Thinking Out Loud Thursday - September 30, 2021

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday where I share something that's on my mind and invite you to link up and do the same.

Today is National Love People Day and to celebrate I thought I'd share a few of my favorite quotes ~

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

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Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - September 29, 2021

Join this week’s blog hop to find inspiration from dozens of bloggers for all things home and family including crafts, decor, DIY, fashion, recipes, fitness, gardening, travel, home improvement, and so much more! 

Welcome to another week of the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop! We are so glad that you are here.

Here you will find inspiration from dozens of bloggers including recipes, home DIY, gardening, decor, family fun, traveling, fitness, and so much more.

A friendly reminder to our guests that as a courtesy to the hosts, we ask that you follow every host on at least one social media channel.

If you are a blogger, then be sure to link up below. You may be our next feature!

Before we get this party started, let's meet the hosts and check out this week's featured favorites.

Meet the Hosts

Please follow the hosts on at least 1 social media channel!

1. Ahna - HAMMERS N HUGS | FB | IG | PINTEREST
2. Anne & AnnMarie - SIMPLY 2 MOMS | FB | IG | PINTEREST
3. Angela - THE SHORT ORDER COOK | FB | IG | PINTEREST
4. Bev - ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
5. Cindy - SIMPLE STEPS FOR LIVING LIFE | FB | IG | PINTEREST
6. Emily - LeCULTIVATEUR | FB | IG | PINTEREST
7. Jana - HARVESTING HOME | FB | IG | PINTEREST
8. Kera - HAUTE HOUSE LOVE | FB | IG | PINTEREST
9. Penny - PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
10. Sinea - DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
11. Tammy - MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST
12. Tara - STILETTOS AND SHIPLAP | IG | PINTEREST

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after the American Civil War

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Fall Centerpiece DIY

Editor's Choice

Stewed Pears

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Weekending - September 24, 2021

Eric and I kissed the last weekend in September goodbye on a high note!  This past weekend was the perfect blend of family and fun.  Here's the rewind ~

I took a half day of vacation on Friday and as soon as Eric pulled in the driveway, we loaded the car and headed to Memphis to celebrate our great-nephew's first birthday.  Eric's mom rode with us and I was so grateful she was able to sit in the front seat with Eric and keep him company.  I was desperately trying to finish a book for a book club I am leading today and wasn't anywhere near finished!   

The star of the weekend was the birthday boy!  It was the first time we had been able to see this cutie in person and we couldn't wait to give him a real hug.  

The theme of the party was Elijah's first trip around the sun.  There was a piñata, gifts and cake!  We were so glad we got to participate in this milestone event!  

After the party, I had a chance to spend time with our niece.  She's already a junior in high school and is growing up to be such a beautiful person.  

Eric's nephew and great-nephew joined us for breakfast and we were able to get some family pictures.  It was nice having the morning to visit and catch up with everyone.  Eric's sister and brother-in-law were great hosts and made our stay so nice.

We had to hit the road home by noon on Sunday because we were going to the Rolling Stones concert back in St. Louis Sunday night.  Again Eric's mom kept him company while he drove and I frantically read my book club book.  The book was The Daughters of Yalta. If you like World War II books, definitely give this one a read.  (I finished it literally minutes before the book club meeting started!)

Eric's mom had brought us a surprise.  We love it and I couldn't wait to get it in the yard!  So we quickly put it up before leaving for the concert.  

Our first major concert since the pandemic was The Rolling Stones!  Eric hadn't seen them in concert before so we were super disappointed when their concert was postponed in 2020.  We were afraid the whole group wouldn't be around for too much longer.  Unfortunately, we were right.  The group performed without their beloved drummer, Charlie Watts, who passed away just a few weeks ago.  

Despite not having Charlie and their ages (Mick Jagger is 78!), they still entertained the crowd for a little over two hours.  

We wore our masks throughout the concert and I still felt a little weird being so close to so many people.  Wishing things were back to the old normal.

Hope your week is off to a great start!  We can hopefully catch up on some sleep tonight.  After being out late last night, we need to get rested up to make it through the week.  See you soon!

