Five on Friday - March 30, 2018

Happy Good Friday!  I'm enjoying the holiday off work - hope you are too.  My day will be busy preparing for Sunday and I'm grateful to have a nice, quiet day to get ready.  Before I get knee deep in cooking and cleaning, here's my five for this week ~

1.  Waterlogue App
This week I remembered an old app I used to tinker with and for whatever reason, had stopped.  Waterlogue will take your photo and magically turn it into a beautiful painting.  So glad it's back in my life because I have some playing to do.  Do you have any photos that would look good as a painting?

2.  Ready Player One Movie
Steven Spielberg is at it again.  His new movie Ready Player One opens this weekend.  Here's the synopsis from Fandango, "In the year 2045, people can escape their harsh reality in the OASIS, an immersive virtual world where you can go anywhere, do anything, be anyone—the only limits are your own imagination. OASIS creator James Halliday left his immense fortune and control of the Oasis to the winner of a contest designed to find a worthy heir. When unlikely hero Wade Watts conquers the first challenge of the reality-bending treasure hunt, he and his friends—known as the High Five—are hurled into a fantastical universe of discovery and danger to save the OASIS and their world."

3.  PURGGO Natural Bamboo Charcoal Odor Eliminator

Do you have odors in your life you would like eliminated?  Think shoes, litter boxes, closets.  These natural bamboo charcoal odor eliminators could be the answer to your problem.  They come in a pack of 2 and are natural odor absorbents.  With summer coming, I think I'm going to pick up a few for those stinky shoes we have laying around.  Best part - they last 365+ days!  Check them out HERE.

4.  Franco Sarto Flats

Speaking of shoes, I've fallen in love with these Franco Sarto denim flats.  Could they be any cuter?!?  Here's a bonus - Save 15% off on Franco items + Free Shipping with code FRNSRT15 at checkout only at FrancoSarto.com.  These would look adorable with a cute little sundress for summer.  Definitely going on my wish list for Mother's Day!

5.  Happy Easter!

Have a very blessed Easter!  We are looking forward to spending some quality time with my parents, son and daughter-in-law.  We're going to tool around St. Louis on Saturday and see some sites.  Come back next week read all about it.  Happy Easter!

Linking up with:

The Peaceful Posse

Amanda at Meet At The Barre

Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home
High Five for Friday
5 on Friday

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

Friday Favorites - March 30, 2018

Happy Good Friday!  I'm enjoying a day off - hope you are too!  I also hope you enjoy the features this week!

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

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

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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 - March 29, 2018

Let's hear it for Thursday!  I'm lucky enough to have tomorrow off for Good Friday, so this is my last work day for the week.  Hope you are in the same boat!

Last Thursday I bowed out of blogging anything because I was fighting off a terrible cold.  Well, the cold definitely won the battle.  I ended up with an ear infection and perforated eardrums in both ears.  The past week I have spent in silence because my hearing is virtually gone.  Let me tell you, it's hard living inside your head for a week!  But I'm trying to be patient and let my ears heal.  I have an appointment with the ENT this afternoon and I'm hoping for some relief.  One thing is for sure - I will be so thankful to get my hearing back!

So today I'm going to do a little thinking out loud about Easter.  Who's ready for the bunny to hop their way!?!

This is one of those holidays I truly miss having small children around.  As it works out, this year will be an adult only holiday for us.  My parents, son and daughter-in-law will be coming over and I'm thrilled to host them.  Truth be told, I just got my outdoor decorations up this week.

If you're hosting an Easter meal at your house, check out this adorable way to fold napkins.  A tutorial on how's it's done can be found HERE.

Do you die eggs at your house?  This guide from A Thrifty Mom looks like so much fun!  I might have to borrow some kids and give it a try.

I love having a nice Springy dessert on Easter.  I've been sorting through recipes to try to decide what we'll be serving this year and one of the strong contenders is the Meyer Lemon Iced Raspberry Yogurt Cake I blogged about a couple years ago.  The recipe is HERE.  What's y our favorite Easter dessert?

