Five on Friday -- January 27, 2017

Yay -- we made it to Friday!  Are you ready for the weekend?  Even though I'm going to be doing a little bit of work for my real job, I'm still glad it's the weekend.  And who can believe that this is the last weekend in January already!?!  Boy, this month has flown by.

Before today gets away from me, here's my five for this week.

1.  Happy Birthday to My Brother
My little brother is celebrating a birthday today - Happy Birthday Ernie!  When Ernie was born I was twelve years old.  He became my living doll.  I would tote him around and try to teach him all kinds of tricks.  Now that we're adults, he is always there to help me with whatever crazy thing I need.  Happy birthday, Ernie!  Hope you have a wonderful day!

2.  Fitbit Charge 2 Heart Rate
A friend of mine at work has been sporting this Fitbit and has totally sold me on the idea that I need one.  I added it to my Wish List on Amazon and have been viewing it on a daily basis wondering if I should buy it or not.  Today I looked and it's $20 off.  That's a sign that I should buy it, right?!?  It has some great features ~
>See call, text & calendar notifications on the OLED display; Automatically track how long and how well you sleep and wake with a silent vibrating alarm.

>Get a better understanding of your fitness level and see how you can improve over time with a personalized Cardio Fitness Score; Use Connected GPS during run mode to see real-time stats like pace and distance on your wrist.

>Track all-day activity like steps, distance, calories burned, floors climbed and active minutes;Find moments of calm throughout your day with personalized guided breathing sessions based on your heart rate.

                   

Another thing I love about this Fitbit is you can get a band that looks like a more traditional watch band.  Just look at this one.  What do you think?  Should I buy it?

3.  Socket Sealers
Have you ever noticed that in the winter you can feel coldness around your outlets?  Well, these little things can help with that issue! Amazon says, "Electrical sockets and switch plates on exterior walls can be hidden sources of drafts that may lead to high heating and cooling costs. Duck Brand Socket Sealers Insulating Seals act as a buffer between your home's inside and the outdoor air, helping to keep conditioned air in and outside air out. The seal is easily installed by fitting snuggly behind the outlet or switch's outer faceplate cover."  They are super easy to install yourself and right now on Amazon they are only $2.88 for a pack of 16!  That's a steal!  Do yourself a favor and pick up a pack. We have them on all our exterior outlets.  Click HERE to get some.

4.  Valentine's Mailbox Wrap
I decorated the outside of our house last weekend for Valentine's Day (no, I haven't done anything on the inside yet).  I just love this mailbox wrap we have for our mailbox!  It's magnetic and stays put by hugging your mailbox.  It comes with an adapter if your mailbox happens to not be metal.  We've had ours for four years now and it looks the same as the day we bought it.  Now for the inside - hopefully I can get those decorations up before Valentine's Day is over!


5.  Who hasn't done this....



Okay guys, let's get this weekend thing started!  I'm hoping some angel takes over my body and I get everything on my to do list done.  Seems like that list just keeps getting longer instead of shorter.  :)  Hope your weekend is fantastic!  See you back here soon.

Linking up with:

Jennie at The Diary of a Real Housewife

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 
Why Girls Are Weird

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

Friday Favorites - January 27, 2017

Happy Friday! Boy, do we have some great features today!  Enjoy!

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Christine at Light and Savvy - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Jen at Creatively Homemade - Twitter | G+ | Pin

Dawn at LeroyLime - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Maisy at Becoming Alice - FB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage Presents - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin

Penny at Penny's Passion - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas Sky - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

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Thinking Out Loud Thursday - January 26, 2017

Hello!  Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday!  So glad you popped in and, if you are a blogger, hope you link your favorite post below.

Today I'm thinking about the Academy Award nominations.  Tuesday morning, bright and early, Jennifer Hudson, Brie Larson, Emmanuel Lubezki, Jason Reitman and Ken Watanabe joined Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs to fill us in on who got a nomination nod.



It's kind of a thing with me, I try to see all the Best Picture nominated films.  It's an added bonus if I can see all the movies that have the best actors and actresses.  Which means the months of January and February I'm in the movie theaters A LOT!  Popcorn for dinner anyone?!? Do you try to see all the nominated films?

This year, here's the Best Picture nominations ~

Arrival

Fences

Hacksaw Ridge

Hell or High Water

Hidden Figures

La La Land

Lion

Manchester by the Sea

Moonlight

So of the 9 nominated films, as of today I've seen only 4.  

