Five on Friday - October 28, 2022

So glad today is Friday!  We've been on the go for the last couple of weeks and this weekend we are going to do nothing major.  And I can't wait!  One thing I am doing is sharing my five for this week.  Here they are ~

1.  Holiday Hallmark Movies Are Back!

Last week the new holiday Hallmark movies started!  I have some catching up to do, and I plan to spend some quality time on my couch this weekend doing just that.  We all know that Hallmark holiday movies have the same plotline, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to see them all.  When will you start watching holiday movies?

2.  Call Jane

I happen to see the preview of this movie on Fandango and can't wait to see the whole film.  WARNING:  It might not be for everyone.  Here's the synopsis ~

Chicago, 1968. As the city and the nation are poised on the brink of political upheaval, suburban housewife Joy (Elizabeth Banks) leads an ordinary life with her husband and daughter. When Joy’s pregnancy leads to a life-threatening heart condition, she must navigate an all-male medical establishment unwilling to terminate her pregnancy in order to save her life. Her journey for a solution leads her to Virginia (Sigourney Weaver), an independent visionary fiercely committed to women’s health, and Gwen (Wunmi Mosaku), an activist who dreams of a day when all women will have access to abortion, regardless of their ability to pay. Joy is so inspired by their work, she decides to join forces with them, putting every aspect of her life on the line.

3.  Diper Overlode (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

Do you have kiddos in your life who love the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series?  This is their lucky week - there's a new Wimpy Kid book out!  Diper Overlode his the stands on Tuesday and would be a perfect thing to drop in their Halloween bag.  Here's the storyline ~

When he decides to tag along with his brother Rodrick’s band, Löded Diper, Greg doesn’t realize what he’s getting into. But he soon learns that late nights, unpaid gigs, fighting between band members, and money troubles are all part of the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle.

Can Greg help Löded Diper become the legends they think they are? Or will too much time with Rodrick’s band be a diper överlöde?

4.  Advent Calendars

Get ready - Christmas is coming and it will be here before we know it.  Might want to pick up one of those Lego Advent Calendars for the kids before they are sold out!

5.  Remember when...

Have a great weekend!  November is going to be busy so I'm going to take this weekend to get myself ready.  I'm also hoping to get a few Halloween treats ready for work on Monday. Pop in next week to see them!

Thinking Out Loud Thursday - October 27, 2022

Thanks for popping in today for Thinking Out Loud Thursday where I talk about something I'm thinking about and invite you to link up and do the same.  Last weekend was one for the books and that's what I'm thinking about today!

I haven't logged much time at home this month, so last week when we were contemplating if we wanted to go out of town or stay home it was quite the decision.  After vacillating all week, we decided on Friday that we would in fact head to Chicago for some hiking and to attend a friend's art show.

Friday night we found a hotel for Saturday and started putting together a plan.  We were leaving early the next morning so we could make it to the Markets for Makers show in Chicago around noon.  A friend's wife, Carly Clark, has started a business selling her amazing art and she was in the show.  I couldn't wait to surprise her!

Her art is something you should check out.  Her website can be found HERE.  I picked up a print to hang at my desk which I feel has the perfect message. Carly has prints, stickers, and tote bags.  Get a jump on your holiday shopping by loading up on her art!

After we saw Carly and perused around the show, we decided it was time for lunch.  We love searching out locations that were featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.  The one we found close to where we were was Kuma's.  It's a heavy-metal burger joint.  In all honesty, we weren't over the top impressed with the food.  Our favorite thing was the appetizer - cheese curds!

Eric and I bought each other new hiking books for our upcoming November birthdays and we were antsy to try them out.  They are winners!  Our son and daughter-in-law had already bought pairs and highly recommended them to us.  If you're in the market for new ones, they are still on sale at REI and can be found HERE.  

We spent the night in Ottawa, Illinois, and were ready to hit trailheads early Sunday morning.  Ottawa was quite the little gem of a town.  On our way to Starved Rock State Park, we made a pit stop at the spot where the first Lincoln Douglas debate occurred.  Eric, being the history lover that he is, was thrilled to check out this historical site.  

I was impressed with the building art across the street from the park with the statues.  Just look at it ~

Starved Rock State Park was a short drive from Ottawa and we arrived around 10:00 am.  The park was already filling up with people, dogs, and kids.  SO.MANY.PEOPLE.AND.DOGS!

We hiked around for a bit then left to go to Matthiessen State Park which was only about 3 miles away from Starved Rock.  Here we found the serenity we were looking for!  The hike there took us through the woods so we could enjoy the beautiful colors of the season.

