Five on Friday - February 26, 2016

Hey guys -- Happy Friday!!  I would be lying if I said I wasn't deliriously happy that the weekend is here.  I was out of town on business Monday through Thursday and I'm so excited to be facing a few days at home.  You know what else I'm deliriously happy about today - I'm the featured blogger over at H54F!  H54F is short for High Five For Friday - clever don't you think.  When I got the email yesterday saying they were featuring me I did a little happy dance.  Hope you have a minute to check it out.

Here's my five for this Friday ~

1.  New Buttons on Facebook
Ever want to express a feeling other than "Like" on Facebook?  Well, now you can!  Five new buttons were added this week that allow you to say Love, Haha, Wow, Sad or Angry in just one little click of a button.  So, are people going to start getting angry now if you just "like" something instead of "loving" it?  Oh the pressure!

2.  Eddie the Eagle

I've been waiting for this one - it just looks so sweet.  Movie Insider sums it up like this:  "Inspired by true events, Eddie the Eagle is a feel-good story about Michael "Eddie" Edwards (Taron Egerton), an unlikely but courageous British ski-jumper who never stopped believing in himself - even as an entire nation was counting him out. With the help of a rebellious and charismatic coach (played by Hugh Jackman), Eddie takes on the establishment and wins the hearts of sports fans around the world by making an improbable and historic showing at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics."  Is it on your list to see?

3.  Oscars - Sunday Night

Roll out the red carpet because Sunday night the Oscars will be handed out.  If you're looking for a free, printable ballot, click HERE.  I've seen six of the eight best picture nominations and I'm hoping to see one more on Saturday.  How about you?  Will you be watching Sunday night?  And why do they have this on Sunday night instead of Saturday?  Don't these people have to go to work on Monday morning like the rest of us?!?

4.  Beautiful The Carole King Musical
My daughter-in-law, Kayla, invited me to see Beautiful The Carole King Musical with her last night and it was spectacular!  If it's coming to a city near you, I highly recommend you see it.  It has definitely moved into my #1 most loved musical spot.  "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" Carole sang.  Heck yes I'll love you tomorrow.  And the day after that!  Yes, it's that good!  

5.  Hope you have a good laugh this weekend....

Besides girls night out tonight, I honestly don't know what's going to be on my agenda this weekend.  Do you have big plans?  Hope you stop back by on Monday to see what I was up to.  Have a great one!

Linking up with:

Rebecca at XOXO Rebecca

Jennie at The Diary of a Real Housewife

Hill Collection

Amy at The Farmer's Wife

Amanda at Meet At The Barre

Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home

High Five for Friday
5 on Friday 
The Jenny Evolution
The Evolution of Mom
Why Girls Are Weird
Ins and Outs

This post contained affiliate links.  I may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase.  Thanks!

Thinking Out Loud Thursday - February 25, 2016

I'm one of those people that loves a good celebration -- and I've been known to celebrate some pretty ridiculous things.  I'm also a sucker for checking out the "National Day Of" calendar frequently and using that as an excuse to celebrate.  Come on, who can't resist having a glass of wine on National Wine Day?!?  

Well, today happens to be the national day for three things I've blogged about in the past so I'm going to resurrect those posts for you to enjoy again.  That's what I'm thinking out loud about today.

First up is National Chocolate Covered Nut Day.  Back in December I shared a recipe for chocolate covered peanuts that I've been making for over 30 years.  One of my sorority sisters shared this recipe with me when we were living in the sorority house and I've been making them ever since.  Might just have to whip up a batch for Easter.

Click HERE to view original post

Today is also National Clam Chowder Day.  We love having big bowl of clam chowder on a cold winter day.  This is a super simple recipe and the taste is fantastic.  Perfect for serving in a bread bowl, or any ole' bowl for that matter.  My version of clam chowder can be found HERE. 