Five on Friday - September 24, 2021

Happy Friday!  So glad you stopped by today to see the five things I'm sharing with you.  Let's get right to it ~

1.  Dear Evan Hansen

We've seen the previews for Dear Evan Hansen and I knew immediately it was going on my list of movies to see.  It opens today and I'm hoping we can get to the theater soon.  Bring your tissues!  Here's the synopsis ~

Evan Hansen is an anxious, isolated high-school student who's aching for understanding and belonging amid the chaos and cruelty of the social media age. He soon embarks on a journey of self-discovery when a letter he wrote for a writing exercise falls into the hands of a grieving couple whose son took his own life.

2.  The Wish

Nicholas Sparks has a new book releasing on Tuesday.  The Wish promises to be another bestseller.  Here's the summary from Amazon ~

1996 was the year that changed everything for Maggie Dawes. Sent away at sixteen to live with an aunt she barely knew in Ocracoke, a remote village on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, she could think only of the friends and family she left behind . . . until she met Bryce Trickett, one of the few teenagers on the island. Handsome, genuine, and newly admitted to West Point, Bryce showed her how much there was to love about the wind-swept beach town—and introduced her to photography, a passion that would define the rest of her life.

By 2019, Maggie is a renowned travel photographer. She splits her time between running a successful gallery in New York and photographing remote locations around the world. But this year she is unexpectedly grounded over Christmas, struggling to come to terms with a sobering medical diagnosis. Increasingly dependent on a young assistant, she finds herself becoming close to him.

As they count down the last days of the season together, she begins to tell him the story of another Christmas, decades earlier—and the love that set her on a course she never could have imagined.

3.  Halloween Cozy Socks

Old Navy has the cutest Halloween cozy socks!  Their 3-pack is on sale for only $9.50.  I'm planning to make some Boo Bags for friends this year and a pair of these cozy socks will be a perfect filler.  Do you have someone that would love a pair?  Grab yours before they sell out HERE.

4.  Applebee's Spooky Sip Halloween Cocktails

Applebee's is adding to the Halloween fun this year by offering two spooky sip cocktails!  Pop in for a Dracula's Juice or a Tipsy Zombie.  Get either one for only $5!  Dracula's Juice is described as a "wildberry creation of a Patron Tequila margarita and Bacardi Superior daiquiri".  The Tipsy Zombie is made with Bacardi Superior, passion fruit, pineapple, cherry, lime, and melon liqueur and is topped with a gummy brain on its surface.  Don't forget - in some Applebee's you can even get them to go! 

5.  Hate it when this happens...

We have a big weekend ahead!  Today we're traveling to Memphis to attend our great-nephew's first birthday party.  We are so excited to be spending some time with Eric's side of the family!  Then Sunday night we're going to The Rolling Stones concert.  So glad to see live music coming back!  Pop in next week to hear all about it.

Linking up with:

Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Friday Favorites Linky Party - September 24, 2021

 

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2021 Fall Goals

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday where I share something I'm thinking about and invite you to link up and do the same.  This week I'm thinking about fall.

We officially greeted the fall season this week!  The moment when the sun crosses the equator happened on Wednesday and now with each day, we'll have a little less sun and a little more darkness. It's usually hard for me to let go of summer, but a few cool days almost always gets me in the mood for all fall has to offer.

Today I'm jotting down my fall goals so nothing gets forgotten and I can live a little more intentionally ~

Take a road trip to see the changing leaves

Try a couple new restaurants

Read at least 2 books of my choosing

Read a motivation book

Get my exercising back on track

Decorate for Halloween and Thanksgiving

Have friends over to set outside by the fire table

Up my meal planning game

Make Boo Bags for my work friends

Replenish my handmade cards

Hike to a waterfall

Restart our neighborhood ladies gatherings

Enjoy a girls weekend away

Watch a football game on Zoom with my out-of-town friend

If I can get these things done, I think it will be a pretty awesome fall season!  What are some things on your fall goals list?

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

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - September 22, 2021

 Join this week’s blog hop to find inspiration from dozens of bloggers for all things home and family including crafts, decor, DIY, fashion, recipes, fitness, gardening, travel, home improvement, and so much more!

