approaches fifty—burned out, creatively blocked, and far older than her mother ever was—she retreats to her desolate Colorado hometown to finish a long-overdue book about the Crying Killer, a serial killer who sobs for his mother after committing his crimes.

But what begins as a bid for solitude quickly spirals into something far more sinister. A stalker emerges—mysterious, relentless, and disturbingly intimate—claiming that West is their mother; yet West knows this is impossible. As threatening messages escalate and her carefully constructed life starts to unravel, West is drawn into a chilling psychological web where the boundaries between fiction and reality collapse.

Is she being watched? Hunted? Or is her own mind turning against her?

Gripping, provocative, and laced with pitch-black humor, Furious Violet is a psychological thrill ride and a fierce exploration of motherhood, fame, and the question of who can lay claim to women’s legacies. Sarai Walker delivers a heroine unlike any other: damaged, defiant, and utterly unforgettable.

Available HERE

3.  Wireless Bottle Lamps

If you love creating a cozy atmosphere, these wireless bottle lamps are such a fun find! Simply place one on top of your favorite wine bottle, decorative glass bottle, or vase, and instantly transform it into a beautiful, one-of-a-kind lamp. Because they're rechargeable and cordless, you can use them anywhere—from your patio table and front porch to a bookshelf or bedside table—without worrying about finding an outlet. They're an easy way to add soft, warm lighting to your home, and they also make a thoughtful hostess, housewarming, or birthday gift. It's one of those simple little purchases that makes a surprisingly big impact!

Available HERE

4.  The Bombing of Pan Am 103

If you're looking for a compelling true story to binge this weekend, Netflix just released The Bombing of Pan Am 103. This six-part limited series follows the aftermath of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, focusing on the massive international investigation led by Scottish police and the FBI as they searched for those responsible. Rather than sensationalizing the tragedy, the series highlights the determination of investigators and the resilience of the victims' families in their decades-long pursuit of justice. It's an emotional, thought-provoking watch that's perfect for fans of true crime and historical dramas.

5.  Yep...

And that's a wrap on this week's Five on Friday! I hope you found a new book to add to your TBR, a movie or TV show to enjoy, or a fun find to brighten your home. As for me, I'm looking forward to being back home after quite the travel adventure this week and settling into a quieter weekend. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with a little rest, a little fun, and lots of reasons to smile. See you back here next week!