Arrival

Fences

Hacksaw Ridge

Hell or High Water

Hidden Figures

La La Land

Lion

Manchester by the Sea

Moonlight

Of the ones I've seen, Hidden Figures is my favorite.  Manchester by the Sea is my least.  If there's anyone out there that likes it, please message me.  I would truly like to hear what all the hype is about.  I had to have missed something because I'm not seeing it.  

Can't wait for Jimmy Kimmel to host the show on Sunday, February 26!  Some years I've hosted an Oscar party that even includes a red carpet.  This year I think I'll quietly watch the show without the fuss of a formal get together.  Love watching the red carpet and seeing all the dresses parade in!  Click HERE for a 2017 Oscar ballot if you what to take a stab at who you think will be the big winners.

Here's some fun facts about the actual Oscars ~
     - The Oscar statue weighs 8.5 pounds and stands 13-1/2 inches tall.
     - The Godfather: Part II (1974) is the only sequel to have won the Best Picture award.
     - Bob Hope has hosted the Oscars 19 times, making him the most frequent host ever.
     - The seating capacity of the Dolby Theatre on Oscar night is 3,300 seats.
     - The length of the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre is 152.4 metres (500 feet).

But enough of what I'm thinking out loud about today ~ what's on your mind?  Link up below and let us know.

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Enjoy more Thoughts for Thursday at:

Home of Malones

East Coast Chic

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

This is How We Roll

Bows and Clothes
Eat Teach Blog

Let's Make Garlic Parmesan Pretzels

Hey guys -- I found a recipe over at Certified Pastry Aficionado that I just must share with you - Garlic Parmesan Pretzels!  I saw them on Sharon's blog last week and immediately pinned it.  We were celebrating January birthdays at work today so it was the perfect opportunity to give them a try.  They were a huge hit and so easy to make that they will definitely be a new go-to snack at our house.

Here's What You Need

1 pound pretzel bites (I used Snyder's Sourdough Nibblers)

1/2 cup canola oil (not olive oil)

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

2 teaspoons dried dill

2 teaspoons garlic powder

Here's What You Do

Preheat your oven to 225 degree Fahrenheit.

Dump everything in a gallon size Ziploc bag and seal shut.  Toss around until all the pretzels are well coated.  If you're cooking with a small child, this could be a great job for them!

When pretzels are well coated, place them on a baking sheet.  Make sure your baking sheet is large enough that you have a single layer of pretzels.

Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes.  Take them out of the oven, give them a little stir and place back in the over for another 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.  At Sharon's recommendation, I sprinkled a little more Parmesan cheese over the top.  Oh so good!

Thanks Sharon at Certified Pastry Aficionado for this wonderful snack idea.  I can't wait to try some of her other recipes.  So many look so good!

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

JENerally Informed The Diary of a Real Housewife My Own Home While I'm Waiting Tuesday Talk Simply Sweet Home

Five on Friday - January 20, 2017

Oh my gosh -- I can't express how glad I am that it's Friday!  I've been away on business all week and get to return home today.  Can.Not.Wait!

Hope you enjoy today's five ~

1.  Ticket to Ride
Every year we head to Kansas City to join our friends for New Year's Eve.  The holiday is spent playing all kinds of board and card games.  This year we added a new game to the mix - Ticket to Ride.  Have you played before?  So much fun!!  The game has a variety of strategic and tactical choices as you build railroads across the US and Canada, making it a little different every time you play.  If you have 30-60 minutes and 2-5 players, you should give this game a try.  We loved it so much that we had to buy the game to have at our house.  Anyone want to come over and play?  If you want one for your family, click HERE to purchase.

2.  Shout Color Catcher
Who has ever put a red shirt in the same laundry load as their favorite white one?  (My hand is raised.)  We all know the terrible results that can produce.  Scared to give the task of washing clothes to your teenager for fear your entire wardrobe will turn a soft pink color?  Well, fear no more!  These Shout Color Catcher sheets lock up loose dyes and prevent them from bleeding all over your other clothes.  That's right, no need to sort!  Now you don't have to do just a half load.  Load it up with all your colors, toss in a Shout Color Catcher and be on your way.  Need some?  Get yours HERE!



3.  Birchbox 
You've heard me say a million times how much I love my Birchbox.  My friend Tracy gave me my first subscription for a birthday present and I've been a loyal subscriber ever since.  If you haven't taken the plunge and joined, now might be the perfect time for you.  Right now new subscribers get an extra box for FREE by using the code DOUBLEFUN.  That's right -- you can get TWO boxes, each filled with five magical beauty products for just $10!  Pretty cool deal.  Click HERE to check it out.

