And the Oscar Goes To...

Hello and thanks for stopping by Thinking Out Loud Thursday!  I'm going to share something on my mind and invite you to link up and do the same.

Today I'm still thinking about what a great time I had last weekend.  I would have loved to do a Weekending post, but time completely got away from me so I'm sharing the good time today instead.

Last weekend my friend Linda traveled across the state to partake in the Oscar party we were having.  She was a huge help in getting ready for the party!  If it hadn't been for my friend Carol and her crew coming over to decorate and Linda's last-minute help pulling it all together, I would have been very stressed!  As it turned out, we had a wonderful weekend and everything was perfect by the time the guests arrived.

Before the party on Sunday night, Linda and I managed to join my son and daughter-in-law for dinner on Friday night, binge-watch the entire season of Bridgerton, see the movie Lost City in the theater, stream Licorice Pizza and do some outlet mall shopping.  Yes, we were busy!  

The main attraction for the weekend was definitely the Oscar party.  The guests strolled up the red-carpeted sidewalk and came in through the VIP entrance.  

Once inside, they were greeted with a signature cocktail, The Red Carpet Fizz, made with Almond sparkling wine and cranberry wine.  I had rimmed the glasses earlier in the day with cranberry sugar.  Each guest could also pick out their own award-themed glass tag.

Carol and her crew had done a spectacular job decorating!  I had been purchasing things and literally just throwing them in a tote.  She was able to find the perfect spots for everything!

The kitchen island and area where we have our tier tray got decked out too.  

And the paparazzi captured it all on film!  

We of course had an Oscar ballot and played games.  I love using the mini-clipboards I bought years ago to put them on.  These are great for all kinds of parties - baby showers, bridal showers, so many things!  They ended up being a great investment.

Everyone brought an appetizer and we snacked all night long.  For dessert, we had decorated cookies, candy, and ice cream sandwiches.  If anyone lives in my area and needs someone to decorate cookies for an event, send me a message and I'll share my source.  She is fantastic!  

At the end of the night, guests left with a goody box containing gourmet popcorn, movie candy, and a candy bar.  It was a fun night!  I wish I had gotten more pictures, but once people started arriving I was too busy having fun to remember to take pictures.  I'll just have to make that a goal for next year's party.

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 - March 30, 2022

Spring home refresh ideas and finds, a cute Spring-inspired bunny centerpiece, and how to make spring flower candy are all highlighted in today's Wonderful Wednesday blog hop.  Today's hop is all about Spring!

I am so ready for Spring, I can barely stand it. The weather has not been cooperating over here, but I think we're closer than we're further.  From some Spring refresh ideas for your home to a super cute Spring-inspired bunny centerpiece, you'll love this week's features!

Scroll down to see them all and link up at the end.

Happy Wednesday!

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. Christin - MY HOMIER HOME | FB | IG | PINTEREST
7. Emily - LeCULTIVATEUR | FB | IG | PINTEREST
8. Jana - HARVESTING HOME | 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

March at the Thrift Store - Thrifting Wonderland

Very Popular

Let's Make Spring Flower Candy - Penny's Passion

Editor's Choice

Cottage Farmhouse Spring Centerpiece - Follow the Yellow Brick Home

7 Ways to Refresh your Home for Spring - Living Large in a Small House

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!

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

Five on Friday - March 25, 2022

Happy Friday friends!  I'm so stoked about this weekend - it's Oscar time!  I was doing a slow panic earlier this week just thinking about my very long to-do list and how I was going to get it all done.  My friend Carol came to the rescue!  She and her crew came over and decorated my house and got it party-ready.  I can't wait for my guests to see it and to share it with you next week!  

But first, let me share my five for today with you ~

1.  Bridgerton Season 2

Netflix is giving us season 2 of Bridgerton starting today!  The Shonda Rhimes hit mirrors the Julia Quinn books and is scrumptious to watch.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't going to miss Rege-Jean Page this season, but I'm sure there will be a lot of others filling that gap.  Can't wait to see what Lady Whistledown has to gossip about!

  

2.  Michael Buble's Higher

Michael Buble is releasing a new album today titled Higher.  This is his 11th album and it's been three years since his last one.  We can look forward to hearing him doing a duet with Willie Nelson on the song "Crazy" and a new version of Paul McCartney's "My Valentine".  I'm looking forward to hearing all 13 songs on this one!

3.  The Recovery Agent

Janet Evanovich is starting a new series and the first book was released this week.  You might know Janet from her Stephanie Plum series.  This new series is all about Gabriela Rose.  Amazon summaries it like this ~

Lost something? Gabriela Rose knows how to get it back. As a recovery agent, she’s hired by individuals and companies seeking lost treasures, stolen heirlooms, or missing assets of any kind. She’s reliable, cool under pressure, and well trained in weapons of all types. But Gabriela’s latest job isn’t for some bamboozled billionaire, it’s for her own family, whose home is going to be wiped off the map if they can’t come up with a lot of money fast.