Now it's time I put some of these ideas into action!  Whatever your Easter plans are, I hope you have a wonderful time.

What are you thinking out loud about today? Link up below and share!

An InLinkz Link-up

Enjoy more Thoughts for Thursday at:

Home of Malones

East Coast Chic

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

This is How We Roll

Simply Sweet Home
High Five for Friday
5 on Friday

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

Wear It Wednesday

I have some love for Loft going on today!  Even though the temperatures are still hovering in the 50s around here, I know Spring will get here eventually.  And when it does, I want to be ready!

Starting now and running through Saturday, Loft is welcoming Spring by letting you take 40% off everything (yes, EVERYTHING) with code HELLO.  Go ahead, give it a try!

Hello Spring! Take 40% off Everything with code HELLO. Offer valid 3/28 at 12 a.m. - 3/31 at 11:59 p.m

Check out these adorable tops that could pair with a multitude of pant colors ~

Available HERE

Available HERE

Available HERE

And this adorable one is currently less than $10!  Act fast while all the sizes are still available!  Can't you just picture wearing this on a date to an outdoor patio while sipping a glass of wine.  Too cute!

Available HERE

Happy shopping!

Linking up with The Blended Blog

OREO Candy Bar for only $1!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #OREOChocolate #CollectiveBias

Did you know that OREO has a special flavored candy bar made with crunchy bits of OREO + mint creme filling + rich Milka chocolate candy? YUM! These OREO Mint Chocolate Candy Bars have delicious bits of OREO Cookie mixed in smooth, mint flavored creme filling and are coated in European Milka chocolate candy. You will want to be sure to stop by Walmart and pick a few of these OREO Chocolate King Size Bars while they are on Rollback for only $1!

While you are in store at Walmart picking up your $1 Rollback OREO chocolate candy bars, be sure to look and see if your store has the demo going on for the 1 Million Sample giveaway. During Easter weekend* participating Walmart stores are giving away these bars while supplies last. *March 29 - April 1.

Check the demo locator below to see if your local Walmart is participating!

+Limited to one sample per customer.
++Limited supply available.
+++All times/events are subject to change.

Five on Friday - March 23, 2018

Yay for Friday!  This week has been a bit of a challenge because I've been fighting a cold.  Then on Wednesday night my ears started hurting, which ended with me having ear infections in both ears and a perforated eardrum.  I totally understand why those 3 year olds with ear infections scream and cry for hours!!  I've started on the meds, so I have high hopes that I'll be feeling back to normal any minute now.  Regards of all that, I did manage to pull together my five for this week.  Check them out ~

1.  Dinosaur Bubble Shooter
Do you need another item for those Easter baskets?  How about a spare birthday gift for those last minute party invites?  This could be your answer!  How cute is this dinosaur bubble shooter!  This baby lights up, but doesn't make any noise.  The easy to grip handle will have your little ones producing tons of bubbles in no time.  Click HERE to check it out.

2.  Shawn Mendes "In My Blood" single
Shawn Mendes is letting us start to hear his third album with the release of In My Blood.  Mendes has said that he wants this album to sound more honest and rock-oriented.  Bring it on Shawn - we're ready!!

3.  Sonics Pickle Juice Slushie
Have you heard what's coming to Sonic in June?  A pickle juice slushie!  This bright green drink combines the sweet slushie flavor with an in-your-face blast of pickle flavor.  I have to be honest - not sure I will be trying this one.  How about you?  Sound like something you will want to be sipping on a hot summer night?

4.  National Chip and Dip Day
Now this is a national day I can really get behind!  Chips and dip are one of my favorites things!!  If I had to name my all-time favorite chip and dip combo it would be potato chips with French onion dip.  I like to make my own by combining a container of sour cream with a packet of dry Lipton's onion soup.  YUM!!  What's your favorite combo?

5.  This ever happen to you...

                       

Have a great weekend!  I'm going to be laying low and getting well.  See you back here next week.

