Wednesday, June 30, 2021

June 2021 Amazon Purchases

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday!  Today I'm sharing some of my Amazon purchases for June.  I swear at the start of the month I told myself I was going to cut back on my Amazon purchases, but looking back it seems I might have failed at that attempt!  Here are a few of my favorite purchases from last month ~

This shirt - I love it!  I first ordered it in white and loved it so much I ordered a blue one too.  They are both packed ready to go on vacation with me.  It comes in literally 29 colors.  Would it be bad if I ordered it in a few more?


I got in on the pandemic sourdough craze and drug my dad in too.  For Father's Day, we got him one of my favorite accessories - the Danish Dough Whisk.  It truly makes stirring the dough so much easier and I've found it's great for other things too like scones and muffins.  



It's never too early to start thinking about Christmas!  Last year I made our cards for the first time in a while.  So many people commented on them that I decided I'd try to make them again this year.  I thought I'd start with this embossing folder.  We'll see if it makes the final cut for our cards this year!


We have a couple vacations in the near future and I always like to cart along a couple books.  You know, real books.  The paper kind.  I chose The Last Thing He Told Me and The Return.  Our first vacation is to Disney and will be pretty action-packed, but the second one is to the beach in August.  If I don't finish them in July, I'm sure the trip to August will be the perfect time to get them read!

   

So that's what I'm thinking out loud about today.  What's on your mind?  Link up and share!

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Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - June 30, 2021

 

Welcome to our party!

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

We are so glad that you have stopped by for this week's Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop! You will be amazed as you see all that our guests are sharing. They have the best recipes, crafts, DIY projects, tips and ideas. You will certainly love what you see ♥ If you are a blogger, we invite you to stay and share your posts here, as well. Do take a moment to visit the blogs of those you like the best. Pin them, leave a nice comment and share. And, before we start this party, let's take a look at the ones you visited most LAST week ... they are awesome.

Top Viewed

7 documents to gather before surgery

7 Documents That Are Good To Have Before Surgery - Simple Steps For Living Life

Very Popular

  How to Fight Inflation

Tips for Fighting Inflation - Little Frugal Homestead

 

Weight loss and Intermittent Fasting

Weight Loss & Intermittent Fasting - Hammers 'n Hugs

 

strawberry cheesecake bites

Red, White & Blue Strawberry Cheesecake Bites - My Kitchen Is My Playground

 

Editor's Pick(s)

flower painted rocks

Flower Painted Rocks Craft - Living Life As Moms

wall planters

Easy Décor Ideas With Wall Planters - My Life Abundant

And now for this week’s party! Be sure to tweet an invitation for others to join us and, again, please do pin your favorite posts.

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop Cohosts 2021

DUCKS ‘N A ROW[Sinea] – FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER

ECLECTIC RED BARN[Beverly] – FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER

LeCULTIVATEUR [Emily] – FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

MY LIFE ABUNDANT [Tammy] – FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER

PENNY’S PASSION [Penny] – FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER

SIMPLE STEPS FOR LIVING LIFE [Cindy] – FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER

STILETTOS and SHIPLAP [Tara] – INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

THE SNYDER FAMILY [Brittany] – INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

THE SHORT ORDER COOK [Angela] – FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER

HAMMERS ‘N HUGS [Ahna] – FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

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USA - Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Happy Tuesday friends!  This past weekend we took a minute to do a little decorating for the upcoming 4th of July holiday.  This year we went super low-key since we weren't planning on having any gathering.  Even though it's just the two of us, we still wanted to show some American spirit!


I used the old trick of standing a mostly-used roll of paper towels down in the jar and surrounding it with the red, white, and blue stars.  I would have never had enough stars to make the jar look full otherwise!


Those cloth balls were found when a friend and I were meandering through an antique shop a few years ago.  Just the sight of them puts a smile on my face because of the joyful memories of our day spent together.

The little Uncle Sam figures were a find at Hobby Lobby a few years ago.  I bought all they had left and remember wondering at the time if I really needed that many.  Yes, yes I definitely need that many!



The USA blocks continue to be one of my favorite decorations.  I made them in 2014 and they are still holding up!


Hope you have a wonderful, safe holiday!  I love the quote by James G. Blaine, "The United States is the only country with a known birthday...There is no 'Republican', no 'Democrat', on the Fourth of July - all are Americans."  Happy birthday America!



Thursday, June 24, 2021

Five on Friday - June 25, 2021

Hey, hey!  It's Friday!  We were coming off a busy weekend and have managed to make it through the week.  I'm pumped about having a weekend to catch up on some things.  Let's start it off with my five for today ~

I just love flag bunting and this is the time of year it's perfect to decorate with.  Drape on your porch, across your fireplace mantle, or as a table skirt.  Wherever you put it, it will add a bit of flare.  It's not too late to be ready for July 4th if you order from Amazon Prime!  


2.  Wedding on the Ranch
If you're a Pioneer Woman fan, you probably already know that Ree's daughter tied the knot on the ranch in May.  Well, you are invited to a front-row seat of the film version of the nuptials!  Food Network and Discovery+ are airing the wedding on June 26 (Saturday) at 11 a.m. Eastern time.  I can't wait to see this wedding special!   