We made it home in time to see the second half of the Chiefs game and their win was a nice finish to the weekend!

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 - October 26, 2022

 

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, 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

1. Ahna – HAMMERS N HUGS | FB | IG | PINTEREST
2. Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
3. Emily – LeCULTIVATEUR | FB | IG | PINTEREST
4. Jana – HARVESTING HOME | FB | IG | PINTEREST
5. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
6. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
7. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
8. Tara – STILETTOS AND SHIPLAP | IG | PINTEREST
9. Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER

TOP VIEWED

Mexican Layer Dip

VERY POPULAR

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte

Cider Glazed Butternut Squash

Editor's Choice

Fireball Whiskey Campfire Cocktail

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!

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Five on Friday - October 21, 2022

Hello friends!  Glad you popped in today to see my five for today.  Let's get right to it ~

1.  Ticket to Paradise

Ticket to Paradise opens today and we saw it last night.  I'd been excited about this one for some time and Eric bought preview tickets for us when I was out of town.  What a fantastic surprise when I got home!  It was a cute movie.  I don't think anyone will get an Oscar nomination, but we both enjoyed it.  Here's the synopsis ~

Academy Award® winners George Clooney and Julia Roberts reunite on the big screen as exes who find themselves on a shared mission to stop their lovestruck daughter from making the same mistake they once made. From Working Title, Smokehouse Pictures and Red Om Films, Ticket to Paradise is a romantic comedy about the sweet surprise of second chances.?

2. Go-To Dinners: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook

I read cookbooks just like I do a good novel - taking it in from cover to cover.  Ina Garten's cookbooks are some of my favorite and she has a new one hitting the stands on Tuesday.  The timing is perfect because I've been in a real cooking slump and I'm hoping the go-to dinners she shares will be just the ticket to get me cooking again.  

3. New Quarter

On Monday, the first piece of US currency to carry the likeness of an Asian American will begin to ship.  This new quarter will have the actress Anna May Wong on the tails side.  Wong's coin is the fifth in a series of quarters to feature prominent American women.  Do you know who Anna May Wong is?  I wasn't familiar with her so I did a little research.  She was regarded as Hollywood's first Asian American movie star.  Anna May Wong was also the first Asian American actress to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which happened in 1960.  

4. 32 Degrees Packable Jacket

Have you heard of the company 32 Degrees?  I'd been seeing ads on Facebook and I was skeptical.  But not skeptical enough to not order something from them!  The price of the packable jacket lured me in and I placed an order.  Guys - I love the jacket.  And the tights I also bought.  I got Eric a couple of things and he loved his pieces too.  They are legit with unbelievable prices.  I'll be ordering again!

5.  Just a thought...

I have no idea what we're doing this weekend.  The temperature is supposed to be warmer - up to 79 degrees.  We thought about going out of town, but honestly, it's been a week so I'm not sure we want to leave the house.  Taking it easy and spending a couple quiet days does sound appealing.  Who knows what we'll end up doing.  Pop in next week to see how we ended up spending the weekend.

Thinking Out Loud Thursday - October 20, 2022

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

I've been chasing my tail the last few weeks, so I'm giving myself a little grace today and won't be sharing a written blog post.  What I am going to do is drop a couple of the quotes that have been inspiring me lately and leave the opportunity for you to link up your latest posts.  

Have a great Thursday friends!  Link up and share what's on your mind today ~

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - October 19, 2022

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, 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

1. Ahna – HAMMERS N HUGS | FB | IG | PINTEREST
2. Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
3. Emily – LeCULTIVATEUR | FB | IG | PINTEREST
4. Jana – HARVESTING HOME | FB | IG | PINTEREST
5. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
6. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
7. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
8. Tara – STILETTOS AND SHIPLAP | IG | PINTEREST
9. Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER

TOP VIEWED

Pumpkin Pie Bars Recipe

VERY POPULAR

The Most Important Changes to Make After Moving Into an Old Home

The Best Tips for Buying Curtains You'll Love

Editor's Choice

How to Set Up a Sweet Halloween Buffet

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!

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Click here to enter

Five on Friday - October 14, 2022

Happy Friday!  It's been a week!  I flew out Monday morning at 7:00 am and landed at the wee hour of 12:45 am today.  This morning I'm planning on giving myself some grace and taking it pretty easy.  But the first thing I'm doing is sharing my five for this week ~

1.  It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover

It's here!  Everyone that read It Ends With Us has been waiting for this one for a couple of years.  I just recently started reading Colleen Hoover's books and I can't get enough of them!  Definitely going on my TBR list!  Here's the summary from Amazon ~

Lily and her ex-husband, Ryle, have just settled into a civil coparenting rhythm when she suddenly bumps into her first love, Atlas, again. After nearly two years separated, she is elated that for once, time is on their side, and she immediately says yes when Atlas asks her on a date.