Click HERE to view original post

Last, but certainly not least, it's also National Chili Day.  Chili is one of my favorite winter things to fix on the weekend.  I love to have a big pot of chili cooking and know that we'll have left overs to take for lunch the following week.  Our version of chili can be found HERE.

Are you planning to celebrate any of these three today?  What's your favorite National Day?  

Link up below and tell us what you're thinking out loud about today.   Vanessa over at X-tremely V and I would love to hear from you.  Link up below and share with us what's on your mind.

Enjoy more Thoughts for Thursday at

Home of Malones

East Coast Chic

Hodges Podges

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

While I'm Waiting

The Deliberate Mom

This is How We Roll

Love the Everyday
Party at My Place

This post contained affiliate links.  I may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase.  Thanks!

Weekending - February 19, 2016

Sunday night got here pretty quick this weekend!  We had absolutely gorgeous weather here this weekend.  It was such a gift to have a couple days of 75+ degree days.  Oh my goodness, it makes me want Spring to get here.  Let me run a little recap of my weekend past you.

Friday night I worked late....again.  This is becoming a habit I need to break.  Work carried over to Saturday, but the good part was I brought work home with me and I was able to sit outside for a bit, working, enjoying the sunshine.

Before the afternoon was over, I did manage to wash my car.  It had so much dirt and grime on it from driving during the snowy days you could barely tell what color was hiding underneath.

It's a goal of mine every year to see all the movies nominated for Best Picture.  This year there are eight nominees and to date, I've seen 6.  The two I have left are Brooklyn and Spotlight.  
Late Saturday afternoon, I met up with my friend Rachel to see The Big Short.  The whole concept of this movie is so intriguing (the collapse of the housing market).  Great acting and I can totally see why it was nominated.  I have to admit, when I watch a movie with Steve Carell cast in a serious role, I have a bit of a hard time taking him seriously.  I keep thinking Michael Scott is going to pop out.

After the movie, it was on to my friend Janet's retirement party.  One of our friends from work hosted a lovely cocktail party to celebrate Janet's new phase in life.  It was catered by The Social Affair.  If you're in the St. Louis area and looking for a caterer, you should keep them in mind.  Check out their creations ~

Shrimp and Grits - Oh My!

 

It was so fun having lots on friends together celebrating this milestone of Janet's life.  You might remember, Janet and I sat next to each other for 18 years.  It's different at work without her sitting across from me, but I'm excited for her to have the freedom to see more of her family and days filled with all the things she loves doing.

Sunday wasn't as warm as Saturday had been, but it was still a nice day. This was the first Sunday Eric had been off work in weeks.  We celebrated by going to church together and then having lunch with Ian and Kayla.  Great way to spend the day!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!  I'm out of town on business until Thursday.  Then the real fun will begin ~ Kayla invited me to see Beautiful The Carol King Musical and I can't wait to see it!  Have a fabulous Monday friends!

Check out what others were up to this weekend.

Champagne and Suburbs

B Loved Boston

More Pieces of Me

Bella and the City
The Quinntessential Mommy
How To Get Organized At Home
Over the Moon
This post contained affiliate links.  I may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase.  Thanks!

Let's Get a Little Crabby

I have a thing for Crab Rangoon, but making each individual little rangoon isn't my favorite thing to do.  So when I ran across this recipe for Crab Rangoon dip, I knew I wanted to give it a try.  We whipped up a batch the last time Ian and Kayla came over -- everyone loved it!  Thought you might enjoy it too so I'm sharing the recipe with you today.

Here's What You Need

2 cups crab meat (I used Crab Classic)

2 blocks (16 oz.) cream cheese

1/2 cup sour cream

2 green onions, chopped

1-1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 Tbls. powdered sugar

1/2 tsp. garlic power (not salt like is in the picture)

1/2 tsp lemon juice

Here's What You Do

Soften the cream cheese in the microwave for a minute.

Chop the green onions (including the green stems).  

Mix chopped green onions, crab meat, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, powdered sugar, garlic power and lemon juice together.

