Five on Friday - February 12, 2021

Happy Friday!  Don't you just love weekends.  I'm super pumped to have a couple days off and it's Valentine's weekend to boot.  And I'm pumped to share my five with you today ~

1.  Lunar New Year - Year of the Ox

Today officially begins the Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year.  Goodbye year of the rat and hello to the ox!  Apparently, this year is going to be lucky and also perfect to focus on relationships, whether we are talking about friendships or love.  Sounds like a winner to me!  If you are interested in celebrating, check out the virtual events planned through the Museum of Chinese in America (HERE).  They are offering all kinds of exciting things like Chinese cooking classes, cultural events, and classes for kids.  What a fun way to celebrate!

2.  Shamrock Shake    

McDonald's is getting ready for St. Patrick's Day a little early this year.  Starting February 15 (Monday), you will be able to enjoy their mint-green Shamrock Shake or Oreo Shamrock McFlurry.  This is the 50th anniversary of the Shamrock Shake and only the second year the Oreo Shamrock McFlurry made the menu.  They are only on the menu for a limited time, so get them while you can!

3.  The Paris Library

Goodreads and Library Journal name this book, The Paris Library, the most anticipated book of the year.  It came out on Tuesday and I immediately added it to my TBR list.  Here's the summary from Amazon ~

Based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and the power of literature to bring us together, perfect for fans of The Lilac Girls and The Paris Wife.

Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them.

A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we are—family, friends, and favorite authors—The Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places.

4.  Aveeno Hand Mask

Does the cold weather do a number on your hands?  It sure does mine.  I'm going to give the Aveeno Repairing Cica Hand Mask a try.  The repairing hand mask has soothing and nourishing properties that will leave your hands visibly soft, smooth, and healthy-looking.  Just what my hands need!  

5.  Snow days....

We have a pretty low key couple of days ahead of us.  I ordered dinner for Sunday night, so the stress of figuring out what we're going to do for Valentine's Day is taken care of.  I'm hoping for a relaxing day at home and maybe finishing the puzzle we have started.  There's also a recipe I'm going to whip up to share on the blog next week.  Pop back in next week to get the rewind.

Linking up with:

Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home