But her excitement is quickly hampered by the knowledge that, though they are no longer married, Ryle is still very much a part of her life—and Atlas Corrigan is the one man he will hate being in his ex-wife and daughter’s life.

Switching between the perspectives of Lily and Atlas, It Starts with Us picks up right where the epilogue for the “gripping, pulse-pounding” (Sarah Pekkanen, author of Perfect Neighbors) bestselling phenomenon It Ends with Us left off. Revealing more about Atlas’s past and following Lily as she embraces a second chance at true love while navigating a jealous ex-husband, it proves that “no one delivers an emotional read like Colleen Hoover” (Anna Todd, New York Times bestselling author).

2.  Snickerdoodle Oreos

Keep your eyes out Monday for the newest Oreo flavor - Snickerdoodle!  They are marketing them for the holiday season and will only be around for a limited time.  The base cookies are both snickerdoodle and the creme is cinnamon with green and red sugar crystals mixed in.  Get them while you can!

3.  Tupperware is at Target!

Remember back in the day when you had to go to a Tupperware party at someone's house to be the proud owner of Tupperware?  Not anymore!  You can pick up the brand the next time you're at Target.  I have to admit, we have waaaayyyy too many plastic containers in our cabinet, but the Tupperware stuff is a lot better than the rest.  I see this being one of those spur-of-the-moment things tossed in my cart!  Darn you Target!

4.  ThoughtFulls Pop-Open Cards

Where are the meeting planners out there?  This is an idea for you!  At our meeting this week, every morning I placed one of these cards at each person's seat.  They were a huge success!  Several people asked where I got them because they wanted to use them at their next meeting.  They aren't just for meetings!  It's fun to drop them in an older kid's lunch bag, leave them on your spouse's car seat, or the barista who hands you your daily coffee.  Pass them out everywhere and spread a little job!

5.  Thought of the day...

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!  I'm driving to Kansas City today to have some girl time with my friends.  I have a book downloaded and ready to listen to for the drive.  Check in next week to hear all about it!

Thinking Out Loud Thursday - October 13, 2022

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

Recently on one of my favorite podcasts, Emily P. Freeman from The Next Right Thing talked about what was saving her life right now.  I loved listening to her things and immediately started thinking about things that were saving my life.  Today I'm sharing a few of those with you.

Last weekend, Eric and I took off and drove to a state park to do some hiking.  Honestly, it felt great to be outside on a beautiful fall day.  I could feel the tension in my shoulders lessen as we tromped up and down the hills, saw the leaves meandering to the ground, and noticed how the sun peeked through the trees.   Hats off to Eric for being so willing to tag along with me and help make it a glorious day.  Times like this are saving my life right now and I'm going to be more intentional in making more of them happen. 

Escaping into a good book has also been saving my life lately.  I've found more books that I can enjoy listening to and I've found that if I'm listening to a good book on my way to work, I'm not so stressed when I walk in the door to start my day.  Too often I'd begin thinking about my day ahead and let my mind start to spin.  Here are some books I've loved listening to ~

Sunrises and sunsets have forever been some of my favorite things.  This time of year, it seems they are the best!  I am in Arizona this week and have been intentional about trying to catch the sun coming up and going down.  Absorbing the beauty is saving my life right now!

We've been in our house for years and haven't done a ton of improvements.  I'm so excited that we've contracted with a landscaper and we are putting a berm in our backyard! Spending time daydreaming about how our backyard will be transformed into something more tranquil is saving my life right now.  It's still up in the air how soon the work will be done, so I'm not sure how much enjoyment it is going to bring me this year.  But come spring, let the long-term enjoyment begin!

What's saving your life right now?  Would love to hear the things on your 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 - October 12, 2022

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, 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

1. Ahna – HAMMERS N HUGS | FB | IG | PINTEREST
2. Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
3. Emily – LeCULTIVATEUR | FB | IG | PINTEREST
4. Jana – HARVESTING HOME | FB | IG | PINTEREST
5. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
6. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
7. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
8. Tara – STILETTOS AND SHIPLAP | IG | PINTEREST
9. Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER

TOP VIEWED

Autumn Entranceway Vignette

VERY POPULAR

30 Delicious Pecan Recipes

30 Fall Tours

Editor's Choice

Mini Apple Lattice Crostate

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