4.  This Is Us
Are you a fan of This Is Us??  I sure am and was thrilled to read that NBC has renewed it for a second AND third season!!  Whoop!  Whoop!  Will we get to see Kate loose weight?  Will Kevin settle down with a love of his life?  Will Randall totally forgive Rebecca?  Hopefully over the next 2 years we will find out!



5.  Time to go on a diet....



Have a great weekend!  We are headed to Eric's hometown to finally celebrate Christmas with his mom.  I've got a list of things I want to do around the house a mile long so hopefully some of that will be happening too.  Whatever you're doing, I hope you have a wonderful time.  Hope to see you back here soon!

Linking up with:

Jennie at The Diary of a Real Housewife

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 
Why Girls Are Weird

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

Friday Favorites - January 20, 2017

It's Friday!  Who else is ready for the weekend?!?  You are going to love the features today!  My pick is from Lolly Jane (don't you just love them!) with their Raspberry Creme and Brownie Trifle for Two.  Hope you join it and all the others ~
s 

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Christine at Light and Savvy - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Jen at Creatively Homemade - Twitter | G+ | Pin

Dawn at LeroyLime - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Maisy at Becoming Alice - FB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage Presents - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin

Penny at Penny's Passion - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas Sky - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

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You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

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Thinking Out Loud Thursday - January 19, 2017

Happy Thursday!  We've almost made it to the weekend!  Thanks for popping in today for some Thinking Out Loudness.

I've been away from home all week for work and am really looking forward to getting back there on Friday.  It seems when I'm away I get all fired up about the things I'm going to do when I arrive back home.  Mind you, last weekend I was in my house most of the weekend and managed to get little to nothing done.  But I have high hopes that this weekend will be different.

As you know, Monday was Martin Luther King Day.  Since many people had the day off, it meant for those of us who had to work traffic was fantastic!  To make the day even better, I saw so many great quotes from Dr. King.  Now, I have to admit, I'm a true sucker for a good quote. So to keep my spirits high and my motivation at a peak level, I thought I would reminisce about some of the great quotes I saw on Monday ~

Do you have a favorite quote?  Hope some of these inspire you!  And here's hoping I'll stay inspired to do some great things when I get home on Friday.  :)

Now it's your turn ~ link up below and let us know what you're thinking out loud about!  I'd love to hear from you!

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Enjoy more Thoughts for Thursday at:

Home of Malones

East Coast Chic

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

This is How We Roll

Bows and Clothes
Eat Teach Blog

Five on Friday - January 13, 2017

This is what we are bracing for this weekend:

The weather forecast has totally taken over normal life around here.  The grocery stores are packed, gas stations don't have a single available pump and school/events are getting cancelled left and right!  My plan is to head into work early and hope to leave before all the craziness starts.  If I miss my window to get home safely, I'll just hang out at the office and eat all the food in the vending machines.

Before the icepocolypse begins, let me present my five for this week ~

1.  Orly Coffee Break
Orly is my all-time favorite nail polish brands and last week I tried a new shade - Coffee Break. This hue has a light shimmer and a nice neutral color. It's lasted all week so that makes it a winner in my book.

2.  STABILicers Walk Stabilicers Ice Traction Cleat for Snow and Ice
It's too bad I didn't pick up a pair of these before this weekend. These babies offer a traction cleat to help you walk on ice and snow. A pair in my size is less than $20! They even roll up small enough to fit in your purse. Want some? Click HERE to check them out.



3. Tocca Cleopatra Hand Creme
Thank you Birchbox for dropping in a sample of this lotion! It smells divine and feels like silk on my hands. I love it! The scent is grapefruit and cucumber -- doesn't sound great, but man it is! And look how cute the package is. It looks great sitting on my desk and I can just squeeze a little on my hands when I need a pick me up. It's available HERE.

4.  Patriots Day
Pretty pumped that Patriots Day is opening this weekend.  Here's the storyline from Movie Insider, "In the aftermath of an unspeakable attack, Police Sergeant Tommy Saunders (Mark Wahlberg) joins courageous survivors, first responders and investigators in a race against the clock to hunt down the bombers before they strike again. Weaving together the stories of Special Agent Richard DesLauriers (Kevin Bacon), Police Commissioner Ed Davis (John Goodman), Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese (J.K. Simmons) and nurse Carol Saunders (Michelle Monaghan) this visceral and unflinching chronicle captures the suspense of one of the most sophisticated manhunts in law enforcement history and celebrates the strength of the people of Boston."  Sounds like a great movie to see while the weather is making it difficult to do anything else.



5.  Fashion Statement...

Okay guys -- time for me to head into work.  Wish me luck!  Be safe out there this weekend.