Inspired by an old family legend, Gabriela sets off for the jungles of Peru in pursuit of the Ring of Solomon and the lost treasure of Lima. But this particular job comes with a huge problem attached to it—Gabriela’s ex-husband, Rafer. It’s Rafer who has the map that possibly points the way to the treasure, and he’s not about to let Gabriela find it without him.

Rafer is as relaxed as Gabriela is driven, and he has a lifetime’s experience getting under his ex-wife’s skin. But when they aren’t bickering about old times the two make a formidable team, and it’s going to take a team to defeat the vicious drug lord who has also been searching for the fabled ring. A drug lord who doesn’t mind leaving a large body count behind him to get it.

The Recovery Agent marks the start of an irresistible new series that will have you clamoring for more and cheering for the unstoppable Gabriela Rose on every page.

4.  Oscars Ballot    

Will you be watching the Oscars on Sunday night?  Click HERE to get your free, printable ballot.  Rather you're having a party or just watching with the fam, it's fun to fill out a ballot and see how you do picking with winners.  We'll definitely be filling out ballots at my party on Sunday!  

5.  Not a bad idea...

Okay - I'm off to tackle a few more things on my to-do list.  Our friend is arriving this afternoon for the weekend and we can't wait!  I'm hoping to have most of my chores down before she arrives so it can be solid fun all weekend long!  Pop in on Monday to see how the weekend went.

Making it Just Like New!

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday where I share something I'm thinking about and invite you to link up and do the same.  Today I'm thinking about how I made my cracked makeup good as new!

Last week I took a few days off to just get some things checked off my to-do list that had been sitting there for a while.  The list included things like using my spa gift certificate that I had gotten for Christmas in 2019 (eeks!), printing and framing new pictures of our family, and fixing a cracked up eye shadow.

We all have makeup like this, don't we?  You accidentally drop your blush and it cracks into a million pieces.  We throw an eye shadow container in the suitcase and it ends up all busted up.  That's what happened to me.  I bought this new vessel of eye shadow and the first trip it went on, my favorite color ended up all busted up.  

I had seen how to fix this catastrophe a few times before.  But last month when I was reading my Real Simple magazine, there the instructions were again. 

The fix is so very simple.  Crush up the power into fine pieces and add a few drops of 70% Isopropyl Alcohol.  I poured a little in the lid of the container, then tipped it over the powder until a few drops fell.  When the powder is moist, cover it with plastic wrap and press.

Remove the plastic wrap and let it dry overnight.  By morning, it's as good as new!

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 - March 23, 2022

Prepare your garden, make a great 30 minute Spring wreath, and DIY some Easter decor. Learn how in today's round up.

We are talking all about Spring and Easter today on the Wonderful Wednesday blog hop.

Scroll down to see this week's features and link up at the end.

Happy Wednesday!

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. Christin - MY HOMIER HOME | FB | IG | PINTEREST
7. Emily - LeCULTIVATEUR | FB | IG | PINTEREST
8. Jana - HARVESTING HOME | 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

It's Time to Prepare Your Garden - My Life Abundant

Very Popular

Easy 30 Minute Spring Wreath - Cloches and Lavender

Editor's Choice

Easiest Easter Egg Wreath - Saved from Salvage

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!

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

Let's Make Spring Flower Candy!

Spring has arrived!  At least according to the calendar.  Because I'm a little too excited to see Spring get here, I decided to make a treat for a few special people.

A few years ago I made a platter full of candy flowers for Easter.  They looked so springy that they immediately came to mind when I thought of doing a Happy Spring project.  

Here's What You Need

Bag of square pretzels

Ghirardelli white melting wafers

Pastel-colored M&Ms

Here's What You Do

Preheat the oven to 225.  Line a couple baking sheets with parchment paper.  

I like to divide the color candies up into small bowls.  This would be a great job for the kiddos.  Or you can totally skip this step if you're not worried about making each flower from the same colors.

Lay 10 pretzels on the parchment-lined baking sheets and top with 2 wafers.  I like working in patches of 10 because if you do more, the wafers begin to harden before you have time to add the M&Ms.  While you're working with one batch, the second one can be in the oven.

Pop in the oven for 5 minutes.  The wafer should be melted, but not runny.  When it comes out, place a candy in the center then put 6 candies around it.  Try to put the stamped "M" side facing down so they don't show.

And just like that, you have a Spring flower candy!  Let them cool completely before you package them.

Now for the packaging - I used a berry box with a little crinkle paper.  The box fit perfectly down into a cellophane bag. 

Add a cute tag and your gift is ready for giving!  My tag was cut by using my Silhouette.  

Happy Spring everyone!