Five on Friday - July 29, 2022

Coming at you today with the last Five on Friday for July!  Look what I have for you today ~

1.  National Lasagna Day

Wondering what to have for dinner tonight?  Have lasagna because it's National Lasagna Day!  This is one of my favorite dishes to make and one of my family's favorite dishes to eat, so it's a great combo.  It's one of those things that I even have a special pan we always make it in.  Do you have a recipe like that?  

2.  Choco Taco

Klondike broke the hearts of many this week when they announced they were stopping production forever on their Choco Taco.  Once stores sell out of their current supply, they are gone.  So if you're a lover of the Choc Taco and you see some, grab them up fast!  Time is limited on how much longer they will be available.

3.  Mega Millions

In case you haven't heard, the MegaMillions jackpot for tonight is over a billion (that's BILLION, with a B) dollars.  Boy, the things I could do with that!  But if you win, don't expect to become an instant billionaire.  The cash payment for a jackpot in the 1 billion range is $648.2 million, minus the mandatory 24% in federal taxes which would reduce your winnings by $155.6 million.  You'd end up pocketing about $492.6 million.  Even with the deductions, that's a pretty hefty amount!

4.  Beyonce's New Album - Renaissance

Beyonce's new album, Renaissance, releases today and I can't wait to hear it!  Apparently, there was a leak earlier this week, but it is officially available today.  The tracklist includes 16 new songs and is her seventh album.  Happy listening!

5.  This is me...

Have a great weekend!  I'm going to a pool party tomorrow and a bridal shower on Sunday.  It's going to be a fun, fun weekend!  See you next week.

Thinking Out Loud Thursday - July 28, 2022

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

I've been in a little funk lately and decided to focus on doing some things that make me happy.  One of the things I love to do is make cards.  This week I took a minute to put some cards together.  

Not only do I love making cards, but mailing them to friends is just as fun.  It's great to have a few cards on hand for when I want to drop a note to someone and my stash was completely depleted.  It makes me happy that I have a few ready to go!

Late in the pandemic, I hopped on the sourdough trail but over time had stopped baking.  For some reason, pulling a loaf of homemade bread out of the oven brings me joy.  So I got some new starter from a friend and hopped back on making sourdough. 

What are some things that make you happy?  I'd love to hear so maybe I could try them too!

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 - July 27, 2022

Welcome to this week's blog hop full of inspiration and features from dozens of bloggers including a delicious blueberry muffin breakfast cake recipe.

Five on Friday - July 22, 2022

Here we are - Friday at last!  It's been a week.  I'm ready to share my five and start the weekend ~

1.  Sonic's Fried Pickles    

I'm not really sure how I missed this, but Sonic has added fried pickles to their menu!  I love fried pickles and the thought of being able to grab an order through a drive-through has me more than a little excited.  Now I can get my favorite diet cherry limeade AND an order of fried pickles all in one place.  Can it get any better?!?

2.  Musshoe Flat Shoes

Is it too early to start putting items on my birthday wish list when my birthday isn't until November?  I think not!  Look at these adorable flats from Amazon.  They are getting great reviews and I'm pretty sure I need them. They come in a ton of colors, so maybe I need more than one pair.

3.  National Vanilla Ice Cream Day

Bust out the vanilla ice cream tomorrow and celebrate - it's National Vanilla Ice Cream Day!  Vanilla is the second most favorite flavor of ice cream in the US.  Guess what's the number one.  Chocolate.  Years ago I shared my favorite vanilla homemade ice cream recipe.  You can find it HERE.  I also love, love, love my Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker.  I've linked it below in case you're in the market to make some homemade ice cream at your house.

4.  Reminders of Him

This week I read an entire book in a day and a half, which is saying something because I'm a pretty slow reader.  Colleen Hoover's book Reminders of Him grabbed my attention and held it through every page.  It's free right now on Kindle Unlimited.  Here's the summary ~

After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan returns to the town where it all went wrong, hoping to reunite with her four-year-old daughter. But the bridges Kenna burned are proving impossible to rebuild. Everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to shut Kenna out, no matter how hard she works to prove herself.

The only person who hasn’t closed the door on her completely is Ledger Ward, a local bar owner and one of the few remaining links to Kenna’s daughter. But if anyone were to discover how Ledger is slowly becoming an important part of Kenna’s life, both would risk losing the trust of everyone important to them.

The two form a connection despite the pressure surrounding them, but as their romance grows, so does the risk. Kenna must find a way to absolve the mistakes of her past in order to build a future out of hope and healing.

5.  What's for lunch...

Enjoy the weekend!  We are honoring a dear friend tonight at his celebration of life.  After a very courageous battle with cancer, he left us last week way too soon.  I'm also getting ready for our second of the season Bachelorette viewing party on Monday night.  Hope to see you back next week.

Thinking Out Loud Thursday - July 21, 2022

Hi friends - welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday.  This is a time when I share something I'm thinking about and invite you to link up and do the same.