3.  Krispy Kreme's New Strawberry Doughnut
Krispy Kreme is honoring the Super Strawberry Moon on June 24 by releasing a limited-edition supermoon-inspired donut!  The Strawberry Supermoon doughnut has strawberry filling and is dipped in strawberries and Kreme icing.  Then it's topped with graham cracker "moon dust".  Sounds pretty yummy to me!


Later this summer, I'll be spending a week on the beach and I'm adding this little gadget to my packing list.  It's a hook that you can attach to your umbrella pole to hang things from.  Ingenious!  Our towels will be nice and dry without sand all in them.  This little thing would be great to take camping too.  Need one for your vacation?


5.  Just an FYI...


Now let's start this weekend!  Eric and I are trying to rewatch some of the Star Wars movies before our trip to Disney.  I'm spending some time with our daughter-in-law tomorrow getting pampered with manicures and pedicures.  If you read my summer bucket list, you know I'm going to try to get a jump on packing for our vacation so some of that is hopefully happening this weekend.  So many fun things!  

Friday Favorites Linky Party - June 25, 2021

 

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

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

Jennifer at Busy Being Jennifer - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst

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Wednesday, June 23, 2021

2021 Summer Bucket List

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday where I share something I'm thinking out loud about and invite you to link up and do the same!

Summer officially started a few days ago and today I'd like to share my 2021 Summer Bucket List with you!  For me, I love to write down my seasonal bucket lists.  It helps me to be more intentional with my time and lessens the chance of looking back on a season and realizing I really didn't accomplish things I really wanted to get done.  Here are a few of the things I'm hoping to accomplish this year ~


Vacations
We love vacations!  I have a couple in the works during the upcoming months and I am super pumped about them!  One downside to our vacations is I typically let myself get all stressed out before we go.  I'm up until the wee hours the night before we leave to finish packing.  I'm yelling at Eric over the craziest things.  I'm throwing way too many things in the suitcase because I can't decide what I'm going to be wearing on the trip.  Can anyone relate?  Well, my goal this summer is to not be my typical procrastinator self and plan ahead.  I want to start the trip feeling well-rested and totally together.  Our first trip is in a few weeks so wish me luck.

Host my niece and nephew for a few days
The little kiddos in our life are my favorite!  Last summer due to Covid, we really didn't have the opportunity to spend as much time with them as I would have preferred.  This summer I'm hoping their parents can do without them for a few days and let them visit Aunt Penny and Uncle Eric's house.  I have all kinds of plans dancing around in my head to do with them!

Listen to more books
Listening to audiobooks is fairly new to me.  It took me a while to be able to master listening to a great novel.  In the past, I would find myself not really listening and my mind roaming.  Sometime over the past couple of years, I've gotten much better at listening and following the story.  Now I just need to remember to pop in my earbuds and listen more often.  There are so, so many books on my TRB list.  I know I could cross some off if I used more of my downtime listening.

Clean my craft room
Guys, my craft room would give the staff of Hoarders a run for their money.  It hasn't been tidy for years.  Literally years.  The last time it was clean I paid my friend's daughter to come to my house and just clean it.  Whenever I go in there to get the job done, I get distracted and the cleaning is over.  Come Fall, I want this room cleaned and tidy.  

Re-start supper club    
Prepandemic, our neighborhood gals were getting together once a month. It's time for us to start that again!  I miss seeing everyone and I miss planning the get-togethers.  Summer will be the perfect time to plan an evening reconnecting with everyone in the backyard.  

Summer photoshoot
A friend of mine has graciously let me photograph her daughters and fulfill my dream of feeling like a photographer.  I have dreams of capturing them in the sunflower fields this summer.  And going along with this one, I'm hoping to increase my skills in Lightroom.  

Reupholster my bathroom chair
This poor chair in our bathroom has taken a couple decades of my hairspray, makeup, and whatever else happens to land on it.  It could really use a new cover.  I've looked at a million YouTube videos and I really think this is something I could easily do.  Now I just need to do it!

Celebrate our 20th anniversary
In July, Eric and I will be married for 20 years!  TWENTY YEARS!  That's a long time.  I want to think of a way to appropriately celebrate.  Got any ideas?

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



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Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - June 23, 2021

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop! We are so glad you are here.

Summer has now officially arrived! Do you have any big plans? What do you love to do? Check out the posts this week to get some great ideas. You will find recipes you can enjoy at a cookout, seasonal home decor, gardening tips, crafts, DIY and more! First, take a look at the features from last week's party:  

Top Viewed

Thrift store finds

What I Found At The Thrift Store

Make snickers fudge

How to Make Snickers Fudge

Very Popular

White and navy

Fashion Over 40

 

Summer home tour

Summer Home Tour

 

Editor's Pick

peach fluff salad

Peach Fluff Salad

  Avocado Caprese Salad

Avocado Caprese Salad Recipe

  So, now, let's get this party started!   Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop Cohosts 2021  

DUCKS ‘N A ROW[Sinea] – FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER

ECLECTIC RED BARN[Beverly] – FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER

LeCULTIVATEUR [Emily] – FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

MY LIFE ABUNDANT [Tammy] – FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER

PENNY’S PASSION [Penny] – FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER

SIMPLE STEPS FOR LIVING LIFE [Cindy] – FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER

STILETTOS and SHIPLAP [Tara] – INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

THE SNYDER FAMILY [Brittany] – INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

THE SHORT ORDER COOK [Angela] – FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER

HAMMERS ‘N HUGS [Ahna] – FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

  Be sure to grab our Specially Featured button if your post was featured this week to show off on your blog or sidebar!
Featured Button
Please TWEET our party
  • Add as many of your family-friendly posts as you would like to. No Etsy shops, adult sites, or blog parties, please.
  • Visit others. Let them know you stopped by!
  • If you are NEW to Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop, let us know in the comments so that we can follow you back. ♥ Help us find your posts – tell us the title.
  • NOTE: party entries appear in REVERSE. i.e. the most recent entry goes to the top! That way all of our guests will have a really good chance to be seen no matter when they arrive.
Thanks! ♥

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Thursday, June 17, 2021

Five on Friday - June 18, 2021

Happy Father's Day weekend everyone!  Hope you will be able to enjoy some time with family and friends over the next few days.  Glad you popped in to see my five for today!  Let's get started ~

1.  Juneteenth
June 19 (Saturday) is a day to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.  This is the date that recognizes an event that took place in Texas in 1865.  The story goes that Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865, with the announcement of General Orders, Number 3.  The people learned for the first time that the Civil War was over.  Just this week Congress voted to make this a federal holiday.  


2.  12 Mighty Orphans
This movie is definitely going on my list of movies to see!  Here's the summary from Movie Insider ~
The true story of the Mighty Mites, the football team of a Fort Worth orphanage who, during the Great Depression, went from playing without shoes—or even a football—to playing for the Texas state championships. The architect of their success was Rusty Russell, a legendary high school coach who shocked his colleagues by giving up his privileged position to teach and coach at the orphanage. Few knew Rusty's secret: that he himself was an orphan. Recognizing that his scrawny players couldn't beat the other teams with brawn, Rusty developed innovative strategies that would come to define modern football. Over the course of their winning season, these ultimate underdogs became an inspiration to their city, state, and entire nation.

3.  SunPop Frozen Cocktails
Target is here to help us get summer started with their 12 count SunPops!  These frozen cocktails are only 100 calories and the variety pack flavors are peach, tropical, and strawberry.  Bring on the summer heat - we have SunPops to keep us cool!
4.  Women's Active Athletic Skort
I ordered this skort from Amazon for vacation and I'm thinking about ordering it in 5 different colors.  It fits great and is so, so comfortable!  We're headed to Disney in a couple weeks and I was looking for something to wear that was lightweight, easy to pack, and would dry quickly if we got caught in a rainstorm or went on a water ride.  I think I found the perfect thing!  It comes in 34 patterns/colors so there are plenty of options to choose from.


5.  Don't be fooled...


Have a wonderful weekend!  We are visiting my dad tomorrow and seeing our son and daughter-in-law on Sunday.  Fun times ahead!  I'm thinking about squeezing in some blackberry picking too.  I love that our lives are getting back to normal and our calendars are once again full!  See you next week.

Linking up with:

Friday Favorites Linky Party - June 18, 2021

 

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

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

Jennifer at Busy Being Jennifer - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst

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

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!

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Alyiah and Mitch Get Married

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday!  I'm going to share something I'm thinking out loud about and invite you to link up below and do the same.

My side hustle is being a wedding coordinator - and I love it!  Each year I take on two weddings and help the bride and groom navigate through the planning and execution of turning their wedding dreams into reality.  Most of the time, my friend TW travels from his home in Wisconsin a few days before the big event to help.  Thank goodness he was available for this one!

This past weekend we had the honor of working with Alyiah and Mitch.  They were the best couple to work with!  Their devotion to each other, love for their family, and faith in God shown through in everything they did.  



The wedding venue was spectacular!  Sunset Bluffs is located in Washington, Missouri along bluffs that reflect off the lake.  So beautiful!



I'm not going to lie - the wedding day was HOT!  But the bridal party were troopers and never let it get them down.  


Alyiah and Mitch drew from the talents of their family members to help pull off their big day.  One aunt did the florals while another provided the treats for the dessert table.  Mitch's uncle owns a restaurant and closed it Saturday night so he could cater the wedding.  These two are so lucky to have such a wonderful family!



Guests were encouraged to sign a cork.  The corks will later be reminders of who attended their nuptials.  It was an easy idea to pull together.  The corks came from Amazon (HERE).  This is really a great option instead of having a traditional guest book where people sign and it will most likely be hidden in a drawer for the rest of your life.



One of my favorite things to do is put a basket in the ladies room with emergency necessities for the guests to use.  Need a hair pen?  Shout wipe?  Have no fear, it's available in the basket.  Get what you need and hop back out on that dance floor!


I have no doubt that this couple will live happily ever after!  They were a true joy to get to know and I'm excited to see how their future unfolds.


Now it's your turn - what are you thinking out loud about today?  Link up and share!



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