Linking up with:

The Peaceful Posse

Amanda at Meet At The Barre

Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home
High Five for Friday
5 on Friday

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

Friday Favorites - March 23, 2018

Welcome to Friday Favorites!  Hope you enjoy all the features today.  I'm still nursing myself back to feeling well so I'm really looking forward to laying around reading all the links this weekend.  Link up all your good stuff!! 

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

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

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 - March 22, 2018

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday!  This week is flying by and Thursday has really gotten here much faster than I thought it would.  I have managed to catch a nasty cold -- my first of the season and it's made concentrating this week a bit difficult.  Hopefully the worse is behind me and I'm on the mend!  And I hope no one I was in contact with last weekend ends up sick!

So today I'm going to sit out Thinking Out Loud.  But you don't have to!  Link up and share what's on your mind today.

An InLinkz Link-up

Weekending - March 16, 2018

Happy first day of Spring!  It's not really feeling a lot like spring around here.  Currently it's cloudy and 35 degrees.  But what's making me smile today is reflecting on how much fun happened this past weekend I really hate to say goodbye to it.  For St. Patrick's Day Eric and I headed to Kansas City to spend it with our friends.  I was at a Board Retreat and Eric had to work on Friday so we didn't share a ride there.  Eric hopped on Amtrak in St. Louis and rode the train to Lee's Summit.  I drove from the retreat and arrived just in time to scoop him up when he stepped off the train.

Festivities began early on Saturday morning.  Kevin was whipping up his famous French toast and we didn't want to miss a moment of that goodness.  The Irish coffee was flowing as people started arriving and by the atmosphere you could just tell it was going to be a fun day.

We played games, watched basketball and ate (and ate, and ate, and ate!).  There was so much great food!  It was just the perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day! 

One of the games we played as a group was Codenames.  Here's the official description, "Codenames is a social word game with a simple premise and challenging game play. Two rival spymasters know the secret identities of 25 agents. Their teammates know the agents only by their codenames. The teams compete to see who can make contact with all of their agents first. Spymasters give one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the table. Their teammates try to guess words of their color while avoiding those that belong to the opposing team. And everyone wants to avoid the assassin. The game works very well with 4 players if you prefer to guess without help. Or you can add more players if you prefer lively discussion. There is also a cooperative variant where a single team tries to achieve the highest score they can by playing against the game itself."  Great game for a group of people!  Click HERE to purchase one of your own.

Eric and I also learned a new game - DragonStone Mine.  This one can be played with 2-4 players.  The rules are easy and can be played with children as young as 5.  A typical game can take around 30 minutes so it would be a great game to play with the kids before going to bed. 

Sunday morning we rallied around pretty early and was at Q39 to taste their BBQ by 11:30 am.  The place was beginning to fill up, but we were seated right away.  For starters we picked their seasoned onion straws.  The mound of goodness arrived at our table quickly and we all agreed it was fabulous!

Linda and I both ordered the burnt ends and brisket combo plate.  Eric choose a four meat platter.  Our burnt ends were average - I like my burnt ends "burnt".  The ones served to me were well cooked and super tender, but did not have that nice crispy outside.  The winner in my opinion was the ribs.  OMG - they were fabulous!  

We would definitely go back to Q39.  The service was wonderful and the atmosphere was great.  Next time I would order something different.  I spied some pulled pork sliders that looked pretty awesome.  

It was a good thing we got there when we did, because as we were leaving the line to the place was out the door.  Even if you have to wait in line to get a table, the food was worth it!

After filling our bellies, we decided to relax by taking in a movie.  The one we picked to see was Gringo.  Bad decision.  It just wasn't a good movie.  Not funny at all!  Did anyone else see it?  What did you think?

Eric and I left Kansas City late in the afternoon to travel back home.  We stopped in and visited my parents for a bit on the way.  Great way to cap off a wonderful weekend!

Five on Friday - March 16, 2018

Happy Friday!  I'm treating this like a holiday weekend because St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow!! Do you have your green outfit picked out yet?  It's just the best when this fun day falls on the weekend.