Bake for 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  

Serve hot.  You can dip crackers, fried wontons, pork rinds, or my favorite, Stacy's chips.  It tastes pretty wonderful!  

Let me chat about the crab meat I used for a minute.  My favorite is Crab Classic.  You can find it in the refrigerated seafood section of your grocery store.  Crab Classic is my go to crab meat for tons of reasons.  

Crab Classic products are made in a 100% gluten-free facility and is certified heart healthy by the American Heart Association.  It is made from wild Alaskan Pollock and King Crab meat.  If you would like to check out this product in more detail, hop over to their website at http://www.trans-ocean.com/crab_classic.html.

For this recipe, I purchased two bags of the crab meat and had a bit left over.  The bag is resealable, so I just sealed it up and popped it in the frig.  The next day, I tossed it on my salad for lunch.  It's only 80 calories for 1/2 cup serving!  

Just look at this goodness!

There's a recipe on the back of the package for Real Simply Seafood Salad.  I'm definitely serving it at my next luncheon!  Do you have a favorite crab meat recipe?  Would love to hear about it.

Linking up with:
Pint Sized Baker
Mandy's Recipe Box

Handmade Tuesday's with Kristen

Let's Be Friends Blog Hop with The Dwelling Tree

Green Fashionista and Martinis & Bikinis: Recipe Swap Eat Drink & Be Mary: Delicious Dish Tuesday Love From The Kitchen: Tuesday's Table The Diary of a Real Housewife My Own Home Caleigh's Kitchen Tuesday Talk Pennies into Pearls Simply Sweet Home

This post contained affiliate links.  I may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase.  Thanks!

Five on Friday - February 19, 2016

Welcome to Friday! Wow, this week has flown by for me. I've been working a lot and still have a lot of work to go before I'm ready for a program at my real job next week.  I'm looking forward to a great weekend so I'll be all rested up and ready to go on Monday.  Before I start the weekend, here's my Five on Friday ~

1.  Our New Niece - Nevaeh
We got a very special surprise last week.  My brother's family adopted a precious little girl and they named her Nevaeh.  Her name is Heaven spelled backwards and she truly has been sent from there.  Eric and I went to their house last weekend to meet her and she stole our hearts.  We are so blessed to have her in our family!

2. Downton Abbey
There are so many things I love about Downton Abbey and I know I'm really going to miss this series when it concludes on March 6.  One of the things I'm going to miss the most is Maggie Smith and her witty comments as she plays Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham.  When I ran across this you tube video, I knew it was going to be one of my favorites this week.  What are you going to miss about Downton when it concludes?


3.  2016 Grammy Nominees CD
Eric has gotten me the Grammy Nominees CD for the last several years and I absolutely love them!  It's all the best songs wrapped up in one great package.  Artists like Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, and Meghan Trailor and many more have hits on this year's disc - 21 in total.  Great mix of music!

Click HERE to purchase

4. Finger Puppets
I was searching for some Easter basket ideas this week for my little niece and nephews and ran across these adorable little finger puppets. How cute are they!?! The set includes one elephant, rabbit, bear, cow, mouse, panda, frog, duck, koala and dog. Each are approximately 2-1/2" in size. All ten are only $6.99, with free shipping! How could I pass them up?

Click HERE to purchase

5.  Words to Live By....


Have a wonderful weekend!  I'm hoping not to have to work on Saturday during the day and then we're going to a retirement party for my friend Janet who retired a few weeks ago  in the evening.  A bonus this weekend is our weather is supposed to be in the 70s!  Woo Hoo!  I might have to break out the sunscreen!  See you back here next week!
  

Linking up with:

Rebecca at XOXO Rebecca

Jennie at The Diary of a Real Housewife

Hill Collection

Amy at The Farmer's Wife

Amanda at Meet At The Barre

Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home

High Five for Friday
5 on Friday 
The Jenny Evolution
The Evolution of Mom
Why Girls Are Weird
Ins and Outs

This post contained affiliate links.  I may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase.  Thanks!