Today I'm reflecting on what we've been watching lately.  I'm pretty excited that the fourth season of Virgin River dropped yesterday!  Needless to say, an episode is playing as I type this post.  It will be great binging this weekend!

Over the last week, we've managed to squeeze in two movies.  I love that Eric enjoys going to the theater as much as I do!

Like many of you, we saw Where the Crawdads Sing over the weekend.  The book was a favorite of mine so I was excited to see the screen adaptation.  Eric and I both loved the movie!  Here's the summary from Rotten Tomatoes ~

From the best-selling novel comes a captivating mystery. Where the Crawdads Sing tells the story of Kya, an abandoned girl who raised herself to adulthood in the dangerous marshlands of North Carolina. For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" haunted Barkley Cove, isolating the sharp and resilient Kya from her community. Drawn to two young men from town, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world; but when one of them is found dead, she is immediately cast by the community as the main suspect. As the case unfolds, the verdict as to what actually happened becomes increasingly unclear, threatening to reveal the many secrets that lay within the marsh.

Tuesday night we had a weeknight date and headed back to the theater to see another movie.  The choice was Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris.  We both thought it was a cute movie and rated it a 7 out of 10.  

In partnership with the House of Dior, MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS tells the story of a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress, and decides that she must have one of her own. After she works, starves and gambles to raise the funds to pursue her dream, she embarks on an adventure to Paris which will change not only her own outlook, but the very future of the House of Dior.

Have you seen anything good lately?  We'll need something new to watch just as soon as I wrap up Virgin River, which will probably be in the next few days!

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

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Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - July 20, 2022

 Welcome to this week's blog hop full of inspiration and features from dozens of bloggers including an easy peach crescent dumpling recipe.

Five on Friday - July 15, 2022

Happy Friday!  We are pretty excited over here for the weekend to begin.  This week has been non-stop action and we are ready for a couple down days!  Before the rest and relaxation start, here's my five for the week ~

1.  Two New Movies

I know everyone is all excited about Where the Crawdads Sing, and don't get me wrong I'm super pumped to see this movie, there's also another movie that came out this week that's on our list of movies to see.  The second movie is Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris.  It's been a long time since two movies came out the same week I wanted to see.  Here are the summaries ~

Where the Crawdads Sing

From the best-selling novel comes a captivating mystery. Where the Crawdads Sing tells the story of Kya, an abandoned girl who raised herself to adulthood in the dangerous marshlands of North Carolina. For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” haunted Barkley Cove, isolating the sharp and resilient Kya from her community. Drawn to two young men from town, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world; but when one of them is found dead, she is immediately cast by the community as the main suspect. As the case unfolds, the verdict as to what actually happened becomes increasingly unclear, threatening to reveal the many secrets that lay within the marsh.

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is the enchanting tale of a seemingly ordinary British housekeeper whose dream to own a couture Christian Dior gown takes her on an extraordinary adventure to Paris.

2.  Snickerdoodle Pop Tarts

There's a new Pop Tart flavor on the shelves - Snickerdoodle!  These babies are filled with vanilla, butter, and cinnamon flavors and topped with crunchy cinnamon sugar.  They are available just about anywhere Pop Tarts are sold.  Definitely keeping my eyes open to find a box to try!

3.  James Webb Space Telescope

Have you seen the amazing images coming to us from the James Webb Space Telescope?  They are so beautiful!  In case you're wondering who James Webb is, he led NASA during the 1960s when it was gearing up to land people on the moon.  He died in 1992, so he has no idea about the mind-blowing images his namesake telescope is sending us.  If you'd like to see more images, visit the NASA site HERE.

4.  The Book Woman's Daughter

Did you read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek?  We read it in our book club and it was loved by many, me included.  I just learned that it has a sequel - The Book Woman's Daughter.  It's definitely going on my to-be-read list!  Here's the summary from Amazon ~

Bestselling historical fiction author Kim Michele Richardson is back with the perfect book club read following Honey Lovett, the daughter of the beloved Troublesome book woman, who must fight for her own independence with the help of the women who guide her and the books that set her free.

In the ruggedness of the beautiful Kentucky mountains, Honey Lovett has always known that the old ways can make a hard life harder. As the daughter of the famed blue-skinned, Troublesome Creek packhorse librarian, Honey and her family have been hiding from the law all her life. But when her mother and father are imprisoned, Honey realizes she must fight to stay free, or risk being sent away for good.

Picking up her mother's old packhorse library route, Honey begins to deliver books to the remote hollers of Appalachia. Honey is looking to prove that she doesn't need anyone telling her how to survive. But the route can be treacherous, and some folks aren't as keen to let a woman pave her own way.

If Honey wants to bring the freedom books provide to the families who need it most, she's going to have to fight for her place, and along the way, learn that the extraordinary women who run the hills and hollers can make all the difference in the world.