Before I officially start the weekend, here's my five for this week ~

1.  All Green Lucky Charms

In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, check out what Lucky Charms cereal has done!  An entire box of green marshmallows - perfect for making some Lucky Charms treats!  Just melt 3 tablespoons butter with a 10 ounce package of marsmallows and stir.  Dump in 6 cups of Lucky Charms and press in a greased pan.  Allow to cool a bit, then cut.  Perfect little St. Patrick's Day treats!

                        

2.  Easter Pillows
I've had a thing for pillows recently.  You might have seen the two St. Patrick's Day pillows we have in THIS POST.  Well, after this weekend those will be coming down and I'd like to replace them with THIS ONE and THIS ONE.  They look so springy!  And I, for one, am more than ready for a little spring around here!

Available HERE

Available HERE

3.  Sea-Band

I suspect some of you are getting ready to hit the road for Spring Break or are planning your vacations for the summer.  If battling your child's motion sickness is usually part of your travel plans,  you might want to consider using these Sea-Bands.  There's really nothing worse for you (or for your child) than being sick in the car!  These bands provide natural relief without causing drowsiness or other side effects.  Check them out HERE.



4.  Love, Simon
We've been seeing the previews for Love, Simon (which opens today) and it looks so endearing.  Movie Insider says this, "Everyone deserves a great love story. But for seventeen-year old Simon Spier it's a little more complicated: he's yet to tell his family or friends he's gay and he doesn't actually know the identity of the anonymous classmate he's fallen for online."  Save me a seat because I want to see this one.

5.  Happy St. Patrick's Day

Have a great weekend!  Eric and I will be spending tomorrow celebrating with some friends.  Pop back in next week to read all about it.

Linking up with:

The Peaceful Posse

Amanda at Meet At The Barre

Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home
High Five for Friday
5 on Friday

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

Friday Favorites - March 16, 2018

We've made it to Friday!  Who else is ready for the weekend?  Hope you enjoy the features today!

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

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

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 - March 15, 2018

It's Thursday already!  Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday.  Hope you link up below and share what you're thinking out loud about today.

Today I'm thinking out loud about St. Patrick's Day, specifically our decorations.  I love decorating for any and all holidays and am so glad that we have a little time between St. Patrick's Day and Easter this year.  Sometimes the two holidays are so close together I'm actually putting up our Easter decorations on Good Friday!

Now for the photo dump.  Let's start with the outside.  One of the easiest way to dress up your mailbox is with a magnetic wrap.  The one I have is from MailWraps is available HERE.

I just couldn't pass up the matching garden flag that went with the mailbox cover.  You can check it out HERE.

One of our best purchases were the tall black planters on each side of the front door.  Since it's way too cold for flowers or plants, I love the arrangements my friend Carol made a couple years ago.  So far they have held up so well and this makes the third year we were able to use them.  Interested in the planters?  They are available HERE.

Now let's move inside.  I made the wood blocks myself (thanks Home Depot for cutting the wood for me) and have been going to replace the letters spelling "lucky" since the minute I finished gluing them on.  I wish I would have done them on gold or orange or anything a little big and bolder.  But until someday comes and I redo them, I'm settling for the way they are ~

Even though this fabric banner is several years old, I still love it.  It adds texture and color to the mantel!

This little picture frame sits on the sink in our guest bathroom and displays a print for whatever season or holiday we're celebrating.  This particular St. Patty's subway art was a free printable I found HERE.

One year after St. Patrick' Day I picked up a couple pillows.  I just might keep a lookout for some more bargain pillows this year.   I have my eye on THIS ONE.

My friend TW and I wondered in some antique shops a few weeks ago and I picked up this gem - a pot full of shamrocks.

Cheers to St. Patrick's Day!  I hope you all have the luck of the Irish with you!

Now it's your turn - what are you thinking about today?  Looking forward to reading your post!

An InLinkz Link-up

Enjoy more Thoughts for Thursday at:

Home of Malones

East Coast Chic

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

This is How We Roll

Simply Sweet Home
High Five for Friday
5 on Friday

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