Linking up with:

Jennie at The Diary of a Real Housewife

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 
Why Girls Are Weird

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

Friday Favorites - January 13, 2017

Hello!  We are bracing ourselves for the big winter storm coming our way.  What a perfect time to stay inside and read the great features and link on today's Friday Favorites!  My feature is from Play Dates to Parties.  Check it out below.

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Christine at Light and Savvy - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Jen at Creatively Homemade - Twitter | G+ | Pin

Dawn at LeroyLime - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Maisy at Becoming Alice - FB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage Presents - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin

Penny at Penny's Passion - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas Sky - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

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You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week's favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week's linky party!

Thinking Out Loud Thursday - January 12, 2017

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday!  Today I'm thinking out loud about one of my newer loves - hot tea!  Do you enjoy a nice, relaxing cup of hot tea?  I think my love for tea came about when I was watching Downton Abbey.  All those tea parties and such sparked an interest.  Maybe I was hoping to become more like Lady Mary if I started drinking more tea!  So far I'm not sure that has happened, but my love for hot tea is still there.

I noticed yesterday that January happens to be hot tea month which is what prompted this thinking.  We are anticipating an icepocolypse overnight today and that made we dream about sitting at home, looking out the window with a warm cup of hot tea in my  hand.  In reality I'll probably be nervously trying to drive to work, but a girl can dream!

A couple of my favorite tea products are from Teavana.  The first one is this handy little Perfectea Maker.  All you have to do is add your favorite loose-leaf tea and hot water.  When your tea has steeped just the right amount of time, place your Perfectea Maker on top of your cup and press.  The tea flows out of the bottom and into your cup.  Makes up to 16 ounces.  I love it and have given it to a couple of my tea-loving friends as gifts.

The second is my Contour Tumbler.  My friend, Linda, gave this to me a couple years ago and I didn't realize until I started using it how much I would love it!  It comes with a removable tea infuser basket for easy steeping on the go.  The push-button stop is great for preventing leaks and spills.  You will find this baby with me on my way to work every morning.  That is, every morning I don't forget it on the counter.

Ever wonder what the proper way to sip tea is in public?  Found this cute little YouTube video to answer all our questions.

So enjoy the rest of National Hot Tea Month!  What are some of your favorite hot tea items?

Now it's your turn ~ link up below and let us know what you're thinking out loud about!  I'd love to hear from you!

​

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Enjoy more Thoughts for Thursday at:

Home of Malones

East Coast Chic

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

Here I Scribble

This is How We Roll

Bows and Clothes

Let's Make Four Cheese with Bacon Mac

Sometimes when it's cold outside don't you just want some comfort food?  One of our go-to comfort food dishes is this Four Cheese with Bacon Mac.  I found this recipe in Family Circle magazine about six years ago and it's so delicious I've been making it even since.

Family Circle is one (of the many) magazines I subscribe to and each month find a helpful hint or recipe that's fantastic.  You can pick up a subscription from Amazon for $5!  Click the link to start enjoying it for yourself.

But back to the recipe ~ 

Here's What You Need

1 box (1 pound) cavatappi

6 slices bacon, sliced

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups 2 percent milk

1/2 teaspoon onion flakes

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/2 pound sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

1 cup shredded colby-Jack cheese (4 ounces)

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 ounces)

8 slices Kraft Deli american cheese (6 ounces)

Here's What You Do

1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Coat a 3-quart broiler-safe dish with nonstick cooking spray.  Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boiling.

2.  Cook cavatappi 8 minutes in boiling water, then drain.  Meanwhile, in medium-size saucepan, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, 6 minutes.  Transfer to paper towels.  Carefully pour off drippings, returning 2 tablespoons to pan.  Add butter.

3.  Whisk in flour until smooth.  In a thin stream, whisk in milk.  Stir in onion flakes, salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes.  In large bowl, toss together cheddar, Colby-Jack and mozzarella.

4.  Remove milk mixture from heat; whisk in American cheese and 1 and 1/4 cups of the cheddar mixture.  Toss bacon pieces with remaining shredded cheese.

5.  In pasta pot, combine cooked pasta and cheese sauce.  Pour half into prepared dish.  Sprinkle with a generous cup of the bacon-cheese mixture.  Repeat layering.

6.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.  Increase oven temperature to broil and broil 3 minutes until top is lightly browned.  Cool slightly before serving.

Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!  Stay warm out there!

Non Stick Skillet

Whisk

Measuring Cups

Rectangle Baker

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

JENerally Informed Love From The Kitchen: Tuesday's Table The Diary of a Real Housewife My Own Home While I'm Waiting Tuesday Talk Pennies into Pearls Simply Sweet Home A Dish of Daily Life