Welcome to another week of the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop! We are so glad that you are here.

Here you will find inspiration from dozens of bloggers including recipes, home DIY, gardening, decor, family fun, traveling, fitness, and so much more.

A friendly reminder to our guests that as a courtesy to the hosts, we ask that you follow every host on at least one social media channel.

If you are a blogger, then be sure to link up below. You may be our next feature!

Before we get this party started, let's meet the hosts and check out this week's featured favorites.

Meet the Hosts

Please follow the hosts on at least 1 social media channel!

1. Ahna - HAMMERS N HUGS | FB | IG | PINTEREST
2. Anne & AnnMarie - SIMPLY 2 MOMS | FB | IG | PINTEREST
3. Angela - THE SHORT ORDER COOK | FB | IG | PINTEREST
4. Bev - ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
5. Cindy - SIMPLE STEPS FOR LIVING LIFE | FB | IG | PINTEREST
6. Emily - LeCULTIVATEUR | FB | IG | PINTEREST
7. Jana - HARVESTING HOME | FB | IG | PINTEREST
8. Kera - HAUTE HOUSE LOVE | FB | IG | PINTEREST
9. Penny - PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
10. Sinea - DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
11. Tammy - MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST
12. Tara - STILETTOS AND SHIPLAP | IG | PINTEREST

Top Viewed

Healthy Weekly Meal Plan

Very Popular

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Protecting Our Privates Naturally with WAMA Hemp Underwear

17 Themes for You to Make the Best DIY Gift Basket

Editor's Choice

Fall Watercolor Printable Collage

Be sure to grab our Specially Featured graphic below if your post was featured this week, and hyperlink it to this post on your blog or sidebar. We love showing you off!

Save

Let's Get This Party Started

• Please follow all hosts on AT LEAST 1 of their social channels.
• Add as many family-friendly posts as you would like to. NO Etsy shops, adult sites, or blog parties please.
• Visit others. Caring is sharing. Like, comment, and pin posts.
• Party entries appear in REVERSE. This way your entries will be seen no matter when you arrive.
• Please TWEET our party and invite others to join.

Let's Party!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Weekending - September 17, 2021

What a great weekend we had!  Here's the rewind ~

As soon as I finished work on Friday, I was in my car and headed to a local orchard to photograph our friend's daughters.  It was a lot hotter than I anticipated it being, but the girls were real troopers and didn't complain once.  I'm a far cry from a professional photographer!  Taking pictures is a passion of mine though and I'm so lucky that our friend lets me use her girls as models.  

Eric and I enjoyed dinner out.  When we were done, we decided to live it up a bit and went to hear a local band that was playing at a nearby festival.  It was a perfect night to take in the beautiful weather outside. 

Saturday morning we got ourselves together and ran some errands.  While we were out, we had lunch at our favorite taco joint, Club Taco.  We got a lot accomplished in a short time and decided to reward ourselves by swinging through the Dairy Queen drive-through to test a couple of the new blizzard flavors.  I tried the sea salt toffee fudge.  It was so scrumptious!  

Saturday night we met with our small group from church.  It's so nice to be meeting in person once again!  It was a beautiful evening and we were able to sit outside.  

On Sunday we were celebrating my dad's birthday so we were on the road early to get there.  My nephew also had a birthday this month so we were able to see him open his gift from us instead of mailing it.

We were able to have the whole family together, making the day extra special.  My brother was in charge of frying the fish and hush puppies.   It was delicious!

Our daughter-in-law, Kayla, made a homemade cake for my dad that consisted of four layers of cake, icing, and raspberry filling.  It was so good that I've already requested it for my birthday!

It was a perfect day celebrating my dad and the family being together.  Days like that just make my heart happy and they don't come around often enough.  

When we got home, there was the most gorgeous sunset!  It capped off a wonderful weekend.

The only downside to the whole weekend was the Kansas City Chiefs losing on Sunday night.  I had to make the hard decision to either watch the football game or the Emmys.  I chose the football game and was extremely disappointed by the outcome.  

Hope your week is off to a great start!  Enjoy the beginning of fall!