5.  Starting your day right...

Have a wonderful weekend!  We are going to see Where The Crawdads Sing and may even get in a second movie.  I have book club on Monday evening and will need to finish our book - The Hilarious World of Depression.  The book has been very entertaining so finishing won't be hard.  As a matter of fact, there's a 60% chance of rain here on Sunday and the thought of curling up with a book while listening to the rain fall outside sounds like a perfect way to spend the day!  

21 and Counting!

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

Today is a pretty special day around our house.  Eric and I are celebrating our 21st wedding anniversary!  

I am so incredibly lucky to have Eric as a husband!  He swept into our lives way back when I had been a single mom for eight years.  Back then, for me to date anyone more than a handful of times they had to win the approval of my son.  Eric and Ian were fast friends and there was no doubt that Eric would totally embrace the role of being a stepfather.  

In honor of our 21st anniversary, here are just a few of the many things I adore about Eric~

He's always willing to take a picture, even if I insist on re-taking it 37384738 times.

He loves sports and is willing to go to any game we have tickets to.

He loves Disney as much (if not more) than I do.  He was even willing to play along last year when I wanted to try to hit all four parks in one day!

He's not shy about acting goofy!

He'll sit on the beach with me all week long and not complain about hauling all the stuff to and from the condo.

He's always game when I say I want to have a party at our house for any random reason.

He knows my love for waterfalls and sunsets and will drive me all over the country to see them.

And his answer is always yes when I ask him if he'll do me a really big favor.

Bottom line - I love Eric will all my heart and feel so blessed to be married to him!  Happy Anniversary Eric!  Can't wait to see what fun things we do in our next 21 years.

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 - July 13, 2022

 Welcome to this week's blog hop full of summer inspiration from dozens of bloggers including a delicious fresh peach and tomato Caprese salad recipe.

Five on Friday - July 8, 2022

Happy Friday!  Boy, have we had a week.  We've had three six-year-olds with us since Tuesday and it's been an adventure!  It's going to be so quiet around here on Sunday when they go home.  Surprisingly, I've found a couple quiet moments to pull together my Five on Friday post ~

1.  Thor:  Love and Thunder

Ok Marvel fans, you have a new movie to watch this weekend.  Thor:  Love and Thunder opens today!  Here's the summary from Fandango ~

Thor embarks on a journey unlike anything he's ever faced -- a quest for inner peace. However, his retirement gets interrupted by Gorr the God Butcher, a galactic killer who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie, Korg and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster, who -- to his surprise -- inexplicably wields his magical hammer. Together, they set out on a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher's vengeance.

2.  Amazon Prime Day

Get ready - Amazon Prime Day is coming July 12-13.  If you're not a Prime member, now's a great time to sign up for a free 30-day trial.  Click HERE to get started.  Prime Days are always a great time to get remarkable deals.  

3.  The Bachelorette

Get ready Bachelor Nation, Monday is the premiere of The Bachelorette.  We are hosting a viewing party because it's just more fun to watch with others!  I am a little intrigued by this season since they are having two bachelorettes.  Host Jesse Palmer claims this season will break all the rules.  Can't wait to see Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia make this season the most dramatic season EVER!

4.  Dairy Queen Summer Blizzard Flavor

It's summertime at Dairy Queen and they're celebrating by introducing two new flavors:  Oreo Dirt Pie and Caramel Fudge Cheesecake.  The Oreo Dirt Pie Blizzard is made with Oreo cookie pieces, gummy worms, and fudge crumble blended with DQ's signature vanilla soft serve.  The new Caramel Fudge Cheesecake Blizzard is a fudge-covered salty caramel pieces with cheesecake pieces blended with vanilla soft serve.  They both sound so good!

5.  It's been HOT...

Have a great weekend!  We'll be over here soaking up the last of the kids' visit.  See you back next week!

Thinking Out Loud Thursday - July 7, 2022

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday where I talk about something I'm thinking out loud about and invite you to link up and do the same.  My post today is going to be short and sweet because we have three very special visitors with us this week ~

As soon as Eric got home from work on Tuesday, we headed to my hometown to scoop up our nephews and niece.  These three six-year-old rambunctious, funny, smart kiddos are bringing us a lot of joy this week!  

We have a week full of activities and I'm not sure who's more tired at the end of the day - me or them!  On our first full day, we hit up Sky Zone, took in the new Lightyear movie, and got wet at our local splash pad.  

Today we're headed to the St. Louis Zoo!  It's going to be a hot one, so if it gets too unbearable at the zoo we'll head back to Sky Zone.  Our big surprise is coming on Saturday when we take them to Six Flags!

In between activities, they are loving working out of the baskets they had upon arrival.  I filled them with crayons, markers, coloring books, color-by-number books, and lots of other fun stuff.  I know I've mentioned this before, but it's worth another shout-out.  The chalkboard tablecloth is on the table and they love doodling on it!

So basically all I'm thinking about today is having fun with the kids and soaking up all the joy before they leave this weekend.  What's on your mind today?  Link up and share!

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Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - July 6, 2022

Welcome to this week's blog hop full of summer inspiration including 20+ healthy road trip make-ahead